JP2005025773A - Recording medium, terminal device and host computer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a message retrieving system and a terminal device which allows a terminal to display information suitable for each user even if a plurality of users copy a program and use it. <P>SOLUTION: The system comprises a message user database which stores properties of a user of a terminal and a message transmission condition database which stores retrieval conditions of each message transmitted to the terminal, detects the necessity for updating the properties of the user at the time of communication with the terminal, and updates the properties of the user if necessary. In response to a request from the terminal, the system reads out the properties of the user of the terminal from the message user database, and retrieves a message from the message transmission condition database. The message user database holds the birth date of the user and the date of the final communication with the user. User information is updated in the case that days calculated by adding a predetermined period to the birth date on and after the final communication date of the user have passed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a message search system and a terminal device that display information obtained from a network such as the Internet.

  In recent years, a large amount of information has been provided to users via the Internet and communication networks such as personal computer communication centered on the BBS function. A terminal such as a personal computer possessed by a user is connected to a so-called provider computer (information providing apparatus) via a modem and a telephone line. The user accesses the information providing apparatus of the provider through the terminal. In addition, other information providers can be accessed through a communication network connected to the information providing apparatus. As a result, information can be obtained from the information providing apparatus or an information provider on the Internet or a personal computer communication network connected to the information providing apparatus.

  The information provider or another business operator connected to the information provider identifies and charges the user using the user identification number and password, and provides information to the user. Information provided to the user is displayed in a single window on the display. The user can scroll the displayed information or switch to the submenu display. There are cases where a provider on a communication network provides additional information such as an advertisement. In this case, additional information is also displayed in the same window as the designated information.

  However, conventionally, since the display of additional information disappears when the user scrolls the display on the terminal, additional information such as advertisements cannot be efficiently provided to the user. In order to solve such problems, the applicant of the present application has filed a method for displaying two windows on the user's terminal, displaying information designated by the user on one side, and displaying display information such as advertisements on the other side. (Japanese Patent Application No. 8-67278). According to the invention described in this application, display information such as advertisements suitable for characteristics such as the age and sex of the user is displayed on the terminal.

  However, user characteristics change over time. Furthermore, it may be necessary to input new characteristics of the user when the user reaches an adult age, such as smoking and drinking. Also, depending on the content of the advertisement, it may be necessary to input a new type of characteristic of the user. In particular, the content (content) of a communication network represented by the Internet changes greatly with time. Therefore, it is desirable to select display information suitable for new contents of the communication network and new characteristics of the user and display them on the terminal device. Furthermore, even when a plurality of users copy and use the same program, it is desirable to display information suitable for each user on the terminal. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a message search system and a terminal device that can solve such problems.

  In order to achieve such an object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, in the message search system, a message user database that stores user information related to characteristics of a user of a terminal connected through a communication line; A message transmission condition database for storing identification information of each of a plurality of messages transmitted to the terminal and a search condition for each of the messages; and means for detecting necessity of updating the user information during communication with the terminal And means for updating the user information when the necessity for updating is detected and means for reading out the user information of the user of the terminal from the message user database in response to a request from the terminal And the message transmission condition data based on the user information read from the message user database. And means for retrieving the identification information of said message from database.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the message user database holds the date of birth of the user as the user information, and the message user database The date and time of the last communication with the user is retained, and the detection means adds a predetermined period to the date of birth after the last communication date and time of the user when the user connects to the message search system. When the day has passed, it is determined that the user information needs to be updated.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, means for adding a new item to the message user database, and item update adding the new item to the message user database Means for holding a date and time, and the detecting means determines that the user information needs to be updated when the last communication date and time is before the item update date and time.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the message user database holds the date of birth of the user as the user information, and the message user database The last update date and time of the user information is held, and the detection means adds a predetermined period to the date of birth after the last update date and time of the user when the user connects to the message search system. When the day has passed, it is determined that the user information needs to be updated.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect of the present invention, means for adding a new item to the message user database, and item update adding the new item to the message user database Means for holding a date and time, and the detecting means determines that the user information needs to be updated when the last update date and time is before the item update date and time.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fifth aspects of the present invention, when the terminal is connected, the user information of the user of the terminal held in the terminal is stored. Means for comparing the last update date and time and the last update date and time of user information related to the user in the message user database; and the last update date and time of user information in the message user database is the user information of the terminal Means for transmitting the user information relating to the user in the message user database to the terminal when it is later than the last update date and time.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to sixth aspects of the present invention, when the terminal is connected, the user information of the user of the terminal held in the terminal is stored. Means for comparing the last update date and time and the last update date and time of user information related to the user in the message user database; and the last update date and time of user information in the message user database is the user information of the terminal The user information related to the user in the message user database is obtained by means for receiving user information held in the terminal and the received user information when Means for updating.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to seventh aspects of the present invention, the identification information for identifying each item of the user information, the attribute, the range, and the size of each item are retained. The message user database has the identification information for each item of the user information.

  According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, in the terminal device, a message search system for searching for a message to be transmitted to the user using user information relating to the user characteristics, and a terminal device for communication using a communication line A storage device that stores user information related to the characteristics of the user of the terminal, a detecting unit that detects the necessity of updating the user information when communicating with the message search system, and When the necessity is detected, means for requesting a dialog for updating the user information of the user of the terminal using the communication line, and using the dialog received from the communication line, Means for updating user information in the storage device.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the ninth aspect of the present invention, the storage device holds the date of birth of the user and the date and time of the last communication with the message search system, and the detection means The user information depending on whether or not a date obtained by adding a predetermined period to the date of birth after the last communication date and time of the user when the terminal starts communication with the message search system. Detect the need for updates.

