JP2003044615A - Electronic mail pal introduction server, portable terminal and control method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system by which a user, who is not necessarily an individual, can easily use an electronic mail pal introduction service and also a retailer can offer the introduction service capable of improving the power to attract customers. SOLUTION: A server computer (1) that transmits/receives data to/from a portable terminal by way of short distance communication is used to execute the registration of profile information on the user; the introduction of profile information on another registered user; the registration of wish-for-e-mail-pal information that indicates a wisher who wishes to exchange e-mail and an object person therefor; the notification of the wish-for-e-mail-pal to the registered relevant object person; the registration of approval-of-e-mail-pal information that indicates the wisher who wishes to exchange e-mail and an approver who approves the wisher; and the notification of approval-of-e-mal-pal to the relevant registered wisher.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system for providing a service for introducing a user who wishes to exchange electronic mail.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the environment for using the Internet has been established,
E-mail services are becoming popular. Along with this, a popular "Mel friend" introduction service is being offered. This is to introduce an unspecified number of users of e-mail who use e-mail, and this service is provided by the e-mail's friend introduction section in magazines and sites on the Internet. With this "Meru Tomo", the face of the other party can not be seen and it becomes possible to easily exchange e-mails, so the number of users is increasing.

[0003]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Such a "mel friend"
There are many magazines and sites to introduce, but there is a high threshold for posting to the magazine and resistance to access to such sites. In addition, since such referrals are made through magazines and websites on the Internet, they are generally personal to individual referrals, and users use such services in private rooms such as their homes, and multiple users At the same time, it was not something to be introduced or enjoyed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is possible for users, not limited to individuals, to easily use the "Mel-Friend" referral service, and retailers can also improve the ability to attract customers. It is intended to provide a system capable of performing.

[0005]

A mel-friend introduction server of the present invention controls a wireless communication unit for transmitting and receiving data by near field communication, a storage unit for storing data, and the wireless communication unit and the storage unit. And a control unit for controlling the profile when the wireless communication unit receives profile information for introducing a profile of the user for registration. Information is stored in the storage unit for each user, and when the wireless communication unit receives a download request for the stored profile information, the stored profile information is read from the storage unit and the profile information is stored. Is sent to the wireless communication unit, and the wireless communication unit receives Mel friend request information instructing a request for mail exchange with a specific user. Is stored in the storage unit and the wireless communication unit is accessed by the specific user, and when there is the friend request information for the specific user. Based on the mel friend request information, causes the wireless communication unit to send a mel friend request notification including profile information of a sender of the mel friend request information,
When the wireless communication unit receives the mel friend approval information for instructing approval for the mel friend request notification, the content of the mel friend approval information is stored in the storage unit, and the wireless communication unit When access is received by the user who sent the friend request information, and there is mel friend approval information that specifies the user, approval by the specific user is obtained based on the mel friend approval information. It is characterized in that the wireless communication unit is caused to transmit a notification of approval of the friend including the information to the effect.

The mobile terminal of the present invention has a wireless communication unit for transmitting and receiving data to and from the friend introduction server according to claim 1 by short-range wireless communication, a storage unit for storing data, and a data display. A mobile terminal, comprising: a display unit, an input unit that receives data input according to a predetermined input operation by a user, and a control unit that controls the wireless communication unit and the storage unit, the display unit, and the input unit, When the input unit receives the input of profile information for introducing the profile of the user, the control unit stores the profile information in the storage unit, and the input unit,
Upon receiving a predetermined operation for registering the profile information in the mel friend introduction server, the profile information is read out from the storage unit, and information for registration including the profile information is transmitted to the wireless communication unit. When the input unit receives a predetermined operation for downloading the profile information of another user stored in the mel friend introduction server, the input unit is caused to issue a download request corresponding to the operation to the wireless communication unit. When the wireless communication unit receives information including profile information of another user, the wireless communication unit stores the information and displays predetermined information of the information on the display unit, and the input unit , Among the displayed profile information of other users, a predetermined instruction indicating the desire to exchange mail with other users corresponding to the specific profile information Upon receiving the work, the wireless communication unit is caused to transmit the desired friend information according to the operation, and the wireless communication unit obtains the approval from the other user instructed by the transmitted desired friend information. Upon receiving the mel friend approval notification including the information to the effect, the display unit is caused to display an indication that the approval has been made.

