JP2013109535A - System, method, terminal device and program for sharing information about browsing of content that is displayed in multiple terminal devices - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mechanism to easily grasp articles read by other users and evaluation added by the other users, etc., in electronic newspapers and electronic magazines, etc.SOLUTION: A user terminal device 12 identifies an article read by a user on the basis of existence of specific operations such as moving and enlarging to a page of an electronic newspaper and display duration of the article, etc., and receives an input of evaluation and comments to be added to the article by the user. Data showing browsed articles and data showing contents of evaluation/comments are transmitted to a newspaper distribution server device 11 as action data. The newspaper distribution server device 11 performs feedback of pieces of action data collected from a number of newspaper distribution server devices 11 to each user terminal device 12. The user terminal device 12 displays articles that are often read, etc. with a display mode different from other articles, using the action data related to other users which is received from the newspaper distribution server device 11.

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for providing a user of a terminal device with information related to content displayed on the terminal device.

  With the spread of data processing terminal devices such as PCs (Personal Computers), information contained in books, newspapers, magazines, etc. that have been provided by printing on paper media for a long time is built into or connected to data processing terminal devices. Services provided by displaying on a display are becoming widespread.

  These data providing services called electronic books, electronic newspapers, electronic magazines, etc. (hereinafter simply referred to as “electronic books”) have been rapidly increasing in recent years, especially as smartphones and tablet PCs with built-in touch panel displays have become popular. Its use is expanding.

  An electronic book is usually obtained by a user downloading electronic book data indicating the contents of an electronic book from a server device to a terminal device, and displaying an image indicating the contents of the paper according to the electronic book data on the terminal device. Provided services are provided.

  Electronic books are read by many readers, just like paper books. These readers may have their own opinions and impressions and may want to know what other readers have about the same book and description.

  In order to satisfy such needs, for example, in Patent Document 1, regarding a content such as a news article, an arbitrary reader inputs a comment in a virtual space provided in a website, thereby Systems have been proposed that make it possible to exchange.

JP 2010-113703 A

  For e-books, such as newspapers and magazines, in which the amount of each united sentence (article) is smaller than a novel, etc., short opinions and impressions are received from many readers for each article. There are many. Accordingly, macro information such as what kind of opinions and impressions as a whole is more meaningful than the contents of the individual opinions and impressions themselves. In addition, information about which articles are often read by many readers, even if they are not explicit opinions or impressions, is also meaningful for both readers and e-book publishers.

  In view of the above circumstances, the present invention is based on how many articles are viewed or how many people are in an electronic newspaper or electronic magazine having a configuration in which a plurality of articles are included in one sheet. The purpose is to provide a mechanism that makes it possible for both readers and publishers to intuitively grasp information such as what opinions and impressions they have.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides:
A plurality of terminal devices and a server device;
Each of the plurality of terminal devices is
Storage means for storing page data indicating a page composed of a plurality of articles each displayed in each of a plurality of areas including one or more areas obtained by partitioning a page;
An operation means for receiving data input by the user by generating predetermined data corresponding to the operation according to the user's operation;
Screen data generating means for generating screen data indicating a range of at least a part of the paper according to the paper data stored in the storage;
Display means for displaying at least a partial range of the paper according to the screen data generated by the screen data generating means;
When an input operation according to a predetermined rule is performed following designation of a part of the paper displayed on the display unit by an operation on the operation unit by the user, data indicating the one part; Action data generating means for generating action data including data indicating the input operation;
Transmission means for transmitting the action data generated by the action data generation means to the server device,
The server device
Receiving means for receiving the action data from each of the plurality of terminal devices;
Storage means for storing the action data received by the receiving means;
Transmitting means for transmitting one or more action data of the plurality of action data stored in the storage means of the own device to each of the plurality of terminal devices;
Each of the plurality of terminal devices is
Receiving means for receiving the one or more action data transmitted from the server device;
The screen data generating means of each of the plurality of terminal devices is a portion indicated by data indicating the one portion included in the one or more action data received by the receiving means of the own device, out of the paper. Alternatively, the screen data for displaying the area including the portion in a manner corresponding to the input operation indicated by the number of the one or more action data and the data indicating the input operation included in the one or more action data is generated. A system is proposed as a first embodiment.

The present invention also provides a system according to the first embodiment described above.
The input operation according to the predetermined rule is an input operation of the user's comment regarding the one part of the paper designated by the user prior to the input operation,
The action data generating means generates the action data including comment data indicating the comment,
When the user performs an operation for designating a portion displayed in a mode corresponding to the action data including the comment data, on the paper surface displayed by the display unit, the screen is displayed on the screen. The data generation means generates screen data for displaying the comment indicated by the comment data included in the action data corresponding to the specified portion,
A configuration is proposed as a second embodiment in which the display means displays the comment according to the screen data for displaying the comment generated by the screen data generation means.

Further, the present invention provides a system according to the first or second embodiment described above,
The input operation in accordance with the predetermined rule is an input operation for instructing to display the one portion of the sheet designated by the user prior to the input operation at a position closer to the center position of the display means. And at least one of an input operation instructing the display means to display the one portion of the sheet designated by the user prior to the input operation at a larger size,
The action data generating means has read an article displayed in an area including the one part of the page designated by the user prior to an input operation according to the predetermined rule by the user. A configuration of generating the action data including the already read data indicating is proposed as a third embodiment.

The present invention also provides a system according to the third embodiment,
In the input operation according to the predetermined rule, a portion occupying an area of a predetermined ratio or more in the region including the one portion of the paper surface designated by the user prior to the input operation is displayed in the region. A configuration is proposed as a fourth embodiment, which includes an input operation for instructing the display means to display continuously for a predetermined time or more determined according to the number of characters included in the article to be displayed.

The present invention also provides a system according to the third or fourth embodiment described above.
With respect to each of the plurality of terminal devices, the screen data generation unit of the terminal device includes the one part included in the action data including the read data generated by the action data generation unit of the terminal device. A configuration is proposed as a fifth embodiment in which the screen data is generated to display an area including a portion indicated by the data to be displayed in such a manner that the area is distinguished from the area other than the area on the paper.

The present invention also provides a system according to any one of the first to fifth embodiments.
The storage unit of the server device relates to each of the action data received by the receiving unit of the server device, the attribute of the user of the terminal device that is the source of the action data, the time when the action data was transmitted, And storing action attribute data indicating an action attribute that is at least one of the locations where the action data is transmitted in association with the action data,
The transmission means of each of the plurality of terminal devices transmits action condition data indicating a condition related to the action attribute to the server device,
The receiving means of the server device receives the action condition data from each of the plurality of terminal devices,
The server device stores action data stored in association with action condition data indicating action attributes satisfying a condition indicated by the action condition data received by the receiving means of the own apparatus. Action data extracting means for extracting from the action data stored in
A configuration in which the transmission unit of the server device transmits the action data extracted by the action data extraction unit to a terminal device that is a transmission source of the action condition data is proposed as a sixth embodiment.

Further, the present invention provides a system according to any one of the first to sixth embodiments.
The storage unit of the server device relates to each of the action data received by the receiving unit of the server device, the attribute of the user of the terminal device that is the source of the action data, the time when the action data was transmitted, And storing action attribute data indicating an action attribute that is at least one of the locations where the action data is transmitted in association with the action data,
The transmission means of the server device stores the action attribute data stored in the storage means of the server device in association with the action data when transmitting the action data to each of the plurality of terminal devices. To the terminal device that is the destination of the action data,
The receiving means of each of the plurality of terminal devices receives the action attribute data corresponding to the action data when receiving action data from the server device,
Each of the plurality of terminal devices includes action data extracting means for extracting action data corresponding to action attribute data indicating action attributes satisfying a predetermined condition from the action data received by the receiving means of the own device. Prepared,
The screen data generation means of each of the plurality of terminal devices is a part indicated by data indicating the one part included in the action data extracted by the action data extraction means of the own machine, The seventh embodiment is configured to generate the screen data for displaying an area including a portion in a manner corresponding to the number of the action data and the input operation indicated by the data indicating the input operation included in the action data. Propose as.

The present invention also provides
A storage step in which each of the plurality of terminal devices stores page data indicating a page formed by a plurality of articles respectively displayed in each of a plurality of areas including one or more areas obtained by partitioning the page; ,
A first screen data generating step in which each of the plurality of terminal devices generates screen data indicating at least a part of the range of the page according to the page data stored in the storing step;
A first display step in which each of the plurality of terminal devices displays a range of at least a part of the sheet according to the screen data generated in the first screen data generation step;
Each of the plurality of terminal devices is input in accordance with a predetermined rule following designation of a portion of the paper displayed in the first display step by an operation on an operation means included in the terminal device by a user. An action data generating step for generating action data including data indicating the one part and data indicating the input operation when an operation is performed;
A first action data transmission step in which each of the plurality of terminal devices transmits the action data generated in the action data generation step to a server device;
A first action data receiving step in which the server device receives the action data transmitted from each of the plurality of terminal devices in the first action data transmitting step;
An action data storing step in which the server device stores the action data received in the first action data receiving step;
A second action data transmitting step in which the server device transmits one or more of the plurality of action data stored in the action data storing step to each of the plurality of terminal devices;
A second action data receiving step in which each of the plurality of terminal devices receives the one or more action data transmitted from the server device in the second action data transmitting step;
Each of the plurality of terminal devices includes a portion indicated by data indicating the one portion included in the one or more action data received in the second action data receiving step or the portion of the paper. Generating second screen data indicating a screen for displaying an area in a mode corresponding to the number of the one or more action data and the input operation indicated by the data indicating the input operation included in the one or more action data; A screen data generation step;
Each of the plurality of terminal devices includes a second display step of displaying at least a partial range of the paper according to the screen data generated in the second screen data generation step. Proposed as an aspect.

