JP2008171206A - Information providing system, its method, respondent terminal apparatus, program for terminal, and service server - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently acquire a photograph image in a system for providing field information concerning a place with the use of the photograph image. <P>SOLUTION: In an information providing system, questions from the questioner terminals 1a, 1b include question items concerning time and place. Respondents 7a, 7b record the photograph images to be response information, add the items of the present position information and time information, and preserve them in a photo holder. When the photograph image information for response is transmitted, a position condition and a time condition from the question items are set as response conditions. The position information and time information included in the response information are compared with the position condition and time condition set from the question. It is determined whether the conidtions are satisfied or not. Only image files satisfying the conditions are extracted and transmitted to a service server 3. Thus, the questioners 6a, 6b acquire the information of the real-time photograph images of places which the questioners want to know. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information providing system and method for specifying a place and providing information related to the place in real time, and a respondent terminal device, a terminal program, and a service server for realizing such a system.

  With the development of broadcasting and communication media, it is now possible to acquire a vast amount of information. However, with such conventional media, it is difficult to obtain information that is closely related to the region and that changes in real time.

  For example, when going out to a ski resort, we are concerned about snow cover information and information about waiting for lift. Information on snow cover at ski resorts is provided in newspapers and web pages. However, the snow condition of the ski resort changes every moment, and the current snow condition of the ski resort may be significantly different from the snow condition disclosed in newspapers and web pages. Also, specialized information such as waiting for lift is difficult to provide with conventional media.

  Also, when I go out to see the cherry blossoms, I'm worried about the flowering situation and the congestion. Also, when going out to an event, I am worried about the crowded situation of the event venue, the situation of traffic congestion in the surroundings, the situation of waiting for buses and taxis, etc. It is difficult for conventional media to provide such information that changes in real time that is specific to a region.

  Conventionally, as a method for acquiring information related to position information, there is a method for obtaining facility information and the like around the information acquirer based on the position information of the information acquirer.

  For example, Patent Document 1 proposes a system that efficiently uses a mobile communication system to provide information about peripheral facilities where a user is located to a user having a mobile terminal.

In addition, Patent Document 2 discloses that a digital image is captured by a wireless mobile browser terminal with a camera in order to provide a system that organizes and manages digital images by region and can be browsed according to the region. There has been proposed a method of accumulating acquired image information in a network-side position image management site apparatus by transmitting and registering attached images to a position image management site and searching for images by position on the position image management site.
JP 2001-177651 A JP 2003-204400 A

  However, in Patent Document 1, even when the person who acquires information is not necessarily present, information may be posted, and it is difficult to acquire real-time information.

  Moreover, in patent document 2, the information of each place can be provided with the image which imaged with the wireless portable browser terminal with a camera. However, in the method of Patent Document 2, it is necessary to store many images of members on the server, which increases the load on the server side.

  The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the above-described conventional technology. It is possible to specify a place and efficiently acquire a local photographic image related to the place, and to obtain information closely related to real-time life. It is an object to provide an information providing system and method that can be provided, an answerer terminal device, a terminal program, and a service server.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the information providing system according to the present invention includes means for inputting question information including a question item related to position, and means for transmitting question information including the question item related to the input position to the service server. A questioner terminal including: means for taking photographic image information; means for adding position information and time information to the taken photographic image information; and storing the position information in question information from the questioner terminal Extracting means for setting a position condition and a time condition from items relating to time and an item relating to time, and extracting photo image information satisfying the set position condition and time condition from the stored photograph image information; Between the respondent terminal having means for transmitting the extracted photographic image information to the service server as photographic image information for reply, and the interrogator terminal and the respondent terminal. A service server that provides a service for exchanging information about, questioner terminal, characterized by comprising the respondents terminal, and network system for transmitting and receiving data to and from the service server.

  Preferably, the service server further includes means for storing link information to a storage destination of a file of photo image information.

  Preferably, the service server further includes a footprint database in which position information where the respondent terminal has been located and time information are stored.

  Preferably, the service server sets a position condition and a time condition from an item related to the position in the question information from the questioner terminal and an item related to the time, and is set in the respondent terminal by referring to the footprint database. And a means for extracting a respondent terminal satisfying the position condition and time condition, and a means for transmitting question information to the extracted respondent terminal.

  Preferably, the service server has means for mapping the footprint information from the footprint database on a map and transmitting it to the questioner terminal.

  Preferably, the service server further includes a point processing unit that adds points each time reply photo image information is sent from the respondent terminal.

  In the information providing method according to the present invention, the questioner terminal transmits question information including a question item regarding the input position to the service server, and the service server is based on the question information sent from the questioner terminal, Create a question list table, set the position condition and time condition based on the question information sent from the questioner terminal, and extract and extract the respondent terminal that satisfies the set position condition and time condition Question information is transmitted to the respondent terminal, and the respondent terminal adds the position information and time information to the photographed photo image information and saves it, and relates to the position in the question information from the questioner terminal. A position condition and a time condition are set from the items and items related to the time, and the photograph that satisfies the set position condition and time condition in the photo image information stored in the respondent terminal. The image information is extracted, and the extracted photographic image information is transmitted to the service server as the photographic image information for reply. The service server is based on the photographic image information for reply sent from the respondent terminal. Is created, and the photographic image information for answering is transmitted to the questioner terminal in response to a request from the questioner terminal.

  The respondent terminal device according to the present invention includes means for acquiring position information, means for photographing photographic image information, means for adding position information and time information to photographic image information and storing the information, and a questioner Set location conditions and time conditions from items related to position and time items in the question information from the terminal, and satisfy the set position conditions and time conditions in the photo image information stored in the respondent terminal And extracting means for extracting the photographic image information being used as photographic image information for reply.

  The terminal program according to the present invention includes a step of setting a position condition and a time condition from an item related to a position and an item related to a time in question information from a questioner terminal, and from the stored photographic image information, position information and The position condition and time condition are satisfied by comparing the position information and time information acquired from the stored answer photo image with the step of acquiring the time information and the set position condition and time condition. A step of determining whether or not the photographic image information satisfying the position condition and the time condition is extracted as photographic image information for reply.

