JP2003208381A - Token type contents presentation system, token type contents presentation method and portable user terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize environment under which a user can easily access contents on a server in relation to pieces of information to be transmitted by various information transmission media. <P>SOLUTION: A token type contents presentation system presents the contents to a user terminal via a network, the user terminal acquires a token by an instruction of the user who views transmitted information from the information transmission media, transmits the acquired token to a link up server, the link up server transmits contents information corresponding to the received token to the user terminal and the user terminal acquires the contents from a contents server by using the received contents information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a content related to information which a user is interested in when the content related to information transmitted to the user by various media is provided through a network. The present invention relates to a token-type content providing system, a token-type content providing method, and a portable user terminal that are easily used via a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a television, indoors or outdoors,
A variety of information is transmitted through various information transmission media such as radio broadcasts, bulletin boards, advertisements, magazines, show windows, etc.
There is an opportunity to view various kinds of information through these various information transmission media. Also, with the recent remarkable development of the Internet, a WWW system for providing various digital contents on a network has become widespread, and a huge amount of contents can be used via the WWW. Furthermore, in the real world, information related to information that users directly watch from various information transmission media such as television / radio broadcasts, bulletin boards, advertisements, magazines, and show windows. Digital contents including more detailed information are WWW. If the content is provided in, the user can refer to and use those contents via the network.

When digitized contents related to information transmitted through various information transmission media such as broadcasting, bulletin boards, advertisements, magazines, show windows, etc. are provided on the WWW, users are interested in the contents. Hugging,
In case of wanting to use this, the user considers keywords etc. to identify the desired content from the information posted in advertisements and magazines, etc., and uses such as "www.goo.ne.jp". It is possible to search and access the content by the keyword or the like using a server service for searching the content on the WWW.

In addition, by including the resource location “URL” of the related WWW content in the information transmitted by various information transmission media, the user can view the UR.
With L as a clue, the related content can be referred to and used.

However, it is not convenient for a user to guess a keyword from information transmitted through various information transmission media such as a broadcast, a bulletin board, an advertisement, a magazine, a show window, etc., and to retrieve contents, because of a heavy operation load on the user. Because of the badness, a more efficient method of accessing related contents on the WWW is required.

In the method of transmitting the URL itself through various information transmission media, the user needs to store the viewed URL, but in a situation where a large amount of advertisement information is viewed while moving outdoors, It is extremely difficult for the user to store all or a plurality of pieces of information that are of interest, and it is extremely difficult to store all the URLs, and it is necessary to record them by some means. Furthermore, U which we recorded
There is also the trouble of inputting the RL in the WWW browser.

In addition, when only the URL is recorded by some method, the user can grasp which URL corresponds to which content when the content is used later as a clue to use the content. However, in order to avoid this, it is necessary to record the URL and the information for explaining it. From the above, URL
Even with the method of transmitting the accompanying information, the burden on the user is large when trying to access the related contents on the WWW.

Furthermore, since the corresponding content is uniquely determined by the URL, even if the point of interest of the user who views the information differs from the information transmitted by various information transmission media, each user However, there is a problem that only the same information can be presented.

Further, it is considered desirable for the user to have a means for automatically marking information of interest based on preset conditions.

Various information transmission media for transmitting information include printed matter such as newspapers, magazines, and street advertisements. However, the printed matter is limited in the amount of information that can be printed due to space limitations. In some cases, only the correct information can be described. Documents on the WWW, which have been rapidly spreading in recent years, solve the above-mentioned drawbacks of printed documents by introducing hypertext / hypermedia in which texts and images in documents are associated with other documents. . With hypertext, for information that cannot be described in a document due to the structure of the document, a hyperlink to the information can be configured in the document so that the user can follow the hyperlinks as necessary in the document. You can refer to the unfilled information.

In order to apply the above advantages of hypertext not only to documents on WWW but also to conventional printed documents, techniques have been developed for embedding hyperlinks on printed documents.
"Toshihiro Wakita, et al.," Trial of fusion of WWW and paper media using two-dimensional code ", IPSJ Human Interface Study Group, Research Report 98-HI-76, Vol.98, pp.1-6, 19
In "January 1988," a printed document was constructed by embedding a QR (Quick Responce) code, which is a type of two-dimensional barcode, at the link position, so that the printed document can be handled like a Web page. .

[Toshifumi Arai, at.el., “Paperlink:
A technique for hyperlink fromreal paper to elect
ronic content ”, In Proceediongs of the ACM Confer
ence o Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI'9
7), pp. 327-334, Addison-Wesley, 1997. In, we combined a small pen-type camera with a fluorescent line marker.
By using VideoPen to define an action for a paper document, it can be handled like hypertext.

Such a technique has already been introduced as an actual service. Digit Co., Ltd.'s Internet bar code and US digital convergence (Digita
In “Cue” of l: Convergence Co. Inc), you can read related barcodes by reading the barcode on the page with a dedicated barcode reader and connecting to the Internet.

[0014] The above-mentioned service, when trying to refer to the information related to the information printed on the paper, W on the PC
Although the labor of inputting the URL is omitted in the WW browser, since the medium to be referred is changed from the printed matter to the PC, it is difficult to use unless there is an environment in which these two media can be used in cooperation with each other. Especially when you want to refer to information related to hanging leather ads or posters outdoors,
In an environment where it is difficult to use a PC, related information cannot be referred to quickly. In recent years, computers have become smaller, and the development of "Wearable Computers" that are always worn and used is also underway.

In addition, mobile communication infrastructure has become widespread, and an environment in which it can be used by connecting to the Internet both indoors and outdoors has been established. Against this background, an information utilization system has been developed in which information on a network is virtually pasted and presented to a printed matter or other real-world object. Jun Rekimoto and Katashi Nagao, “The worl
d through computer ”, Proceedings of the ACN Sympo
sium on User Interface Software and Technology (uis
In t'95), pp. 29-36, ACM Press, November 1995, a system that pastes a two-dimensional barcode on an object in the real world and presents relevant information in real time using this barcode is proposed. Proposed.

A system for converting information that is printed, described, or displayed on a paper or other medium and transmitted to a user into a hypertext or a hypermedia by using the technology for configuring such a small computer terminal is available. It is thought that it can be realized as a more practical and highly convenient service system.

However, in the above conventional system,
It can be said that there are some problems in terms of practicality. For example, in a hanging magazine advertisement of a weekly magazine, headlines of various articles are lined up. Suppose the user wants to select one article and refer to the related information. In the approach of using a barcode to realize this, it is necessary to embed the barcode in each headline, and there is a problem that the aesthetic appearance of the advertisement is impaired. Therefore, if one barcode is added to the corner of the advertisement, etc., there will be multiple pieces of information identified by one barcode, and the procedure for presenting such information to the user will be described. It has to be decided, but there is no special mechanism for that in conventional systems.

Further, there is a problem that unnecessary information is presented to the user, and a mechanism for improving this is needed.

Further, when considering a business in such an information providing system, it is possible to attach an advertisement to the provided related information. For example, suppose a sports article in a newspaper article had a picture of fine play from yesterday's baseball game. A link is set in the picture, and if you follow the link, you can refer to the video of the fine play scene. At this time, by inserting a CM at the end of the scene video, it is possible to provide the video to users free of charge, and to obtain an advertising fee from the sponsor who inserted the CM. Conventional systems do not have a mechanism for inserting advertising content.

Further, there is not provided a means for providing the audiovisual information, particularly the live audiovisual information, and other information to the printed matter in association with each other. For this reason, for example, by selecting a predetermined point on the road map printed on paper, it is not possible to use it to acquire video / audio or weather information indicating the current situation at that point.

Further, when the video and audio are acquired, there is not provided a mechanism for reproducing the video and audio from a predetermined position in the video and audio and providing it to the user. Baseball game videos are generally stored as one video from the start to the end of the game, and in order to provide a specific fine-play scene, it is necessary to specify the address and playback start position of the video content. There is.

Further, in the conventional system, when a printed article is translated and presented, voice is converted and played back, and the article is a quiz, the user answers it and obtains a response result. , There is no mechanism provided such as providing a program related to an article or selecting an article to perform necessary settings on a server on the network side.

Further, there is not provided a mechanism for performing a predetermined setting on the network side by selecting a printed article. This is, for example, to set a recording reservation on the network side by selecting TV information outdoors.

Further, as an important issue, the conventional system has a problem in cooperation between a printed matter and a medium used for referring to related information such as a PC. It is necessary to improve this and realize an information presentation method that is more closely linked to the information on the printed matter. In addition, the user terminal must be small and lightweight and have excellent portability.

[0025]

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and a first object thereof is to provide information transmitted by various information transmission media in the real world and on a network such as WWW. By introducing the concept of "tokens" (symbols of cooperation relationships in which each can refer to each other), which represents the cooperation with each individual content, to the user's usage environment system, It is an object of the present invention to provide a system and a portable user terminal capable of seamlessly providing related contents.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a system to which the above system configuration is applied.
An object of the present invention is to provide a system and a portable user terminal for providing a coupon service. More specifically, the mechanism for applying the coupon provided as a token to the corresponding coupon service,
And a mechanism for recognizing that the coupon has been applied to the corresponding coupon service. It also provides a mechanism for exchanging coupon information provided as tokens among users, as with ordinary paper coupons.

A third object of the present invention is to provide a system and a portable user terminal for imparting hypertext information extensibility and bidirectionality to a static information transmission medium represented by a printed matter. Is to provide.

[0028]

In order to achieve the above first object, the present invention can be configured as follows.

The present invention is a token type content providing system having a portable user terminal and a link-up server, wherein the portable user terminal wirelessly connects to a network and contents from an information transmission medium. A means for acquiring a token which is information that is a factor to specify, a means for transmitting the token to a linkup server via a network, and a means for acquiring the token by the linkup server via the network. And a token table database for managing a token table having means for receiving the token via a network, and a token table having information on a correspondence relationship between the token and the content identifier. One corresponding to the received token using Means for determining the above content identifier, means for acquiring content information corresponding to the one or more content identifiers using a content information database that manages content information including content attribute information for each content identifier, Means for selecting the content information acquired by referring to the attribute information included in the content information, and transmitting a part or all of the selected content information to the portable user terminal which has transmitted the token. Have.

According to the present invention, the user can easily use the contents on the network related to the information acquired from the information transmission medium.

Further, in order to achieve the first object, the present invention can be configured as follows.

The present invention is a token type content providing system having a portable user terminal and a link-up server, wherein the portable user terminal wirelessly connects to a network and user information about the user. A user information management unit that manages, a terminal information management unit that manages terminal information about the portable user terminal, a unit that acquires a token that is information that is a factor that identifies the content from the information transmission medium, and a network. Via the means for transmitting the token, the user information, and the terminal information to the link-up server via the network, and acquired by the link-up server via the network with reference to the token, the user information, and the terminal information. Means for receiving content information, the link-up server, the token, user information, and terminal information , Determining one or more content identifiers corresponding to the received tokens by using a token table database that manages a token table having information about correspondence between tokens and content identifiers through a network. Means and means for acquiring content information corresponding to the one or more content identifiers by using a content information database that manages content information including content attribute information for each content identifier, the user information, and the terminal Information and means for selecting content information acquired by referring to attribute information included in the content information, and transmitting a part or all of the selected content information to the portable user terminal that transmitted the token. Have.

According to the present invention, since the user information and the terminal information are used in addition to the token, it is possible to provide the content information suitable for the user and the terminal environment.

In the above configuration, the content information may include a resource location, and the portable user terminal may have a content acquisition means for acquiring content from a content server using the resource location.

Also, the content information includes a resource location, and the link-up server uses a resource location included in the content information to acquire content from the content server, and the content is used in the portable type. It can be configured to have a transmitting means for transmitting to the person terminal.

According to the above token type content providing system, it is possible to realize an environment in which the user can easily access the content on the WWW related to the information transmitted by the various information transmission media.

In addition, when acquiring WWW contents via a token, considering the difference in the points of interest for each user, content information adapted to each user's interest or user attribute is provided. It is possible to realize a system that can obtain the content, or can realize a system that can provide the content suitable for use in the terminal in consideration of the terminal information such as the display capacity and the processing capacity of the user terminal used by the user. .

In order to achieve the above second object, in the above configuration, the content information can be configured to include coupon information.

The token type content providing system further has a service terminal and a coupon authentication server, the portable user terminal has means for transmitting the coupon information to the service terminal, and the service terminal has: A means for receiving coupon information from a portable user terminal, a means for transmitting the coupon information to a coupon authentication server, a means for receiving the authentication result of the coupon information from the coupon authentication server, and a coupon service based on the authentication result. And a means for determining whether or not to provide, the coupon authentication server, means for receiving the coupon information from a service terminal, means for authenticating the coupon information, and means for transmitting the authentication result to the service terminal. You may comprise so that it may have.

Further, the portable user terminal further has an automatic marking means for automatically obtaining a token when triggered based on a condition set in advance, and the portable user terminal is The token can be automatically acquired according to an instruction from the automatic marking means.

According to the present invention, the problem that the user has to mark the information of interest in daily life at any time is solved.

Further, the content information includes graphic information indicating the content of the content and icon information about a picture, and the portable user terminal stores the received content information in the storage means and the storage means. And a user interface function for displaying icon information included in the content information, the icon information included in the content information is displayed when the content information is acquired by the storage unit, and the storage unit It can also be configured to present the presence of each content information therein to the user.

Further, the portable user terminal has a user interface function for the user to select the displayed icon information, and when the user selects the icon information, the icon information is displayed. It is also possible to obtain the content of the network address and display the content by accessing the network address indicated by the resource location included in the content information including.

According to the above-mentioned invention, the user can manage the content information of the content provided on the network by the intuitive user interface.

In the above token type content providing system, the portable user terminal uses the content information held in its storage means as another portable user terminal connected to the token type content providing system. And a function of receiving the content information transmitted from another portable user terminal connected to the token type content providing system.

According to the present invention, it is similar to that the user who has acquired the information of the network content transmits the acquired information of the network content to another user as a mail letter, for example, the information acquired by a paper medium. In addition, it can be provided to other users.

Further, the portable user terminal acquires a user identifier at the time of activation, transmits the user identifier to a user management server that manages the user, and the user management server transmits the user identifier. The user content information and the user information corresponding to are acquired, stored in the storage means, the icon information included in each content information in the user content information is displayed, and the content information in the storage means is displayed. The existence may be presented to the user.

According to the present invention, since the user content information is managed by the server, the same user can always hold and manage the same user content information even when the terminals used by the users are different.

Further, the token is one of time information at the time when the portable user terminal acquires the token, position information of the portable user terminal, terminal direction information, and terminal movement progress information, or The portable user terminal acquires any one or more of time information, position information of the portable user terminal, terminal direction information, and terminal movement progress information. The token table database has means, and information indicating a correspondence relationship between the content identifier and information composed of one or more of time information, position information, terminal direction information, and terminal movement progress information. Can be managed.

According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a token type content providing system in which the content provider does not need to transmit the token by the information transmission medium.

Further, the token is bar code information or character string information, the information transmission medium presents bar code information or character string information, and the portable user terminal uses bar code information or character string information. The token table database may be configured to manage information indicating a correspondence between the barcode information or the character string information and the content identifier.

According to the present invention, as for various media such as books and various product packages in which a bar code is described, it is possible to use the bar code already described on the network related to the medium and the product. It becomes possible to realize a token-type content providing system that provides the above content.

Further, the token is radio wave signal information transmitted by radio waves, the information transmission medium transmits the radio wave signal information, and the portable user terminal receives the radio wave signal information. The token table database may include receiving means, and may be configured to manage information indicating a correspondence relationship between the radio wave signal information and the content identifier.

According to the present invention, since a token invisible to the user can be used, it is possible to realize a token-type content providing system which does not require modification to the visible part of various existing information transmission media.

Further, the token is a telephone number,
The information transmission medium presents a telephone number, and the portable user terminal is a means for inputting a telephone number, or
The token table database has a camera device and character recognition means for recognizing and reading a telephone number character string from an image input from the camera device, and the token table database stores information indicating a correspondence relationship between a telephone number and the content identifier. It can be managed.

According to the present invention, with respect to various media and various product packages in which telephone numbers are described, the contents on the network related to the relevant media and products are utilized by using the telephone numbers already described. It is possible to realize a token type content providing system to be provided.

In the configuration of the token type content providing system that achieves the second object, the service terminal is
When the coupon service is provided, the coupon information use notification may be transmitted to the coupon authentication server.

Further, the portable user terminal transmits the received coupon information to another portable user terminal connected to the network, and a means for transmitting the coupon information from the other portable user terminal. And means for receiving coupon information.

According to the token type content providing system that handles the above coupon information, the function of the system in which the token can be used as a coupon ticket is realized.

Further, it is possible to realize a coupon providing service at the same time as the content providing service provided by the token type content providing system. That is, it becomes possible to provide the coupon information together with the information of the content that explains the details of the coupon service.

Further, by authenticating the coupon information, it is guaranteed that the coupon information provided corresponding to the token is applied in the intended coupon service.

Further, by transmitting the coupon information use notification to the coupon authentication server, it becomes possible to know that the coupon has been used in the system.

Further, it becomes possible to exchange coupon information provided as a token between users as in the case of a normal paper coupon ticket.

