JPH10320415A - Processor and method for information processing, and record medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently deliver information that a user desires. SOLUTION: For example, the user of a terminal 1 inputs information on his or her interest to a homepage that a WWW server (serviceprovider side application) 6 provides and then the interest information is stored in the WWW server 6. A DB(data base) server 8, on the other hand, stores information from information providers together with delivery conditions regarding object users of delivery of the information. Then DB server 8 retrieves information having delivery conditions meeting the interest information and pieces of information when retrieved are integrated and put in one electronic mail. This electronic mail is sent by SMTP(single mail transfer protocol) servers 91 to 9N.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a recording medium. The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a recording medium that can be received by a user.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, on the Internet that has been rapidly spreading recently, mailing services and mailing news are provided by electronic mail (E-mail). If the user wants to receive the predetermined information, and registers on the mailing list managed by the information provider that provides the predetermined information, the information from the information provider is
You can receive it by e-mail.

[0003]

By the way, in the mailing service and the mailing news, all information provided by the information provider is distributed to all users registered in the mailing list. However, not all users registered in the mailing list need all the information provided by the information provider who manages the mailing list. That is, a certain user A may need only a part of the information provided by the information provider, and may not need the other, and another user B may select one of the information provided by the information provider. In some cases, only parts different from the user A are required, and others are not required.

[0004] In the mailing service and mailing news, all users registered in the mailing list are
Since e-mails with the same content are distributed uniformly, from the viewpoint of each user, as described above, the content does not always include only the information required by the user, and unnecessary information is not included. Often included. For this reason, the user may need to find out the information he or she needs from the delivered e-mail, which is troublesome.

[0005] When there are a plurality of types of desired information (a plurality of categories), the user can receive a plurality of types of desired information by registering in such a plurality of mailing lists. However, in this case, an e-mail is delivered to the user from each information provider, that is, a plurality of e-mails are delivered. As described above, it is not efficient that a plurality of e-mails are delivered to one user, and in this case, the user needs to open and view each of the plurality of e-mails. Was troublesome.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and it is an object of the present invention to be able to efficiently distribute information suitable for each user to each user.

[0007]

An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a preference information storage means for storing preference information relating to user preferences, and a distribution condition storage means for storing distribution conditions relating to a user who distributes information. A search unit for searching for information having a distribution condition matching the preference information; and, when a plurality of pieces of information are searched by the search unit, the plurality of pieces of information are integrated into one piece of information to form integrated information. Means.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing method which stores preference information on a user's preference, stores distribution conditions on a user who distributes the information, and stores information having a distribution condition matching the preference information. When a plurality of pieces of information are searched for, the plurality of pieces of information are integrated into one piece of information to form integrated information.

A recording medium according to a seventh aspect of the present invention stores preference information on a user's preference, stores distribution conditions on a user who distributes the information, and searches for information having a distribution condition matching the preference information. Then, when a plurality of pieces of information are searched, a program for causing a computer to perform a process of integrating the plurality of pieces of information into one piece of information and forming integrated information is recorded.

[0010] The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a preference information storage means for storing preference information relating to user preferences, a distribution condition storage means for storing distribution conditions relating to a user who distributes the information, A search unit for searching for information having a distribution condition matching the preference information; and a transmission unit for transmitting the information searched for by the search unit to an address for specifying a predetermined user. I do.

[0011] In the information processing method according to the twelfth aspect, in addition to storing preference information relating to user preference, distribution conditions relating to a user who distributes the information are stored, and a distribution condition matching predetermined user preference information is stored. Is searched, and the searched information is transmitted to an address for specifying a predetermined user as a destination.

[0013] A recording medium according to a thirteenth aspect stores, in addition to storing preference information relating to user preferences, distribution conditions relating to a user who distributes information, stores distribution conditions that match predetermined user preference information. A program for causing a computer to perform a process of searching for the above-mentioned information and transmitting the searched information to an address for specifying a predetermined user is stored.

[0013] In the information processing apparatus according to the first aspect, the preference information storage means stores preference information relating to user preferences, and the distribution condition storage means stores distribution conditions relating to the user who distributes the information. It has been done. The search means searches for information having distribution conditions matching the preference information, and the integration means integrates the plurality of information into one piece of information when the search means finds a plurality of pieces of information. And so on.

[0014] In the information processing method according to the present invention, the information storing the preference information relating to the user's preference and the distribution condition relating to the user who distributes the information are stored, and the information having the distribution condition matching the preference information is stored. Is searched, and when a plurality of pieces of information are searched, the plurality of pieces of information are integrated into one piece of information to be integrated information.

In the recording medium according to the present invention, the preference information on the user's preference is stored, and the distribution condition on the user who distributes the information is stored, and the information having the distribution condition matching the preference information is stored. When a plurality of pieces of information are searched for, a program is recorded for causing the computer to perform processing for integrating the plurality of pieces of information into one piece of information and forming the integrated information.

In the information processing apparatus according to the present invention, the preference information storage means stores preference information relating to user preferences, and the distribution condition storage means stores distribution conditions relating to a user who distributes the information. It has been done. The search means searches for information having distribution conditions matching the preference information of the predetermined user, and the transmission means transmits the information searched by the search means to an address for specifying the predetermined user as a destination. It has been made like that.

In the information processing method according to the twelfth aspect, the preference information on the user's preference is stored, and the distribution condition on the user who distributes the information is stored. Information having a condition is searched, and the searched information is transmitted to an address for specifying a predetermined user.

[0018] In the recording medium according to the thirteenth aspect, in addition to storing the preference information relating to the user's preference, the distribution condition relating to the user who distributes the information is stored, and the distribution condition matching the predetermined user's preference information is stored. And a program for causing a computer to perform a process of transmitting the retrieved information to an address for specifying a predetermined user as a destination.

[0019]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below, but before that, the correspondence between each means of the invention described in the claims and the following embodiments will be clarified. For this reason, the features of the present invention are described as follows by adding the corresponding embodiment (however, an example) in parentheses after each means.

That is, the information processing apparatus according to claim 1 is
An information processing apparatus for processing information to be delivered to a user, a preference information storage unit (for example, a user profile database 86 shown in FIG. 34) for storing preference information on a user's preference, Delivery condition storage means for storing conditions (for example, FIG. 3
And a search unit (for example, a matching unit 93 shown in FIG. 34) for searching for information having distribution conditions matching the preference information.
When a plurality of pieces of information are searched for by the search means, the information processing apparatus includes an integrating means (for example, a mail creating unit 94 shown in FIG. 34) that integrates the plurality of pieces of information into one piece of information and generates integrated information. Features.

[0021] The information processing apparatus according to a second aspect is characterized by further comprising a transmitting means (for example, a communication control unit 102 shown in FIG. 38) for transmitting integrated information.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus comprising: receiving means for receiving preference information transmitted via a computer network (for example, a communication control unit shown in FIG. 29)
1) and a registration unit (for example, a registration unit 85 shown in FIG. 29) for registering the preference information in the preference information storage unit.

An information processing apparatus according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is an information processing apparatus for performing processing for transmitting information to an address for specifying a user as a destination, and stores preference information relating to user preferences. Means (for example, the user profile database 8 shown in FIG. 34)
6), distribution condition storage means (for example, a mail parts database 92 shown in FIG. 34) for storing distribution conditions relating to a user who distributes information, and information having distribution conditions that match predetermined user preference information. Search means for searching (for example, the matching unit 93 shown in FIG. 34)
And a transmission unit (for example, the communication control unit 102 shown in FIG. 38) for transmitting the information retrieved by the retrieval unit to an address for specifying a predetermined user.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, when a plurality of pieces of information are searched by the search means, the plurality of pieces of information are integrated into one piece of information to form integrated information. 34, and the transmitting means transmits the integrated information.

An information processing apparatus according to claim 11 is a receiving means (for example, a communication control unit 81 shown in FIG. 29) for receiving preference information transmitted via a computer network, and transmits the preference information to the preference information. A registration unit (for example, a registration unit 85 shown in FIG. 29) for registering in the storage unit is further provided.

Of course, this description does not mean that each means is limited to those described above.

FIG. 1 shows an information providing system to which the present invention is applied (a system refers to a system in which a plurality of devices are logically assembled, and it does not matter whether the devices of each configuration are in the same housing or not. 1) shows a configuration example of an embodiment.

In this information providing system, the user can receive only the information that suits his / her taste.

