JP2006268244A - Information providing system and server system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To distribute service contents according to the type or setting circumstances of an information home appliance introduced to the house of each user. <P>SOLUTION: This information providing system S is provided with a client terminal unit 10 for acquiring and transmitting prescribed management information relating to an information home appliance HE installed in the house of a user, a server device 20 connected through the Internet IN to the client terminal unit 10, a contents input means 30 for uploading service contents with the information home appliance as a target to the server device 20 and a home appliance property input means 40 for uploading home appliance property information. The server device 20 is provided with a contents database in which service contents are stored and a contents providing engine for providing the service contents to the client terminal unit 10. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention provides an information providing system capable of distributing service contents such as an effective operation control program to a general home or the like in which information home appliances are introduced in accordance with the functions and installation status of the information home appliances And a server device.

  Various household electrical appliances used in general households, such as air conditioners, AV equipment, microwave ovens, lighting equipment, etc., are provided with a predetermined information communication function, and these household electrical appliances are made into a home network to enable operation control and information collection. Home appliances (herein referred to as “information home appliances”) are becoming widespread. In order to control the operation of home networked information home appliances so that, for example, an energy saving effect can be expected, an operation control program that matches the information home appliance group installed in the home (in this specification, such an operation) The control program is called “service content”.

Conventionally, in order to increase the added value of home appliances (information home appliances) that each home appliance manufacturer sells, the above service content has been created with the intention of creating a home network consisting exclusively of its own products, An aspect of providing this to a general household as service content for in-house information home appliances is common. As a method for providing such service content, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a method of providing upgraded service content from an ASP (Application Service Provider) to a home information appliance control terminal in a home via a communication network such as the Internet. Is disclosed.
JP 2003-76621 A

  However, since the service content provided by each of the above-mentioned home appliance manufacturers depends on the attributes of information home appliances that are networked in the home network, for example, information home appliances that cannot be adapted to the service content are included, information on other companies If home appliances are included, there is a problem that the service content cannot be received. In other words, while maintaining the characteristics of home appliance manufacturers and individual information home appliances, the environment for providing service content that can be used flexibly and crosswise has not been established. At present, there is a sense of dissatisfaction that a user who has already introduced information home appliances cannot receive the intended service.

  Therefore, the present invention provides an information providing system and a server device that can distribute service content adapted to the type and installation status of information home appliances installed in each user's home. Objective.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information providing system including a client terminal capable of acquiring and transmitting predetermined management information related to an information home appliance installed in a predetermined local area, and communicating with the client terminal. A server having a content database for storing service content for one or more predetermined information home appliances connected via a network, and a content providing engine for providing the service content to the client terminal under predetermined conditions The content providing engine is a service adapted to the information home appliance from the content database in association with predetermined management information related to the information home appliance transmitted from the client terminal. Content extraction Characterized in that it comprises a Ntsu search means.

  According to this configuration, it is introduced from a content database storing service content for one or more predetermined information home appliances into a local area (for example, a general household) where a client terminal is installed. The service content adapted to the home information appliance is extracted by the content search means. As a result, the user who has the client terminal can receive the service content adapted to the information home appliance installed by the user from the server device.

  An information providing system according to a second aspect is the information providing system according to the first aspect, wherein the predetermined management information related to the information home appliance transmitted from the client terminal is model information of the information home appliance installed in the local area, The content search means extracts the service content adapted to the information home appliance by collating the function category of the information home appliance given based on the model information and the function category used in each of the service contents. It is characterized by that. According to this configuration, after the model information of the information home appliance is converted into the function category information of the information home appliance, the function category used for each of the various service contents stored in the content database is collated. As a result, service content that matches the information home appliances (group) installed in the local area at the function level is extracted.

  An information providing system according to a third aspect is the information providing system according to the first aspect, wherein content input means for inputting service content for one or more of predetermined information home appliances is connected to the server device via a communication network, The service content input from the content input means can be registered in the content database. According to this configuration, for example, an appropriate service content developed by a content provider can be registered in the content database of the server device by the content input means.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the information providing system according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the server device is provided with a property database that stores predetermined property information related to information home appliances. According to this configuration, property information such as a genre (device type), a function, a control language, and the like can be held in the server device for a commercially available information home appliance. Accordingly, when service content is extracted by the content search means, information home appliance management information (information home appliance management information introduced to the user) given from the client terminal is stored in the property database. The service content suitable for the user can be extracted by collating with the property information of the corresponding home information appliance and using the collation data as a search key.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information providing system according to the third aspect, wherein the content creation tool providing unit provides the basic information about the information home appliance in creating the service content to the server device in the form of a predetermined content creation tool. A property database that stores predetermined property information related to information home appliances, and the content creation tool providing unit stores the predetermined property information stored in the property database in response to a request from the content input unit. Extracting and providing the content creation tool. According to this configuration, basic information regarding the information home appliance and the content creation tool are provided to a content provider or the like that uses the content input means.

  The information providing system according to claim 6 is the information providing system according to claim 4 or 5, in which the property information is data indicating a function type held for each type of information home appliance, and information home appliance It is characterized in that it includes model-specific equipment data which is data associated with each function type in each function type in the function data by genre for each model of equipment. According to this configuration, by providing the function data by genre, it is possible to provide the function classification information to the content creation tool providing unit. Also, by providing model-specific equipment data, when the model information of the information home appliance is given from the client terminal side, it is converted into the function type information possessed by the information home appliance on the server device side. When a service content search is performed at a function level, information home appliances that satisfy the function can be immediately extracted.

  An information providing system according to a seventh aspect is the information providing system according to the sixth aspect, wherein the home appliance property input means for inputting predetermined property information relating to the information home appliance newly registered in the property database is connected to the server device via a communication network. The home appliance property input means is capable of performing registration for associating function data classified by genre registered in the property database with a function classification possessed by an information home appliance newly registered. And According to this configuration, for example, when a new product for information home appliances is released, the function classification possessed by the new product is organized in the property database of the server device from an external player such as a home appliance manufacturer. It becomes possible to newly register in the property database in association with the function classification of the function data classified by genre. Thereby, the new product can also be extracted by, for example, service content search at the function level.

  An information providing system according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is the information provision system according to the fifth aspect, wherein the content creation tool providing unit sets position information of information home appliances to which the service content is applied, or one service content is used at a plurality of locations. A content creation tool capable of setting such position information is provided. According to this configuration, it is possible to easily develop service content considering location information for living, dining, etc., while setting location information so that one service content can be used at multiple locations. It becomes possible to easily develop a shared service content that can provide the same service independently in a plurality of rooms according to the situation of the room with one content.

  An information providing system according to a ninth aspect of the present invention is the information providing system according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, wherein the client terminal also serves as a home server in which information home appliances installed in a predetermined local area can be connected to the network. And predetermined management information related to information home appliances connected to the client terminal via a network can be transmitted to the server device. According to this configuration, when information home appliances are network-connected to a home server in a predetermined local area, predetermined management information related to the connected information home appliances can be transmitted to the server device.

  An information providing system according to a tenth aspect is the information providing system according to the ninth aspect, wherein the predetermined management information includes model information and installation location information about an information home appliance. According to this configuration, the server apparatus can acquire the installation location information indicating which information home appliance is installed at which location in the user's home.

  An information providing system according to an eleventh aspect is the information provision system according to the tenth aspect, further comprising predetermined network connection means for connecting an information home appliance to a network system to which the client terminal is connected. When a new information home electric appliance is connected to the connection means, a transmission means is provided for acquiring predetermined management information including management information about the new information home electric appliance and automatically transmitting it to the server device. Features. According to this configuration, when a new information home appliance is introduced in the user's home, the management information is automatically updated by simply connecting the new information home appliance to a network connection means such as an information outlet. To the server device.

  An information providing system according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention is the information providing system according to the eleventh aspect, wherein when the content providing engine acquires predetermined management information related to a new information home appliance transmitted from the client terminal, the content search means A content search for extracting service content adapted to a system of information home appliances installed in the local area including the new information home appliances from the content database is performed and extracted by the content search means Distributing means for distributing information related to service content to the client terminal is provided. According to this configuration, when an information home appliance is newly introduced in the user's home, for example, service content adapted to a home network system including the new information home appliance is extracted, and the service content Information is distributed to client terminals. In this case, it is desirable that the service content already introduced in the client terminal is not displayed on the display means described later.

