JP2007079658A - Server system, content distribution system, and server device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a user with various kinds of pieces of information related to new arrival content data when newly available content data exist in any different site other than its own site. <P>SOLUTION: Different sites are managed by a comprehensive site server SS and each of a plurality of individual site servers IS-k. Then, when the user of a portable telephone set MP-k registers taste information showing his or her own taste information (for example, his or her favorite musical piece genre or the like) in any server SS or IS-k, the unitary management of the taste information is performed by the comprehensive server SS. Then, when the new content data are made available by any individual server IS-k, the comprehensive server SS describes advertisement or the like corresponding to attributes matched with the tastes of a user in the contents data in electronic mail, and transmits the electronic mail to the portable telephone MP-k. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for distributing data corresponding to various contents (hereinafter referred to as “content data”) from a server to a communication terminal.

In recent years, content data distributed via a communication network is extremely diverse, and new content data is created one after another, and the created content data is distributed as new content. Under such circumstances, when new content data (hereinafter, “new content data”) becomes available, the user is notified of the presence of the new content data, and the content data is used. It is no exaggeration to say that is the key to the success of future content distribution services. From this point of view, conventionally, advertisement related to newly-arrived content data has been widely performed. Recently, newly-arrived content data that matches the user's preference is identified from the user's usage history, and an image for promoting the newly-arrived content data is used by the user. A karaoke system having a function to be presented is proposed (Patent Document 1).
JP 2002-229575 A

  By the way, in the actual service provision scene, for example, there is a business development in which one service provider opens a plurality of sites and provides different services at each site. In view of the current situation, even when newly arrived content data becomes available on a different site, various information (hereinafter, “newly arrived information”) such as advertisements and content outlines of the newly arrived content data are given to the user. It is considered necessary to promote the use of the newly arrived content data. However, the karaoke system described above manages only newly arrived content data only within one site that distributes song data for karaoke, and manages newly arrived content data that can be used at sites other than the site. , It does not have a function of distributing new arrival information corresponding to the new arrival content data.

  The present application has been made in view of the circumstances described above. As an example of the problem, even when there is newly-arrived content data newly available in different sites, the newly-arrived content data is related to the newly-arrived content data. It is an object of the present invention to provide a content distribution system, a server system, and a server device that can provide various types of information (for example, advertisements and content outlines) to users.

  In this specification, the term “site” refers to an application for providing one service (or plural in some cases) and a resource data group used by the application (that is, HTML data corresponding to an established Web page) Group, content data group associated therewith, database for data search, etc.). One site may be realized by one server, or may be realized by a plurality of server groups. In addition, a plurality of sites may be realized by a single server.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, in one aspect of the present application, the server system according to claim 1 provides a first service for delivering content data to a communication terminal device held by a service recipient. A node and a second node that provides a second service different from the first service to the communication terminal device, wherein the second node is the content data desired by a user of the communication terminal device A second node recording unit in which user information indicating the attribute of the first node is recorded; an acquisition unit for acquiring attribute information indicating an attribute of content data to be distributed in the first node from the first node; Specification means for specifying content data matching the attribute indicated by the user information recorded in the two-node recording means based on the attribute information Characterized by comprising a transmitting means for transmitting an e-mail describing information associated with the identified content data addressed to the communication terminal device.

  According to this server system, in a first node (for example, a server device for realizing the other site or the site) different from a second node (for example, a site or a server device for realizing the site). When new content data becomes available, only the content data that matches the attribute indicated by the user information is extracted, and an e-mail in which information related to the content data is described Provide users with various information (for example, advertisements and content outlines) related to content data that will be distributed to communication terminal devices and become newly available at other nodes, and promote the use of the content data It becomes possible to plan.

  Further, in this case, the first node generating means for generating user information based on various information acquired from the communication terminal device in the first node, the first node recording means for recording the generated user information, and the first node recording Supply means for supplying the user information recorded in the means to the second node, and registration means for recording the user information supplied from the first node in the second node recording means is provided in the second node. (Claim 2). With this configuration, the user information registered by the user at the first node is supplied to the second node, and the content data is specified based on the user information. The user information registered by the user at a different node is stored in the first node. Centralized management can be performed in two nodes.

  In addition, if the user information is supplied from the first node to the second node only when the user of the communication terminal apparatus is the target for providing the second service in the configuration according to claim 2, It is possible to reduce the number of processing steps executed in the node.

  In this case, in an environment where a plurality of communication terminal devices exist, common identification information is assigned to each of the plurality of communication terminal devices in both the first node and the second node, and the first node recording is performed. And the second node recording means store the assigned common identification information, and when the supply means of the first node supplies the user information to the second node, the identification information is added to the user information and supplied. Further, the registration means of the second node records the user information in association with the same identification information as the identification information added to the user information in the identification information recorded in the second node recording means. A configuration is also possible.

  By adopting such a configuration, even in an environment where there are a plurality of communication terminal devices, each communication terminal device is uniquely specified between the first node and the second node, and is indicated by the user information of the communication terminal device. It is possible to reliably present information related to content data that matches the attribute.

  Furthermore, in the configuration according to claim 1, the second node generation unit that generates user information based on various information acquired from the communication terminal device and records the generated user information in the second node recording unit is a second node. If it is provided in the node, it is possible to generate the user information in the second node without acquiring the user information from the first node, and to specify the content data that matches the user attribute.

