Patent Publication Number: US-7225257-B2

Title: Information-display system, an information-display method, an information-display server, and an information-display program

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to an information-display system, an information-display method, an information-display server and an information-display program, and especially relates to an information-display system, an information-display method, an information-display server, and an information-display program, which are for displaying information stored in the information display-server on an information-display terminal. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In government and municipal offices, and corporations, for example, systems have been introduced to display presence status of predetermined persons (a minister, a director general, a president, a managing director, and the like) in order to perform business smoothly. 
     In one of the conventional presence status display systems, presence status of a predetermined person or persons is displayed by arranging a nameplate bearing identification, such as a name, a title and the like, of each of the predetermined persons, and by back-lighting the nameplate through turning on and turning off an electric bulb in the back of the nameplate. Often, ON and OFF operations of the electric bulb, etc., are performed by a switch provided in the vicinity of an office of the predetermined persons. 
     In another conventional presence status display system, a person&#39;s presence status is shown on a display apparatus by using a computer, a presence status management server and LAN (Local Area Network). 
     In the conventional presence status display systems such as above, replacement of electric bulbs etc. is necessary whenever the electric bulb etc. is damaged, and further, if presence status displays are provided at a large number of locations, maintenance and management are serious problems. 
     Another problem with the conventional presence status display systems is that the displays have to be modified or replaced due to increase in the number of persons whose presence status is to be shown. The problem gets more serious as the number of display locations gets greater. 
     Further, the conventional presence status display has a problem of taking great time and effort, when location of a person whose presence status is to be displayed moves, requiring changes in wiring between presence status displays and a switch. The greater the number of display locations, the more serious the problem is. 
     In another conventional presence status display system that uses a computer for displaying presence status, it is necessary to reinstall a program every time an improvement to the presence status display system is implemented. This problem is serious when the number of the computers with the presence status display facility is great. 
     In another conventional presence status display system, updating the presence status information requires periodic and repeated access to the presence status management server that manages the presence status. This adds to traffic in the network, especially when the updating is performed in real time. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a general object of the present invention to provide a system, a method, a server and a program for displaying presence status of persons, which substantially obviate one or more of the problems caused by the limitations and disadvantages of the related art. 
     Features and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in the description that follows, and in part will become apparent from the description and the accompanying drawings, or may be learned by practice of the invention according to the teachings provided in the description. Objects as well as other features and advantages of the present invention will be realized and attained by the system, the method, the server and the program particularly pointed out in the specification in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention. 
     To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the present invention made in view of the points described above provides the information-display system, the information-display method, the information-display server, and the information-display program, which enable real time updating of the presence status displayed on a presence status display without requiring useless accesses to the network, facilitating changes of information to be displayed on an information-display terminal, maintenance, management, and improvements. 
     In order to achieve the objective, the present invention provides an information-display system that displays information using one or more information-display terminals and an information-display server connected to the information-display terminals through a network, wherein the information-display server includes an information storing means to store the information to be displayed on the information-display terminals, and an update notice information transmitting means to provide a notice that information stored in the information storing means has been updated to the information-display terminals when there is an update, and wherein the information-display terminals include an information acquisition and display means to acquire the updated information from the information-display server when there is an update, and to display the updated information. 
     In an information-display system such as above, the notice that there is an update of the information stored in the information storing means is transmitted to the information-display terminals, and in response thereto, the information-display terminals can acquire the updated information from the information-display server. That is, since the information-display terminals access the information-display server only when there is an update of the information stored in the information storing means, network traffic is mitigated. As above, the information-display terminals can display current information in real time as the information stored in the information storing means is updated. 
     Further, since the information storing means stores the information to be displayed on the information-display terminals, the kind of information displayed on an information-display terminal can be changed easily. In addition, maintenance and management become easy by structuring the information-display system with an information-display server and one or more information-display terminals connected to the network. 
     In the present invention, each information-display terminal further includes a status updating demanding means by which an information-display terminal issues a demand for updating information stored in the information-display server, and the information-display server further includes an information updating means by which the information stored in the information storing means is updated according to the demand from the information-display terminal. 
     In an information-display system such as above, the information stored in the information storing means can be updated according to the status updating demand from an information-display terminal. In addition, when the information stored in the information storing means is updated, the information-display server will transmit a notice that there is an update to all the information-display terminals. Therefore, the information-display terminals can be updated on a real time basis according to the updated information. 
     In the present invention, the information indicates a status of one or more persons, and the status of the person or persons is displayed on an information-display terminal. 
     In the information-display system such as above, a status of the person or persons can be displayed on an information-display terminal. 
     The information storing means of the present invention contains at least personal information, such as name and title of the person or persons to be displayed, status information relative to one or more persons to be displayed, and one or more sets of layout information for displaying the personal information and the status information of the one or more persons to be displayed on the information-display terminals. 