  According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the information providing system according to any one of the first to twelfth aspects, the client terminal displays a content type including summary information of the service content extracted by the content search unit of the server device. A display unit; and a selection unit that enables a specific content type to be selected from the content types displayed on the display unit. The server device corresponds to the specific content type selected by the selection unit. Distribution means for distributing service content to be provided is provided. According to this configuration, the client terminal can grasp the summary of the service content extracted by the content search means, select the desired service content, and receive the distribution of the selected service content.

  An information providing system according to a fourteenth aspect is the information providing system according to the thirteenth aspect, wherein the server device is provided with the content type displayed by the display unit or the specific content type selected by the selection unit and the client terminal. A home appliance promotion information generation unit is provided that generates data information about information home appliances that are insufficient or recommended when using service content corresponding to the specific content type, with predetermined management information on information home appliances as a parameter. It is characterized by. According to this configuration, the home appliance promotion information generation unit creates data information of information home appliances that are insufficient or recommended when using the service content related to the extracted content type.

  According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the information provision system according to the fifteenth aspect, the home appliance promotion information generation unit is insufficient when using the service content distributed by the distribution unit when the distribution unit according to the twelfth aspect operates. Or generating data information related to recommended information home appliances, and the distribution means distributes the data information generated by the home appliance promotion information generation unit in addition to the information related to the extracted service content. It is characterized by. According to this configuration, the client terminal side can acquire the extracted service content and data information related to information home appliances that are desirable when using the service content.

  An information providing system according to a sixteenth aspect is the information provision system according to the fifteenth aspect, wherein the home appliance promotion information generating unit refers to an alternative information home appliance regarding an information home appliance that operates in response to a predetermined service content from the client terminal. If there is, data information on recommended alternative information home appliances is generated. According to this configuration, for example, when there is an information inquiry on the premise of replacement by purchase from an existing information home appliance from the client terminal side, data information on the information home appliance that can be applied to the installed service content is provided. become able to.

  A server device according to claim 17 includes: a content database that stores service content for one or more predetermined information home appliances; a property database that stores predetermined property information related to information home appliances; and the service content A content creation tool providing unit that provides basic information related to information home appliances in the form of a predetermined content creation tool, and a content provision engine that provides the service content to a client terminal under predetermined conditions The content creation tool providing unit extracts a predetermined property information stored in the property database in response to a predetermined output request and externally transmits the content creation tool via a communication network. Also provide to The content database is one in which service content can be registered from outside via a communication network, and the content providing engine associates with predetermined management information related to information home appliances transmitted from a client terminal. And content search means for extracting service content adapted to the information home appliance from the content database.

  According to this configuration, by using the property information on the information home appliances stored in the property database and the content creation tool, the content provider using the content input unit develops the service content, and the service content is It becomes possible to register in the content database. Then, from the content database, service content adapted to the information home appliance installed in the local area (for example, a general household) where the client terminal is installed is extracted by the content search means. As a result, the user who has the client terminal can receive the service content adapted to the information home appliance installed by the user from the server device.

  A server device according to an eighteenth aspect is the server device according to the seventeenth aspect, wherein the specific content type is determined based on a specific content type given as a search key for the content database and the property database and predetermined management information about the information home appliance. A home appliance promotion information generating unit that generates data information related to information home appliances that are insufficient or recommended when using the corresponding service content is provided. According to this configuration, the home appliance promotion information generation unit creates data information of information home appliances that are insufficient or recommended when using the service content related to the extracted content type.

  The server device according to claim 19 is an alternative recommended in the case where, in claim 17, when there is an information inquiry regarding an alternative information home appliance about an information home appliance that operates in response to a predetermined service content from a client terminal, A home appliance alternative information generation unit that generates data information on information home appliances is provided. According to this configuration, for example, when there is an information inquiry on the premise of replacement by purchase from an existing information home appliance from the client terminal side, data information on the information home appliance that can be applied to the installed service content is provided. become able to.

  According to the information providing system of claim 1, the user can receive distribution of service content adapted to the information home appliance introduced by the user from the server device. Can receive service.

  According to the information providing system of the second aspect, since the service content adapted to the information home appliance is converted into the function level and the content search is performed, the adapted service content can be rationally extracted.

  According to the information providing system of the third aspect, the content development player can enter from the outside via the content input means, and various service contents can be stored in the content database.

  According to the information providing system of claim 4, it becomes possible to reliably extract service content suitable for the user based on the predetermined property information regarding the information home appliance.

  According to the information providing system of claim 5, the content provider using the content input means uses the basic information on the information home appliance and the content creation tool given from the content creation tool providing unit, and uses a certain information home appliance. Service content for groups can be developed efficiently.

  According to the information providing system of the sixth aspect, various types of information home appliances having different manufacturers and control methods can be organized by function and can be centrally managed in the server device. Then, it is possible to search for content based on the function type, provide a content development tool, and the like. As a result, it is possible to provide service content according to the installation status of information home appliances in each local area.

  According to the information providing system of claim 7, the new product is held by an external player such as a home appliance maker holding predetermined property information about the information home appliance, for example, in accordance with the release of the new product. The function category can be newly registered in the property database in association with the function category of the function data classified by genre organized in the property database of the server device, so that such a new product can be immediately incorporated as a constituent of service content. become.

  According to the information providing system of the eighth aspect, it becomes possible to efficiently develop service content dedicated to a specific room or shared service content according to the situation of the user's room.

  According to the information providing system of the ninth aspect, it is possible to reliably transmit the predetermined management information regarding the information home appliance connected to the home server via the network to the server device.

  According to the information providing system of claim 10, since the server device can acquire the model information and the installation location information of the information home appliance, the content search means targets only the information home appliance installed in the same installation location, for example. A search such as extracting service content to be performed can be performed.

  According to the information providing system of the eleventh aspect, the management information is automatically distributed to the server device simply by connecting a new information home appliance to the network connection means, so that the burden of inputting management information on the user can be saved. be able to.

  According to the information providing system of the twelfth aspect, the user can immediately acquire new service content information suitable for the newly introduced information home appliance.

  According to the information providing system of the thirteenth aspect, the user can select the desired service content from the service content suitable for the information home appliance group introduced by the user and receive the distribution.

  According to the information providing system of claim 14, since data information of information home appliances that are insufficient or recommended when using the service content related to the extracted content type is created, the service information is provided to the user. Data information about information home appliances required for receiving a more fulfilling service by contents can be distributed. In addition, home appliance manufacturers and the like can expect the sales expansion effect of information home appliances triggered by the existence of service content.

  According to the information providing system of claim 15, the user can simultaneously obtain service content and information home appliance information that needs to be introduced when the service is to be enhanced, and receive support for selecting the information home appliance. Is possible.

  According to the information providing system of claim 16, when the user desires to replace the existing information home appliance, the user can obtain information home appliance information suitable for the installed service content. Can receive support. In addition, home appliance manufacturers and the like can expect an effect of expanding sales of information home appliances using the information providing system.

  According to the server device of claim 17, a property provider or the like uses property information regarding the information home appliance and a content creation tool, and is cross-sectional using the characteristics of each information home appliance without being bound by the home appliance manufacturer. Service contents can be developed, and the user can search for service contents adapted to the information home appliances that he / she has introduced from the server device and receive the distribution, so that the home appliances A desired service can be received for the device.

  According to the server device of the eighteenth aspect, it becomes possible to distribute data information about the information home appliances that is required when the user receives a more complete service with specific service content. In addition, home appliance manufacturers and the like can expect the sales expansion effect of information home appliances triggered by the existence of service content.

  According to the server device of claim 19, when the user desires to replace the existing information home appliance, the user can obtain information home appliance information suitable for the installed service content, and supports the selection of the information home appliance. Can receive. In addition, home appliance manufacturers and the like can expect an effect of expanding sales of information home appliances using the information providing system.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram schematically illustrating an overall configuration of an information providing system S according to the embodiment. The information providing system S includes a client terminal 10 possessed by a first player, a server device 20 possessed by a second player, an input terminal 30 as content input means possessed by a third player, and a fourth player. Is connected to an input terminal 40 serving as a home appliance property input means through the Internet IN (communication network).

  The first player is a so-called user of the information providing system S, and is a general household in which one or more information home appliances are introduced, for example. That is, in the home (in a predetermined local area) of the first player, an information appliance such as an air conditioner equipped with an information communication function, an AV device such as a television or audio, a kitchen electric device such as a microwave oven or a rice cooker, or a lighting device. The device HE is connected to a home network HN provided with a home server. Then, the client terminal 10 and the home server are connected, whereby the home network and the server device 20 are connected via the Internet IN.

