JP2005085142A - Information distribution system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information distribution system for enabling a user to positively receive a distribution of information and to obtain some score even if useless information occupies a storage area of a communication terminal. <P>SOLUTION: A content provider 101 distributes various kinds of information to the communication terminal 103 via a communication network 102 by a push method. A communication terminal user 104 notifies a carrier 105 of a use situation 111 of the storage area when storing the information into the storage area, and receives a storage area use fee 112 to the storage area. The carrier 105 requires a fee 106 obtained by adding a fee to the storage area use fee 112 to the content provider 101, and receives a fee 107 necessary for communication. By the storage area use fee 112, the communication terminal user 104 can obtain profit similarly to the other two parties. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an information distribution system for distributing information to a communication terminal such as a mobile phone, and more particularly to an information distribution system suitable for distributing an advertisement to a user of a communication terminal.

  With the development of communication networks such as the Internet, various communication terminals such as mobile phones, PHS (Personal Handy-phone System), PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) or computers equipped with communication functions have been developed from various types of communication networks. Get information. If these communication terminals acquire information via the Internet, the method of acquiring information by these communication terminals can be roughly divided into two.

  In the first method, the user side of the communication terminal performs some action on the information source each time to acquire information. For example, when browsing a web with a browser, the first method is that a user of a communication terminal accesses a desired home page and acquires information such as text information and image information existing there. This is also called a pull method.

  On the other hand, in the second method, the information source side distributes information to the user's communication terminal without any action by the user. For example, every time it passes through a ticket gate of a station, it is a method of sending information around the station to the user's communication terminal. This second method is also called a push method.

  In the push method, information can be sent to the communication terminal without waiting for individual actions from the user. Therefore, the content provider as an information provider can more efficiently distribute information on a specific area, a specific store, etc. to the user, thereby enhancing the advertising effect. However, the distribution of information by the push method is not always welcomed by users.

  For example, a mobile phone will be described as an example. A mobile phone user may be charged according to the amount of information received. In such a case, each time a packet is transmitted unilaterally by the push method, a fee to be paid by the user is added each time. Of course, it is only necessary that the information distributed by the push method is useful for the user, but it is economically disadvantageous to distribute a large amount of useless information. Further, when such useless information occupies a storage area for various information in the mobile phone, the memory (storage area) is used wastefully. In order to prevent the situation where information stored unilaterally by the push method overflows into the storage area, it is necessary for the user to select and delete unnecessary information from this information. Time is needed.

  In view of this, it has been conventionally proposed that the user's hobbies and preferences are registered in advance, and the server provides only the information that matches these to the user side (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this first proposal, the user's hobbies and preferences are registered as a file called a “favorite data file”. When the server pushes content to the client, first, metadata indicating the content is transmitted to the client. After receiving the metadata from the server, the client compares the metadata keyword with the keyword in the user's preference data file, and if the keyword matches and there is free space in the storage area, the metadata Following this, content is received and stored.

In addition, proposals have been made to make charging for providing information to the user different between the pull method and the push method (for example, see Patent Document 2). In the second proposal, the user is charged for the pull method in which the user directly accesses the information. Regarding the push method in which the server sends information to the user without waiting for the user's action, the information provider is charged uniformly. This second proposal shows the possibility of charging the user even in the case of push type information distribution. In this case, the server checks whether the user is charged or the information provider is charged at the time of push-type information distribution to the user according to the setting contents of the subscriber database. If the setting is to charge the user, the user is charged.
JP 2002-149688 (paragraphs 0029, 0035, FIG. 3, FIG. 5) JP 2001-186125 A (paragraphs 0053, 0058, 0060, FIG. 9)

  Among the above proposals, in the first proposal, information is pushed from the server according to the contents of the preference data file on the user side. For this reason, if a user registers hobbies and preferences accurately in advance, only information that matches the content is provided to the user. However, according to this proposal, there is a problem that the information provider cannot additionally distribute information in other fields that is newly required to the user. For example, taking music as an example, if a user has registered his / her favorite artist and the setting is such that only the information on the artist is received, there is a high possibility that a new artist with the same taste or the user will like it. Can't receive information about artists in new genres. Therefore, the information received by the user cannot be developed. Similarly, regarding the acquisition of information that is newly required by the user in accordance with changes in age and family structure, the user cannot be made to actively take action.

