JP2007109190A - Electronic pop advertisement provision system, electronic pop advertisement terminal and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To distribute a content with a simple system configuration without needing a dedicated content center, and to provide an electronic POP advertisement. <P>SOLUTION: An electronic mail transmitted from an advertisement management terminal 1 is received from a mail server 2 connected to an IP network 7 by a POP terminal 5, and content data stored in a content data file attached to the electronic mail are reproduced to provide the arbitrary electronic POP advertisement. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an advertisement providing technique, and more particularly to an electronic POP advertisement providing technique for providing an arbitrary electronic POP advertisement with a terminal having a content reproduction function installed in an advertisement place such as a store.

In recent years, with the development of information processing technology, the miniaturization of terminals that have content playback functions has been realized, and such terminals are installed in advertising places such as store shelves and counters to store content such as video and audio. An advertisement providing system that provides advertisements related to sales products by playing is used (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1).
In general, such an advertisement using contents such as video and audio is called an electronic POP advertisement (Point Of Purchase advertising), and a terminal and a system that provide an electronic POP advertisement are called an electronic POP advertising terminal and an electronic POP advertisement providing system.

  In this type of electronic POP advertisement providing system, it is necessary to update the contents of the electronic POP advertisement as sales are promoted or the product model is changed. Therefore, an electronic POP advertising terminal equipped with a data communication function is used, a dedicated content center is provided, new content is distributed from the content center to the electronic POP advertising terminal via the data communication network, and the content is electronically transmitted. An electronic POP advertisement providing system that can provide a new electronic POP advertisement at a store by playing it on a POP advertisement terminal is being used.

http: // www. sears-itv. co. jp / e_pop / index. html

  However, in such a conventional technology, when distributing content to an electronic POP advertising terminal, a dedicated content center or a dedicated communication protocol is used for data communication between the content center and the electronic POP advertising terminal. There is a problem that the entire electronic POP advertisement providing system becomes complicated and large-scale.

  That is, in the conventional electronic POP advertisement providing system, in order to receive content from an advertiser and distribute it to an arbitrary electronic POP advertising terminal, the content center performs authentication processing for access from the advertiser, and a new electronic POP after authentication. It is necessary to perform a reception process for accepting registration of advertisement content and an electronic POP advertising terminal serving as a distribution destination, and a transmission process for calling and transmitting the registered content as an electronic POP advertising terminal. For this reason, it is difficult to realize such a content center using a general-purpose file server that transfers files via the IP network, and it is necessary to newly construct a dedicated content center in accordance with the electronic POP advertisement providing system. There is.

At this time, it is necessary to construct each process in the content center in consideration of not only the reliability related to the content delivery but also the security. Even if the number of electronic POP advertising terminals is not so large, the overall system becomes complicated and large. Scale is inevitable. Also, specialized knowledge is required for content center and system construction, and the amount of construction work increases.
Therefore, according to the conventional technique, the processing cost required for constructing the electronic POP advertisement providing system increases, and therefore the advertiser cannot construct the system at low cost. Further, even when a business operator constructs and provides a system, the system cannot be provided to the advertiser at a low cost, and the advertiser cannot easily introduce the system.

  The present invention is intended to solve such problems, and an electronic POP advertisement providing system and electronic POP advertisement that can provide electronic POP advertisements by distributing contents with a simple system configuration without requiring a dedicated content center. The object is to provide a terminal and a program.

  In order to achieve such an object, an electronic POP advertisement providing system according to the present invention is an electronic POP advertisement terminal installed in an advertisement place such as a store, and receives content data from an advertisement management terminal received via an IP network. Is an electronic POP advertisement providing system for providing an arbitrary electronic POP advertisement by reproducing the content, further comprising a mail server that distributes the e-mail via the IP network, and content data is stored in the advertisement management terminal. An e-mail processing means for sending an e-mail addressed to the electronic POP advertising terminal attached with the content data file to the mail server, and receiving an e-mail addressed to the electronic POP advertising terminal from the mail server to the electronic POP advertising terminal; The content data stored in the content data file attached to the e-mail It has an advertisement reproduction means for providing any electronic POP advertising by raw.

  In addition, another electronic POP advertisement providing system according to the present invention is an electronic POP advertisement terminal installed in an advertisement place such as a store, and arbitrarily reproduces content data from an advertisement management terminal received via an IP network. An electronic POP advertisement providing system for providing electronic POP advertisements, further comprising: a mail server that distributes electronic mail via the IP network; and a WEB server that transfers files via the IP network At the terminal, the content data file storing the content data is uploaded to the WEB server, and an e-mail addressed to the electronic POP advertising terminal instructing the downloading of the content data is transmitted to the mail server. Email that receives email addressed to the electronic POP advertising terminal from the server Providing an arbitrary electronic POP advertisement by playing the content data stored in the downloaded content data file, the file transfer means for downloading the content data file designated by the received electronic mail from the WEB server Advertisement reproducing means.

  An electronic POP advertising terminal according to the present invention is an electronic POP advertising terminal installed in an advertising place such as a store, and reproduces content data from an advertising management terminal received via an IP network, thereby allowing an arbitrary electronic POP to be played. An electronic POP advertising terminal used in an electronic POP advertisement providing system for providing an advertisement, wherein an electronic mail addressed to the electronic POP advertising terminal transmitted from the advertisement management terminal is received from a mail server connected to the IP network Processing means and advertisement reproducing means for providing an arbitrary electronic POP advertisement by reproducing the content data stored in the content data file attached to the received electronic mail are provided.

  In addition, another electronic POP advertising terminal according to the present invention is an electronic POP advertising terminal installed in an advertising place such as a store, and reproduces content data from an advertising management terminal received via the IP network. An electronic POP advertising terminal used in an electronic POP advertising providing system that provides an electronic POP advertisement, and receives an electronic mail addressed to the electronic POP advertising terminal transmitted from the advertisement management terminal from a mail server connected to the IP network. An e-mail processing means, a file transfer means for downloading a content data file uploaded from an advertisement management terminal to a WEB server connected to the IP network from the WEB server in response to an instruction in the received e-mail, and downloaded content To play back the content data stored in the data file Ri and a ad playback means for providing any electronic POP advertising.

  At this time, the mail processing means may intermittently connect to the mail server and receive the e-mail by fetching the e-mail addressed to the electronic POP advertising terminal from the mail server to the terminal.

  Further, when the content data is played back by the advertisement playback means, the content data may be played back based on the playback method specified in the playlist stored in the playlist file attached to the e-mail.

  Further, command processing means for analyzing and executing a processing command instructed from the advertisement management terminal by e-mail may be further provided.

  Further, in response to a mail transmission command instructed as a processing command by the command processing means, an e-mail addressed to the advertisement management terminal including log data indicating the operation status of the electronic POP advertising terminal is sent to the mail server via the IP network. You may make it transmit.

  Further, the command processing means may prohibit at least the reproduction of the content data by the advertisement reproducing means in response to the terminal lock command instructed as the processing command.

  Further, the program according to the present invention provides an arbitrary electronic POP advertisement by playing back the content data from the advertisement management terminal received via the IP network on the electronic POP advertisement terminal installed in an advertising place such as a store. An electronic mail processing step for receiving an electronic mail addressed to the electronic POP advertising terminal transmitted from the advertising management terminal from a mail server connected to the IP network to a computer of the electronic POP advertising terminal used in the electronic POP advertising providing system An advertisement reproduction step of providing an arbitrary electronic POP advertisement by reproducing the content data stored in the content data file attached to the received electronic mail is executed.

  Another program according to the present invention is an electronic POP advertisement terminal installed in an advertisement place such as a store, and reproduces content data from an advertisement management terminal received via the IP network, thereby allowing an arbitrary electronic POP advertisement. E-mail processing for receiving, from a mail server connected to the IP network, an e-mail addressed to the electronic POP advertisement terminal transmitted from the advertisement management terminal to the computer of the electronic POP advertisement terminal used in the electronic POP advertisement providing system A file transfer step of downloading the content data file uploaded from the advertisement management terminal to the WEB server connected to the IP network from the WEB server according to the received e-mail instruction, and the downloaded content data file Play stored content data To execute the ad playback step of providing any electronic POP advertising by.

According to the present invention, an electronic mail transmitted from the advertisement management terminal 1 is received by an electronic POP advertising terminal from a mail server connected to the IP network and stored in a content data file attached to the electronic mail. Content data is played back and an optional electronic POP advertisement is provided. Further, the electronic POP advertising terminal receives the e-mail transmitted from the advertisement management terminal 1 from the mail server connected to the IP network, and the content data uploaded from the advertisement management terminal to the WEB server connected to the IP network The file is downloaded from the WEB server in accordance with the received electronic mail instruction, and the content data stored in the content data file is reproduced to provide an arbitrary electronic POP advertisement.
Therefore, it is possible to provide electronic POP advertisements by distributing contents with a simple system configuration without requiring a dedicated content center.

