Distribution system and distribution method

• US 8,285,783 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2001
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Otobe, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Dennison, Jerry
• Application Number:
  US10/380,715
• Publication Number:
  US 20040010599A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,037 Days
• Field of Search: 709/204, 709/216, 709/223, 709/228
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/22 in combination with an identity check of the pass holder
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/32 in combination with an identity check
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2223 being a public access point, e.g. for downloading to or uploading from clients arrangements specially adapted to plural spots in a confined site in broadcast systems H04H20/63
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25883 being end-user demographical data, e.g. age, family status or address arrangements for identifying locations of users in broadcast systems H04H60/52
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41415 involving a public display, viewable by several users in a public space outside their home, e.g. movie theatre, information kiosk
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42684 Client identification by a unique number or address, e.g. serial number, MAC address, socket ID network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/441 Acquiring end-user identification , e.g. using personal code sent by the remote control or by inserting a card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4415 using biometric characteristics of the user, e.g. by voice recognition or fingerprint scanning cryptography using biological data H04L9/3231; authentication in networks using biometric H04L63/0861
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A portable terminal apparatus including an individual identification acquiring device and a unit for transmitting individual identification information. A central controller allows for comparing a piece of individual identification data, stored in a storage unit to the received individual identification information and, if an individual identification code could be specified, the portable terminal apparatus obtains information from the base apparatus. The distributive information storage unit stores information to be distributed. Information relative to a material displayed on a large-sized image display apparatus is transmitted from the base apparatus to the portable terminal apparatus through a communication line.

Claims

1. A distributing system comprising:

a plurality of base apparatuses each having an image display device and performing wireless communication including data transmission;

a central processing station including distributive information storage device for storing a first informational data and a second informational data to be distributed and individual identification data storage device for storing pieces of individual identification data, said central processing station being connected with each of said plurality of base apparatuses through a communication line to distribute said first and second informational data to each of said base apparatuses, each of the base apparatuses having a predetermined wireless service area; and

a portable terminal apparatus including individual identification information acquiring device for acquiring a user'"'"'s individual identification information and device for transmitting to said base apparatuses the individual identification information acquired by said individual identification information acquiring device, wherein said portable terminal apparatus is for performing wireless communication with the base apparatuses, said communication including reception of said second informational data obtained from said central processing station through the communication line, wherein the portable terminal apparatus includes device for determining whether the portable terminal apparatus is located within the wireless service area corresponding to one of the plurality of base apparatuses and, based on the determined wireless service area, performing wireless communication with the corresponding base apparatus,

wherein said central processing station includes central control device for allowing said individual identification information to be transmitted from said portable terminal apparatus to said base apparatus, said individual identification information being received through said communication line to be compared to said pieces of individual identification data stored in said individual identification data storage device; and

wherein said central control device allows second informational data to be distributed to said base apparatuses for transmitting said second informational data to said portable terminal apparatus when any one of said specified pieces of individual identification data matches said individual identification information, said second informational data corresponds to the first informational data being displayed on said image display device, and said second informational data is different from the first informational data being displayed on said image display device,

wherein said central processing station includes information processing device for listing profile information of all participating portable terminal apparatuses of a meeting place, extracting a plurality of frequently occurring common items, weighting the common items, retrieving and collecting material related to the weighted common items, and transmitting a summary of the collected material to said base apparatuses for distributing said summary to everyone of the participating portable terminal apparatuses and for displaying the summary on said image display device.

2. The distributing system according to claim 1, wherein said individual identification data storage device stores a plurality of pieces of said individual identification data each corresponding to an individual identification code that are assigned to every individual;

and

wherein said central control device allows for comparing said individual identification information transmitted from said portable terminal apparatus to said base apparatus and sent through said communication line to said pieces of individual identification data stored in said individual identification data storage device; and

wherein when any one said plurality of pieces of individual identification data matching said individual identification information is selected to specify said individual identification code, said central control device allows for distributing said second informational data to each of said base apparatuses to transmit the data to said portable terminal apparatus.

3. The distributing system according to claim 2, wherein when said portable terminal apparatus acquires said second informational data in communication with one of said base apparatuses or said portable terminal apparatus transmits a request for said second informational data, said user of said portable terminal apparatus is charged based on said individual identification code of said user.

