Abstract:
An information distribution system is composed of a plurality of information distribution units, a server, and a mobile terminal. The server selects at least one of the plurality of information distribution units, and transmits first information to the selected information distribution unit. The selected information distribution unit includes a transmitting unit and a display unit. The transmitting unit electrically transmits to the mobile terminal the first information received from the server such that the mobile terminal is able to display the first information. The display unit visually displays second information.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to an information distribution system. More particularly, the present invention relates to an information distribution system for distributing an information by an electrical device.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    Information distributors se various media such as a newspaper, a television, a radio, a magazine and an advertisement signboard. However, it is not always easy that a receiver of the information periodically obtains only the information desired by the receiver from those media.  
           [0005]    Computer networks such as the Internet are media from which a user obtains only desirable information. The user obtains the desirable information by getting access to databases on the networks and searching through them. However, the operation for periodically getting access to the networks is annoying.  
           [0006]    An information distribution system for distributing an information without an annoying operation is disclosed in Japanese Laid Open Patent Application (JP-A-Heisei, 8-18523). The conventional information distribution system is installed in a doorway of a region into which a ticket is required to enter, as shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 1 shows an example in which the doorway of the region is a ticket barrier, and the ticket is a commutation ticket.  
           [0007]    The conventional information distribution system is provided with a reader  103 , an information accumulator  104 , an information manager  105 , a transmission manager  106 , a system manager  107 , and a radio transmitter  162 . The reader  103  and the radio transmitter  162  are installed in the ticket barrier. The information accumulator  104  accumulates information to be provided to users. The information manager  105  manages the information to be provided to the users, and obtains the information to be provided to the users from an external information resource  109  if necessary.  
           [0008]    Each of the users defines in advance the content of the information to be provided and received. That is, each of the users concludes a contract to receive the information with a manager of the information distribution system.  
           [0009]    The user  101  carries a portable memory  102  and a portable information terminal  108 . The portable memory  102  is the medium in which information is magnetically stored, and it is used as the commutation ticket.  
           [0010]    When the user inserts the portable memory  102  into the reader  103 , the reader  103  reads information stored in the portable memory  102 . Then the reader  103  judges whether or not the user is allowed to go into a premise of a station on the basis of the information in the portable memory  102 .  
           [0011]    Moreover, the user is identified on the basis of the read information. When, the user is identified, the transmission manager  106  transmits the information of the defined content through the radio transmitter  162  to the portable information terminal  108 . The user obtains the desirable information only by inserting the portable memory  102  serving as the commutation ticket into the reader  103 .  
           [0012]    The operation for inserting the portable memory  102  into the reader  103  is originally carried out for the examination of tickets. Thus, the user can unconsciously carry out the operation for obtaining the information. Moreover, the periodical usage of the commutation ticket enables the user to periodically obtain the desirable information.  
           [0013]    In the information distribution, however, the convenience of the information obtainment, that is, the accessibility to the information is important. Suppose that a user notices presence of information from visual media, such as an advertisement signboard and a timetable in a station or a bus stop. Easy obtainment of information related to the information shown in the visual media is desirable for the user.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0014]    Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an information distribution system, in which when a user visually knows presence of certain information, the user can easily obtain the information.  
           [0015]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an information distribution system that enables easier obtainment of information that explains visual information in detail.  
           [0016]    Still another object of the present invention is to provide an information distribution system that enables an easy feedback of a visual advertisement.  
           [0017]    In order to achieve an aspect of the present invention, an information distribution system is composed of a plurality of information distribution units, a server, and a mobile terminal. The server selects at least one of the plurality of information distribution units, and transmits first information to the selected information distribution unit. The selected information distribution unit includes a transmitting unit and a display unit. The transmitting unit electrically transmits to the mobile terminal the first information received from the server such that the mobile terminal is able to display the first information. The display unit visually displays second information.  
           [0018]    The second information is preferably related to the first information.  
           [0019]    The first information may be transmitted from the transmitting unit to the mobile terminal by radio communication.  
           [0020]    The first information may be transmitted from the transmitting unit to the mobile terminal by communication through wire.  
           [0021]    The information distribution system may be further composed of an electric shielding and the first information may be transmitted from the transmitting unit to the mobile terminal in the electric shielding.  
           [0022]    The first information is preferably transmitted from the selected information distribution unit to the server through the Internet.  
