JP2003091675A - Information distribution system, information distribution method, information distribution device, and information display device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To enable a service provider to obtain advertising revenue from an advertiser without causing discomfort to a user who receives the service, and to construct and operate the system at low cost. I made it. SOLUTION: When distributing distribution information to an Internet photo frame from a server device having a content database 13 for storing distribution information (content data and advertisement data) and a user database for storing user data, a user sets in advance. The advertisement information amount of the advertisement data distributed from the server device 2 to the Internet photo frame is adjusted according to the usage fee, and the distribution information is distributed according to the genre desired by the user.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information distribution system, an information distribution method, an information distribution device, and an information display device, and more specifically, a plurality of electronic photoframes having a communication function for displaying still images, moving images, audio, Information distribution system and method for distributing content data such as text information and advertisement data, information distribution device for distributing the content data and advertisement data to a terminal device, and information for receiving and displaying the content data and advertisement data Regarding display device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional analog image pickup apparatus for recording photographed image data as analog data on a silver salt film, the silver salt film is developed and printed for viewing the image data, and a printed photograph is obtained. The output made it possible to browse.

Further, the output print photographs are stored in an album to facilitate classification and browsing,
In addition, it is possible to browse at any time by storing favorite prints in a photo stand.

Further, in a digital image pickup apparatus which stores photographed image data as digital data in an IC card or the like, the image data is stored in a personal computer (hereinafter
It can be viewed by transferring it to a "personal computer" and displaying it on a monitor screen, or by printing out from a printer. Recently, it can be viewed using an electronic photo frame (picture frame). It has become to.

In an electronic photo frame, image data taken by a digital image pickup device is stored in a removable memory card, and the memory card is inserted into and attached to the image pickup device to store the image data in the image pickup device. Take it out,
By displaying the image data on a display device such as a liquid crystal display included in the image pickup device, the image data can be viewed like a conventional photo frame without printing the image data (for example, Kaihei 10-831
46).

As a development of the electronic photo frame, a so-called Internet photo frame has been proposed. The Internet photo frame can be connected to the Internet by using a communication means, and instead of mounting a memory card on a digital imaging device, a server device or the like installed at a remote place via the Internet. By receiving the image data from the display device and displaying the image data on the display device, it is possible to automatically obtain the image data from a user or the like living in a remote place and display the image data on the monitor screen.

[0007]

However, in order to realize the same function as that of a conventional photo frame by using the Internet photo frame, the digital image pickup device itself has a monitor screen, a control unit, a memory unit and a power supply. It is necessary to have a department and the like, and moreover, it is necessary to pay a service fee every month to a service provider who provides a service using the Internet photo frame, which also increases the cost, and therefore the spread to the public. There was a problem that it did not proceed slowly.

On the other hand, in various services using the Internet, the service provider's business is established by inserting small advertisement information called a banner advertisement into the service and obtaining an advertisement income from the advertiser. With this, the user can use the service at low cost or free of charge.

However, the user who uses the service wants to lower the media fee or the service fee rather than wanting to see the advertisement. Therefore, the excessive advertisement makes the user feel uncomfortable, and the user does not want to see the advertisement. There is a problem that there is a possibility that the user will not use.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the service provider can obtain the advertising income from the advertiser without causing the user who receives the service to feel uncomfortable, and the system can be constructed. And an information delivery system and an information delivery method that can be operated at low cost,
Another object of the present invention is to provide an information distribution device and an information display device.

[0011]

To achieve the above object, an information distribution system according to the present invention is an information distribution device for distributing first data and second data, and the first data and second data. In an information distribution system in which a receiving means for receiving data as distribution information and an information display device having a display means for visually displaying the distribution information received by the receiving means like a photo frame are connected via a network, The display device includes operation means for performing an input operation of personal information including the usage limit charge of the distribution information and distribution genre information, distribution information storage means for storing the distribution information received by the receiving means, and display of the distribution information. A first storage unit for displaying information on a device and controlling the communication by the receiving unit, wherein the information distribution apparatus stores the distribution information. Second storage means for storing the user data input by the operating means, and second control means for controlling distribution information to the information display device according to the storage contents of the first and second storage means. It is characterized by having and.

The information distribution method according to the present invention is the first
And an information distribution device for distributing the second data,
In the information distribution method, a receiving unit that receives the content data and the advertisement data as distribution information and an information display device that includes a display unit that displays the distribution information received by the receiving unit are connected via a network. The display device has an operation step of inputting personal information including a usage limit charge of the distribution information and distribution genre information, a distribution information storing step of storing the distribution information received by the receiving means, and a display of the distribution information. A first storage step of storing the distribution information in the first storage means and a first control step of controlling the communication by the display means and the reception means. A second accumulation step of accumulating the input user data in a second accumulation means, and the first and second accumulation steps.
And a second control step of controlling distribution information to the information display device according to the contents stored in the storage means.

