JP2003210586A - Fragrance-generating system and fragrance-generating method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate such problems that conventionally, there have been a method wherein a fragrance suitable for a user is blended by a professional such as an aroma-therapist (1), and a method wherein the user himself blends a fragrance from a plurality of aroma oils based on information by books or an internet (2), however, by the method (1), it is necessary to visit an aroma shop, and time, labor and costs for a transportation fee and so forth are required, and by the method (2), although it can be done at home, blending conforming to the instruction of the aroma-therapist adjusting to the individual situations of the user becomes difficult. <P>SOLUTION: A user terminal unit and a fragrance processing computer communicate through an information communication network. Through the communication, a plurality of essence oils are blended based on the fragrance blending information which is processed by the computer, and a desired fragrance can be obtained. <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 method and system for providing aroma information to a user terminal via an information communication network to generate aroma in the vicinity of the user terminal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A word called "aromatherapy" has become a hot topic recently. "Aroma" refers to "fragrance" and "therapy" refers to therapy. Therefore, "aromatherapy" means treating the mind and body with a scent. The birthplace is said to be France, famous for its perfumes. The source of "fragrance" is natural essential oils (hereinafter referred to as "essential oils") extracted from herbs and fruits.

The scent has a therapeutic effect, and is one of the most suitable for "healing" which has been talked about now. It is known that essential oils that have a unique and good smell, for example, mix their components in a candle and bring a good smell to the surroundings as the candle burns. This is sold at aroma shops as aroma candles.

For general consumers (hereinafter abbreviated as "users"), it is common to go to an aroma shop to select and purchase a scent suitable for oneself from a large number of aroma oils. In addition, in the case of users who are particular about it, they are blended with the scent that suits them without being tired of the commercially available scent. There are two main methods for blending the scents that suits oneself.

Method (1) is a method in which a specialist called an aromatherapy is used for blending. "Aromatherapy" means "aromatherapy", and is a specialist in the role of spreading safe and correct knowledge of aromatherapy, and as a therapist who selects and uses essential oils and massages. is there. The aroma therapist grasps the scent of preference from the user by counseling. Then, blending is appropriately performed according to the following purpose.

For example, ・ I want to fix my digestive disorders ... Marjoram ・ I want to improve the functioning of the stomach and intestines ... Rosemary ・ I want to emit toxins ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Black pepper ・ I want to purify blood and eliminate toxins ・ Juniper

In (2), the odor suitable for oneself is blended, or the blending is performed in conformity with one's own TPO. Here, the TPO may be, for example, a case where one wants to calm down a little, or a case where he / she wants to be active outdoors by going out, but creates a suitable odor depending on the situation at that time.

For example, ・ I want to improve my ability to act tangerine lavender

[I want to keep it cool and refreshed] Orange Lemon mint lime

[I want to relieve muscle pain] lavender Rosemary peppermint Sweet Marjoram

By the way, along with the high interest in fragrance, "technological innovation related to fragrance" has been advanced. There is an invention of mixing a desired scent from a plurality of scents in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-146385 "Controlled fragrance output device and fragrance sheet". This works as follows. -One device can generate a desired scent or change the scent and handle the scent as information. -The device is equipped with a fragrance storage device and a fragrance discharge device so that a plurality of scents can be discharged in advance. In order to carry out the desired blending, a control signal is given from the outside of the apparatus, and the fragrance releasing agent is controlled by the control unit that controls each fragrance releasing apparatus in a centralized manner. -Operate the blower fan to mix the scent emitted from the emitter.

On the other hand, an aroma pot connected to a USB terminal of a personal computer has recently been sold. This utilizes the fact that 5V DC power is supplied from the USB terminal of a personal computer and heats the essential oil with a heater to generate aroma. The scent emanating from here relaxes you. However, although the aroma pot of USB connection is intended only for a single essential oil and is connected to a personal computer, it does not use the computing power of the personal computer.

[0013]

There are the following two methods for blending the odor suitable for oneself. (1) How to get experts such as aroma therapists to blend the scent that suits them (2) How to blend from multiple aroma oils based on information from the literature and the Internet

With the method (1), it is necessary to visit an aroma shop, which requires time, labor and transportation costs. Method (2) can be done at home, but conversely it will be difficult to blend according to the aroma therapist's guidelines tailored to your individual circumstances.

Therefore, ideally, the same thing as when going to an aroma shop to convey one's wishes and making a desired blend is desired such as "I want to enjoy blending easily at home". It was rare.

