JP2002304412A - Data distribution system, device, method, computer program and computer-readable storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To collect information without missing by enabling to collect information from plural information sources for information on desired fields. SOLUTION: A server 103 for distributing content data of newspapers and a printer 102 at each home are connected via a network 101 such as the Internet. The server 103 comprises a storage section 104 to classify and maintain data of plural classifications (economics page, sport page) collected from plural information sources (newspaper publishing companies) according to information source or information classification and a user management section 105 for managing the information sources and information classifications according to each user or the printer 102. According to the information sources and information classifications managed by the section 105, the data maintained at the section 104 is separately distributed to each printer 102.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data distribution system, apparatus, method, computer program, and computer-readable storage medium. And (2) a method suitable for separately classifying and distributing individually to a plurality of user terminals.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, information can be collected using a network by using a PC (personal computer) connected to the network. In this case, you can enter the keyword of the information you want to obtain, search for websites containing the keyword and download it, or access the website of a newspaper company to collect information. there were.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 10-254912 discloses a method of retrieving data from a website and outputting the data in a personalized format, and a method of retrieving and extracting news articles from an online news service on the web. It describes a method of outputting in a formatted format.

A general method for collecting information without using a network is a newspaper.

[0005]

However, in the method of collecting information by searching a web site, information that the user wants to know is searched, so that there is a possibility that new information that the user does not know may fall out. . Also, if you look at a newspaper's website, the website will only contain large news items,
There was a case where information collection was missing.

[0006] In the case of a newspaper, which is one of the information collection means that does not use a network, the unit of subscription is one paper, so even if there is information in a field that is not of interest, the user must purchase it. If the user is interested in a plurality of genres, the user has to subscribe to a plurality of newspapers in which detailed information on those genres is published.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and enables information in a desired field to be collected from a plurality of information sources, thereby enabling information collection without omission. The purpose is to.

[0008]

As a means for solving the problems, a data distribution system of the present invention will be described. The data distribution system of the present invention comprises a data distribution device for distributing data, a plurality of user terminals, Is a data distribution system connected via a network, wherein the data distribution device stores a plurality of classifications of data collected from a plurality of information sources, and classifies and retains the data for each information source and information classification; and A management means for managing an information source and an information classification for each user or user terminal, and according to the information source and the information classification managed by the management means,
It is characterized in that the data held in the storage means is individually distributed to the plurality of user terminals.

[0009] Another feature of the data distribution system of the present invention is that an information fee is set for data stored in the data distribution apparatus classified by information source and information classification. It is characterized in that a charging means for charging an information fee according to data to be distributed to the user terminal is provided.

Another feature of the data distribution system of the present invention resides in that an information amount changing means for changing the setting of the information fee according to the number of distribution destinations is provided.

Another feature of the data distribution system of the present invention resides in that the user terminal includes a clock unit for connecting to the data distribution device at a fixed time.

Another feature of the data distribution system of the present invention resides in that the information source and the information classification managed by the management means are changed by the information processing device connectable to the user terminal or the network. The point is that it can be updated via the network.

Another feature of the data distribution system of the present invention is that the management means includes, for each user or user terminal, an output size and an output order in addition to the information source and the information classification. At least one of them is managed.

Another feature of the data distribution system of the present invention is that at least one of the output size and the output order managed by the management means can be connected to the user terminal or the network. The information processing apparatus can be updated via the above network.

Another feature of the data distribution system of the present invention is that the data distribution device collects a plurality of classification data from the plurality of information sources via communication means.

According to another feature of the data distribution system of the present invention, the data distribution device stores the latest data of a plurality of classifications collected from the plurality of information sources in the storage means. The point is to update the data.

Another feature of the data distribution system of the present invention is that the user terminal is a printing device or a display device.

[0018]

Embodiments of a data distribution system, apparatus, method, computer program, and computer-readable storage medium of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the data distribution system of the present embodiment. In the figure, 101 is a network such as the Internet, 102 is a printer in each home (corresponding to a user terminal in the present invention), and 103 is a data distribution source server (corresponding to a data distribution device in the present invention). Server 103 is an information source, information classification (genre)
The storage unit 104 includes a storage unit 104 that classifies data and stores data, and a user management unit 105 that manages information sources and information classification for each user terminal.

