JP2003099356A - Information-providing method and device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem of the difficulty in obtaining detailed information items using a personal digital assistant, such as a cellular phone. SOLUTION: A user gains access to a page, from which he can obtain the information items of a tourist site, using a PC terminal 12 and searches the information items. The user is urged to select the information items to be transmitted to the user's cellular phone 13, if the user so desires, and an action- detecting part 32 detects this. A mail-editing part 34 edits an electronic mail to be transmitted to the user's cellular phone 13, based on the detected information items, and a transmission part 28 transmits the mail.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information providing technique, and more particularly to an information providing technique usable in a portable information terminal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various portable information terminals, which are collectively referred to as PDA (Personal Data Assistant), have been commercialized. In addition to conventional use mainly for personal information management, pages connected to the Internet and on the web The number of cases of browsing and sending and receiving e-mail is increasing.

This tendency applies not only to PDAs but also to mobile phones. As for the mobile phone, not only the conventional call service but also the service as an information terminal having a PDA function is becoming more important. Especially for young people, access to the Internet and use of e-mail using a mobile phone as an information terminal are prevalent. The high performance of mobile phones has made it possible to display specific pages.

[0004]

However, even if the performance of a mobile phone is improved, the quality and quantity of information that can be displayed on the screen is largely limited as compared with a personal computer. The detailed information gathering still largely depends on the personal computer, and in order to use it on the portable information terminal, edit it on the personal computer and directly connect the two with a cable or the like, or indirectly connect it via a network and transfer the data. There is a need. This kind of work is troublesome for the user, and rather than doing the editing work for the mobile phone, the use on a personal computer is often satisfactory.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a technique for distributing information usable in a portable information terminal.

[0006]

One aspect of the present invention relates to an information providing method. In this method, a plurality of information items are displayed on the first terminal, which focuses on the operability of the user, and the user selects at least one of the information items displayed on the screen of the first terminal on the screen. Due to
The information item is distributed to the second terminal whose main purpose is portability of the user.

Here, the "first terminal whose main purpose is user operability" is, for example, a personal computer (hereinafter,
A terminal having a highly operable input device such as a keyboard and a mouse and a large-sized display (for example, simply abbreviated as "PC"), and is hereinafter also simply referred to as "first terminal". In addition, "the second terminal with a focus on portability"
The term, for example, refers to a mobile information terminal such as a PDA or a mobile phone, which is hereinafter also simply referred to as a “second terminal”.

[0008] Another aspect of the present invention relates to an information providing device. This device has a page holding unit for arranging information items on the assumption of a screen displayed on the first terminal and holding a page in a form in which a first interface is provided for any of these information items. Then, when the user takes an action with respect to the first interface with respect to any of the information items displayed on the first terminal and the address holding unit that holds the address of the second terminal held by the user, this is detected. The action detector and when an action is detected,
And an information distribution unit that distributes the information item subjected to the action to the second terminal through the network. Here, the “interface” can be assumed to be a GUI (Graphical User Interface) that operates an icon on the screen with a mouse or the like, but is not limited to this. The "address" is used to identify the second terminal when the information item is distributed from the first terminal to the second terminal. For example, a network address is generally used, and an e-mail address is particularly used. .

This apparatus may be provided with a second interface for inputting the address of the second terminal on the screen of the first terminal and registering the address in the address holding unit.

The information items held in the page holding unit may include a map of tourist spots, or may include information on stores existing in the tourist spots.

The information delivery unit may deliver the information item to the second terminal in the form of attaching the information item to the electronic mail or writing in the text thereof. For example, if the map data is distributed to the mobile phone which is the second terminal, the user does not need to have a separate map. Further, if the image data can be used as a discount ticket at the store as the store information, the user can receive the discount only by presenting the image data displayed on the mobile phone to the store. On the other hand, the store side can also be expected to be effective as a means of attracting customers.

The information distribution unit may distribute the information item in a form in which the network address is written in the electronic mail, and the network address is the network address of the page configured to be used by the second terminal. May be. As this network address, for example, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) or the like can be assumed. In this case, the user can easily obtain necessary information items by accessing this URL from a mobile phone at a tourist spot, for example.