  According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the tenth aspect of the present invention, the apparatus further comprises means for receiving, from the message user database, an item update date and time when a new item is added to the message user database. The detection unit determines that the user information of the storage device needs to be updated when the last communication date and time is before the item update date and time.

  According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the ninth aspect of the present invention, the storage device holds the date of birth of the user and the date and time when the user information was last updated. When the user connects to the message search system, the update of the user information is performed depending on whether a date obtained by adding a predetermined period to the date of birth has passed after the last update date / time of the user. Detect the need.

  According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the twelfth aspect of the present invention, the apparatus further comprises means for receiving an item update date and time when a new item is added to the message user database from the message user database, The detection unit determines that the user information of the storage device needs to be updated when the last update date is before the item update date.

  According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the ninth to thirteenth aspects of the present invention, the message search system has user information of each user, and the terminal device is the message search system. Means for comparing the last update date and time of user information of the user of the terminal held in the storage device with the last update date and time of user information related to the user of the message search system when connected to the storage device And when the last update date and time of user information in the message search system is earlier than the last update date and time of user information in the storage device, the user information related to the user in the storage device is Means for transmitting to the message retrieval system.

  According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the ninth to fourteenth aspects of the present invention, when the message search system has user information of each user and is connected to the message search system. Means for comparing the last update date and time of user information of the user of the terminal held in the storage device with the last update date and time of user information related to the user of the message search system; and the message search Means for receiving user information held in the message search system when the last update date and time of user information in the system is later than the last update date and time of user information in the storage device; And means for updating the user information related to the user in the storage device with the user information.

  According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the ninth to fifteenth aspects of the present invention, an update detection means for detecting that the user has updated user information in the storage device; And means for transmitting user information in the storage device to the message search system when the update detecting means detects that the user information has been updated.

  According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, in the terminal device, the terminal device processes information by the CPU, the storage means storing the processing information read and processed by the CPU, and the processing information in the storage means Storage means for storing the position where the information is stored, input means for inputting identification information for identifying a user of the terminal device, and determining the position of the processing information in the storage means when processing the processing information And when the position of the processing information stored by the storage means is different from the position of the processing information determined by the determination means, the identification information of the user of the terminal device is input to the user. The re-input means for requesting again and the identification information input by the input means when the identification information input by the re-input means is different from the identification information input by the input means. Different user and entered user and a user judgment unit judges that utilizes the terminal device.

  According to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, in the seventeenth aspect of the present invention, the input means further includes means for inputting the password of the user, and the re-input means is stored by the storage means. When the position of the processing information is different from the position of the processing information determined by the determining means, the processing information further includes means for requesting the user's password again to the user. When the password input by the input unit is different from the password input by the re-input unit, it is determined that a user different from the user who has input identification information by the input unit uses the terminal device. It further has means.

  According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, in the seventeenth or eighteenth aspect of the present invention, the processing information is a program executed by the CPU.

  However, as another configuration, the processing information may be data read by the CPU.

  According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the seventeenth to nineteenth aspects of the present invention, the means for communicating with the information processing apparatus via a communication line, and the user judgment means include the identification information. When it is determined that a user different from the user who has input the terminal device is using the terminal device, the identification information and the password input by the re-input unit are registered in the information processing device.

  According to the present invention, even when the characteristics of a user change, display information suitable for the new characteristics of the user can be selected and displayed on the terminal device. Furthermore, even when a plurality of users copy and use the same program, information suitable for each user can be displayed on the terminal.

  Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the information display system of the present invention. In FIG. 1, one or a plurality of terminals 10 are connected to each information providing device 20 via modems 16 and 18, a public network 17 (communication network), and a public network gateway 19. The information providing apparatus 20 is managed by a so-called Internet provider.

  In addition, a single or a plurality of message providers 30 are connected to the message distribution system 39 by a dedicated line. From the message provider 30, additional information such as advertisements (referred to as messages), transmission conditions for each message, and the address of the home page on the Internet of each message provider 30 are provided to the message distribution system 39. The message may be any of a still image, a moving image, sound, and a combination thereof. The message distribution system 39 (message search system) includes a message distribution device 28 (message search device), a message user database 34, a message transmission condition database 36, and a connection log 38. The message transmission condition database 36 stores the transmission conditions for each message. The message user database 34 stores information regarding the message user of each terminal 10.

  The message distribution device 28 is connected to the information providing device 20 through a dedicated line. The message distribution device 28 transmits the message provided from the message provider 30 to the information providing device 20 of each provider. The message contains data indicating the homepage address of the message provider. The message management device 24 of the information providing device 20 stores the message received from the message distribution system 39 in the message database 26 in association with the identification number (URL) of the message.

  The terminal 10 can receive information such as a home page from the Internet 32 via the Internet gateway 22 of the information providing apparatus 20. Further, the terminal 10 can receive a message from the message management device 24. The message management device 24 transmits the message read from the message database 26 to the terminal 10 based on the request from the terminal 10. The user of the terminal 10 has an ID (provider user ID) and password for connecting to the Internet gateway 22 via the public line gateway 19 and an ID (message user ID) for obtaining a message from the message management device 24. And have a password.

