JP2003091487A - Information providing server and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information providing server capable of easily providing detail information related with information distributed to a user as desired by the user. SOLUTION: An information providing server 20 receives a file constituted of detail information from a terminal 10 of an information provider, and generates a preservation address for preserving the received file. Then, the information providing server 20 stores the file in a user data base 205 corresponding to the generated preservation address. At the time of receiving a bar code attached to information from portable telephone sets 50-52 of users, the information providing server 20 encodes the preservation address which is made correspond to the bar code one to one, and reads the file corresponding to the encoded preservation address from a user data base 205, and transmits the file to the portable telephone sets 50-52.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information providing server and an information providing method for providing a user with detailed information about the information distributed to the user in response to the user's request.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Much information is described in newspapers, magazines, advertisements and the like and distributed to users. The information described in newspapers and the like includes information that is described in detail and information that is about the headline.

When a user is reading an article written in a newspaper or the like, he sometimes wants "more detailed information on this article". In such a case, the user individually checks by telephone, fax, or the like.

Further, recently, there is an article in which an e-mail address for obtaining detailed information is displayed. In such a case, the user uses the personal computer to access the displayed mail address and obtain detailed information.

[0005]

However, in the conventional method of obtaining detailed information, each time detailed information is obtained,
It is very cumbersome to use the telephone, fax, and personal computer to access the location that provides the detailed information.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in order to solve such a problem, and an object thereof is to easily provide detailed information about information distributed to a user according to the wish of the user. It is to provide an information providing server.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an information providing method capable of easily providing detailed information about the information distributed to the user according to the user's request.

[0008]

According to the present invention, the information providing server receives the digital mark attached to the information distributed to the user and displays the information corresponding to the received digital mark. An information providing server for providing detailed information to a user, which receives an electronic mail attached with a file including detailed information from a terminal device of an information provider via a network, and a digital mark from a terminal device of a user to a network. A means for receiving via the email, a means for extracting a file from an electronic mail, creating a storage address for storing the extracted file, and a means for storing the extracted file in correspondence with the created storage address Means for encoding the storage address corresponding to the received digital mark, and encoded storage A storage address matching the address is detected from the storage means, and a file corresponding to the detected storage address is read from the storage means and transmitted to the user's terminal device via the network. It is a mark indicating a stored address.

The information providing server according to the present invention stores the detailed information of the information distributed to the user in association with the storage address, and when the digital mark from the user is received, it corresponds to the received digital mark on a one-to-one basis. Encode the save address. Then, the storage address that matches the encoded storage address is detected, and the detailed information stored corresponding to the detected storage address is provided to the user.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the user can easily obtain the detailed information regarding the distributed information.

[0011] Preferably, the digital mark is created by an information provider who has received the created storage address,
Attached to information.

The storage address created in the information providing server is transmitted to the terminal device of the information provider. Then, the terminal device of the information provider creates a digital mark indicating the received storage address and attaches the created digital mark to the information to be distributed to the user.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the information to be distributed to the user can be accurately associated with the detailed information of the information.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises means for converting the extracted file into a file format suitable for transmission via the network, and the transmitting means transmits the converted file to the user's terminal device.

The file transmitted from the terminal device of the information provider to the information providing server is converted into a format suitable for transmission through the network in the information providing server and transmitted to the user who desires detailed information.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the detailed information can be accurately transmitted to the user. Preferably, the receiving means receives the video data obtained by photographing the digital mark, and the encoding means analyzes the received video data to encode the storage address corresponding to the digital mark.

The digital mark is photographed by the user's terminal device and transmitted to the information providing server as video data. Then, in the information providing server, the encoding means analyzes the video data and obtains a storage address corresponding to the digital mark photographed by the terminal device of the user on a one-to-one basis.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the user can obtain the detailed information of the distributed information only by transmitting the digital mark attached to the distributed information as the video data to the information providing server.

