WO2001056325A1

WO2001056325A1 - Information distribution system

Info

Publication number: WO2001056325A1
Application number: PCT/JP2000/009444
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shuhei Ito
Original assignee: Yamaha Corporation
Priority date: 2000-01-25
Filing date: 2000-12-28
Publication date: 2001-08-02
Also published as: AU2231901A; JP2001211128A

Abstract

An information distribution system which gives a user a sense of satisfaction by offering location-specific contents having a scarcity value, and charges an advertisement rate to a provider of information to be distributed to a user. When a transmission signal is output from a portable phone (20) to an information distribution center (30), the transmission signal is transmitted to the center (30) via a base station (34c) and a mobile exchange (33). On receiving this transmission signal, the information distribution center (30) detects the location area of the portable phone (20) from the information received from the portable phone (20) and the base station (34c), extracts location-specific contents in the location area of the portable phone (20) from a database retained by the center (30), outputs the contents to the phone (20), and charges an advertisement rate to an information provider.

Description

Description Information distribution system Technical field

The present invention restricts a telephone terminal to a region where the telephone terminal exists.

The present invention relates to an information distribution system that distributes data. Background art

In recent years, the use of mobile phones as receiving terminals for ringtones and news has been increasing. On the other hand, there is a tendency for users to find added value in collecting unique content that is unique elsewhere, such as original ringtones and daily image downloads.

However, conventional content distribution provides a mechanism that allows users to obtain content relatively easily, so even if a user receives unique content independently, other users can easily receive the same content. The problem is that the scarcity of the content is lost because it is possible.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides users with a sense of satisfaction by distributing scarce-valued area-limited content, and also provides a provider of information distributed to the user. The purpose of this is to provide an information distribution system that charges advertising fees. Disclosure of the invention

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a telephone terminal device capable of transmitting and receiving signals, a communication network including a base station through which a signal transmitted from the telephone terminal device passes, and a communication network including the base station through the base station. An information distribution system comprising: an information distribution device that receives a signal and provides information to the telephone terminal device, wherein the information distribution device transmits information from the base station through which the signal transmitted from the telephone terminal device passes. The telephone terminal device exists An area specifying means for specifying an area, an information storing means in which information representing content limited to each area is stored for each area, and a content limited to the area specified by the area specifying means are stored in the information storing means. It is characterized by comprising extraction means for extracting the contents from the inside, and transmission means for transmitting the contents extracted by the extraction means to the telephone terminal device via the communication network.

The present invention also provides the information distribution system, wherein the communication network includes a base station and an exchange, and the information distribution device is installed in advance in the area corresponding to the content limited to each area from the information storage means. The base station or the switching center, and when a signal transmitted from the telephone terminal device is received, the distributed content is transmitted from the base station or the switching center to the telephone terminal device. Send. Further, the content includes information including an advertisement provided by an information provider in each region, and the information distribution device includes a charging unit that charges an advertisement fee to the information provider. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an information distribution system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation in the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the mobile phone according to the embodiment. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mobile phone used in the information distribution system according to one embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a CPU (central processing unit) that controls each part of the circuit, reference numeral 2 denotes a ROM (read-on memory) as a storage medium on which a program executed by the CPU 1 is stored, and reference numeral 3 denotes data storage. RAM (Random Access Memory). This RAM 3 is backed up by a battery. Reference numeral 4 denotes an operation unit provided with a numeric keypad for inputting a telephone number and various function keys. Reference numeral 6 denotes a communication unit having an antenna 7, which transmits transmission data on a carrier wave and transmits from the antenna 7, and also demodulates an incoming signal received via the antenna 7 to the CPU 1 or the audio processing unit 8. Output. The audio processing unit 8 converts the audio signal output from the microphone 9 into digital data, compresses it and outputs it as transmission data to the communication unit 6, and converts the audio data output from the communication unit 6 into analog audio. Convert to a signal and output to speaker 10. Reference numeral 12 denotes a ring tone generator, which outputs a ring tone from the speaker 13. Reference numeral 14 denotes a display unit composed of a liquid crystal display or the like, which displays display data supplied from the CPU 1.

When making a call with the mobile phone having the above-described configuration, after turning on the power, the ten key or the like of the operation unit 4 is operated to input the telephone number of the other party, and a line with the other party is connected through the communication unit 6. At this time, the telephone number of the other party is displayed on the display unit 14. When the other party answers and the telephone is connected, voice is input from the microphone 9, the input voice is compression-coded by the voice processing unit 8, and transmitted from the communication unit 6 via the antenna 7. I do.

