Patent Publication Number: US-2007123243-A1

Title: Remote control

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
      The present invention relates to a remote control system, a remote control method, and a remote control program for controlling a shared terminal that users can use in common.  
     BACKGROUND ART  
      In recent years, IT (Information Technology) equipment is being actively adopted for use in conferences held in offices or schools. As a result, the typical conference style is undergoing a transition from a mode in which a presenter explains the data materials used in the conference while using a projector to display the data materials to a mode in which the data materials are displayed on an electronic information board that can communicate with information equipment centering around a computer and in which the presenter gives explanations while manipulating screens on the board.  
      An electronic information board is a device for displaying a computer screen on a board that allows manipulation of the screen by means of an accessory marker or by fingers. More specifically, electronic information boards include one type in which a white-board electronic information board, projector, and computer are combined to project the computer screen onto the electronic board by way of the projector; and another type in which a plasma display electronic information board and a computer are combined to directly display the computer screen on the electronic information board. The computer can be connected to a network and can be remote-controlled.  
      A shared terminal such as an electronic information board that does not restrict users is typically installed in the meeting space or free space of an office or school and can often be freely used by anyone. As a result, when a service that is open only to specific users is offered on a shared terminal, there is a possibility that the service may be used by users who are not supposed to use the service, whereby the resources of the shared terminal may be used unnecessarily. Here, services that are offered on a shared terminal that does not restrict users are not limited to services that can be used by all users that are permitted to use the shared terminal, but also include services that can be used by specific users or by group members that are composed of a plurality of people. “Services” are here assumed to be applications for executing programs or tools for providing information.  
      JP-2003-233586A and JP-2003-110551A disclose methods wherein the services that can be accessed by each user are automatically selected by referring to identification information such as the user IDs of users, whereby access to services that are not to be used can be prevented.  
      When pointing out a displayed screen on an electronic information board to give an explanation, the presenter may often step in front of the electronic information board and thus obstruct the view of members of the audience.  
      In response to this problem, JP-1998-283103A discloses a method in which the presenter uses a remote-control terminal that can, from a location remote from the electronic information board, control the displayed screen of the electronic information board to cause an arrow or other indicator to be displayed on the displayed screen, thereby enabling the presenter to point out the displayed screen and continue explanation without moving in front of the display.  
      JP-2001-224055A discloses a method in which, based on location information of a mobile terminal, services are offered that are appropriate to that location.  
      In this case, when a shared terminal that includes an electronic information board is controlled by means of a remote-control terminal, the method of using the remote-control terminal is not limited to one mode, but rather, differs for each user when the shared terminal is used by a plurality of people.  
      For example, a case is considered in which a presenter uses an electronic information board that is installed in the conference room of an office to give a presentation to an audience. The presenter stands at a location close to the electronic information board and proceeds with the presentation while using a remote-control terminal to manipulate the electronic information board, for example, flipping through the pages of the presentation materials that are displayed on the electronic information board. Members of the audience are able to view the presentation materials at a location separated from the electronic information board and to display hand-out screens of the presentation materials on remote-control terminals to highlight question points.  
      In other words, a form can be considered in which the role of a remote-control terminal varies depending on the location at which a user operates the remote-control terminal. However, users may encounter problems in designating the mode of use (type of use) and users may accidentally select the wrong mode of use.  
      A scheme is therefore desired in which the users of a shared terminal can make use of remote-control terminals based on appropriate use content by merely holding the remote-control terminals at the location in which the shared terminal is being used and without having to pay attention to the mode of use of the remote-control terminals. This use content means information on how to use the terminal.  
      Although JP-2003-233586A and JP-2003-110551A disclose methods for restricting the service functions offered to each user based on user information, these methods have the drawback that users can only use the terminals in the same way regardless of the location. A further drawback is that, because use of a shared terminal by a plurality of people is not even considered, a single service is not capable of providing a plurality of modes of use.  
      Still further, when a compact terminal that is provided with an electronic information board or in a conference room is used as a remote-control terminal that can manipulate an electronic information board, one remote-control terminal is typically provided for one conference room or one electronic information board. As a result, when an electronic information board is being used in a conference attended by a plurality of people, the lending and borrowing of a single remote-control terminal among the plurality of users becomes inconvenient. Further, the existence of only one remote-control terminal means that a remote-control terminal cannot be obtained at physically different locations (such as when participating in a conference from a different room by way of a network). These problems can be alleviated by providing a plurality of remote-control terminals to enable smooth manipulation of the electronic information board when desired. However, when a plurality of people have the freedom to perform remote operation of an electronic information board at any time, the operation by these users may interfere with the presenter&#39;s operation of the electronic information board.  
      However, because a plurality of remote-control terminals are not typically provided for a shared terminal, a scheme is now sought in which devices such as the portable telephones that belong to each user can be utilized as remote-control terminals, or further, in which the ability to execute operations from a remote-control terminal is controlled according to necessity.  
      However, the method disclosed in JP-1998-283103A suffers from the drawback that the presence of a plurality of remote-control terminals prevents the appropriate determination of whether to permit execution or not.  
      The method disclosed in JP-2001-224055A has the problem that, because the same service is offered to a plurality of mobile terminals having the same location information, service is also offered to mobile terminals that are not supposed to receive the service. This method has the additional problem that, because the service offered to mobile terminals is a unidirectional service such as advertisements or announcements, control cannot be exercised from the mobile terminals.  
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION  
      It is an object of the present invention to provide a remote control system, remote control method, and remote control program that allow remote control of a shared terminal that can be used in common by users, wherein this remote control varies according to the location at which a user uses the shared terminal.  
      In the present invention, code information is displayed on an information-providing terminal, wherein this code information contains information that allows identification of the location at which the information-providing terminal is established. The code information that is displayed on the information-providing terminal is read by a remote-control terminal. Authentication request information that contains code information that has been read by the remote-control terminal is transmitted from the remote-control terminal to the shared terminal. The authentication request information transmitted from the remote-control terminal is received by the shared terminal. Based on the authentication request information that has been received by the shared terminal, the use content of the remote-control terminal is searched, and based on the use content that has been searched, use screens that show an information for the remote control of the shared terminal are transmitted from the shared terminal to the remote-control terminal. The use screens that have been transmitted from the shared terminal are received and displayed by the remote-control terminal.  
      In this way, use content that differs for each user is searched based on the information of a user who is holding a remote-control terminal for effecting remote control of a shared terminal, and use screens based on this use content are then transmitted from the shared terminal to the remote-control terminal. The user then effects remote control of the shared terminal in accordance with the use screens that are received and displayed by the remote-control terminal and thus is able to realize remote control of the shared terminal by methods that differ according to the location at which the user uses the remote-control terminal.  