Further, according to the present invention, the information providing method is an information providing method of receiving a digital mark attached to information distributed to a user and providing detailed information of the information to the user. First step of receiving an e-mail having a file attached from the information provider's terminal device via a network, and extracting a file from the e-mail and creating a storage address for storing the extracted file A second step, a third step of storing the extracted file in correspondence with the created storage address, a fourth step of receiving a digital mark from the user's terminal device via the network,
Fifth step of encoding a storage address corresponding to the received digital mark, detecting a storage address matching the encoded storage address, reading a file corresponding to the detected storage address, and reading the file to the user terminal device. The sixth step of transmitting through the network, and the digital mark is a mark indicating the created storage address.

In the information providing method according to the present invention,
When the digital mark is received from the user's terminal device, a storage address corresponding to the digital mark on a one-to-one basis is encoded, and a file (detailed information) corresponding to the encoded storage address is transmitted to the user.

Therefore, the user can easily obtain the detailed information only by transmitting the digital mark.

Preferably, in the second step, further, the created storage address is transmitted to the terminal device of the information provider.

When the file including the detailed information is received from the terminal device of the information provider, a storage address for storing the file is generated, and the generated storage address is transmitted to the terminal device of the information provider. Then, the transmitted storage address is used to create a digital mark attached to the information to be distributed to the user.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the information to be distributed can be accurately associated with the detailed information of the information.

Preferably, the method further comprises a seventh step of converting the extracted file into a file format suitable for transmission over the network, and in the sixth step,
The converted file is transmitted to the user's terminal device.

The file received from the terminal device of the information provider is converted into a format suitable for transmission via the network and transmitted to the user who wants detailed information.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the detailed information can be accurately transmitted to the user. Preferably, in the fourth step, the video data of the digital mark is received, and in the fifth step, the video data is analyzed to encode the storage address corresponding to the digital mark.

The digital mark is received as video data. Then, the video data is analyzed and a storage address corresponding to the photographed digital mark on a one-to-one basis is obtained.

Therefore, according to the present invention, detailed information of the distributed information can be provided to the user only by receiving the image data of the digital mark.

[0030]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts will be denoted by the same reference characters and description thereof will not be repeated.

An outline of an information providing system using the information providing server according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The information providing system 100 includes a terminal device 10, an information providing server 20, and a network 30 including the Internet.
, A wireless base station 40, and mobile phones 50 to 52.

The terminal device 10 is a terminal device of an information provider, and is specifically a personal computer.
The terminal device 10 creates a file including detailed information regarding information described in newspapers, magazines, advertisements, and the like by the information provider in response to an instruction from the information provider. Terminal device 10
Creates a file using, for example, software called Word (R). Then, the terminal device 10 attaches the created file to an electronic mail and transmits it to the information providing server 20 via the access point 60 and the network 30.

Further, the terminal device 10 is the information providing server 2
When the storage address for storing the file transmitted to the information providing server 20 in the information providing server 20 is received from the information providing server 20 via the network 30 and the access point 60, a bar code representing the received storage address is created. Then, the terminal device 10 attaches the created barcode to the information to be distributed to the user by the information provider. That is, with reference to FIG.
Files 81 to 86 including detailed information about the headlines 71 to 76 of the advertisement 70 to be posted on the train are created, and the created files 81 to 86 are attached to an electronic mail and transmitted to the information providing server 20. In this case, the terminal device 10
May attach all of the files 81 to 86 to an e-mail and send it to the information providing server 20.
Each of 86 may be separately attached to an e-mail and transmitted to the information providing server 20. Then, when the terminal device 10 receives from the information providing server 20 six storage addresses for storing each of the files 81 to 86 from the information providing server 20, the terminal device 10 makes one-to-one correspondence with the received six storage addresses. Corresponding barcodes 71A to 76A are created, and the created barcodes 71A to 76A are referred to as headings 71 to 7
6 is attached to the advertisement 70. In this case, the terminal device 10 reads the barcodes 71A to 76A so that the storage address can be recognized so that the barcodes 71A to 76A can be recognized.
To create.

