JP3610028B6 - Content display box layout device and service site provided with the device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a content display box layout device, and more particularly, to allow a user to easily set the layout of a box (content display box) for displaying a plurality of contents presented on a PC screen. The present invention relates to a layout device and a computer-readable program for realizing the functions of the layout device.
The present invention also relates to a system for providing a customized top page on a web using such a layout apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Today, the user can select several from various menus offered by service sites on the web and display the contents of the selected menu on the user's PC screen, thereby providing a customized top page. A service is provided on the Internet that allows the user to create the service. A service site on the web providing such a service provides a web page (top page setting page) as shown in the screen shot shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. The menu to be displayed in each module or box can be selected.
As a result, it is possible to create a top page that presents the contents of a plurality of menus customized based on the user's own preferences and needs, and the user can create a top page on the top page provided by the service site. Only the menu contents set by can be viewed.
[0003]
[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]
However, in the above-described service for providing the top page for the user in the conventional example, the size, number, and layout of the boxes for displaying the menu contents on the screen are fixed by each service site. Simply select the menu to be displayed in the fixed box. The shape of the box is also a uniform rectangle (horizontal rectangle) that is long in the horizontal direction of the screen. The number of boxes is set uniformly without considering the screen size of the user PC.
Therefore, even if the user wants to display the contents of a certain menu in a relatively large box in order to increase the amount of information displayed, the user wants to display the contents of a certain menu in a relatively small box. It is impossible to set the size and shape of the content display box as desired. As described above, the conventional top page providing service has a problem that the user cannot create a truly customized top page.
[0004]
In addition, the horizontally long rectangular box on the top page displays appropriate images depending on the product when displaying content (hereinafter referred to as “EC content”) that includes product advertising and sales images. May not be possible. Therefore, in the conventional top page providing service, a box for presenting EC content provided by the service site or its partner may not be formed on the top page.
[0005]
The problem with the above-mentioned top page providing service on the Internet is that, even in an arbitrary network environment such as an intranet, when a plurality of boxes each presenting contents of a plurality of menus are arranged in parallel on a PC screen without overlapping, The same applies.
Furthermore, when using a PC terminal in a stand-alone environment instead of a network environment, a user displays a plurality of boxes on his / her PC screen and presets each box, for example, a schedule table, a bookmark, It is desirable that the user can freely and easily set the size, number, shape, and layout of the box when displaying contents such as a free memo, but such a layout device has not yet been proposed. .
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the above-described conventional example, and its purpose is to allow a user to determine the size, number, shape, and layout of a plurality of content display boxes presented on a PC screen. It is to provide a layout device for enabling setting relatively freely.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a top page customized by a user on a network using the above-described layout apparatus.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
To achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a layout including a function executed by a computer for setting a layout of a plurality of content display boxes that respectively display a plurality of menu contents on a PC screen. The device
A campus size determining means for determining a campus size where a plurality of content display boxes should be arranged based on user input;
Menu arrangement means for presenting a plurality of menu icons on the PC screen and arranging the menu icon selected by the user at a position selected by the user on the campus;
A box size determining means for setting an area including a position where the menu icon is arranged based on a cursor operation by a user and determining a size of a content display box for each menu;
Content determining means for determining content for each menu to be displayed in the box based on the determined size of the content display box for each menu;
It is characterized by consisting of.
[0008]
In the layout apparatus according to the present invention described above, each means is preferably configured as follows. The campus size determination means sets the campus as a rectangle with the start point and end point of the cursor operated by the user as diagonal points, provided that the vertical and horizontal length of the rectangular campus is an integral multiple of the vertical and horizontal length of the preset unit box. Is configured to set to The menu arrangement means is configured to arrange a menu icon selected by the user from a plurality of menu icons at a predetermined position on the campus by drag and drop, and includes the position of the menu icon selected and arranged by the user. The unit box is configured to be displayed so as to be distinguishable from other unit boxes. The box size determining means determines the content display box as a set of a unit box including a position where the menu icon is arranged and a plurality of unit blocks connected to the unit box in at least one of the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. It is configured to
The layout device further includes storage means for storing a plurality of content parts for each menu corresponding to all possible sizes of the content display box, and the content determination means is a content display box for each determined menu. The content parts are searched from the storage means based on the vertical and horizontal numbers of the unit boxes constituting the unit box, and are associated with the content display boxes for each menu.