  The service server according to the present invention includes means for receiving question information from the questioner terminal, means for creating a question database based on the question information sent from the questioner terminal, and sent from the questioner terminal. Means for setting a position condition and a time condition based on the obtained question information, extracting a respondent terminal satisfying the set position condition and time condition, means for transmitting the question information to the extracted answerer terminal; A means for receiving photographic image information for reply from the respondent terminal; a means for creating a respondent database based on the photographic image information for reply sent from the respondent terminal; and image information for reply It has the means to transmit to an interrogator terminal, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  According to the present invention, a questioner terminal having means for inputting question information including a question item related to a position, and means for transmitting question information including a question item related to the input position to a service server, and photo image information Position condition and time from photographing means, means for adding position information and time information to the photographed photographic image information and storing, items relating to position in question information from questioner terminal, and items relating to time Extraction means for extracting the photographic image information satisfying the set position condition and time condition from among the stored photographic image information by setting conditions, and a photographic image for answering the extracted photographic image information Provide a service for exchanging information about the position between the respondent terminal having means for transmitting to the service server as information and the questioner terminal and the respondent terminal. Service server and the network that performs data transmission / reception between the questioner terminal, the respondent terminal, and the service server, so it is possible to obtain real-time photographic image information of the location where the question was asked Become. Further, only the photographic image information extracted by the respondent terminal is transmitted to the service server, and it is not necessary to store all the photographic images in the service server, so that the load on the server can be reduced.

  Further, according to the present invention, the service server further includes means for storing link information to the storage location of the photo image information file, so that the storage location of the photo image file can be easily changed, The burden on the server can be reduced.

  Further, according to the present invention, the service server further includes a footprint database in which the position information where the respondent terminal has been located and the time information are stored. Using this footprint information, a questioner can be selected from the footprint list and asked a question. Further, when this footprint is used, the time range that is a condition when the questioner asks a question can be traced back to the past.

  Further, according to the present invention, the service server sets the position condition and the time condition from the item related to the position and the item related to the time in the question information from the questioner terminal, refers to the footprint database, and Among them, there are means for extracting the respondent terminal satisfying the set position condition and time condition, and means for transmitting the question information to the extracted respondent terminal. The respondent terminal of the respondent who satisfies the position condition and the time condition can be selected and a question can be sent.

  Further, according to the present invention, the service server has means for mapping the footprint information from the footprint database on the map and transmitting the footprint information to the questioner terminal. Can be confirmed.

  In addition, according to the present invention, the service server further includes a point processing unit that adds points each time reply image data is sent from the respondent terminal. Points can be given to those who provide them and incentives can be improved.

  According to the present invention, the questioner terminal transmits the question information including the question item regarding the input position to the service server, and the service server stores the question list table based on the question information sent from the questioner terminal. Create and set the position condition and time condition based on the question information sent from the questioner terminal, extract the answerer terminal that satisfies the set position condition and time condition, and extract the answerer terminal extracted The respondent terminal adds the location information and time information to the photographed image information and saves them, and stores items related to the position and time in the question information from the questioner terminal. Set the position condition and time condition from the item, and extract the photo image information satisfying the set position condition and time condition from the photo image information stored in the respondent terminal, The issued photographic image information is transmitted to the service server as photographic image information for reply, and the service server creates an answer list table based on the photographic image information for reply sent from the respondent terminal, and Since the photographic image information for reply is transmitted to the interrogator terminal in response to a request from the person terminal, it is possible to acquire real-time photographic image information of the place where the question was asked. Further, only the photographic image information extracted by the respondent terminal is transmitted to the service server, and it is not necessary to store all the photographic images in the service server, so that the load on the server can be reduced.

  According to the present invention, means for acquiring position information, means for photographing photographic image information, means for adding position information and time information to photographic image information and storing them, and a question from a questioner terminal A photo that satisfies the set location and time conditions in the photo image information stored in the respondent's terminal by setting the location and time conditions from the location and time items in the information And the extraction means for extracting the image information as the photographic image information for reply, so that only the photographic image information extracted at the respondent terminal is transmitted to the service server, and all the photographic images are transmitted to the service server. Since it is not necessary to accumulate, the burden on the server can be reduced.

  According to the present invention, the step of setting the position condition and the time condition from the item related to the position and the item related to the time in the question information from the questioner terminal, the position information and the time information from the stored photo image information, Whether the position condition and time condition are satisfied by comparing the position information and time information acquired from the stored answer image and the set position condition and time condition. And the step of extracting the photographic image information satisfying the position condition and the time condition as the photographic image information for the answer, so that the service server is extracted at the respondent terminal. Since only the photographic image information is transmitted and it is not necessary to store all photographic images in the service server, the burden on the server can be reduced.

  According to the present invention, the means for receiving the question information from the questioner terminal, the means for creating the question database based on the question information sent from the questioner terminal, and the question sent from the questioner terminal Means for setting a position condition and a time condition based on information, extracting a respondent terminal satisfying the set position condition and time condition, means for transmitting question information to the extracted respondent terminal, and a respondent A means for receiving photo image information for reply from the terminal, a means for creating a respondent database based on the photo image information for reply sent from the respondent terminal, and the questioner for the image information for reply Since it has a means for transmitting to the terminal, it becomes possible to obtain real-time photographic image information of the place where the question was made.

First embodiment.
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 1, 1a, 1b,... Are interrogator terminals, 2a, 2b,... Are respondent terminals, and 3 is a service server.

  The questioner terminals 1a, 1b,... Are terminals owned by the questioners 6a, 6b,. As the interrogator terminals 1a, 1b,..., Personal computers that can be connected to the Internet can be used. Further, as the questioner terminals 1a, 1b,..., Not only a personal computer but also a mobile phone terminal that can be connected to the Internet, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) that can be connected to the Internet, and the like can be used.

  The questioners 6a, 6b,... Access the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of the service server 3 by their own questioner terminals 1a, 1b,. Then, a questioner screen 10 as shown in FIG. 2 is received from the service server 3 and displayed. The questioner screen 10 includes a question registration button 11, an answer display button 12, and a footprint browsing button 13.

  In FIG. 1, respondent terminals 2a, 2b,... Are terminals owned by respondents 7a, 7b,. As the respondent terminals 2a, 2b,..., A camera-equipped mobile phone terminal having a GPS (Global Positioning System) function that can be connected to the Internet is used. As the respondent terminals 2a, 2b,..., PDAs and personal computers can be used as long as they can connect to the Internet and have a GPS function and a camera function.

  On the respondent screen 20 of the respondent terminals 2a, 2b,..., As shown in FIG. 3, a question display button 21, a footprint registration button 22, a photo shooting button 23, a photo list display button 24, and a photo posting Button 25 is included.

  In FIG. 1, the service server 3 exchanges information between the questioners 6a, 6b,... And the respondents 7a, 7b,. Offering services to provide. The questioner terminals 1a, 1b,... And the service server 3 are connected via the Internet network 4. The respondent terminals 2a, 2b,... And the service server 3 are connected via the Internet network 4 and the mobile communication network 5.

  3, the respondent screen 20 of the respondent terminals 2a, 2b,... Includes a footprint registration button 22. When the footprint registration button 22 is clicked, the current location information and time information are acquired by the GPS function of the respondent terminals 2a, 2b,. The current location information and time information are sent from the respondent terminals 2 a and 2 b to the service server 3 via the mobile communication network 5 and the Internet network 4 and stored as footprint information in the service server 3.

