Token type content providing system and token type content providing method and portable user terminal

• US 7,761,326 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2002
• Issued: 07/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
• Inventors: Tanaka, Kiyoshi, Akutsu, Akihito, Shiohara, Hisako, Shigeyoshi, Hiroki, Tonomura, Yoshinobu, Miyaoku, Kento, Doi, Syunsuke, Taura, Takahisa
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAMPAGNE, DONALD
• Application Number:
  US10/124,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20020169892A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,015 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14.39, 415/414.4, 415/466, 382/214, 382/229, 709/203
• US Class Current: 705/14.39
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives

Abstract

A token type content providing system is provided, in which the system includes a portable user terminal and a linkup server, the portable user terminal includes: a part for obtaining a token from an information notification medium; a part for sending the token to a linkup server; and a part for receiving content information; the linkup server includes: a part for determining one or more content identifier corresponding to the token by using a token table database; a part for obtaining one or more items of content information corresponding to the one or more content identifier; a part for selecting one or more items of content information by referring to the attribute information, and sending a part or the whole of selected content information to the portable user terminal.

Claims

1. A token type content providing method for providing content on a network in a token type content providing system having a user terminal and a linkup server, the method comprising:

using the user terminal to perform the following;

connecting to a network;

obtaining code information printed on a paper, from the paper, which is used for specifying content;

sending the code information to a linkup server via a network;

receiving a URL which is obtained by the linkup server by using the code information via a network;

receiving content corresponding to the URL; and

displaying, on a permeable display part, the content that is received;

wherein a token obtaining part of the user terminal includes a part for obtaining the code information which is printed on the paper, and obtaining terminal environment information including position relationship between an image of the code information which is printed on the paper and the permeable display part,

wherein the linkup server performs geometrical conversion, on the content corresponding to the URL using the terminal environment information, for adjusting position relationship between the image of the code information and the image of content displayed on the permeable display part used by being overlaid on the image, and

wherein the user terminal receives the geometrically converted content from the linkup server, and displays the geometrically converted content on the permeable display part.

2. A token type content providing method for providing content on a network in a token type content providing system having a user terminal and a linkup server, the method comprising:

using the user terminal to perform the following;

connecting to a network;

managing user information on users;

managing terminal information on user terminals;

obtaining code information printed on a paper, from the paper, which is used for specifying content;

sending the code information, the user information and the terminal information to a linkup server via a network;

receiving a URL which is obtained by the linkup server by using the token, the user information and the terminal information via a network;

receiving content corresponding to the URL; and

displaying the content that is received on a permeable display part of the user terminal;

wherein a token obtaining part of the user terminal includes obtaining the code information which is printed on the paper, and obtaining terminal environment information including position relationship between an image of the code information which is printed, on the paper and the permeable display part,

wherein the linkup server performs geometrical conversion, on the content corresponding to the URL using the terminal environment information, for adjusting position relationship between the image of the code information and the image of content displayed on the permeable display part used by being overlaid on the image, and

wherein the user terminal receives the geometrically converted content from the linkup server, and displays the geometrically converted content on the permeable display part.

3. A token type content providing method for providing content on a network in a token type content providing system having a user terminal and a linkup server, the method comprising:

using the user terminal to perform the following;

connecting to a network;

obtaining code information printed on a paper, from the paper, which is used for specifying content;

sending the code information to a linkup server via a network;

receiving a URL which is obtained by the linkup server by using the code information via a network; and

receiving content corresponding to the URL; and

displaying the content that is received on a permeable display part of the user terminal;

wherein a token obtaining part of the user terminal includes a part for obtaining the code information which is printed on the paper, and obtaining terminal environment information including position relationship between an image of the code information which is printed, on the paper and the permeable display part, and

wherein the user terminal performs geometrical conversion, on the content that is received using the terminal environment information, for adjusting position relationship between the image of the code information and an image of content displayed on the permeable display part used by being overlaid on the image of the information, and displays the geometrically converted content on the permeable display part.

4. A token type content providing method for providing content on a network in a token type content providing system having a user terminal and a linkup server, the method comprising:

using the user terminal to perform the following;

connecting to a network;

managing user information on users;

managing terminal information on user terminals;

obtaining code information printed on a paper, from the paper, which is used for specifying content;

sending the code information, the user information and the terminal information to a linkup server via a network;

receiving a URL which is obtained by the linkup server by using the token, the user information and the terminal information via a network;

receiving content corresponding to the URL; and

displaying the content that is received on a permeable display part of the user terminal;

wherein a token obtaining part of the user terminal includes a part for obtaining the code information which is printed on the paper, and obtaining terminal environment information including position relationship between an image of the code information which is printed on the paper and the permeable display part, and

wherein the user terminal performs geometrical conversion, on the content that is received using the terminal environment information, for adjusting position relationship between the image of the code information and an image of content displayed on the permeable display part used by being overlaid on the image of the information, and displays the geometrically converted content on the permeable display part.