4. The distributing system according to claim 1, wherein said central processing station includes terminal information storage device for storing a piece of identification data for said portable terminal apparatus;

wherein said portable terminal apparatus transmits said individual identification information and inherent terminal identification information to said base apparatuses;

wherein said central processing station receives said inherent terminal identification information with positional information of the base apparatus corresponding to the service area in which said portable terminal apparatus is located, and said terminal information storage device stores the inherent terminal identification information and the positional information of said base apparatuses; and

wherein said central control device allows for distributing said second informational data to said base apparatus corresponding to the service area in which said portable terminal apparatus is located on the basis of said positional information thus stored to transmit the data to said portable terminal apparatus.

5. The distributing system according to claim 4, wherein said portable terminal apparatus transmits a message with said inherent terminal identification information;

wherein said central processing station includes storage device for storing said message; and

wherein said central control device allows for distributing to the base apparatus specified based on said positional information from another portable terminal apparatus to which said message, stored in said storage device, is transmitted.

6. The distributing system according to claim 1, wherein said central processing station includes terminal information storage device for storing said piece of identification data on said portable terminal apparatus;

wherein said portable terminal apparatus transmits said individual identification information and inherent terminal identification information; and

wherein when said portable terminal apparatus acquires said second informational data in communication with one of said base apparatuses or said portable terminal apparatus transmits a request for said second informational data, said user is charged based on said piece of identification data specified by comparing said terminal identification information of said portable terminal apparatus to said piece of identification data stored in said terminal information storage device.

7. The distributing system according to claim 1, wherein said portable terminal apparatus includes input capture device for capturing a piece of processed data of a character and/or image, said portable terminal apparatus transmitting said piece of processed data and said individual identification information to said base apparatus corresponding to the service area in which said portable apparatus is located;

wherein said central processing station includes storage device for storing said piece of processed data obtained from each of said base apparatuses through said communication line; and

wherein said central control device allows for processing said piece of processed data stored in said storage device, and for distributing said piece of processed data to said base apparatus corresponding to the service area in which said portable apparatus is located through said communication line to transmit the piece of processed data to said portable terminal apparatus.

8. The distributing system according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of terminal apparatuses, wherein said central processing station includes storage device for storing profile information regarding to a level of information disclosure for a registered individual;

wherein said distributive information storage device stores announcement information relative to said profile information and to said second informational data to be distributed;

wherein each of said portable terminal apparatuses further has transmission processing device for disclosing the profile information for the individual according to said instructed level of information disclosure of the individual, and performs wireless communication with said base apparatus corresponding to the service area in which each of said terminal apparatuses is located, said wireless communication including reception of any one of said second informational data, said announcement information and said profile information; and

wherein when any one of said specified pieces of individual identification data matches said individual identification information, said central processing station transmits to said base apparatuses said profile information to distribute the information to everyone of the portable terminal apparatuses except the one carried by a specified individual using said central control device.

9. The distributing system according to claim 8, wherein said announcement information is used during an introduction mode for distributing said profile information that is distributed after an introduction announcement except said introduction announcement is not used during an automatic mode for distributing said profile information.

10. The distributing system according to claim 8, wherein said transmission processing device includes a liquid crystal display unit implemented in said portable terminal apparatus, said liquid crystal display unit displaying a set menu, and said level of information disclosure is specified based on said set menu;

and

wherein information indicating said level of information disclosure is transmitted with said announcement information.

11. The distributing system according to claim 8, wherein said central processing station includes information processing device for listing profile information of all participants, extracting a frequently occurring common item, retrieving and collecting material related to said common item from said extracted common item, and transmitting an outline to said base apparatuses for distributing said outline information to everyone of the portable terminal apparatuses.

12. The distributing system according to claim 8, wherein, said central processing station, said material related to the central processing station is specified based on return from one of said plurality of portable terminal apparatuses after distributing said outline to said portable terminal apparatuses, with information about said material related being distributed to every of the portable terminal apparatuses through said base apparatuses.

13. A distributing method for wirelessly transmitting a second informational data to be distributed to portable terminal apparatus separately from a plurality of base apparatuses each having an image display device and a predetermined wireless service area and connected through a communication line to a central processing station having distributive information storage device for storing said second informational data and a first informational data, comprising the steps of:

acquiring individual identification information of a user using individual identification information acquiring device implemented in said portable terminal apparatus and wirelessly transmitting from the portable terminal apparatus to said base apparatus corresponding to the service area in which said portable terminal apparatus is located said acquired individual identification information;

receiving at said base apparatus corresponding to the service area in which said portable terminal apparatus is located said individual identification information transmitted from said portable terminal apparatus and transmitting said individual identification information from said base apparatus corresponding to the service area in which said portable terminal apparatus is located to said central processing station through said communication line;