Further, the present invention is a control method for controlling the friend introduction server according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication unit registers profile information for introducing a user profile. If you receive to
A procedure of storing the profile information in the storage unit for each user, and when the wireless communication unit receives a download request for the stored profile information, the profile information of another user is stored in the storage unit. A procedure for reading out and transmitting the profile information to the wireless communication unit, and when the wireless communication unit receives mel friend request information instructing the desire to exchange mail with a specific user, the mel friend request information The procedure for storing the content of information in the storage unit, and the case where the wireless communication unit is accessed by the specific user and there is friend request information for the specific user, Based on friend request information,
A procedure for transmitting to the wireless communication unit a notification request for Mel friend including profile information of a sender of the Mel friend request information, and Mel friend approval information for the wireless communication unit to instruct approval of the notification request for Mel friend. In the case of receiving the mail friend approval information, the procedure for storing the contents of the friend approval information in the storage unit and the case where the wireless communication unit is accessed by the user who transmitted the mail friend request information, When there is mel friend approval information designating the mel friend approval information, based on the mel friend approval information, a procedure for transmitting a mel friend approval notification including information indicating that the approval by the specific user has been obtained to the wireless communication unit. And are included.

Further, the present invention is a control method for controlling a portable terminal according to claim 2, wherein the input unit is
When receiving the input of profile information for introducing the profile of the user, a procedure for storing the profile information in the storage unit, and the input unit registers the profile information in the mel friend introduction server. Receiving a predetermined operation for reading the profile information from the storage unit and transmitting the information for registration including the profile information to the wireless communication unit; When a predetermined operation for downloading profile information of another user stored in the introduction server is received, a procedure for transmitting a download request corresponding to the operation to the wireless communication unit and the wireless communication unit When the information including the profile information of the user is received, the information is stored, and the predetermined information of the information is stored. The procedure for displaying on the display unit and the predetermined operation for the input unit to instruct the user to exchange mail with another user corresponding to the specific profile information among the displayed profile information of other users Upon receiving, the procedure for transmitting the friend request information corresponding to the operation to the wireless communication unit and the approval by the other user instructed by the wireless communication unit transmitted by the wireless communication unit are obtained. And a procedure for causing the display unit to display a display indicating that the approval has been received when the notification of approval of a friend including the information to the effect is received.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, the configuration of an embodiment of the friend introduction server of the present invention will be described with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG. The friend introduction server 1 has a wireless communication unit 1a that transmits and receives data to and from a mobile terminal 2 described below using a short-range wireless communication technology such as Bluetooth, a storage unit 1b that stores data, The wireless communication unit 1a and the control unit 1c that controls the storage unit 1b are included. The configuration of the mel friend introduction server 1 is realized by providing a general server computer with an interface for short-range wireless communication.

Next, the configuration of one embodiment of the portable terminal of the present invention will be described with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG. The mobile terminal 2 communicates with the Mel friend introduction server 1 described above by Bl.
A wireless communication unit 2a that transmits and receives data using a short-range wireless communication technology such as Bluetooth, a storage unit 2b that stores data, an input unit 2d that receives a predetermined input operation by a user, and a display of data. Display unit 2e for performing the wireless communication, wireless communication unit 2a, storage unit 2b, input unit 2d, and display unit 2e.
And a control unit 2c that controls the above. This mobile terminal 2 is a general mobile phone or a personal digital assistant (Person).
It is realized by providing an interface for short-distance wireless communication with the al Digital Assistant.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a system configuration including the above-mentioned mel friend introduction server 1 and the portable terminal 2. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the mel-friend introduction server 1 is installed in a retail store such as a convenience store, and the user of the mobile terminal 2 goes to the convenience store and the mobile terminal 2
To receive the service provided by the mel friend introduction server 1. In this example, it is assumed that the information sent using the mobile terminal 2 is accumulated in the mel friend introduction server 1 installed in the convenience store, but other servers, etc. It may be stored in a computer.

The storage unit 1b is composed of a non-volatile recording device such as a hard disk or a magneto-optical disk,
The storage unit 2b has an EEPROM (Electrical call).
yErasable Programmable Re
It is composed of a non-volatile memory such as an ad-only memory) or a battery-backed RAM. Further, the control units 1c and 2c have a memory and a CP.
U (central processing unit), etc.
It is assumed that the function is realized by loading a program (not shown) for realizing each function of c into the memory and executing the program.