  That is, in the present invention, the mail server only needs to have a mail distribution function, and the WEB server only needs to have a file distribution function. Therefore, since it is not necessary to have a function dedicated to the electronic POP advertising system, it can be easily realized by a general-purpose mail server or file server. Further, a mail server installed in advance by a business as a hosting service and provided by a rental service A file server can also be used. Also, the advertisement management terminal only needs to have an e-mail processing function for transmitting an e-mail attached with a content data file to a desired electronic POP advertising terminal and a file transfer function for uploading a content data file to a WEB server. It can be realized with a general personal computer.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, in order to distribute content to the electronic POP advertising terminal, a conventional content center or a conventional communication protocol for performing data communication between the content center and the electronic POP advertising terminal is used. Compared with technology, it is possible to avoid complication and enlargement of the entire system and to construct an electronic POP advertising system with a small work load without requiring specialized knowledge. Thereby, since the initial cost required for system construction can be significantly reduced, the advertiser can construct the system at low cost. Further, even when a business operator constructs a system and provides it to the advertiser, the system can be provided at a low cost, and the advertiser can easily introduce the system.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[First Embodiment]
First, an electronic POP advertisement providing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic POP advertisement providing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

  This electronic POP advertisement providing system includes an advertisement management terminal 1, a mail server 2, and a plurality of electronic POP advertisement terminals (hereinafter referred to as POP terminals) 5 connected to an IP network 7 such as the Internet. The gateway (GW) 6 is a communication device that performs wireless communication with the POP terminal 5. Here, a case where the POP terminal 5 is connected to the IP network 7 via the gateway 6 by the wireless communication function is shown as an example. Yes.

  In the present embodiment, an electronic POP advertisement system that receives and reproduces an electronic POP advertisement transmitted from the advertisement management terminal 1 via the IP network 7 at a POP terminal 5 arranged in an advertising place such as a store 5A or 5B. In particular, the e-mail transmitted from the advertisement management terminal 1 is received by the POP terminal 5 from the mail server 2 connected to the IP network 7 and stored in the content data file attached to the e-mail. An arbitrary electronic POP advertisement is provided by reproducing the content data.

Details of the electronic POP advertisement providing system will be described below.
[Ad management terminal]
First, an advertisement management terminal used in the electronic POP advertisement providing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an advertisement management terminal used in the electronic POP advertisement providing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The advertisement management terminal 1 includes an information communication terminal such as a personal computer used by an advertiser, and includes a communication interface unit (hereinafter referred to as a communication I / F unit) 11, an operation input unit 12, a screen display unit 13, and a storage unit 16. And an information processing unit 17 are provided.

The communication I / F unit 11 includes a dedicated data communication circuit unit, and has a function of performing various data communication by transmitting and receiving packets via the IP network 7.
The operation input unit 12 includes an operation input device such as a keyboard and a mouse, and has a function of detecting an operator operation and outputting the operation to the information processing unit 17.
The screen display unit 13 includes a screen display device such as an LCD or a PDP, and has a function of displaying various information such as an operation menu and an e-mail content on the screen based on an instruction from the information processing unit 17.

The storage unit 16 includes a storage device such as a hard disk or a memory, and has a function of storing various processing information used for processing in the information processing unit 17.
The main processing information stored in the storage unit 16 includes an advertisement data file in which advertisement data for reproducing an electronic POP advertisement in each POP terminal 5 is stored, an email of the advertisement management terminal 1 and each POP terminal 5 There are an address, authentication information and address information necessary for accessing the mail server 2, and a program for executing various processes in the information processing unit 17.

  Specific examples of the advertisement data include content data indicating the contents of the electronic POP advertisement and a playlist indicating a method for reproducing the content data. In particular, an advertisement data file in which content data is stored as advertisement data is referred to as a content data file, and an advertisement data file in which a playlist indicating a reproduction method of content data is stored as advertisement data is referred to as a playlist file. These advertisement data files may be distributed together with one electronic mail, or may be distributed separately attached to different electronic mails.

The information processing unit 17 includes a microprocessor such as a CPU and its peripheral circuits, and reads and executes a program from the storage unit 16 to realize various functional units by cooperating the hardware and the program. have.
As main functional means realized by the information processing section 17, there is an electronic mail processing means 17A.

  The electronic mail processing means 17A has a function of generating an electronic mail addressed to the POP terminal 5 in response to an operator operation on the input screen displayed on the screen display section 13, and a storage section in the electronic mail addressed to the POP terminal 5 in response to the operator operation. A function of attaching advertisement data files such as 16 content data files and playlist files, a function of describing a processing command in the body of an e-mail addressed to the POP terminal 5 in response to an operator's operation, and a communication I / F unit 11 A function of transmitting / receiving e-mails by exchanging various packets with the mail server 2 via the mail server 2, and a function of displaying the contents of the e-mail from the POP terminal 5 received from the mail server 2 on the screen display unit 13. ing.

[Mail server]
Next, a mail server used in the electronic POP advertisement providing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mail server used in the electronic POP advertisement providing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The mail server 2 includes a server device connected to the IP network 7, and includes a communication interface unit (hereinafter referred to as a communication I / F unit) 21, a storage unit 26, and an information processing unit 27. Note that the mail server 2 is a general mail server having an e-mail distribution function, and may be newly installed by an advertiser. For example, the mail server 2 is installed in advance by a provider as a hosting service and provided by a rental service. A mail server may be used.

The communication I / F unit 21 includes a dedicated data communication circuit unit, and has a function of performing various data communications by transmitting and receiving packets via the IP network 7.
The storage unit 26 includes a storage device such as a hard disk and has a function of storing various processing information used for processing in the information processing unit 27.
Main processing information stored in the storage unit 26 includes an e-mail addressed to the advertisement management terminal 1 and the POP terminal 5 and a program for executing various processes in the information processing unit 27. In particular, the storage unit 26 is preliminarily provided with a logical storage location called a mailbox for each advertisement management terminal 1 or POP terminal 5 that is an email destination, and each email is stored in a mailbox corresponding to the destination. It is classified and temporarily stored.

The information processing unit 27 includes a microprocessor such as a CPU and its peripheral circuits, and reads and executes a program from the storage unit 26, thereby realizing various functional units by cooperating the hardware and the program. have.
As main functional means realized by the information processing section 27, there is an electronic mail delivery means 27A.

  The e-mail delivery unit 27A has a function of temporarily storing e-mails received from the advertisement management terminal 1 or the POP terminal 5 via the communication I / F unit 21 in the destination mailbox, and the communication I / F unit 21. In response to an inquiry from the advertisement management terminal 1 or the POP terminal 5 via the function, a function for searching for and notifying the presence / absence of an e-mail in the corresponding mailbox and a request for acquisition from the advertisement management terminal 1 or the POP terminal 5 The specified e-mail is acquired from the corresponding mailbox and distributed to the requesting advertisement management terminal 1 or POP terminal 5.

[POP terminal]
Next, with reference to FIG. 4, a POP terminal used in the electronic POP advertisement providing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the POP terminal used in the electronic POP advertisement providing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The POP terminal 5 includes an information communication terminal such as a PDA that is placed in an advertisement place and plays an electronic POP advertisement. The communication interface unit (hereinafter referred to as a communication I / F unit) 51, an operation input unit 52, a screen display unit. 53, an audio processing unit 54, a power supply unit 55, a storage unit 56, and an information processing unit 57 are provided.

The communication I / F unit 51 includes a dedicated wireless data communication circuit unit, and has a function of performing various data communications by transmitting and receiving packets via the gateway 6 and the IP network 7.
The operation input unit 52 includes an operation input device such as a keyboard or a mouse, and has a function of detecting an operator operation and outputting the operation to the information processing unit 57.
The screen display unit 53 includes a screen display device such as an LCD or a PDP, and has a function of displaying video content data indicating the contents of the electronic POP advertisement on the screen based on an instruction from the information processing unit 57.

The audio processing unit 54 includes a dedicated audio processing circuit unit and a speaker, and has a function of outputting audio content data indicating the contents of the electronic POP advertisement from the speaker as an audio signal based on an instruction from the information processing unit 57. Yes.
The power supply unit 55 includes a dedicated power supply circuit unit, and has a function of supplying operating power to each unit of the POP terminal 5 and a function of controlling power supply to each unit based on an instruction from the information processing unit 57. is doing.

The storage unit 56 includes a storage device such as a memory and a hard disk, and has a function of storing various processing information used for processing in the information processing unit 57.
The main processing information stored in the storage unit 56 includes the mail addresses of the advertisement management terminal 1 and the POP terminal 5, authentication information and address information necessary for accessing the mail server 2, mail data 56A, There are content data 56B, playlist 56C, log data 56D, and program 56P.

  The mail data 56 </ b> A is data indicating the entire contents of the electronic mail received from the mail server 2. The content data 56B is data indicating the contents of the electronic POP advertisement. The playlist 56C is data indicating a method for reproducing an electronic POP advertisement. The log data 56D is data indicating a history of the operating status of the POP terminal 5. The program 56P is a program for executing various processes in the information processing unit 57. These data are stored in the storage unit 56 as an electronic file.

The information processing unit 57 includes a microprocessor such as a CPU and its peripheral circuits, and reads and executes the program 56P from the storage unit 56, thereby realizing various functional units by cooperating the hardware and the program. It has a function.
As main functional means realized by the information processing unit 57, there are an electronic mail processing means 57A, a command processing means 57B, an advertisement reproducing means 57C, and a time measuring means 57D.