[0009]
The present invention is also a computer-readable program for setting the layout of a plurality of content display boxes for displaying the contents of a plurality of menus on a PC screen. A program for realizing the function of the means is provided.
The present invention further provides a service site for providing a user-customizable top page on the web, comprising the layout device having the above-described configuration, and providing the campus page as the top page on the web by the device. Provide a characteristic service site. In the service site, the menu in the layout device preferably includes a menu for displaying content related to electronic commerce from a partner site of the service site.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing functions provided in the layout device 1 of the content display box according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the layout device is a campus (top page) size determining function block 10. A menu arrangement function block 20, a box size determination function block 30, and a content determination function block 40. The functions of these blocks are realized by a computer-readable program installed on a user's PC or a service site on the web. The layout device 1 also includes a content database (DB) 50 that stores various types of content parts for each menu.
The operation of each of the functional blocks 10 to 40 in the layout apparatus shown in FIG. 2 will be described in detail below based on the schematic diagrams of the screen shots shown in FIGS.
[0011]
When the user wants to set the layout of the content display box in order to create his own campus (top page), the program for the layout is started. Then, the campus size determination function block 10 provides the user with a screen for determining the campus size. On the screen, the user moves the cursor, for example, in an oblique direction as shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, the outer frame represents the maximum campus size displayed on the PC screen, and the user can determine the campus size within the frame.
[0012]
The campus size determination function block 10 detects the movement of the cursor operated by the user, and the horizontal direction (x-axis direction) length X and vertical direction (y-axis direction) length from the start point to the end point of the cursor movement. Y is calculated. The size of the smallest unit box that can be generated on the campus (top page) is x ₀ Xy ₀ And the function block 10 is
X / x ₀ = M + a
Y / y ₀ = N + b
And rounding, that is, the remainders a and b are x ₀ / 2 and y ₀ The number of unit boxes in the x-axis direction and the y-axis direction is set to m and n when smaller than / 2, respectively, and m + 1 and n + 1 when larger. The remainder may be rounded down, and the number of unit boxes may be set to m and n. The remainder may be rounded up.
FIG. 3 shows that a 3 × 3 (= m × n) unit box B11 to B33 obtained in this way is generated on the screen. The boundary line of the unit block does not necessarily need to be displayed, but it is preferable to display it for a later operation by the user.
[0013]
When the user clicks a “confirm” button (not shown) indicating that the setting of the campus size has been completed, the process proceeds to the menu arrangement function block 20 and includes a menu selection icon (button) as shown in FIG. Menu boxes 21 and 22 are displayed on the screen. These boxes may be integrated into one. Further, these menu boxes 21 and 22 may be displayed together with a screen for determining the campus size (FIG. 3) when the program for layout is started.
The menu box 21 includes menu selection icons for selecting the user's private items. Examples of these icons include “schedule”, “outing checkout (pocket book)”, “bookmark”, “album”, “greeting”. Icons 1 to 7 representing menus of “card” and “free memo” are included. The box 21 also includes an icon 0 representing “none”. On the other hand, the menu box 22 includes menu selection icons for selecting items related to activities on the network, and includes, for example, icons 8 and 9 of “EC (electronic commerce)” and “mail”.
[0014]
In this state, the user selects an appropriate icon from the menu boxes 21 and 22 and drags and drops it into any desired unit block. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the menus “Schedule”, “Bookmark”, and “EC” are selected and dropped in three corners of the 3 × 3 box, that is, the unit boxes B11, B31, and B13. In FIG. 4, the menus dropped in the unit box are indicated by the corresponding numbers “1”, “3”, and “8”, but are usually displayed with icons representing the menus. It is preferable to distinguish the unit block in which the icon is arranged from other blocks by highlighting or the like.
[0015]
The functions represented by the icons shown in the menu boxes 21 and 22 are as follows.
