JP2006221280A - Information providing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information providing system for providing exhibition information desired by a browsing person quickly and easily from among the exhibition information which is exhibited by exhibitors. <P>SOLUTION: A management computer 3 comprises a layout form storing means for storing a layout form of each display area on a web page providing the display area for displaying the exhibition information provided by the exhibitors 4, an exhibition information storing means for storing the exhibition information provided from a plurality of exhibitors 4 to be identifiable in every plurality of the exhibitors and the display area for displaying to be identifiable, and an exhibition information displaying means for displaying the exhibition information stored by the exhibition information storing means with the same layout on the web page in every exhibitors 4 in accordance with the layout form stored in the layout form storing means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an information providing system, and more particularly to an information providing system for disclosing information that an exhibitor desires to exhibit on a communication network and providing this information to a viewer.

  Conventionally, an information providing system that provides various information via a communication network such as the Internet has been used. For example, an exhibitor such as a company or a store displays display information including information related to the product or the product handled by the exhibitor on the display area of the web page, and opens the web page on the communication network. Applicable to the public on the website.

  As a result, a person who wants to acquire information (hereinafter referred to as a viewer) uses these terminals published on the communication network using a terminal (hereinafter referred to as a viewer terminal) that can be connected to the communication network. By browsing the page, desired information can be obtained without being limited by time and place.

  In recent years, web pages that display exhibition information of multiple exhibitors have been aggregated and a website using a form such as a virtual department store or exhibition has been established on the Internet to provide a large amount of exhibition information. The information providing system that has been made possible is also generally used.

  Thereby, the browsing person can browse each exhibitor's web page published in this website as a virtual exhibition booth or a store.

  The above prior art is a general matter, and the present applicant has no particular knowledge of the literature specifying the prior art at the time of the present application.

  However, in the case of the conventional information providing system, the layout of the display area in the web page constituting the website is generally set arbitrarily, and the layout is often different.

  In particular, in a website such as a virtual department store or exhibition as described above, the layout of the display area on each web page is generally set individually by different exhibitors, so the layout is It was often very different.

  For this reason, a viewer who accesses this website browses a plurality of web pages each displayed in a different layout, which is difficult for the viewer to see.

  Therefore, in view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an information providing system that can provide exhibition information exhibited by an exhibitor in a state that is easy for a viewer to see.

The means taken by the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems are as follows:
“A management computer that can be connected to a communication network, and a website composed of multiple web pages displaying the exhibition information that the exhibitor wishes to exhibit is published on the communication network and the exhibition information is viewed. An information providing system for providing the exhibition information to a reader terminal used by a viewer who
The web page is
A plurality of display areas for individually displaying a plurality of exhibition information provided by the exhibitor,
The management computer is:
Layout style storage means for storing a layout style of each display area in the web page;
Exhibition information storage means for storing the display information provided from a plurality of exhibitors so as to be able to be specified for each of the plurality of exhibitors and to be able to specify the display area to be displayed;
Exhibition information display means for displaying the exhibition information stored in the exhibition information storage means in the same layout on the web page of each exhibitor according to the layout style stored in the layout style storage means. Information provision system characterized by being equipped "
It is.

  The management computer is used by a company or an individual, and the website is managed by the management computer.

  The exhibitor is a person who desires to disclose information on the communication network, and the exhibition information is various information that the exhibitor desires to disclose on the communication network. In addition, as exhibition information, for example, information on a company name, a company outline, a research field conducted by the company, or a product manufactured by the company is applicable. The exhibition information may include new web pages, image files, or link information to specific web pages constituting other websites.

  In the information providing system configured as described above, the management computer stores a layout format indicating a layout format of the web page. The layout style defines a layout of each display area in a web page having a plurality of display areas. The same format is used for each web page for displaying the exhibition information. Thereby, the layout of the display area in each web page is unified.

