Electronic information content automatic distribution service system, information processing apparatus, recording medium, and electrical information content automatic distribution method

• US 7,401,053 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2001
• Issued: 07/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kita, Kazuhiro, Kamimura, Megumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Fischer; Andrew J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Winter; John M.
• Application Number:
  US10/019,135
• Publication Number:
  US 20020107805A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,639 Days
• Field of Search: 705/51, 705/1, 705/12, 705/50
• US Class Current: 705/51
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

An electronic information content automatic distribution service system according to the present invention is directed to a service system for automatically distributing electronic information contents based on a utilization contract made in advance between an information provider and a user. This system comprises: information distributing means for distributing electronic information contents to the user; and an information processing apparatus for receiving and processing electronic information contents distributed from this information distributing means. The information processing apparatus calls and connect the information distributing means at a preset first time. In addition, the apparatus receives and stores the electronic information contents from the information distributing means. Then, the apparatus reads out and displays the electronic information contents at a second time.

Claims

1. A service system for automatically distributing electronic information contents based on a utilization contract previously established between an information provider and a user, the service system comprising:

information distributing means for distributing electronic information contents to a user;

an information processing apparatus for receiving and processing the electronic information contents distributed from the information distributing means,

wherein the electronic information contents includes user selected topics and user-selected web pages, and advertisement information related to a region of the user, an age of the user, the topics that the user selected, and the web pages that the user selected,

wherein when an access rate of the electronic information contents increases, advertisement income is projected, and a price for the service is decreased,

wherein the information processing apparatus calls and connects the information distributing means at a predetermined connection time,

wherein the connection time is obtained by counting back from a display time, and receives and stores the electronic information contents from the information distributing means, and reads out and displays the electronic information contents at the display time;

wherein when two or more display times overlap, the information provider adjusts a connection time zone to prevent overlap of two or more connection times;

wherein said information processing apparatus is automatically activated at a startup time that is further counted back from the connection time and an automatic browsing application is initiated at said startup time;

wherein a web page in a category registered in advance is automatically displayed using said automatic browsing application at said display time; and

wherein said information provider includes a database for storing the electronic information contents selected by said user, a utilization charge payment method and customer information pertaining to said user.

2. The electronic information content automatic distribution service system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said information distributing means comprises:

a plurality of electronic information content providing terminal devices for providing said electronic information contents to a user; and

a terminal connection management device for selecting a terminal device to provide the electronic information contents based on the utilization contract and for connecting to the information processing apparatus.

3. The electronic information content automatic distribution service system as claimed in claim 1, wherein advertisement information is distributed from said information distributing means to a user'"'"'s information processing apparatus with said electronic information contents.

4. The electronic information content automatic distribution service system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said advertisement information contains a regionally limited advertisement related to a habitual area of a user.

5. The electronic information content automatic distribution service system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said information provider distributes electronic information contents sequentially updated to said user.

6. An apparatus for automatically receiving electronic information contents distributed from information distributing means based on a utilization contract previously established between an information provider and a user, the apparatus comprising:

a communication device for calling and connecting the information distributing means and for receiving the electronic information contents distributed from the information distributing means,

wherein the electronic information contents includes user selected topics and user-selected web pages, advertisement information related to a region of the user, an age of the user, the topics that the user selected, and the web pages that the user selected,

wherein when an access rate of the electronic information contents increases, advertisement income is projected, and a price for the service is decreased;

a storage device for storing the electronic information contents received from the communication device;

a display device for displaying the electronic information contents read out from the storage device;

a control device for controlling at least input and output of the communication device and display device, wherein the control device provides control so as to call and connect the information distributing means at a predetermined connection time, wherein the connection time is obtained by counting back from a display time, and to receive and store the electronic information contents from the information distributing means, and, read out and display the electronic information contents at the display time;

wherein when two or more display times overlap, the information provider adjusts a connection time zone to prevent overlap of two or more connection times;

wherein said apparatus is automatically activated at a startup time that is further counted back from the connection time and an automatic browsing application is initiated at said startup time;

wherein a web page in a category registered in advance is automatically displayed using said automatic browsing application at said display time; and

wherein said information provider includes a database for storing the electronic information contents selected by said user, a utilization charge payment method and customer information pertaining to said user.

7. The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:

operating means for setting a display time for reading out and displaying electronic information contents on said display device.

8. The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said control device sets a connection time for calling and connecting said information distributing means by counting the connection time back from said display time.