  The electronic mail processing unit 57A is intermittently connected to the terminal by periodically connecting to the mail server 2 via the communication I / F unit 11 and exchanging various packets, for example, according to the timing operation of the timing unit 57D. A function for receiving the e-mail, a function for storing the received e-mail in the storage unit 56 as mail data 56A, and an advertisement data file attached to the e-mail with reference to the mail data 56A in the storage unit 56 A function for saving files as data 56B and a playlist 56C, a function for attaching log data 56D of the storage unit 56 to an e-mail addressed to the advertisement management terminal 1 as a log file, and an e-mail addressed to the advertisement management terminal 1 as a communication I / A function of transmitting to the mail server 2 via the F unit 11.

The command processing means 57B has a function of referring to the mail data 56A in the storage unit 56 and analyzing a processing command described in the body of the e-mail and a function of executing various processing commands according to the analysis result. is doing.
The advertisement playback means 57C has a function of playing back and providing an electronic POP advertisement by playing back the content data 56B of the storage section 56 with the screen display section 53 or the sound processing section 54 in accordance with the execution of the processing command in the command processing means 57B. And a function of reading the playlist 56C of the storage unit 56 and controlling the playback method of the content data 56B.
The time measuring means 57D has a function of measuring the date and time using a timer function of a microprocessor such as a CPU and its peripheral circuits.

[Operation of First Embodiment]
Next, the operation of the electronic POP advertisement providing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing an advertisement update operation in the advertisement management terminal. FIG. 6 is an example of an e-mail addressed to the POP terminal transmitted from the advertisement management terminal. FIG. 7 is an example of a playlist showing a method for reproducing content data in a POP terminal. FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram showing an e-mail receiving operation in the POP terminal. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing command execution processing in the POP terminal. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing advertisement reproduction processing in the POP terminal.

  Here, an e-mail addressed to the POP terminal 5 to which the content data file and the playlist file are attached is transmitted from the advertisement management terminal 1, and this e-mail is received by the POP terminal 5 via the mail server 2, and the e-mail is sent. An example in which an electronic POP advertisement is provided by reproducing content data in a content data file attached to the e-mail based on a playlist in the playlist file attached to the e-mail will be described.

When the advertisement update operation of the operator (advertiser) is detected via the operation input unit 12, the information processing unit 17 of the advertisement management terminal 1 starts the advertisement update operation of FIG.
First, the information processing section 17 reads e-mail template data prepared in advance from the storage section 16 by the e-mail processing means 17A, and generates an e-mail by setting each item (steps 100-106). ).

As shown in FIG. 6, the electronic mail 40 includes a destination address 41 indicating the destination of the electronic mail 40, a subject 42, a body 43, and an attached file 44.
The e-mail processing means 17A sends the e-mail address designated by the operator, here the e-mail addresses “a1@hikom.co.jp” and “a2” of the POP terminal 5 (POP terminal 5A1, POP terminal 5A2) of the store 5A. @ Hikom.co.jp "is set as the destination address 41 (step 100).
Also, the e-mail processing unit 17A sets the subject string 42 to the number string “2005083001” generated from the e-mail transmission date “2005/08/31” and the serial number “001” given to the transmission e-mail on that day in a serial number. (Step 101).

The electronic mail processing means 17A sets the command list input from the operator in the body 43 (step 102).
As shown in FIG. 6, the command list is a list in which processing commands to be executed in the POP terminal 5 are described by text data for each line, and are executed in order from the first line in the POP terminal 5. Each processing command is composed of a set of “I_Command” indicating that the row is a processing command, command identification information indicating the contents of the processing command, and parameters necessary for executing the processing command. Note that when a processing command is described, a command name may be used instead of the command identification information.

  For example, in the command “I_Command 01 a.mpg / contents /” described in the first line in the command list described in the text 43 of FIG. 6, the command identification information “01” is the content data file copy operation. This processing command instructs to copy the content data file “a.mpg” in the reference folder to the “/ contents /” folder for storing the playback data of the electronic POP advertisement.

Further, the processing commands “I_Command 01 b.jpg / contents /”, “I_Command 01 c.mpg / contents /”, and “I_Command 01 playlist.txt / contents /” from the second line to the fourth line are the first line. This is the same processing command, and instructs to copy the content data files “b.jpg” and “c.mpg” and the playlist file “playlist.txt” in the reference folder to the “/ contents /” folder, respectively. .
Further, in the processing command “I_Command 15” on the last line, the command identification information “15” corresponds to the restart of the POP terminal 5, and this processing command restarts (resets) the POP terminal 5. I have indicated that.

  Also, the electronic mail processing means 17A takes the advertisement data file designated by the operator from the storage unit 16 and attaches it to the electronic mail as the attachment file 44 (steps 103-106). Here, a moving image content data file “a.mpg”, a still image content file data “b.jpg”, and a moving image content data file “c.mpg” indicating the contents of the electronic POP advertisement, A playlist file “playlist.txt” shown is attached as an attached file 44.

Among these, as shown in FIG. 7, the play list 45 is a list in which playback commands to be executed by the POP terminal 5 are described by text data for each line, and are executed in order from the first line in the POP terminal 5. After the last line is executed, it is repeatedly executed from the first line again.
Each playback command is composed of a set of a content data file name to be played and a playback method of the content data file. When the content data file is a moving image content, the reproduction method indicates the number of times of reproduction, and when the content data file is a still image content, the reproduction method indicates a display period (seconds).

  For example, in the case of the reproduction command “a.mpg 1” described in the first line, since “a.mpg” indicates the moving image content, this reproduction command causes the content data file “a.mpg” to be “once”. Just telling you to play. In the case of the playback command “b.jpg 1” described in the next line, since “b.jpg” indicates a still image content, this playback command sets the content data file “b.jpg” for “10 seconds. ”Is indicated. In the case of the playback command “c.mpg 2” described in the last line, since “c.mpg” indicates the moving image content, this playback command sets the content data file “c.mpg” to “twice”. It is instructed to play repeatedly.

  After generating the e-mail addressed to the POP terminal 5 in this way, the e-mail processing unit 17A transmits the e-mail addressed to the POP terminal 5 from the communication I / F unit 11 to the mail server 2 via the IP network 7. (Step 107).

When the e-mail from the advertisement management terminal 1 is received via the communication I / F unit 21, the information processing unit 27 of the mail server 2 confirms the destination address of the e-mail by the e-mail distribution unit 27A. The electronic mail is stored in the mailbox in the storage unit 26 corresponding to the destination address (step 108).
As a result, the same e-mail is accumulated in the mailbox of the POP terminal 5 (POP terminal 5A1, POP terminal 5A2) installed in the store 5A, and a series of advertisement updating operations is completed.

On the other hand, in the e-mail receiving operation shown in FIG. 8, the information processing unit 57 of the POP terminal 5 receives the e-mail receiving timing by the e-mail processing unit 57A in accordance with the timing operation (timer) in the timing unit 57D. If confirmed (step 110), a mail reception request is transmitted to the mail server 2 via the communication I / F unit 11 (step 111).
When the email delivery means 27A of the mail server 2 receives a mail reception request from the POP terminal 5 via the communication I / F unit 21, the mailbox in the storage unit 26 corresponding to the mail address of the POP terminal 5 To check whether a new e-mail has arrived (step 112). If a new e-mail has arrived, the e-mail is acquired from the mailbox and distributed from the communication I / F unit 21 to the POP terminal 5 via the IP network 7 (step 113).

  When a new e-mail arrives, the information processing unit 57 of the POP terminal 5 receives the e-mail distributed from the mail server 2 via the communication I / F unit 51 by the e-mail processing unit 57A and stores it. The mail data 56A is stored in the unit 56, and the attached file is extracted and stored (step 114). The command processing unit 57B performs command execution processing as shown in FIG. The processed processing command is analyzed and executed (step 115). At this time, the command processing means 57B analyzes the command by extracting the command identification information and parameters of each processing command, and executes the process associated with the command identification information using the parameters.

The command execution processing example in FIG. 9 corresponds to the command list in the e-mail body 43 in FIG.
First, the command processing means 57B analyzes the processing command “I_Command 01 a.mpg / contents /” in the first line, and the command identification information “01” indicates the copy operation of the content data file. The content data file “a.mpg” in the reference folder attached to the mail is copied to the “/ contents /” folder for storing the playback data of the electronic POP advertisement (step 120).

  Subsequently, the command processing unit 57B executes the processing commands “I_Command 01 b.jpg / contents /”, “I_Command 01 c.mpg / contents /”, “I_Command 01 playlist.txt / contents” from the second line to the fourth line. / "And these are the same processing commands as the first line, so the content data files" b.jpg "and" c.mpg "in the reference folder attached to the email of the mail data 56A and the play The list files “playlist.txt” are respectively copied to the “/ contents /” folder (steps 121 to 123).

Next, the command processing means 57B analyzes the processing command “I_Command 15” on the last line, and the command identification information “01” indicates that the POP terminal 5 is restarted. ) Is executed (step 124).
As a result, the series of command execution processes is completed, and then the POP terminal 5 is restarted. The information processing unit 57 of the POP terminal 5 receives the electronic mail as shown in FIG. Then, an electronic POP advertisement reproduction process based on various advertisement data files stored in the “/ contents /” folder is started.