      The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate an example of the present invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  shows the first embodiment of the remote control system of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a flow chart for explaining the remote control method by which the lecturer of a seminar controls a shared terminal in the remote control system shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3 ( a ) shows an example of the configuration of user information that is stored in, for example, a hard disk for use by the remote control terminal authentication unit shown in  FIG. 1  in the first embodiment;  
       FIG. 3 ( b ) shows an example of the configuration of service information that is stored in, for example, a hard disk for use by the service control unit shown in  FIG. 1  in the first embodiment;  
       FIG. 3 ( c ) shows an example of the configuration of operation information that is stored in, for example, a hard disk for use by the service control unit shown in  FIG. 1  in the first embodiment;  
       FIG. 4  is a flow chart for explaining the remote control method by which a member of the audience of a seminar controls a shared terminal in the remote control system shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 5  shows the second embodiment of the remote control system of the present invention;  
       FIG. 6  is a flow chart for explaining the remote control method by which a remote control terminal is used to control a shared terminal in the remote control system shown in  FIG. 5 ;  
       FIG. 7  shows an example of the database format of operation information that is stored in a shared terminal in the second embodiment;  
       FIG. 8  shows the third embodiment of the remote control system of the present invention; and  
       FIG. 9  is a flow chart for explaining the remote control method in a shared terminal of the remote control system shown in  FIG. 8 .  
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION  
     First Embodiment  
      As the first embodiment, explanation first regards an example of a form for using seminar equipment (a personal computer), which is the shared terminal, to hold a seminar.  
      Referring to  FIG. 1 , the first embodiment of a remote control system is shown that is composed of: shared terminal  100 , information-providing terminal  110  connected to shared terminal  100  by way of a wireless network  130 , and remote-control terminal  120  connected to shared terminal  100  by way of wireless network  130 . Shared terminal  100  is further composed of remote-control terminal authentication unit  101 , service execution control unit  102 , screen display unit  103 , communication unit  104 , and service control unit  105 ; Remote-control terminal authentication unit  101  authenticates remote-control terminal  120 . Service control unit  105  controls the services that are supplied to remote-control terminal  120 . Service execution control unit  102  controls the execution of services depending on remote-control terminal  120 . Screen display unit  103  displays the state of the executed services on a screen. Communication unit  104  communicates with information-providing terminal  110  and remote-control terminal  120  by way of wireless network  130 . Information-providing terminal  110  is further composed of service execution control unit  111 , communication unit  112 , and screen display unit  113 . Service execution control unit  111  generates the code information of information-providing terminal  110 . Screen display unit  113  displays the code information that has been generated by service execution control unit  111 . Communication unit  112  communicates with shared terminal  100  and remote-control terminal  120  by way of wireless network  130 . Details regarding this code information will be described later. Remote-control terminal  120  is composed of input unit  121 , service request processor  122 , screen display unit  123 , communication unit  124 , and information reading unit  125 . Information reading unit  125  reads the information displayed on screen display unit  103  or screen display unit  113 . Input unit  121  receives as input content by which the user that is holding remote-control terminal  120  manipulates remote-control terminal  120 . Service request processor  122  issues a request for service to shared terminal  100  and receives the result. Screen display unit  123  displays the result that has been received by service request processor  122 . Communication unit  124  communicates with shared terminal  100  and information-providing terminal  110  by way of wireless network  130 .  
      Shared terminal  100  is assumed to be installed on the podium of a seminar site. Information-providing terminal  110  is assumed to be installed near the entrance to the seminar site. In addition, remote-control terminals  120  are assumed to be portable telephones possessed by the lecturer and participants of a seminar. Screen display unit  103  may be connected by a display cable to shared terminal  100 . Similarly, screen display unit  113  may be a device separate from information-providing terminal  110  that is connected by means of a display cable. Remote-control terminal authentication unit  101  records user information that includes the user IDs of users who can effect remote control of shared terminal  100  on a recording medium such as a disk (not shown) or memory (not shown) provided in shared terminal  100 . Service control unit  105  records information of services that shared terminal  100  can offer and further, records the role of each terminal that operates in the system, service content, and authority information for manipulating shared terminal  100  in association with each other as operation information on a recording medium such as a disk (not shown) or memory (not shown) that is provided in shared terminal  100 . Input unit  121  may be the physical buttons for manipulation that are provided on the portable telephones, or may be virtual buttons displayed on screen display unit  123 . Screen display unit  123  is assumed to be a compact liquid crystal display provided on remote-control terminal  120 . Radio access points (not shown) are interposed in wireless network  130 , and when information-providing terminal  110  and remote-control terminal  120  transmit data to and receive data from shared terminal  100 , the data are transmitted and received by way of these access points. It is further assumed that each of the programs and databases that operate in shared terminal  100 , information-providing terminal  110 , and remote-control terminal  120  are stored on hard disks (not shown) as a recording medium that are physically provided in each of these terminals, and are each transferred as necessary to memories (not shown) and executed by CPUs (not shown) that are provided for each of these terminals. Information reading unit  125  may further be a camera that belongs to the portable telephones.  
      Explanation next regards a remote control method in the remote control system configured as described above.  
      Explanation first regards the remote control method by which a lecturer of a seminar controls shared terminal  100 .  
      When shared terminal  100  is activated, code information is displayed on screen display unit  103  of shared terminal  100  in Step  1 . This code information is two-dimensional code that contains an identifier of shared terminal  100  (terminal ID) for identifying the location at which shared terminal  100  is installed. This code information is not limited to two-dimensional code as long as the code is of a format having a data structure that can contain an identifier for identifying shared terminal  100 . More specifically, the URL for accessing the Web server (not shown) that is activated by shared terminal  100  is included in the two-dimensional code. Accessing this URL causes processing to start in service execution control unit  102 . A time stamp is included in this code information, and this time stamp is periodically updated. The terminal ID of shared terminal  100  is here assumed to be “20000001.” 
      The lecturer of the seminar manipulates input unit  121  of remote-control terminal  120  and the code information displayed on screen display unit  103  is read by information reading unit  125  in Step  2 , whereupon authentication request information that contains verification information for verifying the user of remote-control terminal  120  to enable use of shared terminal  100  is transmitted by service request processor  122  of remote-control terminal  120  to shared terminal  100  by way of communication unit  124  in Step  3 . This authentication request information includes the identifier of shared terminal  100  that is included in the code information, a time stamp, and verification information of remote-control terminal  120 . The verification information is data generated in remote-control terminal authentication unit  101  that contain the user ID and that have been acquired in advance by remote-control terminal  120 . The verification information may be information generated by another means of shared terminal  100 , or may be issued by a device for issuing other verification information.  
      When the authentication request information has been transmitted from remote-control terminal  120  to shared terminal  100  by way of wireless network  130  in Step  2 , the transmitted authentication request information is received in remote-control terminal authentication unit  101  by way of communication unit  104  of shared terminal  100  in Step  4 .  
      Remote-control terminal authentication unit  101  next determines whether the time difference between the current time and the time stamp that is included in the received authentication request information is within the range of the permissible authentication time interval in Step  5 . Here, the permissible authentication time interval is numerical value data that have been set in advance in remote control terminal authentication unit  101 . If the permissible authentication time interval is, for example, “60 minutes,” the authentication request is accepted provided that the time difference between the current time and the value of the time stamp is within 60 minutes, but the authentication request is not accepted if the time difference exceeds 60 minutes.  
