JPH11126184A - Information browsing system and information storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To provide an information browsing system and an information storage medium capable of easily acquiring and browsing required information without requiring an explicit operation for selecting information. SOLUTION: When a storage medium 5 held by a user is connected to an information providing terminal device 3 via a storage medium connecting means 4, the information providing terminal device 3 acquires information from the information server 1 via a network 2. Then, the obtained information is transferred to the storage medium 5 and stored. The information stored in the storage medium 5 is displayed on the information display terminal device so that the user can browse the information by connecting the storage medium 5 to the information display terminal device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information browsing system and an information storage medium for acquiring and browsing information required by an information user from an information server connected via a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 5A, a conventional system for providing information required by an information user from an information server connected via a network and browsing the user is shown in FIG. One or more information servers 91 and information providing terminal devices (hereinafter also referred to as information terminal devices) 92 are connected via a network 93. The information server 91 transmits information corresponding to the request transmitted from the information terminal device 92 to the information terminal device 92. The information terminal device 92 includes an input means for inputting a request by an information user and an information server 91.
Display means for displaying the information transmitted from the user to the information user. Further, there may be a case where storage means 94 for storing received information is provided.

The procedure for providing information is as follows.
The information user connects the information terminal device 92 to a network 93 capable of communicating with the information server 91, and then transmits a request corresponding to necessary information to the information server 91 via the input unit. Then, the user browses the information displayed on the display means. When the storage unit 94 is provided, the acquired information is stored in the storage unit 94, and thereafter, this information is displayed on the display unit and browsed.

Generally, in these systems, a large amount of information in various fields is stored in the information server 91, and they can be used uniformly. Therefore, it is difficult to uniquely specify only necessary information when an information user acquires necessary information. Therefore, generally, first, a list of information that can be provided by designating an information category or a keyword is requested, and this is obtained from the information server 91. Next, necessary information is selected from the list and requested. For example, a method of repeating the information request / acquisition procedure such as performing a plurality of times is used. The information terminal device 92 is a storage unit 94
In the case of having the information, the information in the range including the necessary information is comprehensively acquired and stored in the storage unit 94, and thereafter, the necessary information can be selected and browsed from this information, and offline browsing is also possible. Further, when the storage means 94 is a storage medium that can be removed from the information terminal device 92, the information is stored using the information terminal device 92 connected to the network 93, and then, as shown in FIG. It is also possible to browse the stored information by connecting the storage means 94 to an information display terminal device 95 having a display means.

[0005]

The conventional network 9
In the method for providing the information required by the information user from the information server 91 connected via the network 3, the information server 91 requires the information terminal device 92 connected to the network to maintain the information when the information is acquired. There is a drawback in that it is necessary to repeat an explicit operation for selecting information until the necessary information is obtained.

In the case of offline browsing, a large amount of information is acquired from the information server 91 in order to comprehensively acquire information, and an information transfer time in a scene where information is acquired and a storage capacity for storing the information. However, there was a drawback that the Further, there is a drawback that, when viewing information, since the stored information is exhaustive, it is necessary to repeat an explicit operation to select necessary information therefrom.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above,
An object of the present invention is to provide an information browsing system and an information storage medium capable of easily acquiring and browsing necessary information without requiring an explicit operation for selecting information. .

[0008]

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information browsing system for acquiring and browsing information existing on a network.
An information server that holds information to be viewed, an information providing terminal device that is connected to the information server via a network, and obtains information existing in the information server, and an information server that obtains the information obtained by the information providing terminal device. The gist of the present invention is to have an information storage medium that receives and stores information from an information providing terminal device, and an information display terminal device that displays information stored in the information storage medium.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, an information providing terminal device is connected to an information server via a network, and information is obtained from the information server to the information providing terminal device.
The information obtained by the information providing terminal device is stored in an information storage medium, and the information stored in the information storage medium is displayed on an information display terminal device.

The present invention described in claim 2 is the same as the claim 1.
In the invention described in the above, in the information providing terminal device, when the information storage medium is connected to the information providing terminal device in a form capable of communicating with each other, information obtained in advance from the information server is The gist of the invention is to have means for transferring the information to an information storage medium.

[0011] According to the present invention, when the information storage medium is connected to the information providing terminal device, the information providing terminal device transmits information obtained in advance from the information server to the information storage medium. Transfer to

Further, the present invention according to claim 3 provides the invention according to claim 1.
In the invention described, in the information providing terminal device, information is acquired from the information server when the information storage medium is connected to the information providing terminal device in a form in which the information storage medium can communicate with each other. The gist of the invention is to have means for transferring information to the information storage medium.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the information storage medium is connected to the information providing terminal device, the information providing terminal device acquires information from the information server,
The information is transferred to an information storage medium.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second or third aspect of the present invention, the information storage medium has means for holding information for identifying a user, and the information providing terminal device is provided with the information providing terminal device. The gist of the present invention is to have means for identifying a user based on the information for identifying the user held in the information storage medium and transferring information suitable for the user.

According to the present invention, the information providing terminal device identifies a user based on the user identification information of the information storage medium and transfers information suitable for the user.

The present invention described in claim 5 provides the present invention in claim 2
In the invention according to the third aspect, the information storage medium has a unit for storing information expressing information to be obtained, and the information providing terminal device is configured to store the information to be obtained stored in the information storage medium. The gist of the present invention is to have means for transferring information suitable for the user based on the information expressing the information.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the information providing terminal device transfers information suitable for the user based on the information representing the information to be obtained held in the information storage medium.

Further, the present invention according to claim 6 provides the invention according to claim 2.
In the invention described in the third aspect, a plurality of the information providing terminal devices are provided, and each of the plurality of information providing terminal devices has means for acquiring and storing information in a predetermined range from the information server. That is the gist.

According to the present invention, each of the plurality of information providing terminal devices obtains information in a predetermined range from the information server and accumulates the information.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the second or third aspect of the present invention, the information storage medium stores a use history including acquisition and browsing of information performed in the past using the information storage medium. The point is that the information providing terminal device has means for determining information to be transferred to the information storage medium using the use history.

According to the present invention, the information providing terminal device determines information to be transferred to the information storage medium by using the usage history stored in the information storage medium.

Further, the present invention described in claim 8 is the same as the claim 2.
(3) The information storage medium according to (3), wherein the information storage medium has means for determining information to be acquired at the next information acquisition opportunity using a usage history including acquisition and browsing of information performed in the past. And

According to the present invention, the information storage medium determines the information to be acquired at the next information acquisition opportunity using the usage history.

Further, the present invention described in claim 9 is the same as claim 2 of the present invention.
Or the invention according to 3, wherein the information storage medium has means for holding information for identifying a user, and the information providing terminal device stores information on a pair of a user and a fee collection means, In the case where the pay information is transferred to the information storage medium, there is provided a means for collecting a charge for the pay information based on the information of the pair of the user and the charge collecting means.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the information providing terminal device stores the information of the pair of the user and the fee collecting means, and when the pay information is transferred to the information storage medium, the information providing terminal device communicates with the user. A fee for the pay information is collected based on the information of the pair of the fee collecting means.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the ninth aspect of the present invention, the information storage medium has a unit for holding the information of the toll collection unit, and the information providing terminal device includes the toll collection unit. The gist of the present invention is to have a means for collecting a fee for pay information based on the information of the means.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the information providing terminal device collects a fee for the pay information based on the information of the fee collecting means held in the information storage medium.

[0028] The present invention according to claim 11 is the invention according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the information storage medium is:
When transmitting the information stored in the information storage medium to the information display terminal device, the gist of the present invention is to include means for converting the information into information necessary and sufficient for the performance of the information display terminal device and transmitting the information.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, when information stored in the information storage medium is transmitted to the information display terminal, the information is converted into information necessary and sufficient for the performance of the information display terminal and transmitted. .

Further, according to the present invention as set forth in claim 12, in the invention as set forth in claim 2 or 3, the information storage medium comprises:
The gist of the present invention is to have means for reading information stored in the information storage medium and holding information on a right to transmit the information to the outside of the information storage medium.

According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, the information storage medium holds information on a right to transmit information out of the information storage medium.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the second or third aspect of the present invention, the information storage medium has means for holding information on a right to store the information to be stored. A summary that the information providing terminal device has means for determining whether to transfer paid information to the information storage medium based on information on a right to read information to be stored in the information storage medium. I do.

According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the information storage medium holds information regarding a right to store the information to be stored, and the information providing terminal device attempts to store the information in the information storage medium. It is determined whether to transfer the pay information to the information storage medium based on the information on the right to read the information.

The present invention according to claim 14 is connected to a network, receives and stores information from an information providing terminal device for obtaining information on the network, and stores the stored information in the network. An information storage medium having a function of displaying on an information display terminal device that does not have a function of controlling the stored information to be displayed on the information display terminal device, based on progress of display of the stored information. Means for determining information to be received next time from the information providing terminal device.

In the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the information storage medium controls the stored information to be displayed on the information display terminal device, and based on the progress of the display of the stored information, the next time the information is stored. The information to be received from the providing terminal device is determined.

Further, the present invention described in claim 15 is characterized in that, in the invention described in claim 14, a means for holding information of a fee collecting means is further provided.

According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to hold the information of the fee collecting means and collect the fee for the pay information.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, when the information stored in the information storage medium is transmitted to the information display terminal in the invention according to the fourteenth aspect, the information necessary and sufficient for the performance of the information display terminal is obtained. The gist of the present invention is to further include means for converting and transmitting.

According to the present invention, when transmitting the information stored in the information storage medium to the information display terminal, the information is converted into information necessary and sufficient for the performance of the information display terminal and transmitted. .

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, in the fourteenth aspect, the stored information is read out,
The gist of the present invention is to further include means for holding information on the right to transmit to the outside of the information storage medium.

According to the seventeenth aspect of the present invention, the stored information is read out, and the information on the right to transmit the information to the outside of the information storage medium is held.

Further, the present invention described in claim 18 is characterized in that, in the invention described in claim 14, regarding information to be stored, there is further provided a means for holding information on a right to store the information.

According to the eighteenth aspect of the present invention, information relating to the right to store the information to be stored is held.

[0044]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1A and 2A are block diagrams showing the configuration of an information browsing system according to one embodiment of the present invention. In particular, FIG. 1A shows a case where information is obtained from an information server. FIG. 2A is a diagram showing a configuration of an information browsing system in an information acquisition scene in which information stored in an information storage medium is stored. 1 shows a configuration of an information browsing system in an information browsing scene to be displayed.

