Patent ID: 9195371
Filing Date: 2015-11-24
Classification: G06F,G06Q

Abstract:
1. An information providing apparatus to be connected with a plurality of user terminals for use by a plurality of specific users to communicate with the plurality of user terminals, comprising: a user information storing unit configured to store user information items regarding the plurality of specific users in association with user identification information items for identifying the plurality of specific users, respectively; a provision information storing unit configured to store various kinds of provision information items to be provided to the plurality of user terminals; a first acquiring unit configured to acquire, in response to a request from an arbitrary one of the plurality of specific users, a user information item stored in the user information storing unit in association with a user identification information item for identifying the arbitrary user; a second acquiring unit configured to acquire a provision information item associated with the acquired user information item, from the provision information storing unit; a producing unit configured to produce screen information for displaying the provision information item acquired by the second acquiring unit, the screen information including a common menu item to be displayed in common for the plurality of specific users and a personal screen menu item for displaying the provision information item acquired by the second acquiring unit; a transmitting unit configured to transmit the produced screen information to a user terminal for use by the arbitrary user to cause the screen information to be displayed by the user terminal; a terminal use information storing unit configured to store terminal use information which indicates that the user terminal for use by the arbitrary user was used and which includes use time information indicating a date and time at which the user terminal was used, in a case where the user terminal was used by the arbitrary user; a determining unit configured to determine whether or not the user terminal for use by the arbitrary user was used in a predetermined time period, based on the use time information included in the terminal use information stored in the terminal use information storing unit; a reporting unit configured to make, when it is determined that the user terminal for use by the arbitrary user was not used, a report indicating that the user terminal was not used; and a time changing unit configured to change the predetermined time period in accordance with a number of reports each of which is made when it is determined that the user terminal for use by the arbitrary user was not used.