Information distributing method and information distributing system

• US 20020016972A1
• Filed: 04/24/2001
• Published: 02/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Ogawa, Katsuhisa, Kadokura, Koichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,047,551 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/133
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17354 in an intermediate station common to a plurality of user terminals

Abstract

In order to allow an advertisement company to register advertisement information using the Internet and conduct publicity activities aimed at specified target users, profile data of a plurality of users is managed using a database, selection conditions for selecting specific users to whom advertisement information should be distributed are received, specific users to whom the advertisement information should be distributed are selected based on the received selection conditions and the managed profile data, and the advertisement information is distributed to the selected specific users utilizing a digital broadcasting system.

Claims

1. An information distributing method using a cable line for digital broadcasting, comprising:

an identification step for identifying a type of a printing apparatus to be connected to a set-top box of each user;

an obtaining step for obtaining data that should be printed for specific users;

a selection step for selecting a printer driver corresponding to said printing apparatus based on the identification information;

a generation step for generating, using said selected printer driver, print information that should be printed by said printing apparatus of the specific users from said obtained data that should be printed; and

a distribution step for distributing said generated print information to set-top boxes of the specific users via said cable line.

2. An information distributing method according to claim 1, wherein

said identification step identifies the type of said printing apparatus by recognizing a device ID of said printing apparatus to be notified by said set-top box via said cable line.

3. An information distributing method according to claim 1, wherein

said set-top box transfers the distributed print information to the printing apparatus to be connected.

4. An information distributing method according to claim 3, wherein

said set-top box separates a print information portion from said distributed information and decodes it to original print information, and transfer said print information to said printing apparatus without displaying it on a monitor.

5. An information distributing method according to claim 1, further comprising:

a notification step for receiving a print end notice from said set-top box; and

a management step for registering and managing the fact that said print information is distributed to the specific users in a distribution history if said print end notice is received.

6. An information distributing method according to claim 1, wherein

said cable line is a two-way broad band communication network;

said distribution step distributes said print information as distribution information together with broadcast information that should be outputted on a display to be connected to said set-top box of the user.

7. An information distributing method according to claim 6, wherein

distribution information is separated into said print information and said broadcast information in said set-top box, and said print information is transferred to said printing apparatus without being displayed on said display.

8. An information distributing apparatus for distributing information using a cable line for digital broadcasting, comprising:

identifying means for identifying a type of a printing apparatus to be connected to a set-top box of each user;

obtaining means for obtaining data that should be printed for specific users;

selecting means for selecting a printer driver corresponding to said printing apparatus based on the identification information;

generating means for generating, using said selected printer driver, print information that should be printed by said printing apparatus of the specific users from said obtained data that should be printed; and

distributing means for distributing said generated print information to set-top boxes of the specific users via said cable line.

9. A control program to be executed in an information distributing apparatus for distributing information using a cable line for digital broadcasting, said program comprising:

an identification step for identifying a type of a printing apparatus to be connected to a set-top box of each user;

an obtaining step for obtaining data that should be printed for specific users;

a selection step for selecting a printer driver corresponding to said printing apparatus based on the identification information;

a generation step for generating, using said selected printer driver, print information that should be printed by said printing apparatuses of the specific users from said obtained data that should be printed; and

a distribution step for distributing said generated print information to set-top boxes of the specific users via said cable line.

10. A computer-readable storage medium storing a control program to be executed in an information distributing apparatus for distributing information using a cable line for digital broadcasting, wherein

the control program comprises:

an identification step for identifying a type of a printing apparatus to be connected to a set-top box of each user;

an obtaining step for obtaining data that should be printed for specific users;

a selection step for selecting a printer driver corresponding to said printing apparatus based on said identification information;

a generation step for generating, using said selected printer driver, print information that should be printed by said printing apparatuses of the specific users from said obtained data that should be printed; and

a distribution step for distributing said generated print information to set-top boxes of the specific users via said cable line.

11. An information distributing method of distributing print information based on information obtained via the Internet to specific users, comprising:

a management step for managing selection conditions for selecting distribution information which are obtained from the specific users in advance;

a collection step for collecting distribution information that should be distributed to the specific users from the information obtained via the Internet based on said managed selection conditions;

a generation step for generating print information that should be printed by the specific users based on said collected distribution information; and

a distribution step for actively distributing said generated print information to the specific users.

12. An information distributing method according to claim 11, wherein

said management step further retains time information that designates a time when said print information should be distributed, and

said distribution step actively distributes print information at a time corresponding to said time information.

