JP2011182180A - Menu management system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a menu management system and method that can improve the operability of mobile telephone equipment. <P>SOLUTION: Mobile telephone equipment collects function selection information indicating the number of selection by a user by each function, and transmits the function selection information to a menu management station via a mobile communication system. The menu management station stores the function selection information transmitted from a mobile telephone equipment to an information storing station each item of user information of the mobile telephone equipment; produces menu information for displaying a menu screen corresponding to a feature of the user of the mobile telephone equipment, when an acquisition request for the menu screen from the mobile telephone equipment is received; and transmits the menu information to the mobile telephone equipment. The mobile telephone equipment updates the menu screen, on the basis of the received menu information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a menu management system and method for customizing a menu screen of a mobile phone.

  Recent mobile phones have not only basic functions such as voice calls and e-mail, but also multimedia functions (camera, 1Seg, music player, etc.), data communication functions (Web browser, WLAN (Wireless LAN), etc.), tool functions ( Various functions such as phone book, schedule management, alarm output).

  Due to such diversification of functions, it has become difficult for many users (hereinafter referred to as users) to fully understand the functions and operations of mobile phones. Even if the user is familiar with the operation of a mobile phone or is familiar with a function, if the menu screen is composed of multiple layers and the desired function is in a lower layer, it takes time to call the function. Inconvenience such as this may be felt.

  In order to solve such a problem, for example, in Patent Document 1, a method for arranging a shortcut icon for calling a frequently used function on a display unit of a mobile phone or a menu screen that can be customized by the user. Has proposed.

  Patent Document 2, Patent Document 3, Patent Document 4, and the like describe a method for preferentially displaying functions that are frequently selected (displayed) by a user on a menu screen.

  Further, Patent Document 5 describes a configuration in which the menu screen content of the user's mobile phone can be customized by providing the content of the menu screen from the server via the network according to the user's selection result. ing. In Patent Document 5, each user is registered as a member in advance and user information indicating the characteristics of the user is transmitted in advance, and the content selected by each user is displayed for each item of user information (age, gender, occupation, preference, etc.). Classify and create a database. Then, referring to the database, each user is notified of a content group that matches the sex, age, occupation, preference, and the like, and the popularity ranking of the content is notified. By notifying the user of content using such a database, the user can know the content used by users of the same sex, the same age, or similar preferences, and based on that information You can customize your mobile phone.

JP 2001-145138 A JP 2001-036626 A JP 2002-10181 A JP 2006-287556 A JP 2005-236780 A

  However, since the method described in Patent Document 1 is a method in which a user individually customizes his / her mobile phone, for example, a user who is not familiar with the operation of a mobile phone or a user who is not familiar with the functions of a mobile phone. Are often difficult to customize.

  In addition, the methods described in Patent Documents 2 to 4 described above require that the user search for a desired function from, for example, a default state set at the time of purchase until the operation history is accumulated to some extent. Cannot be said to have improved. In addition, even a function that is generally well-known as highly convenient is not selected by a user who does not know the function, so the function is preferentially displayed on the menu screen of the user's mobile phone. Never happen.

  Furthermore, the method described in Patent Document 5 also requires a lot of trouble because the user needs to customize the menu screen of his / her own mobile phone by using the content notified from the server. End up. Furthermore, since the method described in Patent Document 5 employs a membership registration system, there is a bias in the number of samples such as gender, age, occupation, and preference, and there is a popularity ranking obtained based on user information. It is hard to say that it is accurate.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems of the background art, and an object thereof is to provide a menu management system and method capable of improving the operability of a mobile phone.

In order to achieve the above object, a menu management system of the present invention includes a mobile phone that collects function selection information indicating the number of selections for each function by a user,
A mobile communication system enabling telephone and data communication by the mobile phone;
An information storage station connected to the mobile communication system for storing the function selection information transmitted from the mobile phone;
The function selection information transmitted from the mobile phone is accumulated in the information storage station for each item of user information indicating the characteristics of the user of the mobile phone, and upon receiving a menu screen acquisition request from the mobile phone, A menu management station connected to the mobile communication system, creating menu information for displaying on the mobile phone a menu screen that matches the characteristics of the user of the phone, and transmitting the menu information to the mobile phone;
Have

On the other hand, in the menu management method of the present invention, the mobile phone
Collects function selection information that indicates the number of times the user selects each function,
Transmitting the function selection information to a menu management station connected to a mobile communication system that enables telephone and data communication by the mobile phone;
The menu management station
The function selection information transmitted from the mobile phone is stored in the information storage station for each item of user information indicating the characteristics of the user of the mobile phone,
Upon receiving a menu screen acquisition request from the mobile phone, it creates menu information for displaying on the mobile phone a menu screen that matches the characteristics of the user of the mobile phone, and transmits the menu information to the mobile phone. Is the method.