“Schedule”: Schedule management by month, week, day, morning, afternoon. Display a request message.
“Outgoing checkout”: Account book function. When you register on the go via a PDA, it is saved as data, which is effective for managing small amounts of daily transportation and conference expenses.
“Bookmark”: A bookmark function for registering a URL.
“Counterdown”: Register the date of event. The number of days up to that date is displayed, and a request message is displayed.
“Album”: Registers images selected by the user with titles and comments, and uses them as a digital album.
“Greeting card”: When a message with an image, a destination e-mail address and a transmission date are registered, an image or the like is distributed by e-mail on the designated transmission date.
"Free memo": Use characters as a memo pad.
“EC”: You can display recommended products from the EC site on the web and enter the application.
“Mail”: By dragging and dropping another menu icon onto this mail icon, the contents of the other menu are distributed to the registered email address.
[0016]
When the user's menu selection and arrangement are completed and the user clicks a “confirm” button (not shown) on the screen of FIG. 4, processing is then executed in the box size determination function block 30. In this block 30, when the user moves the cursor starting from an arbitrary point or boundary line in the unit box in which the menu is selectively set on the screen shown in FIG. 4, the unit box is accordingly displayed. Are connected in the x-axis direction and / or the y-axis direction to generate a content display box of an appropriate size. In this case, when the cursor is moved in the x-axis direction, a plurality of unit boxes are connected in the x-axis direction, and when the cursor is moved in the y-axis direction, the unit boxes are connected in the y-axis direction. When the cursor is moved in an oblique direction, a plurality of unit boxes are connected in both the x-axis direction and the y-axis direction. In either case, the generated content display boxes do not overlap and are rectangular.
[0017]
FIG. 5 shows the content display boxes CB of “Schedule”, “Bookmark”, and “EC” formed in this way together with the moving direction of the cursor. As shown in FIG. 5, the content display box CB1 for schedule is generated by moving the cursor from the unit box B11 to the box B21 in the y-axis direction, and the content display box CB3 for bookmark is generated from the unit box B31. The content display box CB8 for EC is generated by moving the cursor from the unit box B13 to the unit box B22. The EC content display box CB8 is generated by moving the cursor to the unit box B32 in the x-axis direction.
When the user clicks a “confirm” button (not shown) on the screen of FIG. 5, the position and size of each content display box CB are confirmed. In the present specification, the size of the content display box is represented by the number of vertical and horizontal units of the unit box included in the box, but “p × q” and “q × p” are recognized as different sizes. .
[0018]
The function of the menu arrangement block 20 and the function of the box size determination block 30 may be integrated. That is, for example, in the state where the “Schedule” menu is selected and the icon is dragged and dropped on the unit block B11, the unit boxes are connected by moving the cursor without clicking the “Confirm” button. A content display box CB1 as shown in FIG. Thereafter, for example, an icon of the “bookmark” menu is dragged and dropped, and unit boxes are connected to create a content display block CB3. Similarly, an EC content display box CB8 is formed. As described above, the menu layout and the position and size of the content display box may be determined for each menu.
[0019]
When there is one or a plurality of unit boxes that are not used as the content display box CB, when the “confirm” button is clicked, the function of the box size determination block 30 causes the unit box B33 that is not used to be used as shown in FIG. “None” icon 0 is automatically set and displayed. The user may set non-use by dragging and dropping the “none” icon 0 from the menu box 21 to the unit block B33.
[0020]
When the menu is selected and the setting of the layout of the content display box CB is completed, the content to be inserted into each set content display box CB is automatically selected and determined in the content determination function block 40. The selection of content is executed by searching content parts that are stored in the content DB 50 and that are respectively formed corresponding to all sizes of the content display box for each menu.
When searching for a content part to be inserted into the schedule content display box CB1 shown in FIG. 6, the content determination function block 40 uses the code “1” representing the schedule menu and the size 1 × 2 of the content display box CB1. Based on this information, the corresponding content part is searched from the content DB 50 and displayed in the box CB1. Similarly, content parts to be fitted in the bookmark content display box CB3 and the EC content display box CB8 are searched from the DB 50 and displayed in the corresponding boxes.