Further, the information distribution apparatus according to the present invention is connected to an information display apparatus having a display means via a network and distributes the first data and the second data to the information processing apparatus as distribution information. In the distribution device, a first storage unit that stores the distribution information, and a second storage unit that stores the user data input by the operation unit,
And a control unit for controlling distribution information to the information display device according to the contents stored in the first and second storage units.

The information display device according to the present invention is the first
Is connected to an information distribution device that distributes the first data and the second data via a network, and displays the distribution information received by the reception unit and the reception unit that receives the first data and the second data as the distribution information. In an information display device provided with a display means, an operation means for performing an input operation of personal information including a usage limit charge of the distribution information and distribution genre information, and a distribution information storage means for storing the distribution information received by the receiving means. A display unit for displaying the distribution information on the display unit and a control unit for controlling communication by the receiving unit.

Other features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of the embodiments of the invention.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an information distribution system according to the present invention. The information distribution system includes first to fourth Internet photo frames 1a to 1a. 1d is connected to the server device 2 via a PSTN line (general subscriber telephone line), an ISDN line, or a communication line network 3 such as a LAN, and delivers contents and advertisements to the first to fourth Internet photo frames 1a to 1d. Has been realized.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the Internet photo frame 1. The Internet photo frame 1 is an image of the display unit 4 for displaying contents and advertisement data, the frame unit 5, and the frame unit. It is composed of 6 parts for supporting.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the functional blocks of the Internet photo frame 1.

The Internet photo frame 1 includes a sensor unit 7 for detecting whether or not a user is present in the vicinity, an operation unit 8 for the user to operate a charge, a distribution genre, a display method, etc., and a server device 2. A display unit 9 for displaying the received content data and advertisement data, and a server device 2
A content storage unit 10 for storing the content data and advertisement data received from the content storage unit 10 and a content composition unit for composing a plurality of content and advertisement data stored in the content storage unit 10 to generate new content and advertisement data 11 and the communication processing unit 60 that controls the interface operation between the server device 2 and the control unit 1 that is connected to each of the above components and controls the entire Internet photo frame.
2 and.

The control unit 12 specifically controls the display and display method of the content data and the advertisement data on the display unit 9, and controls the communication by the communication processing unit 11.
Further, the display time limit, the display time, and the display frequency on the display unit 9 are controlled based on the display time information added to the content data and the advertisement data stored in the content storage unit 10, and the display time limit and the display based on the display time information are controlled. The content data and the advertisement data that have exceeded the time are deleted from the content storage unit 11. In addition, the control unit 12 calculates and determines the display time / state and the browsing time / state of the display unit 9, and instructs the communication processing unit 60 to transmit the display time information to the server device 2.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the details of the server device 2.

That is, the server device 2 includes the content database 13 in which the content data 13a and the advertisement data 13b to be distributed to the first to fourth internet photo frames 1a to 1d are stored, and the first to fourth internet photo frames. User database 1 in which user data 14a of each user who uses 1a to 1d is stored
4 and the first to fourth Internet photo frames 1a
~ 1d content data 13a and advertising data 13
delivery control unit 15a and user data 1 for controlling delivery of b.
4a and a user management unit 15b that manages billing, and a plurality of content data 13a and advertisement data 13b stored in the content database 13 according to a request from the server control unit 15 are combined to create new content data. Content multiplex processing unit 16 for generating advertisement data and advertisement data, and each Internet photo frame 1a ...
Communication processing unit 1 that controls interface operations with 1d
7, which collectively manages the Internet photo frames 1a to 1d connected to the communication network 3, and distributes the content data and the advertisement data to the Internet photo frames 1a to 1d.

The content data 13a and the advertisement data 13b stored in the content database 13 are
It is composed of image, moving image, sound, text information, or combination data thereof.

FIG. 5 shows a data format when the content data 13a or the advertisement data 13b is composed of image data.

That is, the content database 13
(Content data 13a and advertisement data 13b)
A data body 18 in which image data is written, a price information portion 19 in which price information necessary for providing the content database 13 is written, a genre information portion 20 in which a genre to which the content database 13 belongs is written, The distribution target information section 21 in which the distribution target of the content database 13 is written, the display time information section 22 in which the valid display time limit or the valid display time of the content database 13 is written, and the additional information in which other additional information is written. It is composed of an information section 23.

FIG. 6 shows the data format of the user data 14a stored in the user database 14,
The user data 14a includes age, sex, and the like regarding a user who uses each of the Internet photo frames 1a to 1d.
A personal information section 24 in which personal information such as occupation and user management information is written, a billing information section 25 in which billing information for the user is written, and a fee setting information section in which fee setting set by the user is written. 26 and a distribution genre information section 27 in which the taste of the user is written.