That is, the user has, for example, a terminal 1 such as a computer and, for example, a PSTN (Public Switched
Telephone Network) or ISDN (Integrated Service)
Through a public network 2 such as a digital network or a dedicated line (not shown), an SP (Service Prov
ider) connected to the server 3. Note that the terminals of other users are connected to the SP server 3 in the same manner. S
The P server 3 is connected to the Internet 4, and the Internet 4 is further connected to a mailing service system 5 of a service provider. In the Internet 4, TCP / IP (Transmission
Communication is performed between computers according to a protocol called Control Protocol / Internet Protocol).

Also, a WWW is constructed on the Internet 4, and this WWW uses HTTP (Hyper
xt Transfer Protocol)
Transfers data and uses HTML (Hyper Text Markup La
By describing the screen with nguage), information search and display can be performed easily. A user-side application for this WWW (WWW
For example, Netscape's NetScape Nav
igator (trademark), Mosaic (trademark) of NCSA, Internet Explore (trademark) of Microsoft Corporation, and the application (WWW server) on the service provider side include, for example, Netscape Commerce Server (trademark). Are known. Each user can access a WWW server using a WWW browser and receive information and services. Further, each service provider can provide information and services to a WWW browser using a WWW server.

Further, in the Internet 4, the SMTP
Electronic mail is transferred by a protocol called (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol). A user who can use the Internet 4 is assigned a name called an Internet address in which an ID (account) or a domain name is arranged on the left or right of the @ mark to identify each user. The e-mail is transmitted with this Internet address as a destination. In addition, a computer constituting the Internet 4 (in FIG. 1,
SP server 3, WWW server 6, SMTP server 9 ₁
To 9 _M ) are also assigned a domain name as a name for identifying each computer, and the domain name constituting the Internet address of a user who connects to a certain computer and uses the Internet 4 is generally Matches the computer's domain name. That is,
For example, in FIG. 1, the domain name of the Internet address of the user of the terminal 1 matches the domain name of the SP server 3.

The e-mail is transmitted to the Internet address as described above, and the e-mail is received on the Internet 4 by a computer corresponding to the domain name of the Internet address. On the other hand, in the computer, a storage area called a mailbox, that is, as a post office box for each user, is secured for each ID of the user's Internet address, and in the computer receiving the e-mail, the destination of the e-mail is The received electronic mail is stored in a mailbox corresponding to the ID of a certain Internet address. Therefore, for example, in FIG. 1, when an e-mail is transmitted to the user of the terminal 1, the e-mail is received by the SP server 3 and stored in the mailbox for the user of the terminal 1 secured there. You.

Each mailbox has a corresponding I
Only the user having D can access the mail, so that an e-mail can be sent to a specific person in the same way as mail.

Although the user can directly connect to the Internet 4, usually, the user contracts with a connection company and accesses the SP server 3 via the public network 2 as shown in FIG. By doing so, it is connected to the Internet 4.

The mailing service system 5 has a WWW
Server (or HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol)
ol) server) 6, DB (Data Base) is composed of the server 8, and SMTP server 9 ₁ to 9 _M, for each user registered, to create a composed e-mail was information in their respective tastes Service (hereinafter, referred to as a new mailing service as appropriate in order to distinguish it from the conventional mailing service).

Here, the WWW server 6 provides a home page for performing registration procedures and the like necessary for receiving the new mailing service on-line, and further obtains user preferences and other information about the user obtained thereby. It has been made to manage. The DB server 8 manages information to be delivered to the user, creates an e-mail composed of information suitable for each user's preference, and the like. SMTP server 9 ₁ to 9 _M, the e-mail created by the DB server 8, is adapted to transmit to each user.

[0037] In the SMTP server 9 ₁ to 9 _M, D
The e-mail created by the B server 8 is evenly divided and transmitted. That is, the DB server 8
If there are N e-mails created in, the N e-mails are divided into M equal parts (however, if N is not divisible by M, INT () is replaced with the largest integer less than or equal to the value in parentheses. when a function representing the time is divided into INT (N / M) through the electronic mail, there is a case that is divided into INT (N / M) +1 copies of the e-mail), the SMTP server 9 ₁ to 9 _M, respectively Assigned and sent.

[0038] Thus, the plurality of the SMTP server 9 ₁ to 9 _M, in case of sharing the transmission processing of the electronic mail, it is possible to shorten the processing time. In addition,
If the time of the e-mail transmission process does not matter, it is not necessary to provide a plurality of SMTP servers, and one is sufficient.

Here, all of the SMTP servers 9 _{1 to} 9 _M or one of them is referred to as the SMTP server 9 as appropriate.

Next, FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of the terminal 1 of FIG. A ROM (Read Only Memry) 12 stores a system program, and has a CPU (Central Processes).
sor Unit) 11 includes a system program stored in the ROM 12 and a random access memory (RAM).
Various types of processing are executed in accordance with the program (application program) developed in. The RAM 13 is configured to appropriately store programs and data necessary for the CPU 21 to execute various processes. The interface 14
The input / output of a hard disk (HD (Hard Disk)) 15, a magneto-optical disk 16, a communication unit 17, an input unit 18, and a display 19 is managed. The interface 14 is connected to the C via a bus.
It is also connected to the PU 11, the ROM 12, and the RAM 13.

The hard disk 15 appropriately stores data, programs, and the like that need to be accessed at a relatively high speed. The magneto-optical disk 16 is configured to appropriately store data, programs, and the like that can be accessed even if the access speed is slower than in the hard disk 15. The communication unit 17 is, for example, a modem for performing communication via the public network 2 or the like, and performs control necessary for communication. Input unit 18
Is configured by, for example, a keyboard and a mouse, and is operated when inputting various commands and other necessary information. The display 19 is configured by a CRT, an LCD, or the like, and displays characters, images, and the like.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the configuration of the SP server 3, and FIG.
5 shows a configuration example of the WW server 6, FIG. 5 shows a configuration example of the DB server 8, and FIG. 6 shows a configuration example of the SMTP server 9, respectively.

The SP server 3 has CPUs 21 to 29, the WWW server 6 has CPUs 31 to 39, the DB server 8 has CPUs 51 to 59, and the SMTP server 9 has CPUs 61 to 69. The configuration is basically the same as that of the terminal 1 having the CPU 11 to the display 19. However, the SP server 3, the WWW server 6, the DB server 8, and the SMTP server 9 use larger capacity and higher speed than the terminal 1.

Next, the user who intends to receive the provision of the new mailing service operates the terminal 1 (WWW browser) first, and the service provider (here, the provider of the new mailing service) provides the service. Specify the home page of the menu screen of the new mailing service. In the WWW system, a URL (Uniform Resource Locato
A predetermined screen (file) on the Internet 4 is specified by a type of address called r). In a URL, a WWW server is usually specified by a domain name. For example, if the URL is http: // ww
When it is w.jmail.com/mailingtop.html, the domain name is www.jmail.com. Access to an actual server is performed by an IP address, but as a server that obtains an IP address from this domain name, DNS (Doma) is used.
in Name System), and the WWW browser makes an inquiry there.

The URL may be directly entered in a predetermined field on the screen of the WWW browser, or the screen linked by HTML to the menu screen may be WWW.
When displayed on the browser, the user can also input a predetermined part of the screen (a part linked to the menu screen) by clicking on the input unit 18 with a mouse or the like.

In the terminal 1 (WWW browser), the UR
When L is input, a request for a menu screen corresponding to the URL is sent to the WWW server 6 via the SP server 3.
Is forwarded to Upon receiving this request, the WWW server 6 displays the requested menu screen on the Internet 4
To the SP server 3 via. SP server 3
This menu screen is transferred to the terminal 1 via the public network 2, whereby a home page as a menu screen of the new mailing service is displayed on the display 19 (WWW browser).

That is, the home page (here, the menu screen) is, for example, as shown in FIG.
9 is displayed in (the window of) the WWW browser 71 opened.

When the cursor 72 is moved to a portion linked to another home page while the home page is displayed on the WWW browser 71, in FIG.
The URL of the linked home page is displayed on a URL display section 73 arranged below the WW browser 71. In general, a portion linked to another home page is displayed in a specific color or in the form of a button or an icon, and a cursor 72 is placed on such a portion. When the cursor 72 is moved, the shape of the cursor 72 is changed to an image of pressing a button, for example, like a fingertip, whereby the user is linked to another homepage. It is designed to make it easy to recognize the parts that are present.

The cursor 72 is moved to a display portion associated with the URL (for example, a display portion linked to another home page). When the mouse is clicked, access to the URL is performed. Will be
That is, for example, assuming that the URL associated with the currently clicked display portion is that of the homepage managed by the WWW server 6, the terminal 1 sends the public network 2, SP The homepage is requested from the WWW server 6 via the server 3 and the Internet 4, and the homepage is correspondingly transmitted from the WWW server 6 via the Internet 4, the SP server 3 and the public network 2 to the terminal. 1 is sent. Then, on the terminal 1, the home page is interpreted and displayed by the WWW browser 71.