  In this way, every time the footprint registration button 22 is clicked on each respondent terminal 2a, 2b,..., The current position and time of the respondents 7a, 7b,. And save it. If this footprint information is tracked, the current positions of the respondents 7a, 7b,... And the footprints up to that point can be traced.

  Here, every time the footprint registration button 22 is clicked, the footprint information of each respondent terminal 2a, 2b,... Is sent to the service server 3, but each respondent terminal 2a, The footprint information 2b,... May be automatically transmitted to the service server 3.

Further, the respondent screen 20 of the respondent terminals 2a, 2b,... In FIG. When the photograph is taken with the photograph button 23, the photographed photograph images are accumulated in the photo folders of the respondent terminals 2a, 2b,. At this time, the current location of the respondent terminals 2a, 2b,... Is measured by the GPS function of the respondent terminals 2a, 2b,. Then, the location information of the current location and the time information of the shooting date and time are added to the saved photo image file. Further, the position information acquired at this time is sent to the service server 3 via the mobile communication network 5 and the Internet network 4 and stored as footprint information in the service server 3.
When the photo list display button 24 on the respondent screen 20 is clicked, a list of photo images stored in the photo folder is displayed.

  The photo posting button 25 is for sending a photo image of the answer to the question. As will be described later, in the first embodiment of the present invention, a photographic image can be sent as an answer to the questioner. At this time, from the photo images stored in the photo folder, a photo image that matches the position condition and time condition of the question can be extracted and sent.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the questioner screen 10 includes a footprint browsing button 13. As described above, each time the footprint registration button 22 in FIG. 3 is clicked on the respondent terminals 2a, 2b,..., The footprint information of each respondent terminal 2a, 2b,. The footprint information is stored in the service server 3.

  When the footprint browsing button 13 in FIG. 2 is clicked, a map screen 41 is displayed as shown in FIG. 4, and footprints left by each respondent 7a, 7b,. 32b...

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the questioner screen 10 of the questioner terminals 1a, 1b,. The questioners 6a, 6b,... Click the question registration button 11 by their own questioner terminals 1a, 1b,.

  When the question registration button 11 is clicked, a question registration screen 40 as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed. As shown in FIG. 5, the question registration screen 40 includes a map screen 41, a keyword input field 42, a search start button 43, a user ID input field 44, a “subject” input field 45, An “question content” input field 46, a “location” input field 47, an “area range” input field 48, and a “time range” input field 49 are included.

  When searching for the target place, the questioners 6a, 6b,... Enter the name of the target place in the keyword input field 42 and click the search start button 43. When a keyword is entered in the keyword input field 42 and a search is performed, the latitude and longitude of the place are searched, and a map near the place is displayed on the map screen 41. When a place is designated with the cursor 50 on the map screen 41, the latitude and longitude of the place are entered in the "place" input field 47.

  At this time, the position condition and the time condition are set based on the items related to the place and time in the question information, and the footprint information of the respondents 7a, 7b,... Satisfying the set position condition and time condition is returned from the service server 3. To the user terminals 2a, 2b,. As shown in FIG. 4, on the map screen 41, footprints left by the respondents 7a, 7b,... Are mapped and displayed as icons 32a, 32b,.

  Note that the mapping of the icons 32a, 32b,... On the map can be performed using a server of a site on the Internet that handles position data and map data. Further, for each of the respondents' icons 32a, 32b,..., An image transmitted in advance as member registration information may be used, or a default one may be used.

  Further, the latitude and longitude of the target place may be directly input in the “place” input field 47. In addition, a site server on the Internet that handles location data and map data can be used for searching for a place by a keyword and mapping on a map.

  The questioners 6a, 6b,... Enter the question items in the respective input fields, and when the input is completed, click the posting button 51.

  When the posting button 51 is clicked, the inputted question information is sent to the service server 3 from the questioner terminals 1a, 1b,... In FIG. When the service server 3 receives the question information from the questioner terminals 1a, 1b,..., The service server 3 saves the question information as a question list in the question database, and determines the position condition and time condition from the location and time matters in the question information. Set. Then, the position and time information of each respondent 7a, 7b,... Stored as footprint information is compared with the position condition and time condition set from the question, and the position condition and time condition are satisfied. The respondents 7a, 7b,... Of the respondents 7a, 7b,... Leaving the footprint information are extracted, and the respondents 7a, 7b,... Leaving the footprint information satisfying the position condition and time condition As shown in FIG. 6, a question mail 55 is transmitted toward the terminals 2a, 2b,.

  A mail 55 as shown in FIG. 6 is sent to the respondent terminals 2a, 2b,... Of the respondents 7a, 7b,. When respondents 7a, 7b,... Make a response to a question, the respondent terminals 2a, 2b,... Click a link based on the information display 56 in the question mail 55 by their own respondent terminals 2a, 2b,. .., 2b,... Is activated, and an answer posting screen 70 as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed.

  On the answer posting screen 70 in FIG. 8, the user ID is input in the input field 71, the related question number is input in the input field 72, and the subject is input in the input field 73. When the question number is input in the input field 42, the position information and time information in the photo image file stored in the photo folder of the respondent terminals 2a, 2b..., The position condition and time condition set from the question, Are compared, and a photo image file satisfying the conditions is extracted. 8, the extracted photographic images 76a, 76b,... Are displayed side by side on the thumbnail display unit 74. The respondents 7a, 7b,... Confirm photographic images that may be transmitted from among the photographic images 76a, 76b,. Then, the photograph images that are permitted to be transmitted are checked with the check boxes 77a, 77b,... And the transmission button 75 is clicked.

  When the send button 75 is clicked, this photographic image information is sent to the service server 3 from the respondent terminals 2a, 2b,... In FIG.

  When the question display button 21 is clicked on the respondent screen 20 shown in FIG. 3, a question list screen 60 as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed. As shown in FIG. 7, the question list screen 60 displays a list of question information from the questioners 6a, 6b,. On this question list screen 60, a question is selected with the cursor 61, and an answer button 63 is clicked to display an answer posting screen 70 as shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, the questioners 6a, 6b,... Click the answer display button 12 on the questioner screen 10 shown in FIG. When the answer display button 12 is clicked, an answer list screen 80 of answer photo images 81a, 81b,... As shown in FIG. 9 is displayed.

  When answer photo images 81a, 81b,... Are selected in the check boxes 82a, 82b,... On the answer list screen 80 as shown in FIG. 9 and the content display button 83 is clicked, the contents as shown in FIG. The display screen 90 is displayed, and a photographic image 91 posted by the respondents 7a, 7b,... Is displayed as a reply photographic image.