  According to the present invention, the operability of the mobile phone can be improved.

It is a block diagram which shows the example of 1 structure of the menu management system of 1st Embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the mobile phone illustrated in FIG. 1. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a count processing procedure of the number of selections for each function by the mobile phone shown in FIG. 2. It is a table figure which shows an example of the function selection information preserve | saved in the data storage part shown in FIG. It is a table figure which shows an example of the format of the database preserve | saved with the information storage station shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the preparation procedure of the menu screen by the menu management station shown in FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure for displaying a menu screen by the mobile phone shown in FIG. 1. It is a table figure which shows an example of the function selection information preserve | saved in the data storage part of 2nd Embodiment.

  Next, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

In the present invention, the number of selections for each function (hereinafter referred to as function selection information) is collected by each user's mobile phone, without being limited to registered users, and the function selection information is collected from each mobile phone to the network ( It transmits to a server apparatus (menu management station) via a mobile communication system. The menu management station accumulates the function selection information transmitted from the mobile phone in the information storage station according to the user information items such as the user's sex, age, occupation, and preference. Then, a menu screen having a hierarchical structure that matches the user's sex, age, occupation, preference, etc. (hereinafter simply referred to as a menu screen) is created, and information for displaying the menu screen (hereinafter referred to as menu information) To the user's mobile phone. The mobile phone updates the menu screen based on the menu information transmitted from the menu management station.
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a menu management system according to the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the menu management system of this embodiment includes a menu management station 310 that creates a menu screen for each mobile phone 100 used by a user, and function selection information notified from each user's mobile phone 100. The information storage station 320 to be stored is connected, and the menu management station 310 and the information storage station 320 are connected to the mobile communication system 200 that enables voice communication, data communication, and the like using the mobile phone 100. When the menu management station 310 stores the function selection information transmitted from the mobile phone 100 in the information storage station 320 for each user information item of the user of the mobile phone 100, and receives a menu screen acquisition request from the mobile phone 100. Then, menu information for displaying a menu screen that matches the characteristics of the user of the mobile phone 100 is created, and the created menu information is sent to the mobile phone 100 that sent the acquisition request for the menu screen. Although FIG. 1 shows a configuration example in which the menu management station 310 and the core network 230 are connected and the information storage station 320 is connected to the menu management station 310, the information storage station 320 is also connected to the core network 230. May be.

  The mobile communication system 200 includes a plurality of base stations 210 that perform radio communication with the mobile phone 100, and a radio call control station 220 that controls outgoing calls, incoming calls to the mobile phone 100, and data communication with the mobile phone 100. And a core network 230 that manages location information for each mobile phone 100. The menu management station 310 and the information storage station 320 are connected to the core network 230, and can transmit and receive various types of information to and from each mobile phone 100. A network of another communication system is also connected to the core network 230.

  The mobile communication system 200 is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. 1, and may have any configuration as long as the mobile phone 100 can transmit / receive information to / from the menu management station 310 and the information storage station 320.

  The menu management station 310 and the information storage station 320 can be realized by a computer (server device or the like) including a CPU, a storage device, various logic circuits, and the like that execute necessary processing according to a program, for example. The menu management station 310 and the information storage station 320 shown in FIG. 1 may be realized by a single computer or may be realized by a plurality of computers.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the mobile phone shown in FIG.

  As illustrated in FIG. 2, the mobile phone 100 according to the present embodiment includes a user operation unit 101, a data control unit 102, a data storage unit 103, a menu processing unit 104, and a wireless unit 105.

  The user operation unit 101 is a user interface used by the user to input text, instructions, and the like.

  The data control unit 102 controls the start / stop of counting the number of selections for each function of the mobile phone 100 based on an operation by the user. In addition, the data control unit 102 transmits the function selection information to the menu management station 310 via the mobile communication system 200 at a predetermined timing.

  The data storage unit 103 stores the function selection information, which is the result of counting the number of selections for each function based on the user operation result.