The present invention also provides a method according to the eighth embodiment,
The input operation according to the predetermined rule is an input operation of the user's comment regarding the one part of the paper designated by the user prior to the input operation,
Each of the plurality of terminal devices generates the action data including comment data indicating the comment in the action data generation step,
Each of the plurality of terminal devices is operated by the user to designate a portion displayed in a mode corresponding to the action data including the comment data, in the paper displayed in the second display step. A third screen data generation step for generating screen data indicating a screen for displaying the comment indicated by the comment data included in the action data corresponding to the specified portion when the processing is performed on the terminal device; When,
A configuration in which each of the plurality of terminal devices includes a third display step of displaying a screen including the comment according to the screen data generated in the third screen data generation step as a ninth embodiment suggest.

The present invention also provides a method according to the above eighth or ninth embodiment,
The input operation in accordance with the predetermined rule is an input operation for instructing to display the one portion of the sheet designated by the user prior to the input operation at a position closer to the center position of the display means. And at least one of an input operation instructing the display means to display the one portion of the sheet designated by the user prior to the input operation at a larger size,
Each of the plurality of terminal devices is displayed in an area including the one portion of the paper designated by the user prior to the input operation according to the predetermined rule in the action data generation step. A configuration of generating the action data including already-read data indicating that an article has been read by the user is proposed as a tenth embodiment.

The present invention also provides a method according to the tenth embodiment,
In the input operation according to the predetermined rule, a portion occupying an area of a predetermined ratio or more in the region including the one portion of the paper surface designated by the user prior to the input operation is displayed in the region. A configuration is proposed as an eleventh embodiment that includes an input operation for instructing the display means to display continuously for a predetermined time or more determined in accordance with the number of characters included in the article.

The present invention also provides a method according to the tenth or eleventh embodiment,
Each of the plurality of terminal devices includes an area including a portion indicated by data indicating the one portion included in the action data including the read data generated in the action data generation step of the own device. A read display screen data generation step for generating screen data to be displayed in a manner that is distinguished from areas other than the area;
Each of the plurality of terminal devices displays a screen for distinguishing an area for displaying an article read by the user from other areas in accordance with the screen data generated in the already-read display screen data generation step. A configuration comprising a display step is proposed as a twelfth embodiment.

Further, the present invention provides a method according to any one of the eighth to twelfth embodiments,
For each of the action data received by the server device in the first action data receiving step, the attribute of the user of the terminal device that is the source of the action data, the time when the action data was transmitted, and the action data Action attribute data storage step for storing action attribute data indicating an action attribute that is at least one of the transmitted locations in association with the action data;
An action condition data transmission step in which each of the plurality of terminal devices transmits action condition data indicating a condition relating to the action attribute to the server device;
An action condition data receiving step in which the server device receives the action condition data transmitted from each of the plurality of terminal devices in the action condition data transmitting step;
Action data stored in the action attribute data storage step in association with action attribute data indicating action attributes that satisfy the conditions indicated by the action condition data received in the action condition data receiving step in the server device, An action data extracting step for extracting from the action data stored in the action data storing step,
In the thirteenth embodiment, the server device transmits the action data extracted in the action data extraction step to the terminal device that is the transmission source of the action condition data in the second action data transmission step. suggest.

The present invention also provides a method according to any one of the eighth to thirteenth embodiments.
For each of the action data received by the server device in the first action data receiving step, the attribute of the user of the terminal device that is the source of the action data, the time when the action data was transmitted, and the action data An action attribute data storage step of storing action attribute data indicating an action attribute that is at least one of the transmitted locations in association with the action data;
In the second action data transmission step, when the server device transmits the action data to each of the plurality of terminal devices, the server device stores the action data in association with the action data in the action attribute data storage step. Transmitting the action attribute data to the terminal device to which the action data is transmitted;
Each of the plurality of terminal devices receives the action attribute data corresponding to the action data when receiving action data from the server device in the second action data receiving step,
Action data extracting step for extracting action data corresponding to action attribute data indicating action attributes satisfying a predetermined condition from the action data received by each of the plurality of terminal devices in the second action data receiving step. With
In each of the plurality of terminal devices, in the second screen data generation step, a portion indicated by data indicating the one portion included in the action data extracted in the action data extraction step, The fourteenth embodiment is configured to generate the screen data for displaying an area including a portion in a manner corresponding to the number of the action data and the input operation indicated by the data indicating the input operation included in the action data. Propose as.

The present invention also provides
Storage means for storing page data indicating a page composed of a plurality of articles each displayed in each of a plurality of areas including one or more areas obtained by partitioning a page;
An operation means for receiving data input by the user by generating predetermined data corresponding to the operation according to the user's operation;
Screen data generating means for generating screen data indicating a range of at least a part of the paper according to the paper data stored in the storage;
Display means for displaying at least a partial range of the paper according to the screen data generated by the screen data generating means;
When an input operation according to a predetermined rule is performed following designation of a part of the paper displayed on the display unit by an operation on the operation unit by the user, data indicating the one part; Action data generating means for generating action data including data indicating the input operation;
Transmitting means for transmitting the action data generated by the action data generating means to a server device;
Receiving means for receiving one or more action data of a plurality of action data transmitted from the server apparatus to the server apparatus from the own apparatus and another terminal apparatus having the same configuration as the own apparatus; With
The screen data generating means includes a portion indicated by data indicating the one portion included in the one or more action data received by the receiving means or an area including the portion of the paper. Proposed as a fifteenth embodiment is a terminal device that generates the screen data to be displayed in a mode corresponding to the number of action data and the input operation indicated by the data indicating the input operation included in the one or more action data .

Further, the present invention provides the terminal device according to the fifteenth embodiment,
The input operation according to the predetermined rule is an input operation of the user's comment regarding the one part of the paper designated by the user prior to the input operation,
The action data generating means generates the action data including comment data indicating the comment,
When the user performs an operation for designating a portion displayed in a mode corresponding to the action data including the comment data, on the paper surface displayed by the display unit, the screen is displayed on the screen. The data generation means generates screen data for displaying the comment indicated by the comment data included in the action data corresponding to the specified portion,
According to the sixteenth embodiment, the display unit displays the comment according to the screen data for displaying the comment generated by the screen data generation unit.

Moreover, the present invention provides the terminal device according to the fifteenth or sixteenth embodiment,
The input operation in accordance with the predetermined rule is an input operation for instructing to display the one portion of the sheet designated by the user prior to the input operation at a position closer to the center position of the display means. And at least one of an input operation instructing the display means to display the one portion of the sheet designated by the user prior to the input operation at a larger size,
The action data generating means has read an article displayed in an area including the one part of the page designated by the user prior to an input operation according to the predetermined rule by the user. A configuration for generating the action data including the already read data indicating is proposed as a seventeenth embodiment.

The present invention provides the terminal device according to the seventeenth embodiment,
In the input operation according to the predetermined rule, a portion occupying an area of a predetermined ratio or more in the region including the one portion of the paper surface designated by the user prior to the input operation is displayed in the region. A configuration including an input operation for instructing the display means to continuously display for a predetermined time or more determined according to the number of characters included in the article is proposed as an eighteenth embodiment.

Moreover, the present invention provides the terminal device according to the seventeenth or eighteenth embodiment,
The screen data generation means includes an area including a portion indicated by data indicating the one portion included in the action data including the read data generated by the action data generation means in the area of the paper. A configuration for generating the screen data to be displayed in a manner distinguishable from other regions is proposed as a nineteenth embodiment.

Further, the present invention provides a terminal device according to any one of the fifteenth to nineteenth embodiments,
The transmission means includes an attribute of a user of a terminal device that is a source of action data, a time at which the action data is transmitted from the terminal device of the transmission source to the server device, and the terminal device of the transmission source. Action condition data indicating a condition relating to an action attribute that is at least one of the transmitted locations is transmitted to the server device;
The 20th embodiment proposes a configuration in which the receiving unit receives action data transmitted from the server device as a response to the transmission of the action condition data performed by the transmitting unit.

Further, the present invention provides a terminal device according to any one of the fifteenth to twentieth embodiments described above.
When the receiving means receives action data from the server device, the attribute of the user of the terminal device that is the transmission source of the action data, the time when the action data is transmitted from the terminal device of the transmission source to the server device, And the action attribute data indicating the action attribute that is at least one of the places where the transmission source terminal device has transmitted the action data,
Action data extracting means for extracting action data corresponding to action attribute data indicating action attributes satisfying a predetermined condition from the action data received by the receiving means;
The screen data generation means may include a portion indicated by the data indicating the one portion included in the action data extracted by the action data extraction means or an area including the portion of the page as the number of the action data. A configuration of generating the screen data to be displayed in a mode corresponding to the input operation indicated by the data indicating the input operation included in the action data is proposed as a twenty-first embodiment.