In order to achieve the above third object, in the above token type content providing system, the content information includes presentation control information, and the portable user terminal presents the acquired content to the presentation. It is configured to have a content presentation unit that presents in a method specified by the control information.

Further, the presentation control information includes information regarding a presentation order of contents, and the content presenting means of the portable user terminal presents one or more acquired contents to the presentation control means. The information regarding the order may be used to present in the determined order.

Further, the presentation control information includes a keyword indicating the content of the corresponding content or a genre identifier, and the portable user terminal includes one or more acquired contents in the presentation control information. Using the keywords indicating the contents of the content or the genre identifier, the presentation order of the corresponding contents,
Also, it may be configured to include means for determining whether to present the corresponding content.

Further, the token acquisition means of the portable user terminal includes means for acquiring terminal environment information in addition to the token from the information transmission medium, and the link-up server is acquired by the content acquisition means. The content may be configured to include means for converting the content based on the presentation control information and the terminal environment information included in the content information.

The terminal environment information can be configured to include the position of information related to the content printed, described, or displayed on the information transmission medium and the positional relationship of the display means of the terminal.

Further, the conversion means displays an image of information related to the content printed, described, or displayed on the information transmission medium, and a display of the portable user terminal used by being superimposed on the image. A geometric transformation means for matching the positional relationship with the image of the content displayed on the means may be included.

The token acquisition means of the portable user terminal includes means for acquiring terminal environment information in addition to the token from the information transmission medium, and the content acquisition means using the terminal environment information. The configuration may further include a conversion unit that converts the content acquired in step 1.

The terminal environment information may include a position of information related to the content printed, described, or displayed on the information transmission medium and a positional relationship of the display means of the terminal.

Further, the conversion means displays an image of information related to the content printed, described or displayed on the information transmission medium and a display of the portable user terminal used by being superimposed on the image. It may be configured to include geometric transformation means for matching the positional relationship with the image of the content displayed on the means.

According to the token type content providing system for achieving the above third object, the obtained content is presented by the method specified by the presentation control information included in the content information. At this time, either the link-up server or the user terminal may acquire the content using the resource location. In addition, the presentation control information includes a keyword or a genre identifier that indicates the presentation order of the content and the content. This makes it possible to determine the procedure for presenting the information to the user when there are a plurality of pieces of information identified by the token. In addition, it is possible to select the content to be presented based on the user's desired genre setting on the user terminal.

Further, since the present invention has the attached advertisement content server, the attached advertisement content is acquired from the attached advertisement content server using the attached advertisement information included in the content information and designated by the presentation control information. By presenting the content acquired by the method and the attached advertisement content, it becomes possible to insert and present the attached advertisement content in the content.

Further, according to the present invention, in order to determine whether to present the content and the attached advertisement content, the presentation control information including the information about the presentation order of the content and the keyword or the genre identifier indicating the content is used. By doing so, when there are a plurality of contents and attached advertisement contents acquired by the user terminal, it is possible to determine how to present such information to the user. Further, it is possible to select the content to be presented and the attached advertisement content based on the user's desired genre setting or the like.

Further, according to the present invention, when a printed article is translated and presented, voice is converted and played back, when the article is a quiz, the user answers the article and obtains the answer result. Provide programs related to, or
By selecting an article, you can make the necessary settings on the server on the network side.

Further, in the portable user terminal, the display section and the network gateway section can be realized by the wireless communication means.

Further, according to the present invention, the portable user terminal having a transparent display is formed in a thin shape, and it is brought into close contact with the information transmission medium on which the transmission information related to the content is printed or described or displayed so that the content is displayed on the display. By superimposing and displaying outgoing information, it is possible to realize media expansion type information collaboration with different ideas from hyperlinks and hypermedia in WWW, and to provide users with a completely new information acquisition environment and information operation feeling. Is possible.

Also, as the token, bar code information,
Using alphanumeric character string information, watermark information printed or described on an information transmission medium, or embedded in an image displayed, or an electromagnetic storage medium attached to the information transmission medium or a signal stored in an IC chip, It becomes possible to send to the link-up server.

Further, according to the present invention, not only the token but also the terminal environment information is used to convert the contents and the attached advertisement contents together with the presentation control information, and the contents information and the converted contents are transmitted to the portable user terminal. By doing so, the portable user terminal can present the converted content acquired by the method specified by the presentation control information included in the content information.

As the terminal environment information, the presentation control information and the terminal environment information are included, including the position relationship of the information related to the content printed, described or displayed on the information transmission medium and the display means of the terminal. By using, by performing a geometric transformation for matching the positional relationship between the image of the information related to the content and the content image displayed on the portable user terminal used by being superimposed on the image,
When using the portable user terminal by superimposing it on the transmission information printed, described, or displayed on the information transmission medium,
It is possible to present information in close cooperation with the information on printed matter.

Further, the present invention is a portable user terminal used in the above token type content providing system,
The portable user terminal includes a display unit configured by a thin card-shaped display for displaying the content, a voice transmitting unit capable of outputting a voice, and a network communication unit performing communication between networks. The portable user terminal as a whole can be configured to have a thin shape.

Further, the portable user terminal has a display having the token acquisition means, a display means for displaying contents, a voice transmission means capable of outputting a voice, and a first wireless communication means for performing wireless communication. A network gateway unit having a functional unit, a network communication unit for performing communication between networks, and a second wireless communication unit for performing wireless communication, and the first wireless communication unit and the second wireless communication. It can also be configured to communicate between the means.

Further, a transparent display may be used as the display means, and means for printing the content on the information transmission medium or superimposing it on the displayed transmission information may be included.

Further, the present invention can be configured as a program for executing the acquisition process of the content information on the portable user terminal and a recording medium recording the program.

[0086]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION First to third embodiments of the present invention will be described below. The first embodiment is a basic mode of the present invention and corresponds to the invention for achieving the first object. The second embodiment is an example in which the first embodiment is applied to a coupon service, and corresponds to the invention for achieving the second object. Also, the third
In the embodiment of the present invention, in the configuration of the first embodiment, it is possible to present contents on the portable user terminal side by various methods, and an invention for achieving the third object. Corresponding to.

(First Embodiment) [Basic Configuration Example of First Embodiment] A basic configuration example of a system according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

The token type contents providing system 1 of the present invention is a system for providing contents to a user through a network, and as shown in FIG. 1, data and text information are provided through a predetermined network 2. , A content server 3 that provides various contents such as images, video, audio, multimedia data, application software, etc., contents including information (hereinafter referred to as “resource location”) necessary for acquiring the contents for each content identifier A content information database 4 that manages information, manages information that can be a factor for specifying content (hereinafter, this information is referred to as "token") and information related to the correspondence between content identifiers (hereinafter, this information is referred to as "token table") Token table data 5, a content information registration server 6 for giving a token associated with the content identifier of the content information to the content provider who registered the content information of the content provided by the content server 3, and transmitting the transmission information related to the content. The information transmission medium 7, the portable user terminal 8 for acquiring and transmitting the token, acquiring and maintaining the content information, acquiring and using the content, and the content information based on the token received from the portable user terminal 8 It is composed of a link-up server 9 that transmits to the user terminal 8 and a user management server 10 that collects and manages user content information that is managed for each user in the portable user terminal 8.

Next, the respective devices and the like constituting the above system will be described.

The content server 3 is composed of one or a plurality of computers. When the predetermined network 2 is the Internet, it can be implemented as a WWW server.

The content information registration server 6 is also composed of one or more computers. When the predetermined network 2 is the Internet, it can be implemented as a server that provides services on the Internet.

The token table database 5 and the content information database 4 are also composed of one or a plurality of computers. The token table database 5 and the content information database 4 are so-called Ora.
It is a server device in which a database application such as cle is installed, and provides a database use interface using SQL or the like.

The content identifier is a number or a character string that is uniquely assigned to the content. Since the resource location of the content, that is, the URL, can be regarded as a character string uniquely assigned to the content in the Internet content, the URL may be used as the content identifier.

The content information includes the resource location of the corresponding content, attribute information, and icon information.
The attribute information may be a set of keywords indicating the content or a text explaining the content. The icon information is graphic information showing the content of the content and information about the picture. If the given network is the Internet,
The resource location of the content is typically a URL.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the content identifier and the content information associated with the content identifier. This corresponds to one record of the content information database 4.

The information transmission medium 7 is various broadcasts, street advertisements, hanging advertisements, billboards, electronic bulletin boards, liquid crystal bulletin boards, outdoor displays for advertisements, show windows, exhibition tables, and various types of paper, billboards, radio waves, etc. It is a medium for transmitting information via a medium or a device medium for transmitting information by actually displaying an actual product such as a product.

The information related to the content is, for example, advertisement information for advertising the product when the content is detailed product information.

The portable user terminal 8 is a computer device having a display function and a function of connecting to a network at all times or in a timely manner for communication. The portable user terminal 8 is
PC, portable PC, WearablePC, PDA, Internet A
It may be a device having functions such as ppliance, high-performance telephone, high-performance mobile phone, STB and STB integrated viewing device for receiving broadcasting such as television, high-performance radio receiving device, digital still camera, digital cam, and the like. The portable user terminal 8 has a function of connecting to and communicating with a predetermined network constantly or temporarily. Further, it is possible to acquire terminal information such as current time, current position information, terminal posture information, and information acquired by a device such as a microphone and a camera included in a portable user terminal. Further, it may be a terminal having a function of processing and executing various application software.

The token is the current time, the current position, the direction of the terminal, the direction of movement of the terminal, the bar code information, the character string information, and the image, which are acquired from the above-described various sensing devices provided in the portable user terminal. It is one or a combination of one or more of information about the state of the portable user terminal and surrounding conditions such as information, sound information, and a radio wave transmission signal.

The link-up server 9 is composed of one or a plurality of computers. If the predetermined network 2 is the Internet, the link-up server 9
Is implemented as a server system that provides Internet data services.

Similarly, the user management server 10 is also composed of one or a plurality of computers. If the predetermined network 2 is the Internet, the user management server 10 is implemented as a server system that provides Internet data services. User management server 10
Similar to the token table database 5 and the content information database 4, is also a server device in which a database application such as so-called Oracle is installed, and may have a database use interface function using SQL or the like.

[Basic Operation Example in First Embodiment]
Next, the operation and basic operation example of the token type content providing system 1 in the above configuration will be described. Hereinafter, description will be given with reference to FIG.

In the following description of the basic operation example, it is assumed that the predetermined network 2 is the Internet and the content server 3 is a WWW server.

First, the content provider who provides the content via the WWW by the content server 3 receives the content information of the content and the information of the information transmission medium 7 transmitting the information related to the content from the content information registration server. 6 is notified, the content information is registered in the content information database 4, and the token corresponding to the content is acquired.

If the token is time information, position information of the portable user terminal, direction information of the terminal, terminal movement progress information, and the like, information about the surrounding condition and state of the portable user terminal is provided. The person does not necessarily acquire the token when the content information is registered. In this case, instead of the token, the notification that the registration of the content information is completed is acquired.

When the content information registration server 6 is notified by the content provider of the content information and the information of the information transmission medium transmitting the information related to the content, the content information registration server 6 assigns the content identifier to the content information, The content identifier is registered in the information database 4, the token is associated with the content identifier, and the content identifier is added to the token table.

After that, the content provider transmits the information related to the content and the corresponding token when the information transfer medium 7 has acquired the corresponding token.

The portable user terminal 8 transmits user content information and user information, which are a plurality of content information held in the storage means, to the user management server 10 either sequentially at the time of use or at the end of use. The user management server 10 manages user content information and user information for each user identifier.

Further, the portable user terminal 8 acquires the user identifier from the user when it is activated. This is performed, for example, in a mode in which a so-called login screen is displayed at startup and the user logs in. Portable user terminal 8
Transmits the user identifier to the user management server 10 after acquiring the user identifier, acquires the user content information and the user information corresponding to the user identifier, holds this in the storage means, and stores the user content. The icon information included in each content information in the information is displayed, and the presence of each content information in the storage unit is presented to the user.

Further, the portable user terminal 8 gives instructions to the user to watch the outgoing information on various information transmission media such as television / radio broadcasting, bulletin boards, advertisements, magazines and show windows.
That is, at the timing when the marking operation occurs, a token is acquired and the token is transmitted to the linkup server 9 via a predetermined network. Then, the link-up server 9 refers to the token table database 5 to determine one or a plurality of content identifiers corresponding to the received token, and from the content information database 4, corresponds to the one or more content identifiers. Content information to be acquired and the content information is transmitted to the portable user terminal 8.

Then, the portable user terminal 8 uses the resource location included in the received content information to acquire the content from the content server 3.

Further, the portable user terminal 8 is provided with a storage means for holding the received content information, and the content information includes graphic information showing the content of the content and icon information about the picture, and is used by the portable user. The worker terminal 8 is
It has a user interface function for displaying icon information included in the content information held in the storage means, and when the content information is received from the link-up server 9 and acquired in the storage means by the above procedure. Then, the icon information included in the content information is displayed, and the presence of each content information in the storage means is presented to the user.

Further, the portable user terminal 8 has a user interface function for the user to select the displayed icon information, and when the displayed icon information is selected by the user, an icon is displayed. Display the content obtained using the resource location contained in the received content information containing the information.

Further, the portable user terminal 8 has a user interface function for the user to delete the displayed icon information, and when the user deletes the icon information, the icon is displayed. The received content information including the information is deleted from the storage means.

[Example of Providing Content Information Suitable for Portable User Terminal] In the above example, the same content information or content information group is provided regardless of the attribute of the user or the attribute of the terminal. However, an embodiment in which content information adapted to each user and each terminal is provided will be described below. Hereinafter, description will be given with reference to FIG.

In this case, the portable user terminal 8 is provided with storage means for managing user information regarding the user and terminal information regarding the portable user terminal 8, and the content information includes attribute information regarding the content. Is included. When transmitting the acquired token to the linkup server 9, the portable user terminal 8 transmits the token, user information, and terminal information to the linkup server 9 via the predetermined network 2.

The link-up server 9 refers to the token table database 5 to determine one or a plurality of content identifiers corresponding to the received token, and determines from the content information database 4 the one or more content identifiers. Content information corresponding to the user information, terminal information, and attribute information of the content information, the acquired content information is selected, and the selected content information is selected by the portable user terminal. Send to 8.

The portable user terminal 8 acquires the content from the content server 3 using the resource location included in the received content information.

A specific example of the above configuration will be described below.

The user information is information about the user, such as name, sex, age, occupation, address, postal code, family structure, information about residence (condominium, detached house, etc.),
Hobbies, information genres of interest (politics, economy, news, computers, books, sports, travel, etc.), annual income, information on whether or not you are a member of various services, membership number or credit card ID, various qualifications (driving It includes any one or more of information such as whether or not a license is held, information about body shape (weight, height, clothing size, etc.), information about ability (visual acuity, hearing, etc.), and the like.

The terminal information includes the resolution of the display device of the portable user terminal 8, the number of colors that can be displayed, the performance of the WWW information browsing means (availability of Java (registered trademark) function, availability of video / audio content playback function, video Information such as encoding format information that can be reproduced as audio content).

The portable user terminal 8 is provided with a storage means for storing and holding user information and terminal information, and an input means for providing the user with a function for inputting user information. The user previously inputs various kinds of user information via the input means, and the input user information is held in the storage means. Further, the terminal information is held in the storage means at the time of manufacturing the terminal, or when the display means is connected,
The display / reproduction means notifies the storage means and the information is held.

Further, as described above, the content information held in the content information database 4 is composed of the URL which is the resource location and its attribute information. The attribute information in this example is the characteristics of the user who can be the target of providing the content information, that is, the gender,
Age, body shape, ability characteristics, occupation, district, postal code group,
Information about family structure characteristics, housing characteristics, annual income, information genre to which the content information belongs, service usage rights and qualifications necessary to use the content information, and characteristics of terminals to be provided, that is, a display device. Resolution characteristics, displayable color number, performance of WWW information browsing means, and the like.

An example of content information composed of a resource location (URL) and attribute information is shown below.
It should be noted that the content information may include icon information in addition to the above, but the icon information is not described in the following examples.

Content information example 1: "URL1, (for women), (target age 20 or more), (1024 x 800 or more), (256 colors or more)" Content information example 2: "URL2, (clothing size M),
(Requires Java (registered trademark) function) "Content information example 3:" URL3, (occupation: housewife), "
(Tokyo) "Content information example 4:" URL4 (for women), (visual acuity 0.8 or less) "Content information example 5:" URL5 (genre: sports) "

In this example, the actual content corresponding to each content is, for example, the case where the content information example 1 is the advertisement information of cigarettes for women, which is the end of 20 years old, or the content is not suitable for men. It can be considered that the content information example 2 is advertisement information of clothes, the content information example 3 is product information of a supermarket in Tokyo, the content information example 4 is advertisement information of women's glasses, and the like. Further, the content information example 5 may be an advertisement of sports equipment or the like.

The link-up server 9 specifies the content identifier from the token and further specifies the corresponding content information according to the procedure described above. After that, the attribute information included in the corresponding content information, the user information and the terminal information are referred to, the content information is selected based on these, and transmitted to the portable user terminal 8.

For example, when the content information associated with the content identifier specified by the token received by the link-up server 9 from the portable user terminal 8 is the one shown in the above content information examples 1 to 5. The user information is (female) and the terminal information is (resolution 80
0 × 600), (Java (registered trademark) cannot be used), the content information providing means requires content information example 1 with a resolution of 1024 × 800 or more, and Java (registered trademark). Excluding the content information example 2 that requires a function, the remaining URL3,
URL4 and URL5 are transmitted to a portable user terminal.