  Further, in the configuration according to claim 1, in an environment where there are a plurality of first nodes, the user of the communication terminal device subscribes to the first service in association with the user information in the second node recording means. Node identification information for uniquely identifying the node is stored, and the user information in the content data having an attribute that matches the attribute indicated by the user information recorded in the second node recording means by the second node identification means Only the one corresponding to the first node corresponding to the node identification information recorded in association with is specified, and the transmission means sends an e-mail describing the information related to the specified content data to the communication terminal device It is also possible to transmit. According to this configuration, the new content data corresponding to the first service to which the user is not subscribed is excluded from the target of presenting related information by e-mail, and a user-friendly system can be realized. It becomes possible.

  Furthermore, the content data distribution system according to claim 7 is a communication terminal device held by a service recipient, and a first node that provides a first service for distributing content data to the communication terminal device; A second node that provides a second service different from the first service to the communication terminal device, and the second node is an attribute of the content data desired by a user of the communication terminal device Second node recording means in which user information indicating the content information is recorded; acquisition means for acquiring attribute information indicating an attribute of content data to be distributed in the first node; from the first node; and the second node Specifying means for specifying content data matching the attribute indicated by the user information recorded in the recording means based on the attribute information; And a sending means for sending the e-mail describing information related to the identified content data addressed to the communication terminal device.

  Furthermore, the server device according to claim 8 is a server device that provides a predetermined service by distributing various data to a communication terminal device held by a service recipient, the communication terminal device Recording means for recording user information indicating the content data attribute desired by the user and a service that exists in the own apparatus or in another server apparatus and distributes the content data to the communication terminal apparatus Acquisition means for acquiring attribute information indicating an attribute of content data to be distributed within the node, and content data matching the attribute indicated by the user information recorded in the recording means. An electronic device that describes identification means for identifying based on the attribute information, and information related to the identified content data And a sending means for transmitting Lumpur addressed the communication terminal device.

  According to the inventions described in the seventh and eighth aspects, it is possible to achieve the same effects as the invention described in the first aspect.

  According to each invention of the present application, even when there is newly-arrived content data that can be newly used at different sites, various types of information (for example, advertisements and content overviews) related to the newly-arrived content data are stored in the user. Can be provided.

[1] Embodiment [1.1] Configuration of Embodiment The configuration of a content data distribution system S (hereinafter referred to as “system S”) according to the present embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. . FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the system S according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in the figure, the system S according to the present embodiment includes a network NET in which the Internet and a mobile packet communication network are interconnected via a gateway relay switching center, and a plurality of portable telephones MP-k (k = 1, 2,..., N), a general site server SS (hereinafter referred to as “total server SS”), and a plurality of individual site servers IS-1 (“l = 1, 2,..., M”). Hereinafter referred to as “individual server IS”). In this system S, the general server SS and the individual server IS constituting the server system SG provide different services to the user of the portable telephone MP-k. The specific service mode is as follows.

< General server SS >
This general server SS provides a comprehensive service such as a data search service (so-called search engine), transfer guidance for trains, weather information, and the like to the user of the mobile phone MP-k. In the present embodiment, a service providing site realized by the integrated server SS is referred to as an “integrated site” and is distinguished from a site realized by the individual server IS-k. The “second node” in “Claims” corresponds to, for example, this general site.

< Individual server IS-k >
The individual server IS-k provides various content data download services to the user of the portable telephone MP-k. In the present embodiment, the service providing site realized by the individual server IS-k is referred to as an “individual site”, and the “first node” in the “claims” is, for example, the individual site. It corresponds to. In addition, although the specific service content provided by the individual server IS-k to the user of the portable telephone MP-k is arbitrary, in this embodiment, the individual server IS-1 is the incoming melody (that is, portable) A music data download service for music that is set as a notification sound such as a ringtone or an alarm sound in the telephone MP-k is provided, and the individual server IS-2 provides text data corresponding to the lyrics of the music (hereinafter referred to as “lyric data”). ")" Will be described as providing a service for distributing to the mobile phone MP-k.

  Here, as a characteristic feature of the present embodiment, in this system S, the preference content registered by the user on the general site or any individual site (for example, his / her favorite artist name, music genre, etc.) (Hereinafter referred to as “preference information”) indicating the centralized management by the general server SS. Note that “user information” in “claims” corresponds to this preference information, for example. When new content data that matches the user's preference content becomes available in any server SS and IS-k belonging to the server system SG, the new server addressed to the user's mobile phone MP-k from the general server SS. An e-mail describing new information such as advertisements for content data is transmitted.

  For example, “xxx” as an artist name of the user at the individual site of the individual server IS-1 that provides the music data download service, and an artist name of the user at the individual site of the individual server IS-2. Assume that “△△△” is registered. Then, the registered artist names “XXX” and “ΔΔΔ” are centrally managed by the general server SS as preference information corresponding to the user, and any server SS belonging to the server system SG thereafter. When any new content data (for example, music data or lyrics data corresponding to the music of these artists) is available in IS-k and “XX” and “ΔΔΔ” are available from the general server SS. An e-mail describing new arrival information is transmitted to the mobile phone MP-k to notify the user that new content is available.

  With this function, the user of the mobile phone MP-k can acquire new arrival information of new arrival content data that matches the preference only by registering his / her preference at either the general site or the individual site. This makes it possible to improve user convenience and to notify the user of newly arrived information, thereby promoting the use of newly arrived content data by the user.

