JP2006165886A - Information acquisition system, user terminal and communications equipment used for the system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the operations of a user, and to reduce the labor or the mistakes of the user, when acquiring information via a user terminal. <P>SOLUTION: An information acquisition system is constituted of a user terminal 2, an application software storing means S and an ultra-short range communications means 1 for transmitting application information related to each application software. The ultra-short range communications means 1 uses a contact or contact nearly non-contact set range as a communication area, and the user terminal 2 has functions of: receiving the application information transmitted from the ultra-short range communications means 1 when the user terminal 2 is located in the communication area of the ultra-short range communications means 1; automatically accessing the application software storage means S through the communications means, based on the application information; and automatically installing the application software corresponding to the application information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a system for a user to acquire information using a user terminal such as a mobile phone or a mobile computer.

In recent years, various information can be acquired using an Internet connection function such as a mobile phone. For example, by connecting to a specific home page, the home page can be displayed on a display of a mobile phone, or application software can be downloaded from the home page.
As a method of accessing the target home page, there are a method of manually inputting the address of the home page, a method of using a link of the official site of the telephone company, and the like.

  As described above, there are various methods for accessing the target home page, but all of them require troublesome work for the user. In particular, it is not only troublesome to manually enter the URL of the target home page, but an input error is likely to occur. Also, when installing application software on a user terminal, it may be necessary to perform a number of installation operations after accessing the homepage.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a system that can reduce the user's operation when acquiring information via a user terminal, and reduce the burden on the user and mistakes.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a user terminal, application software storage means storing application software for the user terminal to acquire information, application information necessary for installation of each application software, and the user terminal Between the contact area or non-contact ultra-short-range communication means close to contact, and the user terminal is located within the communication area of the ultra-short-range communication means, A function for receiving application information transmitted from the short-range communication means, a function for automatically accessing the application software storage means via the communication means based on the received application information, and an application software corresponding to the application information. Ability to install automatically Characterized in that with a.

  The application information is information necessary for installing the application software, and includes an address for specifying the storage location of the application software. The address includes a URL and a number corresponding to each application software.

  The second invention includes a user terminal, application software storage means storing application software for the user terminal to acquire information, a management computer for transmitting application information necessary for installation of each application software, and the management It can be connected to a computer, and is composed of ultra-short-distance communication means having a communication area of contact or non-contact ultra-short distance close to contact with the user terminal. A function of receiving terminal identification information for identifying a user terminal from a user terminal located in a communication area; and a function of transmitting the received terminal identification information to the management server, the management server receiving the terminal identification information Specific application software application A function of transmitting mobile station information, and when the user terminal is located within the communication area of the ultra-short-range communication means, the user terminal transmits its own terminal identification information to the ultra-short-range communication means, and The function of receiving application information from the management computer, the function of automatically accessing the application software storage means via the communication means based on the received application information, and the application software corresponding to the application information are automatically installed. It is characterized in that it has a function.

  3rd invention presupposes the said 1st or 2nd invention, The said application information contains the address which pinpoints the location of application software, The said user terminal is based on the received address, Application software memory | storage means It has a feature in that it has a function of accessing and automatically installing application software corresponding to the address.

  A fourth invention stores a user terminal, application software storage means storing application software for the user terminal to acquire information, application information necessary for installing each application software, and the user terminal An application information storage means connectable via communication and an address for specifying the location of each application information are transmitted, and a contact area or a non-contact very near distance close to contact with the user terminal is defined as a communication area. And a function of receiving an address of application information transmitted from the ultra-short-range communication means when the user terminal is located within a communication area of the ultra-short-range communication means. Based on the address of the received application information A function of accessing the application information storage means to acquire specific application information, a function of automatically accessing the application software storage means via the communication means based on the acquired application information, and the application information It has a feature in that it has a function of automatically installing corresponding application software.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a user terminal, application software storage means storing application software for the user terminal to acquire information, application information necessary for installation of each application software, and the user terminal Application information storage means that can be connected via communication, a management computer that transmits an address for specifying the location of each application information, and connection with this management computer, and contact or contact with the user terminal The ultra-short-range communication means uses a non-contact ultra-short distance close to the communication area, and the ultra-short-range communication means includes terminal specifying information for specifying the user terminal from the user terminals located in its own communication area. The function to receive and the received device identification information The management computer has a function of transmitting an address of specific application information to a user terminal corresponding to the received terminal specifying information, and the user terminal is a super short range communication means. A function of transmitting its own terminal identification information to the ultra short-range communication means, a function of receiving an address of application information from the management computer, and an address of the received application information when located within the communication area Corresponding to the function to access the application information storage means based on the above, to acquire the application information, the function to automatically access the application software storage means based on the acquired application information via the communication means, and the above application information Application Characterized in that with automatic and ability to install software.

  6th invention presupposes the said 1st-5th invention, The size of application software is included in application information, The user terminal is the size of specific application software corresponding to the received application information, and own A function for determining whether or not the specific application software can be installed in comparison with the free space, and when it is determined that the installation is possible, the application software storage means is accessed to access the specific application software. It has a feature in that it is equipped with a function of automatically installing.

  The seventh invention transmits a user terminal, application software for the user terminal to acquire information and application information necessary for installation of the application software, and communicates a contact or a non-contact super near distance close to a contact with a communication area. A function of receiving application information transmitted from the ultra-short-range communication means when the user terminal is located in a communication area of the ultra-short-range communication means; A function for determining whether the corresponding application software should be installed based on the received application information, a function for transmitting an application software request signal when it is determined that the application software should be installed, and the above-mentioned application software request Application corresponding to signal A function for automatically installing the application software via the ultra-short-range communication means, and the ultra-short-range communication means receives a function for transmitting the application information and an application software request signal corresponding to the transmitted application information. And a function of transmitting application software corresponding to the application software request signal.