           [0023]    The mobile terminal preferably includes another display unit displaying the first information.  
           [0024]    The selected information distribution unit preferably includes a state indicator visually indicating whether or not the transmitting unit is transmitting the first information.  
           [0025]    The mobile terminal preferably includes another state indicator visually indicating whether or not the mobile terminal is receiving the first information.  
           [0026]    The second information may include a visual advertisement, and the first information may include what is related to the visual advertisement.  
           [0027]    The second information may include a timetable of vehicles and the first information includes third information indicative of the timetable.  
           [0028]    The plurality of information distribution units may be installed in a shop and the first information may include fourth information on an item displayed in the shop.  
           [0029]    The plurality of information distribution units may be installed in a museum and the first information may include fifth information on an exhibition displayed in the museum.  
           [0030]    The plurality of information distribution units may be installed in a zoo and the first information may include sixth information on an exhibition displayed in the zoo.  
           [0031]    The mobile terminal preferably sends a request for the first information, and the transmitting unit preferably transmits the first information in response to the request.  
           [0032]    The information distribution system is preferably further composed of an information input computer for operation by an information distributor. In this case, the first information is inputted to the information input computer, and the information input computer sends the first information to the server.  
           [0033]    The mobile terminal preferably sends a user response to the information input computer.  
           [0034]    The first information may include a questionnaire. In this case, the user response preferably includes an answer for the questionnaire.  
           [0035]    The user response may include profile data indicative of a profile of a user of the mobile terminal.  
           [0036]    The user response may include a user identifier for identifying a user of the mobile terminal.  
           [0037]    The information distribution system preferably further includes a profile-managing computer. In this case, the mobile terminal sends another request to the identifier-managing computer, and the profile-managing computer sends profile data indicative of a profile of a user of the mobile terminal in response to the another request.  
           [0038]    In order to achieve another aspect of the present invention, an information distribution unit is composed of a transmitting unit electrically transmitting a first information to a mobile station, and a display unit visually displaying second information related to the first information.  
           [0039]    In order to achieve still another aspect of the present invention, a method of distributing information is composed of:  
           [0040]    selecting at least one information distribution unit from among a plurality of information distribution units;  
           [0041]    transmitting first information to the selected information distribution unit;  
           [0042]    electrically transmitting to a mobile terminal the first information by the selected information distribution unit; and  
           [0043]    visually displaying second information by the selected information distribution unit.  
           [0044]    25. The method of distributing information according to claim  24 , wherein the second information is related to the first information. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0045]    [0045]FIG. 1 shows a conventional information distribution system;  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of an information distribution system according to the present invention;  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 3 shows an information distribution unit  41 ;  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 4 shows a mobile terminal  51 ;  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 5 shows a menu screen  70 ;  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 6 shows an incoming screen  80 ;  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 7 shows detailed information  90 ,  91 ; and  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 8 shows an information distribution system in which an identifier management computer  61  is installed. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0053]    An embodiment of an information distribution system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings.  
         [0054]    [0054]FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of an information distribution system according to the present invention. The information distribution system is used as an advertisement distribution system. The information distribution system is composed of a provider server  21  and information distribution units  41 ,  42  and  43 . The information distribution units  41 ,  42  and  43  are managed by the provider server  21 . The information distribution units  41 ,  42  and  43  are respectively connected through the Internet to the provider server  21 . The links  31 ,  32  and  33  may be other wired links or radio links.  
         [0055]    The provider server  21  is connected through the Internet to information input computers  11 ,  12  and  13 . The information input computers  11 ,  12 , and  13  are provided for the operation by information distributors. The information input computers  11  to  13  send to the provider server  21  advertisement data which the information distributors desires to distribute. The provider server  21  receives the advertisement data and processes into a format suitable for a transmission/reception. The provider server  21  transmits the advertisement data through the Internet to the information distribution unit  41 ,  42  and  43 . Hereafter, the routes through which the provider server  21  transmits the advertisement data to the information distribution units  41  to  43  are referred to the routes  31 ,  32  and  33 , respectively.  
         [0056]    [0056]FIG. 3 shows the information distribution unit  41 . The information distribution unit  41  contains a display unit  410 , a transmitter  411 , an antenna  412  and a transmission indication lamp  413 .  
         [0057]    The display unit  410  is an eye catcher for displaying visual information. In this embodiment, the display unit  410  is an advertisement signboard visually displaying an advertisement. The display unit  410  may be an advertisement display, a shop or a show window at a shop.  