The information browsing system in the information acquisition scene shown in FIG. 1A is an information server 1 that holds information to be browsed, is connected to the information server 1 via a network 2, and exists in the information server 1. An information providing terminal device 3 having a function of acquiring information to be obtained, connected to the information providing terminal device 3 via a storage medium connecting means 4, and transmitting the information obtained by the information providing terminal device 3 from the information providing terminal device 3 FIG. 2 shows a storage medium connection means 5 for receiving and storing.
The information browsing system in the information browsing scene shown in (a) is connected to the information storage medium 5 via a storage medium connection means 4 and displays information stored in the information storage medium 5. And the information storage medium 5. The information browsing system in the information acquisition scene shown in FIG. 1B is different from the information browsing system shown in FIG. 1A only in that a socket device 41 is used as the storage medium connecting means 4. The information browsing system in the information browsing scene shown in FIG. 2 (b) is different from the information browsing system shown in FIG. 2 (a) only in that the socket device 42 is used as the storage medium 4. Is the same.

The information storage medium 5 is carried by each information user who intends to acquire and use information. The information providing terminal device 3 is a shared facility that can be used by any information user, and includes a railway station, a shopping street, a road,
It is installed indoors and outdoors such as public facilities in advance. The information display terminal device 6 is similar to a personal computer or the like.
It is installed in places where information is used, such as homes and offices.

Generally, the type of operation in an information browsing system for acquiring information from an information server via a network and browsing the information includes an information acquisition phase for selecting information to be acquired and browsed, and acquiring the information. Displaying and reproducing the acquired information can be broadly divided into two phases of information browsing. In a conventional interactive information browsing system represented by a World Wide Web service, an information search service, and the like, a desired information service is realized by alternately repeating these two phases in a short time. For example, the information user first specifies a subset expected to be necessary from the entire set of information, and obtains and displays a list thereof. Next, the procedure of determining a smaller subset that is expected to be necessary from the list, specifying this, and acquiring and displaying the list, etc., is repeated a plurality of times to finally obtain desired information. I do. In a conventional information browsing system that requires the above procedures, the information acquisition phase and the information browsing phase are frequently repeated, so that a device that acquires and browses information acquires necessary information and waits until the information is browsed. Therefore, it is necessary to always maintain a state capable of communicating with the information server via the network. Further, a conventional device for acquiring and browsing information needs to be a device that has both means for acquiring information and means for displaying and reproducing information.

On the other hand, according to the information browsing system of the present invention, the information acquisition phase and the information browsing phase are executed completely independently. Therefore, in the information acquisition phase,
Desired information is obtained at a time in a time corresponding to the data amount of the information to be obtained. Then, the acquired information can be browsed and used later at an appropriate time and at a desired place for a necessary time. Specifically, the information storage medium 5 automatically receives information from the information server 1 on the network by connecting to one of the information providing terminal devices 3 installed inside and outside the public, This is stored inside the information storage medium. The procedure of the information acquisition scene is automatically executed after the information storage medium 5 is connected to the information providing terminal device 3 and does not require any operation of the information user. Only the time needed by the information system. The acquired information is stored in the information storage medium 5
In order to use the information, the user can browse the stored information simply by connecting the information storage medium 5 to the information display terminal device 6. At this time, the information display terminal device 6 communicates with the information server 1 via the network 2.
Since there is no need to communicate with the user, the information user does not need to rely on the connection point with the network 2 or the environment,
You can browse information anywhere you like, using any time you want.

As described above, according to the present invention, the information user can complete the information acquisition phase in a shorter time than before. Further, the devices used in the information acquisition phase are only the information providing terminal device and the information storage medium, and do not require a means for displaying information. Therefore, the device can be realized with a simpler device than the conventional method. Further, in the information browsing phase, since a means for communicating with the information server via the network is not required, the information browsing phase can be realized with a simpler device than the conventional system. Further, originally, the acquired information that should be owned by each information user exists only in the information storage medium, so that the information providing terminal device and the information display terminal device can be shared by a plurality of information users. Yes, an economical system configuration is possible.

The information server 1 receives an information request from the information providing terminal device 3 connected via the network 2, and transmits corresponding information to the information providing terminal device 3 which has transmitted the information request. , Has a function of transmitting data via the network 2. The information server 1 can be realized by a technology equivalent to a World Wide Web server installed on the Internet, for example. In addition, as a method of realizing the operation of the information server 1 and the information providing terminal device 3, it can be realized by a technology equivalent to a so-called server-client type information system.

The information providing terminal device 3 is connected to the information storage medium 5 and has a function of mutually transmitting and receiving information. The information providing terminal device 3 is provided in advance with a socket device 41 for connecting the information storage medium 5 as the storage medium connecting means 4 as shown in FIG. When the terminal 5 is connected to a predetermined place, an electric connector is provided for electrically connecting to the input / output terminal of the information storage medium 5. When the information storage medium 5 is connected to a predetermined location of the socket device 41, the input / output terminals of the information storage medium 5 and the electrical connector of the socket device 41 are electrically connected to each other. A change is detected to detect that the information storage medium 5 is connected. In addition, the electrical contact enables the connected information storage medium 5 and the information providing terminal device 3 to mutually transmit and receive electrical signals. The connection method between the socket device 41 and the storage medium 5 can be realized by, for example, a technology equivalent to a connection device of an electric contact type IC card, a socket of a memory element in a computer, or the like. Further, the information providing terminal device 3 has a function of transmitting an information request to the information server 1 via the network 2 and receiving information corresponding to the information request from the information server 1, as described above. It can be realized by a technology equivalent to a server / client type information system.

The information display terminal device 6 has a function of connecting to the information storage medium 5 via the socket device 41 which is the storage medium connection means 4 and mutually transmitting and receiving information. Like the information providing terminal device 5, the information display terminal device 6 is provided with a socket device 42, which is storage medium connecting means 4 for connecting an information storage medium, and exchanges electrical signals via the electrical contact. To send and receive. In addition, the information display terminal device 6
Has a display / reproduction function such as a CRT or a speaker for reading out information stored in the information storage medium 5 and displaying / reproducing the information. If the information to be displayed / reproduced is a character or a graphic, it is displayed using a display device such as a CRT, and if the information is a voice or music, a voice reproducing device such as a speaker is used. Play this. The above functions can be realized by a technology equivalent to an information device such as a personal computer.

The information storage medium 5 is provided in the socket device 41 of the information providing terminal device 3 or the information display terminal device 6.
It has a shape and size sufficient to be connected to the socket device 42, and has an input / output terminal for contacting an electrical connector of the socket device and transmitting / receiving an electrical signal when connected to the socket device 41, 42. When the information storage medium 5 receives an electric signal via the above-mentioned input / output terminal, it performs an operation corresponding to a predetermined electric signal. The operations include an operation of storing specified data in a specified storage location in the information storage medium 5, an operation of reading data stored in a storage location of the specified information storage medium 5, and an operation of reading specified data. The operations include an operation of erasing data stored in a storage location in the information storage medium 5, an operation of reporting the state of the information storage medium 5, and the like. Further, the data stored in the information storage medium 5 is deleted by explicitly instructing to delete the data, or the information storage medium 5 voluntarily operates when a predetermined condition is satisfied. It has a so-called non-volatile storage function in which data is not erased naturally except when it is erased. The above functions can be realized using the same technology as an IC memory card device or a removable hard disk device.

FIGS. 3 (a) and 4 (a) show the detailed configuration of each part of the information browsing system shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 2 (a), respectively. The information providing terminal device 3 includes an information acquisition unit 11, a storage medium control unit 12, a charge collection unit 13, and an information cache unit 21, and the information storage medium 5 includes an acquired information storage unit 14, a user information storage unit 15, The information display terminal device 6 includes a storage readout control unit 19, an information display unit 16, a user information update unit 17, and a storage medium control unit 18.
It is composed of FIG. 3B and FIG.
The information browsing system shown in FIG.
And the information browsing system shown in FIG.
The storage medium connection means 4 is specifically shown,
In FIG. 3B, the socket device 41 and the input / output terminal 43 belonging to the information storage medium 5 are used as the storage medium connection means 4, and in FIG. Input / output terminal 4 belonging to medium 5
3 is used.

The information providing terminal device 3 is connected to the storage medium 5 via the socket device 41 which is the storage medium connecting means 4, and the information providing terminal device 3 detects the connection of the storage medium 5 and is connected. Storage medium control means 12 for controlling the storage medium 5 and transmitting / receiving information to / from each other, and connected to the information server 1 via the network 2 to transmit an information request to the information server 1; An information acquisition unit 11 that receives information transmitted from the server 1 is provided.

The storage medium 5 is connected to the information providing terminal device 3 via the storage medium connection means 4, and the storage medium 5 is used for storing the information obtained via the storage medium connection means 4. 14 and a storage read control unit 19 for reading information corresponding to a request from the information display terminal device 6 from the acquired information storage unit 14 and transmitting the read information to the information display terminal device 6 via the storage medium connection unit 4.

The information display terminal device 6 is connected to the storage medium 5 via the storage medium connection means 4, and the information display terminal device 6 controls the connected storage medium 5 and stores the information in the storage medium 5. Storage medium control means 1 for requesting the reading of the received information and receiving the information corresponding to the request from the storage medium 5
And information display means 16 for displaying information received via the storage medium connection means 4.

More specifically, the information acquisition means 11 of the information providing terminal device 3 transmits the information
And sends an information request to the information server 1,
The information transmitted from the information server 1 is received. When the information storage medium 5 is connected, the storage medium control means 12 immediately detects the connection, controls the connected information storage medium 5, and stores the information stored in the specified storage location of the information storage medium 5. Or a request to write information to a specified storage location of the information storage medium 5.

Storage medium control means 1 of information display terminal device 6
When the information storage medium 5 is connected, the information storage medium 8 immediately detects the connection, controls the connected storage medium 5, and
Of the information stored in the specified storage location, or the writing of the information to the specified storage location of the information storage medium 5 is requested.

Storage read control means 1 of information storage medium 5
9 receives information read requests from the information providing terminal device 3 and the information display terminal device 6, reads information corresponding to these requests, and transmits the information to the request source. Further, the acquired information storage unit 14 receives information writing requests, writes information to storage locations corresponding to these requests, and thereafter continues to store the information until the information is erased.

When the storage medium 5 is connected via the storage medium connection means 4, the information provision terminal device 3 immediately detects this, and then the information acquisition means 1
1 transmits an information request to the information server 1, and as a result, transfers the information received from the information server 1 to the storage medium control unit 12, and the storage medium control unit 12 stores the information via the storage medium connection unit 4. Send to medium 5. The acquired information storage means 14 of the storage medium 5 stores information transmitted from the information display terminal device 6.

Further, the information display terminal device 6 has a storage medium 5
Is connected via the storage medium connection means 4, the storage medium control means 18 immediately detects this, and transmits a request for reading information stored in the storage medium 5 to the storage medium 5.
The storage read control unit 19 of the storage medium 5 reads the information stored in the acquired information storage unit 14 in response to the read request, and transmits the read information to the storage medium control unit 18 via the storage medium connection unit 4. The storage medium control means 18 of the information display terminal device 6 transfers the information received from the storage medium 5 to the information display means 16, and the information display means 16 displays this information.