In the WWW system, HTM
Since the screen is composed of text format data called L, the WWW browser 71 (terminal 1), the SP server 3,
And the WWW server 6 exchanges the HTML text.

FIG. 8 shows a home page as a menu screen of the new mailing service. This home page is a URL http://www.jmail.com/m
It can be obtained by specifying ailingtop.html (1
(As of May 1, 997).

From this menu screen, for example, a home page for newly registering to receive a new mailing service, a home page for adding the registered content, and a home page for changing the registered content are provided. There is a link to such.

That is, in FIG. 8, a link to a homepage for inputting items necessary for registration for receiving the provision of the new mailing service is provided in the display section of “@new registration”. Is clicked, WW
From the W server 6, for example, a home page as shown in FIG. 9 is transmitted.

In the new mailing service, the registration of the preference information on the user's preference can be performed for four of the hobbies / hobbies, magazines, music, and artists. In the embodiment shown in FIG. In other words, a so-called table of contents for selecting which registration is to be performed is displayed.

To register hobbies / hobbies, the user clicks on the "hobby / hobbies registration" display portion. In this case, from the WWW server 6, for example, FIG.
A home page as shown in FIG. 13 is transmitted.

FIGS. 10 to 13 show one home page scrolled upward sequentially. In the WWW browser 71, a scroll bar is displayed for a homepage that cannot be displayed at one time there (displayed at the left end of the WWW browser 71 in FIGS. 10 to 13). By operating the scroll bar to scroll the display in the WWW browser 71, the user can see the part that was not displayed first.

In the homepages shown in FIGS. 10 to 13, prior to the "<item list>" column in which items that can be registered with respect to hobbies / hobbies are displayed, enter the Internet address of the user who is the destination of the e-mail. A "Send to: E-mail address" field is displayed. In order to receive the provision of the new mailing service, it is necessary to always enter an Internet address (hereinafter, also appropriately referred to as an e-mail address) in this field.

Here, the column of “<item list>” is categorized into those relating to entertainment hobby, sports, outdoor, gambling, home / life related, city town, and information life. Detailed items are displayed. That is, for example, the category “gambling” in FIG. 11 is provided with four items of “horse racing”, “ring racing”, “slings”, and “lottery”.

A check box (□) is provided on the left side of each item, and the user clicks a check box of an item suitable for his / her taste, that is, an item relating to information desired to be distributed. In this case, in order to indicate that the corresponding item is selected, for example, a mark (ch
eck) (hereinafter referred to as a check mark as appropriate). When the check box on which the check mark is displayed is clicked again, the selection of the item is canceled and the check mark is also deleted.

As shown in FIG. 12, below the “<item list>”, “<basic information>” for inputting basic information as so-called private information about the user.
Column is provided. This field is not required, but if you do, the mailing service system 5
, Information is distributed in consideration of the input content. That is, for example, when a man or a woman is input, information corresponding to the gender is delivered.

In the lower part of the “<basic information>” column, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, a "clear" button and a "register" button are provided. When the "clear" button is clicked, all the contents of the homepage shown in FIGS. 10 to 13 are cleared. When the “register” button is clicked, the input content is W
It is transmitted to the WW server 6.

Next, when registering a magazine, the user, with the home page shown in FIG. 9 being displayed,
Click on the "Send Magazine Registration" display. In this case, from the WWW server 6, for example, FIG.
A homepage as shown in FIG. 5 is transmitted.

14 and 15, similarly to FIGS. 10 to 13, one home page is
This shows what has been scrolled upward.

In the homepages of FIGS. 14 and 15, similarly to the homepages of FIGS. 10 to 13, prior to the “<item list>” column in which items that can be registered with respect to the magazine are displayed, “destination: electronic mail address"
Column is displayed. Note that, for example, FIGS.
If you enter an e-mail address in the “Send to: E-mail address” field on the homepage of 3,
In the homepages of FIGS. 14 and 15, it is not necessary to input an e-mail address (it is not necessary to input an e-mail address).

In the column of “<item list>”, general general magazines, general women's magazines, utility magazines, leisure, sports,
Classified as related to computer games,
In each classification, as in the case of FIGS. 10 to 13,
After all, detailed items are displayed. That is, here
Specific magazine names are displayed as items.

A check box (□) is provided on the left side of each item. The user can make a selection by clicking on an item that suits his or her taste, that is, in this case, by clicking on a check box of a magazine name to be distributed, such as a table of contents or a cover.

Also, as shown in FIG. 15, a "clear" button and a "register" button are provided in the last part of this home page. When the "clear" button is clicked, All the contents of the home page shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 are cleared. on the other hand,
When the “register” button is clicked, the input content is transmitted to the WWW server 6.

Although the column of "<basic information>" as shown in FIG. 12 is not provided here, it may be provided.

Next, in the case of registering music, the user, with the home page shown in FIG. 9 being displayed,
Click the display area of "Registration of music genre". In this case, for example, a homepage as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 is transmitted from the WWW server 6.

FIGS. 16 and 17 also show one home page as in FIGS. 10 to 13.
This shows what has been scrolled upward.

In the home page of FIGS. 16 and 17, the column of “Send to: E-mail address” is displayed at the first part. For example, if an e-mail address is entered in the “Send to: e-mail address” field on any one of the homepages of FIGS. 10 to 13 or the homepages of FIGS. 14 and 15, FIG. In the homepage shown in FIG. 17, it is not necessary to input the e-mail address (it is not necessary to input).

Following the "Send to: E-mail address" field, a "● Genre" field is provided. In the "● genre" column, for example, specific music genres such as rock, enka and folk songs are displayed as items. After that, there is a column for "● Configuration",
In this column, items such as male vocals and guitars, whether the singer is male or female, and the type of musical instrument are displayed as items.

A check box (□) is also provided on the left side of each item, and the user can make a selection by clicking a check box of an item relating to information desired to be distributed.

Also, as shown in FIG. 17, a "clear" button and a "register" button are provided at the last part of this home page. When the "clear" button is clicked, All the contents input to the homepage of FIGS. 16 and 17 are cleared. on the other hand,
When the “register” button is clicked, the input content is transmitted to the WWW server 6.

In this home page, FIG.
As shown in Fig. 7, "● By composition" column and "Clear"
A column of “<basic information>” is provided between the button and the “register” button. As in the case of FIG. 12, the entry in this field is not essential, but when the entry is made, the mailing service system 5 distributes information in consideration of the input content.

Next, when registering an artist, the user clicks a display part of "Registration of an artist" while the home page of FIG. 9 is displayed. In this case, from the WWW server 6, for example, FIG.
And a home page as shown in FIG. 19 is transmitted.

FIGS. 18 and 19 also show one home page, as in FIGS.
This shows that the screen is scrolled upward in order.

In the home pages of FIGS. 18 and 19, the column of “Send to: E-mail address” is also displayed at the first part. For example, the e-mail address is entered in the “Send to: e-mail address” column in any one of the homepages of FIGS. 10 to 13, the homepages of FIGS. 14 and 15, and the homepages of FIGS. 16 and 17. If entered, the e-mail address does not have to be entered on the homepages of FIGS. 18 and 19 (it is not necessary to enter it).

In this embodiment, this home page is
It is divided vertically into two sections, and the right column is wider than the left column. A specific music genre is displayed in the left column, and when one of the music genres is selected by clicking, a specific artist name in the selected genre is displayed in the right column. Are displayed in alphabetical order, for example. In the state where the homepages of FIGS. 18 and 19 are received, for example, it is assumed that the genre “ROCK” displayed first is selected in the left column.
On the right column, artists related to rock are displayed in alphabetical order.

In the state where the homepages of FIGS. 18 and 19 are displayed, the user first clicks a music genre whose information is desired to be distributed, which is displayed in the left column. Then, the name of the artist in that genre is displayed in the right column. A check box (□) is provided on the left side of each artist name, and the user can make a selection by clicking the check box of the artist name whose information is desired to be distributed.

Also, as shown in FIG. 19, a "clear" button and a "register" button are provided at the last part of this home page. When the "clear" button is clicked, All the contents of the home page shown in FIGS. 18 and 19 are cleared. on the other hand,
When the “register” button is clicked, the input content is transmitted to the WWW server 6.

In this home page, "<
Although the column of “Basic information>” is not provided, it is also possible to provide it.