  The second player uses the server device 20 which is the core of the information providing system S, application software or the like (service content) that functionally controls or organically controls one or a plurality of information home appliances. Is an ASP (Application Service Provider) provider that distributes to customers. The third player is a content provider that develops service content for information home appliances. The fourth player is a business operator who holds property information about the information home appliance, and is, for example, a home appliance manufacturer that manufactures and sells information home appliances.

  For example, the service model in the information providing system S is as follows. That is, property information (function-specific data or the like) about the information home appliance is accumulated in the server device 20 by the second player, and the property creation tool provided in the property information and the server device 20 is used by the third player. Thus, regardless of the home appliance manufacturer's framework, cross-sectional service content utilizing the characteristics of individual information home appliances is created and stored in the server device 20. On the other hand, for example, when a new product for the information home appliance is put on the market, property information about the new product is newly accumulated in the server device 20 by the fourth player. And the 1st player who is a user accesses the server apparatus 20 of a 2nd player, searches for the service content adapted to the information household appliances which he introduced, and receives the delivery.

  Next, a specific configuration of the information providing system S will be described. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a functional configuration of the information providing system S, and FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a data arrangement of main data held in the client terminal 10 and the server device 20. .

  The client terminal 10 is composed of a personal computer or the like. In this embodiment, the client terminal 10 is also used as a home server that manages and controls the information home appliance HE that is networked via the information outlet 18. The client terminal 10 includes a home appliance information transmission unit 11, a display unit 12, a content selection unit 13, a content storage unit 14, a content information storage unit 15, an information home appliance management control unit 16, and an operation unit 17.

  The home appliance information transmission unit 11 (transmission means) stores management information such as various attribute information, installation location information, and the like related to the information home appliance HE provided in the home of the first player (hereinafter referred to as “user”). 20 is a functional unit that transmits data to 20. These pieces of information are stored in a home appliance information management unit 161, which will be described later, and the home appliance information transmission unit 11 links with the home appliance information management unit 161, and stores necessary information in the management information stored therein. Extracted and transmitted to the server device 20. The transmission timing of such information to the server device 20 may be set appropriately other than at the time of initial setting. However, when a new information home appliance is additionally connected to the information outlet 18 constituting the home network, It is configured to acquire management information of new information home appliances and automatically transmit management information of all information home appliances connected to the home network including the new information home appliances to the server device 20. desirable.

  The display unit 12 includes an LCD display screen provided in a personal computer or the like (a display provided in a remote control device of the information home appliance can also be used), and content search result information and home appliance promotion information described later. Various information distributed from the server device 20 such as home appliance substitute information is displayed.

  The content selection unit 13 performs a content search in the server device 20 in accordance with the service content inquiry information transmitted from the client terminal 10, and as a result information related to the service content hit (content list, detailed information of each content, etc.) The information itself is displayed on the display unit 12), and is a functional unit that accepts a selection operation for the service content desired by the user. This selection operation includes an order instruction, a cancellation instruction, detailed information (charge, detailed description of function, usage permission condition, etc.) display instruction, and the like, and is given from the operation unit 17 by the user. When distributing information about the hit service content, it is preferable that the service content already introduced to the user is subjected to a predetermined process in the client terminal 10 and is not displayed on the display unit 12.

  The content storage unit 14 includes a RAM (Random Access Memory) or the like, and is selected by the user in the content selection unit 13 and distributed from the server device 20 (for information home appliances HE installed in the user's home). The cooperative control content H1; see FIG. 3). The information home appliance control unit 162, which will be described later, reads the cooperative control content H1 stored in the content storage unit 14 and controls the operation of the information home appliance HE.

  The content information storage unit 15 stores various types of information related to content, and stores received content information H2, content customization information H3, content personalization information H4, and the like, for example, as shown in FIG. The received content information H2 is service content management information already introduced to the user, and includes a content code, a content name, a content provider name, content description information, and the like. The content customization information H3 is common customization data that does not depend on the user's attributes for each service content. For example, in the operation of the “water spraying service to the garden” that sprays water to the garden at a certain time, Setting information for arbitrarily setting the start time.

  The content personalization information H4 is personalized data arbitrarily set for each user for each service content. For example, in a certain service content, “TV, telephone, air conditioner” is used by general users. Furthermore, this is setting information for excluding “air conditioner” only by a specific user.

  The information home appliance management control unit 16 stores management information of the information home appliance HE connected to the information outlet, and controls operation of the information home appliance HE. The home appliance information management unit 161 and the information home appliance A control unit 162 and a state information acquisition unit 163 are provided.

  The home appliance information management unit 161 is management information of the information home appliance HE, and manages data information necessary for executing at least a content search in the server device 20 and data information regarding the operation state of the information home appliance HE. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, home appliance attribute information H5, home appliance state information H6, household information H7, and the like are managed. As described above, the data information stored in the home appliance information management unit 161 is appropriately transmitted to the server device via the home appliance information transmission unit 11 except for the household information H7.

  The home appliance attribute information H5 includes management information of the information home appliance HE installed in the user's home, and includes the serial number, manufacturer code, genre (type of home appliance) code, installation location of each information home appliance HE Contains data information about (such as a room in which home appliances are installed). Thus, the location information such as the installation location is included so that the server device 20 can perform a content search according to the location information of the information home appliance HE.

  The home appliance status information H6 includes various event information (ON-OFF) related to the installation status (connection, disconnection, removal, etc. of the home appliance) and operation status in association with the management code and time information of each information home appliance HE. Operation, changing operating conditions, etc.). The household information H7 includes data information related to the user's address, telephone number, household composition, and the like.

  The data information may be input from the operation unit 17 at the time of initial setting or condition change, or automatically triggered by the connection of the information home appliance HE to the information outlet 18 as a trigger. It may be imported (updated) into the management unit 161. Similarly, when the information home appliance HE is removed from the information outlet 18 for the purpose of discarding or replacing one of the information home appliances HE, it is input from the operation unit 17 as a removal operation, The management information of the information home appliance HE may be excluded.

  The information home appliance control unit 162 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and the like, receives a control program originally provided in the home server (client terminal 10), and distribution from the server device 20, and stores it in the content storage unit 14. The read control program (service content) is read out, and various operations of the information home appliance HE are controlled. For example, the operating state of each home information appliance HE is controlled according to a control program aimed at energy saving.

  The state information acquisition unit 163 is an interface unit with the information home appliance HE, and acquires management information of the information home appliance HE connected to the information outlet 18 and various event information regarding the operation state, and the home appliance information The information is recorded in the management unit 161.

  The operation unit 17 includes a keyboard or the like provided in the personal computer. For example, a content search operation on the server device 20, a hit content selection operation (selection operation on the content selection unit 13), and a home appliance information management unit 161 management This enables new input or update input of information.

  Next, the server device 20 includes a content database 21, a content provision engine 22, a content creation tool provision unit 23, a home appliance property information database 24, a client management database 25, a home appliance promotion information generation unit 26, a home appliance replacement information generation unit 27, and an accounting. An information calculation unit 28 is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the content database 21 stores service content (cooperative control content D1) input from the content input means 30 by a third player (content provider or the like). This cooperative control content D1 is an operation control program or the like that can control the cooperative operation of information home appliances (information home appliances with different manufacturers) that employ different control methods. The cooperative control content D1 is developed by the third player who is given the authority to use the content creation tool providing unit 23 in consideration of each home appliance property information stored in the home appliance property information database 24. .

  The content database 21 includes a content management information storage unit 211 that stores content management information D2 of the service content. The content management information D2 includes, for example, a content code, a content name, a type of required information home appliance to be used, a type of information home appliance to be used as an option, an installation location of the information home appliance, a content provider name as a developer, Content description information, search keyword information, price information, and the like are included.

  The content providing engine 22 searches and extracts appropriate service content from the content database 21 according to content inquiry information from the client terminal 10 given via the Internet IN (see FIG. 1), and the result is extracted. When the client terminal 10 receives a predetermined order instruction, the service content related to the order is distributed. The content provision engine 22 includes a home appliance management information acquisition unit 221, a content search unit 222, and a distribution information generation unit 223.