  In the storage unit 56, various data are managed as files by the file system function of the information processing unit 57, and each file is stored and arranged in an arbitrary folder which is a logical storage location. For example, the mail data 56A of the received electronic mail and its attached file are stored in the reference folder by the electronic mail processing means 57A.

  Further, the advertisement reproducing means 57C reads a playlist file having a predetermined storage location and file name called “playlist.txt” stored in the “/ contents /” folder, and “// A processing procedure for reproducing an arbitrary content data file in the “contents /” folder is executed. Accordingly, if the playlist file having a predetermined storage location and file name, that is, the playlist file “playlist.txt” in the “/ contents /” folder or the content data file is updated, the electronic data reproduced on the POP terminal 5 is updated. You can change the POP advertisement.

The advertisement reproduction processing example in FIG. 10 corresponds to the playlist 45 in FIG.
First, the advertisement reproducing means 57C reads and analyzes the playlist file “playlist.txt” stored in the “/ contents /” folder (step 130), and reproduces each in the order described in the playlist. Execute a command.
In this case, for the playback command “a.mpg 1” in the first row, since “a.mpg” indicates the moving image content, the advertisement playback means 57C causes the content data file “a.mpg /” in the “/ contents /” folder. “mpg” is reproduced “one time” on the screen display unit 53 (step 131).

For the playback command “b.jpg 1” on the second line, since “b.jpg” indicates a still image content, the advertisement playback means 57C uses the content data file “b.jpg” in the “/ contents /” folder. "Is displayed on the screen display unit 53 for" 10 seconds "(step 132).
Regarding the playback command “c.mpg 2” on the last line, since “c.mpg” indicates the moving image content, the advertisement playback means 57C receives the content data file “c.mpg” in the “/ contents /” folder. The video is reproduced on the screen display unit 53 repeatedly “twice” (step 133).
When reproducing each content data file, if audio data is included in the content data file, the advertisement reproducing means 57C outputs it as an audio signal from the speaker of the audio processing unit 54.

In this way, the advertisement reproducing means 57C reproduces each content data file based on the playlist described in the playlist file “playlist.txt”, and after the execution of the reproduction command on the last line of the playlist is completed. Execute again from the first line again.
Thereby, based on the playlist in the playlist file attached to the email received by the POP terminal 5 via the mail server 2, the content data in the content data file attached to the email is sequentially reproduced. Is done.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the POP terminal 5 receives the e-mail transmitted from the advertisement management terminal 1 from the mail server 2 connected to the IP network 7, and the content attached to the e-mail. Since any electronic POP advertisement is provided by playing back the content data stored in the data file, the contents can be distributed with a simple system configuration without the need for a dedicated content center, and the electronic POP advertisement is provided. Can be provided.

  That is, in this embodiment, the mail server 2 only needs to have a mail distribution function. Therefore, since it is not necessary to have a function dedicated to the electronic POP advertising system, it can be easily realized by a general-purpose mail server, and furthermore, a mail server provided in advance by a provider as a hosting service is used as a hosting service. You can also. Further, the advertisement management terminal 1 may be provided with an e-mail processing function for transmitting an e-mail attached with a content data file to a desired POP terminal, and can be realized by a general personal computer.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, in order to distribute content to the POP terminal 5, a conventional technology using a dedicated content center or a dedicated communication protocol for performing data communication between the content center and the POP terminal. Compared to the above, it is possible to avoid the complication and enlargement of the entire system and to construct an electronic POP advertising system with a small work load without requiring specialized knowledge. Thereby, since the initial cost required for system construction can be significantly reduced, the advertiser can construct the system at low cost. Further, even when a business operator constructs a system and provides it to the advertiser, the system can be provided at a low cost, and the advertiser can easily introduce the system.

  In the present embodiment, the POP terminal 5 intermittently connects to the mail server 2 to check whether there is an e-mail addressed to the terminal, and the e-mail addressed to the POP terminal 5 is accumulated in the mail server 2. In such a case, the electronic mail may be received by taking the electronic mail from the mail server 2 into the POP terminal 5. Thus, the interval at which the content data file is connected from the POP terminal 5 to the mail server 2 from the advertisement management terminal 1 to the POP terminal 5 without requiring a communication protocol for performing data communication by directly calling the other party. Can be delivered smoothly within the range of delay specified in.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the advertisement management terminal 1 transmits a playlist file storing a playlist indicating a method for reproducing an electronic POP advertisement to an e-mail and transmits the electronic file received by the POP terminal 5. The electronic POP advertisement may be reproduced based on the reproduction method designated by the playlist 56C stored in the playlist file attached to the mail. As a result, it is possible to easily instruct a method for reproducing an electronic POP advertisement to be reproduced by an arbitrary POP terminal 5. Further, only the playlist file is attached to the e-mail and transmitted, and stored in the POP terminal 5 through a recording medium such as a memory card, which is stored in advance using a method other than e-mail. It is also possible to control playback of designated content data by designating the playback method.

  In the present embodiment, the advertisement management terminal 1 transmits an arbitrary processing command in the body of the e-mail, and is described in the body of the e-mail received from the mail server 2 by the POP terminal 5. The processing command may be analyzed and executed, and the operation of the advertisement management terminal 1 to the POP terminal 5 can be remotely operated in detail. As a result, for example, management of various advertisement data files stored in the POP terminal 5 and status management of the POP terminal 5 can be instructed from the advertisement management terminal 1, and workers are arranged on the POP terminal 5 for maintenance. The opportunity to dispatch to a place can be suppressed, and the management work burden of the POP terminal 5 can be greatly reduced.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, an electronic POP advertisement providing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic POP advertisement providing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a WEB server used in the electronic POP advertisement providing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

In the first embodiment (see FIG. 1), the case where a content data file indicating the contents of an electronic POP advertisement is attached to an electronic mail and distributed from the advertisement management terminal 1 to the POP terminal 5 has been described as an example.
In the present embodiment, a case will be described in which a WEB server 3 is installed in the IP network 7 to store content data files, and an instruction to download arbitrary content data is sent from the advertisement management terminal 1 to the POP terminal 5 by e-mail. To do.

  The WEB server 3 includes a server device connected to the IP network 7 and includes a communication interface unit (hereinafter referred to as a communication I / F unit) 31, a storage unit 36, and an information processing unit 37, as shown in FIG. It has been. The WEB server 3 is a general-purpose file server having a file distribution function, and may be newly installed by an advertiser. For example, a file server provided in advance by a provider as a hosting service and provided by a rental service May be used. In particular, some recent rental services include a mail server and a file server. If this type of service is used, the mail server 2 and the WEB server 3 can be easily used together.

The communication I / F unit 31 includes a dedicated data communication circuit unit, and has a function of performing various data communications by transmitting and receiving packets via the IP network 7.
The storage unit 36 includes a storage device such as a hard disk and has a function of storing various processing information used for processing in the information processing unit 37.
Main processing information stored in the storage unit 36 includes a content data file transferred from the advertisement management terminal 1 to the POP terminal 5 and a program for executing various processes in the information processing unit 37. In particular, the storage unit 36 is preliminarily provided with a logical storage location called a file box for each POP terminal 5 as a file transfer destination, and each advertisement data file is classified into a file box corresponding to the transfer destination. Accumulated temporarily.

The information processing unit 37 includes a microprocessor such as a CPU and its peripheral circuits, and reads and executes a program from the storage unit 36, thereby realizing various functional units by cooperating the hardware and the program. have.
As main functional means realized by the information processing section 37, there are a file transfer means 37A and a file distribution means 37B.

The file transfer unit 37A receives the advertisement data file transferred from the advertisement management terminal 1 via the communication I / F unit 31 using a file transfer protocol such as FTP or HTTP, and temporarily stores it in the destination file box. It has a function to accumulate.
The file distribution unit 37B is designated from a file box corresponding to the POP terminal 5 in response to a download request from the POP terminal 5 via the communication I / F unit 31 using a file transfer protocol such as HTTP or FTP. And a function of acquiring the advertisement data file and distributing it to the requesting POP terminal 5.

A file for uploading an arbitrary advertisement data file to the information processing unit 17 of the advertisement management terminal 1 from the communication I / F unit 11 to the WEB server 3 via the IP network 7 using a file transfer protocol such as FTP. Transfer means (not shown) is added.
Similarly, a file for downloading an arbitrary advertisement data file from the WEB server 3 to the information processing unit 57 of the POP terminal 5 through the IP network 7 and the communication I / F unit 51 using a file transfer protocol such as HTTP. Transfer means (not shown) is added.

[Operation of Second Embodiment]
Next, the operation of the electronic POP advertisement providing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram illustrating an advertisement update operation in the advertisement management terminal. FIG. 14 is an example of an e-mail addressed to the POP terminal transmitted from the advertisement management terminal. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing command execution processing in the POP terminal.