  The eighth invention comprises a user terminal and application software for the user terminal to acquire information, and ultra-short-distance communication means that uses contact or non-contact ultra-short distance close to contact as a communication area. The above-mentioned ultra short-range communication means is capable of receiving device information transmitted from a user terminal located within its own communication area, and the corresponding user terminal can install application software based on the received device information. A function for determining whether or not installation is possible, and a function for transmitting predetermined application software when the installation is possible. Application software sent from the ultra short-range communication means when located in the communication area of the communication means Shin and characterized in that with a feature that automatically install.

  9th invention presupposes 1st-8th invention, While providing the near field communication means provided with the function which transmits application software specific information, the said user terminal is an application which specifies the installed application software A function for storing software identification information and the application software identification information received when entering the communication area of the short-range communication means, and corresponding to the application software identification information received from the application software stored by itself It is characterized in that it has a function for specifying application software and a function for starting the specified application software.

  A tenth aspect of the invention includes a user terminal and short-range communication means having a function of transmitting application software specifying information, and the user terminal has a function of storing application software specifying information for specifying installed application software. On the other hand, when entering the communication area of the near field communication means, the application software specifying information is received from the near field communication means, and the received application software specifying information is selected from the application software installed in itself. It has a feature in that it has a function of specifying application software corresponding to the above and a function of starting the specified application software.

The eleventh invention is based on the above first to tenth inventions, and adds an extinction condition to each application software, and the user terminal determines whether the extinction condition added to the application software installed in the user terminal is satisfied. And a function of automatically erasing corresponding application software when it is determined that the annihilation condition is satisfied.

  The twelfth invention is based on the ninth or tenth invention, and an erasure condition is added to each application software, and the annihilation condition is out of the communication area of the short-distance communication means. Is provided with a function for determining whether or not communication with the near field communication means is possible and a function for automatically erasing corresponding application software when it is determined that communication with the near field communication is impossible. Has characteristics.

  When the user terminal of the thirteenth invention is located in the communication area of the ultra-short-range communication means having a contact or non-contact ultra-short distance as the communication area, the application information transmitted from the ultra-short-range communication means is received. A function for receiving, a function for automatically accessing the application software storage means via the communication means based on the received application information, a function for automatically installing application software corresponding to the application information, and an installed application It has a feature in that it has a function of storing application software specifying information for specifying software.

  A user terminal according to a fourteenth invention is based on the thirteenth invention, and the user terminal receives application software specifying information transmitted from the short-range communication means when located in the communication area of the short-range communication means. It is characterized in that it has a function, a function for identifying application software corresponding to the received application software identification information, and a function for starting the identified application software among the application software installed in itself. .

  A communication device according to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention is a communication device capable of communicating between a user terminal and application software storage means storing application software used by the user terminal to acquire information, wherein the communication device is in contact or non-contact. A super short range communication means having a set range as a communication area; and a short range communication means having a set range wider than the communication area of the ultra short range communication means. The short distance communication means is characterized in that it has a function of transmitting application software corresponding to this address when receiving a signal specifying the address. .

According to the first to fifteenth aspects, the user can obtain information very easily using the user terminal.
Further, the information provider side can reliably send information to be provided to the user.
According to the first to eighth inventions, specific application software can be installed almost automatically. Moreover, the above application software is installed only when the user consciously positions his / her user terminal within the communication area of the ultra short-range communication means, so without permission by the user. It will never be installed.

According to the ninth aspect, the application software installed in the user terminal can be automatically started, so that the user can save time and the information provider side can provide information more reliably. .
According to the tenth aspect, application software installed by any method can be automatically activated without any user effort.

According to the eleventh aspect, the application software installed in the user terminal can be automatically deleted based on the extinction condition added to the application software. As a result, the application software does not remain in the user terminal forever, and the storage capacity of the user terminal can be used effectively.
Also, the user can be directed to a specific location for reinstallation.

According to the twelfth aspect, application software that the information provider does not want to start outside a certain area is not stored in the user terminal.
In addition, it is possible to more strictly manage the range in which application software is activated and the range in which information can be acquired.

If the user terminal according to the thirteenth aspect is used, the application software can be automatically installed.
By using the user terminal according to the fourteenth aspect, it is possible to specify application software required on the spot from among installed application software, and to activate it automatically or manually.

  By using the communication device according to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, application software can be automatically installed on a user terminal that can communicate with the communication device, or application software to be started is identified from among installed application software. can do.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, application software is abbreviated as an application. Similarly, application software is also abbreviated as an application in the drawings describing other embodiments.
The system of the first embodiment includes an ultra-short-range communication device 1 which is an ultra-short-range communication means of the present invention, a user terminal 2 used by a user who acquires information in the present invention, and application software storage means of the present invention. And server S.
Here, an example in which a user installs application software for acquiring related information of the store A in the user terminal 2 in a specific place, for example, the store A will be described.

  The ultra-short-range communication device 1 is an apparatus installed in the store A, and is an ultra-short-range communication unit 3 capable of communication in a contact or non-contact set range close to contact, and a processing unit 4 connected thereto. The application information storage unit 5 connected to the processing unit 4 is provided. The application information storage unit 5 stores the application information of the present invention. The application information includes information used when installing predetermined application software in the user terminal 2. For example, an address specifying the storage location of the application software, the size of the application software, and the like. Here, in the first embodiment, an example will be described in which an address for specifying the storage location of the application software in the server S is the application information.