comparing, at said central processing station, said individual identification information transmitted, from said corresponding base apparatus, to pieces of individual identification data stored in individual identification data storage device implemented in said central processing station;

allowing said second informational data stored in said distributive information storage device to be distributed through said communication line to said base apparatuses when any one of said specified pieces of individual identification data matching said individual identification information, said second informational data corresponds to the first informational data being displayed on said image display device, and said second informational data is different from the first informational data being displayed on said image display device; and

transmitting said second informational data to said portable terminal apparatus from said base apparatus receiving said second informational data distributed through said communication line,

wherein said central processing station includes information processing device for listing profile information of all participating portable terminal apparatuses of a meeting place, extracting a plurality of frequently occurring common items, weighting the common items, retrieving and collecting material related to the weighted common items, and transmitting a summary of the collected material to said base apparatuses for distributing said summary to everyone of the participating portable terminal apparatuses and for displaying the summary on said image display device.

14. The distributing method according to claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

performing transmission processing for disclosing profile information according to a level of information disclosure specified by said portable terminal apparatus when any one of said specified pieces of individual identification data matches said individual identification information is specified;

distributing said profile information according to the level of information disclosure from profile information storage device implemented in said base apparatus when receiving an indication of said level of information disclosure or said second informational data stored in said distributive information storage device, to said base apparatuses through said communication line;

transmitting to a plurality of portable terminal apparatuses said second informational data from said base apparatus distributed through said communication line or transmitting said profile information to everyone of said portable terminal apparatuses located within the service area of the corresponding base apparatus except said portable terminal apparatus having transmitted said piece of individual identification data.

15. The distributing method according to claim 14, wherein said transmission processing includes a step of adding announcement information relative to said profile information;

and

wherein said announcement information is used during an introduction mode for distributing said profile information that is distributed after an introduction announcement aside from an automatic mode for distributing said profile information without an introduction announcement.

16. The distributing method according to claim 14, wherein a processing step of the central processing station includes the steps of specifying said material related to said profile information based on return from one of said plurality of portable terminal apparatuses after distributing the outline to said portable terminal apparatuses through said base apparatus, and distributing information about said related information to everyone of the portable terminal apparatuses through said base apparatus.

17. The distributing method of claim 13,

wherein each of the base apparatuses includes a distributive information storage device for storing said second informational data to be distributed that is related to each of the displayed first informational data on said image display device, each of said base apparatuses performing wireless communication including transmission of said second informational data;

and

wherein when any one of a plurality of first informational data is being displayed on said image display device, said base apparatus transmits to said portable terminal apparatus located within the service area corresponding to said transmitting base apparatus said second informational data stored in said distributive information storage device, said second informational data corresponding to said first informational data.

18. The distributing method according to claim 17,

wherein each of said base apparatuses includes individual identification data storage device for storing pieces of individual identification data;

wherein each of said base apparatuses compares said individual identification information transmitted from said portable terminal apparatus located with the service area corresponding to said base apparatus to said pieces of individual identification data stored in said individual identification data storage device; and

wherein when any one of said specified pieces of individual identification data matches said individual identification information, said base apparatus transmits to said portable terminal apparatus said second informational data that is related to said first informational data displayed on said image display device.

19. The distributing method according to claim 17, wherein said second informational data contains a piece of additional data adding identification information that is related to said information;

and

wherein said displayed first informational data and said second informational data are correlated with each other by said piece of additional data.

20. The distributing system according to claim 17, wherein said individual identification data storage device stores a plurality of pieces of said individual identification data each corresponding to every individual identification code that are assigned to said individual;

wherein each of said base apparatuses compares said individual identification information transmitted from said portable terminal apparatus located within the service area corresponding to the base apparatus to said pieces of individual identification data stored in said individual identification data storage device; and

wherein when any one of said pieces of individual identification data matching said individual identification information is selected to specify said individual identification code, said base apparatus transmits said information to said portable terminal apparatus located within the service area corresponding to the base apparatus.

21. The distributing system according to claim 20, wherein when said portable terminal apparatus acquires specific information in communication with said base apparatus or said portable terminal apparatus transmits the specific information, a user of said portable terminal apparatus is charged based on an individual identification code of said user.