The user information is (female), (Kyoto), (visual acuity 1.5) (interesting genre: book),
The terminal information is (resolution 1024 × 800), (Java
(Registered trademark) available), the content information providing means includes content information example 3 in which the target area is Tokyo, and content information example 4 in which the target user's eyesight is 0.8 or less. , Excluding the content information example 5 in which the genre is specified and the genre is other than books,
The remaining URL1 and URL2 are transmitted to the portable user terminal 8.

In addition to the above example, when the content information is added with the information (only available to A service members) as attribute information and the A service member number is included as user information, the content information is It may be sent to the portable user terminal. In addition, when the content information has the information (requires a vehicle license) as attribute information and the user information includes (vehicle license), the content information is transmitted to the portable user terminal. Etc.

When the information (mpeg2 format) is added to the content information as the attribute information and the (reproducible coding method: mpeg2) is included as the terminal information, the content information is transferred to the portable user. It may be sent to the terminal.

As described above, in the above example, by using the user information and the terminal information, the content information unnecessary for the user and the content that cannot be used in the portable user terminal used by the user No information is transmitted, and it is possible to provide the user with only information that is considered necessary for the user or available information.

The above is a description of the case where different content information is provided for each user and each portable user terminal based on the user information and the terminal information of the portable user terminal.

[Example of Obtaining Token Automatically] Next,
A mode in which the portable user terminal 8 automatically obtains a token in the first embodiment will be described.

In this case, the portable user terminal 8 is equipped with an automatic marking means for automatically acquiring a token when triggered by a condition set in advance. The portable user terminal 8 automatically acquires the token according to the instruction of the automatic marking means. The subsequent operation is similar to that of the above-described embodiment.

Next, more specific embodiments of the token type content providing system 1 described above will be described as Examples 1-1 to 1-6.

[Embodiment 1-1] First, Embodiment 1-1 will be described with reference to FIG. In the following description and drawings, the operations and functions of the parts not described in detail are the same as the operations and functions of the token-type content providing system 1 described above.

In this embodiment, the information transmission medium 7 is a street advertisement, a hanging advertisement, a billboard advertisement installed at an arbitrary position,
Signboards, electronic bulletin boards, LCD bulletin boards, outdoor displays for advertising, show windows, exhibition tables, etc. are targeted.

The token in this embodiment is any one of time information at the time when the portable user terminal 8 acquires the token, position information of the portable user terminal 8, terminal direction information, and terminal movement progress information. The information is composed of one or more, and the portable user terminal 8 includes time information, position information of the portable user terminal, terminal direction information,
It is provided with means for acquiring any one or a plurality of pieces of terminal movement progress information.

Further, the token table database 5
Manages information indicating correspondence between a content identifier and information composed of one or more of time information, position information, information transmission direction information, and terminal movement progress information.

Specifically, the portable user terminal 8 includes a clock 81, a position detecting device 82 such as a GPS, an orientation of the terminal,
All or any of the acceleration sensor devices 83 for extracting the traveling direction and the like are provided. Further, the token table database 5 holds a function equivalent to a so-called map information database. More specifically, the token table database 5 has information transmission media (street advertisements, hanging advertisements, billboard advertisements, billboards, electronic bulletin boards, liquid crystal bulletin boards, outdoor advertisement displays, show windows, exhibition tables installed at various points. Etc.), information transmission range,
Further, the content identifier of the content information regarding the content related to the information transmitted by each information transmission medium at each time is registered and held.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the token table in this embodiment. In the token table shown in the figure,
A token received from the portable user terminal 8, that is, information for identifying the content identifier of the content that is in the user's field of view and is the target marked by the user, from the terminal position information, orientation information, and time information. As
Position information (latitude, longitude, altitude) of the information transmission medium 7 such as a signboard, information transmission direction (direction of signboard), and time information are described. In the time information of the figure, the part indicated by an asterisk means that it corresponds to all values. For example, the time information is ** / ** / ******: **: *
When indicated by *, the information transmission medium always transmits information. Also, 01/03 /
23 **: **: ** means that information is transmitted all day on March 23, 2001.

The operation of the system of this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG.

(STEP1) The user is
When the user is interested in information transmitted by an information transmission medium such as a billboard advertisement in the field of view at an arbitrary time, the marking operation (pressing a marking button or the like) is performed on the portable user terminal 8.

(STEP 2) The portable user terminal 8 has the current time, the current position, the orientation of the terminal, the moving direction of the terminal, and the moving direction at the time when the marking operation is performed by the user.
Get all or any of the information as a token. Then, the acquired token is stored together with the user information and the terminal information.

(STEP3) When tokens are accumulated,
Immediately present information indicating that the token is held (hereinafter referred to as "mark information") to the user, or at the time designated by the user, the mark information regarding the already held token is sent to the user. To notify that the processing associated with the marking operation by the user has been executed. Here, the presentation of the mark information is, for example, the presentation of a character string such as "Mark" or a predetermined figure such as a stamp mark and the time when the marking operation is performed and the token is acquired. .

(STEP 4) A token made by accessing the link-up server 9 via the network, and including the current time, the current position, the terminal direction, and the terminal movement advancing direction, or all of them. as well as,
User information and terminal information are transmitted to the linkup server 9.

(STEP 5) The link-up server 9
The content identifier is identified by referring to the token obtained from the portable user terminal and the token table database 5, and then the content information database 4 is referenced to relate to the inferred information transmitted by the user. All the content information of the content to be extracted is extracted, the user information, the terminal information, and the attribute information of the content information are referenced to make a selection, and then the selected content information is transmitted to the portable user terminal.

Here, an example of a procedure for specifying the content identifier of the content related to the information transmitted to the user from the token table is shown below.

When the token including the time and position information and the terminal moving direction is acquired, in the token table database 5, the position corresponding to the position information is set as the center point and the radius is a predetermined value, and the terminal moving direction is set. The information transmission medium installed at the position included in the semicircular area on the side is extracted. Of the extracted information transmission media,
Information transmitted by these information transmission media is extracted by selecting an object that has no obstacle between it and the position of the portable user terminal and that is transmitting and transmitting information within the range including the position of the portable user terminal. Is assumed to have been transmitted to the user.

The procedure for estimating the information transmitted to the user is an example, and the estimation may be performed by various methods such as a simplified method of the above procedure.

(STEP 6) Next, the portable user terminal 8
Stores one or more pieces of content information received from the link-up server 9 and updates the mark information to the icon information included in the corresponding content information.

(STEP 7) Then, when the user selects any icon information, the process for acquiring and using the content is executed based on the resource location of the corresponding content information.

The operation in the case of acquiring a token triggered by the user's designation has been described above.

In the above embodiment, the token is automatically acquired at the timing determined by the portable user terminal 8 based on the information preset by the user or the operation history information of the user. be able to. Hereinafter, this case will be described with reference to FIG.

In this case, the portable user terminal 8 is further provided with a camera device 84, and character recognition means for analyzing an image input from the camera device 84 and extracting character string information in the image. Equipped with 85.

The portable user terminal 8 has a keyword database 8 containing one or more keywords for identifying the desired information in advance by the user.
6 is registered. The keyword is newly registered manually by the user. Alternatively, it is selected from the keyword database 86 already provided in the portable user terminal 8. In addition, the portable user terminal 8 may automatically register a keyword that is semantically similar to the keyword registered by the user.

Here, the preset keyword is, for example, a specific genre name (automobile, music, movie, travel, restaurant) of interest to the user.

The operation in the configuration of FIG. 5 is as follows.

(STEP 1) In the portable user terminal 8, the character recognition means 85 sequentially analyzes the image information input from the camera device 84 and extracts the character string information contained in the image. Then, when the extracted character string information includes a keyword in the keyword database 86, the marking process is automatically executed to obtain the token. The operation after (STEP2) is similar to that of the above-described embodiment.

Further, an example of automatically acquiring a token using voice information will be described below.

In this example, in addition to the above-mentioned embodiment,
The portable user terminal 8 includes a microphone device and a voice recognition unit that recognizes voice input from the microphone device and extracts character string information.

Further, in the portable user terminal 8, a user has registered in advance a keyword database containing one or more keywords for identifying desired information. Registration of keywords can be done by the user.
It is newly registered manually. Alternatively, it is selected from the keyword database already provided in the portable user terminal 8. Further, the portable user terminal system may automatically register a keyword semantically similar to the keyword registered by the user.

Here, the preset keyword is, for example, a specific genre name (automobile, music, movie, travel, restaurant) in which the user is interested, or a television broadcast or the like as the information transmission medium. When the transmitted information is a baseball relay, a specific event name such as hit or home run corresponds to this.

In this case, in the above embodiment, (ST
EP1) In the portable user terminal, the portable user terminal system sequentially analyzes the voice information input from the microphone device by the voice recognition means and extracts the included character string information. Then, when the extracted character string information includes a keyword in the keyword database, the marking operation process is automatically executed to obtain the token. The operation after (STEP2) is the same as that of the above-described embodiment.

[Embodiment 1-2] Next, Embodiment 1-2 will be described with reference to FIG. In the following embodiments, the operations and functions of the parts not described in detail are the same as the operations and functions of the token type content providing system 1 described above.

In this embodiment, the information transmission medium 7 is a street advertisement, a hanging advertisement, a billboard advertisement, an electronic bulletin board, a liquid crystal bulletin board,
A specific example of the present token type content providing system 1 in the case of a system for transmitting image information through a medium such as paper or a liquid crystal display, which is an outdoor display for advertisement, will be described.

In the following description, a system for transmitting and transmitting image information such as a street advertisement, a hanging advertisement, a billboard advertisement, an electronic bulletin board, a liquid crystal bulletin board, and an outdoor display for advertisement is referred to as an image information transmission medium 7 '.

In this embodiment, the token is image information, bar code information or character string information,
The information transmission medium 7 presents image information, barcode information or character string information, and the portable user terminal 8 is provided with a camera or laser scanner means 87 for reading the image information, barcode information or character string information. The token table database 5 manages information indicating the correspondence between image information, barcode information, or character string information and content identifiers.

Specifically, the image itself transmitted by the image information transmission medium 7 is used as a token. Or
As a token, one-dimensional or two-dimensional barcode information is attached. The barcode information may be monochrome or color. Alternatively, arbitrary character string information may be described as a token. When the image information transmission medium 7'has a function of displaying different image information continuously in time series, such as an electronic bulletin board, a liquid crystal bulletin board, an outdoor display for advertisement, etc., all the displayed image information is bar code information or characters. A token that is column information is described.

In the following description, bar code information or character string information is used as a token.
In this case, the portable user terminal 8 has a laser scanner means 87 for reading the bar code information or the character string information.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the token table in this embodiment. The illustrated example is an image information transmission medium 7 '.
Corresponds to the case where the barcode information is described in. In the token table shown in FIG. 7, the portable user terminal 8
A content identifier is associated with each of the received tokens, that is, the numerical information described as the barcode information.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below.

(STEP 1) When the user is interested in the image information transmitted by the image information transmission medium 7 ′, the laser scanner means 87 included in the portable user terminal 8 is provided.
Is used to perform the marking operation by acquiring the barcode information or the character string information described in the image information.

(STEP 2) The portable user terminal 8 has a token (bar code information or character string information) obtained from the image information transmission medium 7 ′ by the laser scanner means 87 at the time when the user makes a marking operation. Is stored together with user information and terminal information.

(STEP3) When tokens are accumulated,
Immediately present information indicating that the token is held (hereinafter referred to as "mark information") to the user, or at the time designated by the user, the mark information regarding the already held token is sent to the user. To present.

(STEP 4) Via the network 2,
The link-up server 9 is accessed, and the token, user information, and terminal information are transmitted to the link-up server 9.

(STEP 5) The link-up server 9
The content identifier is identified by referring to the token acquired from the portable user terminal 8 and the token table database 5, and then the content information database 4 is referenced to identify the content related to the information marked by the viewer. After extracting all the content information and making a selection by referring to the user information, the terminal information, and the attribute information of the content information, the selected content information is transmitted to the portable user terminal 8.

(STEP 6) The portable user terminal 8 accumulates one or more pieces of content information received from the link-up server 9 and updates the mark information to the icon information included in the corresponding content information.

(STEP 7) Then, when the user selects any icon information, a process for acquiring and using the content is executed based on the resource location of the corresponding content information.

[Embodiment 1-3] Next, Embodiment 1-3 will be described with reference to FIG. In the following embodiments, the operations and functions of the parts not described in detail are the same as those in the above embodiments.

The token in this embodiment is radio signal information transmitted by radio waves, and the information transmission medium 7 transmits the radio signal information and the portable user terminal 8 acquires the radio signal information. The token table database 5 manages the radio signal information and the information indicating the correspondence between the content identifiers.

Specifically, the information transmission medium 7 is an infrared device or Bl on an electronic bulletin board, a liquid crystal bulletin board, an outdoor display for advertisement, a show window, an exhibition table, a store, or the like.
It is equipped with a wireless device such as Bluetooth. In the following description, a system in which an electronic bulletin board, a liquid crystal bulletin board, an outdoor display for advertisement, a show window, an exhibition table, a wireless communication device such as Bluetooth in a store or the like is provided is referred to as a wireless information transmission medium 7 '. . In this embodiment, the wireless information transmission medium 7'is always an infrared ray or a Bluetooth.
The token is transmitted by a wireless communication device such as h. The token is radio wave signal information used to identify the content, and may be a data packet of a fixed length or a variable length in the number of bytes.

Further, the portable user terminal 8 is provided with a radio wave signal receiving means 88 for obtaining radio wave signal information transmitted from a radio communication device such as infrared rays or Bluetooth to the radio information transmission medium 7 '.

FIG. 9 shows an example of the token table in this embodiment. In the token table shown in the figure,
A content identifier is associated with each of the tokens received from the portable user terminal 8, that is, the radio signal information.

The operation will be described below.

(STEP 1) When the user is interested in an electronic bulletin board, a liquid crystal bulletin board, an outdoor display for advertisement, a show window, an exhibition table, a store, etc., the user presses a predetermined button on the portable user terminal 8 or the like. The marking is repeated.

(STEP 2) The portable user terminal 8 acquires the token received by the radio wave signal receiving means 88 at the time when the user performs the marking operation, and stores the token together with the user information and the terminal information. To do.

(STEP3) When tokens are accumulated,
Immediately present information indicating that the token is held (hereinafter referred to as "mark information") to the user, or at the time designated by the user, the mark information regarding the already held token is sent to the user. To present.

(STEP 4) Via the network 2,
The link-up server 9 is accessed, and the token, user information, and terminal information are transmitted to the link-up server 9.

(STEP 5) The link-up server 9
The content identifier related to the information marked by the viewer is referenced by referring to the token acquired from the portable user terminal 8 and the token table database 5 and then by referring to the content information database 4. After extracting all the content information of, the user information, the terminal information, and the attribute information of the content information are selected, the selected content information is transmitted to the portable user terminal 8.

(STEP 6) The portable user terminal 8 accumulates one or more pieces of content information received from the link-up server 9 and updates the mark information to the icon information included in the corresponding content information.

(STEP 7) When the user selects any icon information, the process for acquiring and using the content is executed based on the resource location of the corresponding content information.

Similar to Example 1-1, the above-mentioned Example 1-
Also in 2 and 1-3, the token is automatically acquired at the timing determined by the portable user terminal 8 based on the information preset by the user or the history information of the user. Can be configured. The operation in this case will be described below. The configuration for automatically obtaining the token is the same as the configuration shown in FIG.

That is, the portable user terminal 8 is further provided with a camera device, and is further provided with a character recognition means for analyzing an image input from the camera device and extracting character string information in the image. .

Further, in the portable user terminal 8, a user has registered in advance a keyword database containing one or more keywords for identifying desired information. Registration of keywords can be done by the user.
It is newly registered manually. Alternatively, it is selected from the keyword database already provided in the portable user terminal. In addition, there is a case where the portable user terminal system automatically registers a keyword semantically similar to the keyword registered by the user.

Here, the preset keyword is, for example, a specific genre name (automobile, music, movie, travel, restaurant) of interest to the user.

The operation will be described below.

(STEP 1) In the portable user terminal, the character recognition means sequentially analyzes the image information input from the camera device and extracts the character string information contained in the image. Then, when the extracted character string information includes the keyword in the keyword database, the marking process is automatically executed to obtain the token. (STE
The operation after P2) is similar to that of the above-described embodiment.

[0200] Furthermore, the token can be automatically obtained by using the voice information, and this example will be described below.

In the above embodiment, the portable user terminal further comprises a microphone device and a voice recognition means for recognizing voice input from the microphone device and extracting character string information.

In addition, a keyword database containing one or a plurality of keywords for identifying desired information is registered in advance in the portable user terminal by the user. The registration of the keyword is manually newly performed by the user. Alternatively, it is selected from the keyword database already provided in the portable user terminal. Also, referring to the keywords registered by the user,
The portable user terminal system may automatically register a keyword that is semantically similar to the keyword.

Here, the preset keyword is, for example, a specific genre name (automobile, music, movie, travel, restaurant) in which the user is interested, or an information transmission medium such as television broadcasting. When the transmitted information is a baseball relay, a specific event name such as hit or home run corresponds to this.