The server S is a server that stores application software of related information of the store A. Then, the application software address of the related information of the store A in the server S is stored in the application information storage unit 5 of the ultra short-range communication device 1.
Note that the non-contact setting range close to contact of the ultra-short-range communication unit 3 is an ultra-short-range range, for example, communication using a non-contact IC, and the communicable distance is a few (cm). is there.
The processing unit 4 has a function of transmitting the address of the application software stored in the application information storage unit 5 to the outside via the ultra short-range communication unit 3.

On the other hand, the user terminal 2 is a mobile phone or the like used by the user, but the first communication unit 6 capable of communicating with the ultra short-range communication unit 3 and the process connected to the first communication unit 6 A second communication unit 8 connected to the processing unit 7, an address storage unit 9, and an application software storage unit 10.
The first communication unit 6 is a communication unit having a communication function with the ultra short-range communication unit 3. That is, the first communication unit 6 can establish communication between the two only when it contacts the ultra short range communication unit 3 or approaches within a few centimeters (cm), and is output from the ultra short range communication device 1. Address can be received on the user terminal 2 side.

Note that the ultra-short-range communication unit 3 of the ultra-short-range communication device 1 always transmits the address so that the first communication unit 6 of the user terminal 2 operates according to a signal from the ultra-short-range communication unit 3. Alternatively, the first communication unit 6 may be always in a receivable state.
In any case, unless the ultra-short-range communication unit 3 and the first communication unit 6 are close enough to contact each other, signal communication between the two cannot be performed, so the user can connect the user terminal 2 to the ultra-short-range communication device 1. If the user terminal 2 is not consciously approached, the user terminal 2 cannot receive a signal, that is, an address transmitted by the ultra short-range communication unit 3.

The second communication unit 8 is a communication means of the present invention that can be connected to the server S. For example, the second communication unit 8 is connected to the Internet and accesses the server S via the Internet.
Further, the processing unit 7 receives an address from the ultra short-range communication device 1 via the first communication unit 6 and stores the address in the address storage unit 9 and the server S based on the address. A function of accessing and storing the target application software in the application software storage unit 10 and installing it in the user terminal 2.

Hereinafter, a procedure for installing specific application software in the user terminal 2 in the system of FIG. 1 will be described.
The user goes to the store A, brings his user terminal 2 close to the ultra short-range communication device 1, and receives an address corresponding to the application software as indicated by an arrow (1). The processing unit 7 of the user terminal 2 temporarily stores the received address in the address storage unit 9, and based on this, accesses the server S via the second communication unit 8 (arrow (2)), The application software specified by this address is downloaded (arrow (3)) and stored in the application software storage unit 10 to install the application software.

The user terminal 2 sets a program for processing from the reception of the address to the installation of the application software in the processing unit 7 of the user terminal 2, and the installation of the application software is automatically performed by this program. Like to do.
Therefore, the user does not need to manually input an address into his / her user terminal 2 in order to install the target application software, and does not need to perform an operation for installation. That is, necessary application software can be easily installed in the user terminal 2.

  In this system, for example, when application software related to store information is automatically installed, a user approaches his / her user terminal 2 within a range where ultra-short-range communication is possible. It is necessary to let In other words, unless the user terminal 2 is approached consciously, the address is not received, so there is no concern that application software will be installed without permission, contrary to one's will.

The application software is software for displaying various information on the user terminal, and may be a program for displaying information, or may be information itself to be displayed. For example, in the user terminal 2, only a special program for displaying information can be installed, and when the installed program is started, information can be acquired from another database using communication means. The program and the information to be displayed may be installed together on the user terminal.
Further, only the information may be acquired from the server S by the above procedure, and the acquired information may be displayed by a program provided in advance in the user terminal 2.

In any case, the user can acquire information only after bringing his / her mobile terminal 2 into contact with the ultra short-range communication device 1.
Therefore, if the user wants specific information, he / she needs to go near the ultra-short-range communication device 1 which is the ultra-short-range communication means to receive the address. In other words, the user can easily obtain necessary information simply by going near the ultra short-range communication device 1 and having his / her user terminal 2 receive an address.
In addition, the information provider side can provide specific software to users who have come to a specific location, and by providing the software requested by the user, the user can be sent to a specific location, that is, ultra short-range communication. It can also be guided close to the device 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the second embodiment shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 is a short-distance communication that is an ultra-short-range communication device 1 and a short-range communication means of the present invention in a specific place, for example, a store A. Device 12. Moreover, the user terminal 20 provided with the 3rd communication part 11 is used. The system according to the second embodiment is a system for automatically starting specific application software when entering the store A, and for the user to acquire information.
The ultra-short-range communication device 1 is the same device as the ultra-short-range communication device of the first embodiment shown in FIG. Therefore, FIG. 1 is used for the following description.

The near field communication device 12 includes a near field communication unit 13 and an application software ID storage unit 14 as shown in FIG. The application software ID storage unit 14 stores an application software ID for specifying the application software. This application software ID is the application software specifying information of the present invention. The application software ID is transmitted to the outside via the short-range communication unit 13.
The short-range communication unit 13 is a short-range communication unit, and uses, for example, Bluetooth, and the communication range is a number (m) to 10 (m).