On the other hand, when there is an incoming call from another telephone, the ring tone generating unit 12 generates a ring tone from the speaker 13 based on the incoming signal input via the communication unit 6. At this time, the phone number of the transmission source may be displayed on the display unit 14 at the same time that the ring tone is generated from the speaker. Then, by confirming the incoming call and operating the reception key of the operation unit 4, the other party's telephone and the line are connected, and the voice data received through the communication unit 6 is converted into an analog voice signal by the voice processing unit 8, Output to speaker 10 and emitted. Therefore, it is possible to use the speaker 10 and the microphone 9 to talk with each other.

Next, a network of the information distribution system according to the embodiment will be described. In general, a communication system for a mobile phone adopts a small zone system, and a number of wireless zones are arranged in a service area. The base stations installed in each wireless zone manage each wireless zone. When a mobile phone as a mobile station talks with a general telephone, it is connected to the mobile switching center via a base station that manages the wireless zone to which the mobile telephone belongs, and is connected to the general telephone network from the mobile switching center. Will be able to As a result, the mobile telephone can communicate with other telephones by being connected to the base station managing each wireless zone via a wireless line. Also, when making a call with a mobile phone in another wireless zone, the mobile phone is connected to the mobile switching center via the base station that manages the wireless zone to which the mobile phone belongs, and the mobile switching center is connected to the mobile phone. It is possible to make a call with another mobile phone via the base station to which the phone belongs.

FIG. 1 shows an example of the communication system as described above. For example, the mobile phone 20 belongs to a wireless zone managed by the base station 34C. The mobile phone 20 and the base station 34C are connected by a wireless line, and signals used for making a call or performing location registration are received and processed by the base station 34C. Each of the base stations 34A to 34D manages a different radio zone, but the peripheries of the zones overlap each other.

The base stations 34A to 34D are connected to the mobile switching center 33 via a multiplexed line, and a plurality of mobile switching centers 33 are concentrated at the gateway switching center 32 and connected to a general telephone switching center. Is performed. General telephone exchanges 31A, 31B, 31C ... are installed in each region, and are connected to each other by a relay transmission line. A number of general telephones are connected to each of the general telephone exchanges 31A, 31B, 31C .... Among them, the general telephone exchange 31A is connected to the information distribution center 30's.

The information distribution center 30 maintains a database of content that includes information on local specialty products and restaurants, etc., and when a content distribution request is received from the mobile phone 20, the mobile phone 20 Is detected from the area information on the corresponding base station 34 C, the content limited to that area is extracted from the data base, and distributed to the mobile phone 20.

Hereinafter, the operation of the information distribution system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. First, the user sets the destination, that is, the telephone number of the information distribution center 30 by operating the numeric keypad or the like of the operation unit 4 while checking the display unit 14 (FIG. 3), and operating the call button by pressing the transmission button. The destination telephone number is stored in RAM 3, and a transmission signal to which the telephone number information of the own device is added is transmitted from communication section 6 via antenna 7. This Is transmitted to the mobile switching center 33 by the base station 34 C to which the mobile phone 20 belongs. The mobile switching center 33 determines a general telephone exchange or a base station for connecting to the destination from the telephone number set in the destination, and sends a transmission signal toward the route. As a result, a transmission signal is sent to the other party, that is, the information distribution center 30, and the information distribution center 30, which is the other party, operates the incoming call button or the like to connect the line (step S in FIG. 2). 1).

In this way, when the line between the information distribution center 30 and the mobile phone 20 is connected, the information distribution center 30 is based on the location information received from the mobile phone 20 and the corresponding base station 34 C, The location area of the mobile phone is detected (step S 2), and the content limited to the location area of the mobile phone 20 is extracted from the database held by the information distribution center 30, and this content is directed to the mobile phone 20. Make a call (step S3). This area-specific content is special, little-known information about the area, including information about recommended restaurants, recommended spots, and specialties.

When the mobile phone 20 receives the content transmitted from the information distribution center 30 via the antenna 7, the mobile phone 20 displays the content on the display unit 14 (step S4). Then, when the user operates the operation unit 4, the area-limited content distributed from the information distribution center 30 is stored in the special area of the RAM 3. In this way, when the download of the content is completed, the line is disconnected and the transmission processing ends.

As described above, in the area where the user has traveled, the user can obtain content limited to the area, and can also obtain information on the area. In addition, by storing these downloaded contents in the RAM 3, the user can retrieve information at any time by operating the operation unit 4. Note that the information distribution center 30 can also charge an advertisement fee to an information provider of area-limited content, that is, a restaurant or a souvenir shop that provides information.