5. A token type content providing method for providing content on a network in a token type content providing system having a user terminal and a linkup server, the method comprising:

using the user terminal to perform the following;

connecting to a network;

obtaining code information printed on a paper, from the paper, which is used for specifying content;

sending the code information to a linkup server via a network; and

the linkup server performing the following;

receiving the code information via a network;

determining a content identifier corresponding to the code information by using a token table database which stores code information and content identifiers each corresponding to code information;

obtaining a URL corresponding to the content identifier by using a content information database which stores URLs and content identifiers each corresponding to a URL;

sending the URL to the user terminal;

receiving the URL at the user terminal;

receiving content corresponding to the URL; and

displaying the content that is received on a permeable display part of the user terminal;

wherein the user terminal obtains, in the obtaining of the code information which is printed on the paper, and obtains terminal environment information including position relationship between an image of the code information which is printed on the paper and the permeable display part, and

wherein the linkup server performs geometrical conversion, on the content corresponding to the URL using the terminal environment information, for adjusting position relationship between the image of the code information and an image of content displayed on the permeable display part used by being overlaid on the image of the information, and transmits the geometrically converted content to the user terminal.

6. A token type content providing method for providing content on a network in a token type content providing system having a user terminal and a linkup server, the method comprising:

using the user terminal to perform the following;

connecting to a network;

managing user information on users by using a user information management part;

managing terminal information on portable user terminals by using a terminal information management part;

obtaining code information printed on a paper, from the paper, which is information which may be used for specifying content;

sending the code information, the user information and the terminal information to a linkup server via a network; and

the linkup server performing the following;

receiving the code information, the user information and the terminal information via a network;

determining a content identifier corresponding to the code information by using a token table database which stores code information and content identifiers each corresponding to code information;

obtaining a URL corresponding to the content identifier by using a content information database which stores URLs and content identifiers each corresponding to a URL;

sending the URL to the user terminal;

receiving at the user terminal content which is obtained by the linkup server by using the URL via a network; and

displaying the content that is received on a permeable display part;

wherein the user terminal obtains, in the obtaining of the code information, the code information which is printed on the paper, and obtains terminal environment information including position relationship between an image of the code information which is printed on the paper and the permeable display part, and

wherein the linkup server performs geometrical conversion, on the content corresponding to the URL using the terminal environment information, for adjusting position relationship between the image of the code information and an image of content displayed on the permeable display part used by being overlaid on the image of the information, and transmits the geometrically converted content to the user terminal.

7. A token type content providing method for providing content on a network in a token type content providing system having a user terminal and a linkup server, the method comprising:

using the user terminal to perform the following;

connecting to a network;

obtaining code information printed on a paper, from the paper, which is used for specifying content;

sending the code information to a linkup server via a network; and

the linkup server performing the following;

receiving the code information via a network;

determining a content identifier corresponding to the code information by using a token table database which stores code information and content identifiers each corresponding to code information;

obtaining a URL corresponding to the content identifier by using a content information database which stores URLs and content identifiers each corresponding to a URL;

sending the URL to the user terminal;

receiving at the user terminal the URL, and receiving content corresponding to the URL; and

displaying the content that is received on a permeable display part of the user terminal;

wherein the user terminal obtains, in the obtaining of the code information, the code information which is printed on the paper, and obtains terminal environment information including position relationship between an image of the code information which is printed on the paper and the permeable display part, and

wherein the user terminal performs geometrical conversion, on the content that is received using the terminal environment information, for adjusting position relationship between the image of the code information which is printed on the paper and the permeable display part and an image of content displayed on the permeable display part used by being overlaid on the image of the information, and displays the geometrically converted content on the permeable display part.

8. A token type content providing method for providing content on a network in a token type content providing system having a user terminal and a linkup server, the method comprising:

using the user terminal to perform the following;

connecting to a network;

managing user information on users by using a user information management part;

managing terminal information on portable user terminals by using a terminal information management part;

obtaining code information printed on a paper, from the paper, which is used for specifying content;

sending the code information, the user information and the terminal information to a linkup server via a network; and

the linkup server performing the following;

receiving the code information, the user information and the terminal information via a network;

determining a content identifier corresponding to the code information by using a token table database which manages a token table which stores code information and content identifiers each corresponding to code information;

obtaining a URL corresponding to the content identifier by using a content information database which stores URLs and content identifiers each corresponding to a URL;

sending the URL to the user terminal;

receiving at the user terminal content information which is obtained by the linkup server by using the URL via a network, and receiving content corresponding to the URL; and

displaying the content that is received on a permeable display part of the user terminal;

wherein the user terminal obtains, in the obtaining of the code information, the code information which is printed on the paper, and obtains terminal environment information including position relationship between an image of the code information which is printed on the paper and the permeable display part, and

wherein the user terminal performs geometrical conversion, on the content that is received using the terminal environment information, for adjusting position relationship between the image of the code information which is printed on the paper and an image of content displayed on the permeable display part used by being overlaid on the image of the information, and displays the geometrically converted content on the permeable display part.

