JP2003280973A - Information communication method, information communication system and terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information communication method by which information similar in value to useful information distributed to each person can be acquired even if a terminal is not connected to a central database on a network. <P>SOLUTION: Based on an 'order' transmitted by each sales representative using own portable terminal 3 to the central database 9 on the network, the central DB 9 computes the amount of orders accepted being the useful information common to each sales representative. The amount of orders accepted is distributed to each terminal 3 and stored in a local database 11 incorporated in each terminal 3. If a new 'order' is inputted to the terminal 3, which is unable to be connected to the central DB 9, based on the newly inputted 'order' and the amount of orders accepted stored in the local DB 11 of the terminal 3, a provisional amount of orders accepted is computed and displayed on the terminal 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information communication method and an information communication system for distributing information stored in, for example, a database on a network to terminals, and terminals applicable to these.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a system for extracting useful information for a group based on personal information written in a database on a network by each person who belongs to the group and using it for each person's use There is. According to this, since the useful information of the group can be shared by each person, the value creation efficiency of the group can be improved.

[0003]

Now, with the development of information communication, the above system can be used even in a mobile environment. As a result, it became possible to download useful information from a database on the network to the terminal at any place. However, in a mobile environment, it is inevitable that one's own terminal cannot connect to the database on the network. Therefore, even if the information is input to the terminal at the place where the information is acquired, if the terminal cannot connect to the database on the network, the information acquired by itself cannot be written in this database. Therefore, since this information cannot be processed in real time, it becomes impossible to provide useful information reflecting this information to each person in the group, and as a result, it becomes slow to change the behavior of the entire group. There was a problem.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides usage information such as useful information provided for individual use even when the terminal is not connected to a storage area (for example, a database) on the network. An object of the present invention is to provide an information communication method, an information communication system and a terminal capable of displaying this information, which can obtain information of similar value.

[0005]

In the information communication method according to the present invention, usage information stored in a storage area on a network and used by each person is received by at least one terminal of each person. The storage area includes the receiving step, the input step in which the basic information that is the basis of the usage information stored in the storage area is input to the terminal, and the basic information input in the input step and the usage information received in the receiving step. A provisional information generating step of generating provisional information of the usage information stored in the terminal by the terminal, and displaying the utilization information stored in the storage area on the terminal when the terminal and the storage area are connected, and the terminal and the storage area. A display step for displaying the provisional information generated by the provisional information generating means on the terminal when and are not connected.

According to the information communication method of the present invention, the provisional information of the usage information stored in the storage area on the network is based on the usage information received by the terminal and the basic information input to the terminal. Is being generated. If the terminal is not connected to the storage area, the provisional information is displayed. Therefore, even if the terminal is not connected to the storage area on the network, it is possible to predict the usage information stored in this storage area in real time by the provisional information.

In the information communication method according to the present invention, when the usage information stored in the storage area is broadcasted to each person's terminal, the usage information is cached on the network for the terminals not connected to the storage area. And a transmitting step of transmitting the usage information stored from the cache to the terminal when the unconnected terminal is connected to the cache after the storing step.

According to this, when there is a terminal which is not connected to the storage area when broadcasting the usage information stored in the storage area to each person's terminal, the usage information is stored in the cache corresponding to this terminal. After storing and establishing the connection between this terminal and the cache, the usage information stored in the cache is transmitted to this terminal. Therefore, since the load on the storage area on the network can be reduced, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the communication throughput of the storage area.

Further, in the information communication method according to the present invention, when the utilization information stored in the storage area is updated during the transmitting step, the updated utilization information is disconnected from the storage area after the transmitting step is completed. Other transmission steps for transmitting to the terminal may be provided.

According to this, even if the utilization information stored in the storage area is updated (that is, the latest utilization information is generated) during the transmitting step, this can be reliably received by the terminal.
The terminal user can use the latest usage information.

The information communication system according to the present invention comprises a storage area on the network in which the usage information provided for each person's usage is stored, and further, the reception information for receiving the usage information stored in the storage area is received. Means, a storage means for storing the usage information received by the receiving means, an input means for inputting basic information as a basis of the usage information stored in a storage area on the network, and an input from the input means By the basic information and the usage information stored in the storage means,
Provisional information generating means for generating provisional information of the utilization information stored in the storage area on the network, and displaying the utilization information stored in the storage area when connected to the storage area on the network and on the network. And a display unit that displays the provisional information generated by the provisional information generation unit when the storage region is not connected.

According to the information communication system of the present invention,
Similar to the information communication method, when the terminal is not connected to the storage area on the network, the provisional information is displayed. Therefore, even if the terminal is not connected to the storage area on the network, it is possible to predict the usage information stored in this storage area in real time by the provisional information.

The terminal according to the present invention includes a receiving means for receiving the usage information stored in a storage area on the network and used by each person, and a storage for storing the usage information received by the receiving means. Means, input means for inputting basic information that is the basis of usage information stored in a storage area on the network, and basic information input from the input means and usage information stored in the storage means. Provisional information generating means for generating provisional information of the utilization information stored in the storage area on the network, and displaying the utilization information stored in the storage area when connected to the storage area on the network and on the network Display means for displaying the provisional information generated by the provisional information generation means when the storage area is not connected.

