Information distribution system, information distribution server, mobile terminal, and information distribution method

• US 20070054672A1
• Filed: 11/26/2004
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Navitime Japan Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Navitime Japan Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Onishi, Keisuke, Kikuchi, Shin
• Granted Patent: US 8,045,964 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

There is provided an information distribution system capable of distributing a content to a mobile terminal in a predetermined area, distributing content guide information to the mobile terminal, and distributing the content selected by the mobile terminal, within the area. The information distribution system includes an information distribution server, a mobile terminal, and a content DB. The content DB contains content information to be provided to the mobile terminal and information on the area to which the content is provided. The information distribution server distributes the content guide information to the mobile terminal. According to this content guide information, the mobile terminal performs a content distribution request. The information distribution server judges the position of the mobile terminal according to position judgment means. When the mobile terminal is in the distribution area of the content requested, the content is downloaded.

Claims

1. An information distribution system comprising:

an information distribution server and a mobile terminal,

where the information distribution server is equipped with a content database that associates and memorizes content downloadable to the mobile terminal, or content data indicating the registration location of such content, and area information indicating the specific area to which such content may be downloaded by the mobile terminal; and

where the information distribution server is equipped with;

a content guide information distribution means that transmits guide information to the mobile terminal on the content downloadable by the mobile terminal;

a distribution request reception means that receives content distribution requests from the mobile terminal;

a position judgment means that determines the position of the mobile terminal; and

a distribution enabled/disabled decision means that checks the position of the mobile terminal determined by the position judgment means against the area information associated with the content whose distribution is requested, and decides whether to distribute the content data in question;

and where the mobile terminal is equipped with;

a position information transmission means that sends information on the current position of the mobile terminal to the information distribution server; and

a distribution request means that makes distribution requests to the information distribution server and selects content to be downloaded according to the content guide information distributed by the information distribution server;

and the system is configured in such manner that if the area information associated with the content whose distribution is requested matches the position of the mobile terminal, the information distribution server distributes the content data in question to the mobile terminal.

2. The information distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the position information transmission means comprises a current position detection means and a current position information transmission means that transmits current position information generated by the current position detection means, and wherein the position judgment means determines the current position of the mobile terminal according to current position information received from the mobile terminal in question.

3. An information distribution system comprising:

an information distribution server and a mobile terminal,

where the information distribution server is equipped with a content database that associates and memorizes content downloadable to the mobile terminal, or content data indicating the registration location of such content, and area information indicating the specific area to which such content may be downloaded by the mobile terminal; and

where the information distribution server is equipped with;

a distribution request reception means that receives content distribution requests from the mobile terminal;

a route search means that carries out route searches according to route search requests sent from the mobile terminal; and

a route search result transmission means that transmits the results of the route searches to the mobile terminal;

and where the mobile terminal is equipped with;

a current position detection means that detects the current position of the mobile terminal;

a current position information transmission means that transmits current position information generated by the current position detection means;

a route search request transmission means that transmits route search requests to the information distribution server;

a distribution request means that makes distribution requests to the information distribution server and selects content to be downloaded according to the content information distributed by the information distribution server; and

a reception means that receives content data from the information distribution server;

and the system is configured in such manner that if the results of a route search conducted by the route search means show that the mobile terminal is passing through an area that matches the area information, the information distribution server will, via the route search result transmission means, add the content guide information matching the area information to the route search results as a download point, and transmit the same.

4. An information distribution server comprising:

a content database that associates and memorizes content downloadable to a mobile terminal, or content data indicating the registration location of such content, and area information indicating the specific area to which such content may be downloaded by the mobile terminal, and distributes the content data requested by the mobile terminal;

a content guide information distribution means that distributes guidance information to the mobile terminal on the content downloadable by the mobile terminal;

a distribution request reception means that receives content distribution requests from the mobile terminal;

a position judgment means that determines the position of the mobile terminal; and

a distribution enabled/disabled decision means that checks the position of the mobile terminal as determined by the position judgment means against the area information associated with the content whose distribution is requested and decides whether to distribute the content data in question;

and the information distribution server is configured in such manner that if the area information associated with the content whose distribution is requested matches the position of the mobile terminal, the information distribution server transmits the content data in question to the mobile terminal.

5. The information distribution server according to claim 4, wherein the information distribution server is equipped with a current position information reception means that receives current position information generated by the mobile terminal according to the output of the current position detection means, and the position judgment means determines the current position of the mobile terminal according to current position information received from the mobile terminal in question.

6. An information distribution server comprising:

a content database that associates and memorizes content downloadable to a mobile terminal, or content data indicating the registration location of such content, and area information indicating the specific area to which such content may be downloaded by the mobile terminal, and distributes the content data requested by the mobile terminal;

a current position information reception means that receives current position information sent by the mobile terminal;

a distribution request reception means that receives content distribution requests from the mobile terminal;

a route search means that carries out route searches according to route search requests sent from the mobile terminal; and

a route search result transmission means that transmits the results of the route searches to the mobile terminal;

where the information distribution server is configured in such manner that if the results of a route search by the route search means show that the mobile terminal is passing through an area that matches the area information, the information distribution server will, via the route search result transmission means, add the content guide information matching the area information to the route search results as a download point, and transmit the same.