13. An information distributing method according to claim 12, wherein

said time information is based on a 24-hour system, and

said distribution step actively distributes said print information when the user local time reaches a designated time.

14. An information distributing method according to claim 11, wherein

said distribution step distributes said print information to set-top boxes of the specific users using a cable line.

19. An information distributing method according to claim 18, wherein

the specific users are always connected for communication via a cable line, and

said distribution step actively distributes said laid out information.

20. An information distributing method according to claim 18, wherein

said selection step selects not only contents information desired by the specific users but also advertisement information and payment slip information.

21. An information distributing method according to claim 18, further comprising:

a management step for managing said received selection conditions in a user profile database, wherein

said user profile database manages individual information of users including addresses and ages.

15. An information distributing apparatus for distributing print information based on information obtained via the Internet to specific users, comprising:

managing means for managing selection conditions for selecting distribution information which are obtained from the specific users in advance;

collecting means for collecting distribution information that should be distributed to the specific users from the information obtained via the Internet based on said managed selection conditions;

generating means for generating print information that should be printed by the specific users based on said collected distribution information; and

distributing means for actively distributing said generated print information to the specific users.

16. A control program to be executed in an information distributing apparatus for distributing print information based on information obtained via the Internet to specific users, said program comprising:

a management step for managing selection conditions for selecting distribution information which are obtained from the specific users in advance;

a collection step for collecting distribution information that should be distributed to the specific users from the information obtained via the Internet based on said managed selection conditions;

a generation step for generating print information that should be printed by the specific users based on said collected distribution information; and

a distribution step for actively distributing said generated print information to the specific users.

17. A computer-readable storage medium storing a control program to be executed in an information distributing apparatus for distributing print information based on information obtained via the Internet to specific users, wherein

the control program comprises:

a management step for managing selection conditions for selecting distribution information which are obtained from the specific users in advance;

a collection step for collecting distribution information that should be distributed to the specific users from the information obtained via the Internet based on said managed selection conditions;

a generation step for generating print information that should be printed by the specific users based on said collected distribution information; and

a distribution step for actively distributing said generated print information to the specific users.

18. An information distributing method for distributing desired information to specific users, comprising:

a receiving step for receiving selection conditions for selecting desired contents information from the specific users;

a selection step for selecting contents information that should be distributed to the specific users out of contents information collected from a plurality of sites via the Internet based on said received selection conditions;

a generation step for laying out said selected contents information collected from a plurality of sites as one file to generate distribution information; and

a distribution step for distributing said generated distribution information to the specific users.

22. An information distributing apparatus for distributing desired information to specific users, comprising:

receiving means for receiving selection conditions for selecting desired contents information from the specific users;

selecting means for selecting contents information that should be distributed to the specific users out of contents information collected from a plurality of sites via the Internet based on said received selection conditions;

generating means for laying out said contents information collected from a plurality of sites as one file to generate distribution information; and

distributing means for distributing said generated distribution information to the specific users.

26. An information distributing method according to claim 25, wherein

said distribution step distributes said print information after scrambling it.

27. An information distributing method according to claim 25, further comprising:

a step for receiving a notice of processing result of said print information from said set-top box; and

an update step for updating a distribution history of said distribution information if a print end notice of said print information is received form said set-top box.

28. An information distributing method according to claim 27, further comprising:

a notification step for notifying said information distribution server that a notice cannot be sent to a user if a print error notice is received from said set-top box.

29. An information distributing method according to claim 25, wherein

said information distribution server is a server of a bank that desires distribution of a use record as distribution information.

23. A control program to be executed in an information distributing apparatus for distributing desired information to specific users, said program comprising:

a receiving step for receiving selection conditions for selecting desired contents information from the specific users;

a selection step for selecting contents information that should be distributed to the specific users out of contents information collected from a plurality of sites via the Internet based on said received selection conditions;

a generation step for laying out said selected contents information collected from a plurality of sites as one file to generate distribution information; and

a distribution step for distributing said generated distribution information to the specific users.

24. A computer-readable storage medium storing a control program to be executed in an information distributing apparatus for distributing desired information to specific users, wherein

the control program comprises:

a receiving step for receiving selection conditions for selecting desired contents information from the specific users;

a selection step for selecting contents information that should be distributed to the specific users out of contents information collected from a plurality of sites via the Internet based on said received selection conditions;

a generation step for laying out said selected contents information collected from the plurality of sites as one file to generate distribution information; and

a distribution step for distributing said generated distribution information to the specific users.