  When a plurality of information providing devices 20 of a plurality of providers are connected to the public network 17, the user may connect to any information providing device 20. In this case, the user must have a provider ID for each information providing apparatus 20 to be connected. However, a single message user ID can be used in all information providing apparatuses 20.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the main body 14 of the terminal 10. In FIG. 2, the CPU 40 operates based on programs stored in the ROM 42 and the RAM 44. The timer 46 counts a predetermined time. Data is input from the user via the input device 48. The hard disk 50 as an example of a storage device stores data such as images, information about the user (user information 49), the last update date and time 47 of the user information 49, and a program on which the CPU 40 operates.

  The calendar IC 51 is backed up by a battery and provides the current date and time to the CPU 40. The floppy disk drive 52 reads data or a program from the floppy disk 56 and provides it to the CPU 40. The CD-ROM drive 54 reads data or a program from the CD-ROM 58 and provides it to the CPU 40. The main body 14 further includes a modem interface for connecting to the modem 16 and a display interface for connecting to the display 12.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the connection management device 23, the message management device 24, and the message distribution device 28. In FIG. 3, the CPU 90 operates based on programs stored in the ROM 92 and the RAM 94. The timer 96 counts a predetermined time. The communication interface 98 processes input / output with the communication line. The message distribution device 28 may include a communication interface 98 for connecting to the message provider 30 and a communication interface 98 ′ for connecting to the information providing device 20. Data is input from the user via the input device 100. The database interface 102 connects to various databases configured by a hard disk or the like. The floppy disk drive 104 reads data or a program from the floppy disk 106 and provides it to the CPU 90. The calendar IC provides the date and time to the CPU 90. The display 108 displays a communication state or the like to the operator.

  FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the message user database 34. The message user database 34 includes a message user ID of each message user, a message user password, a provider ID for identifying a single information providing device 20, a provider user ID, an information display time, and a year of birth. It has information about the user (called user information) such as date, gender, marital status, occupation, address, name, and whether or not to drink. User information items can be added later. In this figure, a smoking item 35 indicating whether or not to smoke is newly added. The message user database 34 records the last communication date and time indicating the date and time when each user last communicated with the message distribution device, and the item update date and time indicating the date and time when the item was last added to the database.

  Each user inputs user information to the terminal 10 when, for example, a message viewer for receiving information from the message management device 20 is used for the first time or when a message viewer program is installed in the terminal 10. The terminal 10 stores the input user information in the hard disk 50 and transmits it to the information providing apparatus 20. The information providing device 20 transmits the user information received from the user to the message distribution device 28. The message distribution device 28 stores the information received from the information providing device 20 in the message user database 34. As user information, age, occupation, income, hobbies and the like may be stored.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the message transmission condition database 36. The message transmission condition database 36 stores a message URL for identifying each message and a condition for transmitting the message in association with each other. The message transmission conditions are: display frequency limit for each user, display frequency limit for all users, display time, age range of users to be displayed, gender, marital status, occupation, address, whether to drink Stores whether or not. Search items can be added to the message transmission condition database 36 as necessary. In this figure, a smoking item 37 indicating whether or not to smoke is newly added. In response to a request from the terminal 10, the message distribution device 28 searches for a message using user information and transmits the URL of the searched message to the terminal 10. Therefore, a message suitable for the user can be transmitted to each terminal 10.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of software executed by the CPU 40 of the main body 14. These software are stored in a recording medium such as the CD-ROM 58 or the floppy disk 56 and provided to the user. Software stored in the recording medium may be compressed or uncompressed. The software is installed on the hard disk 50 from the recording medium. At this time, information indicating the position where the message browser 76 is installed on the hard disk 50 (message viewer position information) is stored in the hard disk 50. The software stored in the hard disk 50 is read by the RAM 44 and then executed by the CPU 40.

  Software provided by being stored in a recording medium, that is, software installed on the hard disk 50 includes a communication module 73 having a PPP driver 70 and a TCP / IP driver 72 as functional configurations, a browser 74, and a message viewer 76. Is provided. The PPP driver 70 generates a data link with the gateway 19. The browser 74 communicates with the Internet gateway 22 via the TCP / IP driver 72 on the data link generated by the PPP driver 70. It communicates with the message management device 24 via the TCP / IP driver 72 on the data link generated by the PPP driver 70. The message viewer 76 includes a connection module 78, an update processing module 83 that updates user information, an event processing module 86, and a queue 84 that stores URLs received from the message distribution device 28. The queue 84 is configured on the RAM 44 in terms of hardware.

  FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on the display 12. A window (browser window) 60 of the browser 74 and a window (message viewer window) 62 of the message viewer 76 are opened on the display 12. Information received from the Internet 32 is displayed in the browser window 60. For example, Netscape (trademark) or Mosaic (trademark) can be used as the browser 74.

  A message received from the information providing apparatus 20 is displayed in the message viewer window 62. The message viewer window 62 includes a home page button 64, a material request button 66, a suspend / resume button 68, and an end button 69. When the homepage button 64 is pressed, a homepage corresponding to the message displayed in the message viewer window 62 is displayed in the browser window 60. When the material request button 66 is pressed, the material corresponding to the message displayed in the message viewer window 62 is transmitted to the user.