  Hereinafter, a specific configuration of the system S for realizing such functions will be described.

  First, the mobile phone MP-k exchanges data with the base station BS accommodated in the network NET by executing a communication program such as a voice communication program or a WWW (World Wide Web) browser, Data communication is performed via the network NET. In the present embodiment, the user can receive various services provided by the general server SS and the individual server IS-k by using the function of the portable telephone MP-k.

  For example, the user obtains HTML data corresponding to a Web page (comprehensive site) from the general server SS using the mobile phone MP-k, and displays a corresponding image on a display unit (not shown) to display various data. Service (for example, data search service and transfer guidance service) can be provided. Further, for example, the user can download music data from the individual server IS-1 using the mobile phone MP-k, and can set an incoming melody using the downloaded music data. When ringtone is set, the mobile phone MP-k generates an event such as an incoming call to the user by calling up the incoming melody when a call is received, when an e-mail is received, or when other notification sounds are amplified. Will be notified.

  In addition, the portable telephone MP-k is equipped with an application program (so-called mailer) for sending and receiving e-mails in addition to the program such as the WWW browser. The mobile phone MP-k receives the e-mail transmitted from the general server SS by using the function provided by this mailer, and displays the new arrival information described in the e-mail on the display unit. Let As a result, the user is notified that the newly arrived content data that matches the user's preference is available in each server SS and IS-k belonging to the server system SG.

  Next, the general server SS and the individual server IS-k constituting the server system SG are HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) servers held by the information provider, and upon receiving an HTTP GET request from the network NET, Resource data (specifically, HTML data and content data corresponding to a Web page) corresponding to the URL included in the request is distributed.

  The contents of the resource data of each server SS and IS-k differ depending on the service contents realized by the server SS and IS-k. Will be held as

< General server SS >
The general server SS provides HTML data corresponding to various Web pages (for example, a menu page indicating menu items of service contents, a page for inputting search conditions, etc.) as data for providing various services such as a data search service. In addition, a database for searching data, a DB for storing weather information in various parts of the country, a DB for train transfer guidance, and the like are held as resource data.

< Individual server IS-k >
As data for realizing the content data download service, for example, (i) the individual server IS-1 receives HTML data corresponding to the music data download page or music data to be downloaded, and (ii) the individual server IS. -2 holds resource data as lyrics data as well as HTML data corresponding to the download page.

  Specific configurations of the general server SS and the individual server IS-k having such functions will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration of the general server SS and individual server IS-k belonging to the server system SG.

  As shown in the figure, in the present embodiment, the general server SS and the individual server IS-k are communication units 21 for performing data communication via a network NET as elements for realizing a common function in both servers. And 31 and inter-server interface units 22 and 32 (hereinafter, “interface” is abbreviated as “I / F”) for mediating data exchange between the general server SS and the individual servers.

  In addition, both servers SS and IS-k have a resource DB group 23, a control unit 24, and a general management table recording unit 25 as elements for realizing a unique function in each server, The individual server IS-k has a resource DB 33, a control unit 34, and an individual management table recording unit 35. Hereinafter, each of these elements will be described.

< Elements unique to the general server SS >
First, regarding the general server SS, the resource DB group 23 of the general server SS includes a data search DB and weather information of each location in order to realize a service provided to the user of the mobile phone MP-k on the general site. Is stored.

  The control unit 24 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and a hard disk, and executes programs in the ROM and the hard disk (for example, an HTTP server program and a mailer). To control each part of the integrated server SS. For example, when a GET request is received from the network NET by the communication unit 21, various DBs included in the resource DB group 23 are searched based on URLs and CGI (Common Gateway Interface) parameters included in the GET request, and desired Returns data corresponding to the information of. The operation at this time is the same as that of an HTTP server for realizing a conventional data search service, weather information providing service, transfer guidance service, and the like.

  Further, as a characteristic feature of the present embodiment, the control unit 24 centrally manages the preference information registered by the user in the individual server IS-k, and the newly arrived content data is used in any individual server IS-k. When possible, new arrival information corresponding to new arrival content data matching the user's preference is described in an e-mail and transmitted to the mobile phone MP-k. In order to realize this function, in the present embodiment, the total management table recording unit 25 stores a total management table TBL shown in FIG. FIG. 3 shows an example of the recorded contents of the general management table TBL according to the present embodiment.

  Here, the comprehensive management table TBL will be described.

  As shown in the figure, in the present embodiment, the comprehensive management table TBL includes (i) identification information for uniquely identifying a service user (that is, a user of the mobile phone MP-k) (hereinafter, “ UID ") storage field is provided, and by storing the UID assigned to each user in this field, the users who subscribe to the service of the general site are managed. Although the timing for storing the UID is arbitrary, in the present embodiment, a predetermined registration procedure (hereinafter referred to as “subscription procedure”) is required to receive provision of the general site. It is assumed that UID assignment and registration to the general management table TBL are sometimes performed.

  Each UID storage field includes (ii) a field for storing a site ID for uniquely identifying each individual site subscribed to the service by the user, and (iii) a preference corresponding to the user. A field for storing information is provided, and when preference information registered in an individual site is transmitted from the individual server IS-k, the preference information is stored in the total management table TBL. It becomes. As a result, the preference information registered in each site is centrally managed by the general server SS. “Node identification information” in “Claims” corresponds to this site ID, for example.