  As means for providing the exhibition information and layout information to the management computer, the exhibitor manages the means for sending the exhibition information to the management computer via the communication network from the exhibitor terminal or the like, or manages the management computer. For example, a management company employee may directly input to a management computer using an operation means such as a keyboard in response to a request from an exhibitor.

  In the information providing system configured as described above, the management computer stores the exhibition information so as to be specified for each exhibitor. Thereby, for example, by specifying an exhibitor, it is possible to specify the exhibition information provided by the exhibitor. Further, the exhibition information is stored so that the display area to be displayed can be specified. Thereby, the arrangement position of the exhibition information on the web page is determined in advance.

  Then, the management computer displays the exhibition information in a plurality of display areas of the web page and presents it to the viewer terminal via the communication network. Therefore, according to the information providing system configured as described above, since the web page is always set to have the same layout, the exhibition information exhibited by the exhibitor can be provided in a state that is easy for the viewer to see.

Moreover, the information providing system of the present invention includes:
"The management computer is
Exhibitor category storage means for storing information relating to the category to which the exhibitor belongs;
Creating a category list page for displaying a list of categories, and presenting the list of categories via the communication network to the viewer terminal accessing the website;
Exhibitors that display a list of exhibitors belonging to the selected category when an input for selecting one of the categories from the category list page presented by the category list presenting means is made by the viewer terminal. Exhibitor list presenting means for creating a list page and presenting it to the viewer terminal via the communication network;
When an input for selecting one exhibitor from the exhibitor list page presented by the exhibitor list presenting means is made by the viewer terminal, the exhibition information specified by the selected exhibitor is displayed. An information providing system comprising an extracting means for extracting from the exhibition information storage means "
It is good.

  If the viewer wants to acquire specific exhibition information in a website composed of a large number of web pages, the viewer configures a web page to acquire the specific exhibition information. It is necessary to display all exhibition information on a web page and browse it, which may take a lot of time.

  In the information providing system configured as described above, the management computer stores information related to the category to which the exhibitor belongs, creates a category list page displaying the stored category in a list, and presents it on the viewer terminal. The category is to classify exhibitors according to the nature or system, for example, if the exhibitor is a company, the information field, environmental field, medical field, etc. It is possible to classify into categories. Furthermore, further subdividing into individual categories (for example, software technology or information communication service for the information field, recycling technology or environment improvement technology for the environmental field, medical device industry or medical service for the medical field, etc.) It is also possible to classify them into the categories.

  Then, the management computer, when a viewer who browses the category list page performs input to select a desired category from the category list by clicking the exhibitor, etc., displays the exhibitors belonging to the category in the list. Create a list page and present it to the viewer terminal. Regarding selection of a category, when one category is selected, it is also possible to present a lower category list page for selecting a subcategory category as described above on the viewer terminal. .

  Furthermore, when a viewer viewing the exhibitor list page performs an input to select an exhibitor by clicking on the exhibitor from the exhibitor list, the management computer displays a web page displaying the exhibitor's exhibit information. Present to the reader terminal. Thereby, the viewer can acquire the exhibition information of a specific exhibitor by selecting a desired category. Therefore, according to the information providing system configured as described above, it is possible to quickly and easily provide display information desired by the viewer.

Moreover, the information providing system of the present invention includes:
“The web page
An instruction unit for instructing the management computer;
The management computer is:
When an instruction is output by the browser terminal operating the instruction unit, a request page including an input area for inputting request information including information for specifying the viewer is displayed on the browser terminal. Request page presenting means for presenting via the communication network;
Receiving the request information input on the request page via the communication network, and further comprising a transfer means for transferring at least a part of the request information to an exhibitor terminal used by the exhibitor. Characteristic Information Providing System "
It is good.

  In the information providing system configured as described above, when a browser who browses a web page operates the instruction unit of the web page, the management computer presents the request page to the browser terminal via the communication network. The request page includes an input area for a viewer to input request information. The request information input in this input area includes information such as a viewer name, an e-mail address, a company and a department to which the viewer belongs, a face photograph, or information for specifying a viewer such as a telephone number. It is done.