The user information storage means 15 provided in the storage medium 5 stores user identification information necessary for identifying a user of the storage medium 5. The information display terminal device 6 converts the user identification information stored in the user information storage unit 15 into the predetermined user identification information with respect to the storage medium 5 connected via the storage medium connection unit 4, or User information updating means 17 for updating using user identification information input by the user.

Storage medium control means 1 of information providing terminal device 3
When detecting that the storage medium 5 has been connected, 2 reads out the user identification information stored in the user information storage means 15 of the storage medium 5 and identifies the user of the storage medium 5.
Then, an information request corresponding to the information request instruction previously associated with the identified user is transmitted to the information server 1, information is obtained, and the information is stored in the storage medium 5.

Storage medium control means 1 of information display terminal device 6
8 detects that the storage medium 5 has been connected, and notifies the user information updating means 17 of this. When it is necessary to update the user identification information, the user information updating unit 17 uses the predetermined user identification information or the user identification information input by the user to use the storage medium 5. The user identification information stored in the user information storage means 15 is updated.

The user information storage means 1 of the storage medium 5
Reference numeral 5 stores an information request instruction corresponding to the information to be acquired. The information display terminal device 6 sends the information request instruction stored in the user information storage means 15 to the storage medium 5 connected via the storage medium connection means 4 in accordance with a predetermined information request instruction or use. The information is updated by the user information updating means 17 using the information request instruction input by the user. When the storage medium control means 12 of the information providing terminal device 3 detects that the storage medium 5 has been connected, the storage medium 5
The information request instruction stored in the user information storage means 15 is read, an information request corresponding to the information request instruction is transmitted to the information server 1, information is obtained, and the information is stored in the storage medium 5.

Storage medium control means 1 of information display terminal device 6
8 detects that the storage medium 5 has been connected, and notifies the user information updating means 17 of this. When it is necessary to update the information request instruction, the user information updating unit 17 stores the user information in the storage medium 5 using a predetermined information request instruction or an information request instruction input by the user. The information request instruction stored in the means 15 is updated.

Information obtaining means 11 of information providing terminal device 3
Is an information request to be transmitted to the information server 1,
Only an information request corresponding to a predetermined information range is transmitted to the information server 1. When transmitting an information request to the information server 1 in response to an event that the storage medium 5 is connected, the information providing terminal device 3 sets the information request to be transmitted to an information range predetermined for each information providing terminal. Only the information request to which the information request belongs is selected, and the resulting information request is transmitted to the information server 1.

The user information storage means 1 of the storage medium 5
5 is for acquiring and performing information performed in the past using the storage medium 5.
History information indicating browsing is stored. The history information indicating acquisition / browsing of information includes: 1) the date and time when information was acquired by connecting to the information providing terminal device 3, an information request instruction corresponding to the acquired information at that time, and the connected information providing terminal device 3 There are two types of information: acquisition history information indicating information for uniquely identifying the information, 2) an information request instruction corresponding to information browsed by connecting to the information display terminal device 6, and browsing history information representing the date and time of browsing.

Storage medium control means 1 of information providing terminal device 3
2 has a function of reading the history information stored in the user information storage means 15 of the storage medium 5, and further stores the obtained information in the storage medium 5, and then obtains the obtained history information corresponding to this information. It has a function of storing in the user information storage means 15 of the storage medium 5.

The information obtaining means 11 of the information providing terminal device 3 uses the history information already stored in the storage medium 5
According to a predetermined method, an information request range corresponding to an information range expected to be required by a user of the storage medium 5 is generated. Next, of the information requests to be transmitted to the information server 1, the storage is performed according to a function of transmitting only the information request corresponding to the information request range to the information server 1 or a method predetermined from the history information. A function of generating an information request corresponding to information expected to be required by the user of the medium 5 and transmitting the information request to the information server 1 when transmitting the information request to the information server 1 Having. The storage medium control unit 18 of the information display terminal device 6 has a function of acquiring information from the storage medium 5 and browsing the information, and then storing browsing history information on the browsed information in the user information storage unit 15 of the storage medium 5. Have.

Further, the information providing terminal device 3 has a charge collecting means 13. The charge collecting means 13 identifies the user by using the user identification information stored in the storage medium 5 in advance, and Using the payment information predetermined for the user, the user pays for the paid information to be provided, or returns the collected fee to the user.

When the storage medium 5 is connected, the information providing terminal device 3 immediately detects the connection, reads out the user identification information stored in the storage medium 5 in advance, and identifies the user of the storage medium 5. The information acquisition unit 11 determines whether the information corresponding to the information request to be transmitted to the information server 1 is charged, and if the information is charged, the charge collection unit 13
After collecting a fee through the storage medium 5, the information request is transmitted to the information server 1, and the pay information received as a result is stored in the storage medium 5.
To memorize. In addition, between the time when the fee is collected and the time when the corresponding pay information is stored in the storage medium 5, for example, due to some failure such as disconnection from the storage medium 5,
If the pay information corresponding to the collected fee cannot be stored in the storage medium 5, the previously collected fee is returned to the user via the fee collecting means 13.

The charge collecting means 13 is a means for paying a credit card number or a bank account number associated with the identified user in advance or credit money information such as electronic cash representing a prepaid fee. Based on the information, the fee for the information is collected. Also, in the case of refund, the refund shall be made by canceling the payment to the credit card number or bank account number that has been associated in advance, or by updating credit money information etc. that expresses the prepaid fee. I do.

The user information storage means 1 of the storage medium 5
Reference numeral 5 denotes, as payment information necessary for paying for the paid information, information indicating a collection destination such as a credit card number or a bank account number, or credit money information such as electronic cash representing a prepaid fee. The payment collecting means 13 of the information providing terminal device collects the price of the provided pay information using the payment information stored in the storage medium 5 in advance, or sends the collected price to the user. When the storage medium 5 is connected, the information provision terminal device 3 immediately detects the connection, and the information acquisition unit 11 charges the information corresponding to the information request to be transmitted to the information server 1 for a fee. It is determined whether or not the fee is charged, and if the fee is charged, the payment information stored in advance in the storage medium 5 is read out, and then the fee is collected by using the read out payment information via the fee collection means 13. , Send a multi-address request to the information server 1, and stores the information received as a result into the storage medium 5. In addition, between the time when the fee is collected and the time when the corresponding pay information is stored in the storage medium 5, the information corresponding to the collected price is deleted due to some obstacle such as disconnection of the connection with the storage medium 5. If the data cannot be stored in the storage medium 5, the previously collected value is returned to the user via the value collecting means 13.

The consideration collecting means 13 is based on credit information such as a credit card number or a bank account number stored in the storage medium 5 or credit money information such as electronic cash representing a prepaid fee. , Collect information. When collecting a charge using the credit information, the charge collecting means 13 temporarily stores the credit information read from the storage medium 5, performs a payment to a credit account or the like using the credit information, and then collects the charge information. After confirming that the information corresponding to the price paid is stored in the storage medium 5,
Delete the stored credit information. If it becomes necessary to refund the charge between the time of payment settlement and the erasure of the credit information, the previously settled payment is canceled using the stored credit information, and the charge is returned to the user. Return.

When collecting the consideration using the credit money information, the consideration collecting means 13 reads the credit money information read from the storage medium 5, collects a value corresponding to the fee to be collected, and updates the updated credit money. A fee is collected by writing the money information back to the storage medium 5. In the case of returning the consideration, the storage medium ID for identifying the credit money information corresponding to the fee to be returned and the storage medium 5 from which the credit money information has been read out.
And store the same storage medium ID next time.
When the storage medium 5 having is connected to any of the information providing terminal devices 3, the credit money information updated by the credit money information corresponding to the charge to be returned is stored in the same manner as in the procedure of collecting the charge. The fee is returned by writing back to the storage medium 5. Here, as the storage medium ID, an ID number unique to the storage medium 5 used when the storage medium 5 and the information providing terminal device 3 communicate with each other or a user stored in the user information storage unit 15 of the storage medium 5 Information that can be uniquely identified by the storage medium 5 and its owner (user), such as identification information, is used.

Further, the storage read control means 19 provided in the storage medium 5 compares the quality of the information to be transmitted to the information display terminal device 6 with the quality of the information that can be displayed by the information display terminal device 6, and transmits the information. If the quality of the information to be attempted exceeds the performance of the information display terminal device 6, the quality of the information is reduced to a quality sufficient for display on the information display terminal device 6, and then the information is displayed. It has a function of transmitting to the terminal device 6.

When the information display terminal device 6 requests the storage medium 5 to read information, the storage read control unit 19 of the storage medium 5 first checks the performance of the information display unit 16 of the information display terminal device 6. Then, the requested information is read from the acquired information storage means 14, the performance of the information display means 16 detected earlier is compared with the quality of the read information, and the information read as a result is stored in the information display means 16. If the quality is higher than the performance, the display processing is performed to reduce the quality to a necessary and sufficient level for displaying the information at the previous information display performance, and this is transmitted to the information display terminal device 6. For example, the storage medium 5 stores character information represented by a character code, and when the information display terminal device 6 has a display performance of displaying at a resolution of 8 × 8 dots per character, the storage medium 5 The information transferred to the information display terminal device 6 is not the character code itself but image information rasterized at a resolution of 8 × 8 dots. Alternatively, music information digitized at a sampling rate of 44 KHz is stored in the storage medium 5, and the information display terminal device 6 includes a D / A converter that converts digital information at a sampling rate of 16 KHz into an analog signal. The information transferred from the storage medium 5 to the information display terminal device 6 is not the 44 KHz sampling data itself, but the digital information converted into the 16 KHz sampling data.

Further, the user information storage means 1 of the storage medium 5
5 stores display right information corresponding to specific information;
The storage read control unit 19 refers to the display right corresponding to the information requested from the information display terminal device 6 based on the display right information stored in the user information storage unit 15 in advance, and displays the display right. Only when the information has, the information is displayed and transmitted to the information display terminal device 6.
Further, the storage medium 5 has a timer for holding current date and time information.

When the information display terminal device 6 requests the storage medium 5 to read information, the storage read control means 19 of the storage medium 5 first uses the display right information corresponding to the requested information. The information is read from the user information storage means 15 and the presence or absence of the right to display the information is determined. The display right includes a “number-of-restrictions-type display right” that indicates the number of times that display is possible, and a “time-limit-type display right” that indicates the period during which display is possible. In the case of the former display right, the storage read control unit 19 determines that the number of times of display represented by the display right is one or more. If the determination is true, the information is displayed according to the above-described procedure and transmitted to the information display terminal device 6. After the transmission is completed, the display right corresponding to the information stored in the user information storage unit 15 is updated so that the number of displayable times is reduced by one.
If the determination is false, the information read request is rejected. If the display right is the “expiration type display right”, the storage read control unit 19 reads the current date and time from the timer provided in the storage medium 5, and the current date and time is the time limit expressed by the display right. Is determined to be the same as or earlier than If the determination is true, the storage / readout control unit 19 displays the information according to the above-described procedure, and transmits the information to the information display terminal device 6. If the determination is false, the information read request is rejected.