9. The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:

a recording medium for operating said control device, said recording medium having recorded therein a control program comprising;

a first procedure concerning a utilization contract made in advance between an information provider and a user;

a second procedure for setting a connection time that is a time for downloading electronic information contents from said information distributing means and for setting a display time that is a time for displaying electronic information contents by said information processing apparatus; and

a third procedure for calling said information distributing means to be connected to the user'"'"'s information processing apparatus at said connection time, and receiving and storing electronic information contents from said information distributing means, and, reading out and displaying electronic information contents by said information processing apparatus at said display time.

10. The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein advertisement information is displayed on said display device with electronic information contents.

11. The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said advertisement information contains a regionally limited advertisement related to a habitual area of a user.

12. A recording medium used to record electronic information contents that are automatically distributed from an information provider'"'"'s information distributing means to a user'"'"'s information processing apparatus, the recording medium having a control program recorded therein, the program comprising:

a first procedure related to a utilization contract previously established between the information provider and the user;

a second procedure for setting a connection time as a function of a time for downloading electronic information contents from the information distributing means and a display time that is a function of a time for displaying electronic information contents by the information processing apparatus, wherein the connection time is obtained by counting back from the display time,

wherein the electronic information contents includes user selected topics and user-selected web pages, advertisement information related to a region of the user, an age of the user, the topics that the user selected, and the web pages that the user selected,

wherein when an access rate of the electronic information contents increases, advertisement income is projected, and a price for the service is decreased;

a third procedure for calling the information distributing means at the connection time to be connected to the user'"'"'s information processing apparatus, receiving and storing the electronic information contents from the information distributing means, and, reading out and displaying the electronic information contents at the display time by the information processing apparatus; and

a fourth procedure for automatically activating said information processing apparatus at a startup time that is further counted back from the connection time and initiating an automatic browsing application at said startup time;

a fifth procedure for automatically displaying a web page in a category registered in advance using said automatic browsing application at said display time;

wherein when two or more display times overlap, the information provider adjusts a connection time zone to prevent overlap of two or more connection times; and

wherein said information provider includes a database for storing the electronic information contents selected by said user, a utilization charge payment method and customer information pertaining to said user.

13. The recording medium as claimed in claim 12, wherein said first procedure comprises the steps of:

registering a user in said information provider;

selecting a field of electronic information contents by said user; and

inputting a utilization charge payment method according to said electronic information content automatic distribution service.

14. A method for automatically distributing arbitrary electronic information contents from an information provider'"'"'s information distributing means to a user'"'"'s information processing apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:

establishing a utilization contract in advance between the information provider and the user;

setting a connection time that is a function of a time for downloading electronic information contents from the information distributing means and a display time that is a function of a time for displaying electronic information contents by the information processing apparatus, wherein the connection time is obtained by counting back from the display time,

wherein the electronic information contents includes user selected topics and user-selected web pages, advertisement information related to a region of the user, an age of the user, the topics that the user selected, and the web pages that the user selected,

wherein when an access rate of the electronic information contents increases, advertisement income is projected, and a price for the service is decreased;

calling the information distributing means at the connection time so as to be connected to the user'"'"'s information processing apparatus;

receiving the electronic information contents from the information distributing means;

displaying the electronic information contents at the display time by the information processing apparatus; and

automatically activating said information processing apparatus at a startup time that is further counted back from the connection time and initiating an automatic browsing application at said startup time;

automatically displaying a web page in a category registered in advance using said automatic browsing application at said display time;

wherein when two or more display times overlap, the information provider adjusts a connection time zone to prevent overlap of two or more connection times; and

wherein said information provider includes a database for storing the electronic information contents selected by said user, a utilization charge payment method and customer information pertaining to said user.

15. The electronic information content automatic distribution method as claimed in claim 14, comprising the steps of:

registering said user in an information provider during said utilization contract; and

selecting a field of electronic information contents by said user so as to input a utilization charge payment method relevant to said selected electronic information content automatic distribution service.

16. The electronic information content automatic distribution method as claimed in claim 14, wherein advertisement information is distributed from said information distributing means to the user'"'"'s information processing apparatus together with said electronic information contents.

17. The electronic information content automatic distribution method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said advertisement information contains a regionally limited advertisement related to a habitual area of a user.

18. The electronic information content automatic distribution method as claimed in claim 14, wherein said information provider distributes electronic information contents sequentially updated to said user.