Further, it is assumed that an input device, a display device, etc. (none of which are shown) are connected to the friend introduction server 1 as peripheral devices. Here, the input device refers to an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse. The display device refers to a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), a liquid crystal display device, or the like. In addition, the input unit 2d of the mobile terminal 2
Is an input button of a mobile phone or a keyboard of a mobile information terminal, and the display unit 2e is a liquid crystal display device or the like.

Here, the friend introduction server 1 and the mobile terminal 2
Information (data) transmitted and received between will be described.

Profile information: information for introducing the user's profile to other users, which is composed of an introduction sentence introducing the user himself, a facial photograph image, etc., and is displayed on the display unit 2e of the portable terminal 2. It is something. Note that this information includes identification information (non-display) for identifying and managing the user. User information: Personal information of the user, at least
It contains the email address of the user,
Addresses and telephone numbers can also be included if necessary. The user information includes the identification information for associating with the profile information.

The profile information and the user information may be managed separately in the mel friend introduction server 1 or may be integrated and managed as one piece of information. The identification information may be assigned by the mobile terminal 2 when the profile information is registered from the mobile terminal 2, or may be assigned by the mel friend introduction server 1. When the friend introduction server 1 assigns the identification information, the assigned identification information is transmitted from the friend introduction server 1 to the mobile terminal 2, and the mobile terminal 2 transmits the identification information.
Is stored in the storage unit 2b.

Mel friend request information: It consists of information for identifying the person who wishes to exchange mail and information for identifying the other party who wishes to exchange mail. Mel friend approval information: It consists of information that identifies the user who wishes to exchange mail and information that identifies the user who approves the mail exchange with this user. In the following description, the mel friend introduction server 1 that has received the mel friend request information and the mel friend approval information stores the information as it is. When receiving the friend approval information, make a setting to associate the user information of the user who wants to exchange the mail with the user information of the user who wants to exchange the desired user with the user who wants to exchange the mail. Good.

Next, the operation of the mel friend introduction server 1 and the portable terminal 2 of the present embodiment thus configured will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to the operation sequence diagram shown in FIG. In the following description, a user who wants to exchange mails is a user A, and a user who approves the user is a user B.

First, at a retail store such as a convenience store in which the friend introduction server 1 is installed, profile information and user information of a plurality of users including users A and B are respectively set by each user. Is uploaded (registered) to the friend introduction server 1 from the mobile terminal 2 used by the user (t1, t1 ′). At this time, the mobile terminal 2 transmits, as information for registration, an upload request for instructing to start uploading, profile information, and user information to the friend introduction server 1. The friend introduction server 1 stores the profile information and the user information received together with the upload request in the storage unit 1b for each user.

Next, when the download request for downloading the profile information of another user is transmitted from the portable terminal 2 of the user A to the friend introduction server 1 (t).
2), the mel friend introduction server 1 sequentially transmits the profile information of other users accumulated in the storage unit 1a to the mobile terminal 2 of the user A (t3).

When the mobile terminal 2 of the user A receives the profile information of another user sent from the friend introduction server 1, the mobile terminal 2 stores it in the storage unit 2a and displays this information on the display unit 2e (t4). . Then, the user A sequentially browses the profile information of other users received by his / her mobile terminal 2 (t5). At this time, in response to a predetermined operation by the user A, the mobile terminal 2 sequentially displays the received profile information on the display unit 2e.

Here, it is assumed that the user A sees the profile information of the user B and wants to exchange mail with the user B. When a predetermined operation is performed, the identification information of the user A as the information for identifying the person who wishes to exchange the mail and the identification information of the user B as the information for identifying the person who wants the email exchange (this information is , Which is included in the profile information of the user B) is transmitted from the mobile terminal 2 of the user A to the friend introduction server 1 (t6). Upon receiving the mel friend request information, the mel friend introduction server 1 stores the mel friend request information in the storage unit 1a (t7).

Next, when the user B accesses the mel friend introduction server 1 (t8), the control unit 1c stores the mel friend request information that the user B desires to exchange mail with in the storage unit 1a.
It is searched whether it is in (t9). At this time, the friend friend request information for the user B is searched based on the identification information of the user B. Here, when there is mel friend request information for user B (user A wants user B), the control unit 1c informs the mobile terminal 2 of user B that there is a person who wishes to exchange mail. A friend friend request notification including the profile information of the user A is transmitted to the notification of (t10).