Reference numeral 106 denotes an information source for providing information to the server 103; 107, a data communication line for transmitting information from the information source 106 to the server 103;

Hereinafter, as a specific example, a system for distributing the contents of a newspaper page will be described. FIG. 2 shows a data structure example of the storage unit 104 of the server 103 in the data distribution system. In the storage unit 104,
As an information source, classified by newspaper company (201),
As information classification (genre), data is held by classifying each newspaper (e.g., economic, social, etc.) (202). Further, a unit price is set as an information fee in association with the classified newspaper (203).

Further, the storage unit 104 also holds advertisement data corresponding to advertisements published on newspapers and newspaper advertisements (204, 205). The user
It is also possible to pick up such information and request distribution. These ads, unlike newspaper distribution,
When the distribution is requested, the subscription fee is reduced, and a discount value is set in association with the advertisement content (genre) (206).

The newspaper source of the information includes not only a plurality of national newspapers but also a plurality of local newspapers (207) and various industry newspapers. Thereby, the range of the user's selection is expanded.

The advertisement data of the insertion advertisement is also classified by region (209) and genre (208).
Thereby, the convenience for the user is improved. For example, if a user residing in the area A is searching for real estate in the area B, and the user has subscribed to a regular newspaper, he can only obtain the insert advertisement around the area A in which he currently lives. By becoming a user of the system, it is also possible to easily obtain a real estate advertisement in the region B.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the data structure of the user management unit 105 of the server 103 in the data distribution system. The user management unit 105 stores a newspaper name (information source) and a page name (information classification (genre)) for each user who receives distribution of newspaper page data (301). The contents include, for example, the social aspect of the A newspaper and the economic aspect of the B newspaper. In this system, the unit price is set for each newspaper page as described above, and the user management unit 10
In No. 5, the sum of the unit prices of the papers picked up by the user is stored as the price corresponding to the subscription fee (30).
2).

FIG. 4 shows an example of the configuration of the printer 102 (here, denoted by reference numeral 401) owned and managed by the user. In the figure, reference numerals 402 and 403 denote communication networks and communication lines for connecting to the server 103. An information processing unit 404 controls the entire printer, including communication control with the server 103, and processes transmission / reception data. 4
Reference numeral 05 denotes a timing unit, and the printer 103
Notify the information processing unit when accessing. A communication interface 406 performs communication with the server 103.

A display unit 407 displays the status of the printer and setting data received from the server 103. 408
Is an input unit used for setting data and the like. 40
Reference numeral 9 denotes a storage unit that temporarily stores data received from the server 103 and stores a printer-specific ID that the server 103 notifies the server 103 to identify the printer when the communication with the server 103 is established. are doing. An output unit 410 outputs the received data to paper.

The printer 102 owned by the user configured as described above outputs the newspaper data in response to the data distribution from the server 103. The output format is the same as that of the newspaper (composition). Then, it is possible to grasp much information quickly.

Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
The processing operation for data distribution will be described. The server 103 issues a request to distribute information to each newspaper company or the like, which is the information source (step 501). The newspaper company, which has received the request, sends data to the server 103 via the data communication line 107 (step 502).
The server 103 that has received the newspaper page data stores the data in the storage unit 104 (step 503). At this time, the data of the insert advertisement in each region is also stored in the storage unit 104.
To memorize.

On the other hand, on the user side, the timing unit 405 of the information processing unit 404 in the printer 102 issues a connection request to the server 103 via the network 101 at a preset time (step 504).
Upon receiving the connection request, the server 103 requests the information processing unit 404 to notify the ID (step 50).
5).

When the information processing unit 404 notifies the server 103 of the ID (step 506), the server 103 notified of the ID recognizes which printer the connected printer 102 is, and the user management unit of the server 103 10
The classification (information source, genre) of the data to be distributed is extracted from the registered data managed and stored in step 5, and the corresponding data is picked up from the data storage unit 104 (step 507). Information processing unit 404 of printer 102
Downloads the picked-up data via the network 101 (step 508). And
The downloaded data is printed out by the printer 102 (step 509).

When the unit period of the subscription period ends,
The user management unit 105 of the server 103 sums up the unit prices of the classification units of the data-distributed articles and charges the user for an information fee.

Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
A processing operation for changing registration data will be described.
The user has an information processing device such as a PC (personal computer), and the server 1
It is assumed that an information processing unit capable of connecting to the server 103 via the network 101 is included in a printing device or a display device of the user, which can be connected to the server 03.