  On the other hand, in the billing process according to the second proposal, push-type billing is uniformly performed by the information provider, and the user does not suffer an economic loss. However, the user may unilaterally occupy a finite storage area prepared in the communication terminal with useless information, which prevents other useful information from being stored. Therefore, if the user is not charged for the push method, it is not sufficient. Further, as described above, useless information must be deleted from the storage area, which places a burden on the user for deletion processing.

  Of course, the provision of information to the user by the push method is not always useless. In many cases, the user finds useful information from the received information. Therefore, it is not preferable that the information received by the user is extremely limited as in the first proposal.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is information that allows a user to positively accept information distribution by the push method and obtain some score for useless information even if the storage area of the communication terminal is occupied. To get a distribution system.

  In the present invention, (a) information sending means for sending information via a communication network, (b) an information storage area for receiving and storing information sent by the information sending means, and information stored in the information storage area Communication with information activation means for activating the information that can be used, and usage fee requesting means for requesting a storage area usage fee as a usage fee for the storage location for the information stored in the information storage area A terminal is provided in the information distribution system.

  That is, in the present invention, the information sent from the information sending means is received by the communication terminal via the communication network, and this information is stored in the information storage area for activating the information to be usable by the information activating means. In some cases, it is possible to request a storage area usage fee as a usage fee for lending an information storage area for activating information to the information sending side. The request destination may be an information sending means, or a means existing in the middle when information is sent via a communication network may be the request destination. As described above, the present invention allows a user to charge a fee for occupying a special area called an information storage area where the received information is activated and the received information is activated. Even if it is distributed, it is possible to request some reward for this, so that the user of the communication terminal can positively accept the distribution of information.

  According to the present invention, in the information distribution system according to claim 1, the information sent by the information sending means is display information, and the information activation means is a display means for visually displaying the information for display. It is characterized by.

  That is, the present invention deals with the case where the information sent by the information sending means is visual information such as text information or image information. News distribution and video distribution on various nets are examples. In these cases, the information activating means is a display means such as a display for visually displaying information for display. Other information such as music and voice may be reproduced together with the reproduction of visual information.

  According to the present invention, in the information distribution system according to claim 1, the information sent by the information sending means is an application program, and the information activation means is a program starting means for starting an application program stored in the information storage area. It is characterized by that.

  In other words, the present invention deals with the case where the information sent by the information sending means is an application program. Examples include shareware and various new or upgraded application programs. In these cases, the information activation means becomes means for installing the application program or starting means for actually using the installed application program.

  According to the present invention, in the information distribution system according to claim 2, the information sending means is provided in the content provider, and the content provider pays a fee for communication to a carrier as a communication carrier and pushes the information for display to the information provider. The communication terminal is provided with usage status reporting means for reporting the usage status of the display information stored in the information storage area to the carrier, and the carrier is stored in the information storage area of the communication terminal. A storage area usage fee payment means for paying the storage area usage fee according to the usage status of the displayed information, and a charge requesting means for charging the content provider with a fee obtained by adding a fee to the storage area usage fee. It is a feature.

  That is, the present invention embodies the mutual relationship between the content provider, the carrier, and the communication terminal, and the flow of money.

  According to the present invention, in the information distribution system according to claim 3, the information sending means is provided in the application server, and the application server pays the communication fee to the carrier as the communication carrier and communicates the application program by the push method. The communication terminal is provided with usage status reporting means for reporting to the carrier the usage status of the application program stored in the information storage area, and the carrier is the application program stored in the information storage area of the communication terminal. It is characterized by comprising storage area usage fee paying means for paying the storage area usage fee according to the use situation and charge requesting means for charging the application server with a fee obtained by adding a fee to the storage area usage fee.

  That is, in the present invention, the mutual relationship between the application server, the carrier, and the communication terminal, and the flow of money by this are embodied.

  According to the present invention, in the information distribution system according to claim 1, the storage area usage fee is determined according to the number of times of activation of the information stored in the information storage area or the stored time. .

