JP2003132381A - Portable information terminal and management server usable by terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To resolve a problem of constraints by an OS or a communication environment in presenting identity of a model when developing a portable information terminal. SOLUTION: In a management system 10, a PDA 12 receives a signal notifying entrance from an entrance monitoring device 14 installed per attraction of a theme park, and it records the information in a behavior history. When a user purchases a commodity at a store related to the theme park, the PDA 12 receives a signal notifying this fact and it records this information in the behavior history. The PDA 12 presents information useful for the user on the basis of the recorded behavior history.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a portable information terminal and a management server that can be used by this terminal. The present invention particularly relates to a technique of managing data regarding a user using a mobile information terminal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, various portable information terminals have become popular as personal information management tools. These are PDA (Pe
It is called rsonal Digital Assistant) and is being improved daily with higher functionality, and is attracting a great deal of attention. Functions common to PDAs include electronic notebook functions such as schedules, address books, memos, etc., but in addition, functions equipped with various functions such as Internet browser, e-mail, games, and multimedia playback also appear. ing.

A PDA, like a personal computer (hereinafter abbreviated as "PC"), has a specific OS (Operatin).
g System), and each OS has its own GUI (Gr
aphical User Interface) is often provided. Similar to the PC, the compatibility of programs and data with other types of mobile information terminals is a problem, and which OS is installed may affect the sales of the mobile information terminal. It may be possible to develop an original OS from scratch in order to bring out the uniqueness of the product, but compared to the existing OS, there are many problems in terms of operational stability and development costs, and each P
I am plagued by the same dilemma as the history of unification of platforms that C makers followed.

On the other hand, short-range wireless technology has been attracting attention as a technology capable of greatly expanding the applications of portable information terminals. There are several standards for short-range wireless technology, all of which are in the process of becoming popular. Literally, the biggest delay in standardization in portable information terminals, where portability is important, is the communication function, which is great for the provision of indoor and outdoor communication environments and the proposal of unprecedented network services that utilize such environments. Expectations are coming.

[0005]

In the present situation where the development of the communication environment for mobile information terminals is lagging behind, there is a strong impression that mobile information terminals are the main functions of schedule management and address book management, and its user base is businesspeople. Tends to be central. In order to overcome this tendency and broaden the user base, it is important not only to add new functions but also to provide added value that maximizes the characteristics of portability. It is also significant to avoid excessive price wars.

The present invention has been made from such a background, and an object thereof is to provide a technique for realizing a valuable service through a portable information terminal.

[0007]

One aspect of the present invention relates to a portable information terminal. This terminal is an admission processing unit that detects entrance to an attraction of an entertainment facility, a recording unit that saves the type of attraction in the action history when the admission is detected, and information useful for determining the user's action at the entertainment facility. It has an information setting unit that specifies the information based on the action history, and a display processing unit that displays useful information on the screen.

This portable information terminal is a palmtop PD
A has various functions as an electronic notebook such as schedule management, an address book and a memo pad, and various functions as a small computer on which programs such as games, databases, Internet browsers and electronic mails operate. In the present embodiment, both PDA as a personal property and PDA of the type lent out at an entertainment facility are included.

"Amusement facility" refers to a comprehensive facility that people visit for entertainment purposes, such as an amusement park, a theme park, a zoo, an aquarium, and a museum. "Attractions"
Indicates the location of one event provided in the entertainment facility, such as a ferris wheel, a merry-go-round, or an amusement park.
Go-karts, etc. are applicable. The "entrance processing unit" detects the entrance of the user by performing wireless communication with the entrance monitoring device provided at the entrance gate of each attraction.

The "useful information" is information that is helpful when a visitor to the entertainment facility decides which attraction to visit next. For example, a message that informs an attraction that has not yet entered, or the same information. Information such as how many times you entered the attraction is applicable.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a management server. This server holds a record acquisition unit that acquires an admission record from a portable information terminal in which an admission record to the attraction of the entertainment facility is stored, a plurality of types of attractions included in the entertainment facility, and user actions. An information management unit that manages history based on admission records, a request processing unit that receives a request for acquisition of an action history from a mobile information terminal of a user who revisits an entertainment facility, and an action history of that user according to the request. And a transmission processing unit for transmitting to the information terminal.