         [0058]    A transmitter  411  electrically transmits the advertisement data received from the provider server  21 . In detail, the transmitter  411  receives the advertisement data from the provider server  21  and transmits from the antenna  412  on an electrical wave  414 . The electrical wave  414  emitted by the transmitter  411  can be received within an area  415 .  
         [0059]    The transmission indication lamp  413  indicates whether or not the electrical wave  414  is emitted. The lighting of the antenna  412  implies that the electrical wave  414  is being transmitted.  
         [0060]    The information distribution unit  42 ,  43  shown in FIG. 2 have the same configuration as the information distribution unit  41 . The information distribution unit  42  contains a transmitter  421 , an antenna  422  and a transmission indication lamp  423 . The information distribution unit  43  contains a transmitter  431 , an antenna  432  and a transmission indication lamp  433 . An electrical wave  424  emitted by the transmitter  421  and an electrical wave  434  emitted by the transmitter  431  can be received within areas  425 ,  426 , respectively.  
         [0061]    It is desirable that the reachable distances of the electrical waves  414 ,  424  and  434  are limited to a degree that the areas  424 ,  425  and  426  do not overlap with each other. The information distribution units  42  and  43  have the identical functions to the information distribution unit  41 . Detailed explanations on the information distribution units  42  and  43  are omitted.  
         [0062]    A mobile terminal  51  receives the electrical wave  414  from the information distribution unit  41  when located within the area  415 . Similarly, the mobile terminal  51 , when located within the area  425 , receives the electrical wave  424  from the information distribution unit  42 . Moreover, the mobile terminal  51 , when located within the area  435 , receives the electrical wave  434  from the information distribution unit  43 .  
         [0063]    As shown in FIG. 4, the mobile terminal  51  includes an antenna  511 , a reception indication lamp  512 , an interface circuit  513 , a CPU  514 , a memory  515  and a display  516 . The antenna  511  is used to receive the electrical waves  414 ,  424  and  434 . The reception indication lamp  512  indicates whether or not the mobile terminal  51  is located at a position at which the electrical wave  414 ,  424  or  434  can be received. When the mobile terminal  51  is located at the position where the mobile terminal  51  can receive any of the electrical waves  414 ,  424  and  434 , the reception indication lamp  512  is put on.  
         [0064]    The interface circuit  513  receives and demodulates the electrical waves  414 ,  424  and  423 .  
         [0065]    The CPU  514  controls the entire mobile terminal  51 . The CPU  514  fetches the advertisement data from the electrical waves  414 ,  424  and  423  and stores the advertisement data in the memory  515 . Moreover, the CPU  514  controls the reception indication lamp  512  so as to turn on and off it.  
         [0066]    The memory  515  stores the advertisement data and the other data treated by the mobile terminal  51 .  
         [0067]    The display  516  displays the various information including the advertisement data stored in the memory  515 .  
         [0068]    A portable telephone, a PHS and a portable computer may be used as the mobile terminal  51 .  
         [0069]    The mobile terminal  51  preferably has a function to be connected to the Internet provider. In this case, the mobile terminal  51  may transfer to the Internet provider the received advertisement data, and the Internet provider may store in a local directory, that is, a store area provided for the user of the mobile terminal  51 . In this case, the obtained advertisement data can be referred without being continuously stored in the mobile terminal  51 .  
         [0070]    A method of using the information distribution system is described in the following. An information distributor concludes a contract with a manager of the information distribution system, and obtains a right to use the information distribution units  41 ,  42  and  43 . Here, let us suppose that an information distributor A managing an information input computer  11  obtains a right to use the information distribution unit  41 , an information distributor B managing an information input computer  12  obtains a right to use the information distribution unit  42 , and an information distributor C managing an information input computer  13  obtains a right to use the information distribution unit  43 .  
         [0071]    The information distributor A displays an advertisement in the display unit  410  of the information distribution unit  41 . Moreover, the information distributor A inputs an advertisement data A to the information input computer  11 , and transmits to the provider server  21 . At this time, the advertisement data A is preferably related to the advertisement displayed in the display unit  410 , that is, advertisement data A preferably has the content explaining the advertisement in detail.  