  The menu processing unit 104 updates the menu screen of its own device based on the menu information transmitted from the menu management station 310.

  The radio unit 105 performs radio communication with the base station 210 included in the mobile communication system 200.

  The mobile phone 100 including the user operation unit 101, the data control unit 102, the data storage unit 103, the menu processing unit 104, and the wireless unit 105 includes a CPU, a memory, input keys and input buttons, a display unit, a wireless communication unit, and the like. It can be realized with a known mobile phone.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a count processing procedure of the number of selections for each function by the mobile phone illustrated in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when the user inputs information (user information) indicating his / her characteristics such as age, sex, occupation, etc. using the user operation unit 101 (step A1), the data control unit 102 displays a count flag. Is turned ON to start counting the number of selections for each function (step A2), and the input user information is stored in the data storage unit 103 (step A3).

  The count flag is a flag for counting the number of selections for each function when ON, and stopping the count when OFF. The ON / OFF of the count flag is not limited at the time of user information registration, and may be turned ON / OFF by other operations.

  The user operation unit 101 monitors whether or not a function is selected by the user (step A4). When an arbitrary function is selected by a user operation, the user operation unit 101 notifies the data control unit 102 of the type of the selected function.

  The data control unit 102 determines whether or not the count flag is ON (step A5), and notifies the data storage unit 103 of the selected function type when the count flag is ON. The data storage unit 103 increments the count value of the notified function selection count by “1” (step A6).

  The data control unit 102 monitors whether or not a preset time has elapsed (step A7), and when the preset time has elapsed, the function selection information indicating the number of selections for each function from the data storage unit 103. (Step A8), and the function selection information together with the user information is transmitted to the menu management station 310 via the mobile communication system 200 (step A9).

  An example of the function selection information is shown in FIG. FIG. 4 shows an example in which the number of selections for each function is held in a table format.

  When transmitting the function selection information to the menu management station 310, the data control unit 102 clears (initializes) the count value of the number of selections for each function stored in the data storage unit 103 (step A10).

  The function selection information may be notified to the menu management station 310 at preset time intervals, or may be notified to the menu management station 310 by a user instruction input.

  A function is counted not only when it is selected using a shortcut icon or a shortcut command but also with a menu screen, and it is determined that the function is selected when the function is activated. For example, when browsing a received electronic mail, it may be determined that the function is selected when the received mail BOX is opened. In the case of one segment, it may be determined that the function is selected at the time when software for viewing the one segment video is started.

  In the present embodiment, the function classification method is not limited. For example, the e-mails may be classified by browsing of received mail BOX, browsing of transmitted mail BOX, creation of new mail, etc., and these functions may be classified as one e-mail function. When classifying all the functions related to e-mail as one e-mail function, the total number of selections for each detailed function such as the number of times of browsing the received mail BOX, the number of times of browsing the sent mail BOX, the number of times of creating a new mail, etc. The number of selections may be used.

  In addition to the user information registered by the user, the user information may include information for identifying the mobile phone 100 such as model information (manufacturer, model name, model series name). If the model information of the mobile phone is notified, statistical data for each user who uses the mobile terminal device of the same model can be created.

  Based on the function selection information for each user notified through the mobile communication system 200, the information storage station 320 associates each item (age, sex, occupation, preference, etc.) of the user information with the number of selections for each function in the database. Accumulate as.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of a database format stored in the information storage station shown in FIG. 1, and the database format is not limited to the example shown in FIG.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a menu screen creation procedure by the menu management station shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the menu management station 310 monitors whether or not there is a menu screen acquisition request from the user (step B1). The request contents are extracted (step B2), and statistical data corresponding to the request contents is requested to the information storage station 320 (step B3). User requirements include the type of statistical data required to create the menu screen (such as age, gender, occupation, model used, or a combination thereof) and display method (number of functions displayed on the menu screen and menu screen hierarchy). Number).

  The information storage station 320 searches the statistical data designated by the menu management station 310 (step B4), and transmits the searched statistical data to the menu management station 310 (step B5).

  The menu management station 310 creates menu information based on the statistical data transmitted from the information storage station 320 (step B6), and transmits the menu screen acquisition request to the user's mobile phone 100 via the mobile communication system 200. The menu information is transmitted (step B7).

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a display procedure of the menu screen by the mobile phone shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the data control unit 102 monitors whether or not a menu screen acquisition request is issued (step C1), and when a menu screen acquisition request is issued at a user operation or at a preset time interval. Then, a menu screen acquisition request including the user information and the request content is transmitted to the menu management station 310 (step C2).