  In other words, the present invention shows an example of a calculation standard for the storage area usage charge that can be charged by the communication terminal. Charges are calculated according to the number of times the user on the communication terminal side uses information and the time that the information storage area is occupied, and a reasonable charge can be made. Thereby, the user can increase the opportunity to actively accept various information and utilize them.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the communication terminal that receives information can charge the information providing side for a usage fee for the information storage area. Can be increased. In addition, since the user of the communication terminal can increase profits by increasing the information storage area at his own expense, he / she actively accepts information such as large-capacity data and programs, and promotes the advertising effect. It will greatly contribute to the increase and purchase of new products.

  <First Embodiment>

  FIG. 1 shows an information distribution system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The information distribution system 100 includes a content provider 101 as an information provider, and a communication terminal 103 that receives distribution of information by a push method from the content provider 101 via a communication network 102 such as the Internet or a wireless communication network for mobile terminals. And a communication terminal user 104 and a carrier 105 as a communication carrier. Here, the content provider 101 transmits information to be distributed to the communication terminal user 104 to the communication terminal 103 using the carrier 105. The carrier 105 distributes information to the communication terminal 103 and uses a built-in storage area (memory) of various information (not shown). Therefore, in this information distribution system 100, the carrier 105 pays the storage area usage fee 112 for the occupation of the storage area of the communication terminal 103 instead of receiving the usage status 111 of the information distributed from the communication terminal user 104. It has become. The carrier 105 charges the content provider 101 with a predetermined fee 106 obtained by adding a charge as a communication carrier to the storage area usage fee 112 paid on behalf of the carrier 105. The content provider 101 side pays this billing amount 107 to the carrier.

  FIG. 2 shows an outline of the configuration of the communication terminal used in the first embodiment. Here, description will be made assuming that the communication terminal 103 is a mobile phone. The communication terminal 103 includes a receiving device 121 and a transmitting device 122. The receiving device 121 is a device that receives information transmitted to the communication terminal 103 from the content provider 101 shown in FIG. The transmission device 122 is configured to transmit to the carrier 105 the usage status of its own information storage area 123 and what information is received from the content provider 101. The information storage area 123 is the information received by the receiving device 121 and temporarily stored in the information storage buffer 124, and is determined to be information sent from the content provider 101 by the analysis of the information analysis device 125. Is an area for storing The information storage area 123 and the information storage buffer 124 are usually configured by a storage medium such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a magnetic disk. A control program for controlling the communication terminal 103 is stored in a partial area of these storage media, and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) (not shown) executes the control program to realize various controls described later. It is like that.

  Note that the memory capacity or size of the information storage area 123 may be determined as a physical size by the manufacturer of the communication terminal 103 such as a mobile phone manufacturer, or the entire storage element or storage medium such as a RAM. The information storage area 123 may be configured by the communication terminal user 104 freely allocating from the memory capacity. In the latter case, the communication terminal user 104 can receive more information from the content provider 101 by allocating more memory area to the information storage area 123, and the storage area usage fee 112 You can also expect an increase.

  FIG. 3 shows an outline of the operating state of this information distribution system. It is assumed that the content provider 101 distributes information according to a contract made in advance with the communication terminal user 104 (step S201). The communication terminal 103 receives the information distributed by the content provider 101 and registers it in the information storage area 123 shown in FIG. 2 (step S202). The communication terminal 103 detects the size of the information distributed by the content provider 101 and notifies the carrier 105 of the usage status of the memory area in the information storage area 123 (step S203). The carrier 105 calculates a fee for the usage status for each content provider 101 based on the usage status of the memory area sent from each communication terminal 103, and distributes information to the communication terminal 103 from the content provider 101. A fee for doing this is added (step S204), and this added value is charged as a fee to the content provider 101 (step S205). The content provider 101 pays a fee to the carrier 105 based on the revenue obtained from an advertiser (not shown) (step S206). The carrier 105 calculates a fee to be paid to the communication terminal user 104 based on the use status of the memory area for each communication terminal user 104 (step S207), and pays this (step S208).

  That is, the communication terminal user 104 receives payment of the storage area usage fee 112 shown in FIG. 1 according to the amount of information stored in the content provider 101 in the information storage area 123 of the communication terminal user 104. Therefore, the larger the size of the information distributed by the content provider 101, the more the fee is paid as a usage fee.