Moreover, although the user terminal 20 of this 2nd Embodiment is provided with the 3rd communication part 11 which can communicate between the said short-range communication parts 13, the other structure is the user terminal 2 of 1st Embodiment. The same. However, the processing unit 7 has a function of automatically starting the application software corresponding to the application software ID when the application software ID is received from the short-range communication device 12.
FIG. 2 shows the communicable range of the short-range communication unit 13 as the communication area E2, but the user terminal 2 is transmitted from the short-range communication device 12 only when entering the communication area E2. Application software ID can be received. The communication area E2 is larger than the communication area E1 of the ultra-short-range communication unit 3 of the ultra-short-range communication device 1.

Hereinafter, a procedure in which the user terminal 20 illustrated in FIG. 2 automatically activates specific application software stored in the application software storage unit 10 will be described.
Here, it is assumed that specific application software is installed in the user terminal 20 in the same manner as in the first embodiment.
That is, when the user enters the store A and brings the user terminal 20 close to the ultra-short-range communication device 1 shown in FIG. 2 and is located in the communication area E1, the user terminal 20 receives the address. The user terminal 20 automatically installs application software based on the received address.

  The application software storage unit 10 stores the application software in association with an application software ID for specifying the application software. The application software ID may be received together with the address from the ultra short-range communication device 1, or may be received from the server S and stored when installing the application software.

If the user terminal 20 is located in the communication area E2 of the short-range communication unit 13 of the short-range communication device 12 with the application software installed, the application software ID transmitted from the short-range communication device 12 is received. .
Upon receiving the application software ID, the user terminal 20 identifies the application software stored in its own application software storage unit 10 as the application software corresponding to the received application software ID, and activates it.

The application software ID transmitted by the short-range communication device 12 is an ID corresponding to application software for acquiring useful information in the store A where the short-range communication device 12 is installed.
Here, an example in which the user terminal 20 installs application software in the store A and then starts the application software in the store A has been described. However, after the application software is installed, the user terminal 20 starts the application software. The timing need not be continuous. If application software is installed in the user terminal 20, it can be activated at the time of reentry.

Further, the method of installing the application software in the user terminal 20 is not limited to the method using the ultra short-range communication device 1 as described above, and may be installed in advance in a place unrelated to the store A. .
Application software installed by any method can be automatically activated when the user terminal 20 is located at a specific place such as the store A using the short-range communication device 12. Accordingly, the user can reliably obtain necessary information by omitting troublesome operations.
Also, the information provider side can surely deliver the information to be notified to the user who has come to a specific place.

The third embodiment shown in FIG. 4 to FIG. 6 includes a communication device 15 installed at a specific location, and this communication device 15 is close to the ultra short-range communication device 1 of the first embodiment and the second embodiment. It also has the functions of the distance communication device 12.
Further, the server S storing application software is connected to the communication device 15, and the user terminal 20 is connected to the server S via the communication device 15. The connection between the server S and the communication device 15 may be a LAN connection or a connection via the Internet or the like.

The application information storage unit 5 of the communication device 15 stores an application software ID that is application software specifying information together with an address of specific application software. That is, the application information storage unit 5 also functions as the application software ID storage unit 14 of the second embodiment shown in FIG. In addition, the function of the component which attached | subjected the same code | symbol as 1st, 2nd embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 is the same as that of the said embodiment.
And the relationship between the communication area E1 of the ultra-short-range communication unit 3 and the communication area E2 of the short-range communication unit 13 is large and small concentric circles as shown in FIG.

Hereinafter, a procedure for installing application software for acquiring information and a procedure for starting the installed application software in this system will be described.
In FIG. 4, the flow of data when the application software is installed in the user terminal 20 is indicated by arrows, and FIG. 6 shows the flow of data when starting the application software.

First, the processing unit 4 of the communication device 15 transmits the address stored in the application information storage unit 5 almost continuously via the ultra-short distance communication unit 3.
When the user terminal 20 is brought close enough to contact the communication device 15 and is located in the communication area E1 of FIG. 5, the processing unit 7 passes through the first communication unit 6 as indicated by an arrow (1) in FIG. 4. Receive the above address. When the address is received, the user terminal 20 does not need to stay in the communication area E1, but needs to be located in the communication area E2 in order to install the application software.

The processing unit 7 of the user terminal 20 stores the received address in the address storage unit 9 and transmits an access request signal (arrow (2)) to the server S based on the received address from the third communication unit 11. To do.
In the communication device 15, the processing unit 4 receives the access request signal transmitted from the user terminal 20 via the short-range communication unit 13, and accesses the server S based on the access request signal (arrow (3)). ). Further, when the processing unit 4 downloads the application software specified by the address as indicated by the arrow (4), the processing unit 4 transmits it to the third communication unit 11 of the user terminal 20 via the short-range communication unit 13. To send (arrow (5)).
In the user terminal 20, the processing unit 7 stores the application software received via the third communication unit 11 in the application software storage unit 10 and performs installation.

Next, a procedure for starting the installed application software will be described.
When the user terminal 20 enters the communication area E2, the application software ID transmitted from the short-range communication unit 13 of the communication device 15 is received via the third communication unit 11 as shown in FIG.
The processing unit 7 specifies application software corresponding to the received application software ID from the application software stored in the application software storage unit 10 and activates it.
Processing from when the processing unit 7 receives the application software ID to when the application software is activated is automatically performed by a program preset in the processing unit 7.