The user information storage means 1 of the storage medium 5
5 stores the storage right information corresponding to the specific information, and the information acquisition unit 11 of the information providing terminal device 3 stores the storage right information stored in the user information storage unit 15 of the connected storage medium 5 in advance. Only when the user has a right to store the information to be provided, the information request corresponding to the information is transmitted to the information server 1 and the information received as a result is stored in the storage medium 5. In addition, the information providing terminal device 3
Has a timer that holds current date and time information.

If the information to be stored in the storage medium 5 is information to be stored only in correspondence with the owner of the storage right, the storage medium control means 12 stores the storage right information corresponding to the information. User information storage means 15 of storage medium 5
, And it is determined whether or not there is a memory right. The storage right includes a “number-of-times-limited storage right” that indicates the number of times that data can be stored, and a “period-based storage right” that indicates the time when data can be stored. In the case of the former storage right, the storage medium controller 12 determines that the number of storable times represented by the storage right is one or more. If the determination is true, the information is transmitted to the storage medium 5 and stored according to the procedure described above. After the storage of the information is completed, the storage right corresponding to the information stored in the user information storage unit 15 is updated so as to reduce the number of storable times by one. If the judgment is false,
The transmission of the information to the storage medium 5 is refused. If the storage right is “expiration-type storage right”, the storage medium control unit 12
Reads the current date and time from the timer of the information providing terminal device 3 and determines that the current date and time is equal to or earlier than the time limit indicated by the storage right. If the determination is true, the information is transmitted to the storage medium and stored according to the above-described procedure. If the determination is false, the transmission of the information to the storage medium 5 is refused.

Next, a specific example of the above-described information browsing system will be described.

First, a specific example 1 will be described. In the specific example 1, the information providing terminal device 3 is installed in a public place such as a railway station or a shopping street, and the user owns the storage medium 5 and connects the storage medium 5 to an arbitrary information providing terminal device 3. The information providing terminal device 3 acquires the “latest newspaper article” information from the information server 1 in response to the connection of the storage medium 5, stores the information in the storage medium 5, and releases the connection with the storage medium. When the user connects to the information display terminal device 6 carrying the storage medium 5, the “latest newspaper article” stored in the storage medium 5
Information is displayed. Note that the connection between the storage medium 5 and the information providing terminal device 3 may be a contact-type connection such as inserting the storage medium 5 and electrically communicating with the information providing terminal device 3, or may be a communication using electromagnetic waves or sound waves. The present invention can be implemented even with a non-connection type connection.

Next, a specific example 2 describes a case where user identification information is stored in the storage medium 5 and information to be provided for each user is selected. The correspondence between the user and the information request is as follows. For user A, the "latest newspaper article (economic aspect)" information request instruction is given. For user B, the "latest newspaper article (political aspect)" is given. The information request instruction is associated in advance, the user ID (A) as user identification information of the user A in the storage medium 5A, and the user ID (B) of the user B in the storage medium 5B. ) Are respectively stored. The storage medium 5A is stored in the information providing terminal device 3 installed in the station.
Is connected, "Latest Newspaper Article (Economic)"
Is stored in the storage medium 5, and when the storage medium 5 </ b> B is connected, the information of “the latest newspaper article (political aspect)” is stored in the storage medium 5.

In the third embodiment, a case will be described in which an information request instruction corresponding to necessary information is stored in the storage medium 5 and the corresponding information is obtained. In the storage medium 5,
It is assumed that a "newspaper article (economic aspect)" information request instruction is stored in advance. When the user connects the storage medium 5 to the information providing terminal device 3, the “latest newspaper article (economic aspect)” information is stored in the storage medium 5 as a result. Next, after connecting the storage medium 5 to the information display terminal device 6 and updating the information request instruction to the "latest newspaper article (political aspect)" information request instruction, the storage medium 5 is connected to the information provision terminal device 3, and as a result, The “latest newspaper article (political)” information is stored in the storage medium 5.

In the following specific example 4, the range of information to be provided for each information providing terminal device 3 is determined in advance, and the user sets the information providing terminal device 3 corresponding to the information range to be acquired. The case of selecting and acquiring information will be described.

Two information providing terminal devices 3 installed at the station
For E and 3F, “X newspaper” and “Y newspaper” are defined in advance as information request ranges. When the storage medium 5 storing the "newest newspaper article (economic aspect)" information request instruction is connected to the information providing terminal device 3E as an information request instruction, as a result, "the latest X newspaper information among When the information of “newspaper article (economic aspect)” is stored in the storage medium 5 and connected to the information providing terminal device 3F, as a result, “the latest newspaper article (economic aspect) of the information of Y newspaper” is obtained.
Is stored in the storage medium 5.

In the specific example 5, the storage medium 5 has the user information storage means 15 for storing the use history such as the acquisition / browsing of the information made in the past using the information. A case where the system automatically determines information to be acquired or browsed by the storage medium 5 after the next time will be described.

[0092] The user A who commutes by train every day in the section from the S station to the T station, stores "The Tale of Genji" in the storage medium 5 in advance.
The information request instruction of the information is stored, the storage medium 5 is connected to the information providing terminal device 3 installed at the S station, and a part of the “Genji Monogatari” information is obtained sequentially from the first part, I read this during my commute. When a part of the acquired “Tale of Genji” information is read, the user A connects the storage medium 5 to the information providing terminal device 3 again and acquires the next part of the “Tale of Genji” information. At this time, the information providing terminal device 3
From the usage history information, the range of "Genji Monogatari" information already provided to the user, the part of the information that was viewed by the user, the elapsed time since the provision, and the use of the storage medium 5 by other information The status and the like are obtained, the range of the “Genji Monogatari” information to be provided this time is determined, and this is stored in the storage medium 5.

Next, in the specific example 6, the storage medium 5 holds the user information storage means 15 for identifying the user, and the fee collection means 13 held by the information providing terminal device 3 is used to charge the fee for the pay information. Will be described. As the payment information of the user A, the credit card number Z of the user A is predetermined. User identification information K for identifying the user A is stored in advance in the user information storage unit 15 of the storage medium 5. When the storage medium 5 is connected to the information providing terminal device 3, the information providing terminal device 3 identifies the user A using the user identification information K and uses the predetermined credit card number Z of the user A. After collecting the value for the information from the credit card account, the information is stored in the storage medium 5.

In the seventh embodiment, a case will be described in which the information of the charge collecting means 13 is stored in the storage medium 5 and the charge for the pay information is collected using the information. In this case, in the credit method, the storage medium 5 stores credit information such as a “credit card number” as payment information as payment information.
3 collects the value of the information through a credit company or the like using the credit information. In the prepaid method, the storage medium 5 stores credit money information such as “electronic cash” as payment information in advance as payment information, and the charge collecting means 13 of the information providing terminal device 3 stores the credit money information By obtaining the necessary credit money value as information consideration from
Collect consideration.

Next, in Example 8, when the information stored in the storage medium 5 is transmitted to the information display terminal device 6, it is converted (displayed) into information necessary and sufficient for the performance of the information display terminal device 6.
A description will be given of the case of transmission after the transmission. When “newspaper article” information expressed in text is obtained, character code data representing the text is transferred from the information providing terminal device 3 to the storage medium 5 and stored. When browsing this “newspaper article” information, first, it is detected that the display of the information display terminal device 6 is capable of displaying 24 × 24 dot kanji characters of 16 characters × 32 lines, and can be displayed from the character code data. After the portion is cut out and each character is developed into a 24 × 24 dot raster image, this is transferred to the information display terminal device 6. As a result, the information displayed by the information display terminal device 6 is displayed without any deterioration for the user, and it is difficult to perform an unfair secondary use such as illegally copying and editing the information. Only the data that has been transferred will be transferred.

In the ninth embodiment, a case will be described in which information stored in the storage medium 5 is read out, and a display right that restricts the right to transmit the information to the outside of the storage medium 5 is stored in the storage medium 5. By limiting the number of repetitive uses out of information that is assumed to be used repeatedly, such as music information, when used when a fee is determined, a pay-as-you-go fee that accurately collects the use frequency is charged. realizable. As a result, information with a small number of uses can be sold at a lower cost than information with an unlimited number of uses,
The user can purchase necessary and sufficient rights at an appropriate price.

Next, a specific example 10 describes a case in which information to be stored in the storage medium 5 is stored in a right storage medium for storing the information and the number of times of storage is limited. When providing paid information such as a single book having a larger information amount than the storage capacity of the storage medium 5, the information and the price are not settled for each number of pages stored in the storage medium 5 at first. The storage right of the information is stored in the storage medium 5 in exchange for the information provision fee for the entire book. Thereafter, the user can store necessary information in the storage medium 5 and use it when necessary. Users have the advantage of not having to pay the amount of information each time they acquire information, and having only a necessary part of a large amount of information, saving storage capacity and storing other necessary information at the same time. can do. Alternatively, even in an information providing form such as a ruler subscription of information issued daily, such as magazine information such as newspapers and weekly magazines,
It can be realized by a similar procedure.

Next, the process in which the information storage medium 5 acquires information from the information providing terminal device 3 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

When the information storage medium 5 is connected to the socket device 41 of the information providing terminal device 3, the input / output terminal 43 of the storage medium 5 and the electrical connector of the socket device 41 are electrically connected, and the electrical connector The electrical state changes. The storage medium control means 12 of the information providing terminal device 3 detects that the information storage medium 5 has been connected to the predetermined socket device from the change in the electrical state of the electrical connector (step S6).
1), this is notified to the information acquisition means 11. Next, the information acquisition unit 11 of the information providing terminal device 3 transmits a predetermined information request to the information server 1 via the network 2 (Step S63). Next, the information server 1 transmits information corresponding to the information request transmitted from the information providing terminal device 3 to the information providing terminal device 3 (step S6).
5).

Next, the information obtaining means 11 of the information providing terminal device 3 receives the information request transmitted result and the information transmitted from the information server 1 and transfers it to the storage medium control means 12 (step S67). . Next, the storage medium control unit 12
Requests the acquired information storage means 14 of the connected information storage medium 5 to write information to the designated storage location, and then stores the information transferred from the information acquisition means 11 as information to be stored. Is transmitted to the acquisition information storage unit 14 (step S69). Next, the acquired information storage unit 14 of the information storage medium 5 writes the received information to the specified storage location, and after the writing is completed, notifies the information providing terminal device 3 of the completion (step S71). Next, the storage medium control means 12 of the information providing terminal device 3
Receiving a notification of storage completion from the acquisition information storage means 14 of
After confirming that the storage is completed, the electrical connection with the connected information storage medium 5 is released (step S7).
3).