Any combination of the above components,
It is also effective as an aspect of the present invention that the components and expressions of the present invention are mutually replaced among methods, devices, systems, computer programs, recording media storing computer programs, and the like.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION (First Embodiment) A PDA in the present embodiment manages a record of admission to each attraction of a theme park and a record of purchase of related products, and a user can obtain various useful information derived from the information. To present. This PDA also has a function as a so-called passport when the entrance fees to each attraction are collectively prepaid. When the user chooses postpay, this PDA handles the data records required for billing.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a management system using the portable information terminal according to the first embodiment. Management system 1
At 0, the PDA 12 receives a signal notifying the entrance to the attraction from the entrance monitoring device 14 and a signal notifying the purchase of the product from the in-store device 15. As the communication method, for example, short-range wireless technology is used.
The entrance monitoring device 14 is installed near the entrance of each attraction, and the PDA 12 of the user who wants to pass through it.
A notification signal is sent to. The in-store device 15 is connected to a cash register in the store and issues a notification signal to the user's PDA 12 when the user purchases a related product.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the portable information terminal according to the first embodiment. The PDA 12 includes a communication processing unit 20, an action detection unit 22, a fee processing unit 24, a recording unit 26, an information setting unit 28, an information holding unit 30, a condition holding unit 32, and an output processing unit 34. Action detector 2
2, the charge processing unit 24, the output processing unit 34, the communication processing unit 2
0 to communicate with the entrance monitoring device 14 or the in-store device 15. The communication processing unit 20 processes wireless communication via the antenna 21.

The behavior detection unit 22 includes an admission processing unit 36 for detecting admission to an attraction of a theme park, and a purchase processing unit 38 for detecting purchase of a product in a store that sells products related to the theme park. Entrance processing section 3
6 is an entrance monitoring device 14 installed at each attraction
Receives a signal notifying the entrance from the company and acquires information indicating the type of attraction. Purchase processing unit 38
Receives a signal notifying the purchase of a product from the in-store device 15 installed in each store, and acquires information indicating the type of the product. The type of attraction and the type of merchandise are stored in the action history stored in the information storage unit 30 by the recording unit 26 together with the date and time information.

The information setting unit 28 specifies information useful for determining the user's action in the theme park based on the action history stored in the information holding unit 30. The information holding unit 30 further stores a plurality of types of attractions included in the theme park. The information setting unit 28 extracts the type of attraction that has not been admitted from the information storage unit 30 and sets information that recommends a visit to an attraction that has not been admitted as useful information. For example, a message such as "You are not on the Ferris wheel" is set as useful information to present to the user. These useful information are displayed on the screen by the display processing unit 46.

When one of the entrance to the attraction and the purchase of the product is detected by the behavior detection unit 22,
The information setting unit 28 sets the information that recommends the other as useful information. For example, for a user who has entered an attraction with a certain character as a motif, a message that recommends the purchase of the character-related product is set. In this way, the recommended content may be determined based on the association between the attraction and the product. When the attractions of the theme park use different characters as motifs, it is possible to recommend products that match the user's taste. The condition holding unit 32 holds data relating to these relationships and condition data for specifying useful information.

The charge processing unit 24 has a function of processing information regarding payment of an entrance charge, and includes a charge setting unit 40, a payment setting unit 42, and a confirmation unit 44. When the user pays the entrance fee in advance prior to entering the attraction or theme park, the payment setting unit 42 receives the information to that effect, and sets the type of attraction permitted to enter by the advance payment. In this case, the PDA 12 functions as a so-called passport ticket which is sold at an entrance gate of a theme park.

On the other hand, when the user selects postpayment of the entrance fee, for example, credit card information is registered prior to entering the attraction or theme park, thereby guaranteeing payment of the entrance fee. In this case, the payment setting unit 4
2 receives information indicating that payment is guaranteed, and the charging setting unit 40 records information necessary for charging the entrance fee based on the action history. The record is referred to at the time of payment when exiting the entertainment facility.

The confirmation unit 44 determines whether or not the entrance is permitted by the setting of the payment setting unit 42 when entering the attraction. When postpaid payment is selected, the confirmation unit 44 confirms whether the payment is guaranteed. These confirmation results are sent to the output processing unit 34.

The output processing section 34 includes a display processing section 46, a voice processing section 48, and a permission output section 50. The display processing unit 46 displays useful information on the screen as described above, and also displays the confirmation result by the confirmation unit 44 on the screen. For example,
Display a message that admission is permitted and a message that payment of fees is guaranteed on the screen. The voice processing unit 48 notifies the user of the confirmation result by voice such as a warning sound. The permission output unit 50 sends the confirmation result to the communication processing unit 2
It is transmitted to the entrance monitoring device 14 via 0. Upon receiving this, the entrance monitoring device 14 performs a process of rejecting the entrance when it receives the notification that the entrance is not permitted and the payment is not guaranteed.

With the above arrangement, the user can be provided with useful information specified based on the actual action history. The PDA 12 can also be used as a passport ticket.