         [0072]    Similarly, an information distributor B inputs an advertisement data B to the information input computer  12 , and transmits to the provider server  21 . The advertisement data B is preferably related to the advertisement displayed in the information distribution unit  42 . Moreover, an information distributor C inputs an advertisement data C to the information input computer  13 , and transmits to the provider server  21 . The advertisement data C is preferably related to the advertisement displayed in the information distribution unit  42 .  
         [0073]    The provider server  21  selects one or more of the information distribution unit  41 ,  42  and  43  as a selected information distribution unit(s) and transmits the advertisement data to the selected information distribution unit(s) for which each of the information distributors has the usage right. That is, the provider server  21  transmits the advertisement data A to the information distribution unit  41 , transmits the advertisement data B to the information distribution unit  42 , and transmits the advertisement data C to the information distribution unit  43 , respectively.  
         [0074]    The information distribution unit  41  transmits the advertisement data A on the electrical wave  414 . The information distribution unit  42  transmits the advertisement data B on the electrical wave  424 . And, the information distribution unit  43  transmits the advertisement data C on the electrical wave  434 .  
         [0075]    The mobile terminal  51  receives the advertisement data transmitted by the information distribution unit  41 ,  42  and  43 . The advertisement data are received as follows.  
         [0076]    If the mobile terminal  51  is not located within any of the areas  415 ,  425  and  435 , the reception indication lamp  512  of the mobile terminal  51  is put off by the control of the CPU  514 , as shown in FIG. 2. Moreover, the CPU  514  displays a menu screen  70  shown in FIG. 5 on the display  516 .  
         [0077]    Let us suppose that a possessor of the mobile terminal  51  views the information distribution unit  41 . The possessor obtains the advertisement displayed in the information distribution unit  41  as visual information. This advertisement has the content desired by the information distributor A. The possessor notices that the information with regard to the advertisement, namely, the advertisement data A is transmitted through the electrical wave via the antenna  412  of the information distribution unit  41 . If the possessor is interested in the advertisement, the possessor approaches the information distribution unit  41 , and moves up to the area  415 , at which the electrical wave  414  arrives. The mobile terminal  51  together with the possessor moves up to the area  415 . When the mobile terminal  51  goes into the area  415  as shown by an arrow  60 , the CPU  514  of the mobile terminal  51  puts on the reception indication lamp  512 . Moreover, the CPU  514  displays an incoming screen  80  shown in FIG. 6 on the display  516 .  
         [0078]    The possessor can select a command #1 (reception) by operating the mobile terminal  51  if desiring the reception of the advertisement data A. The CPU  514  of the mobile terminal  51  transmits the command #1 if the command #1 is selected. The information distribution unit  41  transmits the advertisement data A in response to the command #1. The mobile terminal  51  receives the advertisement data A. The received advertisement data A is stored in the memory  515 . The CPU  514  displays the detailed information  90 ,  91 , which explain in detail the advertisement displayed in the information distribution unit  41 , on the display  516 , in accordance with the received advertisement data A, as shown in FIG. 7.  
         [0079]    The possessor can reject the reception of the advertisement data A by operating the mobile terminal  51  if the possessor does not desire the reception of the advertisement data A.  
         [0080]    Also, if the possessor views the advertisement displayed in the information distribution unit  41  and desires that a catalog with regard to the advertisement is sent by post, the possessor can select a command #3 (requesting that a catalog is sent by post) as shown in FIG. 6. When the command #3 is selected, the CPU  514  of the mobile terminal  51  transmits the command #3 together with a profile information indicative of an address and a name of the possessor. The transmitted command #3 and profile information are fed back to the information input computer  11 . The advertisement distributor A can receive the command #3 and the profile information through the information input computer  11  and send the catalog by post.  
         [0081]    In view of security, the profile information preferably includes an ID number and an encryption number for identifying the possessor and does not include the address and the name of the possessor. In this case, the address and the name of the possessor are correlated to the ID number and the encryption number and accumulated in the information input computer  11 . The address and the name of the possessor are specified on the basis of the ID number and the encryption number, and the catalog is sent by post by using the address and the name.  