22. The distributing system according to claim 17, wherein said portable terminal apparatus transmits inherent terminal identification information and said individual identification information;

wherein each of said base apparatuses includes terminal information storage device for storing said piece of identification data of said portable terminal apparatus; and

wherein when said portable terminal apparatus acquires specific information in communication with said base apparatus or said portable terminal apparatus transmits the specific information, a user is charged based on the terminal identification information of said portable terminal apparatus.

23. The distributing method according to claim 17, wherein each of said base apparatuses has storage device for storing profile information that is related to a level of information disclosure for a registered individual, and said distributive information storage device stores announcement information relative to said profile information in addition to said second informational data to be distributed;

wherein said portable terminal apparatus includes transmission processing device for disclosing said profile information of the individual according to the instructed level of information disclosure; and

wherein when a piece of individual identification data from said portable terminal apparatus is specified, said profile information received, from said portable terminal apparatus according to the level of information disclosure, is transmitted to portable terminal apparatuses located within the service area corresponding to said base apparatus except said portable terminal apparatus having transmitted said piece of individual identification data, and to said image display device.

24. The distributing method according to claim 23, wherein said announcement information is used during an introduction mode for distributing said profile information after distributing an introduction announcement aside from an automatic mode for distributing said profile information without an introduction announcement.

25. The distributing method according to claim 23, wherein said transmission processing device includes a liquid crystal display unit implemented in said portable terminal apparatus, said liquid crystal display unit displaying a set menu, and said level of information disclosure is specified based on said set menu;

and

wherein information indicating said level of information disclosure is transmitted with said announcement information.

26. The distributing method according to claim 23, wherein said displayed material related to said profiled information is specified based on return from one of said a plurality portable terminal apparatuses after distributing said outline to said portable terminal apparatuses, with information related to said profile information being distributed to each of said terminal apparatuses or to said image display device said outline being obtained by listing profile information of all participants, extracting a frequently occurring common item, retrieving and collecting material related to said extracted common item.

27. The distributing method of claim 13, wherein each of the base apparatuses includes an image display and distributive information storage device for storing said second informational data to be distributed in relation to each piece of first informational data displayed on said image display device, the method further comprising the steps of:

displaying any one of said first informational data on said image display device;

receiving at said base apparatus said individual identification information, transmitted from said portable terminal apparatus located within the service area corresponding to the base apparatus, to compare said individual identification information to pieces of individual identification data stored in individual identification data storage device implemented in said base apparatus; and

allowing said second informational data corresponding to said first informational data displayed on said image display device, said second informational data being stored in said distributive information storage device, to be transmitted to said portable terminal apparatus when any one of said specified pieces of individual identification data matches said individual identification information.

28. The distributing method according to claim 27, wherein a step of performing transmission processing for disclosing profile information according to instructed level of information disclosure specified in said portable terminal apparatus is added as a step to be performed in said portable terminal apparatus when any one of said specified pieces of individual identification data matches said individual identification information;

and

wherein a step of transmitting said profile information according to said level of information disclosure is added into said base apparatus when receiving an indication of said level of information disclosure, from profile information storage device implemented in said base apparatus to everyone of the portable terminal apparatuses located within the service area corresponding to the base apparatus except said portable terminal apparatus having transmitted said piece of individual identification data or to said image display device.

29. The distributing method according to claim 28, wherein said transmission processing includes a step of adding announcement information to said profile information;

and

wherein said announcement information is used during an introduction mode for distributing said profile information after distributing said introduction announcement aside from an automatic mode for distributing said profile information without an introduction announcement.

30. The distributing method according to claim 28, wherein a processing step, at the base apparatuses, includes the steps of listing profile information of all participants, extracting a frequently occurring common item, retrieving and collecting material related to said extracted common item, and then distributing an outline to each of the portable terminal apparatuses or to said image display device.

31. The distributing method according to claim 28, wherein a processing step, at the base apparatuses, includes the steps of specifying said material related to said individual information based on return from one of said plurality of portable terminal apparatuses after distributing said outline to said portable terminal apparatuses, and distributing information related to profile information to each of said portable terminal apparatuses or to said image display device.