  The message viewer window 62 displays a new message every predetermined period, for example, every minute. While the message is being displayed, the interruption / resumption button 68 displays the interruption. At this time, if the suspend / resume button 68 is pressed, reception of the message is interrupted. When the message is not displayed, the suspension / resumption button 68 displays a resume. When the interrupt / resume button 68 is pressed at this time, the reception of the message is resumed. When the end button 69 is pressed, the message viewer ends communication with the message management device 24.

  The outline of the connection sequence of the terminal 10, the public line gateway 19, the connection management device 23, the message management device 24, the message distribution device 28, the Internet gateway 22, and the Internet 32 will be described with reference to FIG. When the communication module 73 of the terminal 10 makes a PPP connection request (S102), the connection management device 23 inquires of the provider user database 25 whether or not the provider user ID and password of the user who has requested connection are recorded. (S104).

  If the ID and password are registered, the connection management device 23 transmits a PPP connection permission to the terminal 10 (S106). Further, the provider user ID is associated with the port number in the PPP connection and notified to the message management device 24 (S108). The message management device 24 stores the provider user ID in the RAM 94 in association with the PPP connection port number.

  If the PPP connection is permitted, the browser 74 of the terminal 10 establishes a TCP / IP connection to the Internet gateway 22 (S110), and communicates with the Internet 32 via the Internet gateway 22 (S112). Further, the message viewer 76 of the terminal 10 establishes a TCP / IP connection with the message management device 24 (S114). Then, the message management device 24 requests authentication information from the message viewer 76 of the terminal 10 (S118).

  Upon receiving the authentication information request, the message viewer 76 transmits the message user ID and password to the message management device 24 (S120). The message management device 24 reads the provider user ID associated with the port number of the PPP connection used by the user from the RAM 44, the provider ID for identifying the provider, the received message user ID, and the message The message is sent to the message distribution device 28 together with the user password (S121).

  The message distribution device 28 inquires whether or not the received message user ID and message user password are registered in the message user DB (S122). If the message user ID and password are registered, a connection permission is transmitted to the message viewer 76 (S124). Next, the message distribution device 28 notifies the connection management device 23 that charging for the user having the provider user ID received in S121 should be stopped (S130).

  The detailed operation of each device in the connection sequence shown in FIG. 8 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the connection module 78 of the message viewer 76. The connection module 78 first activates the communication module 73 (S210). Then, the communication module 73 makes a PPP connection with the public line gateway 19 using the provider user ID and the password. When the PPP connection is confirmed (S212), the connection module 78 activates the browser 74 (S214). Then, the browser 74 establishes a TCP / IP connection with the Internet gateway 22. Next, the connection module 78 establishes a TCP / IP connection with the message management device 24 using a TCP / IP port number unique to the message viewer 76 (S216).

  Since the browser 74 and the Internet gateway 22, and the message viewer 76 and the message management device 24 are connected by different TCP / IP port numbers, they can communicate independently of each other. Therefore, the message viewer 76 can display a message without impairing the function of the existing browser.

  Next, the message viewer 76 compares the message viewer position information with the position where the message viewer 76 is actually stored (S218). If these positions are not different, it waits for an authentication request from the message management device 24 (S222). The authentication information, that is, the message user ID and password, is given from the message distributor 28 when the message viewer 76 communicates with the message distributor 28 for the first time, and stored in the hard disk 50. When authentication is requested from the message management device 24, the message viewer 76 reads the message user ID and password from the hard disk 50 and transmits them (S224).

  If the message viewer position information in S218 is different from the position where the message viewer 76 is actually stored, it is highly likely that the message viewer 76 has been copied to another computer. Therefore, the user is requested to input the message user ID and password again (S220). The input message user ID and password are stored in the hard disk 50 together with message viewer position information indicating a new position of the message viewer.

  Thereafter, it waits for a request from the message management device 24 (S222), and transmits the message user ID and password stored in the hard disk 50 (S224). Thereby, even when the message viewer 76 is copied to another computer, the message user ID of the true user can be transmitted to the message management device 24. When the connection is permitted from the message management device 24 (S226), the message viewer 76 starts the timer 46 (S228) and proceeds to the user information update process (FIG. 18).

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the connection management device 23 in the connection sequence shown in FIG. When a PPP connection is requested from the terminal 10 via the public line gateway 19 (S310), the connection management device 23 requests the provider user ID and password from the terminal 10 and receives them (S312). Next, the provider user database 25 is inquired as to whether or not the received provider user ID and password are recorded (S314).

  As shown in FIG. 11, in the provider user database 25, each provider user ID (provider user ID), provider user password (provider user password), total value of charging time up to now, and charging The amount is memorized. If the received provider user ID and password are not registered in the provider user database 25, the connection management device 23 disconnects the line (FIG. 10, S318) and ends the process (S320). If the provider user ID and password are registered in the provider user database 25, PPP connection is permitted to the terminal 10 (S322), and a connection notification is sent to the message management device 24 (S324). Further, after waiting for receiving a charge stop notification for stopping the charge to the provider user from the message distribution device 28 (S326), the charge is stopped (S328).