According to the terminal of the present invention, provisional information is generated based on the basic information input from the input means and the usage information stored in the storage means. When the terminal is not connected to the storage area on the network, the provisional information is displayed. Therefore, even if the terminal is not connected to the storage area on the network, it is possible to predict the usage information stored in this storage area in real time by the provisional information.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an information communication system 1 including a terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention. First, the outline of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

Each sales person inputs his / her own order on the spot as raw information to his / her portable terminal 3. The order is sent from the terminal 3 to the access point 5 by the wireless WL together with the identifier of the sales person who obtained the order, and is stored in the central database (an example of a storage area) 9 on the wide area network 7 from there. From these orders and identifiers (an example of basic information), the central database 9 extracts all regions and the order quantity for each region (an example of usage information), and delivers this to each terminal 3. As a result, the local database (an example of a storage unit) 11 of each terminal 3 stores information about the entire region and the amount of orders for each region, which is useful information for each sales person.

Now, it is assumed that a sales person inputs a new order to the terminal 3A at the place where the new order is obtained. Terminal 3
A indicates the order quantity and the order quantity stored in the local database 11A (here, the order quantity of all regions and the terminal 3).
The provisional information is generated based on the order amount of the area in charge of the sales person A). The provisional information here is the order quantity of all regions and the terminals 3 stored in the central database 9.
This is provisional information in which the terminal 3A predicts the amount of orders received in the area in which the A salesperson is in charge.

At the place where this salesman inputs a new order to the terminal 3, the wireless communication does not reach the access point 5 from the terminal 3A, and as a result, the central database 9 on the wide area network 7 cannot be connected, that is, the connectability is deteriorated. It may not be possible to secure it. In this case, since the terminal 3A cannot access the central DB 9, the temporary information is displayed on the terminal 3A. As a result, even if the salesperson is not connected to his / her terminal 3A and the central database 9 of the wide area network 7, he / she can know that the order quantity in his / her own area exceeds the target quantity due to the acquisition of his / her new order. As a result, the salesperson can change his / her behavior, such as focusing on cultivating new customers.

Next, the configuration of the information communication system 1 including the terminal 3 according to the first embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The information communication system 1 includes a wide area network 7 and a wide area network 7.
Upper central database (hereinafter referred to as central DB) 9 and a plurality of access points on the wide area network 7 (hereinafter referred to as AP)
5 and a plurality of terminals 3 capable of communicating with the AP 5.

The wide area network 7 is an example of a network, and is composed of various communication networks such as the Internet and a telephone network. The central DB 9 stores usage information provided for use by each person who is a user of each terminal 3. Each AP 5 communicates with the terminal 3 in the area under its control by the wireless WL. For communication using wireless WL, Bluetooth, 80
2.11b / a, PDC, W-CDMA and other wireless communication can be applied. Besides wireless, wired communication using twisted pair cables such as 100M Ethernet is also possible. When using wired communication, connect your own terminal 3 to a nearby Ethernet hub with a cable,
A connection (that is, connectability) to B9 can be secured.

The terminal 3 is a portable type that can be used in a mobile environment, and includes, for example, a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, and a notebook computer. The present invention can be applied to the case where the central DB 9 cannot communicate with the central DB 9, for example, so that the terminal 3 is not limited to the portable type.

Each terminal 3 has its own local database (hereinafter referred to as local DB) 11. The usage information distributed from the central DB 9 is stored in the local DB 11. The local DB 11 may be built in the terminal 3 or externally attached.

The method of ensuring the connection between the terminal 3 and the central DB 9 changes depending on the communication protocol executed in the wide area network 7 and the type of communication between the AP 5 and the terminal 3.
The method of writing the basic information input to the terminal 3 in the central DB 9 differs depending on the central DB 9. In the present embodiment, these methods are not particularly limited.

Next, the configurations of the terminal 3 and the central DB 9 according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing this configuration. The terminal 3 includes a local DB 11 that stores usage information distributed from the central DB 9 and a central DB.
An input unit 13 for inputting basic information and the like which is the basis of the usage information stored in 9, and a provisional information generation unit 15 for generating provisional information of the utilization information stored in the central DB 9.
A display means 17 for displaying provisional information and usage information, and a communication means 19 for communicating with the central DB 9 are provided.

Central DB 9 stored in the local DB 11
Is information that is used by each person belonging to a predetermined group, and in the first embodiment, shared information that is shared among sales persons of a certain company (for example, order amount for each region and all regions). ). The usage information may be useful information for the group or each person, or may be disadvantageous information. Further, the local DB 11 also stores “orders” ordered by the salesman who is the user of the terminal 3, and in this example, “orders 7 to 9” acquired by the salesman 3 are stored. Here, in order to simplify the explanation, one "order" is counted as one order quantity. The “order” includes, for example, the orderer, the delivery date, and information regarding the order such as the item and the number of items. The function of the local DB 11 is to store information, for example, a storage device using a magnetic medium such as a hard disk, or an EEP.
It can be realized by a semiconductor memory such as a ROM. The means for realizing the function of the central DB 9 is similar to this.