Further, in the price information section 19, as described above, the value of "negative" or "positive" necessary for the user to receive the content database 13 in the Internet photo frames 1a to 1d is written. That is,
When a negative value is written in the price information section 19, it indicates that the user is paid for receiving / viewing the content data and advertisement data, and when a positive value is written, the content data and advertisement. Receive data
It shows a case where the user pays for browsing. That is, the price information written in the price information unit 19 each time the content data and the advertisement data are received is the user data 14
a is added to or subtracted from the charging information unit 25 of
Based on the billing information written in 5, the user is billed at regular intervals (for example, one month).

For example, in the case of advertisement data, negative price information is added to the price information section 19, and the usage fee is discounted for viewing the price information or the user is paid a consideration. On the other hand, in the case of content data, positive or zero price information is added to the price information section 19, whereby the content data is classified into paid content and free content, and the user is requested to browse the paid content by the system of this system. The usage fee is charged. Then, the charged usage fee becomes income of the content provider who provides the content and the service provider who provides the system.

Although the negative price information is added to the advertisement data as described above, the negative price of the price information increases in proportion to the amount of advertisement information included in the advertisement data.

FIGS. 7 and 8 both show advertisement data for a new car released by XX automobiles. The advertisement data in FIG. 7 has a large amount of advertisement information, and the user is clearly showing the advertisement. As I often feel, negative price information becomes large. On the other hand, the advertising data of FIG. 8 has a smaller amount of advertising information than the advertising data of FIG. 7, and the user has the same feeling as looking at a landscape photograph, and thus the negative price information is set small. .

Next, a case where the content multiplex processing section 16 combines a plurality of contents and advertisement data to generate new contents and advertisement data will be described.

When synthesizing the pay image content data as shown in FIG. 9 and the advertising data such as the company name and the logo mark of the company as shown in FIG. 10, the content multiplexing processing section 16 is suitable for synthesizing the advertising data by image recognition. The location is determined, image processing is performed so that the advertisement data can be seen more easily, and then the composition is performed to generate new content and advertisement data as illustrated in FIG. 11. Then, the content multiplexing processing unit 16 calculates the sum of the price information of the image content data of the combination source (FIG. 9) and the advertisement data (FIG. 10) and the price information unit 19 of the content of the combination destination and the advertisement data (FIG. 11). Write in. That is, if the price information of the pay image content data of FIG. 9 is 100 yen and the price information of the advertisement data is -2 yen, 98 yen is written in the price information part 19 of the content and the advertisement data (FIG. 11) of the combination destination. Be done.

Similarly, when the pay image content data shown in FIG. 9 and the advertisement data such as the banner advertisement shown in FIG. 12 are combined, the content multiplexing processing section 16 appropriately combines the advertisement data by image recognition. A new place and advertisement data are generated as shown in FIG. 13 after determining a place and performing image processing so that the advertisement data can be easily seen. Then, the content multiplexing processing unit 16 calculates the sum of the price information of the image content data of the synthesis source (FIG. 9) and the advertisement data (FIG. 12) and the price information unit 19 of the content of the synthesis destination and the advertisement data (FIG. 13). Write in. That is, assuming that the price information of the pay image content data of FIG. 9 is 100 yen and the advertisement data of FIG. 12 which has a larger amount of advertisement information than that of FIG. 10 is −5 yen, the content and advertisement data of the combination destination (FIG. 13) are 95 yen is written in the price information section 19.

Further, when the pay image content data as shown in FIG. 9 and the news content data as shown in FIG.
6 determines an appropriate place to combine the advertisement data by image recognition, further performs image processing so that the advertisement data can be easily seen, and then executes the combination to generate new contents and advertisement data as shown in FIG. Then, the content multiplexing processing unit 16 calculates the sum of the price information of the image content data of the combination source (FIG. 9) and the advertisement data (FIG. 14) as the price information unit of the content of the combination destination and the advertisement data (FIG. 15). Write in 19.

Next, the billing management performed by the server control unit 15 will be described with reference to FIGS. 16 and 17.

In the server control unit 15, the price information added to the content data and the advertisement data distributed to the Internet photo frames 1a to 1d is added to the billing information unit 25 of the user data 14a of the user database 14.

FIG. 16 shows a case where the basic charge in this system is 500 yen / month and the user receives and browses five pay contents of 100 yen in the month.
Since the total fee for receiving content and advertisement data is 500 yen, the usage fee for this system by the user in the month 1
It will be 000 yen.

Further, in FIG. 17, the basic charge in this system is 500 yen / month, and the user pays 100 yen / month.
The figure shows a case where five paid contents of JPY are received / browsed, and further, the user receives / viewed 40 pieces of advertisement data of -5 Yen in the month, and the total content and advertisement data reception fee is -200 Yen. Therefore, the usage fee of the user in the month is 300 yen.