  The menu screen acquisition request may be issued when the mobile phone 100 is turned on, when the menu screen is operated, when a preset time interval is entered, when an instruction is input by the user, and the like. The menu screen acquisition request issuance period and timing are not particularly limited.

  Further, the content requested by the user may be a preset default content or may be changeable by the user. Thereby, a user unfamiliar with the operation of the mobile phone 100 can update the menu screen of the mobile phone 100 without performing a complicated operation. On the other hand, a user who is familiar with the operation of the mobile phone 100 or a user who is familiar with the functions can freely customize the menu screen.

  The menu processing unit 104 monitors whether or not the menu information is received from the menu management station 310 (step C3). If the menu information cannot be received even after the time set in the timer in advance (step C4), Menu information acquisition impossibility is displayed on the display unit (step C5).

  Upon receiving the menu information from the menu management station 310, the menu processing unit 104 creates a menu screen based on the menu information (step C6), notifies the user that the menu screen has been updated, and after the change. A preview of the menu screen is displayed (step C7).

  The menu processing unit 104 waits for an instruction input by the user for the preview display (step C8), and when the user inputs “change OK” using the user operation unit 101 (such as pressing the OK button), changes the menu screen ( Step C9). If the user inputs “not changeable”, the menu information transmitted from the menu management station 310 is deleted without changing the menu screen (step C10).

  The preview display of the menu screen and the user's instruction to change can be set to OFF. In that case, upon receiving the menu information from the menu management station 310, the menu processing unit 104 may update the menu screen without notifying the user.

  According to the menu management system of this embodiment, even a user who is unfamiliar with the operation of the mobile phone 100 or a user who has no knowledge of functions can customize the menu screen for calling functions frequently used by many users. It becomes possible. In addition, the menu management system according to the present embodiment collects function selection information from a larger number of users without being limited to registered users, so that an optimal menu screen can be provided to a wide range of users. Therefore, the operability of the mobile phone 100 is improved.

  In addition, by creating statistical data according to age, gender, occupation, etc., and creating a menu screen based on the statistical data, users are often used by people of the same age, gender, occupation, etc. Menu screen can be selected.

  Furthermore, by creating a menu screen based on the statistical data, even a user who newly purchases the mobile phone 100 can obtain a menu screen in which functions that are frequently used are immediately arranged in a higher hierarchy.

  In the above description, an example is shown in which menu information according to the user's request content is transmitted from the menu management station 310, but the menu information is sorted in descending order of selection frequency for every function of the mobile phone 100, for example. The function list of the mobile phone 100 may be transmitted to the mobile phone 100 that has requested acquisition of the menu screen.

  In this case, the menu processing unit 104 compares the function selection information stored in the data storage unit 103 with the function list transmitted from the menu management station 310. It is only necessary to create a menu screen including functions that are not selected and that are higher in the function list. The data control unit 102 may store the function selection information stored in the data storage unit 103 until the menu screen is created without clearing the function selection information every time the menu control station 310 is notified. In this way, it is possible to create a menu screen that more reflects the individual preferences of the user than the menu screen created by the menu management station 310 according to the same age, gender, and the like.

  Further, the information collected by the menu management station 310 need not be limited to the number of selections for each function. For example, setting information for each function is collected from each mobile phone 100, and for each function used by the most users. The setting information may also be notified.

For example, many users may turn off the button operation sound or the opening / closing sound of a folding mobile phone even if the sound is on by default. In addition, in the camera function, even if the default setting of the image size is 1920 × 2560 size, many users may set it to a smaller 480 × 854 size. If each function of the mobile phone is set based on setting information for each function used by many users, the user can use a highly convenient function that has not been known before. Also in this case, the function for collecting setting information, the default setting of the function, the type of statistical data, and the like are not particularly limited.
(Second Embodiment)
In the second embodiment, the count value of the number of selections for each function is stored for each preset time period, and the function selection information is transmitted to the menu management station 310. By doing in this way, the menu management station 310 can obtain information on functions that are frequently used for each time period. Since the configuration of the menu management system and the configuration of the mobile phone are the same as those in the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 8 is a table diagram illustrating an example of function selection information stored in the data storage unit according to the second embodiment.

  In the menu management system of the second embodiment, the same processing as that of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 3, 6 and 7 is executed for each preset time zone.