  FIG. 4 specifically shows the processing flow of the communication terminal. When the receiving apparatus 121 shown in FIG. 2 receives some information (step S221: Y), the information is temporarily stored in the information storage buffer 124 (step S222). The information analysis device 125 analyzes the information stored in the information storage buffer 124 (step S223), and whether this is information distributed from a predetermined content provider 101 to be stored (registered) in the information storage area 123. Determine if. If it is not such information (step S224: N), processing corresponding to the received information is executed (step S225). For example, when an e-mail is transmitted to the communication terminal 103, it is stored in a dedicated memory area (not shown), and the communication terminal user 104 is notified by sound or the like that the e-mail has been received. Processing will be performed.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the information stored in the information storage buffer 124 is information to be stored in the information storage area 123 as a result of analysis by the information analysis device 125 (step S224: Y). The current storable size of the information storage area 123 is calculated (step S226). In the case of information distributed from the content provider 101, the reception size is included in the analysis by the information analysis device 125. Therefore, the CPU described above compares the size of the information distributed from the content provider 101 with the maximum size that can be stored at the current time in the information storage area 123 and determines that the information can be stored (step S227: Y). The corresponding information stored in the information storage buffer 124 is stored in the information storage area 123 (step S228).

  If it is determined that the information distributed from the content provider 101 cannot be stored in the information storage area 123 (step S227: N), no processing is performed on the information stored in the information storage buffer 124. The process ends without performing (End). As a result, new information can be overwritten in the information storage buffer 124.

  Incidentally, whether or not the distributed information can be stored in the information storage area 123 is determined based on the capacity (size) of information sent from the content provider 101 to the communication terminal 103 (step S227). However, it is not necessary to add information representing the size to the display information itself and send it to the communication terminal 103. For example, before the display information is sent to the communication terminal 103, only the information indicating the size of the information may be sent from the content provider 101 to the communication terminal 103. In this case, the determination in step S227 is performed at the stage when the information indicating the size is sent, and this is only stored when the information sent later can be stored in the information storage area 123 shown in FIG. This is notified to the provider 101 side, and the information is sent to the communication terminal 103. In the case of this example, if it is determined that the information cannot be stored in the information storage area 123, the information corresponding to the communication terminal 103 is not transmitted from the content provider 101.

  The description will be returned when the corresponding information stored in the information storage buffer 124 is stored in the information storage area 123 in step S228. At this time, the CPU notifies the carrier 105 of the fact that information is stored in the information storage area 123 (step S229). This notification is performed by e-mail, for example. The e-mail includes information such as the name and URL (Uniform Resource Locator) as information for identifying the content provider 101, and the size of information stored in the information storage area 123.

  The information stored in the information storage area 123 need not simply be stored, but the contents need to be displayed to the communication terminal user 104 at some point (step S230). In FIG. 4, the information is displayed after notifying the carrier 105, but it does not matter before and after. For example, when a WWW (World Wide Web) browser, which is software for browsing a web page, is launched, the information stored in the information storage area 123 may be displayed first. When the communication terminal 103 is turned on, information newly stored in the information storage area 123 may be displayed on the communication terminal 103 at that time. In the present invention, the carrier 105 pays the storage area usage fee 112 to the communication terminal user 104 on the premise that the stored information is presented to the communication terminal user 104 in some form. Therefore, the communication terminal 103 needs to have an apparatus configuration that presents the information stored in the information storage area 123 to the communication terminal user 104 at any point in time.

  Note that the notification to the carrier 105 shown in step S229 may be performed at a predetermined interval such as every certain period. In this case, the communication terminal user 104 can report the display count for each information stored in the information storage area 123 to the carrier 105. When the communication terminal user 104 displays the same information a plurality of times, the carrier 105 can increase the payment of the storage area usage fee 112 accordingly. This is because a memory corresponding to the fact that information that should be deleted early by the addition of similar information sent from another content provider or the like occupies a predetermined area of the information storage area 123 for a longer period of time. It can also be seen as an extension fee for the area usage period.

  FIG. 5 shows a first modification of the first embodiment. In FIG. 5, illustration of the same parts as those in FIG. 4 is omitted as appropriate. In the first modification, if it is not determined in step S224 that the information received in step S221 in FIG. 4 is storage target information, it is determined in step S251 whether a report request from the carrier has been received. When a report request from the carrier 105 is received (Y), a list of information sent from each content provider stored in the information storage area 123 is created (step S252), and these information Is associated with each content provider and notified to the carrier (step S253). This notification may be performed by electronic mail, or the communication terminal 103 may immediately reply to this during communication of the report request of the carrier 105.