9. A token type content providing system, comprising:

a linkup server; and

a user terminal, including;

a part for connecting to a network;

a token obtaining part for obtaining code information printed on a paper, from the paper, which is used for specifying content;

a part for sending the code information to a linkup server via a network;

a part for receiving a URL which is obtained by the linkup server by using the code information via a network; and

a part for receiving content corresponding to the URL, the linkup server including;

a part for receiving the code information via a network;

a part for determining a content identifier corresponding to the code information by using a token table database which stores code information and content identifiers each corresponding to code information;

a part for obtaining a URL corresponding to the content identifier by using a content information database which stores URLs and content identifiers each corresponding to a URL;

a part for sending the URL to the user terminal;

wherein the user terminal further includes a permeable display part for displaying the content that is obtained,

wherein the token obtaining part of the user terminal includes a part for obtaining the code information which is printed on the paper, and obtaining terminal environment information including position relationship between an image of the code information which is printed on the paper and the permeable display part, and

wherein the linkup server performs geometrical conversion, on the content corresponding to the URL using the terminal environment information, for adjusting position relationship between the image of the code information and the image of content displayed on the permeable display part used by being overlaid on the image, and transmits the geometrically converted content to the user terminal.

10. A token type content providing system, comprising:

a linkup server; and

a user terminal, including;

a part for connecting to a network;

a user information management part for managing user information on users;

a terminal information management part for managing terminal information on user terminals;

a token obtaining part for obtaining code information printed on a paper, from the paper, which is used for specifying content;

a part for sending the code information, the user information and the terminal information to a linkup server via a network;

a part for receiving a URL which is obtained by the linkup server by using the code information, the user information and the terminal information via a network; and

a part for receiving content corresponding to the URL,

the linkup server including;

a part for receiving the code information, the user information and the terminal information via a network;

a part for determining a content identifier corresponding to the code information by using a token table database which stores code information and content identifiers each corresponding to code information;

a part for obtaining a URL corresponding to the content identifier by using a content information database which stores URLs and content identifiers each corresponding to a URL;

a part for sending the URL to the user terminal;

wherein the user terminal further includes a permeable display part for displaying the content that is received,

wherein the token obtaining part of the user terminal includes a part for obtaining the code information which is printed on the paper, and obtaining terminal environment information including position relationship between an image of the code information which is printed on the paper and the permeable display part, and

wherein the linkup server performs geometrical conversion, on the content corresponding to the URL using the terminal environment information, for adjusting position relationship between the image of the code information and the image of content displayed on the permeable display part used by being overlaid on the image, and transmits the geometrically converted content to the user terminal.

11. A token type content providing system, comprising:

a linkup server; and

a user terminal, including;

a part for connecting to a network;

a token obtaining part for obtaining code information printed on a paper, from the paper, which is used for specifying content;

a part for sending the code information to a linkup server via a network;

a part for receiving a URL which is obtained by the linkup server by using the code information via a network; and

a part for receiving content corresponding to the URL,

the linkup server including;

a part for receiving the code information via a network;

a part for determining a content identifier corresponding to the code information by using a token table database which stores code information and content identifiers each corresponding to code information;

a part for obtaining a URL corresponding to the content identifier by using a content information database which stores URLs and content identifiers each corresponding to a URL;

a part for sending the URL to the user terminal;

wherein the user terminal further includes a permeable display part for displaying the content that is received,

wherein the token obtaining part of the user terminal includes a part for obtaining the code information which is printed on the paper, and obtaining terminal environment information including position relationship between an image of the code information which is printed on the paper and the permeable display part, and

wherein the user terminal performs geometrical conversion, on the content that is received using the terminal environment information, for adjusting position relationship between the image of the code which is printed on the paper and an image of content displayed on the permeable display part used by being overlaid on the image of the information, and displays the geometrically converted content on the permeable display part.