  When the request information is input to the request page by the viewer and sent via the communication network, the management computer accepts the input and presents at least a part of the information included in the request information to the exhibitor. To do. Some information included in the request information includes presenting only an e-mail address without disclosing the viewer name. Thereby, the viewer can contact the exhibitor in a state where at least a part of his / her personal information is concealed. Therefore, according to the information providing system configured as described above, the personal information of the viewer can be protected.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an information providing system capable of providing the exhibition information exhibited by the exhibitor in a state that is easy for the viewer to see.

  Below, an example of an embodiment of an information service system concerning the present invention is described in detail based on a drawing. In the present embodiment, a description will be given of a case where a website in which a plurality of web pages that display exhibition information by a company (hereinafter referred to as an exhibitor) is aggregated is established on a communication network to be a virtual company exhibition. .

  As shown in FIG. 1, the information providing system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a management computer 3 that can be connected to a communication network 2, and includes a plurality of web pages that display exhibition information 5 that the exhibitor 4 desires to exhibit. This is a system that publishes the configured website 9 on the communication network 2 and provides the exhibition information 5 to the viewer terminal 7 used by the viewer 6 who wants to browse the exhibition information 5. The management computer 3 is connected to the exhibitor terminal 8 and the viewer terminal 7 via the communication network 2. The management computer 3 is installed in a state that can be used by the management company 19 that opens and manages the website 9 on the communication network 2, and the exhibitor terminal 8 includes a plurality of exhibitor terminals 8. Exhibitors 4 are installed in a state where each can be used, and the viewer terminal 7 is installed in a state where a plurality of viewers 6 can use each.

  Next, the functional configuration of the management computer 3 will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 2, the management computer 3 publishes a website 9 on the communication network 2 and makes it accessible from the viewer terminal 7, and storage means 12 that stores various information. The display means 5 is displayed by the extraction means 14 for extracting various information from the storage means 12 as necessary, the exhibition information display means 15 for displaying the exhibition information 5 on the web page, and the exhibition information display means 15. Presenting means 18 for presenting various pages including a web page or a category list page having a list of a plurality of categories 16 classified by the classifying means 13 to the viewer terminal 7 via the communication network 2. . Here, the presentation unit 18 corresponds to a category list presentation unit, an exhibitor list presentation unit, and a request page presentation unit of the present invention.

  The storage means 12 includes exhibitor information including the company name 20, the image 21, the company feature 22, and the environmental activities 23 performed by the company, the category to which the exhibitor 4 belongs, and the exhibitor 4 email address 25. Specific information 26 and display position specifying information 27 are assigned and stored, and a layout style 28 of each display area in the web page is stored. Note that there is one layout style 28 for each website 9. Here, the storage means 12 corresponds to the layout style storage means, the exhibition information storage means, and the exhibitor category storage means of the present invention.

  Further, the management computer 3 receives the exhibition information 5, the display position specifying information 27 and the exhibitor specifying information 26 sent from the exhibitor terminal 8 via the communication network 2, and is presented by the presentation means 18. Information receiving means 31 for receiving various information including the web page 10 and the category list page 17 and electronic notification based on the exhibitor specifying information 26 stored in the storage means 12 for notification to the exhibitor terminal 8 as necessary. Electronic mail transmitting means 32 for transmitting as mail. Here, the e-mail transmission means 32 corresponds to the request notification means of the present invention.

  In addition, the management computer 3 has a configuration other than this, that is, a management side transmission control unit 33 for transmitting and receiving various information through the communication network 2, a management side reception control unit 34, and a management side communication connected thereto. Means 35.

  The functions of the exhibitor terminal 8 and the viewer terminal 7 are not limited as long as they have a communication function and can transmit and receive various types of information, and can be browsed. Personal computers, portable information terminals, and the like can be used.

  Next, a processing flow of the information providing system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. First, processing related to storage of exhibition information 5 in the management computer 3 will be described.