Then, the information provider has the headings 71-71.
The advertisement 70 to which the barcodes 71A to 76A are attached in association with 76 is posted on the train. Although only one information provider terminal device is shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of information provider terminal devices may be used in the present invention.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the information providing server 2
0 is generally attached to the advertisement 70 by converting the files 81 to 86 attached to the electronic mail from the terminal device 10 into a file format that can be transmitted via the network 30 and storing them together with the storage address. Bar code 71A ~
When 76A is received from the mobile phones 50 to 52, the files 81 to 86 are read by the method described later based on the received barcodes 71A to 76A, and the read files 81 to 86 are transmitted to the barcodes 71A to 76A. It transmits to the portable telephone 50-52 which did.

In order to fulfill such a function, the information providing server 20 includes the mail server 201 and the conversion server 20.
2, the page server 203, and the encode server 204
And a user database 205. Note that FIG.
In the above, the mail server 201, the conversion server 202, the page server 203, and the encoding server 204 are described as one independent server. However, if the server capacity is sufficient, these functions are realized by one server. It is also possible to

The mail server 201 receives the electronic mail from the terminal device 10 via the network 30, and determines whether or not the files 81 to 86 are attached to the received electronic mail. And the mail server 201
When the files 81 to 86 are attached to the electronic mail, transfers the electronic mail to which the files 81 to 86 are attached to the conversion server 202.

Further, the mail server 201 uses the file 8
When the storage address (URL) indicating the storage location in the user database 205 of the conversion file obtained by converting 1 to 86 into the HTML format file is received from the page server 203, the storage address (URL) is added to the electronic mail and the terminal device is added. Send to 10.

Further, when the mail server 201 receives the video data of the barcodes 71A to 76A photographed from the mobile phones 50 to 52, it transfers the received video data to the encode server 204. Then, when the conversion file read from the user database 205 is transferred from the encoding server 204, the mail server 201 transmits the transferred conversion file to the barcodes 71A to 76 via the network 30 and the wireless base station 40.
It is transmitted to the mobile phones 50 to 52 that transmitted A.

The conversion server 202 extracts the files 81 to 86 from the electronic mail, determines the type of the extracted files 81 to 86 by the method described later, and converts the files 81 to 86 into the converted files based on the determination result. After conversion, the converted conversion file is transferred to the page server 203.

The page server 203 generates a storage address (URL) indicating the storage location of the conversion file, records the conversion file in the user database 205 in association with the generated storage address (URL), and stores the generated storage. The address (URL) is transferred to the mail server 201.

That is, referring to FIG. 3, the page server 203 uses, as storage addresses for storing the conversion files 81A to 86A obtained by converting the files 81 to 86,
"Ab.html" and "cd.htm, respectively.
l "," ++. html "," r5u. html ","
342. html ", and" df. html "is generated, and the page server 203 generates the generated" a ".
b. html "," cd. html "," ++. htm
l "," r5u. html "," 342. html ”,
And conversion file 81 to "df.html" respectively
A to 86A are associated and recorded in the user database 205. Further, the page server 203 generates the generated “a
b. html "," cd. html "," ++. htm
l "," r5u. html "," 342. html ”,
And "df.html" are transferred to the mail server 201.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the encoding server 204 receives the barcodes 71A to 71A from the mail server 201.
When the image data of the imaged 76A is transferred, the barcodes 71A to 76A are read from the image data, and the storage addresses corresponding to the read barcodes 71A to 76A are encoded one-to-one. If the read barcode is the barcode 71A, the encoding server 204
Encodes the storage address "ab.html". Similarly, the encoding server 204 uses the other barcodes 72A to 76A for "cd.htm."
l "," ++. html "," r5u. html ","
342. html ", and" df. html "is encoded.

Then, the encoding server 204 searches the user database 205 for a storage address that matches the encoded storage address "ab.html",
When a storage address that matches the encoded storage address “ab.html” is detected from the user database 205, the detected storage address “ab.html” is detected.
The conversion file 81A stored in correspondence with the mail server 201 is read from the user database 205.
Transfer to.

As shown in FIG. 3, the user database 205 has storage addresses “ab.html” and “cd.h”.
tml "," ++. html "," r5u. htm
l "," 342. html ", and" df. htm
The conversion files 81A to 86A are stored in association with each l ".