A more specific expression of simply enjoying the blend is "whether it is possible to combine the simple point of connecting to a PC with a USB at home and the point of being able to create a desired scent blend." I can say. In addition, if the result of simple blending at home is good, it is possible to contact the aroma shop with the blending ratio and mail the blended aroma oil.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following configurations. Claim 1 of the present invention
Then, the following systems are provided. A system for providing fragrance mixing information to a user terminal via an information communication network to generate fragrance in the vicinity of the user terminal, wherein the counseling information set by the fragrance counseling information setting means in the user terminal is directed to the fragrance processing computer. And a means for transmitting aroma blending information by the aroma processing computer referring to the aroma blending database, a means for returning the aroma blending information as the calculation result to the user terminal, and the aroma blending information for the user terminal. An aroma generating system, comprising a plurality of essential oils based on the above, and aroma generating means for generating aroma.

Claim 2 of the present invention provides the following method. A method for providing aroma information to a user terminal via an information communication network to generate aroma in the vicinity of the user terminal, wherein counseling information set by aroma counseling information setting means in the user terminal is directed to an aroma processing computer. And transmitting the aroma processing information by referring to the aroma processing database by the aroma processing computer, returning the aroma mixing information as the calculation result to the user terminal, and transmitting the aroma mixing information at the user terminal. And a fragrance generating step of generating a fragrance by mixing a plurality of essential oils based on the fragrance generating method.

Claim 3 of the present invention provides the following method. A method for providing fragrance blending information to a user terminal via an information communication network to generate fragrance in the vicinity of the user terminal, wherein fragrance processing is performed on the counseling information set by the fragrance counseling information setting means in the first user terminal. Transmitting to the computer, calculating the aroma blending information by the aroma treatment computer by referring to the aroma treating database, returning the aroma blending information as the calculation result to the second user terminal, The second user terminal has a step of mixing and generating a plurality of essential oils based on aroma mixing information, and a step of generating aroma in the vicinity of the second user terminal based on the information set in the first user terminal. And a method for generating a fragrance.

[0019]

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

<First Embodiment> FIG. 1 shows the first embodiment.
2 is a system configuration diagram of FIG. Hereinafter, each configuration will be described step by step.

The fragrance processing computer 100 controls and manages fragrance information. Although it is actually a Web server, it does not matter even if it physically exists and may virtually exist in a Web server provided by an Internet service provider somewhere. The fragrance processing database 105 is stored in the fragrance processing computer 100 and stores various kinds of general data such as "what kind of person and who wants what scent." Not only personal information but also data generated by some input / processing is also stored.

The fragrance counseling setting means 351 is provided for each user terminal 301 and allows individual users to set their own information as needed. Actually, it is realized by a Web browser. See also W
Even if it is not an eb browser, it can be realized by connecting to the Internet from a portable device such as a mobile phone.

The fragrance blending information calculation means 361 exists for each user terminal 301, and can be set by an advertiser to send an advertisement. Also, the reply means 3
71 exists for each user terminal 301,
The calculation result is returned from the aroma processing computer 100 to the user terminal 301. The aroma generating means 381 similarly exists for each user terminal 301, and mixes a plurality of essential oils to generate aroma based on the aroma mixing information which is the calculation result.

The Internet 200 is literally an Internet communication network, and is described as an example of an information communication network.

Next, based on FIG. 2, an image of the “user terminal” of the first embodiment will be shown and the operation content will be described.

This image diagram shows a mode in which the user terminal 1301 in FIG. 1 is implemented by a personal computer. Although the user terminal is a desktop personal computer as an example here, it can be realized by a notebook personal computer, a PDA, or a mobile phone or PHS as a mobile information terminal, as a matter of course. First, the aroma generating means 1381 is connected to the personal computer. Connection is US
An interface called B is used here. U
When connected by SB, 5V DC is supplied from the personal computer side, so there is no need to separately take AC power. USB
Is one connection method and another method such as IEEE13
There is no problem using 94 or another interface.