  If the user terminal 20 is located in the communication area E2, it can receive the application software ID from the communication device 15, but at that time, the corresponding application software may not be installed on the user terminal 20 side. is there. In that case, since the processing unit 7 cannot identify the application software corresponding to the received application software ID, the application software is not activated.

Even in the system according to the third embodiment, if the user does not intentionally receive an address from the communication device 15, the application software will not be installed without permission. Application software can be installed.
In addition, since the installed application software is automatically activated, the user can easily obtain information.

Further, since the user terminal 20 accesses the server via the communication device 15 which is a short-distance communication means of the present invention, the user terminal 20 is in the communication area E2 of the short-range communication unit 13. Only the server S can be accessed. Therefore, the user can be guided more reliably near the communication device 15.
The communication device 15 is a device in which the ultra short range communication unit and the short range communication unit are integrated, but the ultra short range communication unit and the short range communication unit may be separate devices.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7, if a plurality of communication devices 15 are connected to the server S, and the address and application software ID transmitted from each communication device 15 are changed, the communication areas E3, E4 of each short-range communication unit 13 are changed. The information to be provided can be changed by E5.
However, in order to receive the address, the user terminal 20 has to be substantially in contact with the communication device 15.

In the first to third embodiments, if an erasure condition is added to the application software installed in the user terminal, the installed application software does not remain in the user terminal indefinitely.
As the extinction condition, for example, a time condition such as a time after installation or a specific date, or a positional condition can be considered.

The position disappearance condition can be set such as when the user goes to a specific place or away from the specific place. When such a positional condition is satisfied, the user terminal deletes the installed application software, but in order to determine whether the positional condition is satisfied, the user terminal specifies the position. It must have a function.
For example, assuming that the disappearance condition is a set distance from a specific store, application software for acquiring information related to the store may be deleted.
If the extinction condition is outside the communication area of the short-range communication means, the user terminal cannot receive a signal from the short-range communication means when the user leaves the communication area of the short-range communication means. Therefore, it is determined that the condition is satisfied, and the application software can be automatically deleted.

In this way, by providing the disappearance condition, application software that is no longer necessary for the user is not left in the user terminal indefinitely, and the storage capacity of the user terminal can be used effectively.
If the deletion condition is satisfied and the deleted application software is necessary, it can be reinstalled by approaching the ultra-short-range communication means, etc. It will gather at the place where the distance communication means is installed. Therefore, the information provider side can also be used as a means for collecting users.

  In particular, when the application software installed on the user terminal is activated by receiving the application software ID from the short-range communication means, the application software ID from the short-range communication means cannot be received. Even if the application software is stored, it cannot be started. Therefore, by deleting the application software every time it exits the communication area of the short-distance means as described above, application software that cannot be activated is not stored.

In this way, for example, even when specific information is displayed on the user terminal by application software, when the user terminal goes out of the communication area, the application software disappears and information cannot be displayed. . Therefore, it is possible to prevent information from being taken out from a certain range specified in the communication area.
The address is information for specifying the storage location of the application software. The address includes a URL and a number corresponding to each application software.

However, the application information may include information other than the above-mentioned address that can be used when installing the application software, and a setting file in which these pieces of information are described together may be used as application information.
In that case, the application information storage unit 5 of the ultra short-range communication device 1 stores a setting file corresponding to the application software. The user terminal 2 receives the setting file when it is almost in contact with the ultra short-range communication device 1, and installs application software based on the information of the setting file.

Information other than the address specifying the storage location of the application software included in the configuration file includes, for example, the application software name, size, version, update date, application software erasure condition, and application software permission flag. and so on.
When the setting file includes the name and size of the application software, the user terminal 2 recognizes the function of displaying the name of the application software on its own display and the size of the application software. The above information can be used if a function for determining whether or not there is a free capacity to install it is provided.

In addition, the user terminal 2 recognizes the version or update date of the application software, determines whether the application software or similar software is already installed, and installs the function only when installation is necessary. It can also be provided.
Furthermore, by including the application software erasure condition in the setting file, the application software erasure condition can be added.

The specific permission flag is, for example, a flag that permits the installed application software to start a phone call or perform a packet communication function. The user terminal 2 determines this flag and permits the application software to operate the above function.
In the first embodiment, the example in which the ultra-short-range communication device 1 stores application information has been described. However, the application information storage unit that stores the application information is used as the ultra-short-range communication device 1. You may provide separately. In that case, the ultra short-range communication device 1 does not transmit the application information itself to the user terminals 2 and 20, but transmits an address for specifying the storage location of the application information in the application information storage means. To do. Therefore, the user terminals 2 and 20 access the application information storage unit based on the address of the application information received from the ultra short-range communication device 1, and acquire the corresponding application information. Based on the application information, Application software is installed from the server S.

The fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 8 is a system including a management computer C, and includes an ultra short-range communication device 16 that can communicate with the management computer C, a user terminal 21, and a server S that is application software storage means. Become. In the following, the fourth embodiment will be described with a focus on differences from the other embodiments.
The ultra-short-range communication device 16 has a function of communicating with the user terminal 21 in the ultra-short-range communication area, as well as the ultra-short-range communication device in the other embodiments, and the management computer C A communication unit 17 for communication is provided. The communication between the communication unit 17 and the management computer C is a normal communication unit using the Internet, for example.

