JP2004112108A - Event notice system, and method for notifying event - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a system for informing a required event, an advance progress, etc. in a simple constitution. <P>SOLUTION: An event notice system includes at least an address registering means M4 for registering an address for informing the occurrence of a predetermined event to inform the predetermined event to a user when the event occurs, and an informing means M2 for informing together with a telephone call origination to the address registered with the means M4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a system for notifying the occurrence of a required event, the progress of things, and the like in response to an individual user's request.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a system including a mobile phone and a video game machine, for example, a system described in Patent Literature 1 below is known.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1] JP-A-2001-038057
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Often, we try to do more than one thing in our daily lives. A typical example is watching TV programs while playing computer games. Further, in certain types of computer games, for example, fishing games, pet breeding simulation games, communication-based table games, multiplayer network games, etc., the user waits until the game progresses. Need to be. It is a human condition that the user wants to watch a television program or complete a task while waiting.
[0005]
However, if one wishes to watch a television program while actually playing a computer game, the user must alternately check the computer game screen and the television program screen. Further, when a television program viewing receiver is also used as a monitor of a computer game, it has been necessary to switch the screen appropriately and watch the television program while checking the progress of the game.
[0006]
Of course, the user is not limited to the above example, and when trying to advance two or more things in parallel, the user himself has to engage in other things while checking the progress of one thing one by one.
[0007]
In view of the above problems, the present invention intends to realize a system for notifying the occurrence of a required event and the progress of things with a simple configuration.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problem, according to the present invention, when a predetermined event has occurred, the user is notified of the event, and a destination registration for registering a destination for notifying that the predetermined event has occurred has been made. An event notification system comprising at least means and notification means for performing a notification accompanying a telephone call to a destination registered in the destination registration means when the predetermined event occurs.
[0009]
In such a case, the user is not required to constantly check whether or not a predetermined event has occurred in one thing. Therefore, it is easy to engage in other things while promoting one thing, and it is possible to use time more effectively.
[0010]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
<First Embodiment> An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an entire configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention. That is, in the present embodiment, a system including the information processing device 1 used by the user and the information processing server 2 connected to the information processing device 1 via the electric communication line 601 is configured. I have.
[0011]
The information processing apparatus 1 is for providing a user with information services such as a computer game, and corresponds to, for example, a personal computer, a video game machine, or the like. As shown in FIG. 2, the information processing apparatus 1 exchanges data with a CPU 1a, a main memory 1b, an auxiliary storage device 1c represented by a disk drive, a display 1d, and an information processing server 2 via an electric communication line 601. For this purpose, it has hardware resources such as a communication interface 1e such as a modem and an input device 1f for receiving an operation by a user. Normally, a program to be executed by the CPU 1a is stored in the auxiliary storage device 1c. When the program is executed, the program is read from the auxiliary storage device 1c into the main memory 1b and decoded by the CPU 1a. Then, the above-mentioned hardware resources are operated according to the program, and at least serve as an information service providing means M1 for providing a computer game and other information services shown in FIG.
[0012]
Then, in a computer game or other information service provided by the information processing apparatus 1, a predetermined event that should be notified to the user or that the user desires to notify is generated. In other words, a progress that occurs in a video game, a competition game, a network game, or the like that requires a relatively long play time, a certain progress, a process, and an interval until a result is obtained is a predetermined event in the present embodiment. It is. To give specific examples, the occurrence of a hit (pulling of prey) in a fishing game, the appearance of an opponent in a communication-competitive table game, the fact that an opponent has pointed (struck) the next hand, and the like are predetermined. Event.
[0013]
The information processing server 2 is for notifying a user of the occurrence of the predetermined event when the predetermined event occurs. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the information processing server 2 exchanges data with the CPU 2a, the main memory 2b, the auxiliary storage device 2c represented by a disk drive, and the information processing apparatus 1 via the electric communication line 601. In addition to a hardware resource such as a communication interface 2d such as a NIC (Network Interface Card), a telephone system interface 2e for making a telephone call is also provided. The telephone system interface sends a telephone call to a terminal 3 that is owned by the user and is separate from the information processing device 1 via a public telephone network, a mobile telephone network, a PHS (Personal Handyphone System) network, or the like. Configure as what can be done. Normally, a program to be executed by the CPU 2a is stored in the auxiliary storage device 2c. When the program is executed, the program is read from the auxiliary storage device 2c into the main memory 2b and decoded by the CPU 2a. Then, the above-mentioned hardware resources are operated in accordance with the program, and at least play a role as a notifying means M2 for making a notification accompanied by a telephone call when a predetermined event shown in FIG. 3 occurs.