  As described above, in the first embodiment of the present invention, a mobile phone terminal with a camera having a GPS function is used as the respondent terminals 2a, 2b,. The respondents 7a, 7b,... Take a photographic image as reply information and save it in a photo folder. At this time, items of current position information and time information are added to the photo image file. When sending a reply photo image, the position condition and time condition are set from the question item, the position information and time information included in the answer photo image, and the position set from the question. The condition and the time condition are compared to determine whether or not the condition is satisfied, and only the photo image file that satisfies the condition is extracted. As a result, the interrogators 6a, 6b,... Can obtain real-time photographic image information of the place they want to know.

  Next, member registration for using the system according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. In order to receive the service of the present invention, it is necessary to register as a member in advance. When the member is registered, the questioners 6a, 6b,... Or the respondents 7a, 7b,... Use the respective questioner terminals 1a, 1b,. Access the URL. At the time of member registration, a member registration screen 100 as shown in FIG. 11 is transmitted from the service server 3 to the questioner terminals 1a, 1b,.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the member registration screen 100 includes a user ID input field 101, an email address input field 102, a password input field 103, and a country / region name input field 104. The questioners 6a, 6b,... Or the respondents 7a, 7b,... Enter the user ID, mail address, password, country / region name along the member registration screen 100, and then click the registration button 105. Thereby, these member registration information is transmitted to the service server 3 from the questioner terminals 1a, 1b,... Or the respondent terminals 2a, 2b,.

  A nickname may be used as the user ID. As the mail address, either the mail address of the personal computer or the mail address of the mobile phone terminal may be used, or both the mail address of the personal computer or the mail address of the mobile phone terminal may be used.

  FIG. 12 shows a flowchart of the member registration process. The questioners 6a, 6b,... Or the respondents 7a, 7b,... Access the URL of the service server 3 using the questioner terminals 1a, 1b,. 100 is downloaded (step S1). The questioners 6a, 6b,... Or the respondents 7a, 7b,... Enter the user ID, email address, password, country / region name along the member registration screen 100, and click the registration button 105. Member registration information is transmitted (step S2). The service server 3 receives the member registration information (step S3), assigns a member number to the member (step S4), registers member data in the member database, and then transmits member registration completion information to the member ( Step S5). The questioners 6a, 6b,... Or the respondents 7a, 7b,... Receive the member registration completion information (step S6) and complete the member registration.

  After the membership registration, the questioners 6a, 6b,... Or the respondents 7a, 7b,... Need to be authenticated in order to receive the service of the present invention. At the time of authentication, an authentication screen 110 as shown in FIG. 13 is transmitted from the service server 3 to the questioner terminals 1a, 1b,.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the authentication screen 110 includes a user ID input field 111 and a password input field 112. The questioners 6a, 6b,... Or the respondents 7a, 7b,... Enter the user ID and password on the authentication screen 110, and then click the login button 113. Accordingly, these pieces of information are transmitted to the service server 3 from the questioner terminals 1a, 1b,... Or the responder terminals 2a, 2b,.

  When the service server 3 receives the user ID and password, the user authentication is performed. When the authentication is established, the log-in of the interrogator terminals 1a, 1b,... Or the respondent terminals 2a, 2b,. In some cases, login is not permitted.

  Here, the user ID is used to identify the user. However, when the mobile phone terminal is used as the interrogator terminal 1a, 1b,... Or the respondent terminal 2a, 2b,. In addition, a UID (individual identification number of a mobile phone) may be used. If a UID is used, it is not necessary to input a user ID.

  Next, the configuration of each part of the system according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. As described above, the system according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes the questioner terminals 1a, 1b,..., The answerer terminals 2a, 2b,. As the interrogator terminals 1a, 1b,..., A personal computer connectable to the Internet network 4 as shown in FIG. 14 can be used.

  In FIG. 14, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 151 is connected to a bus 152. The CPU 151 interprets the command and executes it. A ROM (Read Only Memory) 153 and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 154 are connected to the bus 152. The ROM 153 stores a boot program. The RAM 154 is used as a main memory. Also, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) drive 155 is connected to the bus 152. The HDD drive 155 records an OS (Operating System) and application programs, as well as various files. Application programs include a program for connecting to the Internet, a browser program for browsing web pages, and a program for sending and receiving mail.

  In addition, a display device 158 such as a liquid crystal display is connected to the bus 152 via the graphics processing unit 157. A speaker 159 is connected to the bus 152 via the audio processing unit 106. A communication interface 175 is connected to the bus 152. The communication interface 175 is provided for connection with the Internet network 4. Further, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface 170 is connected to the bus 152. Input devices such as a keyboard 171 and a mouse 172 are connected to the USB interface 170. The USB interface 170 is connected to an optical disk drive 173 such as a CD (Compact Disc) or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc).

  As the respondent terminals 2a, 2b,..., A camera-equipped mobile phone terminal having a GPS (Global Positioning System) function connectable to the Internet as shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 15, the transmission / reception unit 201 transmits / receives voice and data to / from a base station using a predetermined frequency band. Communication systems include PDC (Personal Digital Cellular), GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication), CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), WCDMA (Wideband CDMA), and the like. In the present invention, any frequency or communication method may be used as long as it can be connected to the Internet network 4 via the mobile communication network 5. The communication processing unit 202 processes data to be transmitted / received.

  The audio processing unit 203 performs a process of compressing and encoding the audio from the microphone 204 and decoding the received audio signal and sending it to the speaker 205. The GPS processing unit 211 measures the current location by the GPS function. GPS measures the current location using a plurality of satellites orbiting the sky at a predetermined cycle. In addition, when the positioning by GPS cannot be performed, the rough position of the present location can be measured using the information of the communicating base station. In addition, an accurate time can be obtained from the GPS processing unit 211.

  The data processing unit 206 performs transmission / reception data processing. The data processing unit 206 includes a function for browsing web pages on the Internet, a function for transmitting and receiving e-mails, a function for processing position information obtained by GPS, and the like. Transmission / reception data can be stored in the memory 207. The data processing unit 206 is given an input from the input unit 208. The output of the data processing unit 206 is sent to a display 209 such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), and various information is displayed on the display 209.

  In addition, the mobile phone terminal includes a camera unit 210, and the camera unit 210 can capture an image. When the photograph shooting button 23 is clicked on the respondent screen 20 shown in FIG. 3, the camera unit 210 functions and shooting can be performed. The photographed photograph image is stored in a photo folder in the memory 207. As shown in FIG. 16, the position information acquired by the GPS function and the time information are added to the photograph image file at this time together with the image data of the photograph image. As an image file format, for example, an Exif (Exchangeable Image File Format) format can be used. In the Exif format, image attribute information can be added to a tag. The position information and time information can be included therein.