The basic information input to the input means 13 is the basis of the usage information stored in the central DB 9, and differs depending on the usage information. In the first embodiment, for example, the terminal 3
“Order” acquired by the sales person who is the user of the, or cancellation thereof. In addition to this, the information regarding the order is also input to the input means 13. The salesperson identifier may be input from the input means 13 or may be automatically added when "order" is input. As a method of inputting to the input means 13, in addition to input using a keyboard, a pen, etc., a voice input in which the contents read by a sales person is input as electronic data using a headset with a voice recognition function, or a scanner is used. It is also possible to input an image to read information.

The provisional information generating means 15 generates the provisional information based on the basic information input from the input means 13 and the usage information stored in the local DB 11, and the local DB
It is stored in 11. The provisional information is stored in the central DB 9 while the terminal 3 and the central DB 9 are not connected, that is, disconnected.
It can be used to predict usage information stored in. The function of the provisional information generating means 15 can be realized by, for example, various processors (CPU, MPU) or ASIC and a predetermined program.

When the terminal 3 is connected to the central DB 9, the display unit 17 displays the usage information stored in the central DB 9 (here, the amount of orders received for each region and all regions). The provisional information generated by the information generating means 15 is displayed. The function of the display means is CRT, LCD
It can be realized by hardware such as.

The communication means 19 includes a communication interface and functions as a reception means and a transmission means. Specifically, it functions as a transmission unit that sends the basic information input from the input unit 13 to the AP 5 by wireless WL and sends it to the central DB 9 on the wide area network 7. Also, when the usage information stored in the central DB 9 is broadcast-delivered, it functions as a receiving means for receiving it. The function of the communication means 19 is, for example, various processors (CPU, MPU) or communication ASIC.
And a predetermined program.

On the other hand, the central DB 9 stores "orders"("orders1","orders2", ...
The information of () is divided into regions by the ring list structure, and the order quantity for each area and the order quantity for all areas are also stored. In this example, the sales person 1
The total number of "orders" acquired by 4 is 10 and the total number of "orders" acquired by the salesmen 5-6 in charge of region 2 is 5
Because of the number of cases, the order quantity for region 1 is 10, the order quantity for region 2 is 5, and the order quantity for all regions is 15. The central DB 9 includes a communication unit 21 for communicating with each terminal 3, and the unit that realizes the function of the communication unit 21 is the same as that of the communication unit 19.

Next, an example of the operation method of the terminal according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7. 2 to 6 show the terminal 3 and the center D for explaining this operation method.
It is a block diagram which shows the structure of B9. FIG. 7 is a flow chart for explaining this operation method. Note that this description also serves as an explanation of the information communication method according to the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 2, each sales person visits each place and inputs the “order” that he / she has acquired into his / her terminal 3 and sends it to the central DB 9 via the wireless WL, AP 5 and wide area network 7. To do. As a result, the “order” (“order 1”, “order 2” ...
5 ”) is stored. Each "order" includes order information (for example, orderer and delivery date). This is the initial state.

The central DB 9 extracts the usage information D1 to D3 based on these orders. Specifically, the area 1 which is the usage information D1 from the "orders 1 to 10" stored in the area 1
Calculated the order quantity of 10 items, stored in area 2
1 to 15 ”, the order quantity of 5 orders in the area 2 which is the usage information D2 is calculated, and the order quantity of 15 orders in all areas which is the usage information D3 is calculated from these order quantities (step S1). Also,
The central DB 9 calculates the order amount of each salesman based on the salesman's identifier added to the "order", and calculates the salesman's area in charge of the order based on the identifier, It also calculates the orders received for each. These can be included in the usage information. Also, central DB
The processing 9 also transfers the order information to the related departments in order to deal with each order of the salesperson.

Next, the sales persons 1 to 6 use the wireless WL and the AP 5 to set their own terminals 3 to the central DB on the wide area network 7.
9 to access the central DB 9. This allows
The usage information D1 to D3 stored in the central DB 9 is multicast-delivered (an example of broadcast communication) to the terminals 3 of the sales persons 1 to 6 through the communication unit 21, the wide area network 7, the AP 5 and the wireless WL. Then, the usage information D1 to D3 is received by the communication means 19 of each terminal 3 (step S3). This step corresponds to the receiving step according to the present invention.

The received usage information D1 to D3 is stored in each terminal 3
Stored in the local DB 11. The stored usage information D1 to D3 is calculated in the central DB 9,
Since the activities of all the salespeople are reflected, the provision information is different from the provisional information generated by the provisional information generating means 15. Therefore, the character information "determined" is added to the usage information D1 to D3. Then, when the order quantity file stored in the local DB 11 is opened, the display means 17 shows that "confirmed / area 1 / order quantity 10, confirmed / area 2 / order quantity 5, confirmed / whole area order quantity / 15". Information is displayed.