In this case, in the above embodiment, (ST
EP1) In the portable user terminal, the portable user terminal system sequentially analyzes the voice information input from the microphone device by the voice recognition means and extracts the included character string information. Then, when the extracted character string information includes a keyword in the keyword database, the marking operation process is automatically executed to obtain the token.
The operation after (STEP2) is the same as that of the above-described embodiment.

Further, the marking operation process may be automatically performed by sequentially acquiring the content information and referring to the content information. Hereinafter, this embodiment will be described.

In this case, the content information includes text and / or a keyword that describes the corresponding content as attribute information.

[0207] Further, in the portable user terminal 8, a user has registered in advance a keyword database containing one or more keywords for identifying desired information. Registration of keywords can be done by the user.
It is newly registered manually. Alternatively, it is selected from the keyword database already provided in the portable user terminal. Further, the portable user terminal system may automatically register a keyword semantically similar to the keyword registered by the user.

Here, the preset keyword is, for example, a specific genre name of interest to the user (automobile, music, movie, travel, restaurant), or an information transmission medium such as television broadcasting. When the transmitted information is a baseball relay, a specific event name such as hit or home run corresponds to this.

The operation will be described below. (STEP 1) The portable user terminal is always connected to the network, sequentially acquires tokens, transmits the serial tokens to the link-up server 9, and acquires content information. When the text and keywords included in the acquired content information include the keyword in the keyword database, the corresponding token is automatically accumulated with the content information to perform the marking process and acquire the token. . Below (S
The operation after TEP2) is similar to that of the above-described embodiment.

[Embodiment 1-4] Next, Embodiment 1-4 will be described. In the following embodiments, the operations and functions of the parts not described in detail are the same as those in the above embodiments. The overall system configuration is the same as in the above-described embodiments.

In this embodiment, the information transmission media are street advertisements, hanging advertisements, billboard advertisements, electronic bulletin boards, liquid crystal bulletin boards,
A specific example of the present token-based content providing system in the case of a system for transmitting image information through a medium such as paper or a liquid crystal display, which is an outdoor display for advertisement, will be described.

In the following description, a system for transmitting and transmitting image information such as a street advertisement, a hanging advertisement, a billboard advertisement, an electronic bulletin board, a liquid crystal bulletin board, an outdoor display for advertisement is referred to as an image information transmission medium.

In this embodiment, the token is a telephone number, the information transmission medium presents the telephone number, and the portable user terminal 8 is a means for inputting the telephone number.
Alternatively, the token table database 5 includes a camera device and character recognition means for recognizing and reading a telephone number character string from an image input from the camera, and the token table database 5 manages information indicating a correspondence relationship between the telephone number and the content identifier. is doing.

FIG. 10 shows an example of the token table in this embodiment. The illustrated example is a case where a telephone number is described on the image information transmission medium. In the token table shown in the figure, a content identifier is associated with a token received from the portable user terminal, that is, a telephone number.

The operation will be described below.

(STEP 1) When the user is interested in the image information transmitted by the image information transmission medium, the user inputs the telephone number of the portable user terminal and the telephone number using the input means to the portable user. Type in the terminal. Alternatively, the user takes a picture of the telephone number portion of the image information transmission medium by using the camera device included in the portable user terminal. After that, the character recognition means for recognizing and reading the telephone number character string from the image input from the camera provided in the portable user terminal acquires the telephone number by extracting the telephone number character string.

(STEP 2) The portable user terminal is for recognizing and reading the telephone number character string from the image input by the user or the image input from the camera provided in the portable user terminal. The telephone number acquired by the character recognition means is stored as a token.

(STEP3) When tokens are accumulated,
Immediately present information indicating that the token is held (hereinafter referred to as "mark information") to the user, or at the time designated by the user, the mark information regarding the already held token is sent to the user. To present.

(STEP 4) The link-up server is accessed via the network and the token, user information and terminal information are transmitted to the link-up server.

(STEP 5) The link-up server identifies the content identifier by referring to the token acquired from the portable user terminal and the token table database, and then refers to the content information database to identify the viewer. After extracting all the content information of the content related to the information marked by, selecting the content information by referring to the user information, terminal information, and attribute information of the content information, and using the selected content information in a portable manner. Send to the sender terminal.

(STEP6) The portable user terminal accumulates one or a plurality of content information received from the link-up server, updates the mark information to the icon information included in the corresponding content information, (STEP7). When the user selects any icon information, the process for acquiring and using the content is executed based on the resource location of the corresponding content information.

[Embodiment 1-5] Next, a user interface and functions of the portable user terminal 8 of the token type content providing system 1 described above will be described as Embodiment 1-5.

The portable user terminal 8 has a function of displaying a list of icon information contained in the content information held in the storage means, moving the icon information display position, and deleting the icon information by the operation of the user. The user interface of the portable user terminal 8 is a Deskt equivalent to that provided by Windows (registered trademark) or MacOS.
It may be provided as a GUI using the op metaphor.
A specific example of the portable user terminal GUI system will be described below.

The portable user terminal 8 has a GUI in which a plurality of pieces of icon information are arranged in a matrix, and has functions such as moving or deleting icon information and executing processing corresponding to the clicked icon information. The information such as the type of icon information, the icon image corresponding to the icon information, and the arrangement position of the icon information object is managed by a text file in XML format.
May be configured. In this case, this GUI is XML
It is a file browser. It also contains an HTML browser component and functions as a normal HTML browser. Therefore, the GUI can present various contents such as HTML contents, Java (registered trademark) Applet, various images, and moving images that can be handled by the HTML browser.

FIG. 11 shows an example of the GUI basic screen. GUI
On the screen, for example, Go, B like a normal browser
It has ack, Stop, and Quit buttons.

FIG. 12 shows an example of the icon information. XML
If the size of the icon information matrix specified by does not fit in the frame, a scroll bar is displayed,
You can scroll the object icon matrix.

The following operations can be performed on the GUI screen. (A) The icon arrangement can be changed by dragging the icon information. (B) By clicking the icon information, the content process associated with the icon information is executed. FIG. 13 shows an example of a screen when using the content. (C) If you press the Go button while displaying XML or content, XML / H opened next in history
Transition to display of TML. (D) If you press the Go button while displaying XML or content, the previously opened XML / H in the history
Transition to display of TML. (E) Stop the content and HTML start reading processing. (F) If the application is running, terminate the application. (G) The screen can be scrolled by the scroll bar. Also, while moving the icon, scrolls when moving to the upper and lower corners while dragging. (H) Delete icon information. By this operation, the corresponding content information is deleted from the storage means of the portable user terminal.

[0228] Note that not all of the above-described operations may be possible on the GUI of the portable user terminal.

[Embodiment 1-6] Next, a content information transmitting / receiving function between portable user terminals will be described as Embodiment 1-6 with reference to FIG.

When a plurality of portable user terminals are connected to the network on the portable user terminal A of the token type content providing system described above, the content information is transmitted to any other portable user terminal. It has a function of transmitting to the terminal B and a function of receiving, accumulating and using the content information received from another portable user terminal B.

The user specifies the address of another portable user terminal to which the content information is to be transmitted by a predetermined operation, specifies the content information to be transmitted, and performs the transmission process. Content information can be transmitted to another portable user terminal via a predetermined network. When the network is an IP network, for example, the content information can be implemented as an attached file of an e-mail and transmitted and received.

[0232] When content information is received from another portable user terminal, the portable user terminal presents an event notifying the user of the content information, and the icon information included in the newly received token information. To present. By selecting the icon information, the user can access and use the content corresponding to the content information.

As described above, according to the present invention, the user can easily access the WWW related to the information transmitted by the various information transmission media.
An environment in which the above contents can be accessed can be realized.

In addition, when acquiring WWW contents through a token, considering the difference in points of interest for each user, content information adapted to each user's interests or user attributes is provided. It is possible to realize the system to obtain. Further, it is possible to realize a system capable of providing contents suitable for use in the terminal in consideration of the terminal information such as the display capacity and processing capacity of the portable user terminal used by the user. In addition, to provide a means for the system to automatically mark information regardless of the user, and to realize a function that solves the problem that the user must mark the target of interest in daily life at any time. You can

Further, in the network content use environment as described above, the user can effectively and efficiently manage and use the content information of the content on the WWW related to the information transmitted by various information transmission media. Further, by managing the user content information on the server, the same user can always hold and manage the same user content information even when the terminal used by the user is different.

As a part of solving the above-mentioned problems, the user who has acquired the information of the network content transmits the acquired information of the network content, that is, the information acquired by a paper medium, to another user as a mail letter. Similarly to the above, it is possible to realize a usage environment that can be provided to other users.

(Second Embodiment) Next, an example in which the token type content providing system described in the first embodiment is applied to a coupon service will be described as a second embodiment of the present invention.

Before describing the second embodiment,
First, a conventional technique related to a coupon service and its problems will be described.

The conventional coupon service provides coupons to users by distributing them as insert advertisements, or by distributing them on the streets, and when users bring the coupons to stores, special discounts are offered. Various services can be used.

[0240] Due to the spread of the Internet in recent years, and further spread of high-performance mobile phones (for example, i-mode (registered trademark) of NTT DoCoMo, Inc.) that are connected to the Internet and can receive data such as images, coupon service. The form of is also diversifying.

Some PC terminals that can use the Internet access a predetermined homepage, display coupon information on the screen, print out this on paper, and use this printed out paper as a coupon ticket. .

In the mobile phone having the mail function,
In some cases, a coupon service is distributed by distributing an email containing coupon information to a mobile phone, and the user can use the coupon service by presenting the received email at a store. Also connect to the internet,
In some mobile phones having a function of browsing a home page, coupon information is sent by email when a coupon ticket request operation is performed on the accessed home page, and the coupon information is used as a coupon ticket. The former coupon information for mobile phones is a bar code image, and there is also a system in which the coupon service can be used by authenticating this with a bar code reader at the store.

However, in the above conventional technique,
It is problematic to send the coupon information mail to the users randomly, and it will be sent to the users who are not intended to use it, so the efficiency of attracting customers is considered to be poor. However,
A mechanism for accessing a predetermined homepage, printing it out, and using it is inconvenient because the user has to bother to access the predetermined homepage. The same applies to a system in which a predetermined home page is accessed, a coupon information mail request process is performed on a mobile phone, and the received mail is used.

In the second embodiment, in order to solve the above problem, the token type content providing system described in the first embodiment is applied so that the token can be used as a coupon ticket. I will explain the system that enables. In addition, the second embodiment provides a mechanism for correctly applying the coupon provided as the token to the corresponding coupon service, and a mechanism for recognizing that the coupon has been applied to the corresponding coupon service. Furthermore, it provides a mechanism for exchanging coupon information provided as tokens among users, as with ordinary paper coupons.

FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining the outline of the second embodiment.

The token / coupon information conversion method for providing the coupon service according to the second embodiment is performed from an information transmission medium for transmitting outgoing information related to the service in a link-up server that manages coupon information. A token including information for identifying the transmitted outgoing information is received from the portable user terminal (step 1), the token is converted to corresponding coupon information (step 2), and the coupon information is converted to the portable user terminal. Processing is performed (step 3).

FIG. 16 is a schematic block diagram of a token / coupon information conversion device according to the second embodiment.

The token / coupon information conversion device for providing the coupon service in the second embodiment corresponds to the link-up server in the first embodiment, and is information for transmitting the transmission information related to the service. Token receiving means 911 for receiving a token composed of information for specifying the outgoing information transmitted from the transmission medium from the portable user terminal 8, conversion means 912 for converting the token into corresponding coupon information, and coupon information Coupon information transmitting means 9 to be transmitted to the portable user terminal 700.
And 13.

Hereinafter, the system according to the present embodiment will be described.
It will be described as a "token type coupon providing system".

FIG. 17 shows the configuration of the token-coupon information conversion system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0251] The token-coupon information conversion system of the present invention is an information transmission medium 7 for transmitting outgoing information regarding a service, a portable user terminal 8 for obtaining a token composed of information for specifying the transmitted outgoing information, A link-up server 9 that provides coupon information, a service terminal 700 that provides services, a coupon authentication server 500 that authenticates coupon information, a coupon that acquires coupon information and information transmission medium information from a content provider, and returns a token. It is composed of an information registration server 600, a token table database 5, and a coupon information database 400.

Next, the basic operation of the above configuration will be described.

The portable user terminal 8 acquires the token and sends the token to the linkup server 9 via the predetermined network 2, and the linkup server 9
The coupon information corresponding to the received token is transmitted to the mobile user terminal 8, and the mobile user terminal 8 transmits the received coupon information to the service terminal 700. The service terminal 700 transmits the coupon information to the coupon authentication server 500, the coupon authentication server 500 authenticates the coupon information, and transmits the authentication result to the service terminal 700. The service terminal 700 determines whether to provide the coupon service based on the authentication result, and if possible, provides the coupon service. Furthermore, the service terminal 700
Transmits a coupon information use notification to the coupon authentication server 500 when the coupon service is provided.

In the present invention, the information transmission medium 7 is various broadcasting such as television, radio, etc., street advertisement, hanging leather advertisement, signboard, electronic bulletin board, liquid crystal bulletin board, outdoor display for advertisement, show window, exhibition table, etc. It is a medium for transmitting information via various media such as paper, signboards, radio waves, or a device medium for transmitting information by actually displaying an actual product such as a product.

The token is information for specifying the information transmission medium 7 and the information obtained from the information transmission medium 7, and is the ID superimposed on the transmission information, the information acquisition place, the information acquisition time, and the TV. If so, the channel number being viewed and the viewing time correspond to this.

[0256] The coupon information is information used to specify the corresponding coupon service, and is a number such as a signal code, a numeric character string, encrypted numeric character string information, barcode information, an image, or a digital watermark. For example, an image on which text information is superimposed.

[0257] The coupon service means that a user presents coupon information on the portable user terminal 8 to give a discounted price to a predetermined product or service, or
It is generally realized by distributing coupons, such as those that can be acquired and used free of charge, that you can enter the event venue by presenting coupon information, and that you can get some gifts by presenting coupon information. This is the case for services.

The present invention is a system for making the above tokens usable as coupons. If it is a general paper coupon, it will be artificially distributed, or it will be placed at a store or the like, and the user will obtain it as needed and use it. In the system of the present invention, the user can use the coupon service by performing marking (an operation of acquiring a token) with the portable user terminal 8 when viewing information regarding the coupon service from the information transmission medium 7. . As a result, the coupon service provider can easily distribute the coupon via any information transmission medium.

A configuration in which the user management server 10 and the content server 3 are added to the above system is shown in FIG.
The configuration shown in FIG. 18 is a configuration for realizing the token-coupon information conversion in the second embodiment in the token-type content providing system of the first embodiment.

In the system having the above structure, the content information is configured to include coupon information. At the time of using the coupon information, the portable user terminal 8 transmits the coupon information included in the received content information to the service terminal 700, and the service terminal 700 sends the coupon to the coupon authentication server 500, as described in FIG. The information is transmitted, the coupon authentication server 500 authenticates the coupon information, and the authentication result is transmitted to the service terminal 700. Service terminal 700
Determines whether or not to provide the coupon service based on the authentication result, and provides the coupon service if possible. Furthermore, when the service terminal 700 provides the coupon service, the service terminal 700 transmits a coupon information use notification to the coupon authentication server 500.

In the embodiment using the system shown in FIG. 18, various modes relating to the configuration in which the portable user terminal acquires the content information including the coupon information via the token are the first embodiment. The configuration is the same as that described in each of the embodiments.

[Examples] [0262] Examples of the token-type coupon providing system will be described below. An example of content information in this embodiment is configured as shown in FIG.

When using coupon information, the portable user terminal 8 transmits the coupon information included in the received content information to the service terminal 700, and the service terminal 700 uses the coupon, as described with reference to FIG. The coupon information is transmitted to the authentication server 500, the coupon information is authenticated, the authentication result is transmitted to the service terminal 700, and the service terminal 700 determines whether or not to provide the coupon service based on the authentication result, and if possible. , Provide coupon service.

Further, when the service terminal 700 provides the coupon service, it sends a coupon information use notification to the coupon authentication server 500.

As another embodiment of the token type coupon providing system, in Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-115997 “Method and system for acquiring information related to broadcast information and apparatus”, the related information content providing server (that is,
Providable service information provided by the token-type coupon providing system of the present invention (corresponding to the link-up server) or related information is configured to include coupon information, and available service information including coupon information, or related It is also conceivable that the viewer device that has received the information (that is, this corresponds to the portable user terminal of the token type coupon providing system of the present invention) uses the coupon service by using the coupon information.

In this case, when using the coupon, the viewer terminal (portable user terminal 8) transmits the coupon information included in the received content information to the service terminal 700, and the service terminal 700 informs the coupon authentication server 500. The coupon information is transmitted, the coupon information is authenticated, the authentication result is transmitted to the service terminal 700, and the service terminal 7
00 determines whether or not to provide the coupon service based on the authentication result, and if possible, provides the coupon service. Furthermore, when the service terminal 700 provides the coupon service, the service terminal 700 transmits a coupon information use notification to the coupon authentication server 500.

It is also possible to construct the function of the above link-up server as a program and install it on a computer used as a link-up server, or distribute it via a network.

Further, the constructed program is stored in a hard disk device connected to a computer used as a link-up server, a portable storage medium such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a CD-ROM, etc. The present invention can be easily realized by installing the software when performing.