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the operation of the message management device 24 in the connection sequence shown in FIG. When the message management device 24 receives a notification of connection from the connection management device 23 (S810), it records the received provider user ID in the RAM 94 (S812). Next, the timer 96 is started (S814), and it is determined whether a TCP / IP connection is made from the message management device 24 (S816). If no TCP / IP connection is established, the process waits as it is (S816, S818). If the timer 96 times out during standby (S818), the process is terminated (S820).

  When the TCP / IP connection is established (S816), authentication information is requested from the message viewer 76 (S822). The timer 96 is reset and starts counting again (S824). If the timer 96 times out before receiving the authentication information (S828), the process is terminated (S830). When the authentication information is received (S826), the provider user ID is read from the RAM 94 (S832), and the message distribution device together with the provider ID for identifying the provider, the message user ID received from the message viewer 76, and the message user password. 28 (S834). Thereafter, communication is started between the message viewer 76 and the message distribution device 28 (S836).

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the operation of the message distribution device 28 in the connection sequence shown in FIG. When the message distribution device 28 receives the message user ID and the message user password from the message management device 24 (S410), the message distribution device 28 inquires of the message user database 34 (FIG. 4) whether or not they are recorded (S412). . If not registered, the message viewer 76 is inquired as to whether or not to register as a new user (S414). When registering, the user information is received from the message viewer 76 and stored in the message user database 34. Further, the message user ID and the message user password are given to the user (S418).

  When not registering as a new user (S414), the authentication information is requested from the message viewer 76 (S420), the process waits until the authentication information is received (S422), and the process returns to S412. When the message user ID and the message user password can be authenticated (S412), the connection permission is notified (S424), and the logon is recorded in the connection log 38 (S426).

  Further, the provider ID and provider user ID received from the message management device 24 are read (S428), and the provider specified by the provider ID is notified that charging for the user specified by the provider user ID should be stopped ( (S430), the fact is recorded in the connection log 38 (S432). Since the message user ID and the provider user ID are provided independently, even if a single message user has a plurality of providers or a plurality of provider user IDs, only charging for the provider ID being used is performed. Can be stopped. The connection management device 23 stops charging for the user indicated by the provider user ID. That is, access to the Internet 32 is maintained without charging.

  FIG. 14 shows a configuration example of the connection log 38. For each provider user ID, the connection log records an provider ID, an event such as logon or charging stop, and the date and time when the event occurred. Provider costs for connections while billing is suspended are paid from the owner of message distribution system 39 to the provider. Accordingly, the provider user can access the Internet free of charge in exchange for viewing the message.

  For example, the example of FIG. 14 indicates that charging of the provider user XXX is stopped after Logon. The message distribution device 28 determines the time during which charging has been stopped based on the connection log 38, and pays the provider a cost corresponding to the time. Further, the message distributor 28 charges the message provider 30 for the value of the message displayed on the message viewer 76.

  FIG. 15 shows an outline of a communication sequence of the terminal 10, the message management device 23, and the message distribution device 28 after the connection from the terminal 10 to the message distribution device 28 is permitted. First, the message distribution device 28 inquires of the terminal 10 about the date and time when the user information 49 of the terminal 10 was last updated (S140). When the update date / time of the user information is transmitted from the terminal 10 (S142), it is determined whether the user information needs to be updated using the update date / time and the data in the message user database 34 (S142). S144).

  If it is necessary to update the user information 49 of the terminal 10, the message distribution device 28 requests transmission of the user information (S146), and the terminal 10 transmits the user information. Further, if it is necessary to update both the user information 49 of the terminal 10 and the user information in the message user database 34, the message distribution device 28 requests the terminal 10 to input user information (S150).

  The terminal 10 requests the message management device 28 for a dialog for updating the user information (S152), downloads it (S154), and displays it on the display 12. When user information is input from the user (S156), the user information is transmitted to the message distribution device 28 (S158). Then, the message distribution device 28 registers the user information in the message user database 34 and returns it to the terminal 10 (S160). As described above, the user information of the message distribution device 28 and the terminal 10 is updated, and communication is started (S162, S164).

  FIG. 16 shows the detailed operation of the message distribution device 28 in the communication sequence of FIG. When the message distribution device 28 inquires and receives the update date and time of the user information of the terminal 10 (S450), the message distribution device 28 compares it with the last communication date and time of the user in the message user database 34 (S452). If the update date of the user information of the terminal 10 is later, the user information 49 of the terminal 10 is updated. Therefore, the user information 49 is requested (S454). Further, the message user information database 34 is updated with the received user information (S456).

  Further, the date and time of the last communication with the message user is compared with the date and time when the item in the message database 34 is updated. For example, when a new item 35 (FIG. 4) is added to the message user database 34, it is necessary to input data of the new item 35 from all message users. If the update date / time of the item is after the last communication date / time, the user information of the user has not been updated yet. Therefore, the terminal 10 is requested to input user information of a new item from the message user (S460). When new information is input, the message user database 34 is updated (S462).

  Next, the current date, a value obtained by adding a predetermined value to the date of birth, and the last communication date are compared (S464). If the value obtained by adding a predetermined value to the date of birth is smaller than the current date and larger than the last communication date, the user is requested to input a predetermined user item corresponding to the predetermined value (S466). As the predetermined value, for example, 20 years, which is a period until reaching the youth, can be used. In addition, as a predetermined user item, for example, information such as whether or not to smoke is inquired. In this case, when the user has reached the adult age from the last communication date to the present, input of user information regarding whether or not to smoke is requested in S466. When the user information is received from the terminal 10, the message user database 34 is updated (S468).