The present invention also provides
A computer provided with a communication means for performing data communication with a server device, the storage means, the operation means, the screen data generation means provided in the terminal device according to any of the fifteenth to twentieth embodiments, A program that functions as the display unit, the action data generation unit, the transmission unit, and the reception unit is proposed as a twenty-second embodiment.

The present invention also provides
A computer provided with a communication means for performing data communication with a server device, the storage means, the operation means, the screen data generation means, the display means, and the action provided in the terminal device according to the twenty-first embodiment. A program that functions as data generation means, transmission means, reception means, and action data extraction means is proposed as a twenty-third embodiment.

  According to the system according to the first embodiment, the method according to the eighth embodiment, and the terminal device according to the fifteenth embodiment, the reader browses articles such as newspapers and magazines displayed on the display. At this time, the actions taken when other readers browse the page containing the articles are visually displayed on the page. As a result, readers can easily find out how other readers reacted to the articles included on the page.

  According to the system according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the method according to the ninth embodiment, and the terminal device according to the sixteenth embodiment, the reader comments after specifying the article for the article included in the page. You can easily post comments on the article by writing, and you can easily know how many other readers have posted comments on each article. In addition, regarding an article that is interested in what kind of comment is posted, the content of the comment posted by another reader can be easily viewed by designating the article.

  According to the system according to the third embodiment of the present invention, the method according to the tenth embodiment, and the terminal device according to the seventeenth embodiment, an article or an enlargement in which the reader moves toward the center of the screen by a touch operation or the like. Articles are automatically identified as articles read by the reader. Thus, readers can easily know which articles are being read by many other readers.

  According to the system according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the method according to the eleventh embodiment, and the terminal device according to the eighteenth embodiment, the area in which each article is continuously displayed on the screen and its area Based on the duration, which article is the article read by the reader is determined. Thus, readers can get more accurate information about which articles are being read by many other readers.

  According to the system according to the fifth embodiment, the method according to the twelfth embodiment, and the terminal device according to the nineteenth embodiment, the reader can easily determine which article he / she has already read. It is convenient to know.

  According to the system according to the sixth or seventh embodiment of the present invention, the method according to the thirteenth or fourteenth embodiment, and the terminal device according to the twentieth or twenty-first embodiment, the reader can, for example, specify a specific attribute. You can easily find information such as articles that are often read by readers who have, articles that are often read at specific times, and articles that are often read in specific regions.

  According to the programs of the twenty-second and twenty-third embodiments of the present invention, the terminal device according to any of the fifteenth to twentieth embodiments of the present invention and the terminal device according to the twenty-first embodiment of the present invention are respectively executed by a computer. Realized. Therefore, the above-described effects of the present invention can be obtained by using an existing computer without newly preparing these terminal devices.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of the overall configuration of an electronic newspaper distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the structure of newspaper data used in the electronic newspaper distribution system according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a data structure example of an article attribute data table for managing article attribute data indicating article attributes in the electronic newspaper distribution system according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a data structure example of a user attribute data table for managing user attribute data indicating user attributes in the electronic newspaper distribution system according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing an example of a data structure of an action data table for managing action data, which is data recording various actions performed by the user in the electronic newspaper distribution system according to one embodiment of the present invention. is there. FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing operations and screens when the user performs article evaluation, comment posting, and the like in the electronic newspaper distribution system according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing a screen displayed when the user browses the electronic newspaper in the electronic newspaper distribution system according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing a screen for designating conditions for filtering action data to be processed by the user in the electronic newspaper distribution system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[1. Example]
The configuration and operation of the electronic newspaper distribution system 1 will be described below as an embodiment of the present invention. The electronic newspaper distribution system 1 is a system that allows a newspaper subscriber (hereinafter referred to as “user”) to read an electronic newspaper displayed on his / her terminal device.

  In the electronic newspaper distribution system 1, the user can not only read the newspaper, but also which articles are frequently read by other users, what evaluations are made on those articles, Such information can be known visually.

  Further, according to the electronic newspaper distribution system 1, the user can easily post his / her own comment on the article. Comments posted in this way can be viewed by other users. That is, the user can read the comments of other users.

  Furthermore, according to the electronic newspaper distribution system 1, the user can distinguish an article that has already been read from an article that has not been read yet.

[1.1. Constitution]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of the overall configuration of the electronic newspaper distribution system 1. The electronic newspaper distribution system 1 includes a newspaper distribution server device 11 that is a server device that distributes electronic newspapers, and a user terminal device 12 that is carried by a user and used for browsing newspapers. Note that the number of user terminal devices 12 depends on the number of users who use the electronic newspaper distribution system 1, and when distinguishing them in the following description, the user terminal device 12-1, the user terminal device 12-2,.・ Add branch numbers as shown below.

  Each of the newspaper distribution server device 11 and the user terminal device 12 can perform data communication with each other via the Internet 19.

  The newspaper distribution server device 11 is connected to a general-purpose PC having a data communication interface for performing data communication with the user terminal device 12 via the Internet 19, by applying a server application program (hereinafter, referred to as “server application program”). This is realized by installing a server application) and performing a process according to the server application.

The newspaper distribution server device 11 includes at least the following functional components.
(Receiver) Receives various data such as action data (described later) from each of the user terminal devices 12.
(Storage unit) Stores server applications, newspaper data, various data generated by processing, various data received by the receiving unit, and the like.
(Transmitter) Transmits various data such as action data to each of the user terminal devices 12.
(Extractor) Extracts action data and the like to be transmitted to the user terminal device 12.
(Control unit) Controls other functional components and performs various arithmetic processes.

  The user terminal device 12 is connected to a general-purpose PC provided with a data communication interface for performing data communication with the newspaper distribution server device 11 via the Internet 19. This is realized by installing an “electronic newspaper viewer app”) and performing processing according to the electronic newspaper viewer app.

  Note that the user terminal device 12 may be connected to the Internet 19 via any one of a wireless data communication network, a wired LAN (Local Area Network), a wireless LAN, and the like.

  In recent years, a tablet-type terminal device incorporating a touch panel display called a tablet PC has become widespread, and the convenience as the user terminal device 12 is high. Smartphones, which are PDAs (Personal Digital Assistance) equipped with a call function via a small tablet-type wireless telephone communication network with a built-in touch panel display, have also become widespread. In this respect, it is suitable as the user terminal device 12.

  The user terminal device 12 is not limited to the above-described tablet PC or tablet-type smartphone, and other types of terminal devices such as a PC without a touch panel display can be used. The user terminal device 12 is a tablet terminal device with a built-in touch panel display.

The user terminal device 12 includes at least the following functional components.
(Storage unit) Stores an electronic newspaper viewer application, various data generated by processing, various data (for example, newspaper data) received by the receiving unit, and the like.
(Operation unit) By generating predetermined data in response to an operation by the user, the user receives “data input to the user terminal device 12. The touch panel portion of the touch panel display, buttons, etc. constitute a part of the operation unit. .
(Screen Data Generation Unit) Screen data that is image data indicating a screen to be displayed on the display unit is generated using data such as newspaper data stored in the storage unit.
(Display unit) An image showing the screen is displayed according to the screen data generated by the screen data generation unit. The display part of the touch panel display constitutes a part of the display unit.
(Action data generation unit) In response to a user's touch operation on the operation unit or an input operation such as a comment, action data corresponding to the operation is generated.
(Transmission unit) Various data such as action data generated by the action data generation unit is transmitted to the newspaper distribution server device 11.
(Receiver) Receives various data such as action data from the newspaper distribution server device 11.
(Action Data Extraction Unit) Action data that satisfies a predetermined condition is extracted from a large number of action data received from the newspaper distribution server device 11.
(Control unit) Controls other functional components and performs various arithmetic processes.

  In the electronic newspaper distribution system 1, in order to display a newspaper on the display unit of the user terminal device 12, newspaper data indicating the contents is prepared by a newspaper company and can be distributed to the storage unit of the newspaper distribution server device 11. Remembered. The newspaper data stored in the newspaper distribution server device 11 is, for example, every day at the time set by the user for each user terminal device 12, in response to a newspaper data distribution request from the user terminal device 12, the newspaper distribution server device 11. Is transmitted to the user terminal device 12 and stored in the storage unit of the user terminal device 12.

  In addition, in newspapers distributed to the same region on the same day, some articles may be replaced and edition numbers may be updated due to occurrence of important news or discovery of typographical errors. The user terminal device 12 makes a distribution request for update data to the newspaper distribution server device 11 at a frequency of, for example, once every 30 minutes, in addition to the above set time. The update data distribution request includes the edition number of the newspaper data acquired in the user terminal device 12. When the edition number included in the delivery request is not the latest, the newspaper distribution server device 11 requests the page data indicating the contents of the page replaced in the new edition compared to the old edition among the newspapers corresponding to the latest edition number. To the user terminal device 12.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the structure of newspaper data. First, one piece of newspaper data is prepared every day except for a publication date for an area with a certain date. The newspaper data includes a plurality of page data, which are image data indicating each of the pages included in the newspaper, and a plurality of article attribute data indicating attributes of a plurality of articles included in those pages.

  The page data is image data indicating the contents of the page as a single image. As shown in FIG. 2A, the page indicated by the page data is divided into a plurality of areas (not limited to rectangles) in which each article is arranged. Note that each article may include characters in various sizes and shapes, photographs, drawings, and the like.