FIG. 3 illustrates the display contents of the screen of the portable information terminal according to the first embodiment. Screen 80 in (a)
Displays a message saying "I haven't boarded the BooBoo Ferris Wheel." As useful information that recommends visits to attractions that have not entered. On the screen 80 in (b), a message "Do you want to ride again? Do your best!" Is displayed as useful information for notifying the user that he / she has entered the same attraction multiple times. On screen 80 in (c), as useful information to give a present to users who have visited the theme park more than a predetermined number of times, "Thank you for your second visit! We will give you a present at the gate east side shop!" Message is displayed. On the screen 80 in (d), the message "All attractions have been conquered! Congratulations" is displayed as useful information to notify users who have entered all the attractions included in the theme park. There is.

On the screen 80 in (e), as useful information that encourages users who have entered an attraction to purchase products at a related store, "The entry to the Boo-chan house has been completed for the fifth time! 10% off at Chan store. ”Is displayed. This is done under the service of discounting the purchase price of the product associated with the attraction when the number of admissions to the same attraction exceeds a predetermined number.
The screen 80 in (f) shows useful information that encourages users who have purchased products at a store to enter related attractions: "The purchase amount at the Boo-chan store has exceeded 50,000 yen! A commemorative photo at Chan House will be free. "Is displayed. This is carried out under the provision that when the purchase amount at the same store exceeds a predetermined amount, an additional service is provided at an attraction associated with the store.

On the screen 80 in (g), as information indicating that the entrance fee of the attraction to be entered is prepaid, "Because it is a full course, it is
You can ride the ferris wheel. Message is displayed. The user may present this to the staff at the attraction gate.

FIG. 4 exemplifies the contents of the table in which the action history is recorded. The action history table 82 is provided with a date column, a time column, and an action column, and data regarding entrance to an attraction and purchase of a product are recorded in each. For example, it is recorded in (1) that the "No. 4" attraction was entered at 10:15 on March 26, 2000. In (2), “No. 8” at 12:10.
It is recorded that the restaurant was used. (3)
Records that it entered the "No. 2" attraction at 14:36. At this time, FIG.
Screen is displayed, product purchase at the related store “No. 2” is recommended, entry to the store based on this is recorded in (4), and product purchase in that store is recorded in (5). ing. After that, the entrance to the attraction No. 2 again is recorded in (6), and the screen of FIG. 3 (b) is displayed at this time.

To this theme park November 17, 2001
When I revisit on the day, the screen of Fig. 3 (c) is displayed.
It is recorded in (7) that you entered the "No. 13" attraction at 5 minutes. At this time, the screen of FIG. 3A is displayed, and the entry to the attraction of “No. 5” visited according to the screen is recorded in (8).

FIG. 5 exemplifies the contents of a table in which settings relating to payment of attraction entrance fees are recorded.
In the payment setting table 84, a user ID and a password used for user authentication when transmitting / receiving information regarding an entrance fee to / from an external device are recorded, and a course regarding fee payment is set. The figure shows the user ID
“Ecmt”, password “1224”, and charge “Full course” are recorded.

FIG. 6 exemplifies the contents of a table in which the conditions of the entrance fee course of the attraction are recorded. The course condition table 86 defines the types of attractions that are permitted to enter for each fee course. For example,
"No. 1 to 18" attractions are permitted for "Full Course" and "No. 2, 3, 4," for "Half Course"
6,9,12,16,17,18 ”attractions are allowed. "Child course" is "No. 1, 2,
4, 6, 12, 15, 16 ”attractions are permitted.

(Second Embodiment) PD in the present embodiment
A12 differs from the first embodiment in that the behavior history of the user is stored in the server. As the PDA 12, a personally-owned terminal brought by a visitor of the theme park may be used, or a terminal lent to the visitor by the theme park side may be used. In the case of a personally-owned terminal, you can continue recording the action history if you bring the terminal with you when you visit next time. PDA12
Even if you rent out the, you can continue recording because you can download the action history from the server at the next visit.
By enabling the continuation of the recording in this way, it is possible to motivate the user to repeatedly visit the theme park.

FIG. 7 shows the configuration of a management system using the portable information terminal according to the second embodiment. PDA12 is
Wireless communication is performed with the management server 18, and the action history of the user is stored in the management server 18. The PDA 12 is provided with an image pickup unit 70 and also wirelessly communicates with the image server 19 to store the image taken in the theme park in the image server 19.

FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the portable information terminal according to the second embodiment. The basic configuration is the same as the configuration of FIG. 2 in the first embodiment, and only different configurations will be described below.