The display status information of the content data and the advertisement data distributed in this way is transmitted from each of the Internet photo frames 1a to 1d, the charging information about the user is determined based on the display status information, and the user's billing information is determined. Change the billing information contained in the user data. The display status information includes the display / browsing time of the distributed content data and the advertisement data. As a result of carefully browsing the advertisement data, the display / browsing time of the distributed advertisement data is written in the display time information section 22. If the display time information exceeds the display time information, the discount of the usage charge of the system of the user by browsing the advertisement data is further increased, while the display / viewing time of the advertisement data is displayed in the display time information unit 22.
If it is less than the display time information written in, the discount of the usage charge of this system for the user due to browsing the advertisement data is reduced. In addition, the server control unit 15 acquires the display / browsing status of the distributed content data and advertisement data based on the received display status information, recognizes what content data and advertisement data the user is interested in, and The preference information is added to the personal information section 24 in the user data of the user in the user database.

The server control unit 15 also controls the following distribution.

That is, the type and amount of contents and advertisement data distributed to each of the Internet photo frames 1a to 1d are the charge setting information section 26 of the user data 14a.
It is determined based on the fee setting information written in. For example, if the fee setting information is less than the monthly basic fee in this system, a large amount of advertisement data is distributed so that the usage fee is discounted from the basic fee to the fee setting information. Of the advertisement data becomes large, and a large amount of advertisement data having a large amount of advertisement information as shown in FIG. 7 is distributed. On the other hand, when the amount of charge setting information is higher than the monthly basic charge, the content and advertisement data to be distributed have a large proportion of paid content data so that the usage charge approaches the charge setting information.

In this way, the types and amounts of contents and advertisement data to be distributed are determined, and in distribution control, the contents of contents and advertisement data to be distributed to each Internet photo frame are the distribution genre information section 27 of the user data 14a. It is determined based on the distribution genre information written in (1) and the personal information written in the personal information section 24.

The distribution control by the server control unit 15 is based on the distribution genre information indicating the user's preference written in the distribution genre information unit 27, and the content data 13a and the advertisement data 1 having the matching genre information.
3b is delivered to the Internet photo frame of the user. Therefore, when the distribution genre information “automobile” is written in the distribution genre information section 27, the content and advertisement data regarding the car to which the genre information “automobile” is added is distributed not only to the content data but also to the advertisement data. To be done. The distribution control by the server control unit 15 is based on the personal information written in the personal information unit 24, and the content data 13a having the distribution target information in which the sex, age, occupation, and the like match.
And the advertisement data 13b is distributed to the Internet photo frame of the user, whereby the content data and the advertisement data suitable for the sex, age and occupation are distributed.

Then, the Internet photo frame 1
The usage fee setting set by the operation unit 8 is reflected in the fee setting information written in the fee setting information section 26 of the user data 14a, and the types of the content data and the advertisement data distributed as described above are determined. It

FIG. 18 is a usage charge setting screen displayed on the display unit 9 and is displayed by the user operating the operation unit 8.

That is, the user moves the slider bar 28 directly to the left or right or operates the slide buttons 26 and 27 to set the usage fee, and operates the decision button 29 to set the usage fee in the server device 2. The setting can be canceled by being notified and operating the cancel button 30. The user's desired distribution genre setting set by the operation unit 8 is user data 1
The contents of the content data and the advertisement data distributed as described above are determined by being reflected in the distribution genre information written in the distribution genre information section 27 of 4a.

FIG. 19 is a distribution desired genre setting screen displayed on the display unit 9 and is displayed by the user operating the operation unit 8.

That is, the user sets a distribution desired genre by putting a check mark on an item desired to be distributed and excluding the check mark from an item which is not desired to be distributed, and operates the decision button 32 to perform distribution. The desired genre setting is notified to the server device 2, and the setting can be canceled by operating the cancel button 33.

The contents and advertisement data are combined by the contents combining unit 11 as in the contents multiplexing unit 16 described above, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, FIG. 13 or FIG. 11 is
When the image content data as shown in FIG. 20 is stored in the content storage unit 10, when the image content data is combined with the news content data or the portfolio content data indicating the stock price, as shown in FIG. It is also possible to combine the content data and the portfolio content data below the image content data, and scroll and combine the news content data and the portfolio content data like a news ticker.

As described above, according to the first embodiment,
By distributing the advertisement data, the service provider can obtain the advertisement income from the advertiser, and the advertisement income can reduce the usage price of the Internet photo frame and the monthly service charge that the user must bear. .

Also, the amount of advertisements to be delivered is adjusted according to the usage fee set by the user, and the contents and advertisements are delivered according to the genre desired by the user, or the excessive advertisements not desired by the user are displayed. It can be eliminated or eliminated, and it can be avoided that the user feels uncomfortable. Also, by combining and distributing the content data and the advertisement data, the obvious advertisement can be eliminated. It is possible to avoid giving the user an unpleasant feeling that the advertisement is being shown.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 22 is a system configuration diagram showing a second embodiment of the information delivery system according to the present invention. The second embodiment is the first embodiment. In addition to the first and second content server devices 34a, 3
4b is connected to the communication network 3, and the content data and advertisement data owned by the content provider are accumulated by the first and second content server devices 34a and 34b, and the content data and the advertisement are provided based on the instruction from the server device 2. Data is read.