Each area corresponding to an article in one page is specified by a coordinate system including an X axis with the upper right corner of the page as the origin, the X axis with the lower direction as positive, and the Y axis with the left direction as positive. More specifically, the position, shape, and size of the area on the paper are specified by a coordinate sequence in which the coordinates of the vertexes of the outer edge of the area are arranged in order clockwise from the upper right vertex (the top is given priority on the right and top). Is done. In the example of FIG. 2B, when the coordinates of the point C _n are (X _n , Y _n ), “(X ₁ , Y ₁ ), (X ₂ , Y ₂ ),... (X ₆ , Y ₆ ) ”is data for specifying a region (hereinafter referred to as“ region specifying data ”).

  As described above, the page data is image data indicating one image. In the newspaper distribution server device 11, the attribute of the article is managed in units of articles constituting the page. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the data structure of an article attribute data table for managing article attribute data indicating the attributes of these articles.

The article attribute data table stored in the newspaper distribution server device 11 includes a plurality of article attribute data as data records. Each data record (article attribute data) included in the article attribute data table includes the following data fields.
[Article ID] Article ID (Identifier) which is identification data for identifying an article from other articles
[Article Image] Stores article image data, which is image data obtained by cutting an area where an article is displayed from the page data.
[Article Text] Stores article text data which is text data indicating a sentence included in an article. If the text is accompanied by ruby, data indicating the ruby is also stored in the data field.
[Issue Date] Stores issue date data indicating the issue date of the newspaper on which the article is posted.
[Version name / version number] Stores the version name and version number in which the article was published. The version name indicates “national version”, “Kanto version”, “extra”, and the like. The version number is a number that is updated with replacement as described above, and is data such as “first version”, “second version”,.
[Page Number] Stores data indicating the page number such as “first page”, “second page”,.
[Region Identification] The above-described region identification data, that is, a coordinate string indicating the vertexes of the outer edge of the region is stored.

  The same article is often published on paper with different version names and different version numbers. In this case, the field [version name / version number] includes data indicating a plurality of version names and version numbers, for example, “Kanto version / first edition to eighth edition / Kansai edition / first edition to fifth edition”. Stored.

  In the newspaper distribution server device 11, the attributes of each user are managed. FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the data structure of a user attribute data table for managing user attribute data indicating the attributes of those users.

The user attribute data table includes a plurality of user attribute data as data records. Each data record (user attribute data) includes the following data fields.
[User ID] Stores a user ID, which is data for identifying a user assigned to each user by the operator of the electronic newspaper distribution system 1 at the start of newspaper subscription.
[Gender] Stores gender data indicating the gender of the user.
[Age] Stores age data indicating the user's age range.
[Occupation] Stores occupation data indicating the occupation group of the user.
[Article Bookmark] Stores an article ID indicating an article bookmarked by the user.

  In the electronic newspaper distribution system 1, action data indicating information such as which user viewed which article at what time and which user assigned what evaluation and comment to which article is used. The action data is generated in each user terminal device 12, transmitted from the user terminal device 12 to the newspaper distribution server device 11, and managed in the newspaper distribution server device 11.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the data structure of an action data table for managing the action data by the newspaper distribution server device 11.

The action data table includes a plurality of action data as data records. Each data record (action data) includes the following data fields.
[Action type] Stores action type data indicating the type of action. The action type is, for example, “browsing” indicating that the article has been viewed, “evaluation” indicating that the article is rated, or “comment” indicating that the article is commented It is.
[Action content] Stores action content data indicating the content of the action. The content of the action varies depending on the type of action (described later).
[Area / Part] Stores data (described later) indicating an area or a part that is the target of an action on the page.
[Time] Stores time data indicating the time when the action is performed, more specifically, the time when the action data is generated in the user terminal device 12.
[Region] Stores region data indicating the region where the action was performed, more specifically, the region where the user terminal device 12 was located when the action data was generated in the user terminal device 12. The area where the user terminal device 12 is currently located is based on position data measured by the GPS when the user terminal device 12 can use the GPS (Global Positioning System) function, and the user when the GPS function cannot be used. Based on the IP (Internet Protocol) address assigned to the terminal device 12, the newspaper distribution server device 11 specifies the address.
[User ID] Stores a user ID that is data for identifying the user of the user terminal device 12 that is the source of the action data.
[Gender] Gender data indicating the gender of the user of the user terminal device 12 that is the source of the action data is stored.
[Age] Stores age data indicating the age zone of the user of the user terminal device 12 that is the source of the action data.
[Occupation] Stores occupation data indicating the occupation group of the user of the user terminal device 12 that is the source of the action data.

  The action data generated in the user terminal device 12 and transmitted to the newspaper distribution server device 11 does not include [gender], [age], and [profession], and the newspaper distribution server device 11 is a user terminal. Action data shown in FIG. 5 is obtained by internally combining the data fields excluding [Article Bookmark] in the user attribute data table (FIG. 4) with the action data received from the device 12 using the match of the user ID as a join condition. Generate a table.

  As described above, [Action Contents] included in the action data stores the following data according to [Action Type].

  First, when [Action Type] is [Browse], [Action Details] is read as “Chicker” indicating a little attention, “Slanting” indicating a quick look, One of “normal reading” indicating that the reading has been performed and “reading carefully” indicating that the reading has been performed over time is stored.

  Next, when [Action Type] is “Evaluation”, any of the integer values from “−2” to “+2” is stored in [Action Content]. These numerical values indicate that the smaller the numerical value is, the more critical the evaluation is for the content of the article, and the higher the numerical value is, the more the evaluation is for the content of the article.

  When [Action Type] is “Comment”, text data indicating the content of the comment is stored in [Action Content].

  Next, supplementary explanation will be given for data stored in [area / part] included in the action data. In the electronic newspaper distribution system 1, whether or not an article has been read is determined on an article basis, that is, on an area basis. On the other hand, an evaluation or comment on an article is associated with a specific part in an area indicating a part designated by the user in the article. In the present application, the term “part” in an article or area means a partial range (including a point) included in the area.

  Therefore, in the action data, when the [action type] is “browsing”, the article ID is stored in [area / part] as data for identifying the area. On the other hand, when [Action Type] is “Evaluation” or “Comment”, [Area / Part] stores two coordinate data for identifying a part in the area in addition to the article ID. These two coordinate data are data indicating the coordinates of the upper right vertex and the lower left vertex of the area designated by the user. These coordinates are the same coordinate system as the coordinates included in the area specifying data, that is, a coordinate system defined by the X axis with the upper right side of the page as the origin, the downward direction as positive, and the Y axis with the left direction as positive. Shall be followed.

[1.2. Operation]
Next, the operation of the electronic newspaper distribution system 1 will be described. First, in the user terminal device 12, the processing according to the electronic newspaper viewer application is always operating in the background, and when the time set by the user for the user terminal device 12 is reached every day, the user terminal device 12 According to the viewer application, a newspaper data distribution request is transmitted to the newspaper distribution server apparatus 11.

  In response to the distribution request, the newspaper distribution server device 11 transmits newspaper data indicating the content of the newspaper of the day to the user terminal device 12. The newspaper data includes page data corresponding to each page, and an article attribute data table including article attribute data regarding articles included in those pages.

  The article attribute data table transmitted from the newspaper distribution server device 11 to the user terminal device 12 is transmitted from the article attribute data table (FIG. 3) managed in the newspaper distribution server device 11 to the user terminal device 12. Article attribute data is extracted according to the date, edition name, and edition number of the newspaper. The user terminal device 12 stores the newspaper data received from the newspaper distribution server device 11 in the storage unit.

  When the user performs an operation to display the screen of the electronic newspaper viewer application on the user terminal device 12, the user terminal device 12 generates screen data that is image data indicating the screen according to the page data included in the newspaper data, The contents of the page are displayed on the display according to the screen data.

  The user switches the displayed paper surface (for example, between paper surfaces) by performing, for example, a flick operation in the right direction or the left direction on the paper surface displayed on the display (an operation that can be performed with one finger on the screen). Can be moved). In addition, the user performs a pinch-out operation (an operation that touches the screen with two fingers and slides on the screen to increase the interval between the fingers) on the paper displayed on the display. It is possible to reduce the size of the page by performing an enlarged display or by performing a pinch-in operation (an operation that touches the screen with two fingers and slides on the screen so as to reduce the interval between the fingers). Furthermore, the user performs a drag operation (an operation to move the finger without touching the screen after touching the screen with one finger) on the paper displayed on the display. The position of the paper surface can be moved in an arbitrary direction.

  By the way, when an entire sheet of paper is displayed on a normal size display, the text of the newspaper text is too small for the user to comfortably read. Therefore, the user usually enlarges the display when reading the text. Also, unless the entire article you want to read accidentally is located near the center of the screen, you can see that the part of the article you want to read does not appear to protrude from the screen, and the display position is near the edge of the screen. Users often move the articles they want to read closer to the center of the screen because they are difficult or uncomfortable.

Focusing on the above points, the electronic newspaper distribution system 1 employs a mechanism that estimates that an article satisfying the following conditions is an article viewed (read) by a user.
(1) After any part of the article area is touched, a drag operation is performed in a direction approaching the center of the screen.
(2) In a state where an enlarged display is performed at a predetermined magnification or higher, a state where a predetermined ratio (hereinafter, 80%) or more of the area of the article is displayed continues for a predetermined time or longer.
(3) There was some operation on the paper within the past 3 minutes.