[0021]
FIG. 7 shows the types of content parts stored for each menu in the content DB 50. Among these content parts, those that are inserted into the content display boxes CB1, CB3, and CB8 shown in FIG. Shown with dotted lines. As described above, the content DB 50 stores, for each menu, content parts corresponding to all rectangles obtained by subdividing the maximum campus size M × N (M, N: number of unit boxes) that can be generated. If the maximum size is M × N = 3 × 3, nine content parts are included per menu as shown in FIG. If M × N = 3 × 2 or 2 × 3, 6 content parts are included, and if M × N = 3 × 4 or 4 × 3, 12 content parts are included.
[0022]
FIG. 8 shows an example of the contents of each content part when the menu is a schedule. These contents are information re-edited by the user in advance on the schedule input screen according to the size of each content part.
In this example of FIG. 8, when the schedule content display box CB1 is set as shown in FIG. 6, today's morning and afternoon schedules are read and displayed in the box CB1. If the box CB1 is set equal to one unit box, if the current time is AM (PM), only the AM (PM) schedule is read and displayed, and the maximum 3 × 3 unit box is set. If so, a large monthly calendar is read out and displayed.
[0023]
FIG. 9 shows an example of the content of EC content parts based on the setting of a service site (EC site or top page providing site) on the web. In the example shown in FIG. 9, one product is set to be displayed for one unit box, and a product to be displayed is set based on the priority ranking given by the service site. For example, information on the highest priority product (the product with (1) in FIG. 9) is stored in the content parts of any size, and the kth priority product is The information is stored only when the content part includes k or more unit boxes. Accordingly, when the EC content display box CB8 is set as shown in FIG. 6, information about the products from the first to the fourth priority is displayed. Although not shown in FIG. 9, the EC content includes not only a product image but also a product code, a name, a price, a purchase application input field, and the like.
Instead of one product per unit box, for example, one product may be set per two unit boxes. In this case, when the EC menu selection icon 8 is dragged and dropped on the screen shown in FIG. 4, it is necessary to automatically expand so that the minimum size becomes two unit boxes.
[0024]
By providing the above-described program constituting the layout apparatus according to the present invention on a web service site as a top page creation program, when a user accesses the site and creates a top page, each content display box Since the user can set the size and position relatively freely, a customized top page can be created. Alternatively, the top page creation program software may be distributed to the user and installed on the user PC. In any case, the content display box CB for constantly displaying arbitrary information (EC information, etc.) provided by the service site can be automatically arranged at an appropriate position (for example, the bottom row) on the page. preferable.
[0025]
Furthermore, such a top page creation program is installed on the user PC so that the user can appropriately create a screen for displaying a plurality of menu contents not related to the menu provided by the service site on the web. Also good. In this case, the icon 8 for browsing the content from the EC site is not necessary and can be used to display the content of the functions provided in the PC itself, such as the user's own schedule management and pocket money management. it can.
[0026]
FIG. 10 shows a service system on a membership system according to the present invention. Reference numeral 100 denotes a service site, which includes the layout apparatus 1 described above, that is, the top page creation program and the content DB 50 including the function blocks 10 to 40. Reference numeral 200 denotes an EC site that is a partner of the service site 100, and reference numeral 300 denotes a user PC terminal. The service site 100 includes a member registration acceptance function block 60 and a user DB 70 in addition to the layout apparatus 1 shown in FIG.
The EC site 200 provides product information for product promotion and / or sales to the service site 100. As described above, the service site 100 re-edits the information provided from the EC site 200 based on the priority order of the product listing and stores the information in the content DB 50 as EC content parts.
[0027]
The user's member registration is performed on a “member registration page” on the web provided by the member registration reception function block 60 of the service site 100. The member registration page is provided with fields for inputting user information such as the user's address, work location, e-mail address, age, sex, and hobbies, and a user ID and password are assigned to the user who becomes a member. The input user information is stored in the user DB 70 together with the user ID and password. Instead of performing membership registration on the web page, user information may be obtained by any means such as telephone, FAX, and interview, and stored in the user DB 70 by an operator.