  Further, in this mobile phone terminal, a footprint is left, a question mail is received and the service server 3 is accessed, photograph image information is taken, and the position condition of the question is selected from the stored photograph image information. In addition, an application for realizing a respondent function of extracting photographic image information satisfying the time condition and transmitting it as reply information is installed. In this application, the position condition and time condition are set as the answer condition from the question item, and the position information and time information included in the answer information are compared with the position condition and time condition set from the question. In addition, an extraction program 212 for determining whether or not the condition is satisfied and extracting a photo image file satisfying the condition is included.

  FIG. 17 is a functional block diagram of the extraction program 212. In FIG. 17, the condition calculation unit 551 receives location information and area range information as a question condition, and time and time range information as a condition. The condition calculation unit 551 calculates the range of the position condition and the range of the time condition. The range of the position condition and the range of the time condition are sent to the determination unit 552.

  In addition, the photographic image file in the memory 207 is read by the memory reading unit 553, and the position information acquisition unit 554 acquires the position information and time information added to the photographic image file. The position information and time information are sent to the determination unit 552.

  The determination unit 552 selects a photo image file that matches the range of the position condition and the range of the time condition from the condition calculation unit 551. The file extraction unit 555 reads a photo image file that matches the range of the position condition and the range of the time condition from the photo image file in the memory 207.

  FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing processing in the extraction program 212. In FIG. 18, the position information (Xa, Ya) of the “place” in the question is acquired (step S101), and the information of the “area range” in the question is acquired (step S102). Since the information of “area range” is a distance, it is converted into an area range (ΔX, ΔY) of latitude and longitude (step S103). Range of position information as a condition from the latitude / longitude information (Xa, Ya) of the location information acquired in step S101 and the “area range” information (ΔX, ΔY) of the latitude and longitude obtained in step S103 Is set as (Xa ± ΔX, Ya ± ΔY) (step S104).

  Next, the “time” information Ta in the question is acquired (step S105), and the “time range” information ΔT in the question is acquired (step S106). A range of time information as a condition is set as (Ta ± ΔT) from Ta of “time” information in the question and information ΔT of “time range” (step S107). Next, the photograph image file stored in the photo folder of the memory 107 (see FIG. 15) of the respondent terminals 2a, 2b,... Is acquired (step S108), and the position information (Xb, Yb) is acquired (step S109). Further, the time information Tb in the photo image file is acquired (step S110).

  Then, the range of the position condition set in step S104 is compared with (Xa ± ΔX, Ya ± ΔY) and the position information (Xb, Yb) in the photo image file acquired in step S109. In the position information (Xb, Yb), it is determined whether or not the position condition range is within (Xa ± ΔX, Ya ± ΔY) (step S111). When this position condition is satisfied, the time condition range (Ta ± ΔT) set in step S107 is compared with the time information Tb in the photo image file acquired in step S110, and the photo image file is compared. It is determined whether the internal time information Tb is within the time condition range (Ta ± ΔT) (step S112).

  If it is determined in step S111 that the position condition is satisfied, and if it is determined in step S112 that the time condition is satisfied, the photo image file is extracted as a valid photo image file ( Step S113). If it is determined that the position condition in step S111 is not satisfied or the time condition in step S112 is not satisfied, the photo image file is set as an invalid photo image file (step S114). Then, it is determined whether or not the search has been performed for all the photo image files stored in the photo folder of the memory 207 (step S115), and if the search has not been completed for all the photo image files, the step is performed. The process returns to S108. When the search is completed for all the photographic image files, the process ends.

Note that the conversion from the distance information to the latitude and longitude information in step S103 can be performed as follows.
If two points are defined as (longitude 1, latitude 1), (longitude 2, latitude 2),
・ Longitude difference dLon = abs (Longitude 2-Longitude 1)
Latitude difference dLat = abs (latitude 2-latitude 1)
A = sin2 (dLat / 2) + cos (latitude 1) * cos (latitude 2) * sin2 (dLon / 2)
・ C = 2 * arcsin (min (1, sqrt (a)))
・ Earth radius = 6378137
・ Distance D = Earth radius * c
Here, abs represents “absolute value”, and sqrt represents “square root”.

  The service server 3 in FIG. 1 can be represented by a functional block diagram as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 19, the service server 3 sends a footprint database 300 in which each respondent's footprint information is accumulated, a member database 301 in which each member's information is accumulated, and each question terminal 1a, 1b,. A question database 302 in which the received question information is stored, and an answer database 303 in which the response information sent from the respondent terminals 2a, 2b,.

  The member database 301 is created by the above-described member registration process. The member registration information is received by the receiving unit 306 and sent to the member registration unit 311. Member data is registered in the member database 301 by the member registration unit 311.

  At the time of member authentication, member authentication information such as a user ID and password is received by the receiving unit 306. This member authentication information is sent to the member authentication unit 312. The member authentication unit 312 refers to the member database 301 to perform member authentication.

  As shown in FIG. 20, a member database 301 includes a member number item 411, a user ID item 412, a PC (personal computer) mail address item 413, a mobile phone terminal mail address item 414, and a password. Item 415, country / region name item 416, and time difference item 417. The time difference item 417 is a time difference corresponding to the country / region name transmitted by the member, and this allows the development of a worldwide service. For example, when the country / region is Japan, data such as (GMT (International Standard Time) +9 hours) is included as the time difference.

  19, at the time of footprint registration, the receiving unit 306 receives footprint information from the respondent terminals 2a, 2b,. That is, when the respondent 7a, 7b,... Clicks the footprint registration button 22 on the respondent screen 20 of the respondent terminals 2a, 2b,. It is sent to the service server 3. At this time, the current location information and time information are added by the GPS function of the respondent terminals 2a, 2b,.

  The footprint information to which the location information and time information of the current location are added is received by the receiving unit 306 of the service server 3 in FIG. 19 and sent to the position / time information extracting unit 347. The position and time information extraction unit 347 extracts position information and time information. Then, the footprint registration unit 341 stores the current location of the respondent and the current time in the footprint database 300 as shown in FIG. In this way, each time the footprint registration button 22 is clicked, the footprint database 300 stores the position information of the respondent and the time information every moment.

  In FIG. 19, when browsing footprints on the questioner terminals 1 a, 1 b,..., The footprint list request information from the questioner terminals 1 a, 1 b,. This footprint list request information is sent from the receiving unit 306 to the footprint reading unit 342. The footprint reading unit 342 reads footprint information satisfying the specified time range and position range from the footprint database 300. This footprint information is sent to the transmission unit 307, and is transmitted from the transmission unit 307 to the questioner terminals 1a, 1b,.