[0014]
The user can receive the notification from the information processing server 2 by using the terminal 3 owned by the user. The terminal 3 has at least a function of receiving a telephone call. In addition, it is desirable to have a function of storing and displaying the source telephone number of the received telephone call. The terminal 3 is, for example, a mobile phone terminal, a PHS terminal or a portable device similar thereto, and as shown in FIG. 5, a CPU 3a, a main memory 3b, an auxiliary storage device 3c represented by a flash memory, and a display. 3d, an input device 3e for receiving an operation by a user, a wireless receiving device 3f including a tuner and a demodulation circuit, a decoding circuit 3g for decoding received digital data into a form usable by the terminal 3, and a communication system for digital data. Hardware resources such as an encoding circuit 3h for encoding in accordance with the above, a wireless transmission device 3i including a modulation circuit, a microwave transmission device, and the like. In addition, when a telephone call is received, a notification mechanism 3j for notifying the user of the call in a manner appealing to the senses of the user, that is, a ringtone output mechanism (using a sound source, a speaker, or the like), a vibration mechanism ( It is preferable to include an actuator or the like) or a light emitting mechanism (using a light emitting diode or the like). Normally, a program to be executed by the CPU 3a is stored in the auxiliary storage device 3c. When the program is executed, the program is read from the auxiliary storage device 3c into the main memory 3b and decoded by the CPU 3a. Then, the above-mentioned hardware resources operate according to the program, and at least play a role as a notification accepting unit M3 for accepting a notification by the notifying unit M2 included in the information processing server 2 shown in FIG.
[0015]
Hereinafter, the operation procedure of the system according to the present embodiment will be described. In order for the user to be notified of the occurrence of a predetermined event, it is necessary to go through a destination registration step in which the destination of the notification is registered in the destination registration means M4 in advance. The destination registration unit M4 plays a role of storing destination information including the destination of the notification, particularly the destination telephone number of the terminal 3 used by the user. The destination registration unit M4 may be provided on the information processing terminal 3 side, or may be provided on the information processing server 2 side. Therefore, the destination registration unit M4 stores the destination information using a required storage area of the main memory 1b or the main memory 2b or the auxiliary storage device 1c or the auxiliary storage device 2c.
[0016]
Thus, the event determining means M5 determines whether a predetermined event has occurred. The event determination means M5 is mainly configured by software. When the event determining means M5 determines that a predetermined event has occurred, the notifying means M2 included in the information processing server 2 is registered in the destination registering means M4 using the function of the telephone system interface. A notification step of making a notification accompanied by a telephone call to the destination is performed. In the present embodiment, the event determination unit M5 generates determination information including a determination result as to whether or not a predetermined event has occurred, and the notification unit M2 performs notification with reference to this.
[0017]
Note that the event determination unit M5 may be provided on the information processing terminal 3 side, or may be provided on the information processing server 2 side. When the event determining means M5 is provided on the information processing server 2 side, the event determining means M5 transmits a part or all of various data necessary for determining whether or not a predetermined event has occurred. It may be received from the information processing device 1 and referred to in some cases. When the event determining means M5 is provided in the information processing apparatus 1, the determination information generated by the event determining means M5 is transmitted to the information processing server 2, and the notifying means M2 receives, refers to, and notifies. Execute
[0018]
When the destination registration information is provided in the information processing apparatus 1, the notification unit M2 receives the destination information including the destination of the notification from the information processing terminal 3, and refers to this to confirm the destination of the notification. I do.
[0019]
Further, it is preferable that the event determining means M5 can determine which of a plurality of types of predetermined events has occurred. At this time, the event determining means M5 generates determination information including an event identifier for identifying the event that has occurred. On the other hand, the notifying unit M2 can confirm the type of the event that has occurred by referring to the event identifier included in the determination information. The notification means M2 in such a case is more preferable as long as it issues a notification including information for identifying the type of event that has occurred to the terminal 3 used by the user. Therefore, for example, the notification means M2 is to be notified by a different source telephone number according to the event that has occurred. Usually, source control information in which an identifier for identifying an event that has occurred and a source telephone number are associated with each other is stored in advance in a required storage area of the main memory 2b or the auxiliary storage device 2c. FIG. 6 shows an example of the transmission source control information. Then, the notifying unit M2 makes a telephone call based on the source telephone number associated with the event identifier included in the determination information.