  First, the management computer 3 transmits or directly inputs the exhibition information 5, the display position specifying information 27, and the exhibitor specifying information 26 from any of the exhibitor terminals 8 via the communication network 2. The display information 5 is stored in the storage means 12 with display position specifying information 27 for each exhibitor specifying information 26. Thereby, the reception of the exhibition information 5, the display position specifying information 27, and the exhibitor specifying information 26 and the storage in the storage means 12 are completed.

  Next, processing relating to the provision of the exhibition information 5 in the management computer 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

  First, the management computer 3 opens a website 9 on the communication network 2 and publishes it in a state where it can be accessed from the browser terminal 7 (step S1). When there is an access from the viewer terminal 7 through the communication network 2 (YES in step S2), a category list page is created based on the exhibition information 5 and presented to the viewer terminal 7 (step S3).

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the category list page 17, a list 41 of categories created based on the category 16 to which the exhibitor 4 stored in the storage unit 12 belongs is displayed in the display area 50. In the category list page 17, an exhibitor newly exhibiting is displayed as a “new company” 42 in the other display area 50, or an exhibitor that is different every month is displayed as “company of the month” 43. Yes. Further, a link button 52 is provided in the vicinity of the display area 50 in which the “new company” 42 and the “current month company” 43 are displayed. In addition, the category list page 17 displays an item 53 in which a search keyword can be directly input and an item 54 in which other search conditions can be selected in the other display area 50, and instructs execution of the search. A search button 44 is provided.

  On the other hand, when there is no access from the browser terminal 7 (NO in step S2), the process returns to step S1, and the website 9 is kept open.

  Next, the selection by the click operation etc. of either the category 16 or the link button 52 in the category list page 17 is detected from the viewer terminal 7 (step S4 and step S5).

  When one category 16 is selected from the category list 41 displayed on the category list page 17 (YES in step S4), an exhibitor list page including a list of exhibitors 4 belonging to the selected category 16 is created. Then, it is presented to the browser terminal 7 (step S6) (see FIGS. 6A and 6B).

  As shown in FIG. 6, in the exhibitor list page 24, the viewer terminal in step S <b> 4 created based on the exhibitor identification information 26 and the exhibit information 5 stored in the storage unit 12 in the display area 50. A list 45 of exhibitors belonging to the category 16 (“energy” in the present embodiment) selected by 7 is displayed. In addition, on this exhibitor list page 24, a list 46 of lower categories further subdivided in the selected category 16 is displayed in another display area 50.

  On the other hand, when the link button 52 provided near the “new company” 42 or “this month company” 43 displayed on the category list page 17 is selected by a click operation or the like (step S5), the process of step S8 is performed. Transition is made (see FIGS. 6A and 6C).

  Next, when an operation for selecting one exhibitor 4 from the exhibitor list page 24 is performed (step S7), the management computer 3 accepts this input (step S8), and the exhibition information of the selected exhibitor 4 is displayed. 5 is displayed on the browser terminal 7 (step S9) (see FIGS. 6B and 6D). Thereby, the browsing person 6 can acquire the desired exhibition information 5.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the web page 10 includes a plurality (seven in the present embodiment) of display areas 50, and the layout of each display area 50 is the layout stored in the storage unit 12. It is determined based on the form 28. The display position of the exhibition information 5 in each display area 50 is determined based on the display position specifying information 27 stored in the storage unit 12. This display position specifying information 27 is given to each exhibitor 4, whereby each exhibitor 4 displays the display information 5 in a plurality of display areas 50 laid out in the web page 10. The position can be set freely. Furthermore, an instruction unit 47 that can give an instruction to the management computer 3 by performing selection input is provided at the bottom of the web page 10.