Next, the operation in the case where the information stored in the information storage medium 5 is browsed using the information display terminal device 6 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

When the information storage medium 5 is connected to the socket device 42 of the information display terminal device 6, the input / output terminal 44 of the storage medium 5 and the electrical connector of the socket device 42 are electrically connected, and the electrical connector The electrical state changes. The storage medium control means 18 of the information display terminal device 6 detects that the information storage medium 5 has been connected to the socket device 42 from the change in the electrical state of the electrical connector, and
Is requested to read the information stored in the predetermined storage location (step S8).
1). The storage read control unit 19 of the information storage medium 5
The read request is received, and the reading of the information stored in the predetermined storage location is instructed to the acquired information storage unit 14 (step S83). Next, the information read from the acquired information storage unit 14 is stored in the storage medium control unit 1 of the information display terminal device 6.
8 (step S85). Information display terminal device 6
The storage medium control means 18 receives the information transmitted from the information storage medium 5 as a result of the information read request, and transfers the information to the information display means 16 (step S87). The information display means 16 presents the transferred information to the information user by displaying and reproducing the transferred information (step S8).
9).

In the above description of the information acquisition scene, an on-demand type information collection method for acquiring information from the information server 1 and immediately storing the information in the information storage medium 5 when the information storage medium 5 is connected. However, even in the case of the cache-type information collection method in which the information providing terminal device 3 transfers information acquired in advance from the information server 1 before the information storage medium 5 is connected, A system similar to the above can be implemented.

In the case of the cache-type information collection method, the information providing terminal device 3 stores information previously acquired from the information server 1 in the information cache unit 21. Then, the information providing terminal device 3 determines information to be provided to the information storage medium 5, acquires the information from the information server 1 in advance, stores the information in the information cache unit 21, and connects the information storage medium 5 In this case, instead of acquiring information to be transmitted to the information storage medium 5 from the information server 1, the information is read from the information cache unit 21 and transmitted to the information storage medium 5.

The advantage of the cache-type information collection method is that the number of information requests transmitted from the information providing terminal device 3 to the information server 1 can be reduced. Further, since the information communication speed within the own device is higher than the information communication speed via the network 2, the response time of providing information to the information storage medium 5 is shorter than the on-demand information collection method. There is an advantage that it can be shortened. Furthermore, since the information providing terminal device 3 only needs to maintain a state in which the information providing terminal device 3 can acquire information from the information server 1 to the information cache unit 21 for a certain period of time, the two can communicate with each other. Thus, an economical system can be realized.

It is also possible to share the on-demand type information collection method and the cache type information collection method. For example, in the cache-type information collection method, if a part of the information to be transferred at the time when the information storage medium 5 is connected is not stored in the information cache unit 21 in the own device 3, on-demand By acquiring necessary information from the information server 1 by the type information collecting method, combining this with information stored in a storage device in the own device, complete information is constituted, and this is immediately transferred. ,
The incompleteness of the information stored in the storage device in the own device can be compensated. In the on-demand information collection method, if no inconvenience occurs due to the fact that the information to be transferred to the information storage medium 5 connected to the own device changes every moment, the information is transmitted from the information server 1. At the time of acquisition, the acquired information is stored in the connected information storage medium 5.
And immediately store the information in the information cache means 21 in the own device 3 and provide the information storage medium 5 connected from the next time onward to the information obtained by the cache type information collection method. Can be. 2 mentioned above
The method of sharing one information collection method is that, in addition to the advantage of the cache-type information collection method, it is possible to always provide the latest information for frequently updated information.

Next, with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. 8, an operation in a system sharing the above two information collection systems will be described.

When the information storage medium 5 is connected to the socket device 41 of the information providing terminal device 3, the input / output terminal 43 of the storage medium 5 and the electrical connector of the socket device 41 are electrically connected. Changes its electrical state.
The storage medium control means 12 of the information providing terminal device 3 detects that the information storage medium 5 has been connected to the socket device 41 from the change in the electrical state of the electrical connector (step S9).
1), this is notified to the information acquisition means 11. Next, the information acquisition unit 11 reads information to be transmitted from the information cache unit 21 to the information storage medium 5 (Step S).
93) It is determined whether or not there is a missing portion of the information read from the information cache unit 21. If the information is missing, an information request corresponding to the missing information is transmitted to the information server 1 (step 93). S95) As a result, the information received from the information server 1 is stored in the information cache unit (steps S97, S99), and then the information cache unit 2
1 and the information received from the information server 1 are transferred to the storage medium control means 12 (step S10).
1). The storage medium control unit 12 transmits the transferred information to the storage medium (Step S69). The following flowchart has the same procedure as that shown in FIG. 6, and therefore the same step numbers are assigned and the description is omitted.

In the above embodiment, the connection means 4 between the information storage medium 5 and the information providing terminal device 3 includes the electrical connector of the socket device 41 and the input / output terminal 43 of the information storage medium.
Although the example of the contact type connecting means 4 for communicating an electric signal via the above has been shown, a similar system can be used by using a non-contact type connecting means 4 using radio waves, magnetism, light, sound waves and the like. Can be implemented. The embodiment using the non-contact type connection means 4 can be realized by the same technology as an existing non-contact type IC card or the like, or a wireless connection portable information terminal device or the like.

Next, an embodiment using the non-contact type connection means 4 using radio waves will be described. The information providing terminal device 3 has a means for periodically transmitting a radio wave, and periodically transmits an information storage medium calling radio wave. It is assumed that the reach of the radio wave is a range with a radius of about several meters around the information providing terminal device 3. The information storage medium 3 has means for automatically transmitting a response radio wave when receiving the information storage medium calling radio wave. When the information storage medium 5 enters the range where the calling radio wave of the information providing terminal device 3 reaches, the information storage medium 5 receives the calling radio wave of the specific information providing terminal device and transmits a response radio wave corresponding thereto. When receiving the response radio wave of the information storage medium 5, the information providing terminal device 3 stops transmitting the calling radio wave and connects to the information storage medium 5 which is the source of the response radio wave in a form capable of communicating with each other using the radio wave. Try. When the connection is completed in a form that allows mutual communication, information is transmitted to the information storage medium 5 in the same procedure as in the flowchart of FIG. 6, and communication is stopped. If the connection cannot be established in a form that allows mutual communication, a calling radio wave is periodically transmitted again.

When the present invention is implemented by using the non-contact type connection means 4 described above, the information provision is performed without the information user explicitly connecting the information storage medium 5 to the information provision terminal device 3. Information is automatically stored in the information storage medium 5 simply by moving to the range where the radio waves of the terminal device 3 can reach. There is an advantage that the procedure is simplified. Further, since the information user does not need to directly touch the information providing terminal device 3, there is an advantage that the degree of freedom of the installation location of the information providing terminal device 3 is higher than in the case where the contact-type connecting means is used.

In the above embodiment using the non-contact type connection means using radio waves, one information terminal device 3 is connected to one information storage medium 5 at a time to provide information. In the case where radio waves are used, a plurality of frequency channels used for communication with the information storage medium 5 are provided, and each frequency channel is connected to one information storage medium 5 so that a plurality of information storage media 5 can be connected at one time. It is also possible to connect and simultaneously transmit different information to the information storage medium 5 at the same time. In this case, there is an advantage that the use of the information providing terminal device 3 can be multiplexed.

Further, in the embodiment using the non-contact type connection means using radio waves, one information providing terminal device 3
Although the embodiment in which one frequency channel is used to connect to one information storage medium 5 has been described, an embodiment in which a plurality of information storage media 5 are connected simultaneously using one frequency channel is also possible. In this case, there is an advantage that it is possible to provide broadcast-type information provision in which the same information is simultaneously stored in the information storage medium 5 within a range connectable to one information provision terminal device 3.

Next, with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 9, user identification information is stored in the information storage medium 5, and
The processing corresponding to the specific example 2 for selecting information to be provided for each user will be described in detail.

User information storage means 15 of information storage medium 5
Stores user identification information necessary for identifying a user of the information storage medium 5. The user information updating means 17 of the information display terminal device 6 stores the user identification information stored in the user information storage means 15 in advance in the storage medium 5 connected via the storage medium connection means 4. Update is performed using the determined user identification information or the user identification information input by the user.

Storage medium control means 1 of information providing terminal device 3
When detecting that the storage medium 5 has been connected (step S111), the user information storage unit 1 of the storage medium 5
5 is read out (step S5).
113) Then, the user of the storage medium 5 is identified. Then, an information request instruction corresponding to the identified user is obtained from the information server 1A (steps S117, S119),
An information request corresponding to the information request instruction is transmitted to the information server 1B.
(Step S121) to acquire information and store it in the storage medium 5 (steps S123 to S71).
This processing will be described later in more detail.

Storage medium control means 1 of information display terminal device 6
8 detects that the storage medium 5 has been connected, and notifies the user information updating means 17 of this. When it is necessary to update the user identification information, the user information updating unit 17 uses the predetermined user identification information or the user identification information input by the user to use the storage medium 5. The user identification information stored in the user information storage means 15 is updated.

Hereinafter, the operation will be described in more detail using a specific example.

It is assumed that the correspondence table between the user identification information and the information request instruction shown in Table 1 is stored in advance in the information server 1A. It is also assumed that information on the latest newspaper article is stored in the information server 1B in advance. It is assumed that the information storage medium 5X is owned by the information user I, and that the user information storage means 15 stores user identification information ID (I) representing the information user I in advance. . Similarly, the information storage medium 5Y is owned by the information user J, and the user information storage means 15 stores the user identification information ID (J) representing the information user J in advance. And

[0120]

[Table 1] When the information user I who carries the information storage medium 5X enters a non-contact communicable range with the information providing terminal device 3 installed at the railway station and is connected in a mutually communicable manner, the storage medium The control means 12 detects this immediately (step S
111) Next, the user information storage means 1 of the storage medium 5X
5 is read out (step S113), and is read from the information acquisition means 11
(Step S115). Information acquisition means 11
Indicates the user identification information ID to the information server 1A.
Request transmission of an information request instruction corresponding to (I) (step S117). The information server 1A reads the information request instruction “latest newspaper article (economic)” corresponding to the ID (I) from the above-mentioned user identification information and the information request instruction table 1 and sends it to the information providing terminal device 3. (Step S
119). The information acquisition means 11 of the information providing terminal device 3
An information request corresponding to the transmitted information request instruction is transmitted to the information server 1B (step S121), and the information of the "latest newspaper article (economic aspect)" transmitted as a result is transferred to the storage medium control means 12 (step S121). Step S123, S12
5). The storage medium control means 12 transmits the transferred information to the information storage medium 5 (step S69), and releases the connection with the information storage medium after detecting the completion of the storage (steps S71, S73).