The information processing apparatus issues a connection request to the server 103 via the network 101 (step 60).
1). Upon receiving the connection request, the server 103 requests the information processing apparatus to notify the ID (step 60).
2). When the information processing apparatus notifies the server 103 of the ID (step 603), the server 103 notified of the ID
Recognizes which printer is the printer 102 corresponding to the ID, and stores the information in the user management unit 105 of the server 103.
The classification information (information source, genre) of the data to be distributed is extracted from the registered data managed and stored in (step 604).

The registration data extracted from the user management unit 105 is transmitted to the information processing device of the user (step 605) and displayed on the display unit of the information processing device (step 606). This allows the user to know the currently registered contents. If the user desires to change the contents, the data is input from the input unit of the information processing device and changed (step 607). The changed data is notified to the server 103 via the network 101 (step 608), and is newly stored in the user management unit 105 of the server 103 (step 609).

Thus, the server 103 can perform the next and subsequent data distribution based on the newly stored registration data. That is, as described with reference to FIG. 5, when performing data distribution, the connected printer 1
02 is recognized, the classification (information source, genre) of the data to be distributed is extracted from the registered data managed and stored by the user management unit 105 of the server 103, and the corresponding data is stored in the server 103. Storage unit 104
From the user management unit 10
Since the classification information extracted from 5 is new information, it is distributed to the user with the distribution data after the change.

Here, an example in which the classification (information source, genre) is changed has been described, but the registration data managed and stored by the user management unit 105 of the server 103 also includes data of other types. The printout size (see FIG. 3), order (see FIG. 3), data distribution time, and the like are registered for each classification. In this case, when it is desired to change the size, order, and data distribution time, the user can change the size, order, and data distribution time as shown in FIG.
According to the flowchart shown in FIG.
May be able to be changed via the.

FIG. 7 shows a display example of the registration data extracted from the user management unit 105. Reference numeral 701 denotes the entire display unit. Reference numerals 702 to 705 indicate the order of the subscription item (information source, genre), unit price, output size and character size, and output. 706 is the total of the subscription fee. 707
Is a cursor, which is moved by input means (not shown) to change the value of the item to be changed. Reference numeral 708 denotes a currently set distribution time, which can be similarly changed by moving the cursor and inputting.

In FIG. 7, since each unit price is determined by the item of the subscription, it cannot be changed. However, when the user inputs the total amount and notifies the server 103, the item of the subscription is Can be executed on the server 103 side.

Note that other functions may be added in addition to the functions described above. For example, the user management unit 105 of the server 103 stores data that each user desires to distribute,
It has a function of totalizing for each data classification. The server 103 has a timer, and at regular intervals,
The price of the distribution data is changed based on the result of the aggregation means, that is, the number of users who want to distribute the data (the number of distribution destinations). As a method of the change, there is a method of reducing the unit price of data for which distribution is desired to be large, a method of reducing the unit price of data for which distribution is not desired, and a method of increasing the number of applicants.

The flow of the fee for providing information from the data distribution source managing the server 103 to the information source is such that the distribution source receives the fee from the user who receives the data distribution and pays a part of the fee to the information source. However, here, there are a plurality of examples of payment methods. That is, there are a method of paying the collected fee to the information source at a fixed rate, a method of paying the information source a fixed amount, and the like. In this case, it is necessary for the data distribution source to set a distribution fee to the user so as to balance the balance according to the number of users who receive the data distribution. Furthermore, there is a method of introducing a method of changing the price of distribution data based on the number of users who want to distribute data into the relationship between the data distribution source and the information source. By adapting this method, it is possible for a data distribution source to purchase information with a small number of users (unpopular) at a low price.

In the above embodiment, the printer 10
The ID notified by the server 2 to the server 103 is unique to the printer, and one user is registered for one printer. However, assuming that a plurality of users share the printer 102, It is also possible to assign to a plurality of users. If the ID is unique to the user, the user management unit 105 on the server 103 side
Stores the distribution data for each individual user, so that, for example, in a case where one printer is shared by a family, even if the same information (newspaper space) is used, the print size for each family (Character size) can also be changed.

(Other Embodiments) In order to operate various devices in order to realize the functions of the above-described embodiments, an apparatus connected to the various devices or a computer in a system is used in the above-described embodiment. Supply the software program code to realize the functions of
The present invention also includes those implemented by operating the various devices according to programs stored in a computer (CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus.