         [0082]    In order to manage the profile information used when the catalog is sent by post, the information distribution system includes a profile-managing computer  61 , as shown in FIG. 8. The profile-managing computer  61  is used to operate a profile management company. The address and the name of the possessor are correlated to the ID number and the encryption number and accumulated in the profile-managing computer  61 . When the catalog is required to be sent by post by the possessor, the mobile terminal  51  transmits a request  611  for sending the catalog by post, the ID number and the encryption number to the profile managing computer  61 . The profile-managing computer  61  retrieves the address and the name of the possessor, on the basis of the ID number and the encryption number. Then the profile-managing computer  61  transmits a catalog request  613  for requesting the catalog together with the address and the name of the possessor through the provider server  21  to the information input computer  11 . The information distributor A managing the information input computer  11  sends the catalog by post, in accordance with the catalog request  613  in which the address and the name of the possessor are noted.  
         [0083]    The advertisement data B, C distributed by the information distributors B, C are similarly received and processed by the mobile terminal  51 .  
         [0084]    The advertisement data A, B, and C may include a questionnaire. In this case, the feedback from the mobile terminal  51  to the information input computer  11 ,  12  and  13  may include an answer of the questionnaire. If the information distribution units  41 ,  42  and  43  are installed at a place where people use for waiting and the questionnaire is sent through the information distribution units  41 ,  42  and  43 , it is easy to obtain answers for the questionnaire.  
         [0085]    The above described information distribution system provides users with further information related to visual information with superior accessibility. That is, the users can easily obtains further information related to visual information after the users find the visual information.  
         [0086]    The information distribution system also has merit that the information distributors can easily update the advertisement data. The advertisement data is the electronic data, and this facilitates the update of information. In particular, if a distributed information consists of a character information, a simple picture or a BGM, it is also possible to update the information in a manner of updating a data of a home page by a personal computer or a word processor.  
         [0087]    In another embodiment of the information distribution system according to the present invention, the information distribution unit  41 ,  42  and  43  are installed in a shop. In this embodiment, the information visually transmitted by the information distribution unit  41 ,  42  and  43  is the items exhibited in the shop. At this time, the information distribution units  41  to  43  transmit data related to the exhibited items through the electrical wave.  
         [0088]    In still another embodiment of the information distribution system according to the present invention, the information distribution units  41 ,  42  and  43  are installed in a museum or a zoo. In this case, the information distribution units  41 ,  42  and  43  respectively contain exhibitions for visually sending information and transmitters  411 ,  421  and a transmitter  431 . If the possessor of the mobile terminal  51  visits the museum or the zoo, the transmitters  411 ,  421  and  431  transmit an exhibition sample data with regard to the exhibitions to the mobile terminal  51 . Thus, the mobile terminal  51  selectively receives the data for explaining the exhibitions in further detail. The exhibition data may be reproduced as voice by a voice-synthesizing device (not shown) installed in the mobile terminal  51 .  
         [0089]    In still another embodiment of the information distribution system according to the present invention, the information distribution units  41 ,  42  and  43  are installed in stations. The information distribution units  41 ,  42  and  43  visually display a timetable of trains. At the same time, the information distribution units  41 ,  42 , and  43  transmit a timetable data indicative of the timetable. The mobile terminal  51  receives the timetable data from the information distribution units  41 ,  42 , and  43  and displays it.  
         [0090]    In this case, the mobile terminal  51  can store therein the timetable data indicative of the timetable. The mobile terminal  51  displays the timetable data in response to the operation performed on the mobile terminal  51 .  
         [0091]    Also, the timetable data can be sent to a provider of the Internet and stored in a local directory provided for the possessor in accordance with the desire of the possessor of the mobile terminal  51 . In this case, a timetable of a station that is not frequently required is stored in the local directory. The timetable data can be called and referred as necessary. This promotes convenience for the possessor of the mobile terminal  51 .  
         [0092]    In the above-mentioned embodiments, the communication is wirelessly carried out between the information distribution unit  41  to  43  and the mobile terminal  51 . The communication may be done through wire. In this case, connectors are provided between the information distribution units  41 ,  42  and  43  and the mobile terminal  51 , and the communication is carried out through the connectors. If the information distribution units for transmitting the advertisement data are crowded or the condition of the electrical wave is poor, the advertisement data is transmitted through the connectors.  
         [0093]    Also, electrically shielded boxes (not shown) may be provided in the information distribution unit  41 ,  42  and  43 . In this case, the advertisement data is transmitted from the information distribution unit  41 ,  42  and  43  and the mobile terminal  51  when the mobile terminal  51  is located within the box. Accordingly, interference is reduced to improve the reliability of the transmission/reception.  
         [0094]    Although the invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been changed in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.