[0020]
The terminal 3 used by the user plays a role as a notification receiving unit M3 that receives a notification accompanied by a telephone call, which is provided from the information processing server 2. The notification receiving means M3 notifies the user of the notification in a mode of appealing to the user's five senses by using the function of the notification mechanism 3j such as a ringtone output mechanism, a vibration mechanism, or a light emitting mechanism when the notification is received. Preferably, there is. Further, the terminal 3 receives an incoming call in the past in a required storage area of the main memory 3b or the auxiliary storage device 3c, in other words, the incoming call including the caller telephone number of the telephone call related to the notification received by the notification receiving unit M3. It is desirable to be able to store history information and also function as history display means M6 for displaying the incoming call history information on the display 3d. With such a configuration, the user can appropriately know the occurrence of the predetermined event. In addition, in a case where a notification is made using a different source phone number according to the event that has occurred, the type of the event that has occurred can be known from the source phone number included in the received call history information. It will be.
[0021]
According to the present embodiment, a destination registration unit M4 for registering a destination for notifying that a predetermined event has occurred, and, when the predetermined event has occurred, a call is made to the destination registered in the destination registration unit M4. Since the event notification system including at least the notification means M2 for performing notification with calling is configured, it is not necessary for the user himself to check whether a predetermined event has occurred. As a result, for example, since the user is free from the hassle of constantly waiting for a predetermined event that may occur in a computer game or other information service, he / she can look at other things while enjoying the computer game or other information service. For example, it is possible to view or complete a television broadcast program between the start of a computer game and the occurrence of some event.
[0022]
Since the destination registration unit M4 registers the incoming telephone number of the terminal 3 used by the user, the destination registration unit M4 can specify a mobile phone terminal, a PHS terminal, or the like owned by the user as a notification destination.
[0023]
Since the notification unit M2 performs notification using a different source telephone number according to the event that has occurred, it is not necessary to particularly add data for displaying the content of the event that occurred in the notification. Therefore, the amount of transmitted / received data in the notification can be small.
[0024]
<Second Embodiment> This embodiment is a modification of the first embodiment. Hereinafter, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described. As shown in FIG. 7, in the present embodiment, the information processing device 4 that provides an information service determines whether a predetermined event has occurred and notifies the user of the occurrence of the predetermined event. In other words, the information processing device 4 plays the role of the information processing server 2 in the first embodiment.
[0025]
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, for example, the information processing apparatus 1 includes a CPU 4a, a main memory 4b, an auxiliary storage device 4c represented by a disk drive, a display 4d, and a telephone system for making a telephone call. It has hardware resources such as an interface 4e and an input device 4f for receiving an operation by a user. Usually, a program to be executed by the CPU 4a is stored in the auxiliary storage device 4c. When the program is executed, the program is read from the auxiliary storage device 4c into the main memory 4b and decoded by the CPU 4a. Then, the above-mentioned hardware resources are operated according to the program to serve as an information service providing unit M1, a destination registering unit M4, an event determining unit M5, and a notifying unit M2 for providing a computer game and other information services. I have. In other respects, the configuration can be the same as that of the first embodiment, and the description is omitted here. The description of the terminal 3 that receives the notification provided by the information processing device 4 is also omitted.
[0026]
<Third Embodiment> In the present embodiment described below, as shown in FIG. 9, when a predetermined event occurs, the information processing server 5 directs a notification accompanied by a telephone call to the terminal 3 used by the user. It is intended to be performed. In the present embodiment, the predetermined event is not limited to an event that occurs during the playing of a computer game, and is a concept that widely covers general things. As specific examples, the start of a broadcast program, the score during a sports game or the appearance of a specific player, the stoppage of public transportation, and other various events are all applicable.
[0027]
For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the information processing server 5 in the present embodiment includes a CPU 5a, a main memory 5b, an auxiliary storage device 5c represented by a disk drive, a telephone system interface 5d for making a telephone call, and the like. It has hardware resources. Normally, a program to be executed by the CPU 5a is stored in the auxiliary storage device 5c. When the program is executed, the program is read from the auxiliary storage device 5c into the main memory 5b and decoded by the CPU 5a. Then, the above-mentioned hardware resources are operated according to the program, and at least play a role as a destination registration unit M7 and a notification unit M8 shown in FIG.