      If the time difference between the current time and the value of the time stamp is determined to be within the range of the permissible authentication time interval, the user ID is extracted from the verification information contained in the received authentication request information. Remote-control terminal authentication unit  101  compares the extracted user ID with the user ID contained in user information that has been recorded in advance in the recording medium in shared terminal  100  in Step  6 .  
      The information shown in each of FIGS.  3 ( a ),  3 ( b ), and  3 ( c ) must be stored in advance in, for example, the hard disk of shared terminal  100  by a system operator.  
      Referring to  FIG. 3 ( a ), user information is shown in which user ID  300 , user name  301 , and affiliated group name  302  are stored in association with each other. User ID  300  is ID for identifying the user. User name  301  is the name of the user. Affiliated group name  302  is the name of the group to which the user belongs.  
      Referring to  FIG. 3 ( b ), service information is shown in which service ID  310 , service name  311 , and user group name  312  are stored in association with each other. Service ID  310  is the ID for identifying the service. Service name  311  is the service name of that service. User group name  312  is the group name that indicates one or more affiliated groups that can use that service.  
      Referring to  FIG. 3 ( c ), operation information is shown in which terminal ID  320 , installation location information  321 , service ID  322 , service detail ID  323 , and authority initial value  324  are stored in association with each other. Terminal ID  320  is ID for identifying shared terminal  100  and terminals that are linked with shared terminal  100 . Installation location information  321  is information showing the location at which the terminal is installed. Service ID  322  is an ID for identifying service that can be used when that terminal is installed in the designated installation location. Service detail ID  323  is detailed information of the service. Authority initial value  324  is the initial value of the authority to manipulate that is in the use content that has been assigned to service detail ID  323 . In this case, “ALLOW” of authority initial value  324  indicates the authority to manipulate, and “DENY” indicates a lack of authority to manipulate. The input data of authority initial value  324  may designate a condition formula to allow authority to be set for each user ID  300  or for each affiliation group name  302 .  
      Remote-control terminal authentication unit  101  performs a search to discover whether a user ID identical to the user ID that has been extracted from the verification information exists in user ID  300  shown in  FIG. 3 ( a ). If the same user ID exists, service control unit  105  performs a search to discover whether a group name identical to affiliated group name  302  that is associated with user ID  300  exists in user group name  312 .  
      As an example, an authentication request is carried out in which user ID  300  is “00000123” and user name  301  is “Yamada Taro.” As shown in  FIG. 3 ( a ), affiliated group  302  of “Yamada Taro” is seen to be “Business Section 1.” A search is then performed to determine whether this affiliated group name “Business Section 1” is in user group name  312  of the service information shown in  FIG. 3 ( b ). If this affiliated group name “Business Section 1” is in user group name  312  of the service information shown in  FIG. 3 ( b ), service name  311  and service ID  310  that correspond to that user group name  312  are acquired. In this case, service name  311  “seminar” and service ID  310  “10000001” are acquired. A search is further performed to determine whether the set of acquired service ID “10000001” and terminal ID “20000001,” which is the identifier of shared terminal  100  that is included in the authentication request information, are in service ID  322  and terminal ID  320  of the operation information shown in  FIG. 3 ( c ). If the set of service ID “10000001” and terminal ID “20000001” is in service ID  322  and terminal ID  320  of the operation information shown in  FIG. 3 ( c ), service detail ID  323  that corresponds to this set is acquired. In this case, service detail information  323  “0001” is acquired and authority initial value  324  that corresponds to this acquired service detail ID is “ALLOW,” whereby it is recognized that this authority is held. The search of use content is carried out in this way in Step  7 .  
      When service detail ID  323  has been acquired by service control unit  105 , service use screens are generated by service execution control unit  102  based on service detail ID  323  that has been acquired. The service use screens generated by service execution control unit  102  are transmitted by way of wireless network  130  from communication unit  104  to remote-control terminal  120  in Step  8 . The service use screens that are here generated have information that is shown on use screens and are use screen data that take into consideration the manipulation authority that depends on the use content of the service. More specifically, screens that contain service manipulation tools are generated for users having the authority to manipulate shared terminal  100 . On the other hand, screens that do not contain service manipulation tools are generated for users that lack the authority to manipulate shared terminal  100 .  
      At this time, service execution control unit  102  supplies shared screens of service as output to screen display unit  103  based on service detail ID  323 , and these shared screens are displayed on screen display unit  103 . Service execution control unit  102  further holds as authority information the user IDs of users who are using the service and their corresponding manipulation authority until this service ends. More specifically, service execution control unit  102  updates and holds the values of authority initial values  324  of the operation information shown in  FIG. 3 ( c ).  
      On the other hand, when the time difference between the current time and the time stamp value that is included in the authentication request information is determined to be outside the range of permissible authentication time in Step  5 , service execution control unit  102  generates an authentication result screen indicating that use is not permitted and transmits this screen from communication unit  104  to remote-control terminal  120  by way of wireless network  130  in Step  9 .  
      If it is determined that a user ID identical to the user ID extracted from the verification information in Step  6  does not exist in user ID  300  shown in  FIG. 3 ( a ), service execution control unit  102  generates an authentication result screen indicating that use is not permitted. The generated screen is then transmitted from communication unit  104  to remote-control terminal  120  by way of wireless network  130  in Step  9 .  
      The screen that is transmitted to remote-control terminal  120  in Step  9  may also be displayed as an authentication process result on screen display unit  103 .  
      When a plurality of services that can be used by a user are acquired in Step  7 , a list of these services may be generated and the generated list then may be transmitted to remote-control terminal  120 . At such times, the list may be displayed on screen display unit  103 .  
      In Step  8 , when a service use screen is transmitted from shared terminal  100  to remote-control terminal  120  by way of wireless network  130 , the service use screen is received in communication unit  124  of remote-control terminal  120  in Step  10 , and the received use screen is screen-displayed on screen display unit  123  in Step  11 . For example, when the data of the use screen are HTML content, an application having browser functions is used to display the application screen. In addition, a user interface for manipulating shared terminal  100  is included in the application screen, and the user, by manipulating input unit  121 , realizes remote manipulation of shared terminal  100 . The means for effecting manipulation may also be keys such as the numerical buttons of remote-control terminal  120 .  
      The use screen is displayed on screen display unit  123  of remote-control terminal  120 , and the lecturer of the seminar, in order to realize remote manipulation of shared terminal  100 , enters shared terminal manipulation request information that includes manipulation information, a service ID, and a user ID into the application screen that is displayed on screen display unit  120 . The entered shared terminal manipulation request information is transmitted from service request processor  122  to shared terminal  100  by way of communication unit  124  in Step  12 . In this case, the service ID and user ID are assumed to be included in the use screen that is transmitted from shared terminal  100  and received in remote-control terminal  120 .  
      The shared terminal manipulation request information that has been transmitted from remote-control terminal  120  passes by way of wireless network  130  and is received in shared terminal  100  in Step  13 . The shared terminal manipulation request information that is received in shared terminal  100  is received in service execution control unit  103  by way of communication unit  104 .  