  Thereby, for example, the carrier 105 appropriately accesses the communication terminal user 104 side shown in FIG. 1 to grasp the occupancy status of the information storage area 123 at each time point, and charges the content provider 101 according to this, The storage area usage fee 112 corresponding to this can be paid to the communication terminal user 104.

  FIG. 6 shows a second modification of the first embodiment. In FIG. 6, illustration of the same parts as those in FIG. 4 is omitted as appropriate. In the second modification, if it is not determined in step S224 that the information received in step S221 in FIG. 4 is the storage target information, it is determined in step S251 whether a report request from the carrier has been received. When a report request from the carrier 105 is received (Y), the access history in the information storage area 123 is referred to between the previous report request from the carrier 105 and the current report request. Then, information indicating the number of accesses is created for each piece of information accessed by the communication terminal user 104 for displaying the information storage area 123 from the access history (step S261). And the data which matched these information with each content provider are notified to the carrier 105 (step S262). This notification may be performed by e-mail, or may be made in the form that the communication terminal 103 responds immediately during communication of the report request of the carrier 105.

  Thus, for example, the carrier 105 makes a report request to the communication terminal 103 on each accounting deadline when charging the fee to the content provider 101 shown in FIG. 1, and the display frequency of each information to be billed this time (Number of times) can be acquired. Then, the content provider 101 is charged for the amount corresponding to the display frequency (number of times), and the storage area usage fee 112 corresponding to the access status of the information storage area 123 can be paid to the communication terminal user 104. .

  FIG. 7 specifically shows the processing performed by the carrier in the first embodiment. When the carrier 105 receives the usage status of the information storage area 123 from the communication terminal 105 (step S281: Y), the carrier 105 uses the usage status such as the usage size of the information storage area 123 and the number of days of storage of the corresponding information in the information storage area 123. Thus, the usage fee is calculated (step S282). However, the usage fee may be calculated in more detail depending on the contents of the usage situation obtained from the communication terminal 105, or a simple one that simply calculates the usage fee according to the size of the information may be used. Next, the carrier 105 adds a carrier-side fee to the obtained usage fee (step S283). The carrier 105 charges the usage fee calculated in this way to the content provider 101 (step S284).

  By the way, the carrier 105 monitors reception of usage charges from the content provider 101 side as well as monitoring of usage status reception (step S285). When the usage fee is received from the content provider 101 (Y), the usage fee for the information storage area 123 of the communication terminal 105 is calculated by subtracting the carrier 105 side fee from the usage fee (step S286). This usage fee is basically the same as the value calculated in step S282. The carrier 105 subtracts the communication fee to be paid to the carrier 105 of the communication terminal user 104 from this usage fee (step S287). If the value is positive, the amount obtained by subtraction is sent to the communication terminal user 104. In the case where the information storage area 123 of the communication terminal user 104 is not used much, if the amount obtained by subtraction becomes negative, the communication terminal user 104 is charged for the amount ( Step S288).

  Such processing of the carrier 105 may be performed by a built-in CPU (central processing unit) executing a control program in the same manner as the processing described above for the communication terminal 103, or part or all of the processing may be performed by the carrier. An operator in 105 may perform it.

  FIG. 8 shows the configuration of a communication terminal in the information distribution system according to the third modification of the first embodiment. A communication terminal 103A illustrated in FIG. 8 includes an input device 301 operated by the communication terminal user 104 illustrated in FIG. 1 and an output device 302 such as a display for visually outputting operation results. The information analysis device 125A can output the result to the output device 302.

  In the third modification, when the receiving apparatus 121 shown in FIG. 8 receives distribution of information from the content provider 101 shown in FIG. 1 (see step S201 in FIG. 3), the information is stored in the information storage buffer 124 and analyzed. Device 125A analyzes this. The processing up to this point is the same as that described in the first embodiment. In the case of the third modification, at this stage, the communication terminal user 104 can select whether or not to store the distributed information in the information storage area 123 by using the input device 301.