When the portable terminal 2 of the user B receives the notification of request for friend mail, the portable terminal 2 stores it in the storage unit 2a and displays the profile information of the user A on the display unit 2e (t11). Here, it is assumed that the user B sees the profile information of the user A and approves the mail exchange with the user A. By a predetermined operation by the user B, identification information for identifying the user A desiring the mail exchange and the identification for identifying the user B approving the mail exchange from the mobile terminal 2 of the user B. The friend approval information including the information is transmitted from the mobile terminal 2 of the user B to the friend introduction server 1 (t1).
2). Upon receiving the mel friend approval information, the mel friend introduction server 1 stores the mel friend approval information in the storage unit 1a (t.
13).

Next, when the user A accesses the mel friend introduction server 1 (t14), the control section 1c controls the user A.
It is searched whether or not the mel friend approval information for is stored in the storage unit 1a (t15). At this time, the friend approval information for the user A is searched based on the identification information of the user A. Here, when there is mel friend approval information for the user A (user B approves the user A), the control unit 1c obtains the approval from the user B for the mobile terminal 2 of the user A. The e-mail address of the user B is included in the notification to the effect that the e-mail address is sent to the friend approval notification (t16). Then, the mobile terminal 2 of the user A that has received the notification of approval of the friend mail is displayed on the display unit 2e.
The information indicating that the approval of the user B has been obtained and the electronic mail address of the user B are displayed at (t17).

As described above, the process from the registration of the profile information of the user through the friend introduction server 1 to the request / approval of the mail exchange is processed. Note that the sequence shown in FIG. 4 is an example, and in reality, information transmission / reception and processing in the friend introduction server 1 are performed at various timings. Further, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and includes configurations and the like within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention. The details of the mel friend introduction server 1 and the mobile terminal 2 according to the present embodiment have been described above.

In the above explanation, the friend introduction server 1
Will be installed in retail stores such as convenience stores,
A usage fee may be charged for the service provided by the mel friend introduction server 1, or may be provided as a service for attracting customers at this retail store.
By installing Mel-Friend Referral Server 1, which provides referral services for “Meru-Friend”, whose number of users is increasing, at retail stores,
The ability to attract customers at the retail store can be expected to improve.

Further, the control unit 1c in FIG. 1 or the control unit in FIG.
By recording a program for realizing a part or all of the functions of the control unit 2c in a computer-readable recording medium, reading the program recorded in the recording medium into a computer system, and executing the program, The introduction server 1 or the mobile terminal 2 may be controlled. In addition, "computer system" here
The term “OS” includes hardware such as OS and peripheral devices.

The "computer system" is WW.
If the W system is used, the homepage providing environment (or display environment) is also included. The "computer-readable recording medium" means a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, a CD-
A portable medium such as a ROM or a storage device such as a hard disk built in a computer system. Further, the "computer-readable recording medium" means a volatile memory (R
(AM), which holds the program for a certain period of time.

Further, the above program may be transmitted from a computer system in which the program is stored in a storage device or the like to another computer system via a transmission medium or by a transmission wave in the transmission medium. Here, the "transmission medium" for transmitting the program refers to a medium having a function of transmitting information, such as a network (communication network) such as the Internet or a communication line (communication line) such as a telephone line. Further, the program may be a program for realizing some of the functions described above. further,
It may be a so-called difference file (difference program) that can realize the above-mentioned functions in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system.

[0032]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the user can easily find the person with whom the e-mail is exchanged through the friend introduction server.
Further, by installing this mel friend introduction server in a retail store, it is possible to increase the power of attracting customers to the retail store. Further, in this case, since a plurality of users can use it at the same time, there is a feeling of playing a game, and an effect not provided by the conventional introduction service can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mel friend introduction server which is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mobile terminal which is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a system configuration diagram including the same friend introduction server and a mobile terminal.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an operation sequence between the same friend introduction server and a mobile terminal.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Mel friend introduction server 2 ... Mobile terminals 1a, 2a ... Wireless communication section 1b, 2b ... Storage section 1c, 2c ... Control section 2d ... Input section 2e ... Display section