According to the second embodiment, the user can obtain an optimal menu screen for each time zone.
(Third embodiment)
In the first embodiment and the second embodiment described above, an example is shown in which the mobile phone 100 leads the function selection information notification to the menu management station 310. However, the function selection information may be reported from each mobile phone 100 to the menu management station 310 under the initiative of the menu management station 310. Since the configuration of the menu management system and the configuration of the mobile phone are the same as those in the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  The menu management station 210 according to the third embodiment transmits a function selection information report request for each user to the core network 230 at a predetermined timing.

  When the core network 230 receives the function selection information report request from the menu management station 210, the core network 230 sends, for example, the core network to each mobile phone 100 managed in its own network based on information such as an HLR (Home Location Register). The function selection information report request is transmitted using a well-known Paging function (calling function) 230 provided in advance.

  The mobile phone 100 that has received the function selection information report request transmits the function selection information stored in the data storage unit 103 and the user information stored in advance to the menu management station 210 via the mobile communication system 200.

  In that case, the cellular phone 100 may clear (initialize) the count value of the number of times of selection for each function stored in the data storage unit 103 when the transmission of the function selection information and the user information is completed.

  According to the third embodiment, for example, the menu management station 210 and the core network can control the collection timing of the function selection information for each area or time zone, so that the traffic amount by each mobile phone 100 required to acquire the function selection information Can be controlled.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Mobile phone 101 User operation part 102 Data control part 103 Data storage part 104 Menu processing part 105 Radio | wireless part 200 Mobile communication system 210 Base station 220 Radio call control station 230 Core network 310 Menu management station 320 Information storage station

Claims (8)

A mobile phone that collects function selection information indicating the number of times the user selects each function;
A mobile communication system enabling telephone and data communication by the mobile phone;
An information storage station connected to the mobile communication system for storing the function selection information transmitted from the mobile phone;
The function selection information transmitted from the mobile phone is accumulated in the information storage station for each item of user information indicating the characteristics of the user of the mobile phone, and upon receiving a menu screen acquisition request from the mobile phone, A menu management station connected to the mobile communication system, creating menu information for displaying on the mobile phone a menu screen that matches the characteristics of the user of the phone, and transmitting the menu information to the mobile phone;
A menu management system. The mobile phone is
Collecting the function selection information for each preset time period,
The menu management station
The menu management system according to claim 1, wherein the menu information created for each time period is transmitted to the mobile phone. The menu management station
Send a function selection information report request for each user to the mobile communication system,
The mobile communication system includes:
When the function selection information report request is received from the menu management station, the function selection information report request is transferred to the mobile phone managed by the own system,
3. The menu management system according to claim 1, wherein when receiving the function selection information report request, the mobile phone transmits the function selection information and the user information to the menu management station via the mobile communication system. . Mobile phone
Collects function selection information that indicates the number of times the user selects each function,
Transmitting the function selection information to a menu management station connected to a mobile communication system that enables telephone and data communication by the mobile phone;
The menu management station
The function selection information transmitted from the mobile phone is stored in the information storage station for each item of user information indicating the characteristics of the user of the mobile phone,
Upon receiving a menu screen acquisition request from the mobile phone, it creates menu information for displaying on the mobile phone a menu screen that matches the characteristics of the user of the mobile phone, and transmits the menu information to the mobile phone. Menu management method. The mobile phone is
Collecting the function selection information for each preset time period,
The menu management station
The menu management method of Claim 4 which transmits the said menu information produced for every said time slot | zone to the said mobile telephone. The menu management station
Send a function selection information report request for each user to the mobile communication system,
The mobile communication system is
When the function selection information report request is received from the menu management station, the function selection information report request is transferred to the mobile phone managed by the own system,
The mobile phone is
6. The menu management method according to claim 4 or 5, wherein upon receiving the function selection information report request, the function selection information and the user information are transmitted to the menu management station via the mobile communication system. A data storage unit that stores function selection information indicating the number of times the user selects each function;
Based on an operation by the user, the number of selections for each function is stored in the data storage unit, and the function selection information is sent to a menu management station connected to a mobile communication system that enables a call or data communication by the own device. A data control unit to transmit;
When receiving menu information for displaying a menu screen from the menu management station, a menu processing unit that updates the menu screen based on the menu information;
A mobile phone having. The data control unit
The mobile phone according to claim 7, wherein the function selection information is collected and stored in the data storage unit for each preset time period.

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