  The home appliance management information acquisition unit 221 acquires management information of the information home appliance HE that is transmitted from the user via the home appliance information transmission unit 11 of the client terminal 10. Content inquiry from the client terminal 10 It is a functional unit that acquires information (content search conditions). The management information is, for example, model information of information home appliances installed in the user's home. The home appliance management information acquisition unit 221 receives the management information when the client terminal 10 is initially set, when a search condition is input or updated from the operation unit 17, or when the information home appliance HE is connected to the information outlet 18. Alternatively, it is automatically acquired when a user permission is input.

  The content search unit 222 performs a search operation on the content database 21 based on the content search condition given to the home appliance management information acquisition unit 221, and matches the search condition (or has a high degree of match) Extract content. Specifically, when the home appliance management information acquisition unit 221 acquires the model information of all the information home appliances installed in the user's home, the content search unit 222 includes the information home appliances provided based on the model information. By collating the function category with the function category used in each of the service contents, the service content adapted to the information home appliance is extracted.

  More specifically, when the home appliance management information acquisition unit 221 acquires the model information of the information home appliance group, model-specific function data D5 (model-specific equipment data) stored in the home appliance property information database 24, which will be described later, and The function classifications (functions such as ON / OFF, temperature setting function, and operation mode) corresponding to the model information of all the information home appliances that have been collated are extracted. Then, a function classification table used for each service content is created from the content management information D2 of each service content, and the function classification table and the function classification of the information home appliances extracted earlier are sequentially collated, so that the user Service content that matches at a functional level with a group of information home appliances installed in the house is extracted. Prior to the collation, it is possible to efficiently perform the collation by determining in advance whether the information home appliance used in each service content is indispensable or optional. Specifically, the function classification is collated preferentially for indispensable information home appliances, and for optional information home appliances, the home appliance promotion information generation unit 26 described below is insufficient or recommended when using service content. Used when generating data information related to information home appliances.

  The distribution information generation unit 223 is a functional unit that generates information to be distributed from the server device 20 side to the client terminal 10. The distribution information generation unit 223 includes, for example, information on the service content extracted by the content search unit 222 according to the content inquiry information from the client terminal 10, and information on the service content main body according to the purchase order of the service content (program distribution) Information), information generated by the home appliance promotion information generation unit 26, home appliance alternative information generation unit 27, and billing information calculation unit 28, which will be described later, is converted into predetermined distribution information to be transmitted to the client terminal 10. Such distribution information is distributed to the client terminal 10 via the Internet IN by a communication device (not shown).

The content creation tool providing unit 23 generates content creation tool information that enables content development to be efficiently performed in the third player, and uses this as image information in response to input of predetermined inquiry information from the content input means 30. provide. As the creation tool information provided here, for example,
(1) A tool for determining a use object that defines the type of information home appliance used for developing specific content,
(2) a tool for determining a presence reference object that defines the association between the state (presence) of a specific usage object and another usage object; and (3) the status of the specific usage object and the control to be executed. A tool for determining object methods that define the relationship between
Etc. can be illustrated.

  FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an example of the use object definition screen 51 of (1) above. The used object definition screen 51 shown in this example includes a position display window 511 for displaying (scrolling) indoor space candidates in order to select which indoor space (room section) or the like the service content to be developed is targeted. , A home appliance display window 512 that displays information home appliance candidates to select which information home appliance is targeted, an indoor space selected from the position display window 511 and the home appliance display window 512, and information home appliances A utilization object display window 513 for displaying a device is provided. Here, “Bedroom / Human Sensor” and “Bedroom / Light” are selected as required information home appliances, and “Bedroom / Air Conditioner” and “Bedroom / Stereo” are selected as optional information home appliances. An example is shown.

  In the position display window 511, it is possible not to limit the use location of the service content. In this case, a selection mark is added to the column “not defined”. Further, when the candidate “same room” in the position display window 511 is selected, it is possible to set the position information so that one service content can be used at a plurality of locations. For example, “same room” is selected when developing service content for information home appliances that are likely to be installed in multiple rooms, such as information home appliances such as air conditioners, lights, and human sensors. The In this way, in the usage object definition, setting of service content that can be shared in various rooms is also possible. With such shared service content, the user can use this service content independently in a plurality of rooms by receiving distribution of one service content.

  Furthermore, the selected usage object is also provided with an essential home appliance selection button 514 for defining whether the service content is essential information home appliance or optional treatment. “O” and “X” attached to each usage object in the usage object display window 513 indicate whether the usage object is “essential” or “option”. The selection as described above is appropriately performed by a content provider or the like who operates the content input means 30, and service content is designed.

  FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an example of the presence reference object definition screen 52 of (2) above. The presence reference object definition screen 52 shown in this example includes a usage-declared object display window 521, a target object display unit 522, a self-reference selection unit 523, a reference source object display window 524, and a reference selection button 525.

  The usage-declared object display window 521 displays the usage-declared object selected on the previous usage object definition screen 51. The target object display unit 522 displays a usage object for which a presence reference is to be defined from the usage objects listed in the usage-declared object display window 521. Here, the case where “bedroom / air conditioner” is selected and displayed as the use object is shown. The self-reference selection unit 523 receives a selection as to whether or not the use object to be defined refers to its presence. Here, the selection “refer to itself” is made.

  The reference source object display window 524 displays the state of the usage object displayed on the target object display unit 522 and the association status with other usage objects. The reference selection button 525 is a button for selecting whether or not to make a presence reference for each usage object displayed on the target object display unit 522. In this example, the usage object “bedroom / air conditioner” is defined to perform a predetermined action in relation to the state of the usage object “bedroom / human sensor” marked with “○”. Show.

  FIG. 6 is a plan view showing an example of the object method definition screen 53 of (3) above. The object method definition screen 53 shown in this example is roughly divided into a usage method setting unit 53a and a condition setting unit 53b. The usage method setting unit 53a includes a control target object display unit 531, a usable method display unit 532, a usage method display unit 533, and an implementation content display unit 534. The condition setting section 53b includes a presence reference object display section 535, a reference presence display section 536, a presence display section 537, an implementation presence condition display section 538, and a direct condition input section 539.

  In the control target object display unit 531 of the use method setting unit 53a, control target use objects for which method definition (definition of how to control the use object when a certain state occurs) are displayed in a pull-down manner. The Here, the pull-down display is a use object selected as a target object on the presence reference object definition screen 52. The available method display section 532 displays a pull-down display of executable control methods (functions of the used object) for the used objects displayed in the controlled object display section 531. The function displayed on the available method display unit 532 is a function extracted by referring to function data stored in the home appliance property information database 24 described later. The usage method display unit 533 displays what method has been selected for a specific usage object. Here, a case where the methods “power ON / OFF-1”, “power ON / OFF-2”, and “operation mode switching” are selected for the usage object “bedroom / air conditioner” is illustrated.

  The implementation content display unit 534 accepts a selection of what kind of control is to be performed on the usage method displayed on the usage method display unit 533. Here, in the usage method setting section 53a, a definition for setting the power supply to “ON” is performed for the method “power ON / OFF-2” selected in the selection frame 5331 in the usage method display section 533. Indicates the state.

  Next, in the presence reference object display section 535 of the condition setting section 53b, a utilization object is displayed in a pull-down manner so that the condition setting can be input by a selection method from a pull-down menu. Here, the pull-down display is a use object selected as a reference source object on the presence reference object definition screen 52. Similarly, the reference presence display unit 536 displays a pull-down list of control methods (functions of the use object) that can acquire the state. Further, presence candidates are displayed in a pull-down manner in the presence display unit 537 in order to select what kind of presence the reference presence is.

  The implementation presence condition display unit 538 displays the implementation presence condition selected using the presence reference object display unit 535, the reference presence display unit 536, and the presence display unit 537. Here, in the condition setting unit 53b, the power state (reference presence) of the utilization object “bedroom / air conditioner” is OFF (presence), and the person detection state (“bedroom / human sensor”) of the utilization object A condition is set that “reference presence” is ON (presence), that is, a person is detected. The direct condition input unit 539 receives similar condition settings by manual input. Therefore, in the implementation presence condition displayed on the implementation presence condition display unit 538 (or the direct condition input unit 539), the “power ON” of the usage object “bedroom / air conditioner” displayed in the usage method setting unit 53a is displayed. For the method “/ OFF-2”, the definition that the power is turned “ON” is made. With these definitions, a service content main body program is generated.

  FIG. 7 is a plan view showing an example of a content registration screen 54 used when the content input means 30 registers service content in the content database 21 described above. The content registration screen 54 includes a basic information input unit 541, an explanatory text input unit 542, a price information input unit 543, and a content file name input unit 544.