Also in the second embodiment, the first
Similarly to the embodiment of the present invention, the service provider can obtain the advertising income from the advertiser by distributing the advertising data, and the usage price of the Internet photo frame and the monthly service that the user should bear by the advertising income. The fee can be reduced, and by adjusting the amount of advertisement to be delivered according to the usage fee set by the user and delivering the content and advertisement according to the genre desired by the user, the user does not want Excessive advertisements can be eliminated to avoid user discomfort, and by combining content data and advertisement data for distribution, explicit advertisements are eliminated and advertisements are shown to users. It is possible to avoid giving an unpleasant feeling.

In addition, since the second embodiment includes the first and second content server devices 34a and 34b, not only the content data and advertisement data of the server device 2 but also the content provider It is possible to receive a large number of high-quality contents and advertisement data provided from the user, and therefore, it is possible to realize a more attractive information distribution system for the user, and it is possible to distribute the load on the server device 2. An information distribution system can be realized.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 23 is a main part flowchart showing a third embodiment of the information delivery system according to the present invention. In the third embodiment, Internet photo frames 1a to 1d are shown. The content data and the advertisement data are distributed based on the distribution request transmitted from the server device 2 to the server device 2.

That is, in step S1, it is determined whether or not it is the distribution request timing. If the answer is negative (No), the process waits until the distribution request timing is reached, and the answer in step S1 is affirmative (Yes), that is, distribution request. When the timing is reached, the process proceeds to step S2, and after the content data and the advertisement data are selected, the content data and the advertisement data are delivered to the desired Internet photo frames 1a to 1d via the communication network 3 in step S3.

As shown in FIG. 24, the distribution request format has an address / genre information section 35 in which address information or genre information of content data and advertisement data desired to be distributed is written, and a desired time of distribution is written. The desired distribution time information section 36 and the address / genre information section 35 can be added with the distribution genre information written in the distribution genre information section 27 of the user data 14a on the server device 2 side.

In the third embodiment, the distribution request transmitted from the Internet photo frames 1a to 1d to the server device 2 is controlled by the control unit 12. That is, the control unit 12 obtains the address or genre information of the content data and advertisement data desired to be distributed by the operation unit 8 from the address / genre information unit 35 and the desired distribution time 3.
A distribution request is generated by writing 6 and is transmitted to the server device 2. For example, the control unit 12 detects that the user is in the surroundings based on the determination result of the presence of the user by the sensor unit 7, and as a result, the genre information suitable for the user's preference as the genre information of the content and advertisement data desired to be distributed. Is set, the current time is set as the desired distribution time, a distribution request is generated, and the distribution request is transmitted to the server device 2. Further, the control unit 8 sets genre information suitable for the user's taste as genre information of content and advertisement data desired to be distributed at predetermined time intervals, sets the current time as a desired distribution time, and generates a distribution request. And sends it to the server device 2.

As described above, according to the third embodiment,
At the request of the user, or when the user is near the Internet photo frame, and by distributing the content and advertisement data at regular intervals,
The content and advertisement data desired by the user can be delivered at an appropriate timing.

(Fourth Embodiment) FIGS. 25 and 26 are flow charts showing a fourth embodiment of the information distribution system according to the present invention. In the fourth embodiment, contents data and advertisement data are shown. When distributing the content, first, the outline information indicating the outline of the content and the advertisement data is distributed to the Internet photo frames 1a to 1d, and the content is received when a purchase request for the outline information is received from the Internet photo frames 1a to 1d. It delivers data and advertising data.

First, the server device 2 transmits the outline information to the Internet photo frames 1a to 1d as shown in step S11 of FIG.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 27, the outline information includes a preview information section 37 in which preview information showing an outline of content data and advertisement data is written, and a user receives the content data and advertisement data. Price information section 38 in which necessary price information is written, a display time information section 39 in which valid display time limit or valid display time of content data and advertisement data is written, and an additional information section 40 in which additional information is written. It consists of

As the preview information, when the content and the advertisement data are still images, a thumbnail image showing the outline thereof or an image overlaid with character data is written, and when the content data and the advertisement data are moving images, the preview image information is displayed. A reduced moving image or a shortened moving image showing an outline is written. Then, price information, display time, and other additional information are presented to the user together with the preview information.

FIG. 28 is a display screen showing an example of the outline information. In this FIG. 28, the right to display the content data for one month without advertisement can be purchased for 200 yen, and 500
With Yen, you can purchase unlimited rights with no display deadline,
Further, if the advertisement information is included, the right to display the content data for one week can be obtained free of charge, and if the amount of advertisement information is large, the right to display the content for an unlimited period can be obtained free of charge. Further, instead of purchasing the content and the advertisement data including the advertisement information for "-200" yen, the user is provided with the summary information that the content and the advertisement data are forcibly displayed for one month, and the user is notified of the content and the advertisement data. The purchase form can be selected.