In this example, the usage information D1 to D3 is stored in the local DB 11 of the terminal 3 of the salesperson 3, but the same usage information is stored in the terminals 3 of other salespersons. It is stored. Further, the administrator of the central DB 9 may set the range of the sales person who distributes the usage information in advance, so that the usage information can be distributed to a predetermined sales person.

Now, as shown in FIG. 3, since the salesman 3 has acquired a new "order 16", the salesman 3 inputs it.
To the terminal 3 (step S5). This step corresponds to the input step according to the present invention. Entered "Order 1
6 ”is stored in the local DB 11. As a result, “Order 16” is added to “Order 7 → Order 8 → Order 9” of the ring list structure.

When the "order 16" is input, the provisional information generating means 15 generates provisional information d1 and d3 (step S7). This step corresponds to the provisional information generation step according to the present invention. More specifically, since the salesperson 3 is in charge of the region 1, the provisional information d1 in which the order quantity of the usage information D1 is changed from “10” to “11” and the entire order quantity of the usage information D3 accompanying this change are shown. The provisional information d3 changed from "15" to "16" is generated. The provisional information is prediction information in the sense that the business results of other salespeople are not reflected. Then, the provisional information d1 and d3
Is stored in the local DB 11 instead of the usage information D1 and D3. In the first embodiment, the terminal 3 is the central DB.
The temporary information is generated regardless of whether it is connected or not. Since the provisional information is used in the case of non-connection, the provisional information may be generated only in the case of non-connection.

Next, it is determined whether or not the terminal 3 of the salesman 3 can communicate with the AP 5 at the place where this input is made, that is, whether or not it can be connected to the central DB 9 (step S9). Since the terminal 3 is used in the mobile environment, the connection of the terminal 3 with the central DB 9 is not always ensured. Therefore, in step S9, when the terminal 3 of the salesperson 3 cannot connect to the central DB 9, as shown in FIG. 4, the provisional information d stored in the local DB 11 is stored.
1, d3 and usage information D2 are used. More specifically, when the salesperson 3 opens the order quantity file stored in the local DB 11, the display means 17 displays “temporary / region 1 / order quantity 11, confirmed / region 2 / order quantity 5, provisional / whole area”. Information having the content "order quantity / 16" is displayed (step S17). This step corresponds to the display step according to the present invention.

As described above, the terminal 3 is located at the center D on the wide area network 7.
When it is not possible to connect to B9, the provisional information is generated based on the "order" and the usage information stored in the local DB 11 for the information that is changed by the "order" which is the basic information input to the input means 13. And I'm trying to display this. Therefore, the salesperson can quickly change his / her sales behavior by analogizing the current usage information based on the provisional information. Then, since the other sales persons also obtain the usage information and the provisional information, it becomes possible to change the behavior of the entire sales persons group promptly. In addition, in the present embodiment, the terminal 3 is not connected to the central DB 9 means that the terminal 3 cannot be connected due to the fact that the terminal 3 is located outside the communication range as in the first embodiment.
It also includes the case where the connection is not intentionally made due to the user's convenience.

On the other hand, when the terminal 3 can be connected to the central DB 9, as shown in FIG. 5, "Order 16" is sent from the communication means 19 to the AP 5 by the wireless WL shown in FIG. , From there Central DB9 on wide area network 7
Is sent to the communication means 21 (step S11). In addition,
At this time, the salesman 4 also sends a new “order 17” to the central DB 9 together with his own identifier. The communication means 21 of the central DB 9 stores the received “order 16” and “order 17” in the central DB 9. As a result, “Order 16” is added to “Order 7 → Order 8 → Order 9” in the ring list structure of the salesman 3.
Is added, and “Order 1” of the ring list structure of the salesman 4 is added.
"Order 17" is added to "0". As a result, these ring list structures become the same as the ring list structures stored in the local DB 11 of the terminals 3 of the sales persons 3 and 4, respectively.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the central DB 9 extracts usage information based on "order 16" and "order 17". Specifically, “Order 16” stored in area 1,
The order quantity for region 1 is updated from "10" to "12" in the use information D1 from "Order 17", and the order quantity for all regions is updated from "15" to "17" in the use information D3 accordingly (step S13).

Next, in order to simplify the explanation,
It is assumed that the updated usage information D1 and D3 is distributed from the communication means 21 to the terminal 3 of each sales person through the wide area network 7, AP 5, and wireless WL. The usage information D1 is for area 1
The order quantity is shown, and from the viewpoint of reducing the load on the wide area network, the order can be transferred only to the sales person in charge of the area 1.

The utilization information D1 and D3 received by the communication means 19 of each terminal 3 is stored in the local DB 11 of each terminal 3.
The usage information D1, D3 is stored by rewriting the provisional information d1, d3 stored therein to the usage information D1, D3 (step S1).
5). Since the usage information D1 and D3 are distributed from the central DB 9, they are not provisional but final. Therefore, the usage information D1,
The character information "fixed" is added to D3. Then, when the salesperson 3 opens the order quantity file stored in the local DB 11, “confirmation / region 1 / order quantity 1
2, Confirmed / Region 2 / Order quantity 5, Confirmed / Whole area order quantity / 1
The information of "7" is displayed on the display means 17 (step S17).