A conversion method in which the conversion server 202 converts the files 81 to 86 into the conversion files 81A to 86A will be described with reference to FIG. The conversion server 202 includes an input file selection engine 2021, a file type determination engine 2022, and a translation engine 2023.
And a database 2024. The input file selection engine 2021, the file type determination engine 2022, and the translation engine 2023 are functional blocks that represent functions for converting the files 81 to 86 into the conversion files 81A to 86A.

Input file selection engine 2021
Selects the input file which is the received e-mail, determines whether the files 81 to 86 are attached to the input file, and if the files 81 to 86 are attached, the input file is stored in the database 2024. Store temporarily.

The file type determination engine 2022
The files 81 to 86 are read from the database 2024, and the file extensions of the files 81 to 86 are detected. That is, the file type determination engine 2022
“Do included in the file names of the files 81 to 86
c "," xls "," zip ", and" mime "are detected," doc "indicates that files 81-86 were created in words, and" xls "indicates file 81.
~ 86 indicates that the files are created in Excel, "zip" indicates that the files 81 to 86 are compressed data, and "mime" indicates the files 81 to 8
6 indicates a file format used for electronic mail.

Therefore, the file type determination engine 2022 detects the files "doc" when it detects "doc".
Recognizing that 86 is created by word, FIB (File Information B) indicating the position where the text is described in files 81-86.
lock). Then, the file type determination engine 2022 detects the text based on the FIB and analyzes the data structure of the detected text. In this case, the file type determination engine 2022 analyzes the layout of texts and images as the analysis of the data structure of the text. Then, the file type determination engine 2022
Is a database 2024 for analysis results of the file formats of the detected files 81 to 86 and the data structure of the text.
Temporarily store in.

The translation engine 2023 uses the database 2
The analysis result of the file format and the data structure of the text stored in 024 is read, and the files 81 to 86 are converted to H based on the read file format and the result of the structural analysis.
Convert to a TML format file. Then, the translation engine 2023 transfers the conversion files 81A to 86A converted into the HTML format file to the page server 203.

As described above, the conversion server 202 converts the files 81 to 86 received from the terminal device 10 into the conversion files 81A to 81A in a format that facilitates transmission via the network 30.
Convert to 86A.

Referring to FIG. 5, when the user sees the advertisement 70 posted on the train and wants to obtain detailed information on the headline 73 of the headlines 71 to 76, he / she can use his / her mobile phone 50-52. When the key 5041 of the provided key operation unit 504 is pressed, the camera 508 photographs the barcode 73A corresponding to the index 73, and transmits the photographed barcode 73A to the information providing server 20.

The mobile phones 50 to 52 receive the conversion file 83A from the information providing server 20 based on the bar code 73A transmitted to the information providing server 20, and the details regarding the headline 73 described in the received conversion file 83A. Get information.

In the above description, when the key 5041 is pressed once, the camera 508 photographs the barcode 73A and the photographed barcode 73A is transmitted by the mobile phones 50 to 52 to the information providing server 20. May be performed by pressing the key 5041 twice. That is, when the key 5041 is pressed once, the camera 50
8 photographs the barcode 73A, and the photographed barcode 73A is displayed on the display unit 503. When the key 5041 is pressed again, the mobile phones 50 to 52 are
The photographed barcode 73A is transmitted to the information providing server 20. Thus, when the barcode 73A is photographed by pressing the key 5041 twice and the photographed barcode 73A is transmitted to the information providing server 20, the photographed barcode 73A is displayed on the display unit 503. ,
Heading 73 for which you want to obtain detailed information about the barcode that was shot
It is possible to confirm whether or not it is the barcode 73A corresponding to.

Referring to FIG. 6, mobile phones 50 to 52
Is a data bus BS, an antenna 501, and a transceiver unit 5.
02, a display unit 503, a key operation unit 504, a controller 505, and a RAM (Random Access).
Memory 506 and ROM (Read Onl)
y Memory) 507, a camera 508, and an image processing unit 509.