  However, if different UIDs are allocated to each server SS and IS-k and the UID is not shared, the preference information corresponds to any user when the preference information is transmitted from the individual server IS-k. It becomes impossible to specify in the general server SS whether it has been made, and the general management table TBL cannot be updated. Therefore, in the present embodiment, for example, the UID is shared by all the servers SS and IS-k by the following method.

< Method 1 >
This method is a method of notifying the UID from the network NET side. Usually, when data communication is performed with a communication node on the Internet via a mobile packet communication network, a gateway server provided in the gateway relay exchange assigns an IP address to each mobile phone MP-k, and mobile packets Mutual conversion is performed between a protocol followed by a communication network and HTTP / TCP / IP. In this method, when the IP address is assigned, the gateway server determines the UID corresponding to the user number of the portable telephone MP-k, and incorporates this UID in the data packet. As a result, a UID is added to a data packet transmitted from the gateway server to the Internet side (or a data packet transmitted directly for a server connected to the gateway server via a dedicated line), and the server system SG UIDs can be made common in all servers belonging to.

< Method 2 >
This method is a method in which an algorithm for determining a UID based on an IP address is unified between all servers SS and IS-k, and the same UID is allocated when the same IP address is used. is there. When this method is adopted, it becomes possible to share the UID without assigning the UID in the gateway server. However, a method in which a fixed IP address is not assigned to each mobile phone MP-k in the mobile packet communication network (that is, a method in which the IP address assigned to the mobile phone MP-k in the gateway server is changed every time) is a gateway. When employed in the server, since the IP address of the mobile phone MP-k varies from time to time, it is necessary to employ the above method 1.

  The general management table TBL is provided with a field for storing (iv) a mail address corresponding to the mobile phone MP-k of the user. In the present embodiment, the control unit 24 controls the general management table TBL. An electronic mail in which new arrival information is described is transmitted based on the mail address stored in the management table TBL. More specifically, the control unit 24 acquires new arrival information corresponding to new arrival content data from the individual server IS-k at a predetermined timing, and is stored in the general management table TBL from the new arrival information. Extract data corresponding to newly arrived content data that matches the preference information. And the control part 24 produces | generates the data corresponding to the email which described the said new arrival information, and transmits to the mail address stored in the comprehensive management table TBL.

< About elements specific to individual server IS-k >
On the other hand, the content data to be distributed is stored in the resource data DB 33 of the individual server IS-k, and the attribute of the content data (for example, when the content data is music data, the artist name and music (See FIG. 2), and this attribute information is used in the general server SS to identify newly arrived content data that matches the user's preference information.

  Each content data is associated with new arrival information of the content data, and a new arrival flag F indicating whether the content data is new arrival content (F = “1” in the case of new arrival content data). In other cases, F = “0”) is associated. In this embodiment, when transmission of new arrival information is requested from the general server SS, new arrival information and attribute information associated with the new arrival flag F with F = “1” are supplied to the general server SS. Become.

  Next, the control unit 34 of the individual server IS-k includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and a hard disk, and controls each unit of the individual server IS-k. For example, the control unit 34 (i) a user who subscribes to a service of an individual site by distributing HTML data or content data corresponding to a download page based on a GET request transmitted from the mobile phone MP-k Provide services to Note that whether or not to request a subscription procedure when providing a service at an individual site is arbitrary, but in the present embodiment, a description will be given assuming that a subscription procedure is also required when providing a service at an individual site.

  Further, for example, the control unit 34 generates preference information based on the preference content input by the user according to a predetermined Web page on the individual site, and manages the generated preference information. In order to realize this function, in the present embodiment, the individual management table TBL2 shown in FIG. 4 is recorded in the individual management table recording unit 35 of the individual server IS-k. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of recorded contents of the individual management table TBL2 according to the present embodiment.

  Here, the individual management table TBL2 will be described.

  First, the individual management table TBL2 is for specifying users who subscribe to the service of the individual site. The field for storing the UID assigned to each user and the preference corresponding to the user. Fields for storing information are provided in association with each other, and this preference information is transmitted from the individual server IS-k to the general server SS and is centrally managed in the general server SS.

  However, when the user registers the preference information at the individual site, the user may have already subscribed to the service of the general site, or the user may have subscribed only to the individual site. Then, when the user is not subscribed to the service of the general site, sending preference information from the individual server IS-k to the general server SS makes the processing man-hours in the general server SS and the individual server IS-k meaningless. It can be increased.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the individual management table TBL2 has a general site subscription flag F2 indicating whether or not the user has subscribed to the service of the general site (F2 = “1” if the user has already joined the general site, not yet subscribed) In this case, F2 = "0") is stored, and the control unit 34 determines whether or not the subscriber is subscribed to the service of the general site based on the flag F2 when the preference information is registered. The registered preference information is transmitted to the general server SS only when it is determined that the information is being processed.

  If the user has not subscribed to the service of the general site, the general server SS does not transmit an e-mail in which the new arrival information is described. In this case, the electronic server in which the new arrival information is described from the individual server IS-k. Whether or not to send an email is arbitrary. If a configuration in which an e-mail describing new arrival information is transmitted from the individual server IS-k when the user is not subscribed to the service of the general site is adopted, the individual management table TBL2 as shown in FIG. Store email addresses. Then, at a predetermined timing, the control unit 34 determines whether or not the user has not subscribed to the service of the general site according to the value of the general site subscription flag F2, and only when it is determined that the user has not yet subscribed, the new arrival information. The described e-mail may be transmitted.