      Then, using the service ID and user ID in the shared terminal manipulation request information that has been received in service execution control unit  103  as a search key, a search is performed for the held authority information to determine whether that remote-control terminal  120  has the authority to permit use in Step  14 .  
      If the service ID and user ID in the received shared terminal manipulation request information are in the held authority information, it is next determined whether the manipulation information contained in the shared terminal manipulation request information is information for changing the manipulation rights or information for manipulating screen display unit  103  of shared terminal  100  in Step  15 . A user interface that allows change of the manipulation rights can be offered on screen display unit  123  of remote-control terminal  120 , and the user can use this user interface to transfer manipulation rights to other users or to release manipulation rights for all users other than himself or herself. The user interface for changing manipulation rights is displayed on screen display unit  123  of remote-control terminal  120  that is used by a user having manipulation rights. This user interface is not displayed on screen display unit  123  of remote-control terminal  120  used by a user that lacks manipulation rights. When it is determined that the manipulation information is information for changing manipulation rights, service execution control unit  102  changes the manipulation rights of the manipulation information based on the service ID, user ID, and manipulation information contained in the shared terminal manipulation request information and updates the data of the authority information in Step  16 .  
      When it is determined that the manipulation information is information for manipulating screen display unit  103  of shared terminal  100 , service execution control unit  102  manipulates the screen displayed on screen display unit  103  of shared terminal  100  based on the manipulation information contained in the shared terminal manipulation request information. More specifically, execution commands of the service application are contained in the manipulation information, and service execution control unit  102  executes these commands in Step  17 .  
      In Step  14 , if the service ID and user ID in the received shared terminal manipulation request information are not in the held authority information, service execution control unit  102  determines that shared terminal manipulation request information has been transmitted from a user that lacks manipulation rights for the service that is being executed. An authentication result screen indicating that use is not permitted is then generated and transmitted from communication unit  104  to remote-control terminal  120  by way of wireless network  130  in Step  9 .  
      The authentication result screen that is transmitted from shared terminal  100  is received in communication unit  124  of remote-control terminal  120  in Step  18  and displayed on screen display unit  123  in Step  19 .  
      Explanation next regards the remote control method by which an attendee of a seminar can control shared terminal  100 .  
      First, when information-providing terminal  110  is activated, code information is displayed on screen display unit  113  of information-providing terminal  110  in Step  21 . This code information is two-dimensional code generated in service execution control unit  111  and contains the identifier of information-providing terminal  110  (terminal ID) for identifying the location of installed information-providing terminal  110 . As long as the code is of a format having a data structure that can contain an identifier for identifying information-providing terminal  110 , this code is not limited to two-dimensional code. More specifically, a URL for accessing a Web server (not shown) that is activated by shared terminal  100  is contained in the two-dimensional code. Accessing this URL causes the start of processing in service execution control unit  102 . A time stamp is included in this code information, and this time stamp is periodically updated. In addition, the terminal ID of information-providing terminal  110  is assumed to be “20000002.” 
      Input unit  121  of remote-control terminal  120  is manipulated by a seminar attendee, and information reading unit  125  is used to read the code information that is displayed on screen display unit  113  in Step  22 . Service request processor  122  of remote-control terminal  120  then transmits to shared terminal  100  by way of communication unit  124  in Step  23  authentication request information that contains verification information for verifying whether the user of remote-control terminal  120  is allowed to use shared terminal  100  for use of shared terminal  100 . This authentication request information contains the identifier of information-providing terminal  110  that is contained in the code information, a time stamp, and verification information of remote-control terminal  120 . The verification information is data that have been generated in remote-control terminal authentication unit  101  and that include a user ID, and this verification information is acquired in advance by remote-control terminal  120 . Alternatively, the verification information may be generated by selecting another means of shared terminal  100 , or may be issued by another device for issuing verification information.  
      In Step  22 , authentication request information is transmitted from remote-control terminal  120  to shared terminal  100  by way of wireless network  130 , and the transmitted authentication request information is received in remote-control terminal authentication unit  101  by way of communication unit  104  in Step  24 .  
      Remote-control terminal authentication unit  101  next determines whether the time difference between the current time and the value of the time stamp that is contained in the received authentication request information is within the range of the permissible authentication time interval in Step  25 . In this case, the permissible authentication time interval is numerical data that have been set in advance in remote-control terminal authentication unit  101 . If, for example, the permissible authentication time interval is set to “60 minutes,” the authentication request is accepted provided that the time difference between the current time and the time stamp value is within 60 minutes, but the authentication request is not accepted if the time difference exceeds 60 minutes.  
      If the time difference between the time stamp value and the current time is determined to be within the range of the permissible authentication time interval, the user ID is extracted from the verification information contained within the received authentication request information. The extracted user ID is compared with the user ID contained within the user information that has been recorded in advance in the recording medium in shared terminal  100  by remote-control terminal authentication unit  101  in Step  26 .  
      When the extracted user ID and user ID contained in the user information that has been recorded in advance in the recording medium in shared terminal  100  are compared and a match occurs, the user is determined to be a registered user, and a search is performed for the service and use content in Step  27 . The search method is similar to the case for the seminar lecturer described previously in Step  7 .  
      Then, as in Step  8 , a service use screen is generated based on the service and use content that have been searched. The generated service use screen is transmitted from communication unit  104  to remote-control terminal  120  by way of wireless network  130  in Step  28 . The service use screen that is generated in this case is use screen data that take into consideration the manipulation authority that depends on the use content of that service. More specifically, a screen containing manipulation tools of the service is generated for users having the authority to manipulate shared terminal  100 , and a screen that does not contain manipulation tools of the service is generated for users that lack the authority to manipulate shared terminal  100 .  
      At this time, based on service detail ID  323 , service execution control unit  102  supplies shared screens of the service as output to screen display unit  103 , and these shared screens are displayed on screen display unit  103 . Service execution control unit  102  further holds the user IDs of the users that are using the service and their manipulation authority in association with each other as authority information until the service ends.  
      On the other hand, if the time difference between the current time and the value of the time stamp that is contained in the authentication request information is determined to be outside the range of the permissible authentication time interval in Step  25 , service execution control unit  102  generates an authentication result screen indicating that use cannot be permitted and transmits this screen from communication unit  104  to remote-control terminal  120  by way of wireless network  130  in Step  29 .  
      Further, when it is determined based on the user ID that is extracted from the verification information that the user is not registered in Step  26 , service execution control unit  102  generates an authentication result screen indicating that use cannot be permitted. The generated screen is then transmitted from communication unit  104  to remote-control terminal  120  by way of wireless network  130  in Step  29 .  
      The screen transmitted from remote-control terminal  120  in Step  29  may also be displayed as authentication process results on screen display unit  103 .  
      When a plurality of services that can be used by a user is acquired in Step  27 , a list of these services may be generated and this generated list then transmitted to remote-control terminal  120 . At this time, the list may be displayed on screen display unit  103 .  