As described above, according to the present invention, an environment is realized in which the user can easily use the coupon service related to the information transmitted by the various information transmission media.

In the present invention, the basic function of the system in which the token can be used as a coupon ticket can be realized by adopting a configuration in which a link-up server on the network is used as an intermediary.

Further, the token type coupon providing system of the present invention is based on the token type content providing system described in the first embodiment, and is provided with a means for providing a coupon. A coupon providing service is realized at the same time as the content providing service provided by the token type content providing system described in the embodiment. That is, it is possible to provide the coupon information together with the information on the content that describes the details of the coupon service.

In the token type coupon providing system, the portable user terminal transmits the coupon information to the service terminal, the service terminal transmits the coupon information to the coupon authentication server, the coupon information is authenticated, and the authentication result is displayed. The coupon is provided to the service terminal, and the service terminal determines whether to provide the coupon service based on the authentication result. Thereby, it can be guaranteed that the coupon information provided corresponding to the token is applied in the intended coupon service.

Further, in the token type coupon providing system, the service terminal has means for transmitting a coupon information use notification to the coupon authentication server when the coupon service is provided, so that the system can confirm that the coupon has been used. Can be grasped. Further, in order to exchange coupon information provided as a token between users in the same manner as a normal paper coupon ticket, in the token-type coupon providing system of the present invention, the mobile user terminal receives the received coupon information. Can be transmitted to another portable user terminal that is also connected to the token type coupon providing system, and the coupon information transmitted from another portable user terminal can be received.

If it is a general paper coupon, it will be artificially distributed or placed at a store or the like, and the user can obtain it as needed and use it. In the system, the user can use the coupon service by marking (operation for acquiring a token) with the portable user terminal when viewing information about the coupon service from the information transmission medium. As a result, the coupon service provider can easily distribute the coupon via any information transmission medium. Further, the system (coupon provider) can grasp the usage status of the coupon. Also, like paper coupons, coupons can be exchanged between users.

(Third Embodiment) Next, the third embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The embodiment will be described.

In the present embodiment, a plurality of contents acquired by the portable user terminal are presented to the user by the method specified by the presentation control information.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 20 is a schematic configuration diagram according to the third embodiment. FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a configuration in which the process of acquiring the content from the content server is performed in the link-up server.

In the third embodiment, various information transmission media 7 are used.
A plurality of portable user terminals 8 for providing the user with contents on the network that are related to outgoing information that is printed, described, or displayed on, and transmitted to the user, via a predetermined network A content providing system including one or more content servers 3 for providing content and a link-up server 9, and a content information database 4 that manages content information for each content identifier that is uniquely set for each content, and specifies the content. Token table management database 5 that manages a token table that has information relating to the correspondence between the token and the content identifier, which is information that can be a factor
Have.

The portable user terminal 8 acquires the token from the information transmission medium and transmits it to the linkup server 9, and the content and the content information related to the content from the linkup server, The content presenting unit 805 presents the content to the user by the method specified by the presentation control information included in the content information.

The link-up server 9 also refers to the token table database 5 to determine one or more content identifiers based on the token acquired from the portable user terminal 8, and refers to the content information database 4. And a search means 901 for searching content information corresponding to one or more of the content identifiers, a content acquisition means 902 for acquiring the content from the content server 20 by using a resource location included in the content information, and the content. And a transmission means 903 for transmitting the content information to the portable user terminal 8.

An example of presenting the content to the user by the method specified by the presentation control information included in the content information when presenting the content will be described below with reference to FIG. It should be noted that FIG. 21 shows FIG. 1 in the first embodiment.
Among the constituent elements of the token type content providing system shown in 1), only the elements used in the present embodiment are described. The operation of each component illustrated in FIG. 21 is similar to the operation described in the first embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a sequence chart of the operation of the content providing system according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

Step 101) Portable User Terminal 8
Acquires a token from the information transmission medium 7.

Step 102) Portable user terminal 8
Transmits the acquired token to the link-up server 9 via a predetermined network.

Step 103) Link Up Server 9
Refers to the token table database 5 to determine one or more content identifiers corresponding to the received token.

Step 104) Link Up Server 9
Respectively acquires content information corresponding to one or more content identifiers from the content information database 4.

Step 105) Link Up Server 9
Accesses the content server 3 using the resource location included in the content information.

Step 106) Link-up server 9
Acquires the content from the content server 3.

Step 107) Link-up server 9
Displays content information and content on the portable user terminal 8
Send to.

Step 108) Portable user terminal 8
Presents the content acquired by the method specified by the presentation control information included in the content information.

The information included in the above-mentioned presentation control information is the information such as the display position, display size, display orientation, display period, display timing of the corresponding content on the display means. The presentation control information is a language for controlling the synchronized display of Web contents and generating a presentation in which Web contents are combined, that is, SMIL (Synchronized Multimedia Integration L).
anguage) may include information that can be set for presentation control of one content, and may be described as a subset of SMIL itself. The portable user terminal 8 presents a plurality of contents acquired corresponding to one token in various presentation formats.

The presentation control information may include the presentation order of the contents. The portable user terminal 8 presents the acquired one or more contents in the order determined by using the information regarding the presentation order of the contents included in the presentation control information. As a specific example, information regarding the presentation order of the contents is set to a presentation priority value 0 of 256 levels.
.. 255, the content is presented in descending order of presentation priority value.

Further, the presentation control information may include a keyword indicating the content of the corresponding content or a genre identifier. The portable user terminal 8 presents the presentation order of the corresponding content and the corresponding content by using the keyword or the genre identifier regarding the corresponding content included in the presentation control information for the acquired one or more contents. Decide whether to do.

For example, the portable user terminal 8 provides the user with a means for setting a genre of interest,
Thus, if the user sets an interest keyword or genre in advance, when a plurality of contents of the portable user terminal 8 are acquired, the keyword or the keyword included in the presentation control information of the content information acquired at the same time is acquired. The genre identifier is compared with the interest keyword or genre set by the user. If they are the same, the presentation priority of the corresponding content is raised and the content is presented before other content. If the contents are different, the corresponding contents are not presented.

In the above example, the user has set the interesting keywords and genres in advance, but the portable user terminal 8 accumulates the keywords contained in the content information of the contents that the user has seen so far, It is possible to select a certain number of high-frequency ones from the top and use those keywords as the user's interest keywords.

[Modification 1 of Third Embodiment] In modification 1 of the third embodiment, a case where the process of acquiring content from the content server is performed by the portable user terminal will be described.

The system configuration of this embodiment is the same as the configuration shown in FIG. 21, and therefore its explanation is omitted.

FIG. 23 is a sequence chart of the operation of the content providing system in this embodiment.

Step 201) Portable User Terminal 8
Acquires a token from the information transmission medium 7.

Step 202) Portable user terminal 8
Transmits the acquired token to the link-up server 9 via a predetermined network.

Step 203) Link-up server 9
Refers to the token table database 5 to determine one or more content identifiers corresponding to the received token.

Step 204) Link-up server 9
Respectively acquires content information corresponding to one or more content identifiers from the content information database 4.

Step 205) Linkup server 9
Sends the acquired content information to the portable user terminal 8.

Step 206) Portable user terminal 8
Accesses the content server 3 according to the resource location included in the content information.

Step 207) Portable user terminal 8
Acquires the content from the content server 3.

Step 208) Portable user terminal 8
Presents the content acquired by the method specified by the presentation control information included in the content information acquired in step 205.

Also in this embodiment, the presentation control information includes the information shown in the above-mentioned third embodiment.

In the third embodiment described above, the process for acquiring the content is performed by the link-up server 9, and in the modification 1 of the third embodiment, it is performed by the portable user terminal 8. Is selected according to the implementation form and the form of the applied service.

[Modification 2 of the third embodiment] This is provided when considering the business in the content providing system described in the third embodiment and the modification 1 of the third embodiment. It is possible to attach an advertisement to the related information.

[0310] For example, assume that a photograph of fine play in a baseball game yesterday was posted in the sports section of a newspaper article. The photo has a token attached,
If you follow the tokens, you can refer to the video of that fine play scene. At that time, C at the end of the scene video
By inserting M, a business in which the video is provided to the user free of charge and an advertisement fee is obtained from the sponsor who inserts the CM can be considered.

In this embodiment, a business model in the content providing system of the third embodiment will be considered.

[0312] Fig. 24 shows the structure of a content providing system in the second modification of the third embodiment of the present invention.
In the figure, the same components as those of FIG. 21 are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

The system shown in the figure has a configuration in which the attached advertisement content server 301 is added to the system shown in FIG.

In this embodiment, the link-up server 9
When accessing the attached advertisement content server 301, the attached advertisement information included in the content information is used.

FIG. 25 is a sequence chart of the operation of the content providing system in the second modification of the third embodiment of the present invention.

Step 301) The portable user terminal 8 acquires the token from the information transmission medium 7.

Step 302) Portable user terminal 8
Transmits the token to the link-up server 9 via a predetermined network.

Step 303) Link Up Server 9
Determines the content identifier corresponding to the received token by referring to the token table database 5.
Step 304) The link-up server 9 acquires the content information corresponding to the content identifier from the content information database 4.

Step 305) Linkup server 9
Accesses the content server 3 using the resource location included in the content information.

Step 306) Linkup server 9
Acquires the content from the content server 3.

Step 307) Further, the linkup server 9 accesses the attached advertisement content server 301 by using the attached advertisement information included in the content information. Step 308) The linkup server 9 acquires the attached advertisement content from the attached advertisement content server 301.

Step 309) Link-up server 9
Transmits the acquired content information, content, and attached advertisement content to the portable user terminal 8.

Step 310) Portable user terminal 8
Presents the content acquired by the method specified by the presentation control information included in the content information and the attached advertisement content.

The information contained in the above-mentioned presentation control information is information such as the display position, display size, display orientation, display period, display timing, etc., of the corresponding content and attached advertisement content on the display means.

This presentation control information is a language for controlling the synchronous display of Web contents and the like, and is a language for generating a presentation combining Web contents.
IL (Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language)
In, it may include information that can be set for content presentation control, and may be described as a subset of SMIL itself. The portable user terminal 8 presents a plurality of contents acquired corresponding to one token in various presentation formats.

As a general example, based on the presentation control information, when the content is video content, the attached advertisement content is displayed after the reproduction of the video content is completed.

Further, the presentation control information may include information on the presentation order of contents. Portable user terminal 8
Presents the acquired one or more contents in the order determined based on the information regarding the presentation order of the contents included in the presentation control information.

As a concrete example, the information regarding the presentation order of the contents is set to 256 presentation priorities 0 to 255, and the contents with the highest presentation priority value and the attached advertisement contents are presented in order.

Also, the presentation control information may include a keyword or genre identifier indicating the content details. The portable user terminal 8 uses the keyword or the genre identifier regarding the corresponding content included in the presentation control information for the acquired one or more contents, and the presentation order of the corresponding content and the attached advertisement content, and the corresponding order. Determine whether to present content to be attached and attached advertisement content.

For example, the portable user terminal 8 provides means for setting a genre of interest to the user,
Thus, if the user sets the interest keyword or genre in advance, when the plurality of contents of the portable user terminal 8 and the attached advertisement content are acquired, the presentation control information of the content information acquired at the same time is used. The included keyword or genre identifier is compared with the interest keyword or genre set by the user, and if they are the same, the presentation priority of the corresponding content is raised and the content is presented before other content. If the contents are different, the corresponding contents are not presented.

In the above example, the user has set the interest keyword and genre in advance, but the portable user terminal 8 accumulates the keywords included in the content information of the content that the user has seen so far. It is also possible to select a certain number of the most frequently appearing ones from the top and use those keywords as the interest keywords of the user.

[Modification 3 of Third Embodiment] In the modification 2 of the third embodiment described above, the link-up server 9 is used.
In the above, an example of acquiring the content from the content server and acquiring the attached advertisement content from the attached advertisement content server 301 has been described, but in the third modification, a case will be described where the portable user terminal 8 acquires the content. In this embodiment, the system configuration and the contents of the content information and the presentation control information are the same as those in the third embodiment. FIG. 26 is a sequence chart of the operation of the content providing system in Modification 3 of the third embodiment of the present invention.

Step 401) The portable user terminal 8 acquires a token from the information transmission medium 7.

Step 402) Portable user terminal 8
Transmits the token to the link-up server 9 via a predetermined network.

Step 403) Link Up Server 9
Determines the content identifier corresponding to the received token by referring to the token table database 5.
Step 404) The link-up server 9 acquires the content information corresponding to the content identifier from the content information database 4.

Step 405) Link-up server 9
Sends the acquired content information to the portable user terminal 8.

Step 406) Portable user terminal 8
Accesses the content server 3 using the resource location included in the content information.

Step 407) Portable user terminal 8
Acquires the content from the content server 3.

Step 408) Further, the portable user terminal 8 uses the attached advertisement information included in the content information to access the attached advertisement content server 301.

Step 409) Portable user terminal 8
Acquires the attached advertisement content from the attached advertisement content server 301.

Step 410) Portable User Terminal 8
Presents the content acquired by the method specified by the presentation control information included in the content information and the attached advertisement content.

Modifications 2 and 3 of the above-described third embodiment
The third modification of the above embodiment is selected according to the mounting form and the applied form.

An embodiment of the above content providing system will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[Example 3-1] First, the information transmission medium 7 on which the transmission information related to the content is printed, described, or displayed is a newspaper, a magazine, a book, a hanging leather advertisement, a leaflet,
Various printed materials such as street posters, bulletin boards, postcards, printouts of materials, maps, TV / radio broadcast program guides, photographs, paintings, signboards, etc., or advertising information using a liquid crystal display installed in trains, etc. This corresponds to a push media display or the like that sends out.

In the content providing system of the present invention, tokens are attached to these information transmission media. The user can acquire each content associated with these various information transmission media 7 via a predetermined network by causing the portable user terminal 8 to acquire the token.

Here, the Internet can be used as the predetermined network.

As the token 11, the bar code information printed, described or displayed on the information transmission medium 7, the information of letters and numbers, the watermark information embedded in the image and the information transmission medium 7 are attached. Electromagnetic storage medium or IC
The signal information stored in the chip is used. The portable user terminal 8 is equipped with token acquisition means for acquiring those tokens 11.

FIG. 27 is a configuration diagram (1) of the portable user terminal according to the embodiment 3-1 of the present invention.

As shown in the figure, the portable user terminal 8 has a so-called CPU control unit 801 and memory 80.
2, an input unit 803, a network communication unit 804, a display unit 805, and a token acquisition unit 806. Also,
A pointing device 807 may also be included.

The portable user terminal 8 shown in the figure is a terminal integrated with a display communication unit, and is equivalent to a portable information terminal device such as a PDA, except that it has a token acquisition unit 806.

The input unit 803 is a button included in the PDA or a small keyboard, and the pointing device 807 can be a touch panel.

The display unit 805 uses a liquid crystal display and an organic EL display.

As a result, the portable user terminal 8 has a thin shape, and the outgoing information related to the content can be used in close contact with the information transmission medium 7 printed, described, or displayed.

FIG. 28 is a configuration diagram (2) of the portable user terminal according to the embodiment 3-1 of the present invention.

The portable user terminal 8 shown in the figure has a token acquisition unit 80 in order to reduce the size and weight of the information presentation part.
6, a display function unit 81 having display means and voice transmission means
0 and the network gateway unit 820 having the network communication unit 821 may be separated, and the display function unit 80 and the network gateway unit 820 may communicate with each other by the wireless communication units 811 and 821.

Further, in the above-mentioned mounting of the portable user terminal 8, the display means may use a transparent display. Specifically, when a liquid crystal display device is used, it is mounted in a form excluding the backlight portion. In addition to using such a transparent display unit, the content presented on this display unit may be used by being superimposed on the transmission information printed, described, or displayed on the information transmission medium 7. For example, when a crossword puzzle is posted on the paper, the answer is displayed in a superimposed manner.

Next, an example of using the portable user terminal 8 will be described.

FIG. 29 is an example of a newspaper according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A drawing is printed on the paper surface of the newspaper shown in FIG. Furthermore, a token is attached to a predetermined position in the drawing. Here, a newspaper is used as an example, but the target information transmission medium 7 is, as described above, various printed materials such as newspapers, magazines, books, hanging leather advertisements, leaflets, street posters, bulletin boards, postcards, and printouts of materials. ,map,
It is also applied to TV / radio broadcast program guides, photographs, paintings, signboards, etc., or push media displays that transmit advertisement information using a liquid crystal display installed in a train or the like.

Similarly, as the token 11 to be added,
Bar code information, printed / written / displayed / displayed character / numeric string information, watermark information embedded in an image, pasted electromagnetic storage medium, or signal information stored in an IC chip is used. . In the example shown in FIG. 29, it is assumed that a barcode is used. In addition,
The method of giving the token 11 changes depending on the type of the token. Further, the token 11 may be attached to each article, or the token may be attached to each page.