Next, the main body of "MARLO" will be described.
“MARLO” is an example of an embodiment that realizes an aroma generating means, and is a pet name and is positioned as a product name. Multiple cartridges can be arranged, for example, up to 10
It has a capacity of 20 or 20 pieces. A single scent is set in one cartridge. For example, the following is prepared.・ Rose ・ Lavender ・ Lemon ・ Mint ・ Lime

Conceptually, since an ink jet printer or a bubble jet (registered trademark) printer sprays ink from a jet outlet, it is attempted to spray "essential oil" instead of ink using this principle. To do. It is a kind of "fragrance printer", and instead of synthesizing ink to produce various colors, it synthesizes the scent source to create various scents. In principle, there is a method of using a piezo element. The piezo method is a technique for spraying and adhering the ink of a color printer, and the size of the piezo element is changed by the voltage and the ink is sprayed. Actually, since the basic formulation is "how many drops", a method of blending on the basis of dropping a dropper can be considered. In addition, a method of blending a desired essential oil by applying heat using the principle of a thermal printer can be considered.
Here, the scent is sprayed on the tester paper and the scent is printed pinpoint. Also, for example, on tester paper,
RLO ”advertisements may be printed.

By the way, the entire system name or the entire service name is "digital AROM".
It is called "A" (digital aroma). This refers to "general aroma business using computers" and is abbreviated as "digital aroma" below for simplicity. The digital aroma business is an attempt to expand the world of scents into a computer society, and it is conceivable that this concept will spread widely throughout the world. In other words, scents could not be transmitted on computer networks until now, but this digital aroma business breaks this constraint and realizes "realistic scents" at remote locations through "information transmission of scents". .

FIG. 3 shows an explanatory view (No. 1) of the fragrance counseling information setting means of the first embodiment. This is the Web
Describes how to select aroma on the page. There are three major methods. In other words, choose from among the types of aroma scents that make your own taste according to counseling, and choose from among the products that have been blended from the beginning to select and blend your favorite scent.

FIG. 3 illustrates the method (1). Since there are steps (1) to (8) below, each step will be described individually. (1) What are your current symptoms? Ask in a questioning format whether you are stressed, have troubles with your skin, or are you emotionally unstable. In this example, "stress" is clicked. (2) What kind of stress are you worried about? Here, there are individual options as in (1). For example,
Whether it's anxiety due to stress or nervous tension, stomachache, or insomnia. Here is an example of clicking "I want to be healed" which is the last option. (3) Here is the scent that suits you. Here is the result of clicking.・ Lavender ・ Major ・ Ylang Ylang ・ German Camomile In other words, it indicates that these four types should be used.
Then click "Make Your Own Blend" to proceed. (4) Smell each and every one using "MARLO" Here, the usage of "MARLO" is displayed and the user can operate according to the instruction. (5) Decide each amount. Click after deciding each of the four types shown in (3). (6) Your original blend was completed It is displayed that your original blend was completed by "MARLO" connected by USB. The message "Try to smell" is displayed. (7) Do you want this smell? A confirmation message will appear and click "Yes" to proceed. If you click “No”, return to (5) and set again. (8) Purchase procedure Here, the product blended in (7) will be purchased.

FIG. 4 illustrates how to select a scent of your choice from among aroma scents and blend it from the beginning to select a blended product. First of all, what scent do you want to blend? A menu will appear. After selection here, it is the same as (5) to (8). Next, this will be displayed as "Recommended! Aroma Blend" and after this you will have to confirm the odor with "MARLO" before purchasing.

<Second Embodiment> FIG. 5 shows the second embodiment.
2 is a system configuration diagram of FIG. Briefly, the information set in the first user terminal 311 is distributed to the second user terminal 312 via the aroma processing computer 100, and finally, a plurality of essential oils are obtained based on the aroma blending information. It is compounded to generate aroma. That is, in the first embodiment, the information is directly fed back to the user terminal that initially sets the information, but in this embodiment, the information is not directly fed back but is fed back to the second user terminal. .

The steps will be described below in order. (1) The counseling information set by the aroma counseling information setting means in the first user terminal is transmitted to the aroma processing computer (2) The aroma processing computer refers to the aroma processing database to calculate aroma blending information. (3) Return the aroma blending information as the calculation result to the second user terminal (4) At the second user terminal, a plurality of essential oils are blended based on the aroma blending information to generate aroma (5) First No. 2 based on the information set on the user terminal of
Generate fragrance near user terminals

In this way, by passing information from the information of the first user terminal to the second user terminal, it is possible to form communication by sharing the scent. Here, the first user and the second user may be a user and an aroma therapist, or may be a plurality of users. In the former case, it is assumed that the aroma therapist will respond to the user's consultation, and in the latter case, it will be possible to enjoy it by sharing the scent of interest with friends.