  The basic information input unit 541 accepts input of basic information about service content, and a code, a content name, a genre, a search keyword, and a content provider (CP) name are provided as an input frame. The code is a unique key for distinguishing service contents registered in the content database 21, and for example, an automatic numbering system can be adopted. The genre is input by selecting from a predetermined category of service content.

  In the explanatory note input unit 542, the outline content of the service content is input. In the price information input unit 543, price information about the service content, for example, the price of the service content itself, the type of charging unit, and the like are input. The content file name input unit 544 receives specification information of the content file to be uploaded. The content input means 30 registers the service content main body program generated by the above-mentioned means in the content database 21 together with the content management information input on the content registration screen 54.

Returning to FIG. 2, the home appliance property information database 24 (property database) is a database that stores predetermined property information related to the information home appliance HE. Property information stored in the home appliance property information database 24 is:
(A) For each type of information home appliance HE, the function data by genre, which is data indicating the function type each possessed, and (b) for each type of information home appliance HE, It is roughly classified into model-specific equipment data which is data associated with each function type in the function data by genre.

  The function data by genre (a) is function data held in home appliances by genre (type of home appliance such as air conditioner, lamp, refrigerator, etc.). For example, in the case of an air conditioner, a heating function, a cooling function, a dehumidifying function, etc. Is functional data. Such function data is registered exclusively by the ASP business operator who is the second player, and becomes the original data of the home appliance function of the content development tool described above.

  In addition, the equipment data classified by model (b) includes the functions provided in each home information appliance HE, for example, in the case of an air conditioner, the heating function, the cooling function, the dehumidifying function, etc. It is data associated with. That is, it is data associating with which of the function types typified by the function data classified by genre the function installed in the information household electrical appliance having the model number XX manufactured by X company corresponds. This model-specific equipment data is appropriately input from home appliance property input means 40 operated exclusively by a fourth player such as a home appliance manufacturer. That is, the home appliance property input means 40 is for inputting predetermined property information related to information home appliances to be newly registered in the home appliance property information database 24, and the genre-specific function data registered in the home appliance property information database; In addition, it is possible to perform registration in association with the function category possessed by the newly registered information home appliance. Such model-specific equipment data is used when a function type is extracted from the model information of the information home appliance HE installed in the user's home as described above and appropriate service content is searched. Furthermore, it is also used for home appliance promotion described later.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the home appliance property information database 24 includes a genre-specific standard function data D3 and a genre-specific function data D4 (which correspond to the above-mentioned “genre-specific function data”), and model-specific functions. Data D5 (corresponding to the “model-specific equipment data”) is stored. The genre standard function data D3 is registration information related to a predetermined standard function in units of home appliances such as an air conditioner, a lamp, and a refrigerator. Specifically, a genre code, a function code set for each function, a function name, a function description, a command name, a parameter specification, and the like are stored. For example, in the case of an air conditioner, standard functions such as “power ON / OFF”, “room temperature adjustment”, and “operation mode switching” are registered as standard function information. Selection and registration of such standard functions are performed by the second player.

  The genre specific function data D4 is registration information related to functions other than the standard functions described above, that is, individual functions that a home electric appliance manufacturer or the like uniquely equips with respect to a specific information home electric appliance HE. This individual function is a unique function such as a function of emitting plasma ions in the case of an air conditioner, for example, and the individual function is appropriately set and registered by the second player in response to an application from a home appliance manufacturer or the like.

  The model-specific function data D5 is registration information related to the device individual function provided in each information home appliance HE. Specifically, a predetermined model code, model name, supported function code support status / status acquisition support status information, and the like are registered for each information home appliance HE. The same model code or the like as the management information of the information home appliance used in the home appliance information management unit 161 is used.

  By setting such a home appliance property information database 24, the function data for each information home appliance HE stored in the genre-specific standard function data D3 and the genre-specific function data D4 is stored in the content development tool providing unit 23. The control logic can be developed by combining the logic operation and the like in the third player. In addition, when the fourth player puts a new product or the like into the market, it is registered as model-specific function data D5, so that it is not only extracted as a necessary home appliance in the content search, but also a home appliance described later. Sales promotion can be achieved because the information is extracted and promoted when the promotion information is generated.

  Next, a specific example in which the genre-specific standard function data D3, the genre-specific function data D4, and the model-specific function data D5 are registered will be described. FIGS. 8 and 9 show the genre selection screen 55 and the genre-specific function used when the second player registers the genre-specific standard function data D3 and the genre-specific function data D4 in the home appliance property information database 24 described above. 5 is a plan view showing an example of a registration screen 56. FIG. The genre selection screen 55 in FIG. 8 is a screen on which information home appliances for which function registration is performed are displayed as selection icons 551 for each type. When registering a function, first, an icon corresponding to the genre in which the work is performed is selected from the selection icons 551. When this selection is executed, the screen transits to a function registration screen 56 classified by genre shown in FIG.

  FIG. 9 shows a function-specific function registration screen 56 when “air conditioner” is selected on the genre selection screen 55 of FIG. The genre-specific function registration screen 56 includes a genre display unit 561, a function type display unit 562, a function display unit 563, and a parameter display unit 564. In this case, the genre display unit 561 displays the selected “air conditioner”. The function type display unit 562 displays “standard” indicating that it is a standard equipment function, and “specific” indicating that it is a specific equipment function set by a request from a specific home appliance manufacturer or the like. The The “standard” is a registered item as the genre-specific standard function data D3, and the “unique” is a registered item as the genre-specific unique function data D4. Function classification in the genre of “air conditioner” is input to the function display unit 563. This function classification is used in content development, and is also used as search information in content search, home appliance promotion, and the like. The parameter display unit 564 receives a control operation target for each function category.

  FIG. 10 shows an example of the corresponding function registration screen 57 used when registering the model-specific function data D5 in the above-described home appliance property information database 24 by the home appliance property input means 40 when a new product is introduced. It is a top view. The corresponding function registration screen 57 is displayed by a display control unit (not shown) provided in the server device 20 when the home appliance property input unit 40 accesses the home appliance property information database 24. The corresponding function registration screen 57 is generally provided with a basic information input unit 571, a corresponding function information input unit 572, and an interconnection definition file input unit 578.

  The basic information input unit 571 accepts input of basic information about information home appliances, and a code, a home appliance model name, a genre, a home appliance manufacturer name, and a corresponding home network name are provided as input frames. The code is a unique key for distinguishing information home appliances registered in the home appliance property information database 24. For example, an automatic numbering system can be adopted. The genre is input by a method of selecting from a predetermined machine type. Furthermore, the corresponding home network name is input in order to select a communication control driver when performing control.

  Corresponding function information input unit 572 receives input of function information of the information home appliance, and includes function display unit 573, function presence / absence input unit 574, function specification input unit 575, state acquisition input unit 576, and function category selection unit. 577 is provided. The function display unit 573 displays the equipped function according to the type selected by the function type selection unit 577. In the example shown in the figure, “standard” is selected by the function type selection unit 577, and “power ON / OFF”, “room temperature setting”, and “mode switching”, which are functions provided as “standard functions”, are displayed. It is displayed on the function display section 573. When “unique” is selected in the function type selection unit 577, each function equipped as the unique function is displayed.

  In the function presence / absence input unit 574, whether or not each function displayed on the function display unit 573 is compatible is input. In the example shown in the figure, a “◯” mark indicating that any function is provided is input. The functional specification input unit 575 receives a specific function provided in the information home appliance related to the registration. In addition, status acquisition input unit 576 receives whether or not event information relating to the operating status can be acquired from the information home appliance.

  The interconnection definition file input unit 578 receives a file name of an interconnection definition file that enables cooperative operation control even for information home appliances that employ different control methods. Here, the interconnection definition file is a definition for mutual conversion between the specifications of control commands and the like determined by the ASP provider as the second player and the specifications of control commands and the like uniquely determined by home appliance manufacturers. It is a described file.

  The interconnection definition file is created by a home appliance manufacturer or the like when the product is put on the market, and the server device 20 is provided with an interconnection definition file storage unit and registered on the corresponding function registration screen 57. It is desirable that the operation is uploaded to the server device 20 at the same time. As a result, when a new information home appliance is connected to the user's home via the network, the corresponding interconnection definition file can be called and transmitted to the client terminal 10. As a result, when service content matching the newly installed information home appliance is introduced by the user, communication with the control command converted by the interconnection definition file between the service content and the information home appliance is performed. It becomes possible to perform operation control smoothly.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the client management database 25 is a database in which various management information for each user who owns the client terminal 10 is stored. The management information stored in the client management database 25 is input and updated when the client terminal 10 is initially set, when an update is input from the operation unit, or the like. As the management information, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, user information D6, content purchase history information D7, and the like are included.