[0028]
The destination registration unit M7 registers a destination that notifies that a predetermined event has occurred. The destination registration unit M7 uses a required storage area of the main memory 5b or the auxiliary storage device 5c to store the destination information of the notification, particularly the destination information including the incoming telephone number of the terminal 3 used by the user, in correspondence with a predetermined event. It plays the role of attaching and storing. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, an identifier for identifying an event that has occurred and an incoming telephone number of a notification destination are stored in association with each other.
[0029]
The notifying unit M8 uses a function of the telephone system interface to notify a destination registered in the destination registering unit M7 with a telephone call when a predetermined event occurs. In addition, it is desirable that the notification means M8 performs notification using a different source telephone number according to the event that has occurred. In the present embodiment, when a predetermined event occurs, an identifier for identifying the event is provided from the outside, and the information processing server 5 receives the identifier, thereby notifying the occurrence of the predetermined event. For example, when a batting order is reached for a batter who is a baseball game, an identifier for identifying an event that the batting order has come to the batter is provided from an external device (not shown) via, for example, a telecommunication line. Then, by referring to this, the notifying means M8 learns the occurrence of the event and gives a notification. In addition, the source control information in which the generated event is associated with the source telephone number is stored in a required storage area of the main memory 5b or the auxiliary storage device 5c in advance. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, an identifier for identifying an event that has occurred and a caller telephone number are stored in association with each other.
[0030]
Then, referring to the destination information and the source control information shown in FIG. 12, the notifying means M8 makes a telephone call to the destination to be notified of the occurrence of the event by the source telephone number corresponding to the generated event. To do.
[0031]
The user can receive the notification from the information processing server 5 using the terminal 3 owned by the user. Since the specific configuration of the terminal 3 is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description is omitted here.
[0032]
According to the present embodiment, a destination registration unit M7 for registering a destination for notifying that a predetermined event has occurred, and, when the predetermined event has occurred, calling a destination registered in the destination registration unit M7 Since the event notification system including at least the notification means M8 for performing notification accompanied by a call is configured, it is not necessary for the user himself / herself to check whether a predetermined event has occurred. As a result, for example, even if it is not nailed to a live broadcast of a baseball game, it is possible to achieve an effect that a specific player does not miss a turn at bat.
[0033]
Since the destination registration unit M7 registers the incoming telephone number of the terminal 3 used by the user, the destination registration unit M7 can specify a mobile phone terminal, a PHS terminal, or the like owned by the user as a notification destination.
[0034]
Since the notifying unit M8 performs notification using a different source telephone number in accordance with the event that has occurred, it is not necessary to particularly add data for displaying the content of the event that has occurred in the notification. Therefore, the amount of transmitted / received data in the notification can be small.
[0035]
The specific configuration of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
[0036]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention described in detail above, it is possible to realize a system for notifying the occurrence of a required event and the progress of things with a simple configuration.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware resource configuration of an information processing apparatus according to the embodiment; FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a system according to the embodiment; FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a hardware resource configuration of an information processing server according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a hardware resource configuration of a terminal according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating transmission source control information. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a hardware resource configuration of an information processing apparatus according to the embodiment; FIG. 9 is an overall configuration diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 10 is information according to the embodiment; FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a hardware resource configuration of a processing server. FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram of a system in the embodiment. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating destination information and source control information. ]
M4, M7 destination registering means M2, M8 notification means

Claims (6)

For notifying the user when a predetermined event occurs,
Destination registering means for registering a destination for notifying that the predetermined event has occurred; and notification for making a telephone call notification to a destination registered in the destination registering means when the predetermined event has occurred. An event notification system comprising at least means. The event notification system according to claim 1, wherein the destination registration unit registers an incoming telephone number of a terminal used by the user. The event notification system according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit performs notification using a different source telephone number according to an event that has occurred. A method of notifying a user when a predetermined event has occurred,
Destination registering means for registering a destination for notifying that the predetermined event has occurred;
A notifying step of, when the predetermined event occurs, notifying a destination with a telephone call to a destination registered in the destination registering unit. 5. The event notification method according to claim 4, wherein in the destination registration step, an incoming telephone number of a terminal used by the user is registered. 6. The event notification method according to claim 4, wherein in the notification step, notification is performed using a different source telephone number according to an event that has occurred.

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