In this case, the software program code itself implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the program code itself constitutes the present invention. As a transmission medium of the program code, a communication medium (a wired line or a wireless line such as an optical fiber) in a computer network (a WAN such as a LAN or the Internet, a wireless communication network, etc.) system for propagating and supplying the program information as a carrier wave. Etc.) can be used.

Further, means for supplying the program code to a computer, for example, a recording medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. As a recording medium for storing such a program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, magnetic tape,
A nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the supplied program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) or other operating system in which the program code runs on the computer. It goes without saying that such program codes are also included in the embodiments of the present invention when the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized in cooperation with the application software or the like.

Further, after the supplied program code is stored in a memory provided in a function expansion board of a computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion board or the function expansion unit is specified based on an instruction of the program code. It is needless to say that the present invention also includes a case where the CPU or the like provided for performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

It should be noted that the shapes and structures of the respective parts shown in the above-described embodiments are merely examples of the embodiment for carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention is thereby reduced. It should not be interpreted restrictively. That is, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the spirit or main features thereof.

[0049]

As described above, according to the present invention, a user can acquire information of a desired genre from a desired information source, and can acquire information of deep contents. Further, since only the fee for the necessary part of the information needs to be paid, the necessary information can be obtained at a low price.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a data distribution system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of a storage unit 104 of a server 103.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of a user management unit 105 of the server 103.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a printer.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation for data distribution.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation for changing registration data.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a display example of registration data extracted from the user management unit 105.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 101 network 102 printer 103 server 104 storage unit 105 user management unit 106 information source 107 data communication line

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06F 17/60 332 G06F 17/60 332

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A data distribution system in which a data distribution device that distributes data and a plurality of user terminals are connected via a network, wherein the data distribution device has a plurality of classifications collected from a plurality of information sources. Storage means for classifying and holding the data for each information source and information classification, and management means for managing the information source and information classification for each user or user terminal, and are managed by the management means. A data distribution system for individually distributing data held in the storage means to the plurality of user terminals according to an information source and an information classification. 2. An information fee is set for data stored in the data distribution apparatus classified according to the information source and the information classification, and the information fee is charged according to the data distributed to the user terminal. 2. The data distribution system according to claim 1, further comprising means. 3. The data distribution system according to claim 2, further comprising an information amount varying unit that varies the setting of the information fee according to the number of distribution destinations. 4. The data distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the user terminal includes a clock unit for connecting to the data distribution device at a fixed time. 5. The information source and the information classification managed by the management means can be updated via the network by the user terminal or an information processing device connectable to the network. Item 2. The data distribution system according to Item 1. 6. The management unit manages at least one of an output size and an output order in addition to the information source and the information classification for each user or user terminal. The data distribution system according to claim 1. 7. An information processing apparatus connectable to the user terminal or the network, and at least one of an output size and an output order managed by the management means can be updated via the network. 7. The data distribution system according to claim 6, wherein: 8. The data distribution device according to claim 1, wherein the data distribution device collects data of a plurality of classifications from the plurality of information sources via communication means. 9. The data distribution apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the data distribution device updates the data stored in the storage means by receiving a plurality of categories of latest data collected from the plurality of information sources. Data distribution system as described. 10. The data distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the user terminal is a printing device or a display device. 11. A data distribution apparatus for distributing data via a network, comprising: storage means for classifying and holding data of a plurality of classifications collected from a plurality of information sources for each information source and information classification; Management means for managing an information source and an information classification for each individual user or user terminal of the distribution destination, and according to the information source and the information classification managed by the management means, the data held in the storage means is stored in the storage means. A data distribution device for individually distributing to a plurality of user terminals. 12. A data distribution method for distributing data via a network, comprising the steps of classifying data of a plurality of classifications collected from a plurality of information sources into information sources and information classifications and storing the data in a storage unit. Processing for managing information sources and information classifications for each user or user terminal of the distribution destination; and storing the data held in the storage means in accordance with the information sources and information classifications managed by the management processing. And a process of individually distributing the data to user terminals. 13. A computer program for causing a computer to execute a process of distributing data via a network, wherein data of a plurality of classifications collected from a plurality of information sources are classified and stored for each information source and information classification. Means for holding the information, processing for managing the information source and the information classification for each user or user terminal of the distribution destination, and information for storing the information in the storage means according to the information source and the information classification managed by the management processing. And a process for individually distributing the data to the plurality of user terminals. 14. A computer-readable storage medium storing the computer program according to claim 13.