[1.2] Operation of Embodiment Next, a specific operation of the system S according to the present embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described. In the following, (1) operation when updating the general management table TBL and the individual management table TBL2, (2) operation when sending an e-mail describing new arrival information to the mobile phone MP-k, These will be described in the order.

(1) Operation at the time of table update First, the operation at the time of updating the general management table TBL possessed by the general server SS and the individual management table TBL2 possessed by the individual server IS-k in the system S according to the present embodiment will be described. And There are three update timings for both tables TBL and TBL2: (1-1) during the joining procedure for the general site, (1-2) during the joining procedure for the individual site, and (1-3) during the preference information registration. Therefore, the operation in each case will be described below.

(1-1) Operation at the time of registering the general site Hereinafter, an operation when the user performs a subscription procedure for the general site will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing processing executed in the system S when the user performs a subscription procedure for the service of the general site.

  First, in order to subscribe to the service of the general site, the user performs an input operation for starting the WWW browser on the operation unit (not shown) of the mobile phone MP-k, and further specifies the URL corresponding to the home page of the general site Perform an input operation. Then, the mobile phone MP-k transmits a GET request including the URL input based on the input operation.

  When this GET request is received by the general server SS, the control unit 24 of the general server SS returns HTML data corresponding to the home page of the general site based on the URL included in the GET request, and the HTML data is It is received by the portable telephone MP-k. As a result, for example, a menu screen corresponding to each service content (for example, data search service, weather information, etc.) is displayed as an image corresponding to the home page of the general site on the display unit (not shown) of the mobile phone MP-k. The Rukoto.

  When the user performs an input operation for selecting one of the menus according to this display image, a GET request including a URL corresponding to the menu item is transmitted from the portable telephone MP-k. When the GET request is transmitted in this way, the control unit 24 of the total server SS specifies the UID based on the GET request, and whether or not the same UID as the UID is stored in the total management table TBL. Determine whether. Note that the method for specifying the UID at this time is arbitrary as described above.

  If the UID has already been stored, the control unit 24 starts providing the service to the user of the mobile phone MP-k. On the other hand, if the UID has not yet been stored, the Web page for the subscription procedure HTML data corresponding to is returned. This HTML data includes a character string and a mail address input box for presenting the user with terms of service for providing services for the general site, and in order to confirm the final user's intention, It includes two buttons, “I agree to the offer” and “I don't agree”.

  In accordance with the image corresponding to the HTML data, the user inputs, for example, an e-mail address corresponding to his / her mobile phone MP-k and an input operation for selecting a button “agree to provide service”. This is performed on the operation unit of the portable telephone MP-k. Then, the URL associated with the button and the GET request including the mail address input by the user are transmitted from the portable telephone MP-k and received by the general server SS.

  Upon receiving such a GET request, the control unit 24 of the general server SS starts the process shown in FIG. 5 based on the GET request. In this process, the control unit 24 first determines the UID corresponding to the user (step Sa1), and stores the assigned UID and the mail address added to the GET request in the general management table TBL ( Step Sa2). Then, the control unit 24 transmits message data including the determined UID to all the individual servers IS-k (step Sa3), and waits for completion of reception of data transmitted from the individual server IS-k. (Step Sa4 “no”).

  On the other hand, when this message data is received, the table updating process of steps Sa5 to Sa9 is executed in the control unit 34 of each individual server IS-k. Specifically, the control unit 34 extracts the UID from the received data (step Sa5), and determines whether or not the UID is stored in the individual management table TBL2 (step Sa6). If it is determined as “no” in this determination, the control unit 34 transmits a non-subscription notice indicating that the service of the individual site has not been subscribed to the general server SS (step Sa9), and ends the process.

  On the other hand, if it is determined as “yes” in step Sa6, the control unit 34 changes the general site registration flag F stored in the individual management table TBL2 in association with the UID to “1” (step (step). Sa7), a registration completion notice is transmitted to the general server SS (step Sa8), and the process is terminated. At this time, the control unit 34 determines whether or not the preference information is stored in the individual management table TBL2, and if the preference information is already stored in the individual management table TBL2, registers the preference information in the UID. In contrast to being added to the completion notification, if it is not stored, information indicating that the preference information is not stored is added and transmitted.

  On the other hand, when the non-subscription notification or registration completion notification is transmitted from all the individual servers IS-k, and the consultation of all notifications is completed, the control unit 24 of the general server SS determines “yes” in step Sa4, After updating the general management table TBL (step Sa10), the process is terminated. At this time, the control unit 24 stores the site ID corresponding to the individual server IS-k that is the transmission source of the registration completion notification in the general management table TBL. When the registration completion notification includes a UID and preference information, the control unit 24 stores the preference information in a field corresponding to the UID of the general management table TBL. Furthermore, when only the non-subscription notices transmitted from all the individual servers IS-k are transmitted, the control unit 24 ends the process without storing the site ID or the like in the general management table TBL. It becomes.

  Through the above processing, the preference information already registered in the individual site is reflected in the comprehensive management table TBL, and it is possible to execute the e-mail transmission process describing newly arrived information from the integrated server SS.

(1-2) Operation at the time of individual site registration Next, the operation when the user performs a subscription procedure for an individual site will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating processing executed in the system S when the user performs a subscription procedure for the service of the individual site.