      When a service use screen is transmitted from shared terminal  100  to remote-control terminal  120  by way of wireless network  130  in Step  28 , this service use screen is received in communication unit  124  of remote-control terminal  120  in Step  30 . The received use screen is screen-displayed on screen display unit  123  in Step  31 . For example, when the use screen data are HTML content, an application having browser functions is used to display the application screen. This application screen includes a user interface for manipulating shared terminal  100 , and the user thus realizes remote manipulation of shared terminal  100  by manipulating input unit  121 . The means for realizing this manipulation may be keys such as the numerical buttons of remote-control terminal  120 .  
      A use screen is displayed on screen display unit  123  of remote-control terminal  120 , and in order for the attendee of the seminar to carry out remote manipulation of shared terminal  100 , shared terminal manipulation request information that contains manipulation information, service ID, and the user ID is applied as input in the application screen displayed on screen display unit  120 , whereupon the applied shared terminal manipulation request information is transmitted from service request processor  122  to shared terminal  100  by way of communication unit  124  in Step  32 . In this case, it is assumed that the service ID and user ID are included in the use screen that is transmitted from shared terminal  100  and received in remote-control terminal  120 .  
      The shared terminal manipulation request information that has been transmitted from remote-control terminal  120  is received in shared terminal  100  by way of wireless network  130  in Step  33 . The shared terminal manipulation request information that has been received in shared terminal  100  is received in service execution control unit  103  by way of communication unit  104 .  
      Then, using the service ID and user ID in the shared terminal manipulation request information that has been received in service execution control unit  102  as the search key, a search is performed of the held authority information to determine whether remote-control terminal  120  has authority for use in Step  34 .  
      If the service ID and user ID in the received shared terminal manipulation request information are in the authority information that is held, it is next determined whether the manipulation information that is contained in the shared terminal manipulation request information is information for changing the manipulation rights or information for manipulating screen display unit  103  of shared terminal  100  in Step  35 . A user interface that allows changes of the manipulation rights is provided on screen display unit  123  of remote-control terminal  120 , and the user can use this user interface to transfer manipulation rights to other users or to release the manipulation rights of all users other than himself or herself. The user interface for changing manipulation rights is displayed on screen display units  123  of remote-control terminals  120  that are used by users having manipulation rights. The user interface is not displayed on screen display units  123  of remote-control terminals  120  used by users who lack manipulation rights. When it is determined that the manipulation information is information for changing manipulation rights, service execution control unit  102  changes the manipulation rights of the manipulation information based on the manipulation information, service ID, and user ID contained in the shared terminal manipulation request information, and the data of the authority information is updated in Step  36 .  
      On the other hand, when it is determined that the manipulation information is information for manipulating screen display unit  103  of shared terminal  100 , service execution control unit  102  manipulates the screens that are displayed on screen display unit  103  of shared terminal  100  based on the manipulation information that is contained in the shared terminal manipulation request information. More specifically, the execution commands of a service application are included in the manipulation information, and these commands are executed by service execution control unit  102  in Step  37 . However, when the seminar attendee is only allowed to observe, the screen displayed on screen display unit  103  cannot be manipulated.  
      If the service ID and user ID in the received shared terminal manipulation request information are not present in the held authority information in Step  34 , service execution control unit  102  determines that the shared terminal manipulation request information has been transmitted from a user that lacks manipulation rights for the service being executed. An authentication result screen indicating that use is not permitted is then generated and transmitted from communication unit  104  to remote-control terminal  120  by way of wireless network  130  in Step  29 .  
      The authentication result screen that has been transmitted from shared terminal  100  is then received in communication unit  124  of remote-control terminal  120  in Step  38  and displayed on screen display unit  123  in Step  39 .  
      The exchange of data between shared terminal  100  and remote-control terminals  120  that are held by attendees may be realized through information-providing terminal  110 .  
      In addition, a limit may be placed on the number of remote-control terminals  120  that can exercise remote control over shared terminal  100 .  
      The time interval during which shared terminal  100  is remote-controlled by remote-control terminal  120  may be stored in shared terminal  100 . In other words, the time interval from carrying out authentication of remote-control terminal  120  until operation of the remote control ends may be stored in shared terminal  100 .  
      In the above-described first embodiment, explanation regarded a case in which shared terminal  100  and information-providing terminal  110  were installed in different locations. Users each used respective terminals installed in different locations to request authentication, whereby use screens appropriate to remote-control terminal  120  of each user could be displayed and remote-control terminals  120  could be utilized by different use modes. More specifically, by requesting authentication on shared terminal  100  on the podium, the seminar lecturer is able to implement remote manipulation of a service that is executed by shared terminal  100  while viewing a screen for the presenter that includes an interface that allows manipulation of seminar materials.  
      On the other hand, by requesting authentication on information-providing terminal  110  that is installed at the entrance of the seminar site, a plurality of attendees utilize use screens that allow individual viewing of the seminar materials.  
      When the lecturer finishes the lecture on the seminar materials and responds to questions, the lecturer is able to manipulate an interface for temporarily releasing manipulation rights that is displayed on remote-control terminal  120  that is held by the lecturer to enable manipulation of seminar materials by remote-control terminals  120  that are held by attendees. As an effect that is further obtained, the provision of a time stamp in the code information can prevent persons who have used the service hours in advance from improperly using the service.  
     Second Embodiment  
      As the second embodiment, a case is described in which TV conference equipment (a personal computer), which is the shared terminal, is used to hold a TV conference.  
      Referring to  FIG. 5 , the second embodiment of a remote control system is shown that is composed of: shared terminal  500 ; tag readers  510 - 1 - 510 - n , which are readers; and remote-control terminal  520 ; each of these components being connected by way of wireless network  530 . Shared terminal  500  is further composed of: remote-control terminal authentication unit  501 ; service execution control unit  502 ; screen display unit  503 ; communication unit  504 ; and service control unit  505 . Remote-control terminal authentication unit  501  performs authentication of remote-control terminals  520 . Service control unit  505  controls the services that are supplied to remote-control terminals  520 . Service execution control unit  502  controls the execution of services in accordance with remote-control terminal  520 . Screen display unit  503  displays screens of the state of the services that are being executed. Communication unit  504  communicates with tag readers  510 - 1 - 510 - n  and remote-control terminals  520  by way of wireless network  530 . In addition, tag readers  510 - 1 - 510 - n  are each composed of: service execution control units  511 - 1 - 511 - n ; communication units  512 - 1 - 512 - n ; and tag reading units  513 - 1 - 513 - n , respectively. Communication units  512 - 1 - 512 - n  connect the radio waves of wireless network  530  and tag readers  510 - 1 - 510 - n . Tag reading units  513 - 1 - 513 - n  read the information of IC tags. Service execution control units  511 - 1 - 511 - n  transmit authentication request information to shared terminal  500  based on the IC tag information that has been read by tag reading units  513 - 1 - 513 - n . Each remote-control terminal  520  is composed of: input unit  521 ; service request processor  522 , screen display unit  523 , communication unit  524 , and IC tag  525 . Input unit  521  receives as input the content by which the user who is holding remote-control terminal  520  manipulates remote-control terminal  520 . Service request processor  522  issues requests for service to shared terminal  500  and accepts the results of these requests. Screen display unit  523  displays the results that have been accepted in service request processor  522 . Communication unit  524  communicates with shared terminal  500  and tag readers  510 - 1 - 510 - n  by way of wireless network  530 . Individual identification information of remote-control terminals  520  is written in advance into IC tags  525  as IC tag information. In this case, the individual identification information is destination information such as users&#39; IDs or e-mail addresses for identifying remote-control terminals  520 .  