25. An information distributing method of distributing print information via a cable network for a digital broadcasting system to a user who has a set-top box for transferring received print information to a connected printing apparatus, comprising:

a receiving step for receiving distribution information that should be distributed to a user designated by an information distribution server;

a generation step for generating print information based on said received distribution information for each user; and

a distribution step for distributing said print information generated for each user to said set-top box of the designated user utilizing said cable network.

30. An information distributing apparatus for distributing print information via a cable network for a digital broadcasting system to a user who has a set-top box for transferring received print information to a connected printing apparatus, comprising:

receiving means for receiving distribution information that should be distributed to a user designated by an information distribution server;

generating means for generating print information based on said received distribution information for each user; and

distributing means for distributing said print information generated for each user to said set-top box of the designated user utilizing said cable network.

31. A control program to be executed in an information distributing apparatus for distributing print information via a cable network for a digital broadcasting system to a user who has a set-top box for transferring received print information to a connected printing apparatus, said program comprising:

a receiving step for receiving distribution information that should be distributed to a user designated by an information distribution server;

a generation step for generating print information based on said received distribution information for each user; and

a distribution step for distributing said print information generated for each user to said set-top box of the designated user utilizing said cable network.

32. A computer-readable storage medium storing a control program to be executed in an information distributing apparatus for distributing print information via a cable network for a digital broadcasting system to a user who has a set-top box for transferring received print information to a connected printing apparatus, wherein

the control program comprises:

a receiving step for receiving distribution information that should be distributed to a user designated by an information distribution server;

a generation step for generating print information based on said received distribution information for each user; and

a distribution step for distributing said print information generated for each user to said set-top box of the designated user utilizing said cable network.

33. An information distributing method of distributing advertisement information generated at an advertisement company to a plurality of users to be selected, comprising:

a management step for managing profile data of a plurality of users using a database;

a receiving step for receiving selection conditions for selecting specific users to whom the advertisement information should be distributed;

a selection step for selecting the specific users to whom the advertisement information should be distributed based on said received selection conditions and said managed profile data; and

a distribution step for distributing said advertisement information to the selected specific users utilizing a digital broadcasting system.

34. An information distributing method according to claim 33, further comprising:

a contents receiving step for receiving contents information from an information providing server; and

a generation step for laying out and generating distribution information based on said contents information and said advertisement information, wherein

said distribution step distributes distribution information including said contents information and said advertisement information.

35. An information distributing method according to claim 33, further comprising:

a generation step for generating print information based on said advertisement information for each of the specific users, wherein

said distribution step distributes said generated print information.

36. An information distributing method according to claim 33, further comprising:

a step for receiving a notice of processing result of said print information from a destination; and

an update step for updating a distribution history of said advertisement information if a print end notice of said print information is received from said destination.

37. An information distributing method according to claim 33, further comprising:

an advertisement management step for managing user selection conditions as well as advertisement distribution period information and advertisement genre information received by said receiving means in an advertisement attribute database by associating them with said advertisement information.

38. An information distributing apparatus for distributing advertisement information generated at an advertisement company to a plurality of users to be selected, comprising:

managing means for managing profile data of a plurality of users using a database;

receiving means for receiving selection conditions for selecting specific users to whom said advertisement information should be distributed;

selecting means for selecting the specific users to whom said advertisement information should be distributed based on said received selection conditions and said managed profile data; and

distributing step for distributing said advertisement information to the selected specific users utilizing a digital broadcasting system.

39. A control program to be executed in an information distributing apparatus for distributing advertisement information generated at an advertisement company to a plurality of users to be selected, said program comprising:

a management step for managing profile data of a plurality of users using a database;

a receiving step for receiving selection conditions for selecting specific users to whom said advertisement information should be distributed;

a selection step for selecting the specific users to whom advertisement information should be distributed based on said received selection conditions and said managed profile data; and

a distribution step for distributing advertisement information to the selected specific users utilizing a digital broadcast system.

40. A computer-readable storage medium storing a control program to be executed in an information distributing apparatus for distributing advertisement information generated at an advertisement company to a plurality of users to be selected, wherein

the control program comprises:

a management step for managing profile data of a plurality of users using a database;

a receiving step for receiving selection conditions for selecting specific users to whom advertisement information should be distributed;

a selection step for selecting the specific users to whom advertisement information should be distributed based on said received selection conditions and said managed profile data; and

a distribution step for distributing said advertisement information to the selected specific users utilizing a digital broadcasting system.