As described above, when the terminal 3 cannot be connected to the central DB 9 in step S9, the provisional information is displayed on the display means 17. However, when the connection between the terminal 3 and the central DB 9 is secured, steps S11 to S11
The processing of S17 is performed, and the updated usage information D1 to D3 is displayed on the display unit 17. In this case, it is preferable to display a caution indicating that the provisional information has been changed to the usage information or a difference between the provisional information and the usage information. In addition, if you show the date and time when the usage information was delivered at the same time, you can understand the activity status of other salespeople and a guideline for how many orders are placed in the disconnected state. It ’s even better.

As described above, when the central DB 9 distributes the usage information to each terminal 3, the terminals 3 that cannot connect to the central DB 9 are distributed when the connection is secured. In the first embodiment, the usage information is distributed from the central DB 9 to each terminal 3 by multicast distribution. In this distribution, when a connection is secured when there is a terminal 3 that cannot be connected, a session for transferring the usage information to the terminal 3 is held in the central DB 9, so that the usage information is stored when the connection is secured. It can be transferred to the terminal 3. However, this complicates the processing in the upper layer than the transport layer in the central DB 9, and the central DB 9
Communication throughput decreases. In particular, since the terminal 3 is used in a mobile environment and cannot easily connect to the central DB 9, it is not possible to ignore the problem of the decrease in throughput. Therefore, it is preferable to deliver the usage information to the cache for terminals that cannot deliver the usage information. This will be described below.

8 to 11 are diagrams for explaining an information communication method using the information communication system according to the first embodiment in which a cache is arranged, and FIG. 12 is a flow chart for explaining this operation. First, the configuration of this communication system will be described with reference to FIG. The same components as those constituting the communication system 1 shown in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

A cache 23 is connected to the wide area network 7. Since the cache 23 corresponds to the terminals 3 of each sales person, there are as many caches 23 as there are terminals 3. In this figure, only the cache 23A corresponding to the terminal 3A is shown. The cash 23 can be placed in the central DB 9 or the AP 5 in the area in which each sales person is in charge.
It can also be placed in. In particular, the latter case is preferable because the access from the terminal 3 to the cache 23 can be made faster.

The cache 23 is provided with a storage area for the usage information D1 to D3 and a storage area for the disconnection information D4. The disconnection information D4 corresponds to the corresponding terminal 3
Is connected to the central DB 9, the flag is set to "0", and if the connection is impossible, the flag is set to "1". An update flag is added to each of the usage information D1 to D3 in the cache 23. When the central DB 9 delivers the usage information to the cache 23, the update flag corresponding to the usage information is set to “1”, and the terminal 3
When this usage information is fetched from the cache 23, the update flag is set to "0".

The usage information D is stored in the local DB 11 of the terminal 3.
1 to D3 are stored. The local DB 11 also stores a ring list of “orders” acquired by the salesperson shown in FIG. 2, but is omitted. Meanwhile, the center D
The usage information D1 to D3 is stored in B9, and although not shown, the “order” acquired for each sales person shown in FIG.
The ring list of is also stored.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment using the cache 23 will be described with reference to FIG. 12 and, if necessary, FIGS. 8 to 11. First, the initial state, which is the premise of this operation, will be described.

As shown in FIG. 8, the central DB 9 uses the usage information D1 to D based on the "order" acquired by each sales person.
Extract 3. The order quantity of the area 1 which is the usage information D1 is “12”, the order quantity of the area 2 which is the usage information D2 is “5”, and the order quantity of all areas which is the usage information D3 is “1”.
7 ”. Since the terminal 3A is connected to the central DB 9, the usage information D1 to D3 is distributed to the terminal 3A and stored in the local DB 11. This is the initial state. In the initial state, the flag of the disconnection information D4 is set to "0", that is, the terminal 3A is connected to the central DB 9. In the initial state, the usage information D1 is stored in the cache 23.
.. to D3 are not distributed, the update flags of the usage information D1 to D3 are set to "0".

Now, in this initial state, as shown in FIG. 9, it is assumed that the salesman who is the user of the terminal 3A has moved out of the communication range with the AP 5. As a result, the terminal 3A becomes unable to connect to the central DB 9 (step T1).
In addition, before the position of the terminal 3A is out of the communication range, the terminal 3A
The flag of the disconnection information D4 of the cache 23A is set to "1" by the signal from. The above signal indicates that the wireless WL between the terminal 3A and the AP 5 is cut off.
Is detected in advance and is transmitted to the cache 23A. It is also possible for the user of the terminal 3A to transmit the above signal.