Then, upon receiving such outline information, it is determined in a succeeding step S12 whether or not a purchase request for the outline information has been received from the Internet photo frames 1a to 1d, and if the answer is negative (No). While returning to step S11, if the answer is affirmative (Yes),
In step S13, the content data and the advertisement data are distributed.

On the other hand, the Internet photo frame 1a
When ~ 1d receives the summary information, as shown in FIG.
In step S21, the summary information is displayed on the display unit 9, and in the following step S22, it is determined whether or not the user purchases the content data and the advertisement data, and the answer is negative (N
In the case of o), the process returns to step S21 while the answer is affirmative
In the case of (Yes), the process proceeds to step S23 and the server device 2
The purchase request is transmitted to, and in the subsequent step S24, the content data and the advertisement data are received from the server device 2.

The Internet photo frames 1a-
When displaying the outline information on 1d, the control unit 12 of the Internet photo frames 1a to 1d displays an icon 50 for notifying the user of the reception of the outline information on a part of the display unit 9 as shown in FIG. 28 to display the outline information or to display a preview 51 of the outline information on a part of the display unit 9 as shown in FIG. 30 to notify the user of the reception of the outline information. Further, as shown in FIG. 31, Internet photo frames 1a to 1d.
An LED 41 is provided on the LED, and the LED 41 is turned on to notify the user of the receipt of the summary information, and the summary information as shown in FIG. 28 is displayed by the user's operation. The user can be asked to confirm the purchase and in what form.

As described above, according to the fourth embodiment,
Prior to delivering the content data and the advertisement data, the outline information indicating the outline of the content data and the advertisement data is delivered, and the purchase of the content and the advertisement data and the purchase form are confirmed, so that the content not desired by the user Further, the user can confirm the purchase without automatically purchasing the advertisement data, and by presenting various purchase modes to the user, the content and the advertisement data according to the user's wish can be distributed.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned first to fourth embodiments, and the first to fourth embodiments may be combined appropriately.

The user's usage fee setting and distribution desired genre setting can be set not only from the Internet photo frame, but also from an information terminal such as a personal computer capable of communicating with the server device. .

The distribution destination of the content data and the advertisement data distributed from the server device is not limited to the Internet photo frame, but can be distributed to an information terminal such as a personal computer capable of communicating with the server device. .

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the content database 13 has the data main body 18 in which the image data is written. However, as shown in FIG. 32, instead of the data main body 18, The content database 13 'may have an image address portion 18' in which a data address in which image data is recorded is written.

[0074]

As described in detail above, it is possible to eliminate excessive advertisements that the user does not want and to not make the user feel uncomfortable. Furthermore, by combining the content and the advertisement and distributing the advertisements, it becomes obvious. It is possible to realize a content and advertisement distribution system for an Internet photo frame that eliminates advertisements and does not give the user an unpleasant feeling that advertisements are being shown.

Further, since the content providers participating in this system are provided with the content server device,
Not only the contents and advertisement data of the server device, but also many high-quality contents and advertisement data can be provided from the content provider, so that an attractive system for many users can be realized, and the server device is also provided. It is also possible to distribute the load on.

Further, according to the user's request, and when the user is present in the vicinity of the Internet photo frame and by distributing the content and the advertisement data at regular intervals, the content and the advertisement data desired by the user can be appropriately timed. Can be delivered at.

Further, before delivering the content and the advertisement data, the summary information showing the outline of the content and the advertisement data is delivered, and the purchase of the content and the advertisement data and the purchase form are confirmed to the user,
The user can confirm the purchase without automatically purchasing the content and advertisement data that the user does not desire, and by presenting various purchase modes to the user, the content and advertisement data can be distributed according to the user's wishes. it can.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an embodiment (first embodiment) of an information distribution system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an appearance of an Internet photo frame.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing internal details of an Internet photo frame.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing internal details of a server device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a data format of a content database.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a data format of user data.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of advertisement data.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another example of advertisement data.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of image content data.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of advertisement data.

11 is a composite diagram of the image content data of FIG. 9 and the advertisement data of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing another example of advertisement data.

13 is a composite diagram of the image content data of FIG. 9 and the advertisement data of FIG.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of news content.

15 is a diagram showing an example of the image content data of FIG. 9 and the news content of FIG.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of billing management performed by a server control unit.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating another example of billing management performed by the server control unit.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of a usage charge setting screen.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of a distribution desired genre setting screen.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of image content stored in a content storage unit.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an example of image composition executed by a content composition section.

FIG. 22 is a system configuration diagram showing a second embodiment of the information distribution system according to the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a main part flowchart of a third embodiment of the information distribution system according to the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a delivery request format according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 25 is a main part flowchart of a fourth embodiment of an information distribution system according to the present invention, which is a flowchart of a distribution processing procedure executed by a server device.

FIG. 26 is a main part flowchart of the fourth embodiment of the information distribution system according to the present invention, and is a flowchart of a summary information reception processing procedure executed in the Internet photo frame.