32. A distributing system comprising:

a plurality of base apparatuses each having a predetermined wireless service area and an image display device and performing wireless communication including data transmission;

a central processing station including distributive information storage device for storing a first informational data and a second informational data to be distributed, the informational data corresponds to material displayed on said image display device, and the second informational data is different from the first informational data displayed on said image display device, said central processing station being connected with each of said base apparatuses through a communication line to distribute said information to each of said base apparatuses; and

a portable terminal apparatus for performing wireless communication with said base apparatuses, said communication including reception of said second informational data obtained from said central processing station through said communication line, wherein, when the portable terminal apparatus is located within the service area corresponding to one of the plurality of base apparatuses, the portable terminal apparatus is operable to perform wireless communication with the corresponding base apparatus, wherein when any one of said materials is being displayed on said image display device, said base apparatus transmits said second informational data stored in said material information storage device, said informational data corresponding to said first informational data,

wherein said central processing station includes information processing device for listing profile information of all participating portable terminal apparatuses of a meeting place, extracting a plurality of frequently occurring common items, weighting the common items, retrieving and collecting material related to the weighted common items, and transmitting a summary of the collected material to said base apparatuses for distributing said summary to everyone of the participating portable terminal apparatuses and for displaying the summary on said image display device.

33. The distributing system according to claim 32 further comprising a plurality of portable terminal apparatuses, wherein each of said portable terminal apparatuses includes individual identification information acquiring device for acquiring individual identification information from a user and device for transmitting said individual identification information acquired by said individual identification information acquiring device to said base apparatus;

wherein said central processing station includes individual identification data storage device for storing pieces of individual identification data;

wherein said central processing station comprises central control device for allowing said individual identification information, transmitted from said portable terminal apparatus to said base apparatus and distributed through said communication line, to be compared to said pieces of individual identification data stored in said individual identification data storage device; and

wherein said central control device allows said information to be distributed to said base apparatuses to transmit the information to said portable terminal apparatus when any one of said specified pieces of individual identification data matches said individual identification information.

34. The distributing system according to claim 32, wherein said second informational data contains a piece of additional data adding identification information related to said second informational data;

and

said first informational data and said second informational data are correlated with each other by said piece of addition data.

35. The distributing system according to claim 33, wherein said individual identification data storage device stores a plurality of pieces of said individual identification data each corresponding to an individual identification code that relates to said individual;

wherein said central control device allows for comparing said individual identification information transmitted from said portable terminal apparatus to said base apparatuses and distributed through said communication line to said pieces of individual identification data stored in said individual identification data storage device; and

wherein when any one of said pieces of individual identification data matching said individual identification information is selected to specify said individual identification code, said central control device allows for distributing said second informational data to said base apparatus to transmit the piece of informational data to said portable terminal apparatus.

36. The distributing system according to claim 33, wherein when said portable terminal apparatus acquires said second informational data in communication with one of said base apparatuses or said portable terminal apparatus transmits a request for said second informational data, a user of said portable terminal apparatus is charged based on an individual identification code of said user.

37. The distributing system according to claim 33, wherein said central processing station further comprises terminal information storage device for storing a piece of identification data for said portable terminal apparatus;

wherein said portable terminal apparatuses transmits to said base apparatus inherent terminal identification information and said individual identification information;

wherein said central processing station receives said inherent terminal identification information with positional information on said base apparatus corresponding to the service area in which said portable terminal apparatus is located, and said terminal information storage device stores the inherent terminal identification information and the positional information; and

wherein said central control device allows for distributing said second informational data to said base apparatuses based on said stored positional information to transmit the second informational data to said portable terminal apparatus.

38. The distributing system according to claim 37, wherein said potable terminal apparatus transmits a message and said inherent terminal identification information;

wherein said central processing station includes storage device for storing said message; and

wherein said central control device allows for distributing to said base apparatuses specified based on said positional information from another portable terminal apparatus to which said message, stored in said storage device, is transmitted.

39. The distributing system according to claim 33, wherein said central processing station further comprises terminal information storage device for storing a piece of identification data for said portable terminal apparatus;

wherein said portable terminal apparatus transmits said individual identification information and inherent terminal identification information; and

wherein when said portable terminal apparatus acquires said second informational data in communication with one of said base apparatuses or said portable terminal apparatus transmits a request for said second informational data, a user is charged based on said piece of identification data specified by comparing said terminal identification information of said portable terminal apparatus to said piece of identification data stored in said terminal information storage device.

40. The distributing system according to claim 33, wherein said portable terminal apparatus includes input capture device for capturing a piece of processed data of character and/or image, said portable terminal apparatus transmitting said piece of processed data and said individual identification information to said base apparatus;

wherein said central processing station includes storage device for storing said piece of processed data obtained from said base apparatus through said communication line; and

wherein said central control device allows for processing said piece of processed data stored in said storage device to a piece of processed data, and for distributing said piece of process data to said base apparatus through said communication line to transmit the piece of process data to said portable terminal apparatus.