  Here, the content data file is uploaded from the advertisement management terminal 1 to the WEB server 3, and an e-mail addressed to the POP terminal 5 to which the playlist file is attached is transmitted. The e-mail is sent to the POP terminal via the mail server 2. 5, the content data file is downloaded from the WEB server 3 based on the processing command attached to the e-mail, and the content data in the content data file is played back based on the playlist in the playlist file. A case where an advertisement is provided will be described as an example.

The information processing unit 17 of the advertisement management terminal 1 starts the advertisement update operation of FIG. 13 when an advertisement update operation of an operator (advertiser) is detected via the operation input unit 12.
First, the information processing unit 17 reads out the content data files “a.mpg”, “b.jpg”, “c.mpg” designated by the operator from the storage unit 16 by the file transfer unit, and performs communication I / F Upload from the unit 11 to the WEB server 3 via the IP network 7 (step 200).

  When the content data file from the advertisement management terminal 1 is received via the communication I / F unit 31, the information processing unit 37 of the WEB server 3 confirms the transfer destination of the content data file by the file transfer unit 37A. Then, the content data file is stored in the file box in the storage unit 26 corresponding to the transfer destination (step 201).

  Next, the information processing unit 17 of the advertisement management terminal 1 reads e-mail template data prepared in advance from the storage unit 16 by the e-mail processing unit 17A, and generates an e-mail by setting each item. (Steps 202-205).

As shown in FIG. 14, the e-mail 40 </ b> A includes a destination address 41 indicating the destination of the e-mail 40, a subject 42, a body 43, and an attached file 44.
The e-mail processing means 17A sends the e-mail address designated by the operator, here the e-mail addresses “a1@hikom.co.jp” and “a2” of the POP terminal 5 (POP terminal 5A1, POP terminal 5A2) of the store 5A. @ Hikom.co.jp "is set as the destination address 41 (step 202).
In addition, the e-mail processing unit 17A sets, in the subject 42, a numerical string “2005081001” generated from the e-mail transmission date “2005/08/31” and the serial number “001” sequentially given to the e-mail transmission on that date. (Step 203).

Also, the electronic mail processing means 17A sets the command list input from the operator in the text 43 (step 204).
As shown in FIG. 14, the command list is a list in which processing commands to be executed by the POP terminal 5 are described by text data for each line, and are executed in order from the first line.
Each processing command is composed of a set of “I_Command” indicating that the row is a processing command, command identification information indicating the contents of the processing command, and parameters necessary for executing the processing command.

  For example, in the command list described in the text 43 of the e-mail 40A in FIG. 14, the processing command “I_Command 11 http: //hicom@sears.co.jp/contents/a.mpg? Pass” described in the first line is included. = Hoge ”, the command identification information“ 11 ”corresponds to the download operation of the content data file, and this processing command is the URL“ http: //hikim@sears.co.jp/contents/a.mpg? Based on “pass = hoge”, the content data file “a.mpg” is instructed to be downloaded from the WEB server 3 and stored in the reference folder.

  Thereafter, the processing commands “I_Command 11 http: //hiks@sars.co.jp/contents/b.jpg? Pass = hoge”, “I_Command 11 http: //hicom@sars.co” on the second and third lines. .Jp / contents / c.mpg? Pass = hoge "is the same processing command as the first line, and the content data files" b.jpg "and" c.mpg "are downloaded from the WEB server 3 and stored in the reference folder. Instructed to do.

  In the processing command “I_Command 01 a.mpg / contents /” described in the fourth line, the command identification information “01” corresponds to the copy operation of the content data file. 3 is instructed to copy the content data file “a.mpg” in the reference folder downloaded from 3 to the “/ contents /” folder for storing the playback data of the electronic POP advertisement.

Subsequently, the processing commands “I_Command 01 b.jpg / contents /”, “I_Command 01 c.mpg / contents /”, and “I_Command 01 playlist.txt / contents /” on the fifth and sixth lines are This is the same processing command, and instructs to copy the content data files “b.jpg” and “c.mpg” and the playlist file “playlist.txt” in the reference folder to the “/ contents /” folder, respectively. .
Further, in the processing command “I_Command 15” on the last line, the command identification information “15” corresponds to the restart of the POP terminal 5, and this processing command restarts (resets) the POP terminal 5. I have indicated that.

  Further, the electronic mail processing means 17A takes in the advertisement data file designated by the operator from the storage unit 16 and attaches it to the electronic mail as the attachment file 44 (step 205). Here, a playlist file “playlist.txt” indicating the method of reproducing the electronic POP advertisement is attached as the attached file 44. The playlist is the same as in FIG. 7 described above, and a detailed description thereof is omitted here.

  After generating the e-mail addressed to the POP terminal 5 in this way, the e-mail processing unit 17A transmits the e-mail addressed to the POP terminal 5 from the communication I / F unit 11 to the mail server 2 via the IP network 7. (Step 206).

When the e-mail from the advertisement management terminal 1 is received via the communication I / F unit 21, the information processing unit 27 of the mail server 2 confirms the destination address of the e-mail by the e-mail distribution unit 27A. The electronic mail is stored in the mailbox in the storage unit 26 corresponding to the destination address (step 207).
As a result, the same e-mail is accumulated in the mailbox of the POP terminal 5 (POP terminal 5A1, POP terminal 5A2) of the store 5A, and a series of advertisement updating operations is completed.

  On the other hand, the information processing unit 57 of the POP terminal 5 receives the e-mail distributed from the mail server 2 by the e-mail receiving operation of FIG. 8 as described above, and stores it in the storage unit 56 as mail data 56A. The attached file is saved, and the command processing means 57B analyzes and executes the processing command described in the e-mail text of the mail data 56A by command execution processing as shown in FIG.

The command execution processing example in FIG. 15 corresponds to the command list in the e-mail body 43 in FIG.
First, the command processing means 57B analyzes the processing command “I_Command 11 http: //hicom@sears.co.jp/contents/a.mpg? Pass = hoge” on the first line, and the command identification information “11” is the content. Since the data file download operation is indicated, the content data file “a.mpg? Pass = hoge” is specified based on the URL “http: //hikom@sears.co.jp/contents/a.mpg? mpg "is downloaded from the WEB server 3 and stored in the reference folder (step 210).

  Thereafter, the processing commands “I_Command 11 http: //hiks@sars.co.jp/contents/b.jpg? Pass = hoge”, “I_Command 11 http: //hicom@sars.co” on the second and third lines. .Jp / contents / c.mpg? Pass = hoge "and these are the same processing commands as the first line, so the content data files" b.jpg "and" c.mpg "are downloaded from the WEB server 3. And stored in the reference folder (steps 211 and 212).

  Next, the command processing means 57B analyzes the processing command “I_Command 01 a.mpg / contents /” on the fourth line, and the command identification information “01” indicates the copy operation of the content data file. The content data file “a.mpg” in the reference folder downloaded from is copied to the “/ contents /” folder for storing the playback data of the electronic POP advertisement (step 213).

  Subsequently, the command processing means 57B performs processing commands “I_Command 01 b.jpg / contents /”, “I_Command 01 c.mpg / contents /”, “I_Command 01 playlist.txt / contents /” on the 5th to 7th lines. ”And these are the same processing commands as those in the fourth line, so the contents data files“ b.jpg ”and“ c.mpg ”in the reference folder downloaded from the WEB server 3 and the electronic data of the mail data 56A The playlist file “playlist.txt” in the reference folder attached to the mail is copied to the “/ contents /” folder (steps 214 to 216).

  Next, the command processing means 57B analyzes the processing command “I_Command 15” on the last line, and the command identification information “01” indicates that the POP terminal 5 is restarted. ) Is executed (step 217).

  As a result, the series of command execution processes is completed, and then the POP terminal 5 is restarted. The information processing unit 57 of the POP terminal 5 uses the advertisement reproducing means 57C to send an e-mail as shown in FIG. The advertisement reproduction process of the electronic POP advertisement based on the various advertisement data files received in the above and stored in the “/ contents /” folder is started. The advertisement reproduction process is the same as that in FIG. 10 described above, and a detailed description thereof is omitted here.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the POP terminal 5 receives the e-mail transmitted from the advertisement management terminal 1 from the mail server 2 connected to the IP network 7, and the content data instructed by the e-mail. Since an arbitrary electronic POP advertisement is provided by downloading a file from the WEB server 3 and reproducing the content data stored in the content data file, a simple system without requiring a dedicated content center Content can be distributed with the configuration to provide electronic POP advertisements.

  That is, in the present embodiment, the mail server 2 only needs to have a mail distribution function and the WEB server 3 has a file distribution function, and it is not necessary to have a function dedicated to the electronic POP advertising system. Further, it can be easily realized by a general-purpose mail server and file server, and further, a mail server and a file server provided in advance by a business as a hosting service can be used. Also, the advertisement management terminal 1 may have an e-mail processing function for sending an e-mail attached with a content data file to a desired POP terminal 5 and a function for uploading a content data file to the WEB server 3. It can be realized with a general personal computer.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, in order to distribute content to the POP terminal 5, a conventional technology using a dedicated content center or a dedicated communication protocol for performing data communication between the content center and the POP terminal. Compared to the above, it is possible to avoid the complexity and scale of the system and to construct an electronic POP advertising system with a small work load without requiring specialized knowledge. Thereby, since the initial cost required for system construction can be significantly reduced, the advertiser can construct the system at low cost. Further, even when a business operator constructs a system and provides it to the advertiser, the system can be provided at a low cost, and the advertiser can easily introduce the system.