[Effects of the Invention] 1. Changed "unsmelling world" to "smelling world". By using this device, you can smell "scent" that was previously only visible visually. You can get it. Together with internet technology, it will be possible to exchange scents on a global scale. 2. Realize "I want to enjoy blending easily at home" Anyone can blend the scent at home. Counseling by an aroma therapist can be done any number of times and anywhere until you are satisfied. 3. Aroma shops on the Internet can be tested. Aroma shops on the Internet could not actually "sniff" until now, but this invention makes it possible to test scents via the Internet. 4. The blended result can be directly connected to the purchase application. The blended result can be directly connected to the purchase application. (Products can be delivered before the freshness of the scent that is remembered is lost.) 5. I was interested in an online aroma shop that can develop new customers, but I was shy because I could not actually smell the scent. You can cultivate someone who was a new customer. 6. Since this device is small and does not take up space, it is "size of the ink portion of the printer" and can be easily handled as one of the USB devices.
If the device and the driver are installed, the program works. 7. Communication improvement by sharing scents Since the scent can be transmitted from the first user to the second user, there is a possibility that it will be newly developed as olfactory communication.

Other Embodiments This device can be applied and used not only for aroma products but also for perfumes and other scent products. This will enable the development of new businesses. This time, I explained the Internet as an information communication network, but of course personal computer communication and mobile phone
Communication with PHS is also possible. It is also possible to perform the same thing as a stand-alone device without intentionally using the Internet.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an image diagram of a user terminal according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a fragrance counseling information setting unit according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a fragrance counseling information setting unit according to the first embodiment (Part 2)

FIG. 5 is a system configuration diagram of the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

100: Aroma processing computer 105: Aroma processing database 200: Internet 301: User terminal 1 381: Aroma generating means 1

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Shuhei Murakami             2-25-27 Kamishirone, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture (72) Yoshiko Nagata, the inventor             3882-1 Anayamacho, Nirasaki City, Yamanashi Prefecture (72) Inventor Susumu Ikemoto             6-9-23 Sakaemachi, Tachikawa, Tokyo             Meeting (72) Inventor Jun Takahashi             3-18-5 Higashimachi, Musashino City, Tokyo (72) Inventor Nozomi Hirayama             1-19-15 Iguchi, Mitaka City, Tokyo Royal Hi             Ruze 203 (72) Inventor Takahiro Sato             2-36-10 Higashi, Kuki City, Saitama Prefecture (72) Inventor Toru Takeuchi             3-36-26-106 Kugayama, Suginami-ku, Tokyo (72) Inventor Chie Saito             496 Shinji-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa (72) Inventor Noriko Takahashi             2-9-33 Soka, Soka City, Saitama Prefecture (72) Inventor Maki Mimura             1-11-3 Kamikizaki, Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Inubushi             1-25-57 Musashidai, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo F term (reference) 4C080 AA03 BB03 HH03 KK04 LL02                       MM31 QQ11

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A system for providing fragrance blending information to a user terminal via an information communication network to generate fragrance in the vicinity of the user terminal, wherein counseling information set by fragrance counseling information setting means in the user terminal is provided. A means for transmitting to the aroma processing computer, an aroma mixing information calculation means for calculating the aroma mixing information by the aroma processing computer by referring to the aroma processing database, and a reply for returning the calculation result of the aroma mixing information to the user terminal. An aroma generating system comprising: a means and a user terminal, aroma generating means for generating aroma by mixing a plurality of essential oils based on aroma mixing information. 2. A method of providing fragrance blending information to a user terminal via an information communication network to generate fragrance in the vicinity of the user terminal, wherein counseling information set by fragrance counseling information setting means in the user terminal is used. Transmitting to the aroma processing computer, calculating the aroma mixing information by the aroma processing computer by referring to the aroma processing database, and returning the calculated aroma mixing information to the user terminal. And a fragrance generating step in which the user terminal includes a fragrance generating step of mixing a plurality of essential oils based on fragrance mixing information to generate a fragrance. 3. A method for providing fragrance mixing information to a user terminal via an information communication network to generate fragrance in the vicinity of the user terminal, the method being set by a fragrance counseling information setting means in the first user terminal. A step of transmitting counseling information to the aroma processing computer, a step of calculating the aroma mixing information by the aroma processing computer referring to the aroma processing database, and returning the aroma mixing information as the calculation result to the second user terminal. And a step of blending and generating a plurality of essential oils on the basis of the aroma blending information on the second user terminal, based on the information set on the first user terminal in the vicinity of the second user terminal. A method for generating a fragrance, comprising the step of generating a fragrance.