12. A token type content providing system, comprising:

a linkup server; and

a user terminal, including;

a part for connecting to a network;

a user information management part for managing user information on users;

a terminal information management part for managing terminal information on user terminals;

a token obtaining part for obtaining code information printed on a paper, from the paper, which is used for specifying content;

a part for sending the code information, the user information and the terminal information to a linkup server via a network;

a part for receiving a URL which is obtained by the linkup server by using the code information, the user information and the terminal information via a network; and

a part for receiving content corresponding to the URL,

the linkup server including;

a part for receiving the code information, the user information and the terminal information via a network;

a part for determining one or more content identifier corresponding to the code information by using a token table database which manages a token table which stores code information and content identifiers each corresponding to code information;

a part for obtaining a URL corresponding to the content identifier by using a content information database which stores URLs and content identifiers each corresponding to a URL;

a part for sending the URL to the user terminal;

wherein the user terminal further includes a permeable display part for displaying the content that is received,

wherein the token obtaining part of the user terminal includes a part for obtaining the code information which is printed on the paper, and obtaining terminal environment information including position relationship between an image of the code information which is printed on the paper and the permeable display part, and

wherein the user terminal performs geometrical conversion, on the content that is received using the terminal environment information, for adjusting position relationship between the image of the code information and an image of content displayed on the permeable display part used by being overlaid on the image of the information, and displays the geometrically converted content on the permeable display part.

13. A user terminal for a token type content providing system, having the user terminal and a linkup server, the user terminal comprising:

a part for connecting to a network;

a token obtaining part for obtaining code information printed on a paper, from the paper, which is used for specifying content;

a part for sending the code information to a linkup server via a network;

a part for receiving a URL which is obtained by the linkup server by using the code information via a network;

a part for receiving content corresponding to the URL; and

a permeable display part for displaying the content that is received;

wherein the token obtaining part of the user terminal includes a part for obtaining the code information which is printed on the paper, and obtaining terminal environment information including position relationship between an image of the code information which is printed on the paper and the permeable display part,

wherein the linkup server performs geometrical conversion, on the content corresponding to the URL using the terminal environment information, for adjusting position relationship between the image of the code information and the image of content displayed on the permeable display part used by being overlaid on the image, and

wherein the user terminal receives the geometrically converted content from the linkup server, and displays the geometrically converted content on the permeable display part.

14. A user terminal for a token type content providing system, having the user terminal and a linkup server, the user terminal comprising:

a part for connecting to a network;

a user information management part for managing user information on users;

a terminal information management part for managing terminal information on user terminals;

a token obtaining part for obtaining code information printed on a paper, from the paper, which is used for specifying content;

a part for sending the code information, the user information and the terminal information to a linkup server via a network;

a part for receiving a URL which is obtained by the linkup server by using the code information, the user information and the terminal information via a network;

a part for receiving content corresponding to the URL; and

a permeable display part for displaying the content that is received;

wherein the token obtaining part of the user terminal includes a part for obtaining the code information which is printed on the paper, and obtaining terminal environment information including position relationship between an image of the code information which is printed on the paper and the permeable display part,

wherein the linkup server performs geometrical conversion, on the content corresponding to the URL using the terminal environment information, for adjusting position relationship between the image of the code information and the image of content displayed on the permeable display part used by being overlaid on the image, and

wherein the user terminal receives the geometrically converted content from the linkup server, and displays the geometrically converted content on the permeable display part.

15. A user terminal used in a token type content providing system, having the user terminal and a linkup server, the user terminal comprising:

a part for connecting to a network;

a token obtaining part for obtaining code information printed on a paper, from the paper, which is used for specifying content;

a part for sending the code information to a linkup server via a network;

a part for receiving a URL which is obtained by the linkup server by using the code information via a network;

a part for receiving content corresponding to the URL; and

a permeable display part for displaying the content that is received;

wherein the token obtaining part of the user terminal includes a part for obtaining the code information which is printed on the paper, and obtaining terminal environment information including position relationship between an image of the code information which is printed on the paper and the permeable display part, and

wherein the user terminal performs geometrical conversion, on the content that is received using the terminal environment information, for adjusting position relationship between the image of the code information and an image of content displayed on the permeable display part used by being overlaid on the image of the information, and displays the geometrically converted content on the permeable display part.

16. A user terminal used in a token type content providing system, having the user terminal and a linkup server, the user terminal comprising:

a part for connecting to a network;

a user information management part for managing user information on users;

a terminal information management part for managing terminal information on user terminals;

a token obtaining part for code information printed on a paper, from the paper, which is used for specifying content;

a part for sending the code information, the user information and the terminal information to a linkup server via a network;

a part for receiving a URL which is obtained by the linkup server by using the code information, the user information and the terminal information via a network;

a part for receiving content corresponding to the URL; and

a permeable display part for displaying the content that is received;

wherein the token obtaining part of the user terminal includes a part for obtaining the code information which is printed on the paper, and obtaining terminal environment information including position relationship between an image of the code information which is printed on the paper and the permeable display part, and

wherein the user terminal performs geometrical conversion, on the content that is received using the terminal environment information, for adjusting position relationship between the image of the code information and an image of content displayed on the permeable display part used by being overlaid on the image of the information, and displays the geometrically converted content on the permeable display part.