  Further, in the present embodiment, since the content data file is distributed from the advertisement management terminal 1 to the POP terminal 5 via the WEB server 3 as compared with the first embodiment, video content, audio content, etc. When distributing a content data file having a large file size to the POP terminal 5, it is possible to easily distribute a relatively large content data file without being limited by the size restriction on the e-mail. The file distributed from the advertisement management terminal 1 to the POP terminal 5 via the WEB server 3 is not limited to the content data file, and other advertisement data files such as a playlist file and a command list file described later can be used. You may distribute via the WEB server 3. FIG.

  This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the content data file is distributed from the advertisement management terminal 1 to the POP terminal 5 via the WEB server 3, but the other configurations are substantially the same. Thus, the various changes (arrangements) described in the first embodiment can be applied to the present embodiment, and the same operational effects can be obtained.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, an electronic POP advertisement providing system according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 16 is an example of an e-mail addressed to a POP terminal used in the electronic POP advertisement providing system according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing command execution processing in the POP terminal. FIG. 18 is an example of an e-mail addressed to the advertisement management terminal transmitted from the POP terminal.

  In the first and second embodiments, the advertisement management terminal 1 uses the mail server 2 or the WEB server 3 to instruct the POP terminal 5 to reproduce the electronic POP advertisement. The case where communication is performed in the direction has been described. In the present embodiment, a case will be described in which communication from the POP terminal 5 to the advertisement management terminal 1 is also performed using electronic mail.

When managing the POP terminal 5 from the advertisement management terminal 1 via the IP network 7, it is necessary to grasp the operation status of the POP terminal 5 by the advertisement management terminal 1, and communication from the POP terminal 5 to the advertisement management terminal 1 is necessary. It becomes. In the prior art, bidirectional communication between the advertisement management terminal 1 and the POP terminal 5 has been realized using a dedicated communication protocol between the dedicated content center and the POP terminal. There was a problem of doing.
In the present embodiment, the advertisement management terminal 1 is instructed by a processing command to transmit an e-mail addressed to the advertisement management terminal 1 including log information indicating the operation status of the POP terminal 5 from the POP terminal 5.

  In the command list “I_Command 19 info.txt” described in the first line in the command list described in the text 43 of the e-mail 40B in FIG. 16, the command identification information “19” corresponds to the output operation of the system information. This processing command instructs to output the system information of the POP terminal 5 to the log file “info.txt” in the reference folder.

  Further, the processing command “I_Command 10 ″ master01 @ hikom. co. jp "" re: 2005081002 "info.txt sys.log com.log err.log", the command identification information "19" corresponds to the e-mail transmission operation. The log file “info.txt” in the folder is pasted into the mail body, and the e-mail attached with the log files “sys.log”, “com.log”, “err.log” : 2005081002 ”indicates that the e-mail address of the advertisement management terminal 1 is“ master01@hikom.co.jp ”.

The information processing unit 57 of the POP terminal 5 starts execution of the command execution process of FIG. 17 by the command processing unit 57B based on the command list of the email body 43 of the email 40B received by the email processing unit 57A.
First, the command processing means 57B outputs system information including the terminal ID of the POP terminal 5 and the memory usage status of the storage unit 56 to the text file “info.txt” (step 300).
Subsequently, the command processing unit 57B reads the template data of the prepared email from the storage unit 56 by the email processing unit 57A and sets each item to generate the email 40C of FIG. (Steps 301-304).

First, the e-mail processing unit 57A sets the mail address “master01@hikom.co.jp” of the advertisement management terminal 1 specified by the processing command as the destination address 41 (step 301) and is specified by the processing command. The subject “re: 20050831002” is set as the subject 42 (step 302).
Next, the electronic mail processing means 57A reads the contents of the text file “info.txt” from the reference folder and pastes the contents into the body 43 (step 303). As a result, the date and time information “2005/08/31/13/15” when the system information is acquired, the terminal ID “12345678”, the total memory capacity “Mem_total = 128M” of the storage unit 56, and the remaining memory are stored in the text 43. The system information of the quantity “Mem_rest = 80M” is pasted.

Next, the e-mail processing unit 57A attaches the log files “sys.log”, “com.log”, and “err.log” in the reference folder to the e-mail 40C as the attachment file 44 (step 304). .
The information processing unit 57 of the POP terminal 5 has an operation status recording function for sequentially recording various events generated in the POP terminal 5 in a log file. For example, the log file “sys.log” records the history of power on / off of the terminal and command processing, and the log file “com.log” records the history of mail transmission / reception and file download. In the file “err.log”, a history regarding content reproduction errors and communication errors is recorded.

  After generating the e-mail 40C addressed to the advertisement management terminal 1 in this way, the e-mail processing means 57A sends the communication I / F unit 51 to the mail server 2 via the IP network 7 and sends it to the advertisement management terminal 1. The electronic mail 40C is transmitted (step 305), and the series of command execution processes is terminated.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the POP terminal 5 transmits an e-mail including arbitrary information to the advertisement management terminal 1 in response to the e-mail transmission command instructed from the advertisement management terminal 1 as a processing command. Since it did in this way, based on the request | requirement from the advertisement management terminal 1, bidirectional | two-way data communication can be performed between the advertisement management terminal 1 and the POP terminal 5 using an electronic mail. Thereby, bidirectional data communication between the advertisement management terminal 1 and the POP terminal 5 can be realized with a simple system without requiring a dedicated content center.

  Further, in response to the mail transmission command instructed as the processing command, an e-mail addressed to the advertisement management terminal 1 including log data indicating the operation status of the POP terminal 5 is transmitted to the mail server 2 via the IP network 7. Therefore, the operation status of the POP terminal 5 can be grasped by the advertisement management terminal 1 by e-mail, and the POP terminal 5 can be appropriately managed from the advertisement management terminal 1. As a result, it is possible to quickly take measures for improving the problems of the POP terminals 5 as necessary, and to keep the advertisement providing operation at each POP terminal 5 always good.

[Fourth Embodiment]
Next, with reference to FIGS. 19 and 20, an electronic POP advertisement providing system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 19 is an example of an e-mail addressed to a POP terminal used in the electronic POP advertisement providing system according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing command execution processing in the POP terminal.

In the first and second embodiments, a case has been described in which the advertisement management terminal 1 instructs the POP terminal 5 to reproduce an electronic POP advertisement.
In the present embodiment, a case will be described in which reproduction of an electronic POP advertisement is prohibited from the advertisement management terminal 1 to the POP terminal 5.

  As one embodiment for implementing the electronic POP advertisement providing system, there may be a case where the business operator rents the POP terminal 5 to the advertiser for a fee. At this time, when unpaid rental fee for the POP terminal 5 occurs, it is necessary to consider stopping the reproduction of the electronic POP advertisement on the POP terminal 5. Further, even when the POP terminal 5 is stolen or lost, it is necessary to stop the reproduction of the electronic POP advertisement.

In the prior art, there is no function for instructing the POP terminal 5 to stop the reproduction of the electronic POP advertisement, and there is a problem that unauthorized use of the POP terminal 5 cannot be suppressed.
In the present embodiment, reproduction permission / prohibition of reproduction of electronic POP advertisements at the POP terminal 5 is instructed from the advertisement management terminal 1 by a processing command.

  In the command list “I_Command 21 ON” described in the first line in the command list described in the text 43 of the e-mail 40D in FIG. 19, the command identification information “21” is the reproduction prohibition (lock) operation of the terminal. This processing command instructs to prohibit the reproduction of the electronic POP advertisement on the POP terminal 5.

The information processing unit 57 of the POP terminal 5 starts execution of the command execution process of FIG. 20 by the command processing unit 57B based on the command list of the body 43 of the email 40D received by the email processing unit 57A, and prohibits playback. It is determined whether the parameter designated by the (lock) operation command is “ON” for setting reproduction prohibition or “OFF” for setting reproduction permission (step 310).
Here, when the parameter is “ON” (step 310: YES), the reproduction enable / disable information in the storage unit 56 is set to prohibit reproduction (step 311), and when the parameter is “OFF” (step 310: NO). Then, the reproduction permission / prohibition information in the storage unit 56 is set to reproduction permission (step 312), and the series of command execution processes is terminated.

  When reproducing arbitrary content data, the advertisement reproducing means 57C refers to the reproduction availability information in the storage unit 56 to determine whether reproduction is possible, and when the reproduction availability information is set to prohibit reproduction. Even if the electronic POP advertisement is instructed to be reproduced by electronic mail, the reproduction is prohibited, and reproduction is performed only when the reproduction permission / prohibition information is set to reproduction permission.