The PDA 12 further includes a history processing section 52 for processing a user's action history, an image control section 54 for processing a file of images photographed by the user, and an authentication processing section 56 for processing user authentication. The authentication processing unit 56 transmits the user identification information to the management server 18 and receives the access authentication. The identification information is, for example, a combination of a user ID and a password.

The history processing section 52 includes a history acquisition section 58 and a record transmission section 60. The history acquisition unit 58 acquires the past behavior history of the user from the management server 18 when the access authentication by the processing of the authentication processing unit 56 is received. For example, if the user has visited the theme park for the second time or more, the past action history is downloaded to the PDA 12 at the entrance gate to the theme park. The acquired action history is stored in the information holding unit 30, and the recording unit 26 adds a new entry record. The newly added record is transmitted to the management server 18 by the record transmission unit 60 when the user leaves the theme park.

The image control section 54 includes an image acquisition section 62, an image transmission section 64, an image holding section 66, an image recording section 68, and an image pickup section 70. The image recording unit 68 stores the image captured by the image capturing unit 70 in the image holding unit 66. The image is transmitted by the image transmitting unit 64 to the image server 19 in a form corresponding to the identification information used for user authentication when the image server 19 is requested to browse the image later. When revisiting the theme park, the image acquisition unit 62 makes the authentication processing unit 5
After the access authentication by 6, the self image file is downloaded from the image server 19. With these configurations, the user can browse images on his / her own PC after returning home,
If you visit the theme park multiple times, you can create continuous albums.

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram showing the structure of the management server. The management server 18 stores the action history on the assumption that the user who returns to the theme park is provided with the past action history. The management server 18 includes a communication processing unit 100, an information management unit 102, a record acquisition unit 104, a request processing unit 106, and a transmission processing unit 108. Each unit uses a PDA by wireless communication by the communication processing unit 100.
12 to send and receive data. The communication processing unit 100 processes wireless communication via the antenna 105.

The record acquisition unit 104 acquires an entrance record to the attraction from the PDA 12 and stores it in the action history holding unit 109. The information management unit 102 holds a plurality of types of attractions included in the theme park, and manages the action history of each user based on the admission record. When the request processing unit 106 receives a behavior history acquisition request from the PDA 12, the transmission processing unit 108 stores the behavior history of the user in response to the request.
It is specified from 9 and transmitted to the PDA 12.

FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram showing the structure of the image server. The image server 19 processes the image taken by the user who has taken the image in the theme park so that the image can be viewed from home via the Internet, and causes the user to download the image to the PDA 12 when he or she returns to the theme park to continuously take the image. Have sex. The image server 19 includes a communication processing unit 110, an image management unit 112, an image acquisition unit 114, a request processing unit 116, and an image transmission unit 1.
Have eighteen. Each unit transmits / receives data to / from the PDA 12 by wireless communication by the communication processing unit 110. The communication processing unit 110 processes wireless communication via the antenna 115.

The image acquisition unit 114 acquires an image from the PDA 12 and stores it in the image holding unit 113. The image management unit 112 manages the images stored in the image storage unit 113 in correspondence with the user. The request processing unit 116 receives an image acquisition request or a browsing request from the user, and sends the image stored in the image holding unit 113 to the PDA 12 or the browser software of the user's PC in response to the request.

FIG. 11 exemplifies the display contents of the screen of the portable information terminal according to the second embodiment. Screen 8 in (a)
0 displays a message “Do you want to save the captured image on the Internet?” As a content to ask the user whether to upload the image file captured by the PDA 12 to the image server 19. .
On the screen 80 in (b), a message "There is a record of past visits. Do you want to read it?" Is displayed as a content that prompts the user to download past action history when he or she returns to the theme park. On the screen 80 in (c), a message "Do you want to save today's visit record for the next time?" Is displayed as a message prompting the user to upload the action history to the management server 18. ing.

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 an exemplification, that various modifications can be made to the combinations of the respective constituent elements and the respective processing processes, and that such modifications are within the scope of the present invention. . Hereinafter, such an example will be described.

The PDA 12 in the above embodiment exchanges data with the entrance monitoring device 14, the in-store device 15, the management server 18, and the image server 19 by wireless communication in a non-contact manner. In a modification, data may be transmitted and received in a contact type by communication using hardware such as an adapter. Further, the "store associated with a theme park or attraction" is not necessarily limited to the store provided in the theme park.

Although the PDA 12 in the second embodiment has the image pickup section 70, the PDA 12 may have a configuration without it in the modification. For example, it may be configured such that a camera installed in the theme park captures an image and receives an image from the camera.