The antenna 501 receives a signal wirelessly transmitted via the wireless base station 40 and also transmits signals from the mobile phones 50 to 52. The transceiver unit 502 is
A signal from the antenna 501 is received and converted into a baseband signal, or data from the mobile phones 50 to 52 is modulated and given to the antenna 501.

The display unit 503 visually gives various kinds of information to the user. The key operation unit 504 receives an instruction from the user. The controller 505 is a mobile phone 50-
The respective parts of 52 are controlled. The RAM 506 is a work memory of the controller 505. The ROM 507 stores the program executed by the controller 505.

The camera 508 photographs the bar codes 71A to 76A in response to an instruction from the controller 505,
The image processing unit 5 uses the captured barcodes 71A to 76A.
It outputs to 09. The image processing unit 509 converts the barcodes 71A to 76A input from the camera 508 into JPEG (J
oint Photographic Experts
Group). The data bus BS is
Data is transmitted between the respective parts of the mobile phones 50 to 52.

Incidentally, in FIG.
Functional blocks related to the normal call function of 52 are omitted.

7 and 8 are first and second flow charts for explaining the operation of the information providing server 20 providing the user with the detailed information desired by the user in the information providing system 100 shown in FIG. is there.

With reference to FIG. 7, when the operation is started, the terminal device 10 of the information provider has a file 8 including detailed information on each of the headlines 71 to 76 to be placed in the advertisement 70.
1 to 86 are created (step S100), the created files 81 to 86 are attached to an electronic mail and transmitted to the information providing server 20 via the access point 60 and the network 30 (step S102).

Mail server 201 of information providing server 20
Receives the e-mail (step S104) and transfers the received e-mail to the conversion server 202. Input file selection engine 202 of conversion server 202
1 selects the input file which is the received e-mail, and stores the files 81-86 in the input file.
It is determined whether or not is attached, and files 81-86
If is attached, the input file is temporarily stored in the database 2024.

The file type determination engine 2022
The files 81 to 86 are extracted from the database 2024 (step S106), and the file extensions of the files 81 to 86 are detected. Then, the file type determination engine 2022 recognizes the software that created the files 81 to 86 based on the detected extension, and finds the FIB indicating the position where the text is described in the files 81 to 86. After that, the file type determination engine 2022 detects the text based on the found FIB and analyzes the data structure of the detected text.

Then, the file type determination engine 20
22 is a file format of the detected files 81 to 86,
Database 20 for analysis results of data structure of text and text
Temporarily store in 24. Then, the translation engine 202
3 reads the analysis result of the file format and the data structure of the text stored in the database 2024, and converts the files 81 to 86 into the HTML format file based on the read file format and the result of the structural analysis (step S108). And the translation engine 202
3 transfers the conversion files 81A to 86A converted into the HTML format file to the page server 203.

The page server 203 is the conversion server 202.
Translation files 81A-86 from the translation engine 2023
When A is received, a storage address for storing the conversion files 81A to 86A is generated (step S110).
Then, the page server 203 records the conversion files 81A to 86A in the user database 205 in association with the generated storage address (step S112), and transfers the generated storage address to the mail server 201.

Then, the mail server 201 attaches the storage address transferred from the page server 203 to the electronic mail and transmits the electronic mail to the terminal device 10 via the network 30 (step S114). The terminal device 10 receives the e-mail to which the storage address is attached (step S116), and extracts the storage address attached to the received e-mail. And the terminal device 10
Is a barcode 71A-7 indicating the extracted storage address
6A is created (step S118).

Referring to FIG. 8, the terminal device 10 attaches the created barcodes 71A to 76A to the information and distributes it to the user (step S120). Specifically, the terminal device 10 sends the created barcodes 71A to 76A to the advertisement 7
It is attached to the advertisement 70 in association with the headlines 71 to 76 of 0. Then, the information provider posts the advertisement 70 on the train.