      Shared terminal  500  is installed on the front wall as seen from the seats in the conference room. Remote-control terminals  520  are assumed to be portable terminals belonging to participants in the TV conference. Tag readers  510 - 1 - 510 - n  are installed in locations separated by spaces of several meters within the conference room, tag reader  510 - 1  being installed at the location closest to shared terminal  500 . In addition, the distance between shared terminal  500  and the locations installed tag readers  510 - 1 - 510 - n  is set in advance in shared terminal  500 . Screen display unit  503  may be connected by a display cable to shared terminal  500 . Remote-control terminal authentication unit  501  records user information that includes the user IDs of users that can effect remote control of shared terminal  500  on a recording medium such as a disk (not shown) or memory (not shown) provided in shared terminal  500 . Service control unit  505  records information of services that shared terminal  500  can offer and further, records the role of each terminal that operates in the system, service content, and authority information for manipulating shared terminal  500  in association with each other as operation information on a recording medium such as a disk (not shown) or memory (not shown) that is provided in shared terminal  500 . Input unit  521  may be the physical buttons for manipulation that are provided on the portable telephones, or may be virtual buttons displayed on screen display unit  523 . Screen display unit  523  is assumed to be a compact liquid crystal display equipped on remote-control terminal  520 . Radio access points (not shown) are interposed in wireless network  530 , and when tag readers  510 - 1 - 510 - n  and remote-control terminal  520  transmit and receive data with shared terminal  500 , the data pass by way of these access points. It is further assumed that each of the programs and databases that operate in shared terminal  500 , tag readers  510 - 1 - 510 - n , and remote-control terminal  520  are stored on hard disks (not shown) as a recording medium that are physically provided in each of these terminals, and are each transferred as necessary to memories (not shown) and executed by CPUs (not shown) that are provided in each of these terminals. In addition, IC tags  525  use active RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) that issues weak radio waves. When IC tags  525  are applied to a wireless network, IC tags  525  can connect directly to wireless network  530  and exchange data with communication units  512 - 1 - 512 - n  of tag readers  510 - 1 - 510 - n.    
      The operation of each of the constituent elements of the above-described shared terminal  500  is substantially identical to the operation of each of the constituent elements of shared terminal  100  in the first embodiment of the present invention. The point of difference with the operation of shared terminal  100  in the first embodiment is the selection of the use content of service based on the “location information” of each of installed tag readers  510 - 1 - 510 - n  without dealing with “code information.” 
      Explanation next regards the remote control method in the remote control system that is configured as described above.  
      As in the first embodiment, operation information for each service ID that is being executed is first stored in service execution control unit  502  of shared terminal  500 , this operation information being composed of the service detail IDs, the user IDs currently in use, the manipulation authority of these users, the maximum connection number, and the number of completed connections. The “number of completed connections” is the total number of remote-control terminals  520  that are already using services. Control is implemented such that the “number of completed connections” does not exceed a “maximum connection number” that has been defined in the operation information. More specifically, when the movement of the location of a user who is holding remote-control terminal  520  that is already executing service causes a change in the use content of services that are offered to remote-control terminal  520 , remote-control terminal  520  is set in a reserved state and the use content remains unchanged when the maximum connection number and number of completed connections are the same value. If remote-control terminal  520  that is in a reserved state satisfies execution conditions that are the same as those conditions the time of entering the reserved state when the number of completed connections falls below the maximum connection number, service execution control unit  502  transmits relevant use screens.  
      Referring to  FIG. 7 , operation information is shown that has been stored in service control unit  505 , this operation information being execution conditions  700 , service ID  701 , service detail ID  702 , authority initial value  703 , and maximum connection number  704  that have been placed in association with each other in advance. Execution conditions  700  are conditions for executing services. Service ID  701  is identification information of services that can be offered to a user in a location that satisfies the execution conditions. Service detail ID  702  is detail information of the service. Authority initial value  703  is the initial value of the authority for manipulation in which use content is assigned that is indicated in service detail ID  702 . Maximum connection number  704  is the maximum number of connections of terminals to which the use content indicated in service detail ID  702  can be applied.  
      In execution conditions  700 , the terminal ID, which is the identification information of shared terminal  500 , is stored enclosed within the first set of brackets ([ ]), and the distance (units: meters) from the relevant shared terminal  500  is stored enclosed within the second set of brackets.  
      When “[20000001] [≦2.0]” is stored as shown in  FIG. 7 , the conditions are “within 2.0 meters of terminal ID=20000001.” “ALLOW” of authority initial value  703  indicates the possession of manipulation authority, while “DENY” indicates the lack of manipulation authority. Maximum connection number  704  stores a numerical value or “INFINITY” (no limit).  
      The presenter that is holding the conference first takes remote-control terminal  520  that he or she possesses to the vicinity of shared terminal  500  that has been installed in the conference room, whereupon tag reading unit  513 - 1  of tag reader  510 - 1  that is installed close to shared terminal  500  reads the IC tag information that is written in IC tag  525  of remote-control terminal  520  that is held by the presenter in Step  41 .  
      Service execution control unit  511 - 1  generates authentication request information based on the IC tag information that has been read by IC tag  513 - 1  and the tag reader identification information for identifying tag reader  510 - 1  that is stored in advance in tag reader  510 - 1 . The generated authentication request information is then transmitted from communication unit  512 - 1  to shared terminal  500  by way of wireless network  530  in Step  42 .  
      When the authentication request information that is transmitted from tag reader  510 - 1  is received in shared terminal  500  in Step  43 , a search is performed for use content based on the user ID that is contained in the received authentication request information in Step  44 . The search method is the same as the method described using  FIG. 3 ( a ) and  FIG. 3 ( b ) in the first embodiment.  
      Based on the tag reader identification information that is contained in the authentication request information, the distance between the location in which shared terminal  500  is installed and the location in which tag reader  510 - 1  is installed is acquired. In other words, the distance between remote-control terminal  520  and shared terminal  500  is obtained.  
      Upon obtaining the distance between remote-control terminal  520  and shared terminal  500 , a search is performed for the services that are offered from the operation information shown in  FIG. 7  using the obtained distance as an execution condition in Step  45 .  
      When service control unit  505  determines that remote-control terminal  520  that is held by the presenter, who is close to shared terminal  500 , satisfies “[20000001] [≦2.0]” of execution condition  700 , URL information for connecting to the use screen for use by the presenter that corresponds to “0001” of service detail ID  702  is transmitted to remote-control terminal  520  in Step  46 .  