  19, at the time of question registration, the receiving unit 306 receives question information from the questioner terminals 1a, 1b,. That is, when the questioners 6a, 6b,... Ask questions, the questioner terminals 1a, 1b,... Display the question registration screen 40 as shown in FIG. The posting button 51 is clicked. When the posting button 51 is clicked, the inputted question information is transmitted from the questioner terminals 1a, 1b,... To the service server 3 and received by the receiving unit 306 in FIG. The question information is sent to the question registration unit 321. Upon receiving the question information, the question registration unit 321 creates a question list table and performs registration processing in the question database 302.

  As shown in FIG. 22, the question list table registered in the question database 302 includes a question number field 501, a registration date field 502, a user ID field 503, a subject field 504, and a question content field. 505, a place item 506, an area range item 507, a time range item 508, and a status item 509.

  A series of numbers are assigned to the “question number” item 501. The item “registration date / time” 502 describes the registration date / time of the question from the questioner. The registration date and time is described with a value that takes into account the time difference. A user ID is described in the “user ID” item 503. In the item 504 of “Subject”, the subject entered in the subject input field 45 on the question registration screen 40 (see FIG. 5) is described. The question content entered in the “question content” input field 46 on the question registration screen 40 is described in the “question content” field 505. The “location” item 506 describes the latitude and longitude position information of the location entered in the input field 47 on the question registration screen 40. The “area range” item 507 describes the area range input in the “area range” input field 48 on the question registration screen 40. The “time range” item 508 describes the time range input in the “time range” input field 49 on the question registration screen 40.

  In the status item 509, an indication as to whether an answer is being received and the number of received answers are used. In addition, information regarding whether or not an answer is being accepted may be determined by the interrogators 6a, 6b,..., Or may be determined by designating an upper limit of the number of receptions and a reception time range. If there is no answer within a predetermined time, the service server 3 may request the questioners 6a, 6b,...

  Further, information on “registration date / time”, “location”, “area range”, and “time range” in the question information is sent from the question database 302 in FIG. 19 to the condition setting unit 326. The condition setting unit 326 sets “position condition” and “time condition” from “registration date”, “location”, “area range”, and “time range” in the question list table.

  Further, the question registration unit 321 reads the date information and position information of each respondent from the footprint database 300. The date information and position information of each respondent are sent from the footprint database 300 to the extraction unit 325 via the question registration unit 321.

  The extraction unit 325 compares the “position condition” and “time condition” set by the condition setting unit 326 with the position and time information of the footprint information of each respondent 7a, 7b,... From the footprint database 300. , Determine whether the condition is satisfied. And the respondent terminals 2a, 2b,... Satisfying the “position condition” and the “time condition” are extracted.

  The extracted information about the respondent terminals 2a, 2b,... Is sent to the question reading unit 322. And it transmits with the question mail from the transmission part 307 toward the respondent terminal 2a, 2b, ... extracted.

  19, when the question list is displayed on the questioner terminals 1a, 1b,..., The receiving unit 306 receives the question list request information from the questioner terminals 1a, 1b,. This question list request information is sent from the receiving unit 306 to the question reading unit 322.

  The question reading unit 322 reads a question list from the question database 302. And the information of the read question list is sent to the transmission unit 307, and is transmitted from the transmission unit 307 to the respondent terminals 2a, 2b,.

  In FIG. 19, at the time of answer registration, the receiving section 306 receives answer information from the respondent terminals 2a, 2b,. This answer information is sent from the receiving unit 306 to the answer registering unit 331. Upon receipt of the reply item, the reply registration unit 331 creates a reply list table in the reply database 303 and performs registration processing in the reply database 303.

  In FIG. 19, when browsing the answer at the questioner terminals 1 a, 1 b,..., The answer list request information is received by the receiving unit 306. The answer list request information is sent from the receiving unit 306 to the answer reading unit 332.

  The answer reading unit 332 reads the answer list from the answer database 303. Then, the read answer list information is transmitted to the transmission unit 307, and is transmitted from the transmission unit 307 to the questioner terminals 1a, 1b,... Or the answerer terminals 2a, 2b,.

  As shown in FIG. 23A, the answer list table registered in the answer database 303 includes an answer number item 511, a related question number item 512, an answer date and time item 513, a user ID item 514, It includes a subject item 515 and a link destination item 516 to the image. Further, as shown in FIG. 23B, the reply database 303 stores the photo image files sent from the respondent terminals 2a, 2b,. The “answer number” item 511 is assigned a serial number for each answer date. The related question number field 512 describes the question number of the question related to this answer. In the “answer date” item 513, the answer date from the respondent is described. The “user ID” item 514 describes the user ID of the respondent. The item 516 of “Link to image” describes the address of the photo image file.

  FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing of the extraction unit 325 and the condition setting unit 326 in FIG. In FIG. 24, the respondent's position information (Xb, Yb) remaining as footprint information is acquired from the footprint database 300 (step S201). The position information (Xa, Ya) of the “place (latitude, longitude)” of the question destination from the question database 302 is acquired (step S202), and the information of the “area range” of the question destination is acquired (step S203). Since the “area range” information is a distance, it is converted into an area range (ΔX, ΔY) of latitude and longitude (step S204). The position as a condition from the latitude and longitude information (Xa, Ya) of the position information in the question table of the question database 302 acquired in step S202 and the information (ΔX, ΔY) of the “area range” obtained in step S204 The range of information is set as (Xa ± ΔX, Ya ± ΔY) (step S205).

  The position information range (Xa ± ΔX, Ya ± ΔY) that is the condition obtained in step S205 is compared with the position information (Xb, Yb) of the respondent acquired in step S201, and the position information of the respondent is compared. It is determined whether or not (Xb, Yb) is within the range (Xa ± ΔX, Ya ± ΔY) of the position information as a condition (step S206). If the condition is not satisfied, the answer is invalid (step S207).

  Next, the respondent's time information Tb remaining as footprint information is acquired from the footprint database 300 (step S208). The information Ta of “registration date” in the question list table of the question database 302 is acquired (step S209), and the information ΔT of “time range” in the question is acquired (step S210). A range of time information as a condition is set as (Ta ± ΔT) from Ta of “registration date / time” information and information “T” of “time range” (step S211).

  The time information range (Ta ± ΔT) that is the condition obtained in step S211 is compared with the respondent's position information Tb acquired in step S208, and the time information Tb of the respondent is the condition information It is determined whether it is within the range (Ta ± ΔT) (step S212). If the condition is not satisfied, the respondent is invalidated (step S207). If the condition is satisfied, the respondent is validated (step S213).