The user terminal 21 has the same configuration as the user terminal 20 of the second embodiment except that the user terminal 21 includes a fourth communication unit 18 for communicating with the management computer C. The fourth communication unit 18 is also a communication unit that can be connected to communication means using the Internet and the like, and is not described in other embodiments, but is a communication unit having a function normally provided in a mobile phone or the like. .
The management computer C has a function of storing application information and transmitting it to the user terminal 21.
In addition, the user terminal 21 has a function of transmitting its own terminal identification information via the first communication unit 6. The terminal identification information is an address of the user terminal 21 or the like.

Next, a procedure in which the user terminal 21 installs application software using this system will be described.
When the user terminal 21 transmits the terminal specifying information within the communication area of the ultra short range communication device 16, the ultra short range communication device 16 receives the terminal specifying information as indicated by an arrow (1). In the ultra short-range communication device 16, the processing unit 4 transmits the received terminal identification information to the management computer C via the communication unit 17 (arrow (2)).

The management computer C that has received the terminal identification information transmits predetermined application information to the user terminal identified by the received terminal identification information. The management computer C can specify the user terminal that is the transmission destination of the application information based on the received terminal specifying information.
When the application information is transmitted from the management computer C as indicated by the arrow (3) in FIG. 8, the user terminal 21 receives the application information via the fourth communication unit 18, and based on the received application software, install. Specifically, based on the address of the received application information, the server S is accessed (arrow (4)), and application software corresponding to the address is acquired and installed as indicated by arrow (5).

The processing until the user terminal 21 transmits the terminal specifying information and installs the application software is automatically performed by the processing unit 7 of the user terminal 21. A program for performing the above processing is set in the processing unit 7 in advance.
Also in the fourth embodiment, when the user terminal 21 is located within the communication range of the ultra short-range communication device 16, it is possible to automatically install application software without requiring user trouble. Moreover, if there is no user's conscious action of positioning the user terminal 21 within the communication area of the ultra short-range communication device 16, the application software will not be installed without permission.

When the management computer C communicates with a plurality of ultra-short-range communication devices 16, the management computer C stores application information in association with the ultra-short-range communication device 16. In this way, for example, application software related to a place where the ultra short-range communication device 16 is installed can be installed in the user terminal 21 that has visited the place.
Further, application information to be transmitted may be selected according to the terminal identification information. For example, if the user wants to change the application software to be installed even if the user enters the communication area of the same ultra short-range communication device 16, the management computer C can specify individual user terminal identification information and the application software to be installed. The application information may be associated and stored in advance.

  In the fourth embodiment, an example in which the management computer C stores application information has been described. However, application information storage means for storing application information is provided separately from the management computer C. Also good. In that case, the management computer C does not transmit the application information itself to the user terminal 21, but transmits an address for specifying the storage location of the application information in the application information storage means. Then, the user terminal 21 accesses the application information storage unit based on the address of the application information received from the ultra short range communication device 16, acquires the corresponding application information, and based on the application information, the server S To install application software.

The fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 9 is a system in which the ultra short-range communication device 19 has a function of transmitting application software to the user terminal 22. In the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the same reference numerals as those of the other embodiments are used for the same constituent elements as those of the other embodiments, and unless otherwise specified, the constituent elements having the same reference numerals are used. The function is the same.
The ultra short range communication device 19 includes an application software storage unit 23, a processing unit 4, and an ultra short range communication unit 3. When the processing unit 4 receives device information from the user terminal 22 located in the communication area of the ultra-short-range communication device 19, the processing unit 4 sends application software according to the device information. 3 is provided.

On the other hand, the user terminal 22 communicates with the first communication unit 6, the processing unit 7, the application software storage unit 10, and a short-range communication device (not shown) that can communicate with the ultra-short-range communication unit 3. And a communication unit 11.
Then, the processing unit 7 of the user terminal 22 determines how much free space is available in the application software storage unit 10 for installing new application software, and uses the information as device information in the first communication. A function of transmitting from the unit 6 is provided.

In such a system, a procedure for installing application software for the user terminal 22 to acquire information will be described.
The user terminal 22 transmits its own device information from the first communication unit 6 almost continuously. Since the first communication unit 6 is a communication unit corresponding to the ultra-short-range communication unit 3, when the user terminal 22 is positioned within the communication area of the ultra-short-range communication unit 3, the arrow (1 ), The ultra short-range communication device 19 receives the device information of the user terminal 22. The processing unit 4 of the ultra short-range communication device 19 determines whether or not to transmit the application software stored in the application software storage unit 23 based on the device information received via the ultra short-range communication unit 3.

For example, when the device information includes information on the free capacity of the user terminal 22 at that time, the processing unit 4 determines the free capacity and the size of the application software stored in the application software storage unit 23. In contrast, the user terminal 22 determines whether the application software can be installed. If the processing unit 4 determines that installation is possible, the application software is transmitted to the user terminal 22 via the ultra short-range communication unit 3. The user terminal 22 receives application software transmitted from the ultra short-range communication device 19 via the first communication unit 6, and the processing unit 7 installs it in the application software storage unit 10.
Further, the application software storage unit 23 stores a plurality of application softwares of different sizes, and the processing unit 4 specifies application software corresponding to the free capacity of the user terminal 22 from the received device information and transmits it. You may make it do.

The sixth embodiment shown in FIG. 10 is also a system in which the ultra short-range communication device 24 transmits application software.
The ultra short-range communication device 24 of this system includes an application software storage unit 23 and an application information storage unit 5. The application information stored in the application information storage unit 5 is information necessary for installation, such as the size of application software to be installed by the user terminal 22. Then, the processing unit 4 transmits the application information almost continuously via the ultra short-range communication unit 3.
On the other hand, the user terminal 22 has the same configuration as that of the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 9, but the processing unit 7 has the following functions in addition to the function of automatically installing the received application software. ing. That is, the user terminal 22 receives the application information transmitted from the ultra-short-range communication device 24, and determines the function to determine whether or not the corresponding application software should be installed according to the content, and determines that the user terminal 22 should be installed. A function of transmitting a request signal for requesting application software.