      In this case, the use screen for use by the presenter is a screen that allows manipulations such as marking or moving between pages on the screen that is displayed on screen display unit  503  of shared terminal  500 .  
      The e-mail address of remote-control terminal  520  that is contained in the authentication request information may also be used as the transmission destination, or other information may be used if the information allows identification of remote-control terminal  520 .  
      When the URL information for connecting to the use screen that is intended for use by the presenter that has been transmitted from shared terminal  500  is received in remote-control terminal  520  in Step  47 , the received URL information for connecting to the use screen that is intended for use by the presenter is displayed on screen display unit  523  in Step  48 .  
      When the presenter uses input unit  521  to connect to the URL shown on screen display unit  523 , the use screen for use by the presenter that is stored in the URL is obtained and displayed on screen display unit  523  in Step  49 . The displayed use screen for the presenter is then manipulated by using input unit  521  in Step  50 .  
      On the other hand, when an observer who is participating in the conference holds his or her own remote-control terminal  520  and is seated at a location of the conference room that is separated from shared terminal  500 , the tag reader among tag readers  510 - 2 - 510 - n  that has been installed close to remote-control terminal  520  reads the information that is written in IC tag  525  of remote-control terminal  520 . It is then determined at shared terminal  500  that remote-control terminal  520  satisfies “[20000001] [&gt;2.0]” of observer execution conditions  700 , and URL information that enables making a connection to a use screen that will be used by observers that corresponds to “0002” of service detail ID  702  is transmitted to remote-control terminal  520  in Step  51 .  
      The use screen for use by observers is a screen that only allows viewing of the screen that is displayed on screen display unit  503  of shared terminal  500 .  
      When the URL information for connecting to the use screen for use by observers that is transmitted from shared terminal  500  is received in remote-control terminal  520  in Step  52 , the received URL information for connecting to the use screen for use by observers is displayed on screen display unit  523  in Step  53 .  
      When the observer uses input unit  521  to connect to the URL displayed on screen display unit  523 , the use screen for use by observers that is stored at that URL is obtained and displayed on screen display unit  523  in Step  54 .  
      A limit may be placed on the number of remote-control terminals  520  that can realize remote control of shared terminal  500 .  
      The time interval during which shared terminal  500  is remote-controlled by remote-control terminal  520  may be stored in shared terminal  500 . In other words, the time interval from the authentication of remote-control terminal  520  until operation of the remote control ends may be stored in shared terminal  500 .  
      In the above-described second embodiment, a plurality of tag readers  510 - 1 - 510 - n  are installed in a conference room, and the information that is written to IC tags  525  of remote-control terminals  520  is read by tag readers  510 - 1 - 510 - n  that are installed at locations that are closest to remote-control terminals  520 . In this way, use screens that are appropriate to each user who is holding remote-control terminal  520  can be displayed to provide different use modes. In other words, the mere movement of a user that is holding remote-control terminal  520  enables automatic switching of the provided use screens. For example, when user A who is an observer approaches shared terminal  500  to ask a question regarding the conference materials, tag reader  510 - 1  that is installed in the vicinity of shared terminal  500  detects remote-control terminal  520  that is held by user A. On the other hand, when user B who is the presenter moves away from shared terminal  500 , another of tag readers  510 - 2 - 510 - n  detects remote-control terminal  520  that belongs to user B. The operation information is set such that the use screen for the presenter is offered to users at locations close to shared terminal  500 , whereby remote-control terminal  520  held by user B automatically switches to the use screen for observers, or remote-control terminal  520  held by user A automatically switches to the use screen for the presenter.  
     Third Embodiment  
      As the third embodiment, an example is described in which a person seeking advice uses audiovisual equipment, which is the shared terminal, to have a remote consultation with a counselor.  
      Referring to  FIG. 8 , the third embodiment of a remote control system is shown that is composed of: shared terminal  800 , remote-control terminals  810  and  820 , and tag reader  806 . Remote-control terminal  820  is connected to shared terminal  800  by way of Internet  830 . Remote-control terminal  810  is connected to shared terminal  800  by way of intranet  840 . Tag reader  806  is connected to shared terminal  800  by a PC connection cable and reads information that have been written in IC tags. Shared terminal  800  is further composed of: remote-control terminal authentication unit  801 , service execution control unit  802 , screen display unit  803 , communication unit  804 , and service control unit  805 . Remote-control terminal authentication unit  801  authenticates remote-control terminals  810  and  820 . Service control unit  805  controls the services that are supplied to remote-control terminals  810  and  820 . Service execution control unit  802  controls the execution of services according to remote-control terminals  810  and  820 . Screen display unit  803  displays the state of executed services on a screen. Communication unit  804  communicates with remote-control terminal  820  by way of Internet  830  and communicates with remote-control terminal  810  by way of intranet  840 . Remote-control terminal  810  is composed of: input unit  811 , service request processor  812 , screen display unit  813 , communication unit  814 , and IC tag  815 . Input unit  811  receives as input the content by which the user who is holding remote-control terminal  810  manipulates remote-control terminal  810 . Service request processor  812  issues requests for service to shared terminal  800  and accepts the results of these requests. Screen display unit  813  displays the results that have been accepted by service request processor  812 . Communication unit  814  communicates with shared terminal  800  by way of intranet  840 . IC tag  815  is an IC tag for application in a wireless network in which the authentication request information of remote-control terminal  810  has been written in advance as IC tag information. Remote-control terminal  820  is composed of: input unit  821 , service request processor  822 , screen display unit  823 , and communication unit  824 . Input unit  821  receives as input content by which the user who is holding remote-control terminal  820  manipulates remote-control terminal  820 . Service request processor  822  issues requests for services to shared terminal  800  and accepts the results of these requests. Screen display unit  823  displays the results that have been accepted by service request processor  822 . Communication unit  824  communicates with shared terminal  800  by way of Internet  830 . The details of the authentication request information will be explained later.  
      It is assumed that shared terminal  800 , tag reader  806 , and remote-control terminal  810  are installed in the audiovisual classroom of a school or preschool. Remote-control terminal  820  may be a portable telephone that is held by, for example, a counselor who is being consulted. Screen display unit  803  may be connected by a display cable to shared terminal  800 . In addition, a passive non-contact RFID (radio IC tag) is used as IC tag  815 . Remote-control terminal authentication unit  801  records user information that includes the user IDs of users who can effect remote control of shared terminal  800  on a recording medium such as a disk (not shown) or memory (not shown) provided in shared terminal  800 . Service control unit  805  records information of services that shared terminal  800  can offer and further, records the role of each terminal that operates in the system, service content, and authority information for manipulating shared terminal  800  in association with each other as operation information on a recording medium such as a disk (not shown) or memory (not shown) that is provided in shared terminal  800 . Input units  811  and  821  may be the physical buttons for manipulation that are provided on remote-control terminals  810  and  820 , or may be virtual buttons displayed on screen display units  813  and  823 , respectively. Screen display units  813  and  823  are compact displays equipped on remote-control terminals  810  and  820 , respectively. Radio access points (not shown) are interposed in Internet  830  and intranet  840 , and transmission and reception of data between remote-control terminals  810  and  820  and shared terminal  800  passes by way of these access points. It is further assumed that each of the programs and databases that operate in shared terminal  800  and remote-control terminals  810  and  820  are stored on hard disks (not shown) as a recording medium that are physically provided in each of these terminals and are each transferred as necessary to memories (not shown) and executed by CPUs (not shown) that are provided in each of these terminals.  