  Further, the message distribution device 28 compares the date and time when the user information 49 of the terminal 10 is updated with the date and time of the last communication with the user in the message user information database 34 (S470). If the update date and time of the user information of the terminal 10 is small, the message user database 34 may be updated by access from a terminal other than the terminal. Therefore, in order to update the user information of the terminal 10, the user information in the message user database 34 is transmitted to the terminal 10 (S472). Since the update of the user information is completed as described above, the communication process is started thereafter (S474).

  FIG. 17 shows details of the communication processing (S474) of the message distribution device 28. When receiving a message request (URL request) from the terminal 10 (S710), the message distribution device 28 searches the connection log 38 for the provider ID and the provider user ID using the TCP / IP port number in the URL request. Read (S712).

  Next, using the provider ID and the provider user ID, the user information is searched and read from the message user database 34 (S714). Further, using the read user information, a message to be transmitted is searched from the message transmission condition database 36, and its URL is read (S716). Next, the read URL is transmitted to the terminal 10 and the process returns to FIG. 16 (S720).

  FIG. 18 shows the detailed operation of the message viewer 76 in the communication sequence of FIG. When the message viewer 76 receives a request for user information (S240), the message viewer 76 reads and transmits the user information 49 from the hard disk 50 (S242). When a request for inputting user information is received (S246), a dialog screen for inputting user information from the user is requested to the message management device 23 (S248). Then, the message management device 23 transmits a dialog screen. The message viewer 76 downloads the dialog (S248) and displays it on the display 12 (S250).

  In addition, when the user information is input from the user (S252), the message viewer 76 transmits the user information to the message distribution device 28 (S254). When the user information is received (S256), the user information 49 in the hard disk 50 is updated (S258). If none of the user information request, the user information input request, and the user information is received, and if S242, S254, or S258 is ended, event processing is performed (S244), and the process returns to S240.

  FIG. 19 shows details of the event processing (S244) of FIG. This process is performed by the event processing module 86 of the message viewer 76. First, the event processing module 86 transmits a URL request (S516) if there is a predetermined number or more of spaces in the queue 84 (S514). As a result, the terminal 10 receives the URL of the message retrieved by the message distribution device. When the URL is received (S518), a reception response is transmitted (S520), and the URL is loaded in the queue 84 (S522). On the other hand, when the timer 46 counts up (S524), the image in the image buffer is displayed (S526). As a result, the message of the URL searched by the message distribution device is displayed. Next, the timer 46 is reset (S528), and a new image is requested to the message management device 24 using the URL loaded at the head of the queue 84 (S530). When an image is received from the message management device (S532), the received image is stored in the image buffer (S534). By accumulating images in the image buffer in advance, the time required for image updating can be shortened.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 20 shows a user information update procedure in the present embodiment. In the first embodiment, the message distribution device 28 determines the necessity of updating user information. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the message viewer 76 of the terminal 10 determines the necessity of updating user information. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  When the message distributor 76 permits the connection from the message distribution device 28 in step 124 of FIG. 8, the message viewer 76 inquires the message distribution device 28 about the last communication date and time with the user and the item update date and time to the message user database 34 ( S170). Then, the message distribution device 28 reads the provider ID and provider user ID of the user from the connection log 38 using the TCP / IP port number. Further, the last communication date and time of the user is read from the message user database 34 using the provider ID and the provider user ID, and transmitted to the terminal 10 together with the item update date and time (S172).

  The message viewer 76 of the terminal 10 compares the received last communication date with the last update date 47 of the user information 49. If the last communication date is later, the message user database 34 may have been updated from another terminal. Therefore, user information is requested from the message distribution device 28 (S174). Then, the message distribution device 28 reads the user information and transmits it to the terminal 10 in the same procedure as the reading of the last communication date and time (S176). When receiving the user information, the message viewer 76 of the terminal 10 updates the user information 49 in the hard disk 50.

  Next, the message viewer 75 compares the item update date and time received from the message distribution device 28 with the last communication date and time. If the item update date / time is later, the message user database 34 does not contain a newly updated item. Therefore, the message management device 34 is requested for a dialog for adding an item (S178). Thereafter, the terminal 10 receives the dialog from the message management device 24 and displays it on the display 12 (S180). When user information of a new item is input from the user (S182), the user information 49 of the hard disk 50 is updated and transmitted to the message distribution device 28 (S184).

  A message management dialog for adding a predetermined item as user information even when a value obtained by adding a predetermined value to the date of birth of the user is before the current date and time and before the last communication date and time A request is made to the device 24 (S178). A dialog is received from the message management device 24 and displayed on the display 12. For example, if the date obtained by adding 20 years to the date of birth is between the last communication date and the current date and time, a dialog for inquiring whether or not to smoke is newly displayed.

  If the last update date 47 of the user information 49 is later than the last communication date received from the message distribution device 28, the user information 49 is updated without communicating with the message distribution device 28. At this time, even if the items in the message user database 34 are not updated, the user information 49 is transmitted to the message distribution device 28 (S186). Then, the message distribution device 28 updates the user information in the message user database 34. Thereafter, the message viewer 76 starts communication with the message distribution device 28 (S188, S190). According to the present embodiment, user information can be easily updated as in the first embodiment. Compared with the first embodiment, the load on the message distribution device 28 can be reduced.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 21 shows the configuration of the message user database 34 in the present embodiment. In this embodiment, an item type field is provided before each item of user information. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 22, each item type corresponds to one item name. Each item type is assigned an attribute such as date, number, and character, a data range, and a data size (number of bytes). The message provider 30 selects an arbitrary item as a message search condition. The message distribution device 28 stores the search condition of each item in the message user database 34 following the item type of each selected item. A plurality of item types and conditions for each item may be stored in the message user database 34 in correspondence with each message.