The portable user terminal 8 is used to obtain information about the drawing on the newspaper surface shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 30, the portable user terminal 8 has a thin shape and is used by being superimposed on the drawing on which the relevant information is acquired on the paper. In the examples of FIGS. 29 and 30, the token 11 is attached to the lower right corner of the drawing for which the related information is to be acquired. In addition, as shown in FIG. 30, the token acquisition unit 806 of the portable user terminal 8 is also arranged so as to be located at the lower right of the portable user terminal 8. As a result, the display unit 805 of the portable user terminal 8 is brought into contact with the paper surface so as to be exactly overlaid on the drawing, and the token acquisition unit 8
The token 11 is located directly below the so-called scanner portion of 06. At this point, the token acquisition unit 806 performs the acquisition process of the token 11 automatically or triggered by the operation of the input unit 803 (button) by the user.

The operation of acquiring the token is as described above. As a result, the portable user terminal 8 acquires various contents related to the drawing and presents them on the display unit 805. [Embodiment 3-2] Next, a case will be described in which video / audio, particularly live audio / video, and other information are provided in association with the printed matter.

In this case, the content server 3 delivers the video content and the audio content, the live video, the live audio, and the information transmission medium 7 in association with the video / audio content. And so on.

For example, applying the third embodiment,
When the content server 3 provides a function of acquiring and distributing live video input from a camera installed on the road, the portable user terminal 8 displays on the road map printed on paper. The token attached to a predetermined point is acquired, the token is transmitted to the linkup server 9 via a predetermined network, and the linkup server 9 is transmitted.
Determines the content identifier corresponding to the received token by referring to the token table database 5, acquires the content information corresponding to the content identifier from the content information database 4, and uses the resource location included in the content information. Then, the content is acquired from the content server 3, and the content information and the content are transmitted to the portable user terminal 8.

The portable user terminal 8 performs the operation of presenting the current live video image at the predetermined point acquired as the content by the method designated by the presentation control information included in the content information.

Next, when the first modification of the third embodiment is applied, the portable user terminal 8 acquires the token 11 attached to a predetermined point on the road map printed on the paper,
The token 11 is transmitted to the link-up server 9 via the network, the link-up server 9 refers to the token table database 5, determines one or more content identifiers corresponding to the received token, and the content information database. Each of the content information corresponding to one or more content identifiers from 4 is acquired, and the content information is transmitted to the mobile user terminal 8. The mobile user terminal 8 uses the resource location included in the content information. , Content is obtained from the content server 3. The portable user terminal 8 operates so as to present the current live video image at the predetermined point, which is acquired from the content server 3 as the content, by the method specified by the presentation control information included in the content information.

Further, the presentation control information includes either the reproduction start position information of the video / audio contents or the reproduction player control information for controlling the reproduction player means. For example, using the reproduction start position information included in the presentation control information, the portable user terminal 8 specifies a specific fine play scene of the baseball game video content that is accumulated as one video from the game start to the game end. And play it back.

[Embodiment 3-3] As information provided by the content server 3, the latest real-world situation information, weather information, weather forecast information, stock price information at the time of receiving a content transmission request, It has means for providing match progress information, traffic information, reservation status information, sales status information, price information, and the like. The content acquired by the portable user terminal 8 is live video content, but the acquired content is
The latest real-time situation information, weather information,
It is weather forecast information, stock price information, match progress information, traffic information, reservation status information, sales status information, price information, and the like.

For example, applying the third embodiment,
As processing of the portable user terminal 8, a token attached to a predetermined point on a road map printed on a paper surface is acquired, the token is transmitted to a link-up server 9 via a predetermined network, and a link is made. The up server 9 refers to the token table database 5, determines one or more content identifiers corresponding to the received token, and acquires content information corresponding to the one or more content identifiers from the content information database 4, respectively. , Acquiring the content from the content server 3 using the resource location included in the content information,
The content information and the content are transmitted to the portable user terminal 8. The portable user terminal 8 presents the current weather forecast and the like at a predetermined point acquired as content by the method specified by the presentation control information included in the content information.

When the first modification of the third embodiment is applied, the portable user terminal 8 obtains the token attached to the predetermined point on the map of the road printed on the paper or the like, and the token To the link-up server 9 via a predetermined network, and the link-up server 9 refers to the token table database 5 to determine one or more content identifiers corresponding to the received token, and the content information database 4 Content information corresponding to one or more content identifiers are respectively acquired from the content information, and the content information is transmitted to the mobile user terminal 8. The mobile user terminal 8 uses the resource location included in the content information to access the content. From the content server 3, and the portable user terminal 8 displays the presentation control information included in the content information. In the manner specified, it is acquired from the content server 3 as a content. It operates so as to present the current weather forecast information and the like at a predetermined point.

[Embodiment 3-4] Next, in the case where the outgoing information printed, described, or displayed on the information transmission medium 7 includes a text, a case where the information obtained by translating the text into a different language is provided will be described. .

The content server 3 has means for translating texts into different languages.

The content acquired by the portable user terminal 8 is information obtained by translating the text included in the outgoing information printed, described, or displayed on the information transmission medium into a different language. When the third embodiment is applied, the portable user terminal 8 acquires the token attached to the English article printed on the paper or the like, and transmits the token to the link-up server 9 via a predetermined network. , The link-up server 9 refers to the token table database 5, determines one or more content identifiers corresponding to the received token, and from the content information database 4,
The content information corresponding to one or more content identifiers is acquired, the content is acquired from the content server 3 by using the resource location included in the content information, and the content information and the content are transmitted to the portable user terminal 8. . The portable user terminal 8 performs an operation of presenting information obtained by translating an English article acquired as content into Japanese by a method specified by the presentation control information included in the content information.

When the first modification of the third embodiment is applied, the portable user terminal 8 acquires the token attached to the English article printed on the paper and the like, and transmits the token via a predetermined network. Send to the link-up server 9,
The link-up server 9 refers to the token table database 5 to determine one or more content identifiers corresponding to the received token, and obtains content information corresponding to the one or more content identifiers from the content information database 4, respectively. The portable user terminal 8 acquires the content information and transmits the content information to the portable user terminal 8. The portable user terminal 8 acquires the content from the content server 3 by using the resource location included in the content information. Operates so as to present, as content, information obtained by translating an English article acquired from the content server 3 into Japanese as a content specified by the presentation control information included in the content information.

[Embodiment 3-5] Next, a case where the content server 3 provides audio content will be described.
The content server 3 prints, writes on the information transmission medium 7,
Or, if the displayed outgoing spell contains text:
It is assumed to have a means for providing audio contents obtained by converting text into audio. The content acquired by the portable user terminal 8 is an audio content obtained by converting the text of the outgoing information printed, described, or displayed on the information transmission medium 7 into a voice.

When the third embodiment is applied, the portable user terminal 8 acquires the token attached to the text article printed on the paper, etc., and transfers the token to the link-up server 9 via a predetermined network. Then, the link-up server 9 refers to the token table database 5 to determine one or more content identifiers corresponding to the received token, and the content information database 4 to 1
Content information corresponding to one or more content identifiers is respectively acquired, and the content is stored in the content server 3 using the resource location included in the content information.
Then, the content information and the content are transmitted to the portable user terminal 8. The portable user terminal 8 operates so as to present the audio content, which is obtained by converting the text article acquired as the content into the audio by the method specified by the presentation control information included in the content information, by the audio transmission means.

Further, when the first modification of the third embodiment is applied, the portable user terminal 8 acquires the token attached to the text article printed on the paper and the like, and transmits the token via a predetermined network. 1 to correspond to the received token by referring to the token table database 5
One or more content identifiers are determined, content information corresponding to each of the one or more content identifiers is acquired from the content information database 4, and the content information is transmitted to the mobile user terminal 8.
Uses the resource location included in the content information to acquire the content from the content server 3,
The portable user terminal 8 presents the audio content obtained by converting the text article acquired as the content from the content server 3 into the audio by the audio transmission means by the method specified by the presentation control information included in the content information. Operate.

[Embodiment 3-6] Next, a case will be described in which the content acquired by the portable user terminal 8 from the content server 3 includes one or a plurality of selecting means.

The content that the portable user terminal 8 obtains from the content server 3 includes one or a plurality of selecting means, and the user operates the selecting means so that the portable user terminal 8 can obtain a new content. Or the content server 3 executes a predetermined process associated with the selection means.

[0380] For example, it is assumed that, in a quiz or application article provided on paper, the portable user terminal 8 of the content providing system of the present invention is used to answer a quiz or apply. .

Specifically, when the third embodiment is applied, it is assumed that so-called answer selection type quiz information is posted on a paper such as a magazine. By stacking the portable user terminal 8 on the quiz information or the like on the paper, the portable user terminal 8 acquires the token assigned to the quiz information column on the paper. Then, the token is transmitted to the link-up server 9 via a predetermined network, and the link-up server 9 refers to the token table database 5 to determine one or more content identifiers corresponding to the received token, From the information database 4,
Content information corresponding to one or more content identifiers is respectively acquired, the content is acquired from the content server 3 by using the resource location included in the content information, and the content information and the content are transmitted to the portable user terminal 8. . As a result, the portable user terminal 8
The content acquired by includes means for selecting an answer of the quiz information on paper. Here, when the user selects an answer using the selection means on the content, the content newly including the information indicating that the answer is correct or incorrect is acquired and provided to the user. Further, when the user selects the correct answer, the link-up server 9 performs processing such as registering the user information in the shipping list of the correct answer prize of the quiz. Such processing is realized by a technique such as so-called CGI.

When the first modification of the third embodiment is applied, the portable user terminal 8 acquires the token attached to the quiz information section on the paper, and the token is linked to the linkup server via the predetermined network. 9, the link-up server 9 refers to the token table database 5, determines one or more content identifiers corresponding to the received token, and from the content information database 4,
Each of the content information corresponding to one or more content identifiers is acquired, the content information is transmitted to the mobile user terminal 8, and the mobile user terminal 8 uses the resource location included in the content information to store the content. It is acquired from the content server 3. Portable user terminal 8
The content acquired by includes means for selecting an answer to the quiz information on paper. Here, when the user selects an answer by using the selection means on the content, the content newly including the information indicating that the answer is correct or incorrect is acquired and provided to the user.

Furthermore, when the user selects the correct answer, the link-up server 9 performs processing such as registering the user information in the shipping destination list of the correct answer prize of the quiz. Such processing is realized by a technique such as so-called CGI.

In the above example, the content including the selection means acquired by the portable user terminal 8 may be used by being superimposed on the quiz information column on the paper. For example, when there are two answer selection spaces in the quiz information column, the selecting means is presented just above each answer selection space. Which answer each of the answer selection spaces corresponds to can be determined based on the information printed on the paper.

[Embodiment 3-7] Next, in the content providing system, the content server 3 includes means for providing a program, and the content acquired by the portable user terminal 8 is a program. An example in which the worker terminal 8 executes the acquired program will be described.

When the third embodiment is applied, in the system of the present invention, the portable user terminal 8 acquires the token attached to the article printed on the paper and the like, and transmits the token via a predetermined network. The link-up server 9 transmits the link-up server 9, the link-up server 9 refers to the token table database 5, determines one or more content identifiers corresponding to the received token, and converts the content information database 4 into one or more content identifiers. The corresponding content information is respectively acquired, the content is acquired from the content server 3 using the resource location included in the content information, and the content information and the content are transmitted to the portable user terminal 8. Here, the content acquired by the portable user terminal 8 is specifically JavaAp.
A program such as plet, in which the portable user terminal 8 is
Operates to execute the acquired program such as Java Applet.

Further, when the first modification of the third embodiment is applied, the portable user terminal 8 acquires the token attached to the article printed on the paper, etc., and transmits the token via a predetermined network. The link-up server 9 refers to the token table database 5 to determine one or more content identifiers corresponding to the received token, and the link-up server 9 determines one or more content identifiers from the content information database 4. Content information corresponding to each of the above, and transmits the content information to the mobile user terminal 8, and the mobile user terminal 8 acquires the content from the content server 3 by using the resource location included in the content information. . Here, the content acquired by the portable user terminal is specifically Ja
A program such as vaApplet, which is a portable user terminal 8
Operates to execute the acquired program such as JavaApplet.

In the above Embodiment 3-7, as the JavaApplet program provided by the content server 3, "Sato, Akutsu, Tonomura" Coaster: Spatio-temporal media interface using polygonal line slider ", Jisho Kenkyusho, 98-HI- 79-7,
Vol.98, No.75, pp.37-42, 1998 ”may be provided as an application called Coaster. Coaster
Is an interface for spatially manipulating an image. By presenting the Coaster by superimposing it on the drawing or photo on the paper, it is possible to realize an information provision / operation environment as if operating the drawing or photo on the paper to change it. Further, there is a case where a program having a function of further enlarging the displayed graphic is provided and the map information printed on the paper is further enlarged using the portable user terminal 8.

[Embodiment 3-8] Instead of the portable user terminal 8 transmitting the token to the link-up server 9, some content was acquired, but in the following, the portable user terminal 8 acquires the content. Not something to get.

[0390] For example, in the TV broadcast program section of a magazine,
When the token acquisition process is performed by the portable user terminal 8, the link-up server 9 is assumed to perform a recording reservation process for the selected broadcast program.

The system of this embodiment can be one or more content servers that provide content via a predetermined network, a content information database 4 that manages content information for each content identifier, and a factor that identifies the content. Token, which is information, and a token table database 5 that manages a token table having information about the correspondence relationship between content identifiers, a portable user terminal 8 that acquires and transmits a token, and acquires and uses content, and a portable usage And a link-up server 9 for transmitting content information to the portable user terminal 8 based on the token received from the user terminal 8, and transmission information in which outgoing information related to the content is printed, described, or displayed. From the medium, the portable user terminal 8 acquires the token, The token via a predetermined network and sends the link-up server 9, the link-up server 9
Determines the content identifier corresponding to the received token by referring to the token table database 5, acquires the content information corresponding to one content identifier from the content information database 4, and uses the resource location included in the content information. Then, the program is acquired from the content server 3, and the program operates.

The above information transmission medium 7 is a magazine and a TV.
The user obtains the token by placing the portable user terminal 8 on the predetermined position of the broadcast program column, the above procedure is executed, and finally the program obtained by the linkup server 9 from the content server 3 Processing for program reservation is executed.

[Embodiment 3-9] In this embodiment, FIG.
7, the portable user terminal 8 has the token acquisition unit 806, the display unit 805, the voice transmitting unit and the network communication unit 804, and the display unit 805 has a liquid crystal display or an organic EL device. Using the display,
The portable user terminal 8 has a thin shape and is used in close contact with the information transmission medium on which the transmission information related to the content is printed, described, or displayed. As described above, the portable user terminal 8 is provided with the control unit 801, the memory 802, the input unit 803, the network communication unit 804, the display unit 805, and the token acquisition unit 806, as shown in FIG. It In addition, a pointing device 807 may be provided. The portable user terminal 8 integrated with the display communication unit shown in FIG.
It corresponds to a mobile information terminal device such as a PDA except that it has 06. The input unit 803 is a button included in the PDA, a small keyboard, or the like, and a touch panel can be used as the pointing device.

[Embodiment 3-10] In this embodiment, the case where the content information includes the terminal environment information will be described.
When the third embodiment is applied, the portable user terminal 8 acquires the token from the information transmission medium 7, transmits the token and the terminal environment information to the linkup server 9 via a predetermined network, and the linkup server 9 refers to the token table database 5 to determine one or more content identifiers corresponding to the received token, obtain content information corresponding to each of the one or more content identifiers from the content information table 4, The content is acquired from the content server 3 using the resource location included in the information, the content is converted using the presentation control information and the terminal environment information included in the content information, and the content information and the converted content are used by the portable user. The mobile user terminal 8 is transmitted to the terminal 8.
Presents the converted content acquired by the method specified by the presentation control information included in the content information.

When the first modification of the third embodiment is applied, the portable user terminal 8 acquires the token from the information transmission medium 7, and transmits the token to the linkup server 9 via a predetermined network, Link-up server 9
The token table database 5 is referred to determine one or more content identifiers corresponding to the received token, the content information corresponding to the one or more content identifiers is acquired from the content information database 4, and the content information is carried. To the portable user terminal 8, the portable user terminal 8 acquires the content from the content server 3 using the resource location included in the content information, and the portable user terminal 8 is included in the content information. The content is converted using the presentation control information and the terminal environment information, and the converted content acquired by the method specified by the presentation control information is presented.

Here, the terminal environment information includes the position of the information related to the content printed, described or displayed on the information transmission medium and the positional relationship of the display means of the terminal. Specifically, the token attached to the printed matter is set as information that can be identified as up, down, left, and right, and the mobile user terminal 8 analyzes the image scanned by the token acquisition unit 806 to determine the attitude of the terminal with respect to the token. There is a case where the positional relationship between the position of information calculated and calculated and related to the displayed content and the display means is obtained. As a method of acquiring the positional relationship between a token and a terminal using a two-dimensional barcode as a token, "Jun Rekimoto and Katashi Nagano," The world
through computer ”, Proceediongs of the ACN Sympos
ium on User Interface Software and Technology (UIS
T'95), pp.29-36, ACM Press, November 1995 ”, etc. may be used. Furthermore, what is the conversion that is performed on the content using presentation control information and terminal environment information? An image of information related to the content printed or described or displayed on the information transmission medium 7, and a display unit 80 of the portable user terminal 7 to be used by being superimposed on the image of information.
This is a geometric transformation for matching the positional relationship with the content image displayed in 5, and includes rotation, movement, and partial enlargement.

Further, there is a case where contents are further converted and presented by a user operation on the portable user terminal 8. For example, the map information printed on the paper is further enlarged using the portable user terminal 7.