Here, the user who intends to receive the provision of the new mailing service is provided with a homepage of “hobby / hobby registration” (FIGS. 10 to 13) and a homepage of “registration of sending magazine” (FIGS. 14 and 15). ), "Music genre registration" homepage (FIGS. 16 and 17), "Artist registration" homepage (FIGS. 18 and 1)
9) (Hereinafter, these homepages will be put together as appropriate,
It is not necessary to make an input for all of the registered homepages), but it is sufficient to make an input for at least one of them.

On the registration homepage, "register"
When the button is clicked and the input content is transmitted to WWW server 6, WWW server 6 receives the input content. Further, the WWW server 6 has a unique ID for identifying the user who has transmitted the input content.
And password issued, Internet 4, SP
The information is transmitted to the terminal 1 via the server 3 and the public network 2. The terminal 1 displays the ID and the password. As described later, the ID and the password are required when adding or changing the registered contents for receiving the provision of the new mailing service.

The WWW server 6 associates the issued ID and password with the received input content, and registers this as a user profile.

Here, the user profile can be displayed on the display 39 of the WWW server 6, and FIG. 20 shows a state where the user profile is displayed.

“Member ID” or “Password”
In the column “d”, an ID or a password issued to the user is arranged. In the "Entry Date" field,
The date when the user profile shown in FIG. 20 was registered is arranged. In the “E-mail” column, the user's e-mail address is arranged. "Gender", "Birthday",
In the columns of "marriage", "children", "holiday", "annual income", "resident district", "city / county", and "house", the "<basic information>" column shown in FIG. The input information is arranged. In the column of “music category”, for example, “● genre” in the registration homepage of FIG. 16 and FIG.
When any item in the column of “● Configuration” is selected, the selected item is displayed. In the “Hobby” column, for example, when any item in the “<Item list>” column on the registered homepage in FIGS. 10 to 13 is selected, the selected item is displayed. Is done. 14 and 15 in the column of "magazine name" or "music artist".
If any of the items in the “<item list>” column on the registered homepage is selected, or FIG.
When the item (artist name) in the right column of the registration homepage of FIG. 8 and FIG. 19 is selected, the selected item is displayed.

On the other hand, in the DB server 8, “gender”, “birthday”, “marriage”, “children”, “holiday”, “annual income”, “resident area”, , "City", "house", "music category", "hobby", "magazine name", "music artist"
Items (hereinafter referred to as registered items as appropriate)
Is searched from the database stored therein.

Here, various kinds of information are registered in the DB server 8 by, for example, operating the input unit 58 by an operator. That is, when the information provided by the information provider is registered in the DB server 8, a registration screen as shown in FIG. 21 is displayed on the display 59, for example.

In the "ID" column, a unique ID for specifying information is input, and in the "input date" column, a date on which information is to be input is input. The ID and the date are automatically input by, for example, the CPU 51 of the DB server 8.

In the case where information has a title, the title is entered in the “Title” column, and the content of the information is entered in the “Content” column. If the information is provided in the form of a homepage, for example, the URL is input in the “URL” column.

[0092] In the "Sending condition" field, a sending condition as a condition relating to a user who distributes information is input. In other words, "Everyone" placed on the right side of the "Send condition" display
Is clicked when information is unconditionally distributed to all users whose user profiles are registered in the WWW server 6, and “Select” next to the right is a user whose user profile is registered in the WWW server 6. Of those, only those whose user profile matches the sending conditions,
Clicked to distribute information. That is, when "all" is clicked, information distribution is performed regardless of the following transmission conditions, and when "select" is clicked, transmission is performed in consideration of the transmission conditions.

Under the display of “delivery condition”, “delivery destination person”, “delivery destination hobby”, “delivery destination magazine”, “delivery destination music genre”, “delivery destination music genre”, There are columns for "Destination Artist" and "Destination Gourmet".

[0094] In the field of "individual of destination", private information of a user to whom information is to be distributed is input.
In other words, if you click on the "Send To" column, for example,
A screen as shown in FIG. 22 (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as a destination personal screen) is displayed on the display 59. The input items on this destination personal screen match the items in the “<basic information>” column of the homepage shown in FIG. 12, and private information of the user to whom information is to be distributed is input. Specifically, for example, when the distribution of information is limited to men (when the user clicks on “male” in the column of “<basic information>” on the homepage shown in FIG. 12), “ "Male" in the column of "sex" is clicked. Also, for example, information distribution
If you only want to be a student, click on "Student" in the "Occupation" field. Further, for example, if the distribution of information is to be limited to unmarried women, "female" in the column of "sex"
"Unmarried" in the "Marriage" column is clicked.

In the personal destination screen, the “enter” button, “cancel” button, or “clear” button displayed at the bottom of the screen is canceled when the input contents of the screen are confirmed. Is operated when returning to the registration screen of, or when clearing all the input contents (see FIG. 23, FIG. 24, and FIG.
6).

Next, in the registration screen shown in FIG. 21, when the “hobby of destination” field is clicked, for example, a screen as shown in FIG. 23 (hereinafter referred to as a destination hobby screen as appropriate) is displayed.
It is displayed on the display 59. The input items on the destination hobby screen correspond to the items in the “<item list>” column on the homepage for registering the hobbies / hobbies shown in FIGS. The hobbies and preferences of the target user are input.
Specifically, for example, distribution of information is performed by a user who has a hobby of classical music (in the homepage of FIG. 10,
In a case where only the user who has selected “classical music” is selected, as shown in FIG. 23, the classical music is clicked, and a check box to the left of the classical music is selected to select it. Also, for example, information distribution
When the user who has a hobby of golf is desired, "golf" on the destination hobby screen is similarly checked.

Next, in the registration screen shown in FIG. 21, when the "destination magazine" field is clicked, for example, a screen as shown in FIG. 24 (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as a destination magazine screen) is displayed.
It is displayed on the display 59. The input items on the destination magazine screen match the items in the “<item list>” column of the homepage for registering the magazine shown in FIGS. The magazine that the user wants to be interested in is input. Specifically, for example, when the distribution of information is to be limited to the user who is interested in the magazine “Nikkei Zero One” (the user who has selected “Nikkei Zero One” on the homepage of FIG. 15), the destination magazine screen , "Nikkei Zero One" is selected.

Here, on the destination magazine screen shown in FIG. 24, a column of “magazine name list” is provided on the left side of the screen, and “<item name” of the homepage shown in FIG. 14 and FIG. The same magazine name as the magazine name displayed as an item in the column of “List>” is displayed. Selection of a magazine can be performed by clicking a predetermined magazine name in the column of "magazine name list" and further clicking a "→" button to the right of the name. That is,
Click on the magazine name in the “Magazine name list” column, and then click the “→” button on the right, and the magazine name will be displayed on the right side of the destination magazine screen.
, The magazine is selected.

Next, on the registration screen shown in FIG. 21, if the field of “destination music genre” is clicked, for example, FIG.
A screen as shown in FIG. 5 (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as a destination music genre screen) is displayed on the display 59. The input items on the destination music genre screen correspond to the items on the homepage for registering the music genre shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, and the user who wants to distribute the information is interested. Music genre is input. Specifically, for example, information distribution is performed by a user who is interested in the music genre “classical” (“CLASSIC” on the homepage of FIG. 16).
If the user wants to limit only “CL”, the user selects “CL” on the destination music genre screen as shown in FIG.
"ASSIC" is clicked, and a check box on the left is selected to be selected.

Here, in the homepages of FIGS. 16 and 17, a column of “<basic information>” is provided, and correspondingly, the column of “<basic information>” is also displayed on the destination music genre screen. Items "Sing well at karaoke" and "I like to play music myself" are provided. For example, users who often sing karaoke to distribute information or users who like to play music themselves (FIG. 1)
7 homepage, the user who selected the "yes" column of "Q1. Do you sing well at karaoke?" Or "yes" of "Do you like playing music yourself?" Is selected only on the destination music genre screen.

In the destination music genre screen,
The “set” button, “cancel” button, or “clear” button displayed at the lower right is used to confirm the input contents of the screen, as in the case of FIG.
Each operation is performed when canceling and returning to the registration screen in FIG. 21 or when clearing all input contents.

Next, on the registration screen shown in FIG. 21, when the “destination artist” field is clicked, for example, FIG.
6 (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as a destination artist screen) is displayed on the display 59. The input items on the destination artist screen correspond to the items on the homepage for registering the artist shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, and the artist who is interested in the information distribution target is interested in the artist. Is entered. Specifically, for example, when the distribution of information is to be limited to the artist “EPO” who is interested in the user (the user who has selected “EPO” on the homepages in FIGS. 18 and 19), the destination artist On the screen, “EPO” is selected.