  First, in order to subscribe to an individual site service, the user performs an input operation for starting a WWW browser on an operation unit (not shown) of the portable telephone MP-k, and an input for designating a URL corresponding to the home page of the individual site. Perform the operation. Then, the portable telephone MP-k transmits a GET request including the URL input based on the input operation, and as a result, HTML data corresponding to the download page of the individual site is returned from the individual server IS-k. .

  When the HTML data returned in this way is received, for example, a music data download menu screen is displayed on the display unit (not shown) of the portable telephone MP-k as an image corresponding to the download page of the individual site. It will be. Then, when the user performs an input operation for selecting one of the menus according to this display screen, a GET request including a URL corresponding to the menu item is transmitted from the portable telephone MP-k. When the GET request is transmitted in this way, the control unit 34 of the individual server IS-k specifies the UID based on the GET request, and the same UID as the UID is stored in the individual management table TBL2. It is determined whether or not. If the UID has already been stored, the control unit 34 starts providing the service to the user of the mobile phone MP-k. On the other hand, if the UID has not yet been stored, the web page for the subscription procedure It returns HTML data corresponding to (a screen including an input box for terms of use and a mail address and a confirmation button). According to the image corresponding to the HTML data, for example, when the user inputs an e-mail address of the mobile phone MP-k and performs an input operation for signing up for the service on the operation unit of the mobile phone MP-k, A GET request including a URL associated with the button is transmitted from the home telephone MP-k and received by the individual server SS.

  Upon receiving such a GET request, the control unit 34 of the individual server IS-k starts the process shown in FIG. 6 based on the GET request. In this processing, the control unit 34 first determines the UID corresponding to the user (step Sb1), and stores the determined UID and the mail address added to the GET request in the individual management table TBL2 ( Step Sb2). Then, the control unit 34 transmits message data including the determined UID to the general server SS (step Sb3), and waits for data reception from the general server SS (step Sb4 “no”).

  On the other hand, when this message data is received, in the general server SS, the control unit 24 extracts the UID from the data (step Sb5), and determines whether or not the UID is stored in the general management table TBL. A state is reached (step Sb6). If it is determined as “no” in this determination, the control unit 24 transmits a non-subscription notice indicating that the service of the general site has not been subscribed to the individual server IS-k (step Sb9), and ends the processing. To do. On the other hand, if it is determined as “yes”, the control unit 24 stores the site ID corresponding to the individual site in association with the UID in the general management table TBL (step Sb7), and then the individual server IS−. A registration completion notification is transmitted to k (step Sb8), and the process is terminated.

  On the other hand, when a non-participation notification or registration completion notification is transmitted from the general server SS, the control unit 24 of the total server SS determines “yes” in step Sb4, and the user is determined based on the received data. The state shifts to a state where it is determined whether or not the service of the general site is subscribed (step Sb10). If it is determined as “no” in this determination, the control unit 34 terminates the process as it is. If it is determined as “yes”, the control unit 34 changes the general site subscription flag F2 to “1” (step Sb11). ), The process is terminated.

  Through the above processing, the site ID is stored in the general management table TBL during the subscription procedure for the service of the individual site, and the new arrival information corresponding to the new content data of the individual site becomes the description target for the e-mail.

(1-3) Operation when Preference Information is Registered Next, the operation when the user of the mobile phone MP-k registers the preference information will be described. Here, there are two patterns where the user registers the preference information: (i) when the preference information is registered at the general site, and (ii) when the preference information is registered at the individual site.

  When the preference information is registered in the general site, the control unit 24 generates the preference information based on the preference content input by the user according to the input form provided on the predetermined web page of the general site, and the total management table TBL as it is. It will be stored in. It should be noted that the method for allowing the user to register the preference information on the general site is arbitrary. For example, when a service is provided on a general site, a user is required to input a password or the like to log in to the user's dedicated Web page (so-called “My Page”), and to input his / her preference content on this Web page. Anyway.

  On the other hand, when the user registers the preference information at the individual site, if the user is also subscribed to the service of the general site, the preference information needs to be centrally managed by the general server SS. Therefore, in this embodiment, when the user registers the preference information at the individual site, the control unit 34 of the individual server IS-k executes the process shown in FIG.

  First, in this process, the control unit 34 of the individual server IS-k generates preference information indicating the preference content input by the user (step Sc1), and the generated preference information is sent to the user of the individual management table TBL2. Store in the field corresponding to the corresponding UID (step Sc2). Note that the method for allowing the user to register the preference information on the individual site is also similar to the above, and the user's own preference content or the like may be input on the user's dedicated Web page (my page).

  Next, the control unit 34 determines whether or not the general site subscription flag F2 stored in the individual management table TBL2 is “1” (step Sc3). . On the other hand, when it is determined as “yes”, the UID corresponding to the user is read from the individual management table TBL2 (step Sc4), and is added to the preference information generated and transmitted to the general server SS. (Step Sc5), the process ends.

  On the other hand, when the preference information is transmitted from the individual server IS-k, the control unit 24 of the total server SS extracts the UID added to the preference information, and within the field corresponding to the UID of the total management table TBL. The preference information transmitted from the individual server IS-k is stored.

  As a result of the above processing being executed, the preference information registered on each site is stored in the general management table TBL.

(2) Operation at the time of sending an e-mail describing new arrival information Next, an operation at the time of transmitting an e-mail describing new arrival information from the general server SS will be described with reference to FIG. This process is executed in the server system SG when the e-mail transmission timing arrives.