  According to the present embodiment, a new item search condition can be set only by rewriting user information. Therefore, a new item type can be added without changing the configuration of the message user database 34. Therefore, the search condition can be flexibly added or changed according to various requests of the message provider 30.

(Embodiment 4)
FIG. 23 shows the hardware configuration of this embodiment. In the present embodiment, the information providing apparatus 20 functions not as an Internet provider but as a computer communication (BBS) providing apparatus such as PC-VAN (trademark) or CompuServe (trademark). Compared with the configuration of FIG. 1, in this embodiment, the Internet gateway 22 and the Internet 32 are not connected, and instead, a BBS database is connected to the connection management device. Further, a BBS user database 25 ′ is provided in place of the provider user database 25.

  The configurations described in FIGS. 2 to 5 and 8 are the same as the configurations of the present embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted. In FIG. 6, in this embodiment, character-based or image-based communication software that communicates with the BBS is used as the browser 74. In the present embodiment, the browser 74 communicates with the connection management device 23.

  In S110 of FIG. 8, in this embodiment, the browser 74 establishes a TCP / IP connection to the message management device 24. Data is transmitted to and received from the message management device 24 (S112). The other connection operations in FIG. 8 and the configurations of FIGS. 9 to 11 and FIGS. 13 to 22 are the same as the configurations of the present embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted. The configuration of the BBS user database 25 'is the same as that of the provider user database shown in FIG. However, in this embodiment, instead of the provider ID, provider user ID, and provider user password, the BBS ID, BBS user ID, and BBS user password are used.

  According to the present embodiment, since independent calls are generated for the BBS database 21 and the message database 26, even when information is obtained from the BBS, information independent of the BBS is displayed in the message viewer window 62. Can be displayed. Further, based on the display state on the message viewer window 62, etc., it is possible to control whether or not the BBS is charged. For this reason, for example, the message provider 30 can be charged without charging the user for the BBS usage fee when the advertisement is displayed in the message viewer window 62.

  In this embodiment, two logical calls are connected using TCP / IP. However, a nonprocedural call is connected to the connection management device 23, and then the message viewer 76 sends a message to the message data management device 24. Different data links may be formed.

(Other)
In the above embodiment, the browser 74 displays homepage information on the Internet 32 and the like. However, the browser 74 may provide an Internet telephone or an Internet videophone that performs voice communication via the Internet. In particular, even when the browser 74 does not display any information on the display, the message distribution device 28 can manage charging for communication with the Internet as in the above embodiment. Thereby, the function of the Internet telephone can be provided to the user at a low cost.

  The browser 74 may display on-demand video information. In this case, a video providing device may be provided in place of the Internet gateway 22, and charging for providing on-demand video at the time of providing additional information may be stopped. Thereby, on-demand video information can be provided to the user at low cost.

  In the above embodiment, the message user database 34, the message transmission condition database 36, and the connection log 38 are shown as independent disk devices, but these may be stored in the same disk device. In addition, the relationship between the data of each field can be realized by various file configurations. For example, the message user database 34, the message transmission condition database 36, and the connection log 38 may be configured in different areas in the same file. A value obtained by dividing the timer count by hardware or software may be used as the count value of various timers in the above embodiment. In this case, the count value of the timer may be set as a software parameter.

  The Internet browser window and the message display module window may be arranged vertically on the display 12. Further, the Internet browser 60 and the message display module 76 may be integrated, and one window may be divided into two areas. In this case, the information received from the Internet 32 and the information received from the message management device 24 can be displayed in each area in one window.

  Part or all of the functions of the flowchart of the terminal 10 described in the present application can be stored in the floppy disk 56 or the CD-ROM 58 as an example of the recording medium. The floppy disk 106 can store some or all functions of other flowcharts. These programs may be read directly from the recording medium into the RAM and executed. As recording media, in addition to floppy disks and CD-ROMs, optical recording media such as DVD, magnetic recording media such as MD, magneto-optical recording media such as PD, tape media, magnetic recording media, IC cards and miniature cards A semiconductor memory or the like can be used.

  A recording medium storing a program for executing the function of the message viewer 76, a recording medium storing a program for executing the function of the message management apparatus 24, or a recording medium storing a program for executing the function of the message management apparatus 28, respectively. It is used only for manufacturing the terminal 10, the message management device 28, or the message distribution device 28, and the manufacture and sale of such a recording medium as a business constitutes infringement of patent rights based on this application. It is clear to do.

  Although the embodiment of the invention has been described above, the technical scope of the invention according to the present application is not limited to the above embodiment. Various modifications can be made to the above embodiment, and the invention described in the claims can be implemented. It is also apparent from the scope of the claims that such invention belongs to the technical scope of the invention according to the present application.