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing a format of the outline information.

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing a display example of summary information.

FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating an example of notification of reception of summary information.

[Fig. 30] Fig. 30 is a diagram illustrating another example of notification of reception of summary information.

[Fig. 31] Fig. 31 is a diagram illustrating yet another example of notification of reception of summary information.

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing another example of a content database.

[Explanation of symbols]

1a to 1d First to fourth Internet photo frames 2 Server device 3 Communication network 7 Sensor unit 8 Operation unit 10 Content storage unit 11 Content combining unit 12 Control unit 13 Content database 14 User database 15 Server control unit 16 Content multiplexing Processing unit 17 Communication control unit 41 LED 60 Communication processing unit

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G09F 19/00 G09F 19/00 Z (72) Inventor Ken Sakakibara 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (49)

[Claims] 1. An information distribution device for distributing first data and second data, a receiving means for receiving the first data and second data as distribution information, and distribution information received by the receiving means. In an information distribution system in which an information display device having a display unit for displaying is connected via a network, the information display device performs an input operation of personal information including a usage limit charge of the distribution information and distribution genre information. An operation unit; a distribution information storage unit that stores the distribution information received by the reception unit; and a first control unit that controls the display of the distribution information on the display unit and the communication by the reception unit, The information delivery device includes a first storage unit that stores delivery information, a second storage unit that stores user data input by the operation unit, and the first and second storage units. An information distribution system, comprising: a second control unit that controls distribution information to the information display device according to the contents stored in the second storage unit. 2. The information distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the first data is content data and the second data is advertisement data. 3. The information according to claim 1, wherein a data body of the delivery information, price information, genre information, delivery target information, and display time information are written in the first storage means. Delivery system. 4. The data body is an image, a moving image, a sound,
The information distribution system according to claim 3, wherein the information distribution system includes text information. 5. The information distribution system according to claim 3, wherein the price information includes a positive or negative price paid for the distribution information. 6. The negative price of the price information changes according to the amount of information of the second data.
Information distribution system described. 7. The information according to claim 2, wherein the display time information includes at least one of a display deadline and a display time of the delivery information. Delivery system. 8. The second storage means stores user's personal information, billing information, fee setting information set by the user, and distribution genre information indicating the user's preference. The information distribution system according to any one of claims 1 to 7. 9. The second control means distributes the distribution information to the information display device so that the price information of the distribution information does not exceed the fee setting information included in the user data. The information distribution system according to any one of claims 1 to 8. 10. The one of claim 1 to claim 9, wherein the second control means distributes the distribution information to the information display device based on distribution genre information included in the user data. Information distribution system described in crab. 11. The first control means distributes the distribution information to the information display device based on the personal information of the user included in the user data. The information distribution system described in any of. 12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second control means determines the charge based on the distribution information distributed to the user and updates the charge information included in the user data. Information distribution system described in either. 13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second control means determines a charge based on a display status of the distribution information distributed to the user and updates the charging information included in the user data. The information distribution system according to claim 12. 14. The information distribution device includes distribution information multiplexing means for synthesizing a plurality of distribution information stored in the first storage means to generate new distribution information. The information distribution system according to any one of claims 1 to 13. 15. The first control means controls a display period, a display time, and a display frequency on the display means based on the display time information added to the distribution information, and the display time information is displayed. 15. The information distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the distribution information that exceeds the display period and the display time is deleted from the distribution information storage means. 16. The information display device comprises: a detection unit that detects the presence of a user; and a transmission unit that transmits the detection result of the detection unit to the server device as display state information. The information distribution system according to any one of claims 1 to 15. 17. The information display device according to claim 1, further comprising distribution information synthesizing means for synthesizing a plurality of pieces of distribution information stored in the distribution information storage means. Information distribution system described in. 18. The information distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit instructs a method of displaying distribution information. 19. The first control means has a distribution request means for making a distribution request to the information distribution device, and the second control means has the first control means based on a distribution request from the distribution request means. 19. The information distribution system according to claim 1, further comprising: a distribution unit that distributes the distribution information accumulated in the accumulation unit to the information display device. 20. The distribution request includes distribution desired time information desired to be distributed and address information or genre information to the distribution information desired to be distributed.
9. The information distribution system described in 9. 21. The information display device includes detection means for detecting the presence of the user, and the distribution request is based on an instruction from the operation means of the user or when the presence of the user is detected by the detection means. 21. The information distribution system according to claim 19 or 20, wherein the information distribution device performs the information distribution device at predetermined intervals. 22. The second control means, a summary distribution means for distributing a summary of distribution information to the information display device, a reply receiving means for receiving a reply to the summary distribution request, and a reply from the reply receiving means. 22. After request confirmation delivery means for delivering delivery information to the information display device when it is determined that the content is a purchase request for delivery information, any one of claims 1 to 21 is provided. Information distribution system described. 23. When the summary information is received from the second control means, it has a lighting means for lighting the light emitting means provided in the information display device.