  When displaying the exhibition information 5 in each display area 50, it is possible to limit the amount of information of the display information 5 that can be displayed (for example, the number of characters of a sentence, the number of images, etc.). This makes it possible to limit the information amount of the exhibition information 5 displayed in each display area 50 to an amount that the viewer 6 can easily view. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, in order to limit the amount of information to be displayed, a link button 51 is provided in the vicinity of each display area 50, and the link button 51 is selected by a click operation or the like. It is preferable to present a web page (not shown) displaying details of the created exhibition information 5, an image file, or the like, or to access a web page constituting another website. Thereby, it is possible to accurately respond to the request of the viewer 6 who requests detailed information.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the presence or absence of an input for selecting the instruction unit 47 of the web page 10 by the viewer 6 who has browsed the web page 10 displaying the exhibition information 5 is detected (step S10).

  When an input for selecting the instruction unit 47 of the web page 10 is detected (YES in step S10), the management computer 3 accepts this input (step S11), and the viewer 6 receives the viewer name and e-mail address. Then, a request page for inputting request information including information for specifying a viewer such as a company and a department to which the viewer 6 belongs or a telephone number is created and presented to the viewer terminal 7 (step S12). ). When the request page in which the request information is input is received from the viewer terminal 7 (step S13), a part of the information included in the request information (for example, the mail address of the viewer 6) is stored in the storage unit 12. Based on the exhibitor identification information 26 to be transferred, the information is transferred to the exhibitor terminal 8 (step S14).

  On the other hand, when an input for selecting the instruction unit 47 of the web page 10 is not detected (NO in step S10), the process proceeds to step S12.

  Thereafter, it is determined whether or not there is an instruction to terminate the system (step S15). If there is an instruction (YES in step S15), the system is terminated (step S16). On the other hand, if there is no instruction to end the system (NO in step S15), the process returns to step S1, and the website 9 is continuously disclosed.

  Through the above processing flow, in the information providing system 1, the management computer 3 can provide the viewer 6 with the desired exhibition information 5.

  As described above, since the layout of the web page 10 that displays the exhibition information 5 is determined by a single layout style, all the web pages 10 display the exhibition information 5 in the same layout. (FIGS. 6C and 6D). Thereby, it is possible to provide the viewer with easy-to-see display information 5.

  Further, in the information providing system 1 of the present embodiment, the viewer 6 is a list of categories 16 displayed on the category list page 17 presented by the management computer 3 or an exhibitor displayed on the exhibitor list page 24. By selecting a desired one from the list of 4, it is possible to quickly acquire the exhibition information of a specific exhibitor.

  Further, in the information providing system 1 of the present embodiment, when the viewer 6 wishes to contact the exhibitor 4, it is not necessary to contact the exhibitor 4 directly, but indirectly through the management computer 3. You can get in touch. Thereby, the viewer 6 can protect personal information from the exhibitor 4.

  Further, in the information providing system 1 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the display area 50 on the exhibitor list page 24 is further subdivided into the category 16 selected by the viewer terminal 7 in step S4. It is possible to display a list 46 of subordinate categories. In this case, after the browser terminal 7 selects one category from the list 46 of the lower categories, the management computer 3 performs the same processing as in step S6 and subsequent steps so that the viewer 6 desires the exhibition. Information 5 can be provided more accurately and quickly.

  The present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention as described below. And design changes are possible.

  That is, although the processing flow in the information providing system 1 of the present embodiment has been described based on the flowcharts of FIGS. 3 and 5, the configuration of each step shown individually is not limited to this.

  Further, in the information providing system 1 of the present embodiment, the exhibition information 5 provided to the browser terminal 7 is exemplified by information mainly on company information, but is not limited thereto. For example, the exhibitor 4 may provide information regarding the product including the product name and price of the product that the exhibitor 4 wishes to sell as the exhibition information 5.

  Further, in the information providing system 1 of the present embodiment, the management company 19 opened the website 9 and held a virtual company exhibition, and also operated and managed the opened website 9. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 1, the person who opens the website 9 and holds the virtual company exhibition is the other organizer 56, and the management company 19 makes this web at the request of the organizer 56. The site 9 may be operated and managed. In this case, when the content of the website 9 is changed, the management computer 3 sends the electronic mail including information on the changed content to the organizer terminal 55 where the organizer 56 uses the communication network 2. It is preferable to transmit. Thereby, the organizer 56 can always grasp the status of the website 9 held by the organizer 56.