As described above, in the present embodiment, in response to the reproduction prohibition command instructed as a processing command from the advertisement management terminal 1 by the POP terminal 5, the reproduction permission / reproduction prohibition of the electronic POP advertisement in the POP terminal 5 is set. Thus, it is possible to remotely control whether to permit / prohibit playback of the electronic POP advertisement in the POP terminal 5 from the advertisement management terminal 1.
Therefore, if the rental fee for the POP terminal 5 has not been paid, or if the POP terminal 5 is stolen or lost, the electronic POP advertisement can be replayed as necessary. Use can be suppressed.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the advertisement management terminal 1 sets the reproduction prohibition of the electronic POP advertisement to the POP terminal 5 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this and is executed by the POP terminal 5. The execution of other processes can be prohibited in the same manner as described above. In addition, the reproduction prohibition setting has been described as an example of the case where the reproduction permission information in the storage unit 56 is set and the advertisement reproduction means 57C (program) refers to this to determine the reproduction permission. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the reproduction permission / inhibition may be controlled by another method, such as stopping the operation of an arbitrary circuit unit used for reproduction or stopping the power supply from the power supply unit 55.

[Fifth Embodiment]
Next, with reference to FIG. 21 and FIG. 22, an electronic POP advertisement providing system according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 21 is an example of an e-mail addressed to a POP terminal used in the electronic POP advertisement providing system according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing command execution processing in the POP terminal.

In the first and second embodiments, when a content data file indicating the contents of an electronic POP advertisement is distributed from the advertisement management terminal 1 to the POP terminal 5, one content data is distributed as one content data file. Described as an example.
In the present embodiment, a case will be described in which one content data is divided into a plurality of content data files and distributed.

  When one content data is divided into a plurality of content data files and distributed, the POP terminal 5 that receives the divided files needs to combine these divided files to generate the original content data file. In this embodiment, the combination of the divided files is instructed from the advertisement management terminal 1 by a processing command.

For example, the processing command “I_Command 05 a.mpg.dv1 a.mpg.dv2” described in the first line in the command list described in the text 43 of the e-mail 40E in FIG. ”Corresponds to the file combining operation. This processing command combines the divided files“ a.mpg.dv1 ”and“ a.mpg.dv2 ”in the reference folder, and obtains the content data file“ a. .Mpg ”is stored in the reference folder.
Note that the divided files “a.mpg.dv1” and “a.mpg.dv2” are generated in advance by the information processing unit 17 of the advertisement management terminal 1 and transmitted as an attachment file 44 attached to the e-mail 40E.

  The information processing unit 57 of the POP terminal 5 stores the divided files “a.mpg.dv1” and “a.mpg.dv2” attached to the received electronic mail 40E in the reference folder by the electronic mail processing unit 57A. Thereafter, the command processing means 57B starts executing the command execution process of FIG. 22 based on the command list of the e-mail body 43.

First, the command processing means 57B combines the divided files “a.mpg.dv1” and “a.mpg.dv2” in the reference folder, and stores the obtained content data file “a.mpg” in the reference folder. (Step 320).
Thereafter, the command processing means 57B copies the content data file “a.mpg” obtained by the combination to the “/ contents /” folder (step 321), and copies other advertisement data files to the “/ contents /” folder. Then, the POP terminal 5 is restarted (step 325). As a result, the series of command execution processes is completed, and then the POP terminal 5 is restarted, and the electronic POP advertisement reproduction process is started in the same manner as described above.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, a desired advertisement data file is generated by combining arbitrary divided files in accordance with the combination command instructed as a processing command from the advertisement management terminal 1 by the POP terminal 5. Therefore, even if the file size of one attached file is limited, a large-sized advertisement data file such as a moving image content file can be distributed.

In this embodiment, the case where each divided file is attached to the same e-mail and delivered is described as an example. However, each divided file is attached to a different e-mail and delivered, and the POP terminal 5 sends these e-mails. You may make it combine the division | segmentation file attached to. Thereby, even if the size of one electronic mail is limited, a large-sized advertisement data file such as a moving image content file can be distributed.
Further, the divided file is not limited to the case of distributing by e-mail, and can be applied to a divided file downloaded from, for example, the WEB server 3.

[Sixth Embodiment]
Next, with reference to FIGS. 23 and 24, an electronic POP advertisement providing system according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 23 is an example of an e-mail addressed to a POP terminal used in the electronic POP advertisement providing system according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing command execution processing in the POP terminal.

  In the first and second embodiments, the case where the processing command to be executed by the POP terminal 5 is described in the body of the e-mail has been described as an example. In the present embodiment, a case will be described in which a command list file describing processing commands to be executed by the POP terminal 5 is attached to an electronic mail and distributed to the POP terminal 5.

In the processing command “I_Command 01 200509010000.cmd” described in the text 43 of the e-mail 40F in FIG. 23, the command identification information “01” corresponds to the file copy operation, and this processing command is stored in the reference folder. The command list file “200501010000.cmd” is instructed to be copied to the “/ contents /” folder.
Note that the command list file “200509010000.cmd” is generated in advance by the information processing unit 17 of the advertisement management terminal 1, and is transmitted as an attached file 44 to the electronic mail 40F.

  The information processing unit 57 of the POP terminal 5 stores the command list file “200509010000.cmd” attached to the received e-mail 40F in the reference folder by the e-mail processing unit 57A, and then uses the command processing unit 57B to Based on the command list of the mail text 43, execution of the command execution process of FIG.

First, the command processing means 57B copies the command list file “200509010000.cmd” in the reference folder to the “/ contents /” folder (step 330).
Thereafter, the command processing unit 57B refers to the command list file in the “/ contents /” folder, refers to the current date and time counted by the timing unit 57D, and searches for the command list file whose execution timing has arrived. (Step 331).

Here, the date and time of the execution timing is described in the command list file name. For example, it can be seen from the command list file name “200509010000.cmd” that the date and time of the execution timing is “2005/09/010: 00”.
If there is a command list file whose execution timing has arrived (step 331: YES), execution of command processing is started based on the command list stored in the command list file (step 332), and a series of command execution processing is performed. Exit.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the command processing to be executed by the POP terminal 5 is described in the command list file and distributed to the POP terminal 5, so that any command processing is used as the command list file in the advertisement management terminal 1. Can be saved and attached to an email. This eliminates the need for the operator to write the command list in the e-mail body, thereby reducing the work load.

Also, since the execution timing of the command list file is specified, any command list file can be executed at any date and time, and the process can be easily switched.
At this time, the execution timing of the command list file may be described in the command list file. However, by describing the execution timing in the command list file name, the command list file can be read without browsing the command list file. Can be confirmed, and the processing load on the POP terminal 5 can be reduced.

[Seventh Embodiment]
Next, with reference to FIG. 25 and FIG. 26, an electronic POP advertisement providing system according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 25 is an example of an e-mail addressed to a POP terminal used in the electronic POP advertisement providing system according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing command execution processing in the POP terminal.

In the first and second embodiments, the method of reproducing the electronic POP advertisement to be reproduced by the POP terminal 5 is described as an example in the playlist and attached to the e-mail.
In the present embodiment, an electronic POP advertisement is instructed by a processing command in the body of an e-mail, whereby an electronic POP advertisement being reproduced is temporarily interrupted, and an arbitrary electronic POP advertisement is interrupted and reproduced. explain.

In the processing command “I_Command 01 a.jpg” described in the text 43 of the e-mail 40G in FIG. 25, the command identification information “01” corresponds to the file copy operation, and this processing command is stored in the reference folder. The content data file “a.jpg” is instructed to be copied to the “/ contents” folder.
In the processing command “I_Command 13 a.jpg 30” on the next line, the command identification information “13” corresponds to the display operation of the still image file, and this processing command is a content data file in the “/ contents /” folder. “A.jpg” is displayed for “30” seconds.

  In the processing command “I_Command 03 / contents / a.jpg” on the last line, the command identification information “03” corresponds to the file deletion operation, and this processing command is a content data file in the “/ contents /” folder. “A.jpg” is instructed to be deleted.

  The information processing unit 57 of the POP terminal 5 stores the content data file “a.jpg” attached to the received electronic mail 40G in the reference folder by the electronic mail processing unit 57A, and then stores the content data file “a.jpg” in the electronic mail processing unit 57B. Based on the command list of the mail text 43, execution of the command execution process of FIG.

First, the command processing means 57B copies the content data file “a.jpg” in the reference folder to the “/ contents /” folder (step 340), and the content in the “/ contents /” folder by the advertisement playback means 57C. Display of the data file “a.jpg” is started on the screen display unit 53 (step 341).
As a result, the electronic POP advertisement that has been displayed on the screen display unit 53 until then is interrupted, and a new content data file “a.jpg” is displayed on the screen.

  Thereafter, the command processing unit 57B refers to the timing result of the timing unit 57D, and when 30 seconds have elapsed from the start of display of the content data file “a.jpg” (step 342: YES), the content data file “a. The display of “jpg” is stopped (step 343), the content data file “a.jpg” in the “/ contents /” folder is deleted (step 344), and the series of command execution processes is terminated. The advertisement reproducing means 57C resumes the interrupted electronic POP advertisement after completion of the interrupt reproduction.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, arbitrary content data is reproduced by the POP terminal 5 in accordance with the reproduction command instructed as the processing command from the advertisement management terminal 1, and thus the electronic POP advertisement being reproduced is reproduced. Can be temporarily interrupted at an arbitrary timing, and an arbitrary electronic POP advertisement can be interrupted and reproduced. Note that this embodiment may be used for the purpose of reproducing content without using a playlist.