By providing such means, when the portable user terminal is used by being printed, described on the information transmission medium, or superimposed on the displayed outgoing information, it is closely related to the information on the printed matter. It is possible to realize linked information presentation.

[0399] It is also possible to construct each processing of the above-mentioned portable user terminal, link-up server, content server, and attached advertisement content server as a program.

[0400] Further, the constructed program is installed in a computer used as a portable user terminal, a link-up server, a content server, an attached advertisement content server, or a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a CD-ROM, or the like. The present invention can be easily realized by storing it in a portable storage medium and installing it when carrying out the present invention.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the presentation control information is included in the content information, and by utilizing this, the information identified by one identifier such as a bar code (here, a token). When there are multiple items, it is possible to decide how to present such information to the user.

Also, contents to be presented can be selected based on the user's desired genre setting in the portable user terminal.

Also, the content server of the present invention has means for delivering video content and audio content,
The content server has means for relaying and delivering the live video and the live audio, so that the video and audio, particularly the live video and audio and other information can be provided in association with the printed matter. In addition, the content server
It has means for providing the latest real-world situation information, weather information, weather forecast information, stock price information, match progress information, traffic information, reservation status information, sales status information, price information, etc. at the time of receiving a content transmission request. Thus, for example, by selecting a predetermined point on the road map printed on paper,
It can be used to obtain video and audio showing the current situation at that point and weather information.

Further, the presentation control information includes any one of video, reproduction start position information of audio content, and reproduction player control information for controlling reproduction player means, so that the video and audio can be obtained when the video and audio are acquired. Since a mechanism for playing back from a predetermined position in the audio and presenting it to the user is provided, it is possible to present a specific fine play scene or the like by designating the address of the video content and the playback start position.

[0405] Also, a program related to the article, which translates and presents the printed article, reproduces by voice conversion, and when the article is a quiz or the like, the user responds to this and obtains an answer result, By providing or selecting an article, it is possible to realize processing such as performing necessary settings on the server on the network side.

Furthermore, in the conventional system, the printed matter and the PC are
Although there is a problem in cooperation with a medium charged to refer to related information such as, in the present invention, in order to realize an information presenting method in close cooperation with information on a printed matter, the portable user terminal, The structure is such that it is used in close contact with the target printed matter. To this end, the portable user terminal has a token acquisition unit, a display unit, a voice transmission unit, and a network communication unit, and the display unit is a liquid crystal display or an organic E unit.
By using the L display, the portable user terminal can be configured in a thin shape and can be used while being in close contact with the paper surface or the like.

Further, the portable user terminal is divided into two parts, a display function part having a token acquisition part, a display part, a voice transmission part and a network gateway part having a network communication part. By the gateway unit communicating by the wireless communication unit,
It is possible to reduce the weight of the information display part.

Further, in order to realize an information presenting method that closely cooperates with the information on the printed matter, the display part of the portable user terminal uses a transparent display, and the contents presented on the display part are It can be used by superimposing it on the transmission information printed, described, or displayed on the information transmission medium. Further, if necessary, content conversion processing is performed for position matching. As a result, it is possible to realize media expansion type information cooperation, which has a different idea from the hyperlink / hypermedia in WWW, and to provide the user with a completely new information acquisition environment and information operation feeling.

[0409]

As described above, according to the configuration for achieving the first object of the present invention, the user can easily access the contents on the WWW related to the information transmitted by the various information transmission media. The environment can be realized.

[0410] Also, when acquiring WWW contents via a token, considering the difference in points of interest for each user, content information adapted to each user's interest or user attribute is provided. It is possible to realize a system that can obtain the content, or can realize a system that can provide the content suitable for use in the terminal in consideration of the terminal information such as the display capacity and the processing capacity of the user terminal used by the user. .

According to the structure for achieving the second object of the present invention, the function of the system in which the token can be used as a coupon ticket is realized.

[0412] Further, it is possible to realize a coupon providing service at the same time as the content providing service provided by the token type content providing system. That is, it becomes possible to provide the coupon information together with the information of the content that explains the details of the coupon service. Further, by authenticating the coupon information, it is guaranteed that the coupon information provided corresponding to the token is applied to the intended coupon service.

Further, according to the structure for achieving the third object, it is possible to present the acquired content by the method specified by the presentation control information included in the content information. In addition, when the presentation control information includes a keyword or a genre identifier indicating the presentation order of the content and the content of the content, when the information identified by the token is plural, what kind of information is to be provided? It is possible to decide whether to present it to the user by the procedure. In addition, it is possible to select the content to be presented based on the user's desired genre setting on the user terminal.

Further, by having the attached advertisement content server, the attached advertisement content is acquired from the attached advertisement content server by using the attached advertisement information included in the content information, and is obtained by the method specified by the presentation control information. By presenting the content and the attached advertisement content, it becomes possible to insert and present the attached advertisement content in the content.

Further, in order to decide whether to present the content and the attached advertisement content, the presentation control information including the information about the presentation order of the content and the keyword or the genre identifier indicating the content is used. When there are a plurality of contents and attached advertisement contents acquired by the user terminal, it is possible to determine how to present such information to the user.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications and applications are possible within the scope of the claims.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a content identifier and content information associated with the content identifier.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining Example 1-1.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a token table in Example 1-1.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an example in the case of automatically acquiring a token.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining Example 1-2.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a token table in Example 1-2.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining Example 1-3.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a token table in Example 1-3.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a token table in Example 1-4.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a GUI basic screen on a user terminal.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of icon information.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen when using content.

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining a content information transmission / reception function between user terminals.

FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining the outline of the second embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a schematic configuration diagram of a token-coupon conversion device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a configuration diagram of a token / coupon information conversion system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a configuration diagram showing another example of the token-coupon information conversion system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is an example of a content identifier and content information associated with the content identifier according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a schematic configuration diagram of a token-type content providing system according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a configuration diagram of a content providing system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a sequence chart of the operation of the content providing system according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a sequence chart of the operation of the content providing system in Modification 1 of the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a configuration diagram of a content providing system in Modification 2 of the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a sequence chart of the operation of the content providing system in the second modification of the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a sequence chart of the operation of the content providing system in Modification 3 of the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 27 is a configuration diagram (No. 1) of the user terminal according to the embodiment 3-1 of the present invention.

FIG. 28 is a configuration diagram (No. 2) of the user terminal according to the embodiment 3-1 of the present invention.

FIG. 29 is an example of a newspaper provided with the token of Example 3-1 of the present invention.

FIG. 30 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the user terminal according to the example 3-1 of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Token type content providing system 2 network 3 Content server 4 Content information database 5 Token table database 6 Content information registration server 7 Information transmission medium 8 Portable user terminals 9 Link-up server 10 user management server 81 clock 82 Position detection device 83 Accelerometer 84 camera device 85 Image (text) recognition means 86 keyword database 87 Laser Scanner Means 88 Radio signal receiving means 301 Attached advertisement content server 600 Coupon information registration server 400 coupon information database 911 Receiving means 912 conversion means 913 Coupon information transmission means 500 coupon authentication server 700 service terminal 801 control unit 802 memory 803 Input section 804 Network Communications Department 805 Content presentation means, display unit 806 Token acquisition means, token acquisition unit 807 pointing device 808 Preliminary control means 809 spare memory 810 Display function section 820 Network gateway section 821 wireless communication unit 822 Network Communications Department 823 Main control unit 824 memory 901 Search method 902 Content acquisition means 903 Transmission means

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Yoshinobu Tonomura             2-3-1, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo             Inside Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Hiroki Shigeyoshi             2-3-1, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo             Inside Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Kiyoshi Tanaka             2-3-1, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo             Inside Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Takahisa Taura             2-3-1, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo             Inside Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Hisako Shiobara             2-3-1, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo             Inside Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Shunsuke Doi             2-3-1, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo             Inside Telegraph and Telephone Corporation F term (reference) 5K033 DA19 DB12 DB14                 5K067 AA21 AA34 BB21 DD17 DD52                       DD53 EE02 EE10 EE16 GG01                       GG11 HH22 HH23

Claims (95)