Next, in the central DB 9, the usage information D2
It is assumed that the order quantity of the item is updated from "5" to "7", and as a result, the whole order quantity of the usage information D3 is updated from "17" to "19" (step T3). The central DB 9 stores the disconnection information D of the cache 23 corresponding to each terminal 3.
Please refer to 4. In this example, the central DB 9 is the cache 2
It is recognized that the flag of the disconnection information D4 of 3A is set to "1". As a result, when the terminal 3A recognizes that it is not connected to the central DB 9 and broadcasts the updated usage information D2 and D3 to each terminal, the terminal 3A
Is delivered to the cache 23A. As a result, "7" is temporarily stored in the order quantity of the usage information D2 of the cache 23A, and "19" is temporarily stored in the total order quantity of the usage information D3, and these update flags are set to "1". (Step T5). This step corresponds to the storing step according to the present invention.

Next, it is determined whether the terminal 3A has moved into the communication area with the AP 5 (step T7). When the terminal 3A moves into the communication area as shown in FIG. 10, the terminal 3A refers to the update flag to search for the updated usage information. Since the update flag “1” is the updated usage information, the usage information D2 and D3 are updated in this example. The usage information D2, D3 stored in the cache 23A is transmitted to the terminal 3A using the wide area network 7, AP5 and wireless WL (step T9). This step corresponds to the transmitting step in the present invention. The transmitted usage information D2, D3 is stored in the local DB 11.

During this transmission process, it is judged whether the usage information is updated in the central DB 9 (step T11). If it has not been updated, the flags of the usage information D2 and D3 are set to "0", respectively, and the flag of the disconnection information D4 is set to "0". As a result, the operation of the first embodiment using the cache 23 ends.

In this example, as shown in FIG. 10, the order quantity of the usage information D2 is updated from "7" to "10", and accordingly, the whole order quantity of the usage information D3 is "19" to "22".
Has been updated to. Since the cache 23A is in the process of transmitting, the flag of the disconnection information D4 remains "1". Therefore, the central DB 9 stores the updated usage information D
When 2 and D3 are broadcast to each terminal 3, the terminal 3A is delivered to the cache 23A instead of the terminal 3A.

However, since the cache 23A is in the transmitting process, the cache 23A is communicating with the terminal 3A. Therefore, in the cache 23A, the usage information D2,
D3 cannot be rewritten. Therefore, the cache 23A transmits information indicating "rewriting failure of usage information" to the central DB 9 (step T13). When this information is received by the central DB 9, the flag of the disconnection information D4 of the cache 23A is set to "0" again after the lapse of a predetermined period.
Is set, that is, whether the transmission process of the cache 23A is completed (step T15).

Then, as shown in FIG. 11, when the flag is "0", the usage information D2 and D3 are transmitted from the central DB 9 to the terminal 3A (step T17). This corresponds to another transmission step according to the present invention. Usage information D sent
2 and D3 are stored in the local DB 11 of the terminal 3A. As described above, even if the usage information is updated in the central DB 9 while the usage information is being fetched from the cache 23A by the terminal 3A (that is, the latest usage information is generated), the terminal 3A can reliably obtain the updated usage information. It is received and stored in its own local DB 11. Thereby, the sales person who owns the terminal 3A can use the latest usage information.

As described above, the terminal 3 side determines whether to rewrite the flag of the disconnection information. In addition to this terminal-initiated method, a network in which the cache 23 polls the terminal 3 and if there is no response within a fixed time, it is considered that the disconnection state has been entered and the flag of the disconnection information D4 is set to "1". It is also possible to use the initiative method. In this method, at least one of the cache 23, the AP 5, and the wide area network 7 determines the disconnection state. Which of these methods is applied is selected in the design of the entire communication system according to the first embodiment. It is also possible to deploy both of these methods at the same time and appropriately select them to make a system that executes one of them. For example, normally the terminal determines the disconnection state, but in case the terminal 3 goes down without determining the disconnection state for some reason, the network side can also determine the disconnection state. It is a system that can.

Next, an information communication system 25 including a terminal according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 13 is a schematic configuration diagram of the information communication system 25. The same components as those of the information communication system 1 shown in FIG. The information communication system 25 is a system that provides a point service to customers who shop at a store. According to the second embodiment, even if the customer cannot connect his / her terminal 3 and the central DB 9 while shopping at the store, the customer purchases this time based on the product purchased this time (that is, the product put in the shopping cart). You can predict the points that will be updated in. Hereinafter, first, the configuration of the information communication system 25 will be described in detail.

The structure of the central DB 9 is the same as that of the central DB 9 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2, and only the stored information is different. In the central DB 9 of the second embodiment, the information of the “commodity” that the customer purchases at the store this time is stored in a ring list structure for each customer, and the points already acquired by the customer are the usage information C1 for each customer. , C2, ... As the extraction processing of the usage information, the central DB 9 receives a notification from the POS terminal 27 that each customer has paid for this shopping, and the points updated in this shopping are calculated, or each customer During the current shopping, the terminal 3 and the central DB 9 communicate with each other to calculate a point to be updated in the current shopping (this point is undetermined because payment has not been completed). The points can be given, for example, by giving 10% of the price of the product as points, or by giving 100 points when a predetermined radish is purchased from a large number of radish displayed on the shelves. There is.