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A server computer comprising: a wireless communication unit that transmits and receives data by short-range wireless communication; a storage unit that stores data; and a control unit that controls the wireless communication unit and the storage unit. When the wireless communication unit receives profile information for introducing a profile of a user for registration, the control unit stores the profile information in the storage unit for each user, When the wireless communication unit receives a download request for the stored profile information, the stored profile information is read from the storage unit, the profile information is transmitted to the wireless communication unit, and the wireless communication unit However, when the mail friend request information for instructing the mail exchange request with a specific user is received, the content of the mail friend request information is stored in the storage unit. When the wireless communication unit is accessed by the specific user and there is mel friend request information for the specific user, based on the mel friend request information, the mel friend request information is stored. When the mel friend request notification including the profile information of the sender of the desired information is transmitted to the wireless communication unit, and the wireless communication unit receives the mel friend approval information for instructing approval for the mel friend request notification. Stores the content of the mel friend approval information in the storage unit, and when the wireless communication unit is accessed by the user who has transmitted the mel friend request information, the mel friend approval information designating the user If there is, a mel friend introduction server characterized by causing the wireless communication unit to send a mel friend approval notice including information indicating that the approval by the specific user has been obtained based on the mel friend approval information. . 2. A wireless communication unit that transmits and receives data to and from the friend introduction server according to claim 1 by short-range wireless communication, a storage unit that stores data, a display unit that displays the data, and A mobile terminal, comprising: an input unit that receives data input according to a predetermined input operation; and a control unit that controls the wireless communication unit, the storage unit, the display unit, and the input unit, wherein the control unit is the input unit. When the department receives the input of profile information for introducing the profile of the user, the profile information is stored in the storage unit, and the input unit registers the profile information in the mel friend introduction server. When a predetermined operation for performing the registration is received, the profile information is read from the storage unit, and the information including the profile information for registration is wirelessly communicated. When the input section receives a predetermined operation for downloading profile information of another user stored in the mel friend introduction server, the input section receives a download request corresponding to the operation and the wireless communication is performed. When the wireless communication unit receives information including profile information of another user, the wireless communication unit stores the information and displays predetermined information of the information on the display unit, When the input unit receives a predetermined operation instructing a desire to exchange mail with another user corresponding to the specific profile information among the displayed profile information of the other user, the input unit responds to the operation. The friend request information is sent to the wireless communication unit, and the wireless communication unit sends a friend approval notification including information indicating that approval by another user designated by the sent friend request information has been obtained. A mobile terminal characterized by causing the display unit to display a message indicating approval when received. 3. The control method for controlling the friend introduction server according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication unit receives profile information for introducing a profile of a user for registration. In the case of doing so, a procedure of storing the profile information in the storage unit for each user, and when the wireless communication unit receives a download request for the stored profile information, the profile information of another user Is read from the storage unit and the profile information is transmitted to the wireless communication unit, and when the wireless communication unit receives the email friend request information instructing a request for mail exchange with a specific user, , A procedure for storing the content of the e-mail friend request information in the storage unit, and a case where the wireless communication unit is accessed by the specific user, the specific use If there is mel friend request information for the mel friend request information, a procedure for transmitting a mel friend request notification including profile information of the sender of the mel friend request information to the wireless communication unit based on the mel friend request information; When the communication unit receives mel friend approval information for instructing approval for the mel friend request notification, a procedure for storing the content of the mel friend approval information in the storage unit, and the wireless communication unit When access is received by the user who sent the friend request information, and there is mel friend approval information that specifies the user, approval by the specific user is obtained based on the mel friend approval information. And a procedure for transmitting a mel friend approval notification including information indicating that the mel friend approval notification is sent to the wireless communication unit. 4. The control method for controlling the mobile terminal according to claim 2, wherein when the input unit receives input of profile information for introducing a user's profile, A procedure of storing profile information in the storage unit; and when the input unit receives a predetermined operation for registering the profile information in the mel friend introduction server, the profile information is read from the storage unit and A procedure for transmitting information for registration including profile information to the wireless communication unit, and a predetermined operation for the input unit to download profile information of another user accumulated in the mel friend introduction server When the wireless communication unit receives the request, a procedure for transmitting a download request corresponding to the operation to the wireless communication unit, When the information including the information is received, the procedure for storing the information and displaying the predetermined information among the information on the display unit, and the input unit for displaying the profile of the other user When receiving a predetermined operation instructing a desire to exchange mail with another user corresponding to specific profile information among the information, a procedure for transmitting the friend friend desired information corresponding to the operation to the wireless communication unit, When the wireless communication unit receives a mel friend approval notification including information indicating that approval by another user indicated by the transmitted mel friend request information has been received, a display indicating that the approval has been given is displayed. A method of controlling a mobile terminal, comprising: a procedure of causing a display unit.