  Here, the predetermined magnification in the above condition (2) is a magnification required for displaying the text of the article text in a size that is not painful for a general user to read, and the size of the display of the user terminal device 12 and It is automatically determined by the user terminal device 12 in accordance with the size of characters used in the article body of the newspaper.

  The display size of the user terminal device 12 is specified by a method of reading data indicating the size of the display recorded in the hardware of the user terminal device 12, or data indicating the hardware model number recorded in the hardware. Is read out automatically by the user terminal device 12 by a method of specifying the size of the display according to the model number according to the correspondence table.

  The predetermined time in the above condition (2) is a time required for a general user to read, and the number of characters included in the article (text data stored in [Article text] included in article attribute data) Is automatically determined in accordance with (counting based on).

The predetermined time determined in this way follows, for example, the following rules.
In the case of “Chilla”, it takes 10 seconds regardless of the number of characters in the article.
In the case of “oblique reading”, 20 characters / second.
10 characters / second for “Normal Reading”.
In case of "Reading carefully", 5 characters / second.

For example, in the case of an article having 500 characters, condition (2) is satisfied by continuously displaying 80% or more of the article area for the following time.
10 seconds or more and less than 25 seconds → “Chilla”
25 seconds or more and less than 50 seconds → "oblique reading"
50 seconds or more and less than 100 seconds → "Normal reading"
100 seconds or more → "Reading carefully"

  Condition (3) is displayed on the screen accidentally in such a case because it is determined that the user is doing other work with the paper open when there is no operation on the paper for a long time. This is a condition provided so as not to erroneously presume articles that have been read carefully.

  While the user is browsing the newspaper, the user terminal device 12 constantly monitors the occurrence of articles that satisfy the above conditions (1) to (3), and detects the occurrence of such articles. [Action type] is “Browse”, and Action data including data indicating the content of the action specified as described above is generated in [Action content]. The generated action data is stored in the user terminal device 12 and is sequentially transmitted from the user terminal device 12 to the newspaper distribution server device 11.

  In the electronic newspaper distribution system 1, the user can easily bookmark an article that he / she is interested in but does not have time to read while browsing the electronic newspaper. The user taps on an article to be read later, for example, by tapping twice (an operation of tapping the screen lightly and continuously twice with a finger).

  In response to the two-tap operation, the user terminal device 12 transmits a bookmark request including the user ID of the user of the own device and the article ID of the tapped region to the newspaper distribution server device 11. The newspaper distribution server device 11 searches the user attribute data table (FIG. 4) for user attribute data including the user ID included in the bookmark request in [user ID], and [article bookmark] of the searched user attribute data. To the article ID included in the bookmark request.

  As a result, the user operates the user terminal device 12 at any time and taps a “display bookmarked article” button displayed in the electronic newspaper viewer application, for example, to register the bookmark in the newspaper distribution server device 11. It is possible to download the article from the newspaper distribution server device 11 at any time and browse it.

  In the electronic newspaper distribution system 1, the user can easily post evaluations and comments on articles read by the user. FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing an operation and a screen when the user performs the evaluation and comment posting.

  FIG. 6A shows an operation in which the user designates a portion of an article that is to be evaluated or commented. For example, the user touches the left edge of the screen on which the screen is displayed with the thumb of the left hand (finger that is easy to touch the touch display of the hand holding the user terminal device 12) and fixes the screen so that it does not move. By tracing (dragging) the article area diagonally with a finger (one), a rectangular range having the traced line as a diagonal line can be designated as the target portion.

  The user taps an arbitrary place on the touch panel display once with another finger (without lightly tapping the screen once with the finger) without releasing the finger specifying the specific part in the article area as described above. By operating, a slider for inputting article evaluation as shown in FIG. 6B can be displayed in a pop-up manner. The user can input the evaluation for the designated portion of the article by tapping the “OK” button after moving the knob of the slider to the position indicating the evaluation point by a drag operation.

  When an evaluation is input by the user, the user terminal device 12 generates action data whose [action type] is “evaluation” and includes an evaluation score in [action content]. The generated action data is transmitted from the user terminal device 12 to the newspaper distribution server device 11.

  In addition, the user taps an arbitrary place on the touch panel display twice with another finger without releasing the finger specifying the specific part in the article area as described above (the screen is lightly continuous with the finger). Then, a text box for inputting a comment as shown in FIG. 6C can be displayed in a pop-up manner. The user can input a comment for the designated part of the article by tapping the “OK” button after inputting the comment in this text box.

  When the user inputs a comment, the user terminal device 12 generates action data including “text” indicating the comment input in “action content” with “action type” being “comment”. The generated action data is transmitted from the user terminal device 12 to the newspaper distribution server device 11.

  The transmission of the action data to the newspaper distribution server device 11 described above is performed from each of various user terminal devices 12, that is, the user terminal device 12-1, the user terminal device 12-2, ..., the user terminal device 12-n. Done. When the newspaper distribution server device 11 receives action data from each of these various user terminal devices 12, it sequentially adds them to the action data table (FIG. 5).

As described above, action data relating to browsing of the user of the user terminal device 12 is stored in the user terminal device 12, and browsing and evaluation of the user of various user terminal devices 12 are stored in the newspaper distribution server device 11. The action data regarding the comment is memorized. These action data are used in each user terminal device 12 for realizing the following functions in the electronic newspaper viewer application.
(1) Read article display function (2) Popular article display function (3) Evaluation distribution display function (4) Comment distribution display function

  In order to use the above function, the user terminal device 12 transmits an action data transmission request to the newspaper distribution server device 11 at time intervals set by the user (for example, every 15 minutes). In the transmission request, the user terminal device 12 distributes the newspaper by the data indicating the issue date, edition name and edition number of the latest newspaper data currently received from the newspaper distribution server device 11 and the transmission request transmitted last. Data indicating the latest time among the [time] of the action data received from the server device 11 is included.

  In response to the transmission request, the newspaper distribution server device 11 is included in the newspaper indicated by the newspaper data specified by the issue date and the version name / version number included in the transmission request from the action data table (FIG. 5). Action data that includes the article ID of the article in [area / part] and that includes data in [time] that indicates data that is newer than the data that indicates the time included in the transmission request, and an action that includes the extracted action data group The data table is transmitted to the requesting user terminal device 12.

  As described above, the action data table transmitted from the newspaper distribution server device 11 to the user terminal device 12 includes the action data received by the newspaper distribution server device 11 from the user terminal device 12 as the request source. Action data received from a user terminal device 12 other than the original. Therefore, hereinafter, the action data table transmitted from the newspaper distribution server device 11 to the user terminal device 12 is referred to as “another user action data table” for convenience.

  When the user terminal device 12 periodically receives the other user action data table from the newspaper distribution server device 11, it stores it.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing a screen (hereinafter referred to as “electronic newspaper browsing screen”) displayed when the user browses the electronic newspaper in the electronic newspaper viewer application for explaining the above-described functions. It is. As shown in FIG. 7, an “read” button for turning on / off a read article display function and a “popularity” for turning on / off a popular article display function are displayed on the upper edge of the electronic newspaper browsing screen. ”Button,“ Evaluation ”button for turning on / off the evaluation distribution display function,“ Comment ”button for turning on / off the comment distribution display function, and for narrowing down action data used in these display functions A “filter” button for displaying a screen for setting (hereinafter referred to as “filter setting screen”) is displayed.

When the user taps the “read” button in the OFF state (the button is lifted), the “read” button changes to the ON state (the button is pressed), and the read article display function is turned ON. . When the already-read article display activation is turned on, the user terminal device 12 sets the [action type] generated and stored by itself every time the content of the paper displayed on the display is updated by movement or enlargement. The action data in which the article ID of the currently displayed article is stored in [area / part] is extracted from the action data that is “browse”, and according to the [action content] of the extracted action data, The background of the area is displayed in a gray color having the following density (the larger the numerical value of%, the closer it is to black) (FIG. 7A).
“Chilla”: 10%
"Diagonal reading": 20%
"Normal reading": 30%
"Reading carefully": 40%

  At that time, when a plurality of action data are extracted for the same article, the one having the highest density is adopted. For example, regarding the article A, when action data of “flickering” and “normal reading” is extracted, the user terminal device 12 displays the background of the article A in gray with a density of 30%.

  Note that the user terminal device 12 sets the currently displayed region and the region corresponding to the article ID in [Region specification] of the article attribute data table (FIG. 3) included in the newspaper data received from the newspaper distribution server device 11. It is specified based on the stored area specifying data.

  As described above, the user can visually easily know which article has already been read and how much by turning on the read article display function.

  When the user taps the “popular” button in the OFF state, the “popular” button changes to the ON state, and the popular article display function is turned on.

  In preparation for providing the popular article display function, every time the user terminal device 12 periodically receives the other user action data table from the newspaper distribution server device 11, the action data included in the other user action data table received so far Based on the above, the following aggregation process is performed.