It should be noted that any combination of the above components and the expression method of the present invention exchanged between a method, an apparatus, a server, a system, a computer program, a recording medium, etc. are also effective as an aspect of the present invention. Is.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The outline of an embodiment of the present invention will be described. The present embodiment provides a user who plans a trip with information items of tourist spots. The user uses the PC terminal 12 in advance to access the travel site 14. The travel site 14 is a PC for the accessing user.
In addition to providing detailed information items of tourist destinations on the page displayed on the terminal 12, if the user desires,
The information item is delivered to the mobile phone 13 owned by the user by e-mail in a form suitable for use by the mobile phone 13. The information items distributed to the mobile phone 13 are, for example, maps of tourist spots, discount tickets that can be used in stores, and the like, and the format thereof may be image data.
U of the page on the web where there are information items available in
The RL may be written in the body of the email.

FIG. 1 shows an information providing device 1 according to an embodiment.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a network system 10 including 6 The information providing device 16 is included in the travel site 14 and communicates with the PC terminal 12 and the mobile phone 13 via the Internet 18.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the information providing device 16. The information providing device 16 includes a communication unit 30, an authentication unit 22 that authenticates a user, a distribution unit 28 that distributes an email to the user, a registration unit 24 that registers user information, and an information item that the user desires to distribute. Action detecting section 32 for detecting it when selecting, a mail editing section 34 for editing an electronic mail, a PC information table 36 for holding pages displayed on the PC terminal 12, and a mobile phone 13.
Information table for distribution 4 that holds information items to be distributed to
0 and a user information table 58 holding user information.

The communication unit 30 communicates with the PC terminal 12 and the mobile phone 13 via the Internet 18.

The registration unit 24 receives input of user information necessary for the user to receive this service. Figure 3
Is a registration screen 64 displayed on the PC terminal 12 when user information is input. The registration unit 24 prompts the user to input the user name, the e-mail address of the PC terminal 12 and the mobile phone 13, the ID, and the password.
Prompt the user to register whether or not to set cookies. When the user presses the “register” button 82, the input user information is recorded in the user information table 58. When the cookie setting is selected, the ID is set as a cookie in the web browser of the PC terminal 12.

The authentication unit 22 detects the cookie set in the web browser of the PC terminal 12 and acquires the authentication information of the user. If no cookie is detected, the user will be prompted to enter the ID and password.

FIG. 4 shows the user information table 58. The e-mail address of the PC terminal 12 registered by the user in the registration unit 24, the e-mail address of the mobile phone 13, the ID,
And the password is recorded.

FIG. 5 shows a screen 62 displayed on the PC terminal 12 when the user accesses a predetermined page of the travel site 14. On this page, especially resort information is provided to the user. Now, the user "Hanako Sato" 102 is accessing this page, and the e-mail address "123 @ keit" of the mobile phone 13 of this user.
ai. co. jp ”is displayed on the interface 104. The e-mail address can be changed by the interface 104. When a user who has not registered user information accesses this page, the interface 104 is displayed as blank and it is necessary to input the e-mail address of the mobile phone 13 of the delivery destination. On the sub-screen 106, information items about "Kamahaniya ○○" are displayed. Further, a map 108 showing the location of "Kamaiya" is displayed. When the user wants to deliver these information items to the mobile phone 13, the user can select the information item to be delivered to the interface 1
At least one of “map”, “discount ticket”, and “URL” is selected in 10, and the “delivery” button 84 is pressed. The action detection unit 32 detects the information item selected by the user on the interface 110 and the e-mail address of the mobile phone 13 displayed on the interface 104,
The mail editing unit 34 refers to the user information table 58 and the distribution information table 40 to distribute the information item selected by the user to the mobile phone 13 of the user by electronic mail. Here, the “map” and the “discount ticket” are attached as image data to the e-mail, and the “URL” is distributed to the mobile phone 13 in the form written in the e-mail.

Here, the image data distributed to the mobile phone 13 may be the same as the image data displayed on the PC terminal 12, or may be another image data associated with the image data. Good. Furthermore, the PC terminal 12
The image data displayed in step (3) may be converted into a form suitable for use by the mobile phone 13 by a program installed in advance in the information providing device at the time of distribution. That is, as long as the image data can be used by the mobile phone 13, its format does not matter.

FIG. 6 is a screen in which the information items distributed to the mobile phone 13 are displayed on the mobile phone 13. Figure 6 (a)
Is a screen in which it is stated that the image data of the “map” and the “discount ticket” are attached to the delivered email, FIG.
6B is a screen in which the "URL" is written in the e-mail, FIG. 6C is a screen in which the image data of the attached "map" is displayed, and FIG. 6D is a "discount ticket". The screen where the image data of is displayed. For example, the user presents the mobile phone 13 displaying the “discount ticket” at “Kamaiya XX” to save the food and drink charge 1 until August 15, 2001.
Get a 0% discount. By following the URL link shown in FIG. 6B, the user is led to the page on the web displayed as shown in FIG. 6E.

The operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The information items of the tourist destination desired by the user are displayed on the PC terminal 12 (S10). Mobile phone 1
When the user selects the information item to be distributed to 3, the action detection unit 32 detects it (S12). The mail editing unit 34 refers to the user information table 58 and the distribution information table 40 and edits the electronic mail to be distributed to the mobile phone 13 (S14). The delivery unit 28 delivers the edited e-mail to the mobile phone 13 (S16).

According to the above-described embodiment, the PC terminal 12 is used in advance to select a tourist spot and obtain detailed information items.
Since only the necessary information items are delivered in a form suitable for use on the mobile phone 13, the user does not need to carry around a guide map or map of a tourist spot. In addition, although portable PCs such as laptop PCs are increasing, they are still a hindrance when traveling, so it is very convenient if you can use information on sightseeing spots with the mobile phone 13 that you generally carry when you go out. is there. Furthermore, for example, in the case of a resort, it may be outside the communication area of the mobile phone 13, so it is convenient if map data or the like is distributed to the mobile phone 13 in advance. In addition, tourist attractions can be expected to attract customers.

The present invention has been described above based on the embodiments. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that this embodiment is merely an example, and various modifications exist.
An example of such a modification will be given.

In the present embodiment, the distribution of the information items for the PC terminal 12 and the distribution of the information items for the mobile phone 13 are performed by the same device, but some of them are handled by another site (not shown). May be. For example, a site that provides information items to be displayed on the PC terminal 12 may be operated by another person, and a service may be provided in which an e-mail is delivered to the user at the request of the person.

In the present embodiment, the map and store information are assumed as the information items distributed to the mobile phone 13. Of course, this information item may be arbitrary, for example, a public transportation timetable may be considered. Although the user selects the information item to be distributed, a plurality of predetermined information items may be distributed instead of being selected by the user, in which case the user's action is required only once.

[0029]

[Effects of the Invention] An information item obtained in advance from a terminal such as a PC that focuses on operability is carried in a form suitable for use in a portable information terminal that focuses on portability such as a mobile phone. It can be provided to information terminals.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a network system including an information providing device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an information providing device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a registration screen for registering user information.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a user information table.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a screen displayed when a user collects information items of a tourist spot on a PC terminal.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a screen displaying information items distributed to a mobile phone.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a series of processing procedures according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

12 PC terminal, 13 mobile phone, 16 information providing device, 18 Internet, 28 distribution unit, 3
2 Action detection part, 34 Mail editing part, 36
PC information table, 40 distribution information table,
104 interface, 110 interface.

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Takao Miyajima             1-1-1 Kyobashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo Tokyu Re             Within Zote Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 5B019 GA10 JA10                 5B085 AA08 BE01 BE07                 5K101 KK18 LL01 LL12 MM07 NN06                       NN07 NN18 NN21

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of information items are displayed on a first terminal, which focuses on user operability, and at least one of the information items displayed on the screen of the first terminal is selected by the user on the screen. By doing so, the information item is distributed to the second terminal whose main purpose is portability of the user. 2. An information item is arranged on the assumption that a screen displayed on a first terminal is intended for user operability, and a first interface is provided for any of the information items. The page holding unit that holds the page, the address holding unit that holds the address of the second terminal whose main purpose is the portability of the user, and the first item regarding any of the information items displayed by the user on the first terminal An action detection unit that detects an action when the action is performed on the interface, and an information delivery unit that, when the action is detected, delivers the information item targeted by the action to the second terminal through the network. An information providing device characterized by having. 3. The screen of the first terminal is provided with a second interface for inputting the address of the second terminal and registering the address in the address holding unit. The information providing device described in. 4. The information providing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the information items held in the page holding unit include a map of tourist spots. 5. The information providing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the information items held in the page holding unit include shop information existing in a tourist spot. 6. The information providing device according to claim 2, wherein the information distribution unit distributes the information item to the second terminal in a form in which the information item is attached to an electronic mail or written in the text thereof. apparatus. 7. The information delivery unit is configured to deliver an information item to the second terminal in a form in which a network address is written in an electronic mail, and the network address is used by the second terminal. 7. The information providing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the information is a network address of a page.