The block diagram which shows the structure of this invention information display system in embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the terminal 10. The block diagram which shows the structure of the connection management apparatus 23 and the message distribution apparatus 28. FIG. Explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the message user database. Explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the message transmission condition database. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a functional configuration of software executed by a CPU 40 of the main body 14. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a display on a display 12. The sequence diagram which shows the connection sequence of the terminal 10, the message management apparatus 24, etc. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing connection processing of the terminal 10. 5 is a flowchart showing connection processing of the connection management device 23. Explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the provider user database 25. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing connection processing of the message distribution device 28. Explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the connection log. 5 is a flowchart showing connection processing of the message distribution device 28. FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram illustrating a user information update sequence according to the first embodiment. The flowchart which shows the user information update process of the message distribution apparatus. The flowchart which shows the content of the communication process in FIG. The flowchart which shows the user information update process of the message viewer. The flowchart which shows the detail of the event process in FIG. FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram illustrating a user information update sequence according to the second embodiment. Explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the message user database 34 in Embodiment 3. FIG. Explanatory drawing explaining the item type in Embodiment 3. FIG. Explanatory drawing which shows the hardware constitutions of the whole system in Embodiment 4. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  Terminal 10, display 12, main body 14, modem 16, public network 17, gateway 19, information providing device 20, Internet gateway 22, connection management device 23, message database 26, message distribution device 28, message provider 30, Internet 32, Message user database 34, smoking item 35, message transmission condition database 36, smoking item 37, connection log 38, message distribution system 39, CPU 40, ROM 42, RAM 44, timer 46, last update date 47, input device 48, User information 49, hard disk 50, calendar IC 51, floppy disk drive 52, CD-ROM drive 54, floppy disk 56, CD-ROM 58, PPP Driver 70, TCP / IP driver 72, communication module 73, browser 74, message viewer 76, connection module 78, update processing module 83, queue 84, event processing module 86, CPU 90, ROM 92, RAM 94, timer 96, communication Interface 98, input device 100, database interface 102, floppy disk drive 104, floppy disk 106, display 108

Claims (9)

A recording medium storing a program executed by a CPU, wherein the program is
Storage means for storing processing information read and processed by the CPU;
Storage means for storing the position where the processing information is stored in the storage means;
Input means for inputting identification information for identifying the user of the terminal device;
Determining means for determining the position of the processing information in the storage means when processing the processing information;
When the position of the processing information stored by the storage means is different from the position of the processing information determined by the determination means, a re-request is made to request the user to input identification information of the user of the terminal device again. Input means;
When the identification information input by the input means is different from the identification information input by the re-input means, it is determined that a user different from the user who has input the identification information by the input means is using the terminal device. A recording medium comprising: a user judging means for causing The program further provides the CPU with
Means for further inputting the password of the user using the input means;
If the position of the processing information stored by the storage means is different from the position of the processing information determined by the determination means using the re-input means, the user's password is again given to the user. Means to request,
When the password entered by the input means using the user judging means is different from the password entered by the re-input means, a user who is different from the user who has entered identification information by the input means The recording medium according to claim 1, further comprising: a unit that determines that the data is being used.   The recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the processing information is a program executed by the CPU. The program further provides the CPU with
Means for communicating with the information processing apparatus via a communication line;
The identification information and the password input by the re-input means when it is determined that a user different from the user who has input the identification information is using the terminal device using the user determination means. 4. The recording medium according to claim 1, further comprising means for inquiring whether or not the information is registered in the information processing apparatus. A terminal device for processing information by a CPU,
Storage means for storing processing information read and processed by the CPU;
Storage means for storing the position where the processing information is stored in the storage means;
An input means for inputting identification information for identifying a user of the terminal device;
Determination means for determining the position of the processing information in the storage means when processing the processing information;
When the position of the processing information stored by the storage means is different from the position of the processing information determined by the determination means, a request for re-requesting the user to input identification information of the user of the terminal device is made. Input means;
When the identification information input by the input means is different from the identification information input by the re-input means, it is determined that a user different from the user who has input the identification information by the input means is using the terminal device. A terminal device comprising: a user determination unit that performs: The input means further has means for inputting the password of the user,
The re-input unit requests the user's password again when the position of the processing information stored by the storage unit is different from the position of the processing information determined by the determination unit. Having means,
The user judging means uses the terminal device when a password entered by the input means is different from a password entered by the re-input means and a user different from the user who has entered identification information by the input means. The terminal device according to claim 5, further comprising means for determining that the terminal device is operating.   The terminal apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the processing information is a program executed by the CPU. Means for communicating with the information processing apparatus via a communication line;
When the user determining unit determines that a user different from the user who has input the identification information is using the terminal device, the identification information and the password input by the re-input unit are The terminal device according to any one of claims 5 to 7, further comprising means for inquiring whether or not the information processing device is registered. A host computer to which a terminal device can be connected via a communication network,
Storage means for storing data used by the terminal device;
Means for storing first information indicating the freshness of the data stored in the storage means;
Means for updating the data stored in the storage means;
Means for updating the first information when the updating means updates the data;
Means for receiving from the terminal device second information indicating the freshness of data already stored in the terminal device;
Determining means for determining whether or not the data stored in the terminal device needs to be updated based on the first information and the second information;
Means for transmitting the data stored in the storage means and the first information to the terminal device when the determining means determines that the data stored in the terminal device needs to be updated; A host computer comprising:

Images