  In this way, it is determined whether or not the footprint information of each respondent satisfies the position condition and time condition, and the footprint information of the respondent satisfying the position condition and time condition is validated. Then, valid respondent terminals are extracted (step S214).

  FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing processing of the questioner terminals 1a, 1b,. 25, the interrogators 6a, 6b,... Access the URL of the service server 3 and download the interrogator screen 10 shown in FIG. 2 (step S301). Then, it is determined whether or not the question registration button 11 is clicked (step S302). If the question registration button 11 is not clicked, it is determined whether or not the answer display button 12 is clicked (step S303). If 12 is not clicked, it is determined whether or not the footprint browsing button 13 is clicked (step S304), and if the footprint browsing button 13 is not clicked, the process returns to step S302. By repeating steps S302 to S304, it is determined whether any of the question registration button 11, the answer display button 12, or the footprint browsing button 13 is clicked.

  If it is determined in step S302 that the question registration button 11 has been clicked, a map screen is displayed, a footprint list display process is performed (step S305), and a question registration process is performed based on the input question items ( Step S306), the process proceeds to Step S303.

  If it is determined in step S303 that the answer display button 12 has been clicked, an answer list display process is performed (step S307), and the process proceeds to step S304.

  If it is determined in step S304 that the footprint browsing button 13 has been clicked, a map screen is displayed, a footprint list display process is performed (step S308), and the process returns to step S302.

  FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing the question registration process in step S306. 26, the interrogators 6a, 6b,... Access the URL of the service server 3 through the interrogator terminals 1a, 1b,... And download the question registration screen 40 as shown in FIG. ). Then, the user ID, the subject, the question content, the location, the area range, and the time range are input to each input field, and the posting button 51 is clicked (step S402), and transmitted to the service server 3. The service server 3 receives the question information from the questioner terminals 1a, 1b,... (Step S403), and creates a question list table in the question database 302 (step S404). Then, the question registration completion information is transmitted to the questioner terminals 1a, 1b,... (Step S405). When the questioner terminals 1a, 1b,... Receive the question completion information (step S406), the questioner terminals 1a, 1b,.

  FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing the processing of the respondent terminals 2a, 2b,. 27, when the application is activated (step S501), the respondent terminals 2a, 2b,... Access the URL of the service server and download the respondent screen 20 (step S502). Then, it is determined whether or not the photograph button 23 has been clicked (step S503). If the photograph button 23 has not been clicked, it is determined whether or not the photograph list display button 24 has been clicked (step S504). If the display button 245 is not clicked, it is determined whether the question display button 21 is clicked (step S505). If the question display button 21 is not clicked, it is determined whether the photo posting button 25 is clicked (step S505). S506) If the photo posting button 25 has not been clicked, it is determined whether or not the footprint registration button 22 has been clicked (step S507). If the footprint registration button 22 has not been clicked, the process returns to step S503. By repeating steps S503 to S507, it is determined whether any one of the photo shooting button 23, the photo list display button 24, the question display button 21, the photo posting button 25, and the footprint registration button 22 has been clicked.

  When the photograph button 23 is clicked in step S503, the camera function is activated, the photograph is taken, and the process of saving the photographed image in the camera folder is performed (step S508). The current position and time are transmitted, and footprint registration processing is performed (step S509). When the photograph list display button 24 is clicked in step S504, the stored photograph image file list display process is performed (step S510). When the question display button 21 is clicked in step S505, a question list display process is performed (step S511). When the photograph posting button 25 is clicked in step S506, a photograph image file whose position and time meet the answer conditions is extracted (step S512). Then, extraction processing of a photographic image that is permitted to be transmitted is performed from the extracted photographic image files (step S513), and the photographic image file is transmitted (step S514). When the footprint registration button is clicked in step S507, the current position and time are transmitted, and footprint registration processing is performed (step S515).

  28 is a flowchart showing footprint registration processing (steps S509 and S515 in FIG. 27) using the respondent terminals 2a, 2b,. In FIG. 28, when the footprint registration button 22 is clicked or a photograph is taken with the photograph button 23 (step S601), the respondent terminals 2a, 2b,... Acquire the position information and time information, The position information and time information are transmitted as footprint information to the service server 3 (step S602). The service server 3 receives the footprint information (step S603), and stores the position information and time information from the respondent terminals 2a, 2b,... As footprint information in the footprint database 300 (step S604). Then, the footprint completion information is transmitted to the respondent terminals 2a, 2b,... (Step S605). The respondent terminals 2a, 2b,... Receive the footprint registration completion information (step S606) and complete the footprint registration.

  FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing footprint browsing processing (step S308 in FIG. 25) using the questioner terminals 1a, 1b,. 29, the footprint browsing button 13 (see FIG. 2) on the questioner screen 10 is clicked (step S701), the map screen is displayed, the footprint and browsing time are specified, and the footprint browsing information is transmitted (step S702). ).

  The service server 3 receives the footprint browsing information (step S703), searches the footprint database 300 for footprint information that satisfies the conditions of the place and time (step S704), and reads the information to the respondent terminals 2a, 2b,. Are transmitted (step S705). The questioner terminals 1a, 1b,... Receive the footprint list (step S706) and complete the process.

Second embodiment.
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 30 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, information about the respondent in the member database 301 is sent to the condition setting unit 326. Further, as shown in FIG. 31, the member database 301 is provided with a sex item 419 and an age item 420. As described above, if items such as sex and age are added to the member database 301, respondents can be extracted not only by location and time but also by sex and age. Furthermore, items such as hobbies, occupations, and birthplaces may be added to the member database 301.

  Thus, when narrowing down the respondents by gender and age, as shown in FIG. 32, the question registration screen 40 is provided with a gender input field 52 and an age input field 53. The condition setting unit 326 sets conditions according to the gender and age input in the gender input field 52 and the age input field 53, and the gender and age of the respondents 7a, 7b,. Read from the database 301, and the extraction unit 325 determines whether the gender and age of the respondents 7a, 7b,... Satisfy the condition, and asks the respondents 7a, 7b,. send mail. Accordingly, it is possible to narrow down the conditions of respondents not only by location and time but also by gender and age.

Third embodiment.
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 33, the service server 3 is provided with a point processing unit 351. Also, as shown in FIG. 34, a point item 421 is included in the member database 301. The points provide a discount service equivalent to the points, a gift service for crude goods, and the like.

  When receiving the answer photo image, the point processing unit 351 adds the acquired point to the point item 421 of the member database 301. At this time, the points to be added are changed according to the effectiveness of the answer.

  FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing the processing of the point processing unit 351. In FIG. 35, it is determined whether or not a reply photographic image has been posted (step S801). When a reply photographic image is posted, the validity of the reply is determined (step S802). If the validity of the answer is not high, P is added as a point (step S803), and if the validity of the answer is high, (P + α) is added as a point according to the validity (step S804). Note that the point α to be added according to the effectiveness may be determined by, for example, the speed of posting the answer photographic image.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and applications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  The present invention can be widely used to provide local real-time information such as snow cover information, cherry blossom bloom information, and event information.

It is explanatory drawing of the whole structure of the information provision system of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the questioner screen in the information provision system of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the respondent screen in the information provision system of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the display screen of the footprint information in the information provision system of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the question registration screen in the information provision system of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the question mail in the information provision system of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the question list screen in the information provision system of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the reply posting screen in the information provision system of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the reply list screen by the photographic image in the information provision system of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the content display screen by the photographic image in the information provision system of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the member registration screen in the information provision system of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart used for description of the member registration process in the information provision system of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the authentication screen in the information provision system of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of an example of a personal computer that can be used as an interrogator terminal in the information providing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram of an example of the mobile phone terminal with a camera which has a GPS function which can be used as an answerer terminal in the information provision system of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the image file preserve | saved at a questioner terminal in the information provision system of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram used for description of the extraction program of a questioner terminal in the information provision system of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart used for description of the process of the extraction program of a questioner terminal in the information provision system of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram of an example of the service server in the information provision system of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the member database in the information provision system of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the footprint database in the information provision system of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the question database in the information provision system of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the reply database in the information provision system of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the extraction process of the respondent terminal in the information provision system of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the questioner terminal in the information provision system of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the question registration process in the information provision system of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the respondent terminal in the information provision system of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the footprint registration process in the information provision system of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the footprint browsing process in the information provision system of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram of an example of the service server in the information provision system of 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the member database in the information provision system of 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the question registration screen in the information provision system of 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram of an example of the service server in the information provision system of 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the member database in the information provision system of 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart used for description of the point process in the information provision system of 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1a, 1b, ... Questioner terminals 2a, 2b, ... Answerer terminal 3 Service server 4 Internet network 5 Mobile communication networks 6a, 6b, ... Questioner 7a, 7b, ... Answerer 10 Questioner screen 11 Question registration button 12 Answer Display button 13 Footprint browsing button 20 Answer screen 21 Question display button 22 Footprint registration button 23 Photographing button 24 Photo list display button 25 Photo posting buttons 32a, 32b, ... Icon 40 Question registration screen 41 Map screen 42 Keyword input field 43 Search Start button 51 Post button 55 Question mail 60 Question list screen 63 Answer button 70 Answer post screen 74 Thumbnail display section 75 Send button 76a, 76b, ... Photo image 80 Answer list screen 81a, 81b, ... Answer photo image 83 Contents display button 90 Contents display screen 206 Data processing unit 207 208 Input unit 209 Display 210 Camera unit 211 GPS processing unit 212 Extraction program 300 Footprint database 301 Member database 302 Question database 303 Answer database 306 Reception unit 307 Transmission unit 311 Member registration unit 312 Member authentication unit 321 Question registration unit 322 Question reading unit 325 extraction unit 326 condition setting unit 331 answer registration unit 332 answer reading unit 341 footprint registration unit 342 footprint reading unit 347 position and time information extraction unit 351 point processing unit

Claims (10)

A questioner terminal comprising: means for inputting question information including a question item regarding a position; and means for transmitting question information including a question item regarding the input position to the service server;
Means for photographing photographic image information, means for adding and storing position information and time information to the photographed photographic image information, items relating to positions and times in question information from the questioner terminal And extracting the photographic image information satisfying the set positional condition and time condition from the stored photographic image information, and extracting A respondent terminal having means for transmitting photographic image information to the service server as photographic image information for reply;
A service server that provides a service for exchanging information about positions between the interrogator terminal and the respondent terminal;
An information providing system comprising: the interrogator terminal; the respondent terminal; and a network that transmits and receives data to and from the service server.   2. The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the service server further includes means for storing link information to a storage location of the photographic image information file.   The information service system according to claim 1, wherein the service server further includes a footprint database in which position information where the respondent terminal has been located and time information are stored. The service server sets a position condition and a time condition from an item related to a position in question information from the questioner terminal and an item related to a time, refers to the footprint database, and in the respondent terminal, Means for extracting respondent terminals satisfying the set position condition and time condition;
The information providing system according to claim 3, further comprising means for transmitting the question information to the extracted respondent terminal.   4. The information providing system according to claim 3, wherein the service server includes means for mapping footprint information from the footprint database on a map and transmitting the footprint information to the questioner terminal.   The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the service server further includes a point processing unit that adds points each time reply photo image information is sent from the respondent terminal. The questioner terminal transmits the question information including the question item regarding the input position to the service server,
The service server creates a question list table based on the question information sent from the questioner terminal, sets a position condition and a time condition based on the question information sent from the questioner terminal, Extract the respondent terminal that satisfies the set position condition and time condition, and send the question information to the extracted respondent terminal,
The respondent terminal adds position information and time information to the photographed photographic image information and stores the position information and the time in the question information from the questioner terminal. Set conditions, extract the photo image information satisfying the set position condition and time condition from the photo image information stored in the respondent terminal, and reply the extracted photo image information To the service server as photographic image information for
The service server creates an answer list table based on the answer photo image information sent from the answerer terminal, and sends the answer photo image information to the questioner in response to a request from the questioner terminal. An information providing method characterized by transmitting to a terminal. Means for obtaining location information;
Means for photographing photographic image information;
Means for adding position information and time information to the photographic image information and storing them;
A position condition and a time condition are set from an item related to a position and an item related to a time in question information from the questioner terminal, and the set position condition and the photo image information stored in the respondent terminal An answerer terminal device comprising: extraction means for extracting photo image information satisfying a time condition as photo image information for reply. A step of setting a position condition and a time condition from an item related to a position in question information from a questioner terminal and an item related to time;
Obtaining position information and time information from the stored photographic image information;
The position information and time information acquired from the stored answer image are compared with the set position condition and time condition to determine whether the position condition and time condition are satisfied. Steps,
Extracting the photographic image information satisfying the position condition and the time condition as the photographic image information for reply. Means for receiving question information from the questioner terminal;
Means for creating a question database based on the question information sent from the questioner terminal;
Means for setting a position condition and a time condition based on the question information sent from the questioner terminal, and extracting an answerer terminal satisfying the set position condition and time condition;
Means for transmitting question information to the extracted respondent terminal;
Means for receiving photo image information for reply from the respondent terminal;
Means for creating a respondent database based on the photo image information for answers sent from the respondent terminal;
A service server comprising: means for transmitting the image information for reply to the questioner terminal.

Images