      Each of the constituent elements of shared terminal  800  described above operates substantially identically to the constituent elements of shared terminal  100  in the first embodiment of the present invention. The point of difference in the operation between this embodiment and shared terminal  100  in the first embodiment is the selection of the use content of services based on the “connection route” of the terminal that effects remote control without using with “code information.” 
      Explanation next regards the remote control method in the remote control system that is configured as described above.  
      When the person seeking advice who is holding remote-control terminal  810  shown in  FIG. 8  holds IC tag  815  up to tag reader  806 , the authentication request information of remote-control terminal  810  that has been written in advance in IC tag  815  is read by tag reader  806 . The authentication request information that has been read is then transmitted from tag reader  806  to shared terminal  800 .  
      On the other hand, shared address information for accessing shared terminal  800  is stored in advance in remote-control terminal  820 , and based on this shared address information, remote-control terminal  820  accesses shared terminal  800 . Address information (assumed to be an address that can be used temporarily that contains, for example, a one-time password) that is issued and transmitted in real time in shared terminal  800  is then received in remote-control terminal  820 , whereupon authentication request information is transmitted from remote-control terminal  820  to this address by way of Internet  830 .  
      The authentication request information includes at least the verification information of remote-control terminals  810  and  820 . The verification information is data generated in remote-control terminal authentication unit  801  that includes user IDs for identifying remote-control terminals  810  and  820 . The verification information is obtained in advance in remote-control terminal  810  and  820 . The authentication request information further includes address information such as the e-mail addresses of remote-control terminals  810  and  820 . The verification information may be information generated by selecting another means of shared terminal  800 , or may be information issued by another device that issues verification information.  
      The authentication request information transmitted from remote-control terminal  810  or remote-control terminal  820  is received in service execution control unit  802  in Step  61 , whereupon an authentication process is carried out in remote-control terminal authentication unit  801  for the received authentication request information in Step  62 .  
      Connection route information regarding the route by which the authentication request information was received in service execution control unit  802  is added to the information of the authentication process results and is transmitted to service control unit  805 . This connection route information is data for identifying whether the authentication request information was transmitted from tag reader  906  or transmitted by way of Internet  830 . In service control unit  805 , an item that is set for the connection route is provided in place of execution conditions  700  shown in  FIG. 7  and the connection route information and service use content are stored in association with each other. In this case, an identifier as the device, i.e., tag reader  806  or communication unit  804 , or the network address of the transmission source may be used as the connection route that is set in place of execution conditions  700  shown in  FIG. 7 .  
      In service control unit  805 , the route of reception is next determined based on the connection route information and a search is performed of the use content according to this connection route information in Step  63 .  
      When it is determined that the reception route is tag reader  806 , use content for consultation is searched in service control unit  805  and a screen for consultation is transmitted from service control unit  805  to remote-control terminal  810  by way of communication unit  804  and intranet  840  in Step  64 .  
      On the other hand, if it is determined that the reception route is by way of Internet  830 , a search is performed for use content for response in service control unit  805  and a screen for response, is a response screen, transmitted from service control unit  805  to remote-control terminal  820  by way of communication unit  804  and Internet  830  in Step  65 .  
      The consultation screen is a screen to allow consultation about information, and the response screen is a screen that allows the user to regard to information that was under consultation.  
      If the audiovisual equipment of the present embodiment is installed in a school or preschool, a consultation regarding guidance methods can be held between a counselor and the teacher of a child who is exhibiting problem behavior. By using the Internet (a public network that includes “hot spots” on streets), a counselor who is in charge of a case can respond to inquiries from the teacher even when the counselor is in the hospital or between house calls. The teacher and the counselor are holding remote-control terminals  810  that can realize remote control of the audiovisual equipment in the school, and the teacher can manipulate the audiovisual equipment while viewing the screen of screen display unit  803  of shared terminal  800 . As a result, a simple manipulation interface is provided on remote-control terminal  810  that belongs to the teacher, and screen data displayed on shared terminal  800  and a manipulation interface are offered on remote-control terminal  820  that belongs to the counselor. This suggests that the amount of information that can be held by users who are implementing remote control differs depending on whether the users who are using shared terminal  800  are at shared terminal  800  or away from shared terminal  800 . It is therefore effective to switch the service content to include necessary information according to the user&#39;s state of use.  
      As explained hereinabove, the examples of a seminar, a TV conference, and a remote consultation have been described as embodiments of the present invention, but the present invention can be applied to other uses. When used for an event in which participants actually attend, those who preside over the event and the attendees who have gathered at the event site have portable telephones as the remote-control terminals and proceed with a game while viewing a screen that is located over the stage. A manipulation interface that can control the proceedings is provided on the portable telephone of persons presiding over the event who are on the stage, and a manipulation interface for participating in the game is provided on the portable telephones, which are the remote-control terminals, of attendees who are at the event site. Persons presiding over the event can confer participation rights to attendees who have indicated an interest in participating in the game. Alternatively, as in a remote consultation, the function by which both parties can manipulate the screen of a shared terminal even when the communication partners are not at the same site can be used for urgent responses in manufacturing situations or for remote business negotiations regarding financial matters.  
      In the present invention, in addition to using dedicated hardware to realize the processes in each of the constituent elements of shared terminals  100 ,  500 , and  800 , information-providing terminal  110 , remote-control terminals  120 ,  520 ,  810 , and  820 , and tag readers  510 - 1 - 510 - n , programs for realizing these functions may also be recorded on a recording medium that can be read in each of shared terminals  100 ,  500 , and  800 , information-providing terminal  110 , remote-control terminals  120 ,  520 ,  810 , and  820 , and tag readers  510 - 1 - 510 - n , and the programs that have been recorded in these recording media may be read to each of shared terminals  100 ,  500 , and  800 , information-providing terminal  110 , remote-control terminals  120 ,  520 ,  810 , and  820 , and tag readers  510 - 1 - 510 - n  and then executed. The recording media that can be read by each of shared terminals  100 ,  500 , and  800 , information-providing terminal  110 , remote-control terminals  120 ,  520 ,  810 , and  820 , and tag readers  510 - 1 - 510 - n  may be recording media that can be removed such as a floppy disk, a magnet-optical disk, a DVD, or a CD; or may be an HDD that is built into shared terminals  100 ,  500 , and  800 , information-providing terminal  110 , remote-control terminals  120 ,  520 ,  810 , and  820 , and tag readers  510 - 1 - 510 - n . The programs that are recorded in these recording media are read into each constituent element, and processes identical to those described hereinabove are then carried out by each constituent element.  
      While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in specific terms, such description is for illustrative purpose only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.