Here, "A", "KA", "SA", "TA", "NA",
"Ha", "ma", "ya", "ra", "wa" buttons,
"A" to "Z" buttons are provided, and when any one of the buttons is operated, an artist whose initial letter corresponds to the button is displayed in an "Artist name list" column at the lower left of the screen. Has been made to be displayed.
That is, for example, when the “A” button is clicked, an artist name starting with the character in the row A is displayed. For example, when the “A” button is clicked, A is displayed. The artist name as a character is displayed.

The artist can be selected by clicking on a predetermined artist name in the “artist name list” column and then clicking the “→” button on the right. ing. That is, click on the artist name in the “Artist name list” column, and then click the “→” button on the right, and the artist name will be displayed on the right side of the destination artist screen. , And the artist is selected.

Returning to FIG. 21, in the present embodiment, the column of “delivery destination” is further provided in the column of “delivery condition”. This “destination destination gourmet” column is used so that items related to, for example, dishes and restaurants can be selected in the future, and are not used at present.

Here, the input items (delivery conditions) selected in the fields of “destination individual”, “destination destination hobby”, “destination destination magazine”, “destination music genre”, and “destination artist” are as follows. Hereinafter, they are referred to as individual conditions, hobby conditions, magazine conditions, music genre conditions, and artist conditions, respectively, as appropriate.

In the lower part of the “delivery condition” column, “requester” is displayed.
And a column of “Sending request”. In the "Requester" field, for example, the name and the name of the information provider who provides the information are entered, and in the "Sending request" field, for example, whether or not information distribution is desired is entered. You. At the bottom of the "Send" field, "Add record"
Button, a "record search" button, and a "cancel" button. The “add record” button is operated, for example, when registering other information. That is, each information is registered in a predetermined record unit, and when the “add record” button is operated, all the columns are blank (however, as described above, “ID” And the "Date" fields
The registration screen will be displayed.
The "record search" button or the "cancel" button is operated, for example, when searching for a record or when clearing all inputs.

On the right side of the “cancel” button, “end” is provided, which is operated when ending the registration of information.

[0109] In the upper right of the registration screen, a column of "delivery date" is provided, in which a date for distributing information is input. In the lower part, there are provided a "Send on specified date" button and a "Send now" button. The "Send To Date" button is operated when delivering information on the date entered in the "Send Date" field, and the "Send Now" button delivers information immediately. Be operated on.

Below the “Send Now” button, a “Send Category” field is provided, in which the category of information is entered. In the embodiment of FIG.
"Concert related" is entered. At the bottom of the "Send category" field, there is a "Type" field.
Here, the type of information is input. That is, the new mailing service can distribute not only text data but also various information such as image (still image and moving image) data, audio data, computer programs, and the like. Is input, for example, which data the information is.

[0111] In the lower part of the "type" column, "number of persons to be sent"
"Unit price" and "Total" fields and a "Confirm" button are provided. The “confirm” button is operated when searching for a user matching the sending conditions with reference to the user profile. That is, when the “confirm” button is operated, the DB server 8 searches for a user profile whose registered items match the sending conditions. Here, the case where the registered items match the sending conditions may be the case where at least one of the registered items matches at least one of the sending conditions, or all the registered items match all of the sending conditions. It may be the case. Also, all registered items may be included in the sending conditions,
Conversely, a case where all the sending conditions are included in the registration items may be used.

When a user who matches the sending conditions is searched by operating the "confirm" button, the number of the users is displayed in the "number of sending" field.

In the column of "unit price", a fee for one user is input when a fee is collected from the information provider for distributing information provided by the information provider. In the "Total" column, when a fee is entered in the "Unit Price" column, an amount obtained by multiplying the fee by the number of persons displayed in the "Number of persons to be sent" column is displayed.

At the bottom of the “Total” column, there is “Input person”.
Is provided, in which, for example, the name of the operator who has made an entry on the registration screen is entered.

The information registration can be performed by the operator as described above, or can be automatically performed by the DB server 8, for example. That is, when items to be input by the operator are recorded in a predetermined format on the recording medium, it is possible to cause the DB server 8 to read information from the recording medium and register the information. Alternatively, when an item to be input by the operator is transmitted, the DB server 8 can receive the item and register it.

Next, in the DB server 8, when registering information, a mail part is created. That is, the DB server 8
Is extracted from the information entered in the registration screen, for example, input in the fields of "Title" and "Content", and
It is a mail part that constitutes a part of the e-mail. Other information input on the registration screen is associated with this mail part and registered in the database.

Thereafter, the user profile managed by the WWW server 6 is read out by the DB server 8,
As described above, the mail part associated with the transmission condition matching the registered item is searched. Further, the DB server 8 composes one electronic mail in which the mail parts are arranged. That is, when only one mail part is searched, the DB server 8 composes one e-mail in which the one mail part is arranged, and when there are a plurality of searched mail parts, the Are integrated to form one electronic mail (integrated information). Then, the DB server 8 sends the e-mail to the STMP
The data is supplied to the server 9 and transmitted via the Internet 4. That is, for example, assuming that the user profile read by the DB server 8 is that of the user of the terminal 1, the STMP server 9 transmits an e-mail to the SP server 3 via the Internet 4.

The SP server 3 receives the e-mail from the SMTP server 9 and stores it in the mailbox of the user of the terminal 1 in this case. Therefore, the user of the terminal 1 can receive this electronic mail by accessing the SP server 3.

FIGS. 27 and 28 show examples of e-mails received at terminal 1 as described above. FIG. 28 is a view following FIG.
The e-mail shown in FIG. 28 is one e-mail.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 27 and 28, the title (in FIG. 27, the part surrounded by = in the upper and lower parts)
"Jose Carreras (T) Performance Ticket 1/26
Launched! ”,“ US-US CLUB Concert Ticket 1 ”
/ 26 release start! , And "Madam Butterfly Performance Ticket, 1/26 Released!" It should be noted that this title has been entered in the “Title” field on the registration screen in FIG. In the registration screen of FIG. 21, what is input in the “content” column is placed below the title in the e-mail.

As described above, the mail parts having the sending conditions (delivery conditions) that match the registered items (preference information) of each user are searched. (The probability of unwanted information being delivered can be very low). Furthermore, when a plurality of mail parts are searched, the plurality of mail parts are integrated to constitute one e-mail, so that efficient e-mail distribution can be performed and the user can use the e-mail. Just opening the e-mail can get the desired information.

In the case where there is no mail part having transmission conditions matching the registered items of the user profile, the DB server 8 does not compose an e-mail for the user. However, in this case, for example, it is possible to compose an e-mail indicating that there is no mail part having a transmission condition matching the registration item.

Next, FIG. 29 shows an example of a functional configuration of the WWW server 6 of FIG.

The communication control unit 81 controls communication via the Internet 4.
A URL and other information transmitted from the terminal 1 are received, and a home page and the like are transmitted to the terminal 1. The control unit 82 controls the communication control unit 81, the reading unit 83, the registration unit 85, and the ID / password issuing unit 87. Readout unit 8
Reference numeral 3 reads a file described in HTML as a home page from the home page storage section 84 under the control of the control section 82. The homepage storage unit 84 stores a homepage. The registration unit 85 registers a user profile in the user profile database 86 under the control of the control unit 82. The ID / password issuing unit 87 issues an ID and a password under the control of the control unit 82.

The functional configuration shown in FIG. 29 is realized, for example, by executing a predetermined application program in the CPU 31 shown in FIG.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the terminal 1 is operated and a homepage request (URL) of the menu screen for the new mailing service shown in FIG. 8 is transmitted via the Internet 4, the request is sent to the communication control unit 81. It is received and supplied to the control unit 82. When receiving the request for the menu screen, the control unit 82 controls the reading unit 83 in step S1 of FIG. 30 to read the home page of the menu screen from the home page storage unit 84. Then, the process proceeds to step S2, where the control unit 82 causes the terminal 1 to transmit the menu screen by controlling the communication control unit 81. As a result, the menu screen shown in FIG. 8 is displayed on the terminal 1.

As described above, from the menu screen shown in FIG. 8, a homepage for performing a new registration for receiving the provision of the new mailing service (hereinafter, referred to as a new registration homepage as appropriate) and an addition of the registration content are provided. (Hereinafter referred to as “additional registration homepage” as appropriate) and a homepage (hereinafter referred to as “registration change homepage” as appropriate) for changing the registered contents. It is determined whether a request for any one of the homepages has been made from the terminal 1.