  The user information D6 is specifically a user code, a user name, an address, a contact address, payment information, and the like. The content purchase history information D7 is information related to the content order / purchase history for each user, and is information such as a user code, a purchase date, a content code, a charge amount, and the like.

  The home appliance promotion information generating unit 26 manages information regarding the content type displayed on the display unit 12 or the specific content type selected by the content selection unit 13 and the information home appliance HE given from the client terminal 10 ( Data information relating to information home appliances that are insufficient or recommended when using service content corresponding to the specific content type is generated using the home appliance information management unit 161) as a parameter.

  Specifically, when the home appliance promotion information generation unit 26 acquires management information (content code or the like) of service content given from the client terminal 10 side, the home appliance promotion information generation unit 26 searches the content database 21 and functions required by the service content Convert to category information. Then, by using the function category information as a search key, the model-specific function data D5 in the home appliance property information database 24 is searched to extract the model of the information home appliance that can handle the specified service content. The data information generated in this way is distributed to the client terminal 10 via the distribution information generation unit 223. That is, the distribution information generation unit 223 distributes the data information generated by the home appliance promotion information generation unit 26 in addition to the information related to the extracted service content. As a result, the client terminal 10 can acquire the extracted service content and data information related to information home appliances that are desirable when using the service content.

  The home appliance alternative information generation unit 27 recommends data related to alternative information home appliances when there is an information inquiry about alternative information home appliances about information home appliances operating in response to predetermined service content from the client terminal 10 Generate information. Specifically, the home appliance replacement information generation unit 27 includes model information of information home appliances to be replaced from the client terminal 10 of the user who desires replacement, and management information (contents of service content already introduced by the user) Code). Then, the function-specific function data D5 in the home appliance property information database 24 is searched from the information home appliance model information, and the function classification of the acquired information home appliance is extracted. Further, the function classification used in each service content is extracted from the content code.

  Subsequently, the function categories extracted in this way are compared to determine which function of the information home appliance that is desired to be replaced by which service content is used. This specifies the function contributed by the information home appliance desired to be replaced in all service contents introduced by the user. That is, since all the functions of the information home appliance are not always used by the service content introduced by the user, the function classification actually used in the service content is extracted. Then, by using the function type information extracted in this way as a search key, the model-specific function data D5 in the home appliance property information database 24 is searched to extract the types of information home appliances that can be replaced. This data information is distributed to the client terminal 10 via the distribution information generation unit 223.

  Note that the home appliance promotion information generation unit 26 may create data information regarding the alternative information home appliance as described above when searching for content. That is, the home appliance promotion information generation unit 26 generates data information related to information home appliances that are insufficient or recommended when using the service content in correspondence with the service content hit in the content search. If there is one that can recommend replacement by purchase among information home appliances already introduced to the user, such replacement replacement recommendation information may also be generated.

  The billing information calculation unit 28 calculates billing data by extracting billing conditions for the user, such as a fee for distributing service content and a running fee for service content already introduced to the user.

The operation of the information providing system S configured as described above will be described. As shown in FIG. 11, the operation flow of the information providing system S can be roughly divided into the following five operation flows F1 to F5. That is,
(A) The function data classified by genre for the information home appliance is registered in the home appliance property information database 24 by the second player, and the model-specific equipment for the new information home appliance from the home appliance property input means 40 by the fourth player as necessary. Home appliance function registration flow F1, in which data is stored in the home appliance property information database 24,
(B) a content development flow F2 in which service content is created by the third player using a content creation tool provided in the server device 20 and stored in the server device 20 (content database 21);
(C) The first player who is a user accesses the content providing engine 22 of the server device 20 and adapts to the information home appliances that he / she has introduced based on information managed by the home management information management unit 161 Content inquiry flow F3 for retrieving service content information and receiving its distribution,
(D) In addition to the service content information, the home appliance promotion flow F4 when receiving distribution of home appliance promotion information, and
(E) Home appliance replacement support flow F5 when the user receives distribution of home appliance replacement support information from the home appliance replacement information generation unit 22 described above,
Can be broadly classified. Hereinafter, each of the operation flows F1 to F5 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10 described above, particularly FIG.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the home appliance function registration flow F1 of (a). In addition, when performing the said household appliance function registration flow F1 after step S14 by a 4th player, it is assumed that entry registration (supplier registration) to the information provision system S is performed. The fourth player is exclusively a home appliance manufacturer as described above, but may be an external supplier who has the authority to provide information home appliance functions.

  First, functional data for each genre of the information home appliance is registered by the second player or the like (step S11). As the registration screen at this time, for example, the genre selection screen 55 and the genre-specific function registration screen 56 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 are used. Such function data is stored in the home appliance property information database 24 as genre-specific standard function data D3 and genre-specific function data D4. Subsequently, it is confirmed whether or not additional registration is performed (step S12). That is, it is confirmed whether there is a function category to be newly registered as a standard function or whether there is a new unique function related to an application from a home appliance manufacturer or the like. If there is a new registration item (YES in step S12), registration in step S11 is executed.

  On the other hand, if there is no new registration item in the second player (NO in step S12), it is confirmed whether there is a new registration request from the fourth player (step S13). In the case of NO at this step S13, the confirmation loop of these steps S12 and S13 is continued. On the other hand, if there is a new registration request from the fourth player (YES in step S13), the flow from step S14 is executed.

  First, access for function registration is executed from the home appliance property input means 40 to the server device 20, and access authentication is performed in the server device 20 (step S14). If access is permitted, a function registration screen is called by the home appliance property input means 40 (step S15). This function registration screen is a corresponding function registration screen 57 as shown in FIG. 10, for example. And the predetermined registration matter about specific information household appliances is inputted into such correspondence function registration screen 57 (Step S16). Such registration data is stored in the home appliance property information database 24 as model-specific equipment function data (model-specific function data D5).

  When the input of registration items on the corresponding function registration screen 57 is completed, the registration information is transmitted to the server device 20 and uploaded to the home appliance property information database 24 as model-specific equipment function data (model-specific function data D5). (Step S17). The genre-specific standard function data D3, the genre-specific function data D4, and the model-specific function data D5 registered in this way are appropriately used in each of the content creation tool, content search, home appliance promotion, and home appliance replacement support.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the content development flow F2 of (b) above. Even when the content development flow F2 is executed, it is assumed that the third player (content provider) has been registered for entry into the information providing system S.

  First, access from the content input means 30 to the content creation tool provider 23 of the server device 20 is executed, and access authentication is performed in the server device 20 (step S21). If access is permitted, the content creation tool is called by the content input means 30 (step S22). Service content is developed by the third player using such a content creation tool. The content creation tools are a use object definition screen 51, a presence reference object definition screen 52, and an object method definition screen 53 as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, for example, and the content input tool 30 has such a content creation tool. Then, necessary development data (such as home appliance property information) is downloaded.

  Then, in the content input means 30, the usage object definition is sequentially input to the usage object definition screen 51 (step S23), and the presence reference object definition is input to the presence reference object definition screen 52 (step S24). An object method definition is input to the method definition screen 53 (step S25). In the third player, service content can be developed easily and efficiently using the guidance of the content creation tool.

  When the predetermined service content is developed, the content input screen 30 calls the content registration screen 54 for the content database 21 of the server device 20 as shown in FIG. 7, for example (step S26). Then, if the input of registration items on the content registration screen 54 is completed, the registration information is transmitted to the server device 20 and uploaded to the content database 21 (step S27). This registered information is stored in the content database 21 as the above-described cooperative control content D1 and content management information D2 in association with the basic information of the service content related to development (input items to the basic information input unit 541).

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the content inquiry flow F3 in (c) above. First, it is confirmed whether a user's artificial operation process (manual inquiry mode), for example, a content inquiry process by the operation unit 17 has been performed (step S31). When the content inquiry process is executed (Yes in step S31), the process skips to step S33, and management information related to the information home appliance HE stored in the home appliance information management unit 161 at that time, or information related to user designation Management information related to the home appliance HE is transmitted to the content providing engine 22 of the server device 20 via the home appliance information transmitter 11.