  First, when the e-mail transmission timing arrives, the control unit 24 of the general server SS transmits a message requesting transmission of new arrival information to each individual server IS-k (step Sd1), and reception of the new arrival information is completed. (Step Sd2 “no”).

  In this way, when a transmission request message is transmitted, the control unit 34 of each individual server IS-k executes the new arrival information transmission process shown in steps Sd3 to Sd6, and the new arrival information and attribute information are stored in the general server SS. Will be sent to. In this transmission process, the control unit 34 first searches the resource data DB 33 to determine whether or not there is a new arrival information flag F having a value of “1” (step Sd3). If it is determined as “no”, a site ID corresponding to its own server is added to a non-existence notification indicating that there is no new arrival information (step Sd6).

  On the other hand, if “yes” is determined in this determination, the control unit 34 of the individual server IS-k has a field corresponding to the content data for which the new arrival flag F = “1” (that is, new arrival content data). The new arrival information and attribute information stored therein are read from the resource DB 33, and a site ID is added to the read new arrival information, etc., and transmitted to the general server SS (step Sd4). Then, after changing the new arrival flag F to “0” (step Sd5), the control unit 34 ends the process. In this way, since the new arrival flag is changed to “0” after the new arrival information is transmitted, it is possible to prevent a situation in which new arrival information corresponding to the same content data is erroneously transmitted to the general server SS. Is possible.

  On the other hand, upon receiving (i) absence notification or (ii) new arrival information transmitted from all the individual servers IS-k, the control unit 24 of the general server SS determines “yes” in step Sd2, The received data is temporarily stored in a RAM (not shown) (step Sd7). At this time, if the received data is a non-existence notification, the control unit 24 stores the site ID included in the notification in association with information indicating that there is no new arrival information. On the other hand, when the new arrival information exists in the received data, the control unit 24 stores the new arrival information included in the data in association with the corresponding attribute information and is included in the data. The site ID is stored in association with the new arrival information.

  Next, the control unit 24 shifts to a state where it is determined whether or not new arrival information is present in the data stored in the RAM (step Sd8). If the determination is “no”, the processing of steps Sd9 to Sd14 is performed. The process is terminated without executing. On the other hand, if it is determined as “yes”, the control unit 24 sets a variable “N” for each UID stored in the general management table TBL and sets “N = 1” (step S1). Sd9), reading the preference information from the field corresponding to the UID of “N = 1” in the general management table TBL, and determining whether or not the attribute information stored in the RAM matches the preference information. (Step Sd10). At this time, (i) the attribute information transmitted from all the individual servers IS-k may be searched, and it may be determined whether or not there is an attribute information that matches the preference information. (Ii) Only the attribute information corresponding to the individual site to which the user has been subscribed may be searched, and it may be determined whether or not there is an attribute information that matches the preference information. However, when the method (ii) is adopted, it is necessary for the user corresponding to the UID to specify an individual site that has already subscribed to the service. Therefore, when this method (ii) is adopted, the site ID associated with the UID is read from the general management table TBL, and the preference information is included in the attribute information stored in the RAM in association with the site ID. It is necessary to determine whether there is a thing that matches the above.

  If it is determined as “no” in step Sd10, the control unit 24 increments the value of N by “1” to “N = 2” (step Sd13), and then whether or not the transmission of the e-mail is completed. (Step Sd14), and if it is determined to be “no”, the process is returned to step Sd10.

  On the other hand, when it determines with "yes" in step Sd10, the control part 24 reads the new arrival information matched with the attribute information which matches a user preference from RAM (step Sd11), and the email which described the said new arrival information Is transmitted to the portable telephone MP-k (step Sd12). At this time, the control unit 24 reads the mail address associated with the UID from the general management table TBL and describes it as the destination of the electronic mail.

  When the transmission of the e-mail addressed to the mobile phone MP-k corresponding to the user with the UID corresponding to “N = 1” is completed in this way, the control unit 24 increments the value of N by “1”. Then, after setting “N = 2” (step Sd13), it is determined whether or not the transmission of the e-mail is completed (step Sd14). If “no” is determined, the process returns to step Sd10.

  Thereafter, the same processing is repeated, and when the transmission processing of the e-mail addressed to the mobile phone MP-k corresponding to all the UIDs is completed, the determination in step Sd14 becomes “yes”, and the processing ends.

  As described above, in the system S according to the present embodiment, when newly arrived content data is newly available in the individual server IS-k belonging to the server system SG, Only those that match the preference information are extracted, and an e-mail in which the new arrival information corresponding to the new arrival content data is described is transmitted to the user's mobile phone MP-k. As a result, it is possible to provide the user with newly arrived information of newly arrived content data newly available in the individual server IS-k and to promote the use of the content data.

  In the system S according to the present embodiment, the preference information generated in the individual server IS-k is transmitted to the general server SS and stored in the general management table TBL. It is possible to centrally manage the user information registered by the general server SS and transmit an e-mail describing new arrival information.

  Furthermore, in the system S according to the present embodiment, even if the user registers as preference information on the general site, the preference information is stored in the general management table TBL. Regardless of the site where the preference information is registered, it is possible to receive the new arrival information corresponding to the new arrival content data that matches the user's preference, thus improving the user convenience. Become.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the general site and the individual site are realized by separate servers (that is, the general server SS and the individual server IS-k) has been described as an example. It may be realized by a server, or one site may be realized by a plurality of servers.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the structure which the user registers the preference information which shows own preference content was employ | adopted, when a user knows the title of the new arrivals content data which he desires, the said title You may make it register itself. When such a method is adopted, for example, when the user knows the existence of an unreleased new song on a TV commercial or the like, the user can register the title of the new song and use the content data corresponding to the new song. At that time, it is also possible to employ a method of sending a notification e-mail to the effect that the content data is available.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the preference information can be registered in both the general site and the individual site is adopted. However, for example, the preference information may be registered only in the general site. The preference information may be registered only in individual sites.

  Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the case has been described where new arrival information corresponding to new arrival content data newly available on an individual site is described in an e-mail and transmitted. Each content data recorded in the resource data DB 33 of the server IS-k is identified to match the user's preference, and various information related to the content data is described in an e-mail to each portable It may be transmitted to the telephone set MP-k.

  Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the case where the service at each site is provided to the user of the mobile phone MP-k has been described as an example. However, for example, a personal computer (PC) or a personal digital assistant (PDA) In the case of providing a service to various communication devices such as a simple portable telephone, the same function can be realized by adopting the same configuration as that of the present embodiment.

  In the above embodiment, the mobile phone MP-k alone is configured to perform data communication via the network NET. However, the SIM (Subscriber Identify Module) includes a user of the mobile phone MP-k. The user information may be recorded and the SIM may be connected to the mobile phone MP-k to perform data communication via the network NET using the user information recorded in the SIM.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the content delivery system S in embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the server system SG in the embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the recording content of the comprehensive management table TBL in the same embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the recording content of individual management table TBL2 in the same embodiment. It is a sequence diagram which shows the process performed in the server system SG when performing the subscription procedure with respect to the service of a general site in the embodiment. It is a sequence diagram which shows the process performed in the server system SG when performing the subscription procedure with respect to the service of an individual site in the embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process which the control part 34 of individual server IS-k performs when a user registers preference information on an individual site in the embodiment. It is a sequence diagram which shows the process performed in server system SG, when transmitting the email in which the new arrival information was described in the same embodiment from general server SS to portable telephone set MP-k.

Explanation of symbols

S ... Content data distribution system MP-k ... Mobile phone NET ... Network SS ... General site server ID-k ... Individual site server

Claims (8)

A first node that provides a first service for distributing content data to a communication terminal device held by a service recipient;
A second node that provides a second service different from the first service to the communication terminal device;
The second node is
A second node recording means in which user information indicating an attribute of the content data desired by a user of the communication terminal device is recorded;
Obtaining means for obtaining attribute information indicating an attribute of content data to be distributed in the first node from the first node;
Specifying means for specifying content data matching the attribute indicated by the user information recorded in the second node recording means based on the attribute information;
A server system comprising: transmission means for transmitting an e-mail describing information relating to the specified content data to the communication terminal device. The first node is
First node generation means for generating the user information based on various information acquired from the communication terminal device;
First node recording means for recording the generated user information;
Supply means for supplying user information recorded in the first node recording means to the second node;
With
The server system according to claim 1, wherein the second node further includes a registration unit that causes the second node recording unit to record the user information supplied from the first node.   The supply means of the first node supplies user information to the second node only when a user of the communication terminal device is a target for providing the second service. The server system described. When there are a plurality of the communication terminal devices,
Common identification information is assigned to each of the plurality of communication terminal apparatuses in both the first node and the second node, and the assigned information is assigned to the first node recording means and the second node recording means. Store common identification information,
When supplying the user information to the second node, the supply means of the first node supplies the user information with the identification information added thereto,
Further, the registration means of the second node records the user information in association with the same identification information as the identification information added to the user information in the identification information recorded in the second node recording means. The server system according to claim 2.   The second node further includes second node generation means for generating the user information based on various information acquired from the communication terminal device, and recording the generated user information in the second node recording means. The server system according to claim 1, wherein: When there are a plurality of the first nodes,
In the second node recording means, node identification information for uniquely identifying the first node subscribed to the first service by the user of the communication terminal device is recorded in association with the user information,
The second node specifying means corresponds to the node identification information recorded in association with the user information in the content data having an attribute matching the attribute indicated by the user information recorded in the second node recording means. Specify only those corresponding to the first node,
The server system according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit of the second node transmits an e-mail describing information related to the specified content data to the communication terminal device. A communication terminal device held by the service recipient;
A first node that provides a first service for delivering content data to the communication terminal device;
A second node that provides a second service different from the first service to the communication terminal device;
The second node is
A second node recording means in which user information indicating an attribute of the content data desired by a user of the communication terminal device is recorded;
Obtaining means for obtaining attribute information indicating an attribute of content data to be distributed in the first node from the first node;
Specifying means for specifying content data matching the attribute indicated by the user information recorded in the second node recording means based on the attribute information;
A content distribution system comprising: a transmission unit configured to transmit an e-mail describing information related to the specified content data to the communication terminal device. A server device that provides a predetermined service by distributing various data to a communication terminal device held by a service recipient,
Recording means for recording user information indicating attributes of content data desired by a user of the communication terminal device;
An attribute of content data to be distributed within the node from a node that exists in the own device or in another server device and that provides a service for distributing the content data to the communication terminal device. Acquisition means for acquiring the attribute information indicated;
Specifying means for specifying content data matching the attribute indicated by the user information recorded in the recording means based on the attribute information;
A server apparatus comprising: a transmission unit configured to transmit an electronic mail describing information related to the specified content data to the communication terminal apparatus.

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