First, an action data group whose [action type] is “browsing” is extracted from the other user action data table. Subsequently, for each article ID of the article included in the newspaper indicated in the newspaper data specified by the latest edition number, the article ID is included in [area / part] from the action data group extracted as described above. Extract action data group. Subsequently, in accordance with [action content] of the action data included in the action data group extracted for each article ID, an index of the degree of browsing with respect to the article identified by the article ID is calculated as follows.
“Chicker” → 1 point addition “oblique reading”: 2 points addition “normal reading”: 3 points addition “peer reading”: 4 points addition

  Subsequently, the density according to the index for each article is proportionally determined so that the density according to the maximum value is 50% among the indexes of the browsing degree calculated for each article as described above. For example, when the browsing index calculated for the article X has a maximum value of 2500 points and the browsing index calculated for the article Y is 1000 points, the background density of the article X is 50%, the article The background density of Y is 20%.

  When the user taps the “popular” button and the popular article display activation is turned on, the user terminal device 12 displays each article currently being displayed every time the content of the paper displayed on the display is updated by movement or enlargement. The background of this area is displayed in a designated color (for example, yellow) having a predetermined density as described above (FIG. 7B).

  As a result, by turning on the popular article display function, the user can easily visually know which articles are being read by other users.

  When the user taps the “evaluation” button in the OFF state, the “evaluation” button changes to the ON state, and the evaluation distribution display function is turned on. When the evaluation distribution display activation is turned on, the user terminal device 12 applies a smaller dot to the following processing on the currently displayed paper surface every time the content of the paper surface displayed on the display is updated by movement or enlargement. Additional display.

First, an action data group whose [action type] is “evaluation” is extracted from the other user action data table. Subsequently, an action data group including the article ID of the currently displayed article in [area / part] is extracted from the action data group extracted as described above. Subsequently, for example, dots corresponding to the following are additionally displayed at the center position of the rectangle indicated by the two coordinates included in the [region / part] of the action data group extracted as described above.
“−2” → dot “−1” of a first designated color (for example, red) having a density of 20% → dot “+1” of a first designated color (for example, red) having a density of 10% → a dot having a density of 10% Dot “+2” of second designated color (for example, blue) → dot of second designated color (for example, blue) having a density of 20%

  As described above, the first designated color dot added on the paper surface is a display indicating the portion of the article that has been poorly evaluated by many users as a whole by its density, and the second designated color dot is As a whole, the portion of the article that is better rated by many users is displayed by its density (FIG. 7C).

  As a result, by turning on the evaluation distribution display function, the user can easily know visually how well or what part of which article other users are evaluating.

  When the user taps the “comment” button in the OFF state, the “comment” button changes to the ON state, and the comment distribution display function is turned on. When the comment distribution display activation is turned ON, the user terminal device 12 applies a smaller dot to the following processing on the currently displayed paper surface every time the content of the paper surface displayed on the display is updated by movement or enlargement. Additional display.

  First, an action data group whose [action type] is “comment” is extracted from the other user action data table. Subsequently, an action data group including the article ID of the currently displayed article in [area / part] is extracted from the action data group extracted as described above. Subsequently, a specified color (for example, green) is displayed at the center position of the rectangle indicated by the two coordinates included in [area / part] of the action data group extracted in this manner (that is, the middle position between the two coordinates). Display additional dots.

  As described above, the dots of the designated color added on the paper surface are displayed so as to indicate the portion of the article that has been commented by many users as a whole (FIG. 7D).

  As a result, by turning on the comment distribution display function, the user can easily know visually which part of which article other users are adding comments to.

  When the user wants to read the content of another user's comment regarding a specific part of the article while the comment distribution display function is ON, the user performs a long press operation on the specific part of the touch panel display. (Second operation) (FIG. 7 (d)), it is possible to pop up a list of comments written by other users for the long-pressed position and the surrounding area (FIG. 7 (e)). )).

  More specifically, when a long press operation is performed by the user, the user terminal device 12 stores “action type” as “comment” in the other user action data table and is stored in [area / part]. Action data that falls within a circle with a predetermined radius centered on the position where the long press operation is performed is extracted. Subsequently, the user terminal device 12 sorts the extracted action data in the order of [Time] from the newest, and pops up a list of comments based on the text data stored in [Action Contents]. Each comment displayed in the list is linked with data of [user ID] of the corresponding action data.

  The user taps a comment that interests the comment displayed in the pop-up as described above, and the related article browsing screen (FIG. 7F) is a screen for browsing an article related to the comment. ) Can be displayed.

  In the related article browsing screen, the comment tapped by the user and the image of the target article to which the comment is attached are displayed at the center. In the vertical direction, comments posted to other articles by the user who posted this comment and the images of the articles targeted by the comment are displayed in chronological order (for example, the lower one is newer). Is done. In the left-right direction, images of articles that are predicted to be highly relevant to the article displayed in the center are displayed in chronological order (for example, the right is newer). The user can move the comment or article image to be read to the center and read them by dragging or flipping in the vertical and horizontal directions.

  When the related article browsing screen is displayed, and when the image of the article displayed in the center is changed vertically by the user's operation, the user terminal device 12 displays the user ID of the poster of the comment and the center. The related article distribution request including the article ID of the article to be sent is transmitted to the newspaper distribution server apparatus 11.

  In response to the distribution request, the newspaper distribution server device 11 first extracts action data including the user ID included in the distribution request in [User ID] from the action data table (FIG. 5). Further, the newspaper distribution server device 11 sets the time in the vicinity of [time] of the action data including the article ID included in the distribution request in [area / part] from the action data group extracted as described above as [time]. ], A predetermined number (for example, 10) of action data is extracted, sorted in order of time, and an action data table related to comments posted by the same user is generated.

  Further, the newspaper distribution server device 11 searches the article attribute data table (FIG. 3) for article data including the article ID included in the distribution request in [article ID], and is included in [text] of the searched article data. Article data including text data having a high degree of matching with text data in [text] is extracted from the article attribute data table. As a method for evaluating the degree of matching between two text data, for example, keywords are extracted from the text indicated by both text data, and the extracted keywords are weighted according to importance, and then the keywords are extracted. By adding points according to the frequency at which both appear on both sides, a method of calculating the degree of matching as an index can be considered.

  The newspaper distribution server device 11 sorts the article data indicating the articles with a high degree of matching extracted as described above in the descending order of the degree of matching, selects the upper predetermined number (for example, 10), and issues them. Sort by date to generate an article attribute data table for related articles.

  As a response to the related article distribution request received from the user terminal device 12, the newspaper distribution server apparatus 11 requests the action data table related to the comment of the same user generated as described above and the article attribute data table related to the related article. Transmit to the original user terminal device 12.

  The user terminal device 12 displays the related article browsing screen (FIG. 7 (f)) using the action data table and the article attribute data table transmitted from the newspaper distribution server device 11. On the related article browsing screen, the user can read comments related to other articles of other users who are interested, or can read other articles that are highly related to the articles to which those comments are attached.

  The user can narrow down action data used for each display shown in FIGS. 7A to 7F by tapping the “Filter” button, displaying a filter setting screen, and setting conditions. it can.

  When the user taps the “Filter” button, a filter setting screen as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed. In the filter setting screen, first, action data used for background display in the read article display function and popular article display function is limited to “tilting”, “oblique reading”, “normal reading”, and “reading carefully”. The checkbox is displayed. By unchecking the check box desired by the user, for example, it is possible to prevent flickering or oblique reading from being reflected in the already read article display or the popular article display.

  In addition, a text box for designating the range of [Time] of the action data in a period such as how many hours before the current time is displayed on the filter setting screen. For example, when the user inputs “3 (within time)” in this text box, the action data generated before 3 hours from the current time is displayed in the read article display, the popular article display, the evaluation distribution display, and the comment. Cannot be reflected in the distribution display and comment list.

  Similarly, the filter setting screen displays an item list and a check box for limiting the ranges of [Region], [Gender], [Age], and [Occupation] in the action data. Users can select specific items from these item lists or check checkboxes to display only action data indicating attributes according to those items, read articles, popular articles, and rating distributions. Display, comment distribution display, and comment list.

  Note that a “thumbnail” button is displayed in the lower right of each display screen shown in FIGS. By tapping the “thumbnail” button, the user can perform thumbnail display (not shown) of the entire newspaper. With this thumbnail display, the user can list each of read articles, popular articles, evaluation distributions, and comment distributions in the entire newspaper.

  As described above, according to the electronic newspaper distribution system 1, the subscribers of the electronic newspaper are reading what articles are read by other users and how much are evaluated by other users. Further, it is possible to easily grasp information such as what comments are attached to which articles by other users.

  Furthermore, it is also easy to read other comments of users who have posted comments that are of interest, or to read articles related to articles with comments of interest.

  Also, you can easily grasp the articles you have already read and the articles you have not read yet. In addition, by attaching a bookmark to an article that you want to read later and registering it in the server device, the article can be downloaded from the server device to the terminal device and read at any time.

[2. Modified example]
The above-described embodiment is a specific example of the present invention and can be variously modified. Examples of these modifications are shown below.

  In the embodiment described above, a configuration is adopted in which the user terminal device 12 performs processing for narrowing down action data to be processed in a popular article display function or the like. Instead, a configuration in which the narrowing process is performed in the newspaper distribution server device 11 may be employed.

  In the above-described embodiment, a configuration is adopted in which processing for narrowing down action data to be processed in a popular article display function or the like is performed according to a narrowing condition explicitly specified by the user. Instead of this, or in addition to this, for example, action data relating to other users having the same or similar attribute as the user's attribute is automatically extracted. A configuration to be set may be adopted.