  On the other hand, when the manual inquiry mode of step S31 is not executed (No in step S31), it is confirmed whether the information home appliance HE is newly connected to the home information outlet 18 (step S32). The confirmation here includes replacement, disposal, etc. in addition to the expansion of information home appliances HE. If there is a connection of a new information home appliance HE (Yes in step S32), management information related to the new information home appliance HE is taken into the home appliance information management unit 161, and a new information home appliance HE is added. Management information of all information home appliances HE including management information is automatically transmitted (automatic inquiry mode) to the content providing engine 22 of the server device 20 via the home appliance information transmission unit 11 (step S33).

  The inquiry information including such management information is acquired by the home appliance management information acquisition unit 221 of the content providing engine 22, and a content search condition that matches the acquired inquiry information is set (step S34). Then, based on the set content search condition, the content search unit 222 searches for the service content stored in the content database 21 (step S35).

  As a result of the search, if service content that matches the content search condition is not stored in the content database 21 (No in step S36), a message that there is no service content that matches the condition in the distribution information generation unit 223 Information is generated and this message information is distributed to the client terminal 10 (step S37). After distribution, the message information is displayed on the display unit 12 and notified to the user.

  On the other hand, if there is service content that matches the content search condition (Yes in step S36), the distribution information generation unit 223 generates content type list information (content list information) including summary information of the hit service content. Is done. This content list information is distributed to the client terminal 10 (step S38). Such processing is executed in the same manner in both the manual inquiry mode and the automatic inquiry mode. In particular, in the auto inquiry mode, the information home appliance HE is newly connected to the information outlet 18 in the home, and is adapted to the home appliance arrangement system in the user's home including the new information home appliance HE. The search result of the service content to be distributed is automatically distributed.

  The content list information distributed from the content providing engine 22 is displayed on the display unit 12 of the client terminal 10 (step S39). FIG. 15 is a plan view showing a content list screen 61 which is an example of a display mode of the content list information on the display unit 12. The content list screen 61 corresponds to the above-described auto inquiry mode, and displays a model display unit 611 that displays model information of the information home appliance HE newly connected to the information outlet 18, and a service that has been hit by the content search. A content list display window 612 for displaying a list of contents (a list of available contents) is provided.

  The content list display window 612 is provided with a display field 613 for each hit service content. In the display column 613, the title of the service content, the category (for example, the classification of the service content set according to the purpose such as “energy saving”), the summary information thereof, and the like are displayed. By checking such a content list screen 61 on the display unit 12, the user can grasp an outline of service content that can be used in the current arrangement state of the information home appliance HE.

  A detailed confirmation button 614 is provided in the display field 613. By giving a click operation or the like to the detailed confirmation button 614 (content selection; step S40), detailed information on the service content is displayed. (Step S41).

  FIG. 16 is a plan view showing a content information screen 62 which is an example of a display mode of service content detailed information. The content information screen 62 includes an explanation display unit 621 that displays detailed description information of service content, a charge display unit 622 that displays a fee structure, an auxiliary information display unit 623 that displays precautions, and a license agreement. Etc., a condition display section 624 and the like are displayed.

  The content information screen 62 further includes an environment confirmation button 625, a compatible home appliance confirmation button 626, and a cancel button 627. When the environment confirmation button 625 is selected, an operation environment confirmation query for actually operating the information home appliance installed in the user is transmitted to the server device 20 in the service content selected by the user. The environment confirmation result is returned to the client terminal 10 (step S42). At this time, it is also confirmed whether the necessary mutual definition file is taken into the client terminal 10 side. The user can confirm the suitability of the service content based on the operating environment confirmation result. The compatible home appliance confirmation button 626 is a button for calling a list of information home appliances corresponding to the service content. The cancel button 627 is a button for stopping the display of the content information screen 62.

  The user determines whether or not to purchase service content by checking the content list screen 61 and the content information screen 62 as described above. When the service content purchase process is executed (Yes in step S43), after the desired service content is selected by the content selection unit 13, an order instruction signal is transmitted from the home appliance information transmission unit 11 (step S44). . In response to this, on the server device 20 side, the service content related to the order stored in the content database 21 is extracted, and the service content is distributed to the client terminal 10 (step S45). The distributed service content is stored in the content storage unit 14, and is appropriately used by the information home appliance control unit 162 for control of the information home appliance HE installed in the user's home.

  FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the appliance promotion flow F4 of (d) above. The home appliance promotion flow F4 is a mode in which an operation for home appliance promotion is added to the content inquiry flow F3 described above. Therefore, the process starts with the search of the service content by the content search unit 222 (step S51), but it is assumed that steps S31 to S34 shown in the flowchart of FIG. 14 have been executed before that. (Description of the operation of this part is omitted).

  As a result of the search in step S51, if service content that matches the content search condition is not stored in the content database 21 (No in step S52), message information indicating that there is no service content that matches the condition is generated. The message information is distributed to the client terminal 10 (step S53). On the other hand, if there is service content that matches the content search condition (Yes in step S52), the home appliance promotion information generation unit 26 confirms whether there is home appliance promotion information for the user regarding the hit service content. (Step S54).

  Specifically, the home appliance promotion information generation unit 26 acquires the content code of the service content that has been hit, searches the content database 21, and converts it into function classification information required by the service content. Then, by using the function classification information as a search key, the model-specific function data D5 of the home appliance property information database 24 is searched, the model of the information home appliance that can handle the specified service content is extracted, and the service content is used. At this time, data information relating to information appliances that are insufficient or recommended is generated. In this way, when there is home appliance promotion information for the user regarding the hit service content (Yes in step S54), the home appliance promotion information generation unit 26 generates home appliance promotion information.

  Then, the distribution information generation unit 223 generates distribution information in which the home appliance promotion information is attached to content type list information (content list information) including summary information of the service content that has been hit (step S55). Such content list information with home appliance promotion information is distributed to the client terminal 10 (step S57). On the other hand, when the home appliance promotion information does not exist (No in step S54), only the content list information of the hit service content is generated (step S56), and this content list information is distributed (step S57).

  The content list information distributed from the content providing engine 22 is displayed on the display unit 12 of the client terminal 10 (step S58). Here, it is confirmed whether the distribution information includes home appliance promotion information (step S59). If the home appliance promotion information is included (Yes in step S59), the home appliance promotion information is displayed (step S60). When the home appliance promotion information is not included (No in step S59), the processes in and after step S40 shown in the flowchart of FIG. 14 are executed.

  FIG. 18 is a plan view showing a corresponding home appliance list screen 63 that is an example of a display mode of home appliance promotion information. The corresponding home appliance list screen 63 can be configured to be displayed on the display unit 12 by selecting and operating the corresponding home appliance confirmation button 626 provided on the content information screen 62 shown in FIG. 16, for example. The corresponding home appliance list screen 63 is necessary (or recommended) when using the content display column 631 for displaying the selected content name and the service content posted in the content display column 631 in the user's home. And a home appliance list display window 632 for displaying a list of home appliances. The home appliance list display window 632 is provided with display fields 633 and 634 for each home appliance extracted as necessary home appliances. In the display columns 633 and 634, the home appliance type, manufacturer, model name, and the like are displayed. Thus, the user can acquire data information about the information home appliance HE that is required when receiving a more complete service with the service content. In addition, a home appliance manufacturer or the like that is the fourth player can expect an effect of expanding sales of information home appliances triggered by the presence of service content.

  FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the home appliance replacement support flow F5 of (e) above. In this home appliance replacement support flow F5, an artificial inquiry operation to the server device 20 from the client terminal 10 side starts. First, inquiry information regarding replacement of the information home appliance HE is input from the operation unit 17 or the like, and transmitted to the server device 20 (step S71). At this time, the model information of the information home appliance HE that is desired to be replaced and information on the service content already installed by the user (such as the content code stored in the content information storage unit 15) are transmitted.

  When the inquiry information regarding replacement by purchase is acquired by the server device 20, the home appliance replacement information generation unit 27 determines whether there is a home appliance that can be replaced by the information home appliance HE specified by the inquiry information according to the function type as described above. After the conversion, search is performed by referring to the function-specific function data in the home appliance property information database 24 (step S72). If there is no replaceable home appliance (No in step S73), message information indicating that there is no replaceable home appliance is generated, and this message information is distributed to the client terminal 10 (step S74).

  On the other hand, if there is a replaceable home appliance (Yes in step S73), the home appliance replacement information generating unit 27 generates data information regarding the information home appliance that can handle the service content introduced by the user (step S73). S75). Then, in the distribution information generation unit 223, distribution information as home appliance replacement information (home appliance replacement support information) is created and distributed to the client terminal 10 (step S76). Such home appliance replacement support information is displayed on the display unit 12 (step S77), whereby the user can grasp necessary information regarding home appliance replacement.