If it is determined in step S3 that a request for a newly registered homepage has been made, the flow advances to step S4 to perform a new registration process and terminate the process. Also,
If it is determined in step S3 that a request for an additional registration homepage or a registration change homepage has been made,
Proceeding to step S5 or S6 respectively, additional registration processing or registration change processing is performed, and the processing ends.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing details of the new registration process in step S4 of FIG.

In the new registration process, the control unit 82
By controlling the reading unit 83, the newly registered homepage is read from the homepage storage unit 84, and the newly registered homepage is transmitted to the communication control unit 81 in step S11. Thereby, in the terminal 1,
A home page as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed.

Thereafter, in step S12, the user
"Registration of interests / hobbies" on the homepage of FIG. 9,
By clicking on one of the items “Registration of sending magazine”, “Registration of music genre”, or “Registration of artist”, the homepage corresponding to that item (hereinafter referred to as “new registration item homepage” as appropriate) )
Is determined by the control unit 82. If it is determined in step S12 that the new registration item homepage has not been requested, the process returns to step S12. If it is determined in step S12 that a new registration item homepage has been requested, that is, if the communication control unit 81 has received the URL as a request for a new registration item homepage, the process proceeds to step S13. The unit 82 controls the reading unit 83 to read the requested new registration item homepage from the homepage storage unit 84, and controls the communication control unit 81 to transmit the homepage to the terminal 1.
As a result, the homepage (new registration item homepage) shown in FIGS. 10 to 13, 14 and 15, 16 and 17, or 18 and 19 is displayed on the terminal 1.

After the transmission of the new registration item homepage, the process proceeds to step S14, where the user selects necessary items (items to be registration items) displayed on the new registration item homepage and transmits necessary information (for example, electronic information). Enter your email address, etc., and click the "Register" button (Fig. 13,
15, 17, and 18), the control unit 82 determines whether or not such information (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as setting information) has been transmitted from the terminal 1.

When it is determined in step S14 that the setting information has not been transmitted, the process returns to step S14. If it is determined in step S14 that the setting information has been transmitted, that is, if the setting information has been received by the communication control unit 81, the process proceeds to step S15, and the control unit 82 checks the contents of the setting information. A home page (for example, a screen displaying the setting information received by the communication control unit 81) is created as a confirmation screen for performing
Send to

The confirmation screen is provided with a confirmation button for confirming the setting information and a redo button for redoing the input. In step S16, the controller 82 sets the confirmation button or the redo button to It is determined whether the operation has been performed by the user. If it is determined in step S16 that the redo button has been operated, that is, if the communication control unit 81 has received a signal corresponding to the operation of the redo button, the process returns to step S13, and the control unit 82 returns to step S12. The communication control unit 81 retransmits the new registration item homepage determined to be requested, and prompts the user to input setting information again.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S16 that the enter button has been operated,
In step 1, when a signal corresponding to the operation of the confirm button is received, the process proceeds to step S17, and the control unit 82
By controlling the / password issuing unit 87, an ID and a password are issued. Then, the control unit 82
In step S18, by controlling the communication control unit 81, the ID and the password are transmitted to the terminal 1.

Thereafter, the flow advances to step S19, where the control unit 8
The control unit 2 controls the registration unit 85 to associate the setting information received from the terminal 1 with the issued ID and password, to register this as a user profile in the user database 86, and to return.

Next, the additional registration processing in step S5 in FIG. 30 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

In the additional registration process, first, in step S21, the control unit 82 controls the communication control unit 81 to display an ID / password input screen as a home page for prompting the input of an ID and a password. To be sent. Then, the process proceeds to step S22, where the control unit 82 determines whether the ID and the password have been transmitted from the terminal 1 by the user inputting the ID and the password on the ID / password input screen. If it is determined in step S22 that the ID and the password have not been transmitted, the process proceeds to step S22.
Return to 22. If it is determined in step S22 that the ID and the password have been transmitted, that is, if the communication control unit 81 has received the ID and the password from the terminal 1, the process proceeds to step S23.
The control unit 82 determines whether or not the set of the ID and the password matches the one already issued by referring to the user profile registered in the user profile database 86 via the registration unit 85.

At step S23, the I
If it is determined that the set of D and the password does not match the one already issued, the process returns to step S21, and the control unit 82 transmits the ID / password input screen again,
This prompts the input of a correct ID and password. Also, in step S23, the ID from the terminal 1
If it is determined that the set of password and password match the one already issued, that is, if the set of ID and password from the terminal 1 is registered in the user profile database 86, the process proceeds to step S24, and the control unit 8
2, by controlling the readout unit 83, from the homepage storage unit 84, for example, similar to FIG. 9, “hobby / hobby registration”, “transmission magazine registration”, “music genre registration”, “artist genre registration” An additional registration screen is displayed as a home page on which a link to a home page for adding registration items relating to hobbies / hobbies, magazines, music genres, and artists, on which “registration” is displayed, is displayed. Further, the control unit 82 controls the communication control unit 81 to cause the terminal 1 to transmit the additional registration screen.

Then, in step S25, the user
Click one of the following items on the additional registration screen: "hobby / hobby registration", "sending magazine registration", "music genre registration", or "artist registration" to respond to that item. The control unit 82 determines whether a request has been made for a homepage to be executed (hereinafter, referred to as an additional registration item homepage as appropriate).
If it is determined in step S25 that the additional registration item homepage has not been requested, the process returns to step S25. If it is determined in step S25 that the additional registration item homepage has been requested, that is, if the communication control unit 81 has received the URL as a request for the additional registration item homepage, step S2
The control unit 82 controls the reading unit 83 to read the requested additional registration item homepage from the homepage storage unit 84, and the communication control unit 81
Is transmitted to the terminal 1. Thus, in the terminal 1, for example, from the homepage shown in FIGS. 10 to 13, FIGS. 14 and 15, FIGS. 16 and 17, or FIGS. Excluded items (additional registration item homepage) are displayed.

After the transmission of the additional registration item homepage, the process proceeds to step S27, where the user adds the necessary items displayed on the new registration item homepage to the already selected items, selects the item, and then “registers”. By operating the buttons (FIGS. 13, 15, 17, and 18), it is determined whether the terminal 1 has transmitted the additionally selected item (hereinafter also referred to as setting information as appropriate). Is determined by the control unit 82.

When it is determined in step S27 that the setting information has not been transmitted, the process returns to step S27. If it is determined in step S27 that the setting information has been transmitted, that is, if the setting information has been received by the communication control unit 81, the process proceeds to step S28, and the control unit 82 checks the content of the setting information. A confirmation screen is created and transmitted to the terminal 1.

As in the case of FIG. 31, the confirmation screen is provided with a confirmation button for confirming the setting information and a redo button for re-inputting the setting information. , It is determined whether the confirm button or the redo button has been operated by the user. If it is determined in step S29 that the redo button has been operated, the process returns to step S26, and the control unit 82 causes the communication control unit 81 to retransmit the additional registration item home page determined to be requested in step S25, and Prompt the user to enter configuration information.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S29 that the enter button has been operated, the process proceeds to step S30, where the control unit 82 controls the registration unit 85 to
The transmitted setting information is added to the user profile stored in the user profile database 86 having the ID and password confirmed in step S23, and the process returns.

Next, FIG. 33 is a flowchart for explaining the details of the registration change process in step S6 of FIG. 30. In the registration change process, in step S40, the user stored in the user profile database 86 is deleted. Except that the profile is changed to the transmitted setting information, the same processing is performed in steps S31 to S39 as in steps S21 to S29 in FIG. 32, and a description thereof will be omitted.

Next, FIG. 34 shows a functional configuration example of the DB server 8 of FIG.

The registration section 91 creates mail parts from information (articles) provided by the information provider, and registers them in the mail parts database 92 in association with transmission conditions and the like. Mail parts database 92
Is configured to store a mail part associated with a transmission condition or the like. The matching unit 93 reads the user profile from the user profile database 86, and stores the mail part associated with the transmission condition matching the registered item in the user profile in the mail database 9
2 is searched for.
Furthermore, as described with reference to FIG. 21, when the “confirm” button is operated, the matching unit 93 searches for a user profile whose registered items match the sending conditions, and supplies the number to the display unit 97. Is also displayed.

The mail creating section 94 creates an electronic mail in which the mail parts searched by the matching section 93 are arranged, and supplies the electronic mail to the mail database 95. The mail database 95 stores the electronic mail from the mail creating unit 94.

The operation unit 96 is operated when clicking a “confirm” button, an “end” button, or other buttons in FIG. The display unit 97 is configured to display the number of user profiles searched and output by the matching unit 93 when the “confirm” button is operated.