  In the embodiment described above, the newspaper distribution server device 11 has been described as a single device. However, the newspaper distribution server device 11 may be configured by a plurality of device groups that perform data communication with each other and perform a cooperative operation. For example, comments posted on articles by users manage SNS (Social Network Service) systems such as Facebook (registered trademark, Facebook Incorporated) and Twitter (registered trademark, Twitter Incorporated) that have been popular in recent years. A configuration uploaded to the server device may be adopted. In that case, those SNS server devices function as part of a server group constituting the electronic newspaper distribution system 1.

  In the above-described embodiments, the browsing of the electronic newspaper has been described. However, the content browsed by the user is not limited to the electronic newspaper, and content configured as a collection of a plurality of articles such as an electronic magazine is electronically used. Any device can be used as long as it is distributed from the server device to the terminal device.

  In the above-described embodiment, the part browsed by the user is specified in units of areas, and the target in the case of attaching an evaluation or comment is the part specified by the user in the area, but these are arbitrarily changed. May be. For example, the target of evaluation or comment may be managed in units of articles, or a mechanism may be adopted in which a browsed part is specified as a finer part instead of in units of areas.

  In the above-described embodiment, when a user performs evaluation, evaluation may be made with respect to two or more evaluation items. For example, when a user taps a position on a two-dimensional plane with the “presence / absence of interest” on the horizontal axis and the “content quality” on the vertical axis, it is possible to evaluate these different evaluation items in one operation. The structure to do may be employ | adopted. Further, as in the above-described embodiment, instead of a five-step evaluation, for example, it is possible to evaluate with a finer numerical value, or conversely, a configuration that accepts only a qualitative evaluation of “good” may be adopted. Good.

  In the embodiment described above, the electronic newspaper distribution system 1 and the user terminal device 12 are each realized by causing a general-purpose PC to execute processing according to the application program according to this embodiment. The above device may be realized in hardware as a so-called dedicated device.

  The method of specifying the region and the portion in the region used in the description in the above-described embodiment is merely an example, and any other method such as a method not using another coordinate system or a coordinate system can be used to specify the region or the portion. It may be adopted.

  The operation method used for the description in the above-described embodiment (for example, two taps for bookmark registration) is merely an example, and it goes without saying that other operation methods may be adopted.

  Similarly, the display mode (for example, changing the background density) used for the description in the above-described embodiments is merely an example, and the display mode can distinguish a specific area or part from other areas or parts. Any other display mode may be adopted as long as it exists.

  In the above-described embodiment, the method of identifying the article viewed and the classification thereof are merely examples, and the device browsed by various other methods may be specified, and may be specified as such. The browsed browsing may be classified according to another classification item system (for example, two types of classification items “read” and “unread”).

  In the embodiment described above, the degree of “viewing” is recorded as action data, and the “evaluation” and “comment” inputs are recorded as action data, respectively, as an implicit action of the user. It was supposed to be. The present invention is not limited thereto, and the user action used for generating data to be recorded as action data and to be provided to the user of the user terminal device 12 is linked to, for example, an action of marking a specific part of an article. Any other action, such as an action of tapping a button, may be used.

  In the embodiment described above, the article browsed by the user is automatically estimated based on the user's operation, display time, etc., but in addition to or instead of it, the user can use the user terminal. A configuration in which a read article can be explicitly specified by performing a predetermined operation on the apparatus may be employed. That way, users can more accurately identify the articles they read.

  In the above-described embodiments, those evaluated by numerical values are distinguished as “evaluation” and those evaluated by text as “comments”, but these are the same as the data indicating the evaluation actively given by the user. It has significance. Therefore, for example, the evaluation in the above-described embodiment means a comment in a broad sense.

  The system, method, terminal device, and program according to the present invention can be widely used in the service industry related to distribution of content data represented by electronic newspapers and electronic magazines.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electronic newspaper delivery system, 11 ... Newspaper delivery server apparatus, 12 ... User terminal device, 19 ... Internet

Claims (23)