  FIG. 9 corresponds to FIG. 4 and specifically shows the processing flow of the communication terminal in the third modification. 9, the same parts as those in FIG. 4 are denoted by the same step numbers, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. When the communication terminal 103A determines in the third modification that the information is information distributed from the content provider 101 in step S224 (Y), the communication terminal 103A calculates the current storable size of the information storage area 123 in step S226, and It is determined whether information can be stored (step S227). If it is determined that the data can be stored (Y), the title of the storage target information is displayed on the output device 302 shown in FIG. 8 (step S401). Thereby, the communication terminal user 104 discriminates the type of information such as “September 1st issue of shopping news” delivered from a predetermined content provider 101 or “September 15 bargain information around Shinjuku Station”. can do. In addition to the title, an outline in which the content of information is collected by a predetermined number of characters may be extracted by the information analysis device 125A and output to the output device 302. The output device 302 also outputs a text requesting selection of storage target information to be stored in the information storage area 123 or discarded.

  In this state, a CPU (not shown) of the communication terminal 103 </ b> A waits for input from the input device 301. When the communication terminal user 104 instructs to store the information in the information storage area 123 (step S402: Y), the corresponding information stored in the information storage buffer 124 is stored in the information storage area 123 ( Step S228). The subsequent processing is as shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, when the communication terminal user 104 selects discarding of the information (step S403: Y), the corresponding information stored in the information storage buffer 124 is discarded (step S404). Then, the completion of the discard is output to the output device 302 (step S405). However, when the next information is overwritten in the information storage buffer 124, it is not necessary to delete the data in the information storage buffer 124 each time as the discarding process in step S404.

  As described above, according to the third modification, it is possible for the communication terminal user 104 to select whether or not to store the information in the information storage area 123 even if it is push-type information. Therefore, the communication terminal user 104 can select information while considering the advantages and disadvantages of the usage fee obtained by storage, the deletion processing of the information storage area 123, and the occupation of information. For this reason, when the information stored in step S230 is displayed, the degree of interest shown in the contents of the communication terminal user 104 is higher than when the information is not selected, and the effect of the advertisement can be enhanced.

  FIG. 10 shows the flow of money in the information distribution system of the first embodiment described above. In this figure, the charge paid by (−) and the charge received by (+) are shown. The communication terminal user 104 pays a packet fee 131 as a packet communication fee to the carrier 105, but receives a payment 112 of a usage fee for the information storage area 123 from the carrier 105. The carrier 105 receives payment of the billing amount 107 related to communication from the content provider 101 and charges the content provider 101 with a fee 106 as an amount obtained by adding a fee to the information storage area 123. The content provider 101 can obtain a profit from the advertiser by performing the advertisement.

  As described above, in the information distribution system according to the first embodiment, the content provider 101, the communication terminal user 104, and the carrier 105 can make payments and obtain profits. In particular, in the case of the communication terminal user 104, it is possible to make the usage fee higher than the payment of the packet fee by setting the usage fee for the information storage area 123 to a relatively high amount. Both can make a profit.

  Unlike the money flow shown in FIG. 10, for example, points corresponding to the proportion of cooperation of the communication terminal user 104 with respect to the carrier 105 are accumulated, and products are exchanged at the points accumulated by the communication terminal user 104. There can also be a method of profit return such as making it possible. However, in such a method, the point does not represent specific money as it is, and its economic value cannot be accurately calculated. In the first embodiment, the carrier 105 charges the communication terminal user 104 for a packet fee while paying a usage fee for the information storage area 123. Accordingly, the amount of money to be obtained by the communication terminal user 104 is clarified, and the communication terminal user 104 can more actively store the push method information in the information storage area 123.

  <Second Embodiment>

  FIG. 11 shows an information distribution system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the information distribution system 500, the first embodiment provides information such as text data to the communication terminal user 104 side, whereas an application program (hereinafter abbreviated as application) is used as the communication terminal user. It will be provided on the 104 side for monitoring. 11, the same parts as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  In the information distribution system 500 according to the second embodiment, the application server 501 uses the carrier 105 in a push manner based on the prior approval of the communication terminal user 104 for an application that the application server 501 can use for monitoring or for a certain period of time. Download 511 to 103. The communication terminal user 104 can actually use the downloaded application and send a response 512 such as a requested questionnaire to the application server 501 side. On the condition of the response 512, the application server 501 is free to give a privilege that the official use of the application is permitted or the purchase price of the regular application is discounted.