In addition, the information distribution center has a database of regional limited contents held by 30 It is also possible for the gateway exchange 32 or the mobile exchange 33 to hold the information distribution center 30 instead of the information distribution center 30. In this case, the gateway switching center 32 or the mobile switching center 33 detects the location of the mobile phone from the location information of the base station through which the signal transmitted from the mobile phone has passed, and downloads the content in the corresponding region. It can be extracted from the database and sent to the mobile phone.

Further, the information distribution center 30 may be set in advance to transmit the area-limited content stored in the database to each base station installed in the area corresponding to the content. In this case, each base station has in advance content about the area where the base station is installed. Then, when a signal is received from the mobile phone, the content held by the base station may be transmitted to the mobile phone. This eliminates the need to transmit signals until the information distribution center 30 and shortens the time for downloading content to a mobile phone. Industrial applicability

As described above, the information distribution system of the present invention distributes content limited to the area where the telephone terminal exists to the telephone terminal that has received the information provision request. In other words, it is necessary to go to the land in order to obtain content limited to an area, so the content has rare value, and the user can obtain satisfaction by retaining the content. In addition, there is an advantage that call charges can be increased. In addition, distribution information (for example, recommended restaurant information in the region, introduction of spots, etc.) is distributed together with the regional distribution contents, so that distribution fees (advertising fees) can be obtained from information providers. it can.

Claims

The scope of the claims

1. A telephone terminal device capable of transmitting and receiving signals, a communication network including a base station through which a signal transmitted from the telephone terminal device passes, and receiving the signal via the base station and transmitting information to the telephone terminal device An information distribution system having an information distribution device that provides:

Area specifying means for specifying an area where the telephone terminal device is located, from information on the base station through which the signal transmitted from the telephone terminal device passes;

An information storage means in which information representing content limited to each region is stored for each region,

Extracting means for extracting, from the information storage means, content limited to the area specified by the area specifying means;

Transmitting means for transmitting the content extracted by the extracting means to the telephone terminal device via the communication network.

2. The communication network includes a base station and an exchange,

The information distribution apparatus distributes content limited to each area from the information storage means to the base station or exchange station installed in the corresponding area in advance, and receives a signal transmitted from the telephone terminal apparatus. 2. The information distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the distributed content is transmitted from the base station or the exchange to the telephone terminal device when the content is distributed.

3. The content includes information including an advertisement provided by an information provider in each region, and the information distribution device includes a charging unit that charges an advertisement fee to the information provider. 2. The information distribution system according to claim 1, wherein:

4. A telephone terminal device capable of transmitting and receiving signals, a communication network including a base station via a signal power transmitted from the telephone terminal device, and a telephone network for receiving the signal via the base station. An information distribution method performed by an information distribution device when information is provided to a terminal device.

The information distribution method includes:

From an information storage procedure for storing information representing content limited to each region for each region, and information on the base station through which the signal transmitted from the telephone terminal device passes, the region where the telephone terminal device exists is determined. Location identification procedure,

An extracting step of extracting content limited to the area specified by the area specifying step from the information stored for each area;

Transmitting the content extracted by the extraction procedure to the telephone terminal device via the communication network.

5. The communication network includes a base station and an exchange,

In the transmission procedure, content limited to each area is distributed to the base stations or exchanges installed in the corresponding area from information stored in advance in each area, and transmitted from the telephone terminal device. The information distribution method according to claim 4, wherein, upon receiving a signal, the distributed content is transmitted from the base station or the exchange to the telephone terminal device.

6. The content according to claim 4, wherein the content includes information including an advertisement provided by an information provider in each region, and includes a charging procedure for charging an advertisement fee to the information provider. Information distribution method described.

7. A telephone terminal device capable of transmitting and receiving signals, a communication network including a base station through which a signal transmitted from the telephone terminal device passes, and receiving the signal via the base station and transmitting information to the telephone terminal device A computer program executed by the information distribution device, comprising:

An information storage procedure for storing information representing content limited to each region for each region, and information on the base station through which the signal transmitted from the telephone terminal device passes, An area specifying procedure for specifying an area where the telephone terminal device is located; an extraction procedure for extracting content limited to the area specified by the area specifying procedure from the information stored for each area;

And transmitting the content extracted by the extraction procedure to the telephone terminal device via the communication network.

8. The communication network includes a base station and an exchange,

In the transmission procedure, content limited to each area is distributed to the base stations or exchanges installed in the corresponding area from information stored in advance in each area, and transmitted from the telephone terminal device. 8. The computer program according to claim 7, wherein upon receiving a signal, the distributed content can be transmitted from the base station or the exchange to the telephone terminal device.

9. The content according to claim 7, wherein the content includes information including an advertisement provided from an information provider in each region, and includes a charging procedure for charging an advertisement fee to the information provider. Computer program as described.