The configuration of the terminal 3 is the same as that of the terminal 3 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2, and only the information stored in the local DB 11 is different. Local DB of the terminal 3 of the second embodiment
In “11”, the “commodity” (that is, the commodity put in the shopping cart) that the customer who is the user of the terminal 3 is shopping at the store this time is stored in the ring list structure and the customer acquires it. The points that are stored are stored. As for this point, the point updated based on the product to be shopped this time is displayed during shopping. Specifically, in the case of the points (provisional information) calculated by the terminal 3 itself for the terminal 3 not connecting to the central DB 9 and the points (use information) downloaded from the central DB 9 because the terminal 3 can connect to the central DB 9 There is.

On the wide area network 7, a POS terminal 27 installed at the payment counter of the store is connected. Information on the product purchased by the customer is input to the POS terminal 27 and sent to the central DB 9. The central DB 9 calculates usage information based on this.

Next, regarding the operation of the second embodiment, the customer 1
Will be described as an example with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14. Figure 1
4 shows this operation in time series. Before or when the customer 1 goes to the store, the customer 1 obtains information about the point service (including the points that he / she has acquired) at that point from the central DB 9 to his / her terminal 3
(Step U1). The point calculation of the terminal 3 is performed based on this downloaded information.

When the customer 1 wants to receive the point service for the product when putting the product in the shopping cart, the customer 1 inputs the information of the product into his / her terminal 3 (step U).
3). In the second embodiment, the product identifier is used as this information. This identifier is an identification number peculiar to the product in order to identify each product individually in the point service provided by the central DB 9. Here, this product identifier is the type of product (for example, radish)
It should be noted that each item itself (for example, 100 radishes that have been received 100) is identified instead of indicating the items. From this, in step U17 of the protocol described below, the customer's mobile terminal can be called from the network side without notifying the POS terminal 27 of the identifier previously assigned to the customer's mobile terminal. As a result, it is possible to provide a real-time point service in a store without accurately measuring the position of a mobile terminal, which is difficult to realize in a wireless environment. Note that FIG.
“Product 1” stored in the local DB 11 of No. 3 has been input by the time when the terminal 3 and the central DB 9 were most recently connected, and “Product 2” is not connected to the terminal 3 and the central DB 9. It was entered in. As the input method, the keyboard of the terminal 3 may be used, or if the terminal 3 has a voice recognition function, the product information may be read aloud.

When "Product 2" is input, since the terminal 3 is not connected to the central DB 9, the terminal 3 puts the identifiers of the products assigned to "Product 1" and "Product 2" in the shopping cart, and the steps. The newly acquired points are calculated based on the point service information downloaded in U1. And this point and step U
The provisional information c1 of the points updated in this shopping is generated based on the points downloaded in 1 (step U5). The number of points of the provisional information c1 is a predicted point because it has not been certified by the central DB 9. Therefore, the display means of the terminal 3 displays "provisional" together with the number of points.

The customer 1 moves in the store, and the terminal 3 and the AP 5
When A and B have come to a place where they can communicate with each other, the terminal 3 establishes a connection with the AP 5 (step U7). Here, the connection with the central DB 9 is secured via the AP 5A. After that, the identifier of the product input to the terminal 3 is the same as the identifier of the customer 1 (that is, the customer number) via the AP 5A and the central D
It is sent to B9 (step U9). In addition, before this connection (that is, while the terminal 3 and the central DB 9 are not connected), the product identifier input to the terminal 3 is also similarly set in the central DB.
Sent to 9. Then, the central DB 9 stores and registers the inputted products in a ring list structure for each customer. Based on these pieces of information, the central DB 9 calculates the points that the customer 1 obtains in this shopping, and updates the points of the customer 1. This point (usage information) can be downloaded from the central DB 9 to the terminal 3 if the terminal 3 can connect to the central DB 9 during shopping.

When the customer 1 finishes shopping, the POS terminal 27 pays the payment. At the time of this settlement, the product identifier is also input to the POS terminal 27 (step U1
1), sent to the central DB 9 (step U13). The central DB 9 uses the identifiers of these products as keys to search for the identifier of the customer 1 who purchased these products.

Then, when the customer 1 pays the price, the processing relating to the payment is performed between the central DB 9 and the POS terminal 27 (step U15). As a result, the product purchased in this shopping is confirmed. After that, central DB
9 uses the identifier of customer 1 to call the terminal 3 of customer 1 (step U17).

Here, the method of calling the terminal 3 is selected depending on the configuration of the wide area network 7 and the connection form between the central DB 9 and the terminal 3. For example, if the wide area network 7 is PDC / GSM / C
It is a mobile phone network such as a DMA, the terminal 3 is connected to the central DB 9 via this mobile phone network, and the customer identifier is the telephone number given to the terminal 3 from the mobile phone network. In this case, if you call terminal 3 using the above telephone number,
The terminal 3 can be called by the paging function of the mobile phone network. Also, for example, in the store Bluetoot
Secure the connection with the central DB9 at h and use the customer identifier Bluet
ooth address. In this case, the Bluetooth access point arranged in the vicinity of the POS terminal 27 for which payment processing has been performed in step U15 calls the terminal 3 according to the Bluetooth protocol. Here, it is assumed that the latter method secures the connection between the central DB 9 and the terminal 3. In step U17, the terminal 3 is called up via the AP 5B, and the AP 5B becomes the Bluetooth access point.