  FIG. 20 is a plan view showing a home appliance replacement support screen 64 which is an example of a display mode of the home appliance replacement support information. The home appliance replacement support screen 64 includes a home appliance model name display field 641, an influence content display window 642, and a replacement target model display window 643. The home appliance model name display column 641 displays the model name of the information home appliance that has been replaced (such as the model name of the information home appliance currently installed in the user's house). The influence content display window 642 displays a list of service contents (service contents that have already been introduced to the user) that are affected by information home appliances that are desired to be replaced. The replacement target model display window 643 displays a list of information home appliances that can be replaced. The user confirms the candidate model displayed in the replacement target model display window 643 and determines whether or not to actually replace the model.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of the information provision system S concerning this invention was described, this invention is not limited to this, Various deformation | transformation implementation is possible. For example, an appropriate authentication system at the time of access may be added between the client terminal 10 and the server device 20, or a security function that prevents home appliance information from being read by a third party may be added. . Moreover, it is good also as an aspect in which the service supplier etc. which are developing the special optional function with respect to specific information household appliances can join the said information provision system S.

1 is a system configuration diagram schematically showing an overall configuration of an information providing system S according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a functional block diagram which shows the functional structure of the said information provision system S. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a data arrangement diagram of main data held in the client terminal 10 and the server device 20. FIG. It is a top view which shows an example of a utilization object definition screen. It is a top view which shows an example of a presence reference object definition screen. It is a top view which shows an example of an object method definition screen. It is a top view which shows an example of a content registration screen. It is a top view which shows an example of a genre selection screen. It is a top view which shows an example of the function registration screen classified by genre. It is a top view which shows an example of the corresponding | compatible function registration screen utilized for a 4th player. It is a schematic diagram which shows the classification | category of the operation | movement flow of the information provision system S. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the household appliance function registration flow F1. It is a flowchart which shows the content development flow F2. It is a flowchart which shows the content inquiry flow F3. It is a top view which shows the content list screen which is an example of the display mode of content list information. It is a top view which shows the content information screen which is an example of the display mode of service content detailed information. It is a flowchart which shows the household appliance promotion flow F4. It is a top view which shows the corresponding household appliance list screen which is an example of the display mode of household appliance promotion information. It is a flowchart which shows the household appliance replacement assistance flow F5. It is a top view which shows the household appliance replacement assistance screen which is an example of the display mode of household appliance replacement assistance information.

Explanation of symbols

10 Client terminal 11 Home appliance information transmission unit (transmission means)
12 Display section (display means)
13 Content selection section (selection means)
14 content storage unit 15 content information storage unit 16 information appliance management control unit 17 operation unit 18 information outlet (network connection means)
20 server device 21 content database 22 content providing engine 222 content search unit (content search means)
223 Distribution information generation unit (distribution means)
23 Content Creation Tool Provider 24 Home Appliance Property Information Database (Property Database)
25 Client Management Database 26 Home Appliance Promotion Information Generating Unit 27 Home Appliance Alternative Information Generating Unit 30 Input Terminal (Content Input Means)
40 Input terminal (appliances property input means)
S Information provision system HE Information appliances IN Internet (communication network)

Claims (19)

A client terminal capable of acquiring and transmitting predetermined management information related to information home appliances installed in a predetermined local area;
A content database that is connected to the client terminal via a communication network and stores service content for one or more of predetermined information home appliances, and content that provides the service content to the client terminal under predetermined conditions An information providing system comprising a server device having a providing engine,
The content providing engine includes content search means for extracting service content adapted to the information home appliance from the content database in association with predetermined management information related to the information home appliance transmitted from the client terminal. Information providing system. The predetermined management information regarding the information home appliance transmitted from the client terminal is model information of the information home appliance installed in the local area,
The content search means extracts the service content applicable to the information home appliance by collating the function category of the information home appliance given based on the model information and the function category used in each of the service contents. The information providing system according to claim 1. Content input means for inputting service content targeting one or more of predetermined information home appliances is connected to the server device via a communication network,
2. The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein service content input from the content input means can be registered in the content database.   The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the server device is provided with a property database that stores predetermined property information related to information home appliances. A content creation tool providing unit that provides basic information related to information home appliances in the form of a predetermined content creation tool in the server device; a property database that stores predetermined property information related to information home appliances; Is provided,
4. The content creation tool providing unit extracts predetermined property information stored in a property database in response to a request from the content input unit, and provides the content creation tool. Information providing system described in 1. The property information is
For each type of information home appliances, genre-specific function data, which is data indicating the function classification each possessed,
6. The model-specific equipment data, which is data associated with each function category in the function data in each genre, for each model of information home appliance, Information provision system. Home appliance property input means for inputting predetermined property information related to information home appliances to be newly registered in the property database is connected to the server device via a communication network,
The home appliance property input means is capable of registering the function data classified by genre registered in the property database and the function classification possessed by the information home appliance to be newly registered. The information providing system according to claim 6.   The content creation tool providing unit provides a content creation tool capable of setting position information of an information home appliance to which service content is applied or setting position information such that one service content is used in a plurality of locations. The information providing system according to claim 5, wherein the information providing system is one. The client terminal also serves as a home server in which information home appliances installed in a predetermined local area can be connected to the network,
9. The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein predetermined management information related to information home appliances connected to the client terminal via a network can be transmitted to the server device.   The information providing system according to claim 9, wherein the predetermined management information includes model information and installation location information about information home appliances. Predetermined network connection means for connecting information home appliances to a network system to which the client terminal is connected, and
When a new information home appliance is connected to the network connection means, a transmission means is provided for acquiring predetermined management information including management information about the new information home appliance and automatically transmitting it to the server device. The information providing system according to claim 10. The content providing engine includes the new information home appliance from the content database by the content search means when acquiring predetermined management information related to the new information home appliance transmitted from the client terminal. Perform a content search that extracts service content adapted to the information home appliance system installed in the local area,
12. The information providing system according to claim 11, further comprising a distribution unit that distributes information about the service content extracted by the content search unit to the client terminal. Display means for displaying content types including summary information of service content extracted by content search means of the server device on the client terminal;
Selecting means enabling selection of a specific content type from the content types displayed on the display means;
The information provision according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the server device includes a distribution unit that distributes service content corresponding to the specific content type selected by the selection unit. system. In the server device,
Using the content type displayed by the display means or the specific content type selected by the selection means, and predetermined management information regarding information home appliances given from the client terminal as parameters,
14. The home appliance promotion information generation unit that generates data information related to information home appliances that are insufficient or recommended when using service content corresponding to the specific content type is provided. Information provision system. In the case where the distribution means according to claim 12 operates, the home appliance promotion information generation unit,
Generate data information on information home appliances that are insufficient or recommended when using the service content distributed by the distribution means,
15. The information providing system according to claim 14, wherein the distribution unit distributes data information generated by the home appliance promotion information generation unit in addition to the extracted information related to service content.   The home appliance promotion information generation unit is recommended to substitute data related to home appliances when there is an information inquiry related to home information appliances about information home appliances that operate in response to a predetermined service content from the client terminal. 16. The information providing system according to claim 15, wherein the information is generated. A content database for storing service content for one or more predetermined information home appliances;
A property database for storing predetermined property information related to information home appliances;
A content creation tool providing unit that provides basic information on information home appliances in creating the service content in the form of a predetermined content creation tool;
A server device comprising a content providing engine for providing the service content to a client terminal under a predetermined condition,
The content creation tool providing unit extracts predetermined property information stored in the property database in response to a predetermined output request, and provides the content creation tool to the outside via a communication network. ,
The content database is one in which service content can be registered from the outside via a communication network,
The content providing engine includes content search means for extracting service content adapted to the information home appliance from the content database in association with predetermined management information regarding the information home appliance transmitted from the client terminal. The server apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. The server device according to claim 17, wherein
Based on a specific content type given as a search key for the content database and the property database and predetermined management information on information home appliances,
A server device, comprising: a home appliance promotion information generation unit that generates data information related to information home appliances that are insufficient or recommended when using service content corresponding to the specific content type. The server device according to claim 17, wherein
Alternative home information generator for generating data information on recommended alternative home information appliances when there is an inquiry about alternative home appliances for information home appliances that operate in response to a predetermined service content from a client terminal The server apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned.

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