The PDA 12 in the second embodiment is configured to send only the added record to the management server 18 when a new entry record is added. In the modification, the entire action history may be transmitted to the management server 18 to update the entire data. Further, the image server 19 and the management server 18 may be integrally configured by hardware.

As an example of the portable information terminal described in the claims, the PDA is mentioned in the present embodiment, but other terminals such as a portable telephone may be used. In addition, a software program that enables the above functions to be displayed on the PD
It may be configured to be installed in A and used by the user.

[0047]

According to the present invention, it is possible to add value to a portable information terminal.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a management system using an information portable terminal according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a mobile information terminal according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram exemplifying display contents of a screen of the mobile information terminal according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram exemplifying contents of a table in which an action history is recorded.

FIG. 5 is a diagram exemplifying contents of a table in which settings regarding payment of entrance fees for attractions are recorded.

FIG. 6 is a diagram exemplifying contents of a table in which conditions of an entrance fee course of an attraction are recorded.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a management system using an information portable terminal according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a mobile information terminal according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a management server.

FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of an image server.

FIG. 11 is a diagram exemplifying display contents of a screen of the mobile information terminal according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 management system, 12 PDA, 14 entrance monitoring device, 15 in-store device, 18 management server,
19 image server, 26 recording unit, 28 information setting unit, 30 information holding unit, 36 admission processing unit, 38
Purchase processing unit, 40 billing setting unit, 42 payment setting unit, 44 confirmation unit, 46 display processing unit, 56 authentication processing unit, 58 history acquisition unit, 60 record transmission unit,
64 image transmission unit, 68 image recording unit.

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Takashi Kasai             2-5-3 Keihan Hondori, Moriguchi City, Osaka Prefecture             Within Yo Denki Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 5B019 GA10 HE18 KA01 KA10

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An admission processing unit that detects an entrance to an attraction of an entertainment facility, a recording unit that stores the type of the attraction in an action history when the admission is detected, and an action decision of a user in the entertainment facility. A mobile information terminal, comprising: an information setting unit that specifies useful information based on the action history; and a display processing unit that displays the useful information on a screen. 2. An information holding unit that holds the plurality of types of attractions included in the entertainment facility and the action history, and the information setting unit extracts a type of attraction that has not been entered from the information holding unit. The portable information terminal according to claim 1, further comprising: setting information that recommends a visit to an attraction that has not been entered as the useful information. 3. A payment setting section that receives information about the advance payment of the admission fee prior to the admission, and sets the type of attraction that is admitted by the advance payment, and when entering the attraction. The display processing unit further has a confirmation unit that determines whether the entry is permitted by the setting, and the display processing unit displays a message to that effect on the screen when it is determined that the entry is permitted. The mobile information terminal according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: 4. A payment setting unit that receives information indicating that payment of an entrance fee is guaranteed prior to the entrance, a charge setting unit that records information necessary for charging the entrance fee, and an entrance to an attraction. And a confirmation unit for confirming whether or not the payment of the entrance fee is guaranteed, and the display processing unit displays a message to that effect on the screen when the guarantee is confirmed. Claim 1 or 2 characterized
The portable information terminal described in. 5. The information processing unit further comprises a purchase processing unit that detects purchase of the product in a store that sells the product related to the entertainment facility, wherein the information setting unit includes entry to the attraction and purchase of the product. The mobile information terminal according to claim 1, wherein when one is detected, information recommending the other is set as the useful information. 6. The mobile information terminal according to claim 5, wherein the information setting unit determines the recommended content based on the association between the attraction and the product. 7. An authentication processing unit that transmits user identification information to a management server, which is premised on providing past behavior history when revisiting the entertainment facility, and receives access authentication; Sometimes a history acquisition unit that acquires the past behavior history of the user from the management server, and when a new entry record is added to the acquired behavior history by the recording unit, the record is recorded by the management server. 7. The portable information terminal according to claim 1, further comprising: a recording / transmission unit that transmits the information to the portable information terminal. 8. An identification information used for user authentication when requesting the image recording unit that stores captured images and an image server that stores images to browse the captured images and the image server. The mobile information terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising: an image transmitting unit that transmits the corresponding information. 9. A record acquisition unit for acquiring an admission record from a portable information terminal in which an admission record to an attraction of an entertainment facility is stored; a plurality of types of attractions included in the entertainment facility; An information management unit that manages an action history based on the admission record, a request processing unit that receives a request for obtaining the action history from a mobile information terminal of a user who revisits the entertainment facility, and an action of the user in response to the request A management server, comprising: a transmission processing unit that transmits a history to the mobile information terminal.