A plurality of terminal devices and a server device;
Each of the plurality of terminal devices is
Storage means for storing page data indicating a page composed of a plurality of articles each displayed in each of a plurality of areas including one or more areas obtained by partitioning a page;
An operation means for receiving data input by the user by generating predetermined data corresponding to the operation according to the user's operation;
Screen data generating means for generating screen data indicating a range of at least a part of the paper according to the paper data stored in the storage;
Display means for displaying at least a partial range of the paper according to the screen data generated by the screen data generating means;
When an input operation according to a predetermined rule is performed following designation of a part of the paper displayed on the display unit by an operation on the operation unit by the user, data indicating the one part; Action data generating means for generating action data including data indicating the input operation;
Transmission means for transmitting the action data generated by the action data generation means to the server device,
The server device
Receiving means for receiving the action data from each of the plurality of terminal devices;
Storage means for storing the action data received by the receiving means;
Transmitting means for transmitting one or more action data of the plurality of action data stored in the storage means of the own device to each of the plurality of terminal devices;
Each of the plurality of terminal devices is
Receiving means for receiving the one or more action data transmitted from the server device;
The screen data generating means of each of the plurality of terminal devices is a portion indicated by data indicating the one portion included in the one or more action data received by the receiving means of the own device, out of the paper. Alternatively, the screen data for displaying the area including the portion in a manner corresponding to the input operation indicated by the number of the one or more action data and the data indicating the input operation included in the one or more action data is generated. system. The input operation according to the predetermined rule is an input operation of the user's comment regarding the one part of the paper designated by the user prior to the input operation,
The action data generating means generates the action data including comment data indicating the comment,
When the user performs an operation for designating a portion displayed in a mode corresponding to the action data including the comment data, on the paper surface displayed by the display unit, the screen is displayed on the screen. The data generation means generates screen data for displaying the comment indicated by the comment data included in the action data corresponding to the specified portion,
The system according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays the comment according to the screen data that displays the comment generated by the screen data generation unit. The input operation in accordance with the predetermined rule is an input operation for instructing to display the one portion of the sheet designated by the user prior to the input operation at a position closer to the center position of the display means. And at least one of an input operation instructing the display means to display the one portion of the sheet designated by the user prior to the input operation at a larger size,
The action data generating means has read an article displayed in an area including the one part of the page designated by the user prior to an input operation according to the predetermined rule by the user. The system according to claim 1, wherein the action data including the read data indicating is generated. In the input operation according to the predetermined rule, a portion occupying an area of a predetermined ratio or more in the region including the one portion of the paper surface designated by the user prior to the input operation is displayed in the region. The system according to claim 3, further comprising an input operation for instructing the display means to display continuously for a predetermined time or more determined according to the number of characters included in the article to be displayed. With respect to each of the plurality of terminal devices, the screen data generation unit of the terminal device includes the one part included in the action data including the read data generated by the action data generation unit of the terminal device. 5. The system according to claim 3, wherein the screen data is generated to display an area including a portion indicated by the data to be displayed in a manner that distinguishes from an area other than the area of the paper. The storage unit of the server device relates to each of the action data received by the receiving unit of the server device, the attribute of the user of the terminal device that is the source of the action data, the time when the action data was transmitted, And storing action attribute data indicating an action attribute that is at least one of the locations where the action data is transmitted in association with the action data,
The transmission means of each of the plurality of terminal devices transmits action condition data indicating a condition related to the action attribute to the server device,
The receiving means of the server device receives the action condition data from each of the plurality of terminal devices,
The server device stores action data stored in association with action condition data indicating action attributes satisfying a condition indicated by the action condition data received by the receiving means of the own apparatus. Action data extracting means for extracting from the action data stored in
The system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the transmission unit of the server device transmits the action data extracted by the action data extraction unit to a terminal device that is a transmission source of the action condition data. The storage unit of the server device relates to each of the action data received by the receiving unit of the server device, the attribute of the user of the terminal device that is the source of the action data, the time when the action data was transmitted, And storing action attribute data indicating an action attribute that is at least one of the locations where the action data is transmitted in association with the action data,
The transmission means of the server device stores the action attribute data stored in the storage means of the server device in association with the action data when transmitting the action data to each of the plurality of terminal devices. To the terminal device that is the destination of the action data,
The receiving means of each of the plurality of terminal devices receives the action attribute data corresponding to the action data when receiving action data from the server device,
Each of the plurality of terminal devices includes action data extracting means for extracting action data corresponding to action attribute data indicating action attributes satisfying a predetermined condition from the action data received by the receiving means of the own device. Prepared,
The screen data generation means of each of the plurality of terminal devices is a part indicated by data indicating the one part included in the action data extracted by the action data extraction means of the own machine, The screen data for displaying an area including a portion in a manner corresponding to an input operation indicated by the number of the action data and data indicating the input operation included in the action data is generated. The system described in. A storage step in which each of the plurality of terminal devices stores page data indicating a page formed by a plurality of articles respectively displayed in each of a plurality of areas including one or more areas obtained by partitioning the page; ,
A first screen data generating step in which each of the plurality of terminal devices generates screen data indicating at least a part of the range of the page according to the page data stored in the storing step;
A first display step in which each of the plurality of terminal devices displays a range of at least a part of the sheet according to the screen data generated in the first screen data generation step;
Each of the plurality of terminal devices is input in accordance with a predetermined rule following designation of a portion of the paper displayed in the first display step by an operation on an operation means included in the terminal device by a user. An action data generating step for generating action data including data indicating the one part and data indicating the input operation when an operation is performed;
A first action data transmission step in which each of the plurality of terminal devices transmits the action data generated in the action data generation step to a server device;
A first action data receiving step in which the server device receives the action data transmitted from each of the plurality of terminal devices in the first action data transmitting step;
An action data storing step in which the server device stores the action data received in the first action data receiving step;
A second action data transmitting step in which the server device transmits one or more of the plurality of action data stored in the action data storing step to each of the plurality of terminal devices;
A second action data receiving step in which each of the plurality of terminal devices receives the one or more action data transmitted from the server device in the second action data transmitting step;
Each of the plurality of terminal devices includes a portion indicated by data indicating the one portion included in the one or more action data received in the second action data receiving step or the portion of the paper. Generating second screen data indicating a screen for displaying an area in a mode corresponding to the number of the one or more action data and the input operation indicated by the data indicating the input operation included in the one or more action data; A screen data generation step;
A method in which each of the plurality of terminal devices includes a second display step of displaying at least a partial range of the paper according to the screen data generated in the second screen data generation step. The input operation according to the predetermined rule is an input operation of the user's comment regarding the one part of the paper designated by the user prior to the input operation,
Each of the plurality of terminal devices generates the action data including comment data indicating the comment in the action data generation step,
Each of the plurality of terminal devices is operated by the user to designate a portion displayed in a mode corresponding to the action data including the comment data, in the paper displayed in the second display step. A third screen data generation step for generating screen data indicating a screen for displaying the comment indicated by the comment data included in the action data corresponding to the specified portion when the processing is performed on the terminal device; When,
The method according to claim 8, further comprising: a third display step in which each of the plurality of terminal devices displays a screen including the comment according to the screen data generated in the third screen data generation step. The input operation in accordance with the predetermined rule is an input operation for instructing to display the one portion of the sheet designated by the user prior to the input operation at a position closer to the center position of the display means. And at least one of an input operation instructing the display means to display the one portion of the sheet designated by the user prior to the input operation at a larger size,
Each of the plurality of terminal devices is displayed in an area including the one portion of the paper designated by the user prior to the input operation according to the predetermined rule in the action data generation step. The method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the action data including read data indicating that an article has been read by the user is generated. In the input operation according to the predetermined rule, a portion occupying an area of a predetermined ratio or more in the region including the one portion of the paper surface designated by the user prior to the input operation is displayed in the region. The method according to claim 10, further comprising an input operation instructing the display means to display the images continuously for a predetermined time determined according to the number of characters included in the article to be displayed. Each of the plurality of terminal devices includes an area including a portion indicated by data indicating the one portion included in the action data including the read data generated in the action data generation step of the own device. A read display screen data generation step for generating screen data to be displayed in a manner that is distinguished from areas other than the area;
Each of the plurality of terminal devices displays a screen for distinguishing an area for displaying an article read by the user from other areas in accordance with the screen data generated in the already-read display screen data generation step. The method according to claim 10 or 11, further comprising: a display step. For each of the action data received by the server device in the first action data receiving step, the attribute of the user of the terminal device that is the source of the action data, the time when the action data was transmitted, and the action data Action attribute data storage step for storing action attribute data indicating an action attribute that is at least one of the transmitted locations in association with the action data;
An action condition data transmission step in which each of the plurality of terminal devices transmits action condition data indicating a condition relating to the action attribute to the server device;
An action condition data receiving step in which the server device receives the action condition data transmitted from each of the plurality of terminal devices in the action condition data transmitting step;
Action data stored in the action attribute data storage step in association with action attribute data indicating action attributes that satisfy the conditions indicated by the action condition data received in the action condition data receiving step in the server device, An action data extracting step for extracting from the action data stored in the action data storing step,
The said server apparatus transmits the said action data extracted in the said action data extraction step to the terminal device of the transmission source of the said action condition data in a said 2nd action data transmission step. the method of. For each of the action data received by the server device in the first action data receiving step, the attribute of the user of the terminal device that is the source of the action data, the time when the action data was transmitted, and the action data An action attribute data storage step of storing action attribute data indicating an action attribute that is at least one of the transmitted locations in association with the action data;
In the second action data transmission step, when the server device transmits the action data to each of the plurality of terminal devices, the server device stores the action data in association with the action data in the action attribute data storage step. Transmitting the action attribute data to the terminal device to which the action data is transmitted;
Each of the plurality of terminal devices receives the action attribute data corresponding to the action data when receiving action data from the server device in the second action data receiving step,
Action data extracting step for extracting action data corresponding to action attribute data indicating action attributes satisfying a predetermined condition from the action data received by each of the plurality of terminal devices in the second action data receiving step. With
In each of the plurality of terminal devices, in the second screen data generation step, a portion indicated by data indicating the one portion included in the action data extracted in the action data extraction step, The screen data for displaying an area including a portion in a manner corresponding to an input operation indicated by the number of the action data and the data indicating the input operation included in the action data is generated. The method described in 1. Storage means for storing page data indicating a page composed of a plurality of articles each displayed in each of a plurality of areas including one or more areas obtained by partitioning a page;
An operation means for receiving data input by the user by generating predetermined data corresponding to the operation according to the user's operation;
Screen data generating means for generating screen data indicating a range of at least a part of the paper according to the paper data stored in the storage;
Display means for displaying at least a partial range of the paper according to the screen data generated by the screen data generating means;
When an input operation according to a predetermined rule is performed following designation of a part of the paper displayed on the display unit by an operation on the operation unit by the user, data indicating the one part; Action data generating means for generating action data including data indicating the input operation;
Transmitting means for transmitting the action data generated by the action data generating means to a server device;
Receiving means for receiving one or more action data of a plurality of action data transmitted from the server apparatus to the server apparatus from the own apparatus and another terminal apparatus having the same configuration as the own apparatus; With
The screen data generating means includes a portion indicated by data indicating the one portion included in the one or more action data received by the receiving means or an area including the portion of the paper. A terminal device that generates the screen data to be displayed in a mode corresponding to an input operation indicated by the number of action data and data indicating the input operation included in the one or more action data. The input operation according to the predetermined rule is an input operation of the user's comment regarding the one part of the paper designated by the user prior to the input operation,
The action data generating means generates the action data including comment data indicating the comment,
When the user performs an operation for designating a portion displayed in a mode corresponding to the action data including the comment data, on the paper surface displayed by the display unit, the screen is displayed on the screen. The data generation means generates screen data for displaying the comment indicated by the comment data included in the action data corresponding to the specified portion,
The terminal device according to claim 15, wherein the display unit displays the comment according to the screen data that displays the comment generated by the screen data generation unit. The input operation in accordance with the predetermined rule is an input operation for instructing to display the one portion of the sheet designated by the user prior to the input operation at a position closer to the center position of the display means. And at least one of an input operation instructing the display means to display the one portion of the sheet designated by the user prior to the input operation at a larger size,
The action data generating means has read an article displayed in an area including the one part of the page designated by the user prior to an input operation according to the predetermined rule by the user. The terminal device according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the action data including already-read data indicating: In the input operation according to the predetermined rule, a portion occupying an area of a predetermined ratio or more in the region including the one portion of the paper surface designated by the user prior to the input operation is displayed in the region. The terminal device according to claim 17, further comprising an input operation instructing the display means to display the display means continuously for a predetermined time or more determined according to the number of characters included in the article. The screen data generation means includes an area including a portion indicated by data indicating the one portion included in the action data including the read data generated by the action data generation means in the area of the paper. The terminal device according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the screen data to be displayed is generated in such a manner that it is distinguished from other areas. The transmission means includes an attribute of a user of a terminal device that is a source of action data, a time at which the action data is transmitted from the terminal device of the transmission source to the server device, and the terminal device of the transmission source. Action condition data indicating a condition relating to an action attribute that is at least one of the transmitted locations is transmitted to the server device;
The terminal device according to claim 15, wherein the reception unit receives action data transmitted from the server device as a response to the transmission of the action condition data performed by the transmission unit. When the receiving means receives action data from the server device, the attribute of the user of the terminal device that is the transmission source of the action data, the time when the action data is transmitted from the terminal device of the transmission source to the server device, And the action attribute data indicating the action attribute that is at least one of the places where the transmission source terminal device has transmitted the action data,
Action data extracting means for extracting action data corresponding to action attribute data indicating action attributes satisfying a predetermined condition from the action data received by the receiving means;
The screen data generation means may include a portion indicated by the data indicating the one portion included in the action data extracted by the action data extraction means or an area including the portion of the page as the number of the action data. The terminal device according to any one of claims 15 to 20, wherein the screen data to be displayed is generated in a manner corresponding to an input operation indicated by data indicating the input operation included in the action data.   A computer including a communication unit that performs data communication with a server device, the storage unit, the operation unit, the screen data generation unit, the display unit, and the terminal unit according to any one of claims 15 to 20. A program that functions as the action data generation unit, the transmission unit, and the reception unit.   A computer including a communication unit that performs data communication with a server device, the storage unit, the operation unit, the screen data generation unit, the display unit, and the action data generation unit included in the terminal device according to claim 21. , A program that functions as the transmission unit, the reception unit, and the action data extraction unit.