[0028]
When the user who becomes a member accesses the “top page creation page” provided by the layout device 1 of the service site 100, the user creates a customized top page as described with reference to FIGS. can do. At this time, the content display box for displaying the EC content from the specific EC site 200 or the advertisement from the service site 100 itself by the menu arrangement function block 20 and the box size determination function block 30 of the service site 100, for example, It may be automatically set at the bottom of the top page.
[0029]
In the system shown in FIG. 10, it is preferable that the EC sites 200 are sites of affiliated stores, and the headquarters of these affiliated stores operate the service site 100. In this case, according to the address of the user who is a member and information on the place of work, information on the store closest to these can be selected and provided to the user as EC content on the top page.
In addition, when a user purchases a product by looking at EC contents, the purchase history is created by accumulating the information in the user DB 70, and by referring to the history, the user's hobby, gender age, etc. More customized EC content can be presented to the user.
[0030]
Since the present invention is configured as described above, the user can easily and relatively freely set the campus or top page layout for simultaneously displaying the contents of a plurality of menus. The top page can be more customized.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a conventional top page setting screen.
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a layout apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a screen for explaining processing in the campus size determination function block shown in FIG. 2;
4 is a schematic diagram showing a screen for explaining processing in the menu arrangement function block shown in FIG. 2; FIG.
5 is a schematic diagram showing a screen for explaining processing in the box size determination function block shown in FIG. 2; FIG.
6 is a schematic diagram showing a screen generated as a result of processing in the box size determination function block shown in FIG. 2. FIG.
7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining content parts in a content database searched in the processing of the content determination function block shown in FIG. 2; FIG.
8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the contents of the content parts shown in FIG. 7 in the case of a schedule menu. FIG.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the contents of the content part shown in FIG. 7 in the case of an EC menu.
10 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a service system on a network centering on a service site equipped with the layout apparatus shown in FIG. 2;

Claims (6)

A layout device including a function executed by a computer for setting a layout of a plurality of content display boxes for respectively displaying contents of a plurality of menus on a PC screen,
A campus size determining means for determining a campus size where a plurality of content display boxes should be arranged based on user input;
Menu arrangement means for presenting a plurality of menu icons on the PC screen and arranging the menu icon selected by the user at a position selected by the user on the campus;
A box size determining means for setting an area including a position where the menu icon is arranged based on a cursor operation by a user and determining a size of a content display box for each menu;
A storage means for storing a plurality of contents representing the contents of each menu corresponding to all possible sizes as a content display box, each content including one or a plurality of content parts, In the case of content for promotion and sale, all the content for promotion and sale includes the content part with the highest display priority, and the content corresponding to the larger size of the content display box is the display priority. Storage means for storing content, including up to lower content parts,
A layout apparatus comprising: content determining means for determining, from a storage means, contents for each menu to be displayed in the box based on a size of a content display box for each menu determined by a box size determining means. 2. The layout apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the campus size determining means includes:
The campus is set as a rectangle with the start point and end point of the cursor operated by the user as diagonal points. However, the vertical and horizontal length of the rectangular campus is set to an integer multiple of the vertical and horizontal length of the preset unit box. A layout device. 3. The layout apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the menu arrangement means is
A menu icon selected by a user from a plurality of menu icons is arranged at a predetermined position on the campus by drag and drop.
A layout device configured to display a unit box including a position of a menu icon selected and arranged by a user so as to be distinguishable from other unit boxes. The layout apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the box size determining means includes:
The content display box is determined as a set of a unit box including a position where the menu icon is arranged and a plurality of unit blocks connected to the unit box in at least one of the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. A layout device. The layout device according to claim 4, wherein
The content determination means is configured to search the content part from the storage means based on the determined number of unit boxes constituting the content display box for each menu, and associate the content part with the content display box for each menu. A layout device. 6. A computer-readable program for setting a layout of a plurality of content display boxes that respectively display a plurality of menu contents on a PC screen, each in the layout device according to claim 1 A program for realizing the function of the means.

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