Below, the procedure in which the user terminal 22 installs application software in this system will be described.
Application information stored in the application information storage unit 5 is continuously transmitted from the ultra short-range communication device 24. Therefore, when the user terminal 22 is located within the communication area of the ultra short-range communication device 24, the processing unit 7 receives the application information via the first communication unit 6 as indicated by an arrow (1). The processing unit 7 determines whether or not application software corresponding to the received application information should be received. For example, the size of the application software included in the application information is compared with the free space of the application software storage unit 10 to determine whether the application software can be installed. Judge that it should.

Alternatively, the processing unit 7 may determine whether to install according to the type of software as well as the size of the application software. For example, if the type of application software that is not to be installed or the type of application software that is to be installed is set in the user terminal 22 in advance, even if the installation is possible in terms of capacity, a specific type It can be determined that the application software is not installed.
When it is determined that the application software corresponding to the received application information should be installed, the processing unit 7 transmits an application software request signal as indicated by an arrow (2). When the processing unit 4 receives the request signal via the ultra short-range communication unit 3, the processing unit 4 transmits the application software stored in the application software storage unit 23 as indicated by an arrow (3). In the user terminal 22, the application software received by the processing unit 7 is installed.

In the ultra short-range communication device 24, when the application software storage unit 23 stores a plurality of application software, the following methods can be considered as methods for specifying application software to be transmitted. For example, application software specifying information is included in the application software request signal transmitted from the user terminal 22, and the processing unit 4 of the ultra short-range device 24 selects application software to be transmitted based on the application software specifying information. Can be identified.
In addition, if the ultra short-range communication device 24 temporarily stores the transmission of specific application information, application software corresponding to the previously transmitted application information is received when the application software request signal is received. It is possible to specify.

In the fifth and sixth embodiments, the application software can be automatically installed only when the user terminal 22 is consciously positioned within the communication area of the ultra short-range communication devices 23 and 24. The drop that can be done is the same as the other embodiments.
In the fifth and sixth embodiments, any method may be used to start the application software installed in the above-described procedure. For example, as in the second embodiment shown in FIG. It is also possible to receive a signal from a short-range communication device (not shown) via the 3 communication unit 11 and automatically start it.

It is a block diagram of 1st Embodiment. It is the schematic diagram showing the communication area in the system of 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram of 2nd Embodiment. It is the figure which showed the data flow at the time of installing application software in the block diagram of 3rd Embodiment. It is the schematic diagram which showed the communication area of the communication apparatus in 3rd Embodiment. It is the figure which showed the flow of the data at the time of starting application software in the block diagram of 3rd Embodiment. It is a block diagram of the other embodiment using the apparatus of 3rd Embodiment. It is the figure which showed the flow of the data at the time of installing application software in the block diagram of 4th Embodiment. It is the figure which showed the flow of the data at the time of installing application software in the block diagram of 5th Embodiment. It is the figure which showed the flow of the data at the time of installing application software in the block diagram of 6th Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Super near field communication apparatus 2 User terminal 3 Ultra near field communication part 4 Processing part 5 Application information storage part 6 1st communication part 7 Processing part 8 2nd communication part 9 Address storage part 10 Application software storage part 11 3rd communication part 12 near field communication device 13 near field communication unit 14 application software ID storage unit 15 communication device 16 ultra near field communication device 17 communication unit 18 fourth communication unit 19 ultra near field communication device 20 user terminal 21 user terminal 22 user terminal 23 application Software storage unit 24 Ultra short range communication device S Servers E1 to E5 Communication area

Claims (15)