[Claims] 1. A token type content providing system having a portable user terminal and a link-up server, wherein the portable user terminal specifies a content from a means for wirelessly connecting to a network and an information transmission medium. Means for acquiring a token which is factor information, means for transmitting the token to a link-up server via a network, and content acquired by the link-up server referring to the token via a network The link-up server uses a token table database that manages a token table having information about a correspondence relationship between a token and a content identifier, and a means for receiving information, One or more corresponding to the received tokens Means for determining a content identifier, means for acquiring content information corresponding to the one or more content identifiers using a content information database that manages content information including content attribute information for each content identifier, And means for selecting the content information acquired by referring to the attribute information included in the content information, and transmitting a part or all of the selected content information to the portable user terminal that transmitted the token. A token type content providing system. 2. A token type content providing system having a portable user terminal and a link-up server, wherein the portable user terminal manages means for wirelessly connecting to a network and user information about the user. User information management means, a terminal information management means for managing terminal information related to a portable user terminal, a means for acquiring a token, which is information that is a factor for specifying content from an information transmission medium, and a network Means for transmitting the token, the user information, and the terminal information to a link-up server, and content information acquired by the link-up server through the network by referring to the token, the user information, and the terminal information The link-up server has a unit for receiving the token, the user information, and the terminal information, And a means for determining one or more content identifiers corresponding to the received tokens by using a token table database that manages a token table having information on the correspondence relationship between tokens and content identifiers. And means for acquiring content information corresponding to the one or more content identifiers by using a content information database that manages content information including content attribute information for each content identifier, the user information, terminal information , And means for selecting the content information acquired by referring to the attribute information included in the content information, and transmitting a part or all of the selected content information to the portable user terminal which transmitted the token. Token-type content characterized by having Provide system. 3. The content information includes a resource location, and the portable user terminal has a content acquisition unit for acquiring content from a content server using the resource location. The token type content providing system described in. 4. The content information includes a resource location, the link-up server acquires the content from the content server using the resource location included in the content information, and the portable use of the content. The token-type content providing system according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: a transmitting unit that transmits the token-type content to the person terminal. 5. The content information according to claim 1, wherein the content information includes coupon information.
The token type content providing system described in the item. 6. The token type content providing system further comprises a service terminal and a coupon authentication server, the portable user terminal has means for transmitting the coupon information to the service terminal, and the service terminal comprises: Means for receiving coupon information from a portable user terminal, means for transmitting the coupon information to a coupon authentication server, and means for receiving an authentication result of the coupon information from the coupon authentication server, and a coupon service based on the authentication result And a means for determining whether or not to provide the coupon information, the coupon authentication server receiving the coupon information from a service terminal, a means for authenticating the coupon information, and a means for transmitting the authentication result to the service terminal. The token-based content providing system according to claim 5, further comprising: 7. The portable user terminal further comprises an automatic marking means for automatically acquiring a token when triggered based on a condition set in advance, and the portable user terminal comprises: 7. The token type content providing system according to claim 1, wherein a token is automatically acquired according to an instruction of the automatic marking means. 8. The content information includes graphic information indicating the content of the content and icon information about a picture, and the portable user terminal stores the received content information in a storage unit and in the storage unit. And a user interface function for displaying icon information included in the content information, and when the content information is acquired by the storage means,
7. The token type content providing system according to claim 1, wherein icon information included in the content information is displayed, and the presence of each content information in the storage means is presented to the user. 9. The portable user terminal has a user interface function for a user to select the displayed icon information, and when the user selects the icon information, the icon information is displayed. 9. The token type content providing system according to claim 8, wherein the content of the network address is obtained by accessing the network address indicated by the resource location included in the content information including the content, and the content is displayed. 10. The portable user terminal has a function of transmitting the content information held in the storage means to another portable user terminal connected to the token type content providing system, and the token type 10. A function for receiving content information transmitted from another portable user terminal connected to the content providing system, any one of claims 1 to 9.
The token type content providing system described in the item. 11. The portable user terminal acquires a user identifier at startup, transmits the user identifier to a user management server that manages the user, and the user management server sends the user identifier to the user management server. The user content information and the user information corresponding to are acquired, stored in the storage means, the icon information included in each content information in the user content information is displayed, and each of the content information in the storage means is displayed. The token type content providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, which presents the existence to the user. 12. The token is any one of time information at the time when the portable user terminal acquires the token, position information of the portable user terminal, terminal direction information, and terminal movement progress information, or The portable user terminal acquires any one or more of time information, position information of the portable user terminal, terminal direction information, and terminal movement progress information. The token table database has means, and information indicating a correspondence relationship between the content identifier and information including any one or more of time information, position information, terminal direction information, and terminal movement progress information. The token type content providing system according to claim 1, wherein 13. The token is bar code information or character string information, the information transmission medium presents bar code information or character string information, and the portable user terminal is bar code information or character string information. 12. A laser scanner unit for reading the, and the token table database manages information indicating a correspondence relationship between the bar code information or the character string information and the content identifier. The token type content providing system described in. 14. The token is radio wave signal information transmitted by radio waves, the information transmission medium emits radio wave signal information, and the portable user terminal receives a radio wave signal information. The token type content providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising a receiving unit, wherein the token table database manages information indicating a correspondence relationship between radio signal information and the content identifier. 15. The token is a telephone number, the information transmission medium presents a telephone number, and the portable user terminal is a means for inputting a telephone number, or a camera device, and the camera. The token table database includes character recognition means for recognizing and reading a telephone number character string from an image input from a device, and the token table database manages information indicating a correspondence relationship between a telephone number and the content identifier. 11. The token type content providing system according to any one of 11. 16. The token-based content providing system according to claim 6, wherein the service terminal has means for transmitting a coupon information use notification to the coupon authentication server when the coupon service is provided. 17. The portable user terminal transmits the received coupon information to another portable user terminal connected to the network, and another means for transmitting the coupon information from another portable user terminal. And means for receiving coupon information.
The described token-based content providing system. 18. The content information includes presentation control information, and the portable user terminal has content presentation means for presenting the acquired content in a method specified by the presentation control information. 7. The token type content providing system according to any one of items 1 to 6. 19. The presentation control information includes information about a presentation order of contents, and the content presentation unit of the portable user terminal presents one or more acquired contents included in the presentation control unit. 19. The token-based content providing system according to claim 18, wherein the token-based content providing system presents the information in an order determined by using information about the order. 20. The presentation control information includes a keyword indicating the content of the corresponding content or a genre identifier, and the portable user terminal includes at least one acquired content in the presentation control information. 19. The token-type content provision according to claim 18, further comprising means for determining a presentation order of corresponding contents and whether or not to present the corresponding contents by using a keyword indicating the content of the content or the genre identifier. system. 21. The token acquisition means of the portable user terminal includes means for acquiring terminal environment information in addition to the token from the information transmission medium, and the link-up server is the content acquisition means. 19. The token-based content providing system according to claim 18, further comprising means for converting the acquired content based on the presentation control information and the terminal environment information included in the content information. 22. The token type according to claim 21, wherein the terminal environment information includes a positional relationship between a position of information related to content printed, described, or displayed on the information transmission medium and a display unit of the terminal. Content provision system. 23. The conversion means displays an image of information related to the content printed, described, or displayed on the information transmission medium, and a display of the portable user terminal used by being superimposed on the image. 22. The token-based content providing system according to claim 21, further comprising geometric conversion means for matching the positional relationship between the content displayed on the means and the image. 24. The token acquisition means of the portable user terminal includes means for acquiring terminal environment information from the information transmission medium, in addition to the token, and the content acquisition means using the terminal environment information. The token type content providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4 or 18, further comprising conversion means for converting the content acquired in (1). 25. The token type according to claim 24, wherein the terminal environment information includes a positional relationship between a position of information related to content printed, described, or displayed on the information transmission medium and a display unit of the terminal. Content provision system. 26. The conversion means displays an image of information related to content printed, described, or displayed on the information transmission medium, and a display of the portable user terminal used by being superimposed on the image. 25. The token type content providing system according to claim 24, further comprising geometric conversion means for matching the positional relationship with the image of the content displayed on the means. 27. A token type content providing method for providing content on a network to a user in a token type content providing system having a portable user terminal and a link-up server, wherein the portable user terminal comprises , Wirelessly connecting to the network, acquiring a token that is information that is a factor that identifies the content from the information transmission medium, and transmitting the token to the link-up server via the network. , One or more content identifiers corresponding to the received tokens are determined by using a token table database that manages a token table having information about correspondence between tokens and content identifiers, For each identifier, the content Using the content information database that manages the content information including the attribute information, the content information corresponding to the one or more content identifiers is acquired, and the content information acquired by referring to the attribute information included in the content information is acquired. Token-type content characterized in that a part or all of the selected content information is transmitted to the portable user terminal that has transmitted the token, and the portable user terminal receives the content information. How to provide. 28. A token-type content providing method for providing content on a network to a user in a token-type content providing system having a mobile user terminal and a link-up server, wherein the mobile user terminal comprises: , Wirelessly connected to the network, user information about users is managed by the user information management means, terminal information about portable user terminals is managed by the terminal information management means, and content is specified from the information transmission medium. The token, which is the information that becomes a factor for transmitting the token, the user information, and the terminal information to the link-up server via the network, and the link-up server uses the token, the user information, and the terminal information. Is received over the network and information on the correspondence between the token and the content identifier. A content information database that determines one or more content identifiers corresponding to the received tokens by using a token table database that manages a token table having, and manages content information including attribute information of the content for each content identifier. Content information corresponding to the one or more content identifiers is obtained by using the user information, the terminal information, and the attribute information included in the content information, and the acquired content information is selected. Part or all of the selected content information is transmitted to the portable user terminal that transmitted the token, and the portable user terminal uses the link-up server to transmit the token, the user information, And receive the content information acquired by referring to the terminal information A token type content providing method characterized by the following. 29. The token type according to claim 27, wherein the content information includes a resource location, and the portable user terminal acquires the content from a content server using the resource location. Content provision method. 30. The content information includes a resource location, the link-up server acquires the content from the content server using the resource location included in the content information, and transmits the content to the portable user terminal. 29. The token type content providing method according to claim 27 or 28. 31. The token-based content providing method according to claim 27, wherein the content information includes coupon information. 32. The token type content providing system further includes a service terminal and a coupon authentication server, the portable user terminal transmits the coupon information to the service terminal, and the service terminal is a portable user. Coupon information is received from the terminal, the coupon information is transmitted to the coupon authentication server, the coupon authentication server receives the coupon information from the service terminal, the coupon information is authenticated, and the authentication result is transmitted to the service terminal. 32. The token-based content provision according to claim 31, wherein the service terminal receives an authentication result of the coupon information from a coupon authentication server and determines whether or not to provide the coupon service based on the authentication result. Method. 33. The portable user terminal has an automatic marking means for automatically acquiring a token when triggered based on a condition set in advance, and the portable user terminal is The token is automatically acquired according to an instruction from the automatic marking means.
2. The token type content providing method according to any one of 2. 34. The content information includes graphic information indicating the content of the content and icon information about a picture, the portable user terminal holds the received content information in a storage unit, and the content information is the When acquired in the storage means,
33. The token type content providing method according to claim 27, wherein icon information included in the content information is displayed and the presence of each content information in the storage means is presented to the user. 35. The portable user terminal has a user interface function for a user to select the displayed icon information, and when the user selects the icon information, the icon information is displayed. The token type content providing method according to claim 34, wherein the content of the network address is acquired by accessing the network address indicated by the resource location included in the content information including, and the content is displayed. 36. The portable user terminal transmits the content information held in the storage means to another portable user terminal connected to the token type content providing system, and the token type content providing The token type content providing method according to any one of claims 27 to 35, wherein content information transmitted from another portable user terminal connected to the system is received. 37. The portable user terminal acquires a user identifier at the time of activation, transmits the user identifier to a user management server that manages the user, and the user management server transmits the user identifier to the user management server. The user content information and the user information corresponding to are acquired, stored in the storage means, the icon information included in each content information in the user content information is displayed, and each of the content information in the storage means is displayed. 28. Presenting the existence to the user
37. The token type content providing method according to any one of items 36 to 36. 38. The token is any one of time information at the time when the portable user terminal acquires the token, position information of the portable user terminal, terminal direction information, and terminal movement progress information, or The portable user terminal acquires one or more of time information, position information of the portable user terminal, terminal direction information, and terminal movement progress information. The token table database manages information indicating correspondence between the content identifier and information composed of one or more of time information, position information, terminal direction information, and terminal movement progress information. Item 38. The token type content providing method according to any one of Items 27 to 37. 39. The token is bar code information or character string information, the information transmission medium presents bar code information or character string information, and the portable user terminal is bar code information or character string information. 38. The token type content providing method according to claim 27, wherein the token table database manages information indicating a correspondence relationship between the barcode information or the character string information and the content identifier. . 40. The token is radio signal information transmitted by radio waves, the information transmission medium emits radio signal information, the portable user terminal acquires radio signal information, and the token table The token type content providing method according to any one of claims 27 to 37, wherein the database manages information indicating a correspondence relationship between radio signal information and the content identifier. 41. The token is a telephone number, the information transmission medium presents a telephone number, and the portable user terminal is a means for inputting a telephone number, or a camera device, and the camera. 38. The telephone number character string is recognized and read from an image input from a device, and the token table database manages information indicating a correspondence relationship between a telephone number and the content identifier. The token type content providing method described in. 42. The service terminal, when providing the coupon service, transmits a coupon information use notification to the coupon authentication server.
2. The token type content providing method described in 2. 43. The portable user terminal transmits the received coupon information to another portable user terminal connected to the network, and the coupon information transmitted from the other portable user terminal. 33. The token type content providing method according to claim 31 or 32, wherein 44. The content information includes presentation control information, and the portable user terminal presents the acquired content in a method specified by the presentation control information. The token type content providing method according to any one of the above. 45. The presentation control information includes information regarding a presentation order of contents, and the portable user terminal uses the information regarding the presentation order included in the presentation control information for one or more acquired contents. 45. The token type content providing method according to claim 44, wherein the token type content is presented in the determined order. 46. The presentation control information includes a keyword or a genre identifier indicating the content of the corresponding content, and the portable user terminal includes at least one acquired content in the presentation control information. 45. The token-type content providing method according to claim 44, wherein the presentation order of the corresponding contents and whether or not to present the corresponding contents are determined by using a keyword indicating the details of the contents or the genre identifier. 47. The portable user terminal acquires terminal environment information from the information transmission medium in addition to the token, and the link-up server includes the presentation control information and the terminal included in the content information. The token-based content providing method according to claim 44, wherein the content is converted based on environment information. 48. The token type according to claim 47, wherein the terminal environment information includes a positional relationship between a position of information related to the content printed, described, or displayed on the information transmission medium and a display unit of the terminal. Content provision method. 49. The link-up server includes an image of information related to content printed, described, or displayed on the information transmission medium, and the portable user terminal used by being superimposed on the image. 48. The token-type content providing method according to claim 47, wherein the content is converted by performing geometric conversion for matching the positional relationship with the image of the content displayed on the display means. 50. The portable user terminal acquires terminal environment information in addition to the token from the information transmission medium, and converts the content using the terminal environment information. The token type content providing method according to any one of the above. 51. The content provision according to claim 50, wherein the terminal environment information includes a positional relationship of information related to content displayed, printed, or displayed on the information transmission medium and a display unit of the terminal. Method. 52. The portable user terminal is an image of information related to content printed, described, or displayed on the information transmission medium, and the portable user used by being superimposed on the image. 51. The token-based content providing method according to claim 50, wherein the content is converted by performing geometric conversion for matching the positional relationship with the image of the content displayed on the display unit of the terminal. 53. A portable user terminal in a token type content providing system having a portable user terminal and a link-up server, wherein the content is specified from a means for connecting to a network by radio waves and an information transmission medium. Means for acquiring a token which is factor information, means for transmitting the token to a link-up server via a network, and content acquired by the link-up server referring to the token via a network A portable user terminal, comprising: means for receiving information. 54. A portable user terminal in a token type content providing system having a portable user terminal and a link-up server, managing means for connecting to a network by radio waves, and managing user information about the user. User information management means, a terminal information management means for managing information about the portable user terminal, a means for acquiring a token, which is information that is a factor that identifies the content from the information transmission medium, and a network, Means for transmitting the token, user information, and terminal information to a link-up server, and content information acquired by the link-up server via the network, referring to the token, the user information, and the terminal information. A portable user terminal comprising: means for receiving. 55. The portable user terminal performs a communication between networks, a display unit configured by a thin card-shaped display for displaying the content, a voice transmission unit capable of outputting a voice, and a network. 54. A network communication means is provided, and the entire portable user terminal has a thin shape.
Or the portable user terminal according to 54. 56. A display having the token acquisition means, a display means for displaying contents, a voice transmission means capable of outputting a voice, and a first wireless communication means for performing wireless communication. A network gateway unit having a functional unit, a network communication unit for performing communication between networks, and a second wireless communication unit for performing wireless communication, the first wireless communication unit and the second wireless communication. The portable user terminal according to claim 53 or 54, wherein communication is performed between the means. 57. The portable type according to claim 55 or 56, wherein a transparent display is used as said display means, and means for printing or writing content on said information transmission medium or superposing it on displayed transmission information is provided. User terminal. 58. The portable user terminal according to claim 53, wherein the content information includes a resource location, and the content user has content acquisition means for acquiring content from a content server using the resource location. . 59. The portable user terminal according to claim 53, wherein the content information includes coupon information. 60. The portable user terminal further has an automatic marking means for automatically acquiring a token when triggered based on a condition set in advance, and by the instruction of the automatic marking means, The portable user terminal according to claim 53, wherein the token is automatically acquired. 61. The content information includes graphic information indicating the content of the content and icon information regarding a picture, and the portable user terminal stores the received content information in a storage unit and in the storage unit. And a user interface function for displaying icon information included in the content information, and when the content information is acquired by the storage means,
The portable user terminal according to any one of claims 53 to 59, wherein icon information included in the content information is displayed and the presence of each content information in the storage means is presented to the user. 62. The portable user terminal has a user interface function for a user to select the displayed icon information, and when the user selects the icon information, the icon information is displayed. 62. The portable user terminal according to claim 61, wherein the content of the network address is acquired by accessing the network address indicated by the resource location included in the content information including, and the content is displayed. 63. The portable user terminal has a function of transmitting the content information held in the storage means to another portable user terminal connected to the token type content providing system, and the token type The portable user terminal according to any one of claims 53 to 62, having a function of receiving content information transmitted from another portable user terminal connected to the content providing system. 64. The portable user terminal acquires a user identifier at startup, transmits the user identifier to a user management server that manages the user, and the user management server sends the user identifier to the user management server. The user content information and the user information corresponding to are acquired, stored in the storage means, the icon information included in each content information in the user content information is displayed, and each of the content information in the storage means is displayed. 64. The portable user terminal according to any one of claims 53 to 63, which presents the presence to the user. 65. The token is any one of time information at the time when the portable user terminal acquires the token, position information of the portable user terminal, direction information of the terminal, and terminal movement progress information, or The portable user terminal acquires any one or more of time information, position information of the portable user terminal, terminal direction information, and terminal movement progress information. The token table database has means, and information indicating a correspondence relationship between the content identifier and information including any one or more of time information, position information, terminal direction information, and terminal movement progress information. 65. The portable user terminal according to any one of claims 53 to 64, which manages the. 66. A means for transmitting the received coupon information to another portable user terminal connected to the network, and a means for receiving the coupon information transmitted from another portable user terminal. 60. The portable user terminal according to claim 59, comprising. 67. The content information includes presentation control information, and the portable user terminal has content presentation means for presenting the acquired content in a method specified by the presentation control information. Item 55. The portable user terminal according to any one of items 53 to 59. 68. The presentation control information includes information regarding a presentation order of contents, and the content presenting means of the portable user terminal presents one or more acquired contents in the presentation control means. The portable user terminal according to claim 67, wherein the portable user terminal presents the information in the order determined by using the information regarding the order. 69. The presentation control information includes a keyword indicating the content of the corresponding content or a genre identifier, and the portable user terminal includes one or more acquired contents in the presentation control information. 68. The portable user according to claim 67, further comprising: a means for determining the presentation order of the corresponding content and whether to present the corresponding content by using the keyword indicating the content of the content or the genre identifier. Terminal. 70. The token acquisition means of the portable user terminal includes means for acquiring terminal environment information in addition to the token from the information transmission medium, and the link-up server is the content acquisition means. The portable user terminal according to claim 67, further comprising: a unit that converts the acquired content based on the presentation control information and the terminal environment information included in the content information. 71. The portable type according to claim 70, wherein the terminal environment information includes a position of information related to content printed, described, or displayed on the information transmission medium and a position of a display unit of the terminal. User terminal. 72. The token acquisition means of the portable user terminal includes means for acquiring terminal environment information from the information transmission medium in addition to the token, and the portable user terminal has the terminal environment. The portable user terminal according to any one of claims 53, 54 or 67, further comprising conversion means for converting the content acquired by the content acquisition means using information. 73. The portable type according to claim 72, wherein the terminal environment information includes a position of information related to content printed, described, or displayed on the information transmission medium and a positional relationship of a display unit of the terminal. User terminal. 74. The conversion means displays an image of information related to content printed, described, or displayed on the information transmission medium, and a display of the portable user terminal used by being superimposed on the image. 73. The portable user terminal according to claim 72, comprising geometric conversion means for matching the positional relationship with the image of the content displayed on the means. 75. A method of acquiring content information of a portable user terminal in a token type content providing system having a portable user terminal and a link-up server, the method comprising the step of connecting to a network by radio waves, and an information transmission medium. To obtain a token that is information that is a factor for identifying the content from the server, transmitting the token to the link-up server via the network, and referring to the token by the link-up server via the network. And a step of receiving the content information acquired by the above method. 76. A method for acquiring content information of a portable user terminal in a token type content providing system having a portable user terminal and a link-up server, which relates to a step of connecting to a network by radio waves and a user. A step of managing user information, a step of managing information about a portable user terminal, a step of acquiring a token, which is information that is a factor for identifying content from an information transmission medium, a token that is transmitted via a network, Transmitting user information and terminal information to a link-up server, and receiving content information obtained by referring to the token, user information, and terminal information by the link-up server via a network Content information acquisition method characterized by having . 77. The content information includes a resource location, and the portable user terminal has a step of acquiring content from a content server using the resource location. Content information acquisition method. 78. The content information acquisition method according to claim 75 or 76, wherein the content information includes coupon information. 79. The content according to any one of claims 75 to 78, further comprising a step in which the portable user terminal automatically acquires a token when triggered by a condition set in advance. Information acquisition method. 80. The content information includes graphic information indicating the content of the content and icon information about a picture, and the content information acquisition method includes a step of holding the received content information in a storage means, When acquired in the storage means,
79. The content information acquisition method according to any one of claims 75 to 78, further comprising the step of displaying icon information included in the content information and presenting the existence of each content information in the storage means to a user. . 81. When the user selects the icon information, the content of the network address is acquired by accessing the network address indicated by the resource location included in the content information including the icon information. 81. The content information acquisition method according to claim 80, further comprising the step of displaying the content. 82. A step of transmitting the content information held in the storage means of the portable user terminal to another portable user terminal connected to the token type content providing system, and providing the token type content. 82. The content information acquisition method according to claim 75, further comprising the step of receiving content information transmitted from another portable user terminal connected to the system. 83. A step of obtaining a user identifier at startup, a step of transmitting the user identifier to a user management server that manages the user, and a use corresponding to the user identifier from the user management server User content information and user information are acquired, stored in storage means, icon information included in each content information in the user content information is displayed, and the existence of each content information in the storage means is confirmed by the user. 83. The content information acquisition method according to claim 75, further comprising the step of: 84. The token is any one of time information at the time when the portable user terminal acquires the token, position information of the portable user terminal, terminal direction information, and terminal movement progress information, or The information is composed of a plurality of pieces, and the portable user terminal acquires any one or more of time information, position information of the portable user terminal, terminal direction information, and terminal movement progress information. The token table database, the token table database, information indicating any one or more of time information, position information, terminal direction information, terminal movement progress information, and information indicating a correspondence relationship with the content identifier. The content information acquisition method according to any one of claims 75 to 83, wherein 85. A step of transmitting the received coupon information to another portable user terminal connected to the network, and a step of receiving the coupon information transmitted from another portable user terminal. 79. Having
Content information acquisition method described in. 86. The content information includes presentation control information, and the mobile user terminal has a content presentation step of presenting the acquired content in a method specified by the presentation control information. Item 75 to 7
8. The content information acquisition method according to any one of 8. 87. The presentation control information includes information on a presentation order of contents, and the content presentation step of the portable user terminal includes one or more acquired contents included in the presentation control information. 87. The content information acquisition method according to claim 86, further comprising the step of presenting the information in the order determined by using the information regarding the order. 88. The presentation control information includes a keyword or a genre identifier indicating the content of the corresponding content, and the portable user terminal includes one or more acquired contents in the presentation control information. 87. The content information acquisition method according to claim 86, further comprising the step of determining the presentation order of the corresponding content and whether to present the corresponding content using the keyword indicating the content of the content or the genre identifier. . 89. The portable user terminal has a step of acquiring terminal environment information in addition to the token from the information transmission medium, and the link-up server has the content acquired in the content acquisition step. 87. The content information acquisition method according to claim 86, wherein the content is converted based on the presentation control information and the terminal environment information included in the content information. 90. The content information according to claim 89, wherein the terminal environment information includes a position of information related to content printed, described, or displayed on the information transmission medium and a positional relationship of a display step of the terminal. Acquisition method. 91. The step of the portable user terminal acquiring terminal environment information from the information transmission medium in addition to the token, and the content acquired in the content acquisition step using the terminal environment information. 87. Any one of claims 75, 76 or 86 further comprising a converting step of converting.
Content information acquisition method described in section. 92. The content information according to claim 91, wherein the terminal environment information includes a positional relationship between a position of information related to content printed, described, or displayed on the information transmission medium and a display step of the terminal. Acquisition method. 93. In the converting step, an image of information related to content printed, described, or displayed on the information transmission medium, and display of the portable user terminal used by being superimposed on the image. The content information acquisition method according to claim 91, further comprising a geometric conversion step for matching the positional relationship with the image of the content displayed in the step. 94. Any one of claims 75 to 93.
A program for causing the portable user terminal to execute the steps in the content information acquisition method according to the item. 95. Any one of claims 75 to 93.
A recording medium on which a program for causing the portable user terminal to execute the steps in the method for acquiring content information according to the above item is recorded.