The functional configuration shown in FIG. 34 is realized, for example, by executing a predetermined application program in the CPU 51 shown in FIG.

In the DB server 8 configured as described above, a mail part creation process for creating a mail part and registering it in the mail part database 92 and a mail creation process for creating an electronic mail from the mail part are performed. It has been done.

That is, in the mail part creation processing, FIG.
As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 21, first, in step S41, regarding the screen shown in FIG. 21, the “title”, “contents”, “delivery date”, and other “delivery conditions”
The registration unit 91 determines whether or not there has been an input in a required item column other than the column. Step S41
In, when it is determined that all of the necessary items have not been entered, the process returns to step S41. If it is determined in step S41 that all of the necessary items have been entered (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as necessary items), the process proceeds to step S42, and the registration unit 91 determines whether the transmission condition has been input. If it is determined that no input has been made, step S4
Return to 2.

If it is determined in step S42 that the sending condition has been input, the process proceeds to step S43, where the registration unit 91 sets the items entered in the "Title" and "Content" fields of the necessary items by mail. Parts. Then, the process proceeds to step S44 to terminate the process.
It is determined whether the operation unit 96 has been operated, that is, for example, whether the “end” button in FIG. 21 has been operated. If it is determined in step S44 that the operation unit 96 has not been operated so as to end the processing, the process returns to step S41 or S42, and the same processing is repeated thereafter.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S44 that the operation section 96 has been operated so as to end the processing, the process proceeds to step S45, and the registration section 91 proceeds to step S44.
The mail part created in 43 is registered in the mail part database 92 in association with the sending condition, the sending date, and other input items, and the process is terminated.

Here, in the mail part creation processing,
When the “confirmation” button in FIG. 21 is clicked by operating the operation unit 96 after the transmission conditions are input, the processing according to the flowchart in FIG. 36 is performed.

That is, in this case, first, step S
In 51, the matching unit 93 resets the variable C to 0, and proceeds to step S52 to read the user profile from the user profile database 86.
Then, in step S53, the matching unit 93 determines the sending condition displayed on the screen in FIG. 21 (the sending condition determined to have been input in step S42 in FIG. 35).
Next, it is determined whether the registered items constituting the user profile read out in step S52 match, and if it is determined that they match, the process proceeds to step S54, and the variable C is set to 1
And the process proceeds to step S55. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S53 that the registered items do not match the sending conditions, step S54 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S55. In the matching unit 93, the user profile that has not yet been read is stored in the user profile database 86. It is determined whether there is.

If it is determined in step S55 that there is a user profile that has not been read out yet in the user profile database 86, the process proceeds to step S52.
The user profile that has not been read out is read out, and the same processing is repeated thereafter. Also,
If it is determined in step S55 that there is no user profile that has not been read yet in the user profile database 86, the process proceeds to step S56, where the matching unit 93 supplies the variable C to the display unit 97 and displays the screen of FIG. Is displayed in the column of "number of persons to be sent", and the process ends.

Next, the mail creation processing will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

In the mail creation process, first, in step S61, the user profile database 8
The user profile stored in No. 6 is read by the matching unit 93, and the process proceeds to step S62. In step S62, the mail part stored in the mail part database 92 and the sending condition and the sending date associated with the mail part are read out by the matching unit 93, and the process proceeds to step S63.

In step S63, the matching section 93 determines whether or not the sending date read in step S62 matches the scheduled date for sending an e-mail to be created, and determines that the sending date does not match. , Skip steps S64 and S65 and proceed to step S66. If it is determined in step S63 that the sending date matches the scheduled date, the process proceeds to step S64, where the matching section 93 reads out the registration items of the user profile read in step S61 in step S62. Then, it is determined whether or not the sending condition is satisfied. If it is determined in step S64 that the registered item does not match the sending condition, step S65 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S65.

If it is determined in step S64 that the registered item satisfies the sending condition, the process proceeds to step S6.
Proceeding to 5, the matching unit 93 outputs the mail part associated with the sending condition to the mail creating unit 94, and proceeds to step S66. In step S66, the matching unit 93 causes the mail parts database 92
It is determined whether there is any mail part that has not been read yet.

If it is determined in step S66 that the mail parts database 92 contains mail parts that have not been read yet, the process returns to step S62, where the mail parts that have not been read yet and the sending conditions associated therewith are stored. After that, the same processing is repeated. If it is determined in step S66 that there is no mail part that has not been read yet in the mail parts database 92, the process proceeds to step S67, where the mail creation unit 94 creates an electronic mail. That is, in this case, in the mail creating unit 94, the electronic mail addressed to the electronic mail address in the user profile read in step S61,
In step S65, all mail parts output from the matching unit 93 are integrated and arranged as their contents to create a mail part. Then, in step S68, the mail creating unit 94 supplies the created electronic mail to the mail database 95 to register it.

Thereafter, the flow advances to step S69, where the matching section 93 sets the user profile database 8
At 6, it is determined whether there is a user profile that has not been read yet.

If it is determined in step S69 that there is a user profile which has not been read out yet in the user profile database 86, the process proceeds to step S61.
The user profile that has not been read out is read out, and the same processing is repeated thereafter. Also,
If it is determined in step S69 that there is no user profile that has not been read yet in the user profile database 86, the process ends.

As described above, an e-mail in which only mail parts as information suitable for each user's preference are arranged is created.

Note that the mail creation processing is performed regularly, such as once a day, or irregularly.

Next, FIG. 38 shows the SMTP server 9 in FIG.
2 shows an example of a functional configuration.

The reading section 101 reads the electronic mail stored in the mail database 95 while referring to the user profile database 86, and outputs the electronic mail to the communication control section 102. Communication control unit 1
Reference numeral 02 controls communication via the Internet 4, whereby, for example, an electronic mail from the reading unit 101 is transmitted via the Internet 4.

The functional configuration shown in FIG. 38 is realized, for example, by executing a predetermined application program in CPU 61 in FIG.

The SMTP server 9 configured as described above
Now, for example, FIG.
When the e-mail creation process described in FIG.
According to the flowchart of FIG. 9, a mail transmission process of transmitting an electronic mail is performed.

That is, in the mail transmission process, first,
In step S71, the reading unit 101 reads a user profile from the user profile database 86, and proceeds to step S72. In step S72, an e-mail addressed to the e-mail address in the user profile read in step S71 is
Whether it is stored in the mail database 95,
The determination is made by the reading unit 101. Step S72
In step S71, if it is determined that the e-mail addressed to the e-mail address in the user profile read in step S71 is not stored in the mail database 95, step S73 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S74. . If it is determined in step S72 that the e-mail addressed to the e-mail address in the user profile read in step S71 is stored in the mail database 95, the process proceeds to step S73, and the reading unit The electronic mail 101 reads out the electronic mail from the mail database 95 and controls the communication control unit 102 to transmit the electronic mail.

Thereafter, the flow advances to step S74, where the reading unit 101 reads the user profile database 8
At 6, it is determined whether there is a user profile that has not been read yet. If it is determined in step S74 that there is a user profile that has not been read yet in the user profile database 86, the process returns to step S71, where a user profile that has not been read is read, and thereafter, the same processing is repeated. . If it is determined in step S74 that there is no user profile that has not been read yet in the user profile database 86, the process ends.

Here, the user's preferences, for example, by age or occupation, can be easily grasped from the user profile, and this can be used to register and distribute information with higher needs, for example. And so on.

In this embodiment, distribution of information is
Although the information is transmitted by e-mail, the information can be distributed in a form other than the e-mail, such as a homepage.

In the present embodiment, the WWW server 6
And the DB server 8 are provided separately, but they may be integrally configured.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the DB server 8
Only the information registered in was targeted for distribution.
For example, information managed by another server on the Internet 4 can be targeted for distribution.

[0178]

According to the information processing apparatus according to the first aspect and the information processing method according to the sixth aspect, the preference information relating to the user's preference is stored, and the distribution condition relating to the user who distributes the information is stored. Is done. Then, information having a distribution condition that matches the preference information is searched, and when a plurality of pieces of information are searched, the plurality of pieces of information are integrated into one piece of information to be integrated information. Further, in the recording medium according to the present invention, the preference information on the user's preference is stored, and the distribution condition on the user who distributes the information is stored, and the information having the distribution condition matching the preference information is searched. Then, when a plurality of pieces of information are searched, a program for integrating the plurality of pieces of information into one piece of information and causing the computer to perform a process of forming the integrated information is recorded. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently distribute information that meets the user's preference.