  The user terminal, the application software storage means for storing the application software for the user terminal to acquire information, and the application information necessary for installation of each application software are transmitted, and contact or contact is made with the user terminal. The ultra-short-range communication means having a non-contact ultra-short distance close to the communication area, and the user terminal transmits from the ultra-short-range communication means when located in the communication area of the ultra-short-range communication means. A function of receiving the received application information, a function of automatically accessing the application software storage means via the communication means based on the received application information, and a function of automatically installing application software corresponding to the application information Information with The resulting system.   A user terminal, application software storage means storing application software for the user terminal to acquire information, a management computer for transmitting application information necessary for installation of each application software, and connection to the management computer And an ultra-short-range communication means having a communication area of contact or non-contact ultra-short distance close to contact with the user terminal, and the ultra-short-range communication means is located within its own communication area A function of receiving terminal identification information for identifying the user terminal from the user terminal, and a function of transmitting the received terminal identification information to the management server, the management server to the user terminal corresponding to the received terminal identification information Application information of specific application software A function of transmitting own terminal identification information to the ultra-short-range communication means when the user terminal is located within the communication area of the ultra-short-range communication means, and from the management computer A function of receiving application information; a function of automatically accessing application software storage means via communication means based on the received application information; and a function of automatically installing application software corresponding to the application information. Information acquisition system provided.   The application information includes an address specifying the location of the application software, and the user terminal accesses the application software storage unit based on the received address, and automatically installs the application software corresponding to the address The information acquisition system according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising:   User terminal, application software storage means that stores application software for user terminal to acquire information, and application information necessary for installation of individual application software, and can be connected to the user terminal via communication Application information storage means, and an address for identifying the location of each application information, and ultra-short-distance communication means having a non-contact ultra-short distance close to or close to contact with the user terminal as a communication area When the user terminal is located within the communication area of the ultra-short-range communication means, the user terminal receives the address of the application information transmitted from the ultra-short-range communication means, and the received application information App above based on address A function to access the application information storage means and acquire specific application information, a function to automatically access the application software storage means via the communication means based on the acquired application information, and the application information An information acquisition system with a function to automatically install application software.   User terminal, application software storage means that stores application software for user terminal to acquire information, and application information necessary for installation of individual application software, and can be connected to the user terminal via communication Application information storage means, a management computer that transmits an address for specifying the location of each application information, and a connection to the management computer, and contact with or close to contact with the user terminal. A short-distance communication means having a short-distance communication area, the ultra-short-distance communication means receiving a terminal identification information for identifying a user terminal from a user terminal located in its own communication area, and receiving Terminal management information The management computer has a function of transmitting an address of specific application information to a user terminal corresponding to the received terminal identification information, and the user terminal When located in a communication area, the function of transmitting its own terminal identification information to the ultra short-range communication means, the function of receiving the address of application information from the management computer, and the address of the received application information A function for accessing the application information storage unit based on the received application information, a function for automatically accessing the application software storage unit based on the acquired application information via the communication unit, and the application information Automatic application software Information acquisition system and a function to be installed on.   The application information includes the size of the application software, and the user terminal installs the specific application software by comparing the size of the specific application software corresponding to the received application information with its free space. 6. A function for determining whether or not it is possible, and a function for automatically installing the specific application software by accessing the application software storage means when it is determined that installation is possible. The information acquisition system according to any one of the above.   Ultra short-distance communication that transmits the user terminal and application software for the user terminal to acquire information and application information necessary for installing the application software, and the contact area is contact or non-contact ultra-short distance close to contact And the user terminal is based on the received application information and the function of receiving application information transmitted from the ultra-short-range communication means when located in the communication area of the ultra-short-range communication means. A function for determining whether the corresponding application software should be installed, a function for transmitting an application software request signal when it is determined that the application software should be installed, and an application software corresponding to the application software request signal The A function for automatically installing via ultra-short-range communication means, and the ultra-short-range communication means receives a function for transmitting application information and an application software request signal corresponding to the transmitted application information. And an information acquisition system having a function of transmitting application software corresponding to the application software request signal.   The above-mentioned ultra-short-range communication comprises a user terminal and application software for the user terminal to acquire information, and ultra-short-range communication means that uses contact or non-contact ultra-short distance close to contact as a communication area. A means is a function for receiving device information transmitted from a user terminal located in its own communication area, and a function for determining whether the corresponding user terminal can install application software based on the received device information. And a function for transmitting predetermined application software when it is determined that installation is possible. The user terminal has a function for transmitting its own device information and a communication area of the ultra-short-range communication means. Automatically receive the application software sent from the above ultra-short-range communication means Information acquisition system having a function to install.   The user terminal has a function of storing application software specifying information for specifying installed application software, and a communication area of the short distance communication means, while being provided with a short distance communication means having a function of transmitting application software specifying information. A function for receiving application software identification information when entering the application software, a function for identifying the application software corresponding to the received application software identification information from the application software stored in itself, and a function for starting the identified application software The information acquisition system according to claim 1, comprising:   A short-distance communication means having a function of transmitting user software and application software identification information, and the user terminal has a function of storing application software identification information for identifying installed application software, while the short distance When entering the communication area of the communication means, the application software identification information is received from the short-range communication means, and the application software corresponding to the received application software identification information is selected from the application software installed in itself. An information acquisition system having a function for specifying and a function for starting the specified application software.   In addition to adding an extinction condition to each application software, the user terminal corresponds to a function for determining whether the extinction condition added to the application software installed in the user terminal is satisfied and when determining that the extinction condition is satisfied. The information acquisition system according to claim 1, further comprising a function for automatically erasing application software.   Along with adding an annihilation condition to each application software, the annihilation condition is taken out of the communication area of the short-range communication means, and the user terminal determines whether communication with the short-range communication means is possible, and The information acquisition system according to claim 9 or 10, further comprising a function of automatically erasing corresponding application software when it is determined that communication with the short-range communication means is impossible.   A function for receiving application information transmitted from the ultra-short-range communication means when located in the communication area of the ultra-short-range communication means having a contact or non-contact ultra-short distance as a communication area, and the received application information A function for automatically accessing the application software storage means based on the communication means, a function for automatically installing the application software corresponding to the above application information, and an application software specification for specifying the installed application software A user terminal used in an information acquisition system having a function of storing information.   A function for receiving application software specific information transmitted from the short-range communication means when located in the communication area of the short-range communication means having a function for transmitting application software specific information, and an application installed in itself The user terminal used for the information acquisition system of Claim 13 provided with the function which specifies the application software corresponding to the said received application software specific information from the software, and the function which starts the specified application software.   A communication device capable of communicating between a user terminal and application software storage means storing application software used by the user terminal to acquire information, and a communication area that is a contact or non-contact ultra-short distance A short-range communication means, and a short-range communication means having a wider communication range than the communication area of the ultra-short-range communication means. The ultra-short-range communication means stores application information necessary for installing application software. A communication apparatus having a function of transmitting, wherein the short-range communication means uses an information acquisition system having a function of transmitting application software corresponding to the application information when the application information is received.

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