  Further, in this case, “the web page includes an instruction unit for instructing the management computer, and the management computer outputs the instruction when the instruction by the instruction unit is output by the viewer terminal. Request page presentation means for presenting a request page including an input area for inputting request information including information for specifying the request information to the viewer terminal via the communication network, and the request page input means The information providing system may include a transfer unit that receives the request information via the communication network and transfers at least a part of the request information to an organizer terminal used by the organizer.

  In such a configuration, when the viewer 6 wants to make an inquiry to the exhibitor 4, the viewer 6 does not contact the exhibitor 4 directly, but notifies the organizer 56 to that effect. Therefore, the viewer 6 can easily make an inquiry to the exhibitor without notifying the exhibitor of his / her personal information.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the information provision system of this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the management computer in an information provision system. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process in the management computer. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process in the management computer. It is an example of a category list page. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the web page (a) category list page shown to a browser terminal, (b) exhibitor list page, and (c), (d) web page. It is an example of an exhibitor list page. It is an example of a web page.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Information provision system 2 Communication network 3 Management computer 4 Exhibitor 5 Exhibition information 6 Viewer 7 Viewer terminal 8 Exhibitor terminal 9 Website 10 Web page 11 Public means 12 Storage means (layout style storage means, exhibition information storage means) Exhibitor category storage means)
13 classification means 14 extraction means 15 exhibition information display means 16 category 17 category list page 18 presentation means (category list presentation means, exhibitor list presentation means, request page presentation means)
19 Management company 24 Exhibitor list page 25 E-mail address 26 Exhibitor specific information 27 Display position specific information 28 Layout style 31 Information receiving means 32 E-mail transmitting means 33 Management side transmission control means 34 Management side reception control means 35 Management side communication Means 47 Instruction unit 50 Display area 56 Organizer 55 Organizer terminal

Claims (3)

A management computer that can be connected to a communication network is provided, and a website composed of a plurality of web pages displaying exhibition information that an exhibitor desires to exhibit is disclosed on the communication network and the exhibition information is desired to be browsed. An information providing system for providing the exhibition information to a browser terminal used by a viewer,
The web page is
A plurality of display areas for individually displaying a plurality of exhibition information provided by the exhibitor,
The management computer is:
Layout style storage means for storing a layout style of each display area in the web page;
Exhibition information storage means for storing the display information provided from a plurality of exhibitors so as to be able to be specified for each of the plurality of exhibitors and to be able to specify the display area to be displayed;
Exhibition information display means for displaying the exhibition information stored in the exhibition information storage means in the same layout on the web page of each exhibitor according to the layout style stored in the layout style storage means. An information providing system characterized by comprising. The management computer is:
Exhibitor category storage means for storing information relating to the category to which the exhibitor belongs;
Creating a category list page for displaying a list of categories, and presenting the list of categories via the communication network to the viewer terminal accessing the website;
Exhibitors that display a list of exhibitors belonging to the selected category when an input for selecting one of the categories from the category list page presented by the category list presenting means is made by the viewer terminal. Exhibitor list presenting means for creating a list page and presenting it to the viewer terminal via the communication network;
When an input for selecting one exhibitor from the exhibitor list page presented by the exhibitor list presenting means is made by the viewer terminal, the exhibition information specified by the selected exhibitor is displayed. The information providing system according to claim 1, further comprising an extracting unit that extracts from the exhibition information storage unit. The web page is
An instruction unit for instructing the management computer;
The management computer is:
When an instruction by the instruction unit is output by the viewer terminal, a request page including an input area for inputting request information including information for specifying the viewer is displayed on the communication terminal. Request page presenting means for presenting via,
Receiving the request information input on the request page via the communication network, and further comprising a transfer means for transferring at least a part of the request information to an exhibitor terminal used by the exhibitor. The information providing system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the information providing system is characterized in that:

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