According to the above procedure, the information user I who is carrying the information storage medium 5X simply passes through the vicinity of the information providing terminal device 3 installed at the station and is interested in the "newest newspaper. Only the information of "article (economic aspect)" is automatically stored in the information storage medium 5X, and this information can be browsed by connecting it to the information display terminal device 6 later.

Similarly, when the information user J carrying the information storage medium 5Y passes near one of the information providing terminal devices 3, “the latest newspaper article (political)” is obtained.
Is automatically stored in the information storage medium 5Y.

Next, referring to the flowchart shown in FIG. 10, an information request instruction corresponding to information required in the storage medium 5 is stored, and the corresponding information is acquired. Will be described in detail.

The user information storage means 15 of the storage medium 5
The information request instruction corresponding to the information to be acquired is stored, and the user information updating means 17 of the information display terminal device 6 stores the information in the user information storage means 15 for the connected storage medium 5. The specified information request instruction is updated using a predetermined information request instruction or an information request instruction input by a user. When detecting that the storage medium 5 is connected, the storage medium control means 12 of the information providing terminal device 3 reads the information request instruction stored in the user information storage means 15 of the storage medium 5 and Transfer to The information acquiring unit 11 transmits an information request corresponding to the information request instruction to the information server 1, acquires information,
This is transferred to the storage medium control means 12. The storage medium control unit 12 stores the transferred information in the storage medium 5.

Storage medium control means 1 of information display terminal device 6
8 detects that the storage medium 5 has been connected, and notifies the user information updating means 17 of this. When it is necessary to update the information request instruction, the user information updating means 17 uses the predetermined information request instruction or the information request instruction input by the user to update the user of the storage medium 5. The information request instruction stored in the information storage means 15 is updated.

Hereinafter, the operation will be described in further detail using a specific example.

The information storage medium 5X is owned by the information user I, and the user information storage means 15 stores an information request instruction "latest newspaper article" corresponding to the information to be obtained by the information user I. (Economic aspect) "is stored in advance. The information storage medium 5Y is owned by the information user J, and the user information storage means 15 stores the information request instruction “latest newspaper article ( Politics) is stored in advance.

Information user I who carries information storage medium 5X
Is in a non-contact communicable range with the information providing terminal device 3 installed at the railway station, and is connected in a form capable of communicating with each other, the storage medium control means 12 immediately detects this (step (S131) Then, the information request instruction "latest newspaper article (economic aspect)" stored in the user information storage means 15 of the storage medium 5 is read (step S132), and then transferred to the information acquisition means 11. (Step S13
5). The information acquisition unit 11 requests the information server 1 to transmit an information request “latest newspaper article (economic aspect)” corresponding to the transferred information request instruction (step S13).
7) The information of the "latest newspaper article (economic aspect)" transmitted as a result is transferred to the storage medium control means (steps S139 and S141). The storage medium control means 12 transmits the transferred information to the information storage medium 5 and, after detecting the completion of the storage, releases the connection with the information storage medium (step S).
69-S73).

According to the above procedure, the information user I, who is carrying the information storage medium 5X, is only interested in passing the information providing terminal device 3 installed at the station and is interested in the "newest newspaper." Only the information of "article (economic aspect)" is automatically stored in the information storage medium 5X, and this information can be browsed by connecting it to the information display terminal device 6 later.

Similarly, when the information user J carrying the information storage medium 5Y passes by the vicinity of the information providing terminal device 3, the information of the “latest newspaper article (political)” is automatically output. Is stored in the information storage medium 5Y. At this time, even if the information providing terminal device 3 that has obtained the information is the same as the information providing terminal device 3 used by the information user I, each of the information user I and the information user J automatically transmits the desired information. Can be obtained.

Next, with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 11, the range of information to be provided for each information providing terminal device 3 is predetermined, and the user can obtain information corresponding to the information range to be obtained. A process corresponding to the specific example 4 of selecting the providing terminal device 3 and acquiring information will be described in detail.

Information obtaining means 11 of information providing terminal device 3
Is an information request to be transmitted to the information server 1,
Only an information request corresponding to a predetermined information range is transmitted to the information server 1. When transmitting the information request to the information server 1 in response to the connection of the storage medium 5, the information providing terminal device 3 sets the information request to be transmitted within an information range predetermined for each information providing terminal. Only the information request to which the information request belongs is selected, and the resulting information request is transmitted to the information server 1.

Hereinafter, the operation will be described in further detail using a specific example.

The two information providing terminal devices 3 installed at the station
E and 3F indicate "X newspaper" as the information request range, respectively.
And "Y newspaper" are predetermined. The information storage medium 5X is owned by the information user I, and the user information storage means 15 stores an information request instruction “the latest newspaper article” corresponding to the information that the information user I intends to acquire. (Economic aspect) "is stored in advance.

Information User I Carrying Information Storage Medium 5X
However, when the information storage medium 5X is contact-connected to the information providing terminal device 3E installed at the railway station, the storage medium control means 12 immediately detects this (step S151), The information request instruction "latest newspaper article (economic aspect)" stored in the user information storage means 15 is read out (step S153), and is read out from the information acquisition means 11 (step S153).
(Step S155). Information acquisition means 11
Transmits to the information server 1 an information request corresponding to an information request instruction “latest newspaper article (economic aspect)” included in the information provision range “X newspaper” predetermined in the information providing terminal 3 in advance. (Step S157), and as a result, the information transmitted from the information server 1 “the latest article of X newspaper (economic side)”
Is transferred to the storage medium control means 12 (step S15).
9, S161). The storage medium control means 12 transmits the transferred information to the information storage medium, and after detecting the completion of the storage,
The connection with the information storage medium is released (step S69-S
73).

According to the above procedure, the information user I who is carrying the information storage medium 5X can use the information providing terminal device 3 installed at the station whose information providing range is limited to “X newspaper”. By simply connecting the information storage medium 5 to the providing terminal device 3E, only the information of the "newest newspaper article (economic aspect)" of interest from the articles of "X newspaper" is automatically stored in the information storage medium 5X. This information can be browsed by connecting it to the information display terminal device 6 later.

Similarly, when the information user I connects the information storage medium 5X to the information providing terminal device 3F, "Y newspaper"
Of the latest newspaper article (economic aspect) can be obtained from the article, and the information request instruction "latest newspaper article (previously stored in the user information storage means 15 of the information storage medium 5X). Without changing the value of "economic aspect").

[0138] Next, the storage medium 5 stores the use history such as the acquisition / browsing of the information made in the past using the information, and using the information, the storage medium 5 acquires the information after the next time. The processing corresponding to the specific example 5 when the information to be browsed is automatically determined by the system will be described in detail.

The user information storage means 15 of the storage medium 5
It is used to store history information indicating the acquisition and browsing of information acquired in the past. As history information indicating acquisition / browsing of information, (1) the date and time when information was acquired by connecting to the information providing terminal device 3; information request presentation for the acquired information at that time; There are two types of information: acquisition history information representing information for uniquely identifying information; (2) an information request instruction corresponding to information browsed by connecting to the information display terminal device 6; and browsing history information representing date and time of browsing. The storage medium control means 12 of the information providing terminal device 3
It has a function of reading history information stored in the user information storage means 15 of the storage medium 5. Furthermore, after storing the acquired information in the storage medium 5, it has a function of storing acquisition history information corresponding to this information in the user information storage unit 15 of the storage medium 5. In addition, the information acquisition unit 11 of the information providing terminal device 3 converts the history information already stored in the storage medium 5 into an information range expected to be required by the user of the storage medium 5 according to a predetermined method. Generate the corresponding information request range. Next, of the information requests to be transmitted to the information server 1, a function of transmitting only the information request corresponding to the information request range to the information server 1, or
According to a predetermined method from the history information, an information request corresponding to information expected to be required by the user of the storage medium 5 is generated, and when the information request is transmitted to the information server 1, the information request is generated at this time. And a function of transmitting the information request to the information server 1 together.

Storage medium control means 1 of information display terminal device 3
2 has a function of, after acquiring and browsing information from the storage medium 5, storing browsing history information on the browsed information in the user information storage unit 15 of the storage medium 5.

The operation will be described in further detail using a specific example.

It is assumed that the information user I commutes every day using a train in the section from the S station to the T station. Information User I
It is assumed that the user information storage means 15 of the storage medium 5 </ b> X possesses an information request instruction of “Genji Monogatari” information in advance. Then, the storage medium 5 is connected to the information providing terminal device 3 installed at the S station every morning, and a part of the "Genji Monogatari" information is sequentially obtained from the first part, and is read during commuting time. Shall be. When the user has finished reading a part of the acquired “Tale of Genji” information, the user connects the storage medium 5 to the information providing terminal device 3 again to acquire the next part of the “Tale of Genji” information. At this time, the information providing terminal device 3 determines, from the usage history information, the range of the “Genji Monogatari” information already provided to the user, the part of the provided information that the user has viewed, and the time elapsed from the provision to the present. Then, the usage status of the storage medium 5 based on other information is acquired, the range of the “Genji Story” information to be provided this time is determined, and this is stored in the storage medium 5.

According to the above procedure, the information user I can confirm that the amount of the "Genji Monogatari" information obtained every morning is substantially equal to the amount read in one commuting time. The capacity for storing the information of 5X is not wasted, and this area can be used for storing other information.

Next, with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 12, the storage medium 5 holds the user information storage means 15 for identifying the user, and uses the value collection means 13 held by the information providing terminal device 3. A process corresponding to the specific example 6 in the case of collecting a fee for pay information will be described in detail.

The user information storage means 15 of the storage medium 5
User identification information necessary for identifying the user is stored. Further, the information providing terminal device 3 includes a storage medium 5
The user is identified by using the user identification information stored in advance in the user, and the payment information provided is collected using the payment information predetermined for the user, or the collected price is used by the user. And a charge collection means 13 for returning the price to the customer.

When the storage medium 5 is connected, the information providing terminal device 3 immediately detects the connection, reads the user identification information stored in the storage medium 5 in advance, and reads the user identification information.
Identify users. The information obtaining means 11 determines whether or not the information corresponding to the information request to be transmitted to the information server 1 is charged, and if the information is charged, collects the charge via the charge collecting means 13. The information request is transmitted to the information server 1, and the pay information received as a result is stored in the storage medium 5. In addition, between the time when the fee is collected and the time when the corresponding pay information is stored in the storage medium 5, the pay information corresponding to the collected fee is generated due to some failure such as disconnection of the connection with the storage medium 5. Storage medium 5
If it is not possible to store the value, the previously collected value is returned to the user via the value collecting means 13.