2. Information distribution system described in 2. 24. An information distribution device for distributing the first data and the second data, a receiving means for receiving the first data and the second data as distribution information, and a distribution information received by the receiving means. In an information distribution method in which an information display device having a display unit for displaying is connected via a network, the information display device performs an input operation of personal information including a usage limit charge of the distribution information and distribution genre information. A first operation step, a distribution information storage step of storing the distribution information received by the receiving means, a display of the distribution information on a display means, and a communication control by the receiving means.
And a first storage step of storing the distribution information in the first storage means, and a second storage step of storing the user data input in the operation step in the second storage means. An information distribution method comprising: a second accumulation step; and a second control step of controlling distribution information to the information display device according to accumulated contents of the first and second accumulating means. 25. An information distribution device, which is connected to an information display device having a display means via a network and distributes the first data and the second data to the information processing device as distribution information, storing the distribution information. First storage means, second storage means for storing user data input by the operation means, and distribution information to the information display device according to the storage contents of the first and second storage means An information distribution device, comprising: 26. The information distribution device according to claim 25, wherein the first data is content data and the second data is advertisement data. 27. The information according to claim 25, wherein a data body of the delivery information, price information, genre information, delivery target information, and display time information are written in the first storage means. Delivery device. 28. The information distribution device according to claim 27, wherein the data body includes image, moving image, sound, and text information. 29. The information distribution according to claim 25, wherein the price information includes a positive or negative price paid for the distribution information. apparatus. 30. The information distribution apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the price information has a negative price that changes according to the amount of information of the second data. 31. The information according to claim 27, wherein the display time information includes at least one of a display deadline and a display time of the delivery information. Delivery device. 32. The second storage means stores personal information of the user, billing information, fee setting information set by the user, and distribution genre information indicating the preference of the user. The information distribution device according to any one of claims 25 to 31. 33. The control means distributes the distribution information to the information display device so that the price information of the distribution information does not exceed the fee setting information included in the user data. The information distribution device according to any one of claims 25 to 32. 34. The control means distributes the distribution information to the information display device based on distribution genre information included in the user data.
An information distribution apparatus according to claim 33. 35. The control unit distributes the distribution information to the information display device based on the personal information of the user included in the user data. Information distribution device described in. 36. The method according to claim 25, wherein the control unit determines a charge based on the distribution information distributed to the user and updates the charge information included in the user data. Information distribution device described. 37. The method according to claim 25, wherein the control unit determines a charge based on a display status of the distribution information distributed to the user and updates the charging information included in the user data. The information distribution device according to any one of 1. 38. The distribution information multiplexing means for generating a new distribution information by synthesizing a plurality of distribution information accumulated in the first accumulating means. The information distribution device according to claim 37. 39. The control means distributes a summary of distribution information to the information display device, a reply receiving means for receiving a reply to the summary distribution request, and a reply content of the reply receiving means. 3. A post-request-confirmation delivery means for delivering delivery information to the information display device when it is determined to be an information purchase request.
The information distribution device according to any one of claims 5 to 38. 40. Receiving means connected to an information distribution device for distributing the first data and the second data via a network and receiving the first data and the second data as distribution information, and the reception. In an information display device having a display means for displaying the distribution information received by the means, an operation means for performing an input operation of personal information including a usage limit charge of the distribution information and distribution genre information, and a distribution received by the receiving means. An information display device comprising: distribution information storage means for storing information; and control means for displaying the distribution information on a display means and controlling communication by the receiving means. 41. The information display device according to claim 40, wherein the first data is content data and the second data is advertisement data. 42. The control means controls the display period, the display time, and the display frequency of the display means based on the display time information added to the distribution information, and the display period based on the display time information. 41. The information display device according to claim 40, characterized in that the distribution information that has exceeded the display time is deleted from the distribution information storage means. 43. Detection means for detecting the presence of a user,
43. The information display device according to claim 40, further comprising: a transmission unit that transmits the detection result of the detection unit as display state information to the server device. 44. The information display device according to claim 40, further comprising distribution information combining means for combining a plurality of pieces of distribution information stored in the distribution information storage means. . 45. The operating means instructs a display method of distribution information.
The information display device according to any one of 1. 46. The information display device according to claim 40, wherein the control unit has a distribution request unit that makes a distribution request to the information distribution device. 47. The delivery request includes delivery desired time information desired to be delivered, and address information or genre information to the delivery information desired to be delivered.
6. The information display device described in 6. 48. A detection means for detecting the presence of the user is provided, and the distribution request is based on an instruction from the operation means of the user, or when the detection means detects the presence of the user, or at predetermined intervals. 48. The information display device according to claim 46 or 47, wherein the information display device is provided. 49. The lighting device according to claim 40, further comprising: a light emitting device, and a lighting device for turning on the light emitting device when the summary information is received from the information distribution device. The information display device according to any one.