[Extended embodiment]
In each of the above embodiments, the case where the communication I / F unit 51 of the POP terminal 5 has a wireless communication function and is connected to the IP network 7 via the gateway (GW) 6 has been described as an example. Thereby, it is not necessary to wire a wired communication line to the POP terminal 5, and the arrangement restriction of the POP terminal 5 can be greatly relaxed. If the wired communication line is easy to wire, the gateway 6 does not need to be used, and the POP terminal 5 may be connected to the IP network 7 via the wired communication line.

  In each of the above embodiments, the case where there is one advertisement management terminal 1 has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and advertisement data is sent to the POP terminal 5 using a plurality of advertisement management terminals 1. Can be distributed to play electronic POP advertisements. Therefore, a plurality of advertisers can share the same mail server 2, and the operation cost of the electronic POP advertisement providing system can be reduced.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the electronic POP advertisement provision system concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the advertisement management terminal used with the electronic POP advertisement provision system concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the mail server used with the electronic POP advertisement provision system concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the POP terminal used with the electronic POP advertisement provision system concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows the advertisement update operation | movement in an advertisement management terminal. It is an example of the electronic mail addressed to the POP terminal transmitted from the advertisement management terminal. It is an example of a playlist showing a method for reproducing content data in a POP terminal. It is a sequence diagram which shows the email reception operation | movement in a POP terminal. It is a flowchart which shows the command execution process in a POP terminal. It is a flowchart which shows the advertisement reproduction | regeneration process in a POP terminal. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the electronic POP advertisement provision system concerning the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the WEB server used with the electronic POP advertisement provision system concerning the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows the advertisement update operation | movement in an advertisement management terminal. It is an example of the electronic mail addressed to the POP terminal transmitted from the advertisement management terminal. It is a flowchart which shows the command execution process in a POP terminal. It is an example of the electronic mail addressed to the POP terminal used in the electronic POP advertisement providing system according to the third embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the command execution process in a POP terminal. It is an example of the electronic mail addressed to the advertisement management terminal transmitted from the POP terminal. It is an example of the electronic mail addressed to the POP terminal used with the electronic POP advertisement provision system concerning the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the command execution process in a POP terminal. It is an example of the electronic mail addressed to the POP terminal used in the electronic POP advertisement providing system according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the command execution process in a POP terminal. It is an example of the e-mail addressed to the POP terminal used in the electronic POP advertisement providing system according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the command execution process in a POP terminal. It is an example of the electronic mail addressed to the POP terminal used with the electronic POP advertisement provision system concerning the 7th Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the command execution process in a POP terminal.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Advertisement management terminal, 11 ... Communication I / F part, 12 ... Operation input part, 13 ... Screen display part, 16 ... Memory | storage part, 17 ... Information processing part, 17A ... E-mail processing means, 2 ... Mail server, 21 ... Communication I / F unit, 26 ... Accumulation unit, 27 ... Information processing unit, 27A ... E-mail delivery means, 3 ... WEB server, 31 ... Communication I / F unit, 36 ... Storage unit, 37 ... Information processing unit, 37A ... File transfer means, 37B ... File delivery means, 40, 40A, 40B, 40C, 40D, 40E, 40F, 40G ... E-mail, 41 ... Destination address, 42 ... Subject, 43 ... Text, 44 ... Attached file, 45 ... Play list, 5 ... POP terminal, 5A ... Store A, 5B ... Store B, 51 ... Communication I / F section, 52 ... Operation input section, 53 ... Screen display section, 54 ... Audio processing section, 55 ... Power supply section, 56 ... Storage unit, 56A ... Data, 56B ... content data, 56C ... play list, 56D ... log data, 56P ... program, 57 ... information processing section, 57A ... email processing means, 57B ... command processing means, 57C ... advertisement reproduction means, 57D ... timekeeping means , 6 ... Gateway (GW), 7 ... IP network.

Claims (11)

An electronic POP advertisement providing system that provides an arbitrary electronic POP advertisement by reproducing content data from an advertisement management terminal received via an IP network at an electronic POP advertisement terminal installed in an advertisement place such as a store. ,
A mail server for delivering electronic mail via the IP network;
The advertisement management terminal transmits an e-mail addressed to an electronic POP advertisement terminal attached with a content data file storing content data to the mail server,
The electronic POP advertising terminal reproduces content data stored in an electronic mail processing means for receiving an electronic mail addressed to the electronic POP advertising terminal from the mail server and a content data file attached to the received electronic mail. An electronic POP advertisement providing system comprising: an advertisement reproducing means for providing an arbitrary electronic POP advertisement by performing An electronic POP advertisement providing system that provides an arbitrary electronic POP advertisement by reproducing content data from an advertisement management terminal received via an IP network at an electronic POP advertisement terminal installed in an advertisement place such as a store. ,
A mail server for delivering electronic mail via the IP network; and a WEB server for transferring files via the IP network,
The advertisement management terminal uploads a content data file in which content data is stored to the WEB server, and transmits an e-mail addressed to an electronic POP advertising terminal instructing to download the content data to the mail server.
The electronic POP advertising terminal has an electronic mail processing means for receiving an electronic mail addressed to the electronic POP advertising terminal from the mail server, and a file transfer means for downloading a content data file designated by the received electronic mail from the WEB server. And an advertisement reproducing means for providing an arbitrary electronic POP advertisement by reproducing the content data stored in the downloaded content data file. Used in an electronic POP advertisement providing system that provides an arbitrary electronic POP advertisement by reproducing content data from an advertisement management terminal received via an IP network on an electronic POP advertisement terminal installed in an advertisement place such as a store. An electronic POP advertising terminal,
E-mail processing means for receiving e-mail addressed to the electronic POP advertising terminal transmitted from the advertisement management terminal from a mail server connected to the IP network;
An electronic POP advertising terminal comprising: an advertisement reproducing means for providing an arbitrary electronic POP advertisement by reproducing content data stored in a content data file attached to a received electronic mail. Used in an electronic POP advertisement providing system that provides an arbitrary electronic POP advertisement by reproducing content data from an advertisement management terminal received via an IP network on an electronic POP advertisement terminal installed in an advertisement place such as a store. An electronic POP advertising terminal,
E-mail processing means for receiving an e-mail addressed to the electronic POP advertising terminal transmitted from the advertisement management terminal from a mail server connected to the IP network;
A file transfer means for downloading a content data file uploaded from the advertisement management terminal to a WEB server connected to the IP network from the WEB server according to an instruction in the received e-mail;
An electronic POP advertising terminal comprising: an advertisement reproducing means for providing an arbitrary electronic POP advertisement by reproducing the content data stored in the downloaded content data file. In the electronic POP advertising terminal according to claim 3 or 4,
The electronic mail processing means receives the electronic mail by intermittently connecting to the electronic mail server and taking in electronic mail addressed to the electronic POP advertising terminal from the mail server to the terminal. Terminal. In the electronic POP advertising terminal according to claim 3 or 4,
The advertisement reproducing means reproduces the content data based on a reproduction method specified in a playlist stored in a playlist file attached to the e-mail when reproducing the content data. Electronic POP advertising terminal. In the electronic POP advertising terminal according to claim 3 or 4,
An electronic POP advertising terminal further comprising command processing means for analyzing and executing a processing command instructed from the advertisement management terminal by the electronic mail. The electronic POP advertising terminal according to claim 7,
The command processing means sends an email addressed to the advertisement management terminal including log data indicating the operation status of the electronic POP advertising terminal via the IP network in response to a mail transmission command instructed as the processing command. An electronic POP advertising terminal characterized by being transmitted to a mail server. The electronic POP advertising terminal according to claim 7,
The electronic POP advertising terminal, wherein the command processing means prohibits at least the reproduction of content data by the advertisement reproducing means in response to a terminal lock command instructed as the processing command. Used in an electronic POP advertisement providing system that provides an arbitrary electronic POP advertisement by reproducing content data from an advertisement management terminal received via an IP network on an electronic POP advertisement terminal installed in an advertisement place such as a store. In the computer of the electronic POP advertising terminal,
An e-mail processing step for receiving an e-mail addressed to the electronic POP advertising terminal transmitted from the advertisement management terminal from a mail server connected to the IP network;
A program for executing an advertisement reproduction step of providing an arbitrary electronic POP advertisement by reproducing content data stored in a content data file attached to a received electronic mail. Used in an electronic POP advertisement providing system that provides an arbitrary electronic POP advertisement by reproducing content data from an advertisement management terminal received via an IP network on an electronic POP advertisement terminal installed in an advertisement place such as a store. In the computer of the electronic POP advertising terminal,
An e-mail processing step for receiving an e-mail addressed to the electronic POP advertising terminal transmitted from the advertisement management terminal from a mail server connected to the IP network;
A file transfer step of downloading a content data file uploaded from the advertisement management terminal to a WEB server connected to the IP network from the WEB server according to an instruction in the received e-mail;
An advertisement reproduction step of providing an arbitrary electronic POP advertisement by reproducing the content data stored in the downloaded content data file.

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