  However, in the information distribution system 500, various applications are sequentially downloaded to the communication terminal 103 by the push method. Therefore, the communication terminal user 104 is not obligated to use each downloaded application one by one, and there is no need to reply 512 to the application server 501 about the use result of the application.

  Also in this information distribution system 500, the carrier 105 pays the storage area usage fee 112 to the communication terminal user 104, and the communication terminal user 104 notifies the usage status 111 of the information storage area 123. Further, the carrier 105 charges the application server 501 with the storage area usage fee plus a fee, and the application server 501 pays the carrier 107 for the charged amount 107.

  In the above description, the communication terminal user 104 makes a response 512 such as a questionnaire to the application server 501. However, even if the carrier 105 reports this to the application server 501, the carrier 105 reports it to the application server 501. Good. Although the carrier 105 may make payment of the storage area usage fee 112 to the communication terminal user 104, it is natural that the application server 501 may make payment directly. This is performed by the content provider 101 for the communication terminal user 104 in the case of the first embodiment. However, it is generally necessary that the application server 501 or the content provider 101 is proved to be reliable for the communication terminal user 104 and that a specific arrangement in advance for the storage area usage fee 112 is made. This is because the carrier 105 has a direct contract relationship with the communication terminal user 104, whereas the application server 501 or the content provider 101 does not have such a close relationship.

  In the embodiment described above, a mobile phone has been described as an example of a communication terminal. However, the present invention can be applied to any communication terminal including a desktop personal computer that pays a fixed fee.

1 is a system configuration diagram showing an overview of an information distribution system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram showing the outline | summary of the structure of the communication terminal used by 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which showed the outline | summary of the operation state of the information delivery system in 1st Embodiment. 3 is a flowchart specifically showing a flow of processing of a communication terminal in the first embodiment. It is the flowchart which showed the 1st modification of 1st Embodiment. It is the flowchart which showed the 2nd modification of 1st Embodiment. 3 is a flowchart specifically showing processing performed by a carrier in the first embodiment. It is a block diagram showing the structure of the communication terminal in the information delivery system of the 3rd modification of 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart showing concretely the flow of processing of a communication terminal in the 3rd modification. It is explanatory drawing showing the flow of money in the information delivery system of 1st Embodiment. It is the system block diagram which showed the information delivery system in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

100, 500 Information distribution system 101 Content provider 102 Communication network 103, 103A Communication terminal 104 Communication terminal user 105 Carrier 106 Fee 107 Charge amount 112 Storage area usage fee 123 Information storage area 125, 125A Information analysis device 131 Packet fee 301 Input device 302 Output device 501 Application server 511 Download

Claims (6)

Information sending means for sending information via a communication network;
An information storage area for receiving and storing the information sent by the information sending means, an information activation means for activating the information stored in the information storage area, and the information storing area stored in the information storage area An information distribution system comprising: a communication terminal including usage fee requesting means for requesting a storage area usage fee as a usage fee for a storage location for information.   2. The information distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the information sent by the information sending means is display information, and the information activation means is a display means for visually displaying information for display.   2. The information distribution according to claim 1, wherein the information sent by the information sending means is an application program, and the information activation means is a program starting means for starting an application program stored in the information storage area. system.   The information sending means is provided in a content provider, and the content provider pays a communication fee to a carrier as a telecommunications carrier and transmits the information for display to the communication terminal by a push method. Usage status reporting means for reporting to the carrier the usage status of the display information stored in the storage area, the carrier depending on the usage status of the display information stored in the information storage area of the communication terminal; 3. The information according to claim 2, further comprising a storage area usage fee payment means for paying a storage area usage fee and a billing means for charging the content provider with a fee added to the storage area usage fee. Distribution system.   The information sending means is provided in an application server, and the application server pays a communication fee to a carrier as a communication carrier and transmits the application program to the communication terminal by a push method, and the communication terminal stores its information storage area. A usage status reporting means for reporting the usage status of the application program stored in the carrier to the carrier, and the carrier charges a storage area usage fee according to the usage status of the application program stored in the information storage area of the communication terminal. 4. The information distribution system according to claim 3, further comprising a storage area usage fee payment means for paying and a billing means for charging the application server with a fee added to the storage area usage fee.   The information distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the storage area usage fee is determined according to the number of times of activation of the information stored in the information storage area or the stored time.

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