The user who sees the advertisement 70 posted on the train, in order to photograph the bar code 73A corresponding to the headline of interest among the headlines 71 to 76, presses the key 5041 of his or her mobile phone 50 to 52. push. Then, the controller 505 of the mobile phones 50 to 52 receives the barcode 73A from the key operation unit 504 via the data bus BS.
The camera 508 is controlled so as to capture the barcode 73A in response to the instruction to capture the image. And camera 5
08 photographs the barcode 73A of the advertisement 70 (step S122).

The image processing section 509 compresses the image data of the bar code 73A photographed by the camera 508 by JPEG and outputs it to the data bus BS, and the controller 505.
Supplies the video data on the data bus BS to the transmitting / receiving unit 502. Then, the transmission / reception unit 502 subjects the image data of the barcode 73A to predetermined modulation, and the antenna 50
1 transmits the modulated video data to the information providing server 20 via the wireless base station 40 and the network 30. As a result, the photographed barcode 73A is transmitted to the information providing server 20 (step S124).

Mail server 201 of information providing server 20
Receives the barcode image data (step S12).
6) The image data of the received bar code is transferred to the encoding server 204. Encoding server 204
Decompresses the video data obtained by capturing the barcode, and reads the barcode 73A from the decompressed video data. Then, the encode server 204 analyzes the read barcode 73A and encodes the storage address "++. Html" corresponding to the barcode 73A (step S128).

Then, the encoding server 204
A storage address that matches the encoded storage address "++. Html" is detected from the user database 205 (step S130), and the detected storage address "
++. conversion file 8 stored in correspondence with "html"
3A is read from the user database 205 (step S132). Then, the encoding server 204 transfers the read conversion file 83A to the mail server 201, and the mail server 201 transfers the conversion file 83A to the mobile phones 50 to 52 that have transmitted the barcode 73A, the network 30 and the wireless base station 40. It transmits via (step S134).

Controller 50 of mobile phones 50 to 52
5 receives the conversion file 83A via the antenna 501 and the transmitting / receiving unit 502 (step S136), and displays the contents (detailed information) of the received conversion file 83A on the display unit 503 via the data bus BS. And
A series of operations ends. This allows the user to acquire the detailed information that he / she desires.

In the above description, the bar code is shown as being attached to the information distributed to the user, but in the present invention, not only the bar code but also the storage address (U
Any figure may be used as long as it is a figure showing RL). In addition,
In the present invention, the graphic indicating the storage address is called "digital mark".

Although the advertisement is shown as the information to which the barcode is attached, the invention is not limited to the advertisement, and the barcode may be attached to newspapers, magazines, system notebooks and the like.

Further, the mobile phone is shown as the terminal device for photographing the bar code attached to the advertisement and transmitting it to the information providing server. However, the present invention is not limited to the mobile phone, and a PDA (Personal Digital A) is used.
a personal computer (PC: Personal Computer).
r).

Further, in the above description, the conversion server 202 of the information providing server 20 has been described as converting the file attached to the e-mail received from the terminal device 10 into HTML. CHT
It is converted to ML (Compact HTML) and stored. Then, when the information providing server 20 receives the barcode from the user, the information providing server 20 transmits the conversion file converted into CHTML to the mobile phones 50 to 52 that have transmitted the barcode.

Further, in the present invention, the conversion server 202 of the information providing server 20 uses the HTML file attached to the electronic mail received from the terminal device 10 as the HTML.
Converts and saves files, CHTML files, and HTML files with reduced resolution. The HTML file is a file for a personal computer (PC), the CHTML file is a file for a mobile phone, and the HTML file with a reduced resolution is a file for a PDA.

Then, the information providing server 20 converts the files into three types of files, generates three storage addresses respectively corresponding to the three types of files, stores the three types of files, and stores the generated three storage addresses. It is transmitted to the terminal device 10. The information provider creates three digital marks respectively indicating the received three storage addresses by the terminal device 10, attaches the created three digital marks to the information, and distributes it to the user. In this case, the three digital marks are created separately for the three types of models of personal computer, mobile phone, and PDA.