[0147] The charge collecting means 13 stores credit card information or bank account number associated with the identified user in advance, or credit money information such as electronic cash representing a prepaid fee. Collect payment for information based on payment information. Also, in the case of refund,
The payment to the credit card number or the bank account number associated in advance is canceled, or the value is returned by updating the credit money information or the like representing the fee paid in advance.

Hereinafter, the operation will be described in more detail using a specific example.

As in the above-described processing of FIG. 9, it is assumed that the information request instruction corresponding to the information user I is determined in advance as “the latest newspaper article (economic)”. Also, the "latest newspaper articles" information is defined as paid information,
It is assumed that the usage fee is set to Q yen for one information provision. Further, it is assumed that the credit card number Z of the information user I is predetermined as the payment information of the information user I. It is assumed that the user information storage means 15 of the information storage medium 5X stores user identification information ID (I) for identifying the information user I in advance.

When the information storage medium 5X is connected to the information providing terminal device 3, the storage medium control means 12 immediately detects this (step S171) and then stores the information in the user information storage means 15 of the storage medium 5. User identification information ID (I)
Is read out (step S173), and then transferred to the information acquisition means 11 (step S175). The information acquisition unit 11 determines whether or not the information corresponding to the information request instruction “latest newspaper article (economic aspect)” previously associated with the user I is charged, in the same manner as the processing in FIG. 9. The information acquisition unit 11 notifies the charge collection unit 13 that the “latest newspaper article” information is pay information that charges a fee of Q yen for one information provision (step S177). The charge collecting means 13 collects a charge of Q yen from the credit account using “credit card number Z” which is payment information corresponding to the information user ID (I) and information of a charge Q yen to be collected. Then, it notifies the information acquisition means to that effect (step S179). Thereafter, the “latest newspaper article (economic aspect)” information is obtained by the same procedure as the processing in FIG. 9 and stored in the information storage medium 5X.

Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 13, a process corresponding to the above-described specific example 7 in a case where the information of the fee collecting means 13 is stored in the storage medium 5 and a fee for the pay information is collected using the information. Will be described in detail.

In the case of the credit system, the storage medium 5
Stores, as payment information, credit information such as a "credit card number" as payment information, and the charge collecting means 13 of the information providing terminal device 3 uses the credit information to transmit information via a credit company or the like. Collect the price of

In the case of the prepaid system, the storage medium 5 stores credit money information such as “electronic cash” as payment information in advance as payment information, and the price collecting means 13 of the information providing terminal device 3 The value is collected by acquiring the required value of the credit money as the value of the information from the credit money information.

User information storage means 15 of information storage medium 5
As payment information necessary for paying for the paid information, information indicating a value collection destination such as a credit card number or a silver account number, or credit money information such as electronic cash representing a prepaid fee is used. I remember. In addition, the fee collecting means 13 of the information providing terminal device 3 collects the price of the pay information provided using the payment information stored in the storage medium 5 in advance, or returns the collected price to the user.

[0155] When the storage medium 5 is connected, the information providing terminal device 3 immediately detects the connection, and then the information acquisition means 11 sends the information corresponding to the information request to be transmitted to the information server 1 for a fee. Is determined, and if the fee is charged, the payment information stored in the storage medium 5 is read in advance, and then the fee is collected via the charge collection means 13 using the read payment information. Then, the information request is transmitted to the information server 1 and the information received as a result is stored in the storage medium 5.
To memorize. In addition, between the time when the fee is collected and the time when the corresponding pay information is stored in the storage medium 5, for example, due to some failure such as disconnection from the storage medium 5,
If the information corresponding to the collected fee cannot be stored in the storage medium 5, the previously collected fee is returned to the user via the fee collecting means 13.

Hereinafter, the operation will be described in more detail using a specific example.

Information storage medium 5X possessed by information user I
It is assumed that the user information storage means 15 stores an information request instruction “latest newspaper information (economic aspect)” and electronic cash information indicating the value of S yen. In addition, “latest newspaper information” is pay information, and it is assumed that a fee of Q yen per use is charged as in the processing of FIG.

In FIG. 13, when the information storage medium 5X is connected to the information providing terminal device 3, the storage medium control means 12 immediately detects this (step S181), and then the user information storage means 15 of the storage medium 5 Is read out (step S183), and then transferred to the information acquisition means 11 (step S185). The information acquisition unit 11 determines whether the information corresponding to the information request instruction “latest newspaper article (economic)” is paid. "Latest Newspaper Articles" information is 1
The information acquisition unit 11 notifies the charge collection unit 13 of the charge information, which is a fee information that imposes a charge of Q yen on the provision of the degree information (step S187). The value collecting means 13 uses the storage medium control means 12 to collect the value obtained as a result of collecting the fee Q from the electronic cash information S stored in the user information storage means 15 of the information storage medium 5X, as a new electronic cash The information is updated as information S '(steps S189, S191) and notified to the information obtaining means 11 (steps S193, S19).
5). Hereinafter, “latest newspaper article (economic aspect)” information is acquired in the same procedure as the processing of FIG.
To memorize.

Next, referring to the flowchart shown in FIG. 14, when the information stored in the storage medium 5 is transmitted to the information display terminal device 6, it is converted into information necessary and sufficient for the performance of the information display terminal device 6 ( The processing corresponding to the above-described specific example 8 in the case of transmitting after the display) will be described in detail.

Read control means 19 for information storage medium 5
Compares the quality of the information to be transmitted to the information display terminal device 6 with the quality of the information that can be displayed by the information display terminal device 6, and the quality of the information to be transmitted exceeds the performance of the information display terminal device 6. In this case, the quality of the information is reduced to a quality necessary and sufficient for display on the information display terminal device 6, and then transmitted to the information display terminal device 6.

When information reading is requested from the information display terminal device 6 to which the information storage medium 5 is connected, the storage read control means 19 of the storage medium 5 first
The performance of the information display means 16 of the information display terminal device 6 is inspected, the requested information is read out from the acquired information storage means 14, and then the performance of the information display means 16 detected earlier and the read information If the quality is compared and the read information has a quality exceeding the performance of the display means 16, a display process is performed to degrade the information to a quality necessary and sufficient to display the information at the preceding information display performance. This is transmitted to the information display terminal device 6.

Hereinafter, the operation will be described in more detail using a specific example.

It is assumed that the acquired information storage means 14 of the information storage medium 5X that has acquired the "newspaper article" information expressed in text stores character code data corresponding to each character expressing text. . In addition, the information display terminal device 6D converts kanji characters of 24 × 24 dots into 16 characters × 3.
It is assumed that two lines can be displayed.

In FIG. 14, when the display storage medium 5X is connected to the information display terminal device 6D, the storage medium control means 18 of the information display terminal device 6D immediately identifies this, and
Next, a read request for the stored information is sent to the information storage medium 5X.
(Step S2)
01). Storage read control means 19 of information storage medium 5X
Means that the character display capability of the information display terminal device 6 is 24 × 24
It is detected that the dot kanji character can be displayed by 16 characters × 32 lines (step S203), and the displayable 512 character characters are obtained from the character code data representing the “newspaper article” stored in the acquisition information storage unit 14. Is read out (step S205), and each character is converted to 24 ×
After converting to a 24-dot raster image, it is transmitted to the information display terminal device (steps S207 and S20).
9). Storage medium control means 18 of information display terminal device 6D
Transfers the data transmitted from the information storage medium 5X to the information display means 16 (step S211). as a result,
The information displayed by the information display terminal device 6 is (Step S21
3) It is difficult for the user to use the information display terminal device 6D having a quality necessary and sufficient for the performance of the information display terminal device 6D used, and to make an unauthorized secondary use such as illegally copying and editing the information. Only the important data is taken out of the information storage medium 5X.

Next, referring to the flowchart shown in FIG. 15, with respect to the information stored in the storage medium 5, the display right to restrict the right to read out the information and transmit the information to the outside of the storage medium 5 is stored in the storage medium 5. The processing corresponding to the specific example 9 in the case of holding will be described in detail.

The storage medium 5 includes a user information storage unit 15 for storing display right information corresponding to specific information, and an information display terminal based on the display right information stored in the user information storage unit 15 in advance. Refers to the display right corresponding to the information requested from the device 6, and displays the information only when the user has the right to display, and displays the information on the information display terminal device 6.
And a timer for storing current date and time information.

When the information display terminal device 6 requests the storage medium 5 to read information, the storage read control means 19 of the storage medium 5 first uses the display right information corresponding to the requested information. The information is read from the user information storage means 15 and the presence or absence of the right to display the information is determined. The display right includes a “number-of-restrictions-type display right” that indicates the number of times that display is possible, and a “time-limit-type display right” that indicates the period during which display is possible. In the case of the former display right, the storage read control unit 19 determines that the number of times of display represented by the display right is one or more. If the determination is true, the information is displayed and transmitted to the information display terminal device 6 according to the procedure described above.

After the transmission is completed, the number of displayable times is set to 1
The display right corresponding to the information stored in the user information storage means 15 is updated so as to be reduced. If the determination is false, the information read request is rejected. When the display right is the “expiration type display right”, the storage read control unit 19 reads the current date and time from the timer provided in the storage medium 5, and the current date and time is represented by the display right. It is determined that the date is equal to or earlier than the deadline. If the determination is true, the storage and reading means displays the information according to the above-described procedure and transmits the information to the information display terminal device 6. If the determination is false, the information read request is rejected.

Hereinafter, the operation will be described in more detail using a specific example.

Acquisition information storage means 14 of information storage medium 5X
Stores music information “M”. In addition, it is assumed that the user information storage unit 15 stores “frequency-based display right: 5 times” as a display right corresponding to the music information “M”.

In FIG. 15, when the storage medium 5 is connected to the information display terminal device 6, the storage medium control means 18 of the information display terminal device 6 immediately detects this, and then stores the stored music information “ M ”(step S
221). Storage read control means 19 of information storage medium 5
Is a display right corresponding to the music information “M” stored in the user information storage means 15, “frequency-based display right: N
Is read out (step S223), and then it is determined that the display right “frequency-based display right: 5 times” is 1 or more (step S225). Since the determination is true, the music information “M Is transmitted to the information display terminal device (step S2).
27, S229) Next, the value of the display right is updated so as to be decremented by 1, and is set to "frequency-based display right: 4 times" (step S235). Hereinafter, the music information “M” is reproduced in the same procedure as the above-described processing, and is presented to the information user.

As described above, if the user wants to set a fee by restricting the number of times of repetition and the time limit of the information which is assumed to be repetitive use, such as music information, the display right Is used, it is possible to realize pay-as-you-go billing in which an accurate fee is collected for the number of uses. As a result, information set with a small number of uses can be sold at a lower price than information set with an unlimited number of uses, and users can purchase necessary and sufficient rights at an appropriate price. .

Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 16, the specific example 10 in the case where the information to be stored in the storage medium 5 is held in the right storage medium for storing the information and the number of times of storage is limited is described. The corresponding processing will be described in detail.

User information storage means 15 of information storage medium 5
Stores a storage right corresponding to specific information. The information providing terminal device 3 is connected to the connected information storage medium 5.
The information request corresponding to the information is transmitted to the information server 1 only when the user has the right to store the information to be provided based on the storage right previously stored in the user information storage means 15 of the user, and as a result, It has an acquisition information storage unit 14 for storing information received as a storage medium in a storage medium, and a timer for holding current date and time information.

When the information storage medium 5 is connected, the information providing terminal device 3 immediately detects the connection, and then,
Is to be stored only for the owner of the storage right, the storage right corresponding to the information is read from the user information storage means 15 of the information storage medium 5, and Next, it is determined whether there is a memory right.
The storage right includes a “number-of-times-limited storage right” that indicates the number of times that data can be stored, and a “period-based storage right” that indicates the time when data can be stored. In the case of the former storage right, the storage medium control means 12
Determines that the number of storable times represented by the storage right is one or more. If the determination is true, the information is transmitted to the storage medium 5 and stored in the procedure described above. After the storage of the information is completed, the storage right corresponding to the information stored in the user information storage unit 15 is updated so as to reduce the number of storable times by one. If the determination is false, transmission of the information to the storage medium 5 is refused. If the storage right is “expiration-type storage right”, the storage medium control unit 12 reads the current date and time from the timer of the information providing terminal device 3 and sets the current date and time as the expiration date represented by the storage right. It is determined that they are the same or earlier.
If the determination is true, the information is transmitted to the storage medium 5 and stored according to the procedure described above. If the determination is false, the transmission of the information to the storage medium 5 is refused.

Hereinafter, the operation will be described in further detail using a specific example.

User information storage means 15 of information storage medium 5
Stores an information request instruction “Y newspaper information”. It is also assumed that “expiration-type storage right: December 31, 1997” is stored as the storage right corresponding to “Y newspaper information”. It is also assumed that “Y newspaper information” is information that requires a storage right to acquire and store it.

In FIG. 16, when the information storage medium 5 is connected to the information providing terminal device 3, the storage medium control means 12
Detects this immediately (step S241), and then
The information request instruction “Y newspaper information” stored in the usage information storage unit 15 of the storage medium 5 is read, and then transferred to the information acquisition unit (step S243). The information acquisition unit 11 determines whether or not a storage right is necessary to store information corresponding to the information request instruction “Y newspaper information”. Since the information is information that requires a storage right, the information acquisition unit 11 stores “Y” stored in the user information storage unit 15 of the storage medium 5 via the storage medium control unit 12.
Memory right corresponding to “newspaper information” “expiration-type memory right: 19
December 31, 1997. Next, the current date and time "22:05 on August 8, 1997,"
Read "4 minutes". Next, the current date and time “22:54 on August 8, 1997” is set to “expiration date type memory right: January 1, 1997”.
It is determined that the time is before "February 31" (steps S245 and S247), and "Y newspaper information" is acquired from the information server 1 by the above-described procedure (step S2).
49), and store it in the storage medium 5.

As described above, when providing paid information such as one book having a larger amount of information than the storage capacity of the storage medium 5, the information and the price are stored for each page stored in the storage medium 5 at one time. Instead, the user first stores the right to store the information in the storage medium 5 in exchange for the information provision fee for the entire book, and thereafter, the user stores the necessary information in the storage medium 5 when necessary. Can be stored and used. Users have the advantage of not having to pay the amount of information each time they acquire information, and having only a necessary part of a large amount of information, saving storage capacity and storing other necessary information at the same time. can do.

Further, for information issued daily, such as magazine information such as newspapers and weekly magazines, an information providing form equivalent to the regular subscription of newspapers and magazines can be realized by the same procedure. .

[0181]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The user who wants to acquire the information automatically or implicitly connects the storage medium carried by the user to the information providing terminal device, whereby the necessary information is automatically transferred to the storage medium. By connecting the storage medium to the information display terminal device, it is possible to use the stored information, so it is not necessary to perform any procedure for connecting the information terminal device to the network or perform any operation for selecting information. Information to be obtained.

Further, when pay information is provided, necessary charges are automatically collected, so that the necessary information can be obtained without performing any operation such as payment of the fee accompanying the acquisition of the pay information. Will be able to

Further, when the information stored in the storage medium is transmitted to the information display terminal device, the information is displayed in a necessary and sufficient quality and transferred, and the function of restricting the right to display the information is provided. In addition, it is possible to prevent the information from being illegally secondary-used.

Further, as the right to store information in the storage medium, by appropriately operating the storage right information, it is possible to sell information in units exceeding the storage capacity of the storage medium, and to subscribe to a ruler such as a newspaper or magazine. Information sales can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an information browsing system according to an embodiment of the present invention in an information acquisition scene.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of an information browsing system according to an embodiment of the present invention in an information browsing scene.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of the information browsing system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of the information browsing system shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional information browsing system.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a process in which the information storage medium acquires information from the information providing terminal device in the embodiment shown in FIGS.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a process of browsing information stored in an information storage medium using the information display terminal device in the embodiment shown in FIGS.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation in a system sharing two information collection systems in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a process of storing user identification information in an information storage medium and collecting and selecting information to be provided for each user in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a process of storing an information request instruction corresponding to information required in an information storage medium in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 and acquiring the corresponding information;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example in which the range of information to be provided for each information providing terminal device in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4 is determined in advance, and the user selects an information providing terminal device corresponding to the information range to be acquired; 9 is a flowchart showing a process of acquiring information by performing the following.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a process for holding a user information storage unit for identifying a user in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 and collecting a fee for pay information by using a fee collection unit held in the information providing terminal device; It is a flowchart shown.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a process of storing information of a charge collecting means in an information storage medium in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4 and collecting a charge for pay information by using the information.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a process of converting information stored in an information storage medium to an information display terminal device into information necessary and sufficient for the performance of the information display terminal device and transmitting the information stored in the information storage medium in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. It is a flowchart which shows.

FIG. 15 reads out information stored in the information storage medium in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 and holds the display right in the information storage medium for restricting the right to transmit outside the information storage medium; It is a flowchart which shows a process.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a process of limiting information to be stored in an information storage medium in a right storage medium and limiting the number of times of storage in the embodiment of FIGS.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Information server 2 Network 3 Information provision terminal device 4 Storage medium connection means 5 Storage medium 6 Information display terminal device 11 Information acquisition means 12, 18 Storage medium control means 13 Price collection means 14 Acquisition information storage means 15 User information storage means 16 Information display means 17 User information update means 19 Storage read control means 21 Information cache means 41, 42 Socket device 43 Input / output terminal

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Yuzo Nakamura 3-19-2 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. An information browsing system for acquiring and browsing information existing on a network, comprising: an information server holding information to be browsed; and the information server being connected to the information server via a network, An information providing terminal device for acquiring information existing in the information providing terminal device, an information storage medium for receiving and storing the information obtained by the information providing terminal device from the information providing terminal device, and displaying the information stored in the information storage medium. An information browsing system, comprising: 2. The information providing terminal device according to claim 1, wherein said information storage medium is connected to said information providing terminal device in a form capable of communicating with each other. 2. The information browsing system according to claim 1, further comprising means for transferring the information to an information storage medium. 3. The information providing terminal device acquires information from the information server when the information storage medium is connected to the information providing terminal device in a form capable of mutual communication, and acquires the acquired information. 2. The information browsing system according to claim 1, further comprising means for transferring information to said information storage medium. 4. The information storage medium has means for holding information for identifying a user, and the information providing terminal device comprises:
4. The information according to claim 2, further comprising means for identifying a user based on the information for identifying the user held in the information storage medium, and transferring information suitable for the user. Browsing system. 5. The information storage medium has means for holding information representing information to be acquired, and the information providing terminal device expresses the information to be acquired held in the information storage medium. 4. The information browsing system according to claim 2, further comprising means for transferring information suitable for the user based on information to be performed. 6. The information providing terminal device, wherein a plurality of the information providing terminal devices are provided, and each of the plurality of information providing terminal devices has means for acquiring and accumulating information in a predetermined range from the information server. Claim 2 or Claim 3
Information browsing system described. 7. The information storage medium includes means for storing a usage history including acquisition and browsing of information performed in the past using the information storage medium, and the information providing terminal device includes: The information browsing system according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising means for determining information to be transferred to the information storage medium by using the information. 8. The information storage medium has means for determining information to be acquired at the next information acquisition opportunity using a use history including acquisition and browsing of information performed in the past. The information browsing system according to claim 2 or 3. 9. The information storage medium includes means for holding information for identifying a user, and the information providing terminal device includes:
Means for storing information of a pair of a user and a charge collecting means, and, when the pay information is transferred to the information storage medium, a charge for the pay information based on the information of the pair of the user and the charge collecting means. 4. The information browsing system according to claim 2, further comprising a collecting unit. 10. The information storage medium has means for holding information of the charge collecting means, and the information providing terminal device has means for collecting a charge for pay information based on the information of the charge collecting means. The information browsing system according to claim 9, further comprising: 11. When transmitting information stored in the information storage medium to the information display terminal device, the information storage medium converts the information into information necessary and sufficient for the performance of the information display terminal device. 4. The information browsing system according to claim 2, further comprising a transmitting unit. 12. The information storage medium according to claim 2, wherein the information storage medium has means for reading information stored in the information storage medium and holding information regarding a right to transmit the information to the outside of the information storage medium. Information browsing system described. 13. The information storage medium has means for holding information on a right to store the information to be stored, and the information providing terminal device is configured to store the information in the information storage medium. 4. The information browsing system according to claim 2, further comprising means for determining whether to transfer paid information to the information storage medium based on information on a right to read information. 14. An information providing terminal device connected to a network and acquiring information on the network, receiving and storing the information, and displaying the stored information on an information display terminal device not connected to the network. An information storage medium having a function, and means for controlling the accumulated information to be displayed on the information display terminal device,
Means for determining information to be received next time from the information providing terminal device based on the progress of the display of the accumulated information. 15. The information storage medium according to claim 14, further comprising means for holding information of a charge collecting means. 16. When transmitting information stored in an information storage medium to an information display terminal device, the information display device further comprises means for converting the information into information necessary and sufficient for the performance of the information display terminal device and transmitting the converted information. Item 15. The information storage medium according to Item 14. 17. The information storage medium according to claim 14, further comprising means for reading out the stored information and holding information regarding a right to transmit the information to the outside of the information storage medium. 18. The information storage medium according to claim 14, further comprising means for holding information on a right to store the information to be stored.