41. The distributing system according to claim 32, wherein said central processing station includes storage device for storing profile information related to a level of information disclosure for a registered individual;

wherein said distributive information storage device stores announcement information relative to said profile information and said second informational data to be distributed;

wherein said portable terminal apparatus includes transmission processing device for disclosing the profile information for the individual according to the instructed level of information disclosure of the individual; and

wherein when said piece of individual identification data from said portable terminal apparatus is specified, said central processing station transmits to said base apparatuses said profile information received in accordance with the level of information disclosure from said portable terminal apparatus to distribute said profile information to portable terminal apparatuses located within the service areas corresponding to respective said base apparatuses except said portable terminal apparatus having transmitted said piece of individual identification data, or to said image display device.

42. The distributing system according to claim 41, wherein said announcement information is used during an introduction mode for distributing said profile information after distributing an introduction announcement aside from an automatic mode for distributing said profile information without an introduction announcement.

43. The distributing system according to claim 41, wherein said transmission processing device includes a liquid crystal display unit implemented in apparatus, said liquid crystal display unit displaying a set menu, and said level of information disclosure is specified based on said set menu;

and

wherein information indicating said level of information disclosure is transmitted with said announcement information.

44. The distributing system according to claim 41, wherein said central processing station specifies said material related to profile information based on return from one of said plurality of portable terminal apparatuses after distributing said outline to said portable terminal apparatuses, and distributing said information to each of said portable terminal apparatuses through said base apparatus or to said image display device.

45. A distributing method using a plurality of base apparatuses each having a predetermined service area and an image display device and a central processing station having distributive information storage device for storing a second informational data to be distributed that is related to a first informational data displayed on said image display device, for wirelessly transmitting said second informational data to portable terminal apparatus separately from said base apparatuses each connected through a communication line to said central processing station, comprising the steps of:

displaying the first informational data on said image display device;

acquiring individual identification information from a user using individual identification information acquiring device implemented in the portable terminal apparatus, and wirelessly transmitting from the portable terminal apparatus to said base apparatus corresponding to the service area in which said portable terminal apparatus is located said acquired individual identification information;

receiving at said base apparatus corresponding to the service area in which said portable terminal apparatus is located said individual identification information transmitted from said portable terminal apparatus and transmitting said individual identification information to said central processing station through said communication line;

comparing, at said processing station, said individual identification information transmitted from said base apparatus to pieces of individual identification data stored in individual identification data storage device implemented in said central processing station;

distributing said second informational data, stored in said distributive information storage device, to said base apparatuses through said communication line when any one of said specified pieces of individual identification data matching said individual identification information; and

transmitting said second informational data from said base apparatus, transmitted through said communication line, to said portable terminal apparatus, said second informational data is corresponds to said material displayed on said image display device, and said second informational data is different from the material displayed on said image display device,

wherein said central processing station includes information processing device for listing profile information of all participating portable terminal apparatuses of a meeting place, extracting a plurality of frequently occurring common items, weighting the common items, retrieving and collecting material related to the weighted common items, and transmitting a summary of the collected material to said base apparatuses for distributing said summary to everyone of the participating portable terminal apparatuses and for displaying the summary on said image display device.

46. The distributing method according to claim 45, wherein a processing step at the central processing station, includes a step of performing transmission processing for disclosing said profile information according to said instructed level of information disclosure when any one of said specified pieces of individual identification data matches said individual identification information is added as a processing step for said portable terminal apparatus;

and

wherein, a step of transmitting said profile information to said base apparatuses according to said level of information disclosure, when receiving an indication of said level of information disclosure from profile information storage device, implemented in said central processing station to distribute said profile information to everyone of a plurality of portable terminal apparatuses located within the service areas corresponding to said respective base apparatuses except said portable terminal apparatus having transmitted said piece of individual identification data or to said image display device.

47. The distributing method according to claim 46, wherein said transmission processing includes a step of adding announcement information relative to said profile information;

and

wherein said announcement information is used during an introduction mode for distributing said profile information after distributing an introduction announcement aside from an automatic mode for distributing said profile information without an introduction announcement.

48. The distributing system according to claim 46, wherein a processing step at said base apparatuses includes the steps of specifying said profile information based on return from representative one of said plurality of portable terminal apparatuses after distributing said outline to said portable terminal apparatuses, and distributing information about said material related to profile information to each of said portable terminal apparatuses or to said image display device.