Then, the user shoots the digital mark suitable for his device among the three digital marks attached to the information with the camera as described above, and transmits the taken digital mark to the information providing server 20. To do. Then, the information providing server 20 encodes the storage address corresponding to the received digital mark by the method described above, and sends the conversion file stored corresponding to the encoded storage address to the device of the user who transmitted the digital mark. Send.

By doing so, the user's device can be a mobile phone, a personal computer, and a PDA.
In either case, detailed information can be transmitted to the user in a format suitable for these models.

The embodiments disclosed this time are to be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above description of the embodiments but by the claims, and is intended to include meanings equivalent to the claims and all modifications within the scope.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for conceptually explaining an information providing system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a relationship between information provided by an information provider and detailed information.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing stored contents of a user database shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the conversion server shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a method of transmitting a barcode for obtaining detailed information to an information providing server.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of the mobile phone shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a first flowchart for explaining an operation in which the information providing server provides the user with detailed information desired by the user in the information providing system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a second flowchart for explaining an operation in which the information providing server provides the user with detailed information desired by the user in the information providing system shown in FIG. 1.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 terminal device, 20 information providing server, 30 network, 40 wireless base station, 50-52 mobile phone,
60 access points, 70 advertisements, 71A-76A
Bar code, 81-86 file, 81A-86A
Conversion file, 100 Information provision system, 201
Mail server, 202 conversion server, 203 page server, 204 encode server, 205 user database, 501 antenna, 502 transceiver unit, 50
3 display unit, 504 key operation unit, 505 controller, 506 RAM, 507 ROM, 508 camera, 509 image processing unit, 2021 input file selection engine, 2022 file type determination engine, 2023 translation engine, 2024 database, 5041 key.

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An information providing server that receives a digital mark attached to information distributed to a user and provides detailed information of the information corresponding to the digital mark to the user, the information providing server comprising the detailed information. Means for receiving an electronic mail attached with a file from a terminal device of an information provider via a network, and receiving the digital mark from the terminal device of the user via the network; and extracting the file from the electronic mail. And a means for creating a storage address for storing the extracted file, a means for storing the extracted file in association with the created storage address, and a storage corresponding to the received digital mark. A means for encoding an address and a storage address that matches the encoded storage address. Is detected from the storage means, and a file corresponding to the detected storage address is read from the storage means and transmitted to the user's terminal device via the network. The information providing server, which is a mark indicating the stored address. 2. The information providing server according to claim 1, wherein the digital mark is created by an information provider who has received the created storage address and is attached to the information. 3. The apparatus further comprises means for converting the extracted file into a file format suitable for transmission via the network, wherein the transmitting means transmits the converted file to a terminal device of the user, The information providing server according to claim 1 or 2. 4. The receiving means receives video data obtained by photographing the digital mark, and the encoding means analyzes the received video data to encode a storage address corresponding to the digital mark. The information providing server according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 5. An information providing method of receiving a digital mark attached to information distributed to a user and providing detailed information of the information to the user, wherein the electronic mail includes a file including the detailed information. A first step of receiving the information from a terminal device of an information provider via a network; a second step of extracting the file from the email and creating a storage address for storing the extracted file; A third step of storing the extracted file in association with the created storage address; a fourth step of receiving the digital mark from the user terminal device via the network; A fifth step of encoding a storage address corresponding to the digital mark, and the encoded storage address. A sixth step of detecting a storage address that matches the storage address, reading a file corresponding to the detected storage address, and transmitting the file to the terminal device of the user via the network. A method of providing information, which is a mark indicating a stored address that has been stored. 6. In the second step, further,
The information providing method according to claim 5, wherein the created storage address is transmitted to the terminal device of the information provider. 7. A seventh step of converting the extracted file into a file format suitable for transmission over the network.
7. The information providing method according to claim 5 or 6, further comprising the step of, wherein in the sixth step, the converted file is transmitted to the terminal device of the user. 8. In the fourth step, video data obtained by photographing the digital mark is received, and in the fifth step, the video data is analyzed to encode a storage address corresponding to the digital mark. The information providing method according to any one of claims 5 to 7.