According to the information processing apparatus of the eighth aspect and the information processing method of the twelfth aspect, the preference information relating to the user's preference is stored, and the distribution conditions relating to the user who distributes the information are stored. . Then, information having distribution conditions matching the preference information of the predetermined user is searched, and the searched information is transmitted to an address for specifying the predetermined user. Further, the recording medium according to claim 13 stores the preference information on the user's preference, and also stores the distribution condition on the user who distributes the information, and stores the distribution condition that matches the predetermined user's preference information. A program for causing a computer to perform a process of searching for the above-mentioned information and transmitting the searched information to an address for specifying a predetermined user is stored. Therefore, it is possible to distribute information suitable for the user's preference only to that user.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an information providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of a terminal 1 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of an SP server 3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of a WWW server 6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of a DB server 8 of FIG. 1;

6 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration example of the SMTP server 9 ₁ to 9 _M of FIG.

7 is a diagram showing a display example of a display 19 in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a photograph of a halftone image displayed on a display showing a menu screen of a new mailing service.

9 is a photograph of a halftone image displayed on a display showing a homepage transmitted by clicking a predetermined display portion of the menu screen of FIG. 8;

[FIG. 10] "Registration of hobbies / hobbies" on the homepage of FIG.
Is a photograph of a halftone image displayed on a display showing a homepage transmitted by clicking a portion of the halftone image.

11 is a photograph of a halftone image displayed on a display showing a state where the home page of FIG. 10 is scrolled upward.

12 is a photograph of a halftone image displayed on a display showing a state in which the home page of FIG. 11 is scrolled upward.

13 is a photograph of a halftone image displayed on a display showing a state where the home page of FIG. 12 is scrolled upward.

FIG. 14 is a photograph of a halftone image displayed on a display showing the homepage transmitted by clicking a “Register Sending Magazine” part of the homepage in FIG. 9;

FIG. 15 is a photograph of a halftone image displayed on a display showing a state where the home page of FIG. 14 is scrolled upward.

16 is a photograph of a halftone image displayed on a display showing a homepage transmitted by clicking a “register music genre” part of the homepage in FIG. 9;

17 is a photograph of a halftone image displayed on a display showing a state where the home page of FIG. 16 is scrolled upward.

FIG. 18 is a photograph of a halftone image displayed on a display showing the home page transmitted by clicking the “artist registration” portion of the home page in FIG. 9;

19 is a photograph of a halftone image displayed on a display showing a state where the home page of FIG. 18 is scrolled upward.

FIG. 20 is a photograph of a halftone image displayed on a display showing a user profile.

FIG. 21 is a photograph of a halftone image displayed on a display showing an information registration screen.

FIG. 22 is a photograph of a halftone image displayed on a display showing a screen displayed by clicking a “person of destination” on the registration screen of FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is a photograph of a halftone image displayed on a display showing a screen displayed by clicking a “hobby of destination” on the registration screen of FIG. 21;

24 is a photograph of a halftone image displayed on a display showing a screen displayed by clicking a “destination magazine” part on the registration screen of FIG. 21.

FIG. 25: “Destination music genre” on the registration screen of FIG. 21
3 is a photograph of a halftone image displayed on a display showing a screen displayed by clicking a portion of the halftone image.

FIG. 26: “Destination artist” on the registration screen of FIG. 21
3 is a photograph of a halftone image displayed on a display showing a screen displayed by clicking a portion of the halftone image.

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing an example of an e-mail transmitted from the mailing service system 5 of FIG.

FIG. 28 is a view following FIG. 27;

FIG. 29 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of a WWW server 6 of FIG.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart for explaining processing of the WWW server 6 of FIG. 29;

FIG. 31 is a flowchart illustrating details of a process in step S4 in FIG. 30;

FIG. 32 is a flowchart illustrating details of a process in step S5 of FIG. 30;

FIG. 33 is a flowchart illustrating details of a process in step S6 of FIG. 30;

FIG. 34 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of a DB server 8 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 35 is a flowchart for explaining processing of the DB server 8 in FIG. 34;

FIG. 36 is a flowchart illustrating the processing of the DB server 8 in FIG. 34.

FIG. 37 is a flowchart for explaining processing of the DB server 8 of FIG. 34;

FIG. 38 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of a SMTP server 9 ₁ to 9 _M of FIG.

FIG. 39 is a flowchart for explaining processing of the SMTP server 9 ₁ to 9 _M of FIG. 38.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 terminal, 2 public network, 3 SP server, 4 Internet, 5 mailing service system, 6
WWW server, 8 DB server, 9 _{1 to} 9 _MS
MTP server, 11 CPU, 12 ROM, 1
3 RAM, 14 interfaces, 15 H
D, 16 magneto-optical disk, 17 communication unit, 18
Input unit, 19 display, 21 CPU, 2
2 ROM, 23 RAM, 24 interface, 25 HD, 26 magneto-optical disk, 27 communication unit, 28 input unit, 29 display, 31
CPU, 32 ROM, 33 RAM, 34 interface, 35 HD, 36 magneto-optical disk, 37 communication unit, 38 input unit, 39 display, 51 CPU, 52 ROM, 53 RA
M, 54 interface, 55 HD, 56
Magneto-optical disk, 57 communication unit, 58 input unit,
59 display, 61 CPU, 62 RO
M, 63 RAM, 64 interface, 6
5 HD, 66 magneto-optical disk, 67 communication unit,
68 input unit, 69 display, 71WWW
Browser, 72 cursor, 73 URL display,
81 communication control unit, 82 control unit, 83 reading unit, 84 homepage storage unit, 85 registration unit,
86 user profile database, 87 I
D / password issuing unit, 91 registration unit, 92 mail parts database, 93 matching unit, 94
Mail creation department, 95 mail database, 96
Operation unit, 97 display unit, 101 readout unit,
102 Communication control unit

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus for processing information to be distributed to a user, comprising: a preference information storage unit configured to store preference information relating to a preference of the user; and a distribution condition configured to store distribution conditions related to a user who distributes the information. Storage means; search means for searching for the information having the distribution condition matching the preference information; and when the search means finds a plurality of pieces of information, the plurality of pieces of information are integrated into one piece of information. And an integrating means for integrating information. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a transmission unit that transmits the integrated information. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the transmitting unit transmits the integrated information via a computer network. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the transmitting unit transmits the integrated information to an address for specifying the user as a destination. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a receiving unit that receives the preference information transmitted via the computer network; and a registration unit that registers the preference information in the preference information storage unit. 4. The information processing device according to 3. 6. An information processing method for processing information to be distributed to a user, comprising: storing preference information relating to a preference of the user; and storing distribution conditions relating to a user who distributes the information. An information processing method for retrieving the information having the distribution condition that matches the information, and when a plurality of pieces of the information are searched, the plurality of pieces of information are integrated into one piece of information to obtain integrated information. . 7. A recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to process information to be distributed to a user is stored. The storage medium stores preference information on the preference of the user, and sets distribution conditions for the user to distribute the information. The information having the distribution condition matching the preference information is searched for, and when a plurality of pieces of information are searched, the plurality of pieces of information are integrated into one piece of information to be integrated information. A recording medium on which a program for performing a process is recorded. 8. An information processing apparatus for performing a process for transmitting information to an address for specifying a user as a destination, wherein a preference information storage unit configured to store preference information relating to the preference of the user; Distribution condition storage means for storing distribution conditions relating to a user who distributes information; search means for searching for the information having the distribution conditions matching the preference information of a predetermined user; and the information searched by the search means Transmitting means for transmitting an address to an address for specifying the predetermined user as a destination. 9. When the plurality of pieces of information are searched for by the search means, the information processing apparatus further includes integrating means for integrating the plurality of pieces of information into one piece of information to obtain integrated information. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the information is transmitted. 10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the transmitting unit transmits the information via a computer network. 11. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a receiving unit that receives the preference information transmitted via the computer network; and a registration unit that registers the preference information in the preference information storage unit. The information processing apparatus according to claim 10. 12. An information processing method for performing processing for transmitting information to an address for specifying a user as a destination, wherein the information is stored while storing the preference information relating to the user's preference. A distribution condition relating to a user is stored, and the information having the distribution condition that matches the preference information of a predetermined user is searched. The searched information is used as an address for specifying the predetermined user. An information processing method, wherein the information is transmitted to a destination. 13. A recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to perform a process of transmitting information to an address for specifying a user is recorded. In addition to storing the information, a distribution condition relating to a user who distributes the information is stored, and the information having the distribution condition that matches the preference information of a predetermined user is searched. A storage medium storing a program for performing a process of transmitting an address to an address for specifying a user as a destination.