7. A mobile terminal that receives any desired content data from an information distribution server equipped with a content database that associates and memorizes content downloadable to a mobile terminal, or content data indicating the registration location of such content, and area information indicating the specific area to which such content may be downloaded by the mobile terminal, comprising:

a position information transmission means that sends information on the current position of the mobile terminal to the information distribution server;

a distribution request means that makes distribution requests to the information distribution server and selects content to be downloaded according to the content guide information distributed by the information distribution server; and

a receiving means that receives content data that is distributed to the mobile terminal when the information distribution server checks the position of the mobile terminal against the area information associated with the content whose distribution is requested and determines that the mobile terminal is situated in an area that matches the area information.

8. The mobile terminal according to claim 7, wherein the position information transmission means comprises a current position detection means and a current position information transmission means that transmits current position information generated by the output of the current position detection means.

9. A mobile terminal that receives any desired content data from an information distribution server equipped with a content database that associates and memorizes content downloadable to a mobile terminal, or content data indicating the registration location of such content, and area information indicating the specific area to which such content may be downloaded by the mobile terminal, comprising:

a current position detection means that detects the current position of the mobile terminal;

a current position information transmission means that transmits current position information generated by the current position detection means;

a route search request transmission means that transmits route search requests to the information distribution server;

a distribution request means that makes distribution requests to the information distribution server and selects content to be downloaded according to the content guide information distributed by the information distribution server; and

a reception means that receives content data from the information distribution server;

where the reception means is configured in such manner as to receive the route search results to which the content guide information matching the area information has been added by the distribution server as a download point, in the case where the route search results show that the mobile terminal is passing through an area that matches the area information.

10. An information distribution method for distributing information between a mobile terminal and an information distribution server equipped with a content database that associates and memorizes content downloadable to the mobile terminal, or content data indicating the registration location of such content, and area information indicating the specific area to which such content may be downloaded by the mobile terminal, comprising the following steps executed by the information distribution server:

a step in which guidance information on the content that may be downloaded by the mobile terminal is distributed to the mobile terminal;

a step in which a content distribution request is received from the mobile terminal;

a step in which the position of the mobile terminal is determined;

a step in which the position of the mobile terminal as determined by the position judgment means is checked against the area information associated with the content whose distribution is requested and decision is made whether to distribute the content data in question; and

a step in which the content data is distributed to the mobile terminal in accordance with the judgment result;

as well as the following steps executed by the mobile terminal;

a step in which information on the current position of the mobile terminal is transmitted to the information distribution server; and

a step in which content to be downloaded is selected according to the content guide information distributed by the information distribution server and a distribution request is made to the information distribution server.

11. The information distribution method according to claim 10, wherein the mobile terminal further executes:

a step in which the current position of the mobile terminal is determined; and

a step in which the current position information generated by the current position detection means is transmitted to the information distribution server;

and the information distribution server further executes;

a step in which the current position of the mobile terminal is determined according to the current position information received from the mobile terminal in question.

12. An information distribution method for distributing information between a mobile terminal and an information distribution server equipped with a content database that associates and memorizes content downloadable to the mobile terminal, or content data indicating the registration location of such content, and area information indicating the specific area to which such content may be downloaded by the mobile terminal, comprising the following steps executed by the information distribution server:

a step in which a content distribution request is received from the mobile terminal;

a step in which a route search is conducted according to the route search request sent from the mobile terminal; and

a route search result transmission step in which the results of the route search are transmitted to the mobile terminal;

as well as the following steps executed by the mobile terminal;

a step in which the current position of the mobile terminal is determined;

a step in which current position information generated by the current position detection means is transmitted;

a step in which a route search request is transmitted to the information distribution server;

a step in which content to be downloaded is selected according to the content information distributed by the information distribution server and a distribution request is made to the information distribution server; and

a step in which content data is received from the information distribution server;

where the route search result transmission step includes the process by which the information distribution server will, via the route search result transmission means, add the content guide information matching the area information to the route search results as a download point, and transmit the same in the case where the route search results show that the mobile terminal is passing through an area that matches the area information.

13. An information distribution method employing an information distribution server equipped with a content database that associates and memorizes content downloadable to a mobile terminal, or content data indicating the registration location of such content, and area information indicating the specific area to which such content may be downloaded by the mobile terminal, and distributes the content data requested by the mobile terminal, comprising the following steps executed by the information distribution server:

a content guide information distributing step in which guidance information on the content downloadable by the mobile terminal is distributed to the mobile terminal;

a step in which a content distribution request is received from the mobile terminal;

a step in which the position of the mobile terminal is determined;

a step in which the position of the mobile terminal as determined by the position judgment means is checked against the area information associated with the content whose distribution is requested and a decision is made whether to distribute the content data in question; and

a step in which the content data is distributed to the mobile terminal in accordance with the judgment result.

14. The information distribution method according to claim 13, wherein the information distribution server executes a further step whereby current position information generated by the mobile terminal according to the output of the current position detection means is received, and the current position of the mobile terminal in question is determined according to the current position information received.

15. An information distribution method that employs an information distribution server equipped with a content database that associates and memorizes content downloadable to a mobile terminal, or content data indicating the registration location of such content, and area information indicating the specific area to which such content may be downloaded by the mobile terminal, and distributes content data requested by the mobile terminal, comprising the following steps executed by the information distribution server:

a step in which a content distribution request is received from a mobile terminal;

a step in which a route search is conducted according to the route search request sent from the mobile terminal; and

a route search result transmission step in which the results of the route search are transmitted to the mobile terminal;

where the route search result transmission step includes the process by which the information distribution server will, via the route search result transmission means, add the content guide information matching the area information to the route search results as a download point, and transmit the same in the case where the route search results show that the mobile terminal is passing through an area that matches the area information.