Returning to the description after step U17. The terminal 3 establishes a connection with the AP 5B in response to the call from the AP 5B (step U19). As described in step U15, since the product purchased by the customer 1 in this shopping is confirmed, the central DB 9 calculates new points to be given to the customer 1 in this shopping, and updates the usage information C1. The updated usage information C1 is distributed to the terminal 3 and stored in the local DB 11 (step U21). This is confirmed by the authentication of the central DB 9. Terminal 3
The point of this usage information is displayed in.

The effects of the second embodiment will be described. In the case of providing a point service providing service to a customer who has shopped at a store, the customer uses his / her own terminal 3 and the central D while shopping at the store.
Even if the connection with B9 cannot be secured, it is possible to obtain the provisional information c1 in which the points acquired so far are updated based on the points newly generated by the product purchased this time. This makes it possible to predict the points that will be updated as a result of this shopping. In addition, the store owner is in the central D
It is not necessary to provide equipment for ensuring connection with B9, and costs can be reduced.

[0074]

As described above, according to the information communication method, the information communication system, and the terminal of the present invention, when the terminal is not connected to the storage area on the network, the provisional information (that is, the information received by the terminal is received). The provisional information of the usage information stored in the storage area on the network is displayed based on the usage information and the basic information input to the terminal. Therefore, even if the terminal is not connected to the storage area on the network, it is possible to predict the usage information stored in this storage area in real time by the provisional information.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an information communication system including a terminal according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a terminal and a central DB for explaining the first step of the operation of the terminal according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a terminal for explaining a second step of operation of the terminal according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a terminal and a central DB for explaining a third step of the operation of the terminal according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a terminal and a central DB for explaining a fourth step of the operation of the terminal according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a terminal and a central DB for explaining a fifth step of the operation of the terminal according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation method of the terminal according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a first step of an information communication method using the information communication system according to the first embodiment in which a cache is arranged.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the second step of the information communication method using the information communication system according to the first embodiment in which a cache is arranged.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the third step of the information communication method using the information communication system according to the first embodiment in which a cache is arranged.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a fourth step of the information communication method using the information communication system according to the first embodiment in which a cache is arranged.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of an information communication method using the information communication system according to the first embodiment in which a cache is arranged.

FIG. 13 is a schematic configuration diagram of an information communication system including a terminal according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 shows an operation of the information communication system including the terminal according to the second embodiment in time series.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Information communication system 3 (3A): Terminal 5 ... Access point 7 ... Wide area network 9. Central database 11 ... Local database 13: Input means 15 ... Provisional information generating means 17 ... Display means 19: Communication means 21 ... Communication means 23 (23A) ... Cash 25 ... Information communication system 27 ... POS terminal WL ... Wireless

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A receiving step in which usage information stored in a storage area on a network and used by each person is received by at least one terminal of each person, and usage stored in the storage area. Usage information stored in the storage area by an input step in which basic information on which information is based is input to the terminal, and basic information input in the input step and usage information received in the receiving step. Provisional information generating step of generating provisional information of the terminal in the terminal, and displaying the usage information stored in the storage area on the terminal when the terminal and the storage area are connected to each other and the terminal and the storage area. And a display step of displaying the provisional information generated by the provisional information generation means on the terminal when is not connected, and the information communication method. 2. When the usage information stored in the storage area is broadcast to the terminal of each person, the usage information is temporarily stored in a cache on the network for terminals not connected to the storage area. The information according to claim 1, further comprising: a storing step for performing the storing step; and a transmitting step for transmitting the stored usage information from the cache to the terminal when an unconnected terminal is connected to the cache after the storing step. Communication method. 3. When the usage information stored in the storage area is updated during the sending step, the updated usage information is sent from the storage area to the disconnected terminal after the sending step is completed. The information communication method according to claim 2, further comprising another transmitting step of 4. A storage area on a network in which usage information provided for use by each person is stored, a receiving means for receiving the usage information stored in the storage area, and a receiving means for receiving the usage information. Storage means for storing the usage information, input means for inputting basic information that is the basis of the usage information stored in the storage area on the network, and basic information input from the input means. When the provisional information generation unit that generates provisional information of the utilization information stored in the storage area on the network based on the utilization information stored in the storage unit and the connection to the storage area on the network Display the usage information stored in the storage area, and display the provisional information generated by the provisional information generating means when not connected to the storage area on the network. And Shimesuru display means,
An information communication system, comprising: 5. Receiving means for receiving usage information stored in a storage area on a network and used by each person, storage means for storing the usage information received by the receiving means, By input means for inputting basic information that is the basis of the usage information stored in the storage area on the network, and by the basic information input from the input means and the usage information stored in the storage means Provisional information generating means for generating provisional information of the utilization information stored in the storage area on the network, and utilization information stored in the storage area when connected to the storage area on the network. Display means for displaying and displaying the provisional information generated by the provisional information generation means when not connected to the storage area on the network. Terminal.