     In the information-display system as above, display layout for displaying the personal information and the status information of one or more persons can be easily modified by providing one or more sets of layout information. By using the layout information, displaying a status of one or more persons selected by predetermined criteria is available. 
     The information-display terminal of the present invention displays the personal information and the status information of one or more persons in a selected display area that is prepared for every person, and the area can be colored according to the status information. 
     In the information-display system such as above, the status information is displayed in an area assigned to each person, and the area is illuminated in different colors according to the status information such that visual distinction of the status is facilitated. 
     The information of the present invention includes the status information that indicates at least presence or absence of the one or more persons to be displayed. 
     In the information-display system such as above, at least the status information indicating presence or absence of the one or more persons can be displayed on the information-display terminals. 
     The present invention includes an information-display method for displaying information using one or more information-display terminals and an information-display server connected to the information-display terminals through a network, wherein step for transmitting information indicating that there is an update from the information-display server to the information-display terminals in response to updating of information stored in the information storing means, and step for acquiring the updated information from the information storing means according to the information indicating that there is an update as received from the information display server, and displaying the updated information are included. 
     By the information-display method such as above, the information that there is an update can be transmitted to the information-display terminals, which can acquire the updated information from the information-display server. That is, since the information-display terminals access the information-display server only when there is an update of the information stored in the information storing means, network traffic is mitigated. As above, the information-display terminals can update the information to be displayed on a real time basis as the information stored in the information storing means is updated. 
     The present invention includes an information-display server that provides current information to information-display terminals connected through a network. The information-display server includes an information storing means for storing information to be displayed on the information-display terminals, an update notice transmitting means to transmit a notice indicating that there is an update of the information to all the information-display terminals pursuant to updating of the information stored in the information storing means, and an updated information transmitting means to transmit the information updated by an information-display terminal through a status updating demand. 
     An information-display server such as above transmits the update notice to all the information-display terminals pursuant to updating of the information stored in the information storing means, and transmits the information updated by an information-display terminal through the status updating demand to the information-display terminals. That is, the information-display terminal can display updated information on a real time basis by the updated information stored in the information storing means being provided to the information-display terminals. 
     In the present invention, an information display server provides the information storing means for storing the information to be displayed on one or more information-display terminals connected through a network, the update notice transmitting means for transmitting a notice indicating that there is an update to all the information-display terminals when the information stored in the information storing means is updated, and the updated information transmitting means for transmitting the information updated by an information-display terminal through the status updating demand such that the updated information is displayed on the information-display terminals. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an embodiment of an information-display system of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a figure explaining an outline of processing of the information-display system of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart of an example of starting processing of the information-display terminal of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an example of a presence status screen of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is an example of a department menu screen of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart of an example of a presence status updating process of the information-display terminal of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart of an example of a presence status updating process of the information-display server of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a flowchart of an example of a display information updating process of the information-display terminal of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is an example of a management menu screen of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is an example of a department editing screen of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is an example of a nameplate editing screen of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is an example of a presence status editing screen of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  is a block diagram of an example of databases that a DB server includes of the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  is an example of an attendance situation screen of the present invention; 
         FIG. 15  is an example of a visiting doctor availability situation screen of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 16  is an example of an event schedule screen of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In the following, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of an example of an embodiment of an information-display system of the present invention. The information-display system  1  of  FIG. 1  includes a WWW (World Wide Web) server  11 , an event server  12 , a DB (Database) server  13 , information-display terminals  15   a – 15   n , which are connected via a network  14  such as the Internet. Here, the WWW server  11 , the event server  12 , and the DB server  13  can be installed in one cabinet, structuring an information-display server  10 . Alternatively, the WWW server  11  and the event server  12  can be installed in one cabinet. 
     The WWW server  11  receives a processing demand such as a display data demand from a browser of the information-display terminals  15   a – 15   n , and transmits the data to the information-display terminals  15   a – 15   n  according to the processing demand received. Further, the WWW server  11  stores various software that is automatically downloaded to and executed by the browsers of the information-display terminals  15   a – 15   n , such as an applet, according to a demand from a browser of the information-display terminals  15   a – 15   n.    
     The event server  12  transmits a notice to all the information-display terminals  15   a – 15   n , indicating that there is an update according to an update notice issuing demand from the WWW server  11 . The DB server  13  stores information relative to persons whose presence status is to be displayed, information relative to the presence status of the persons, information relative to display layout for various departments, and the like, which are required for operation of the information-display system  1 . 
     Each of the information-display terminals  15   a – 15   n  includes a browser for displaying Web pages stored in the WWW server  11 , which, for example, displays data received from the WWW server  11 , and demands an update of data stored in the DB server  13 . Alternatively, only one of the information-display terminals  15   a – 15   n  may display information based on the data received from the WWW server  11 , and demand an update of the data and the like stored in the DB server  13 . 
     Operators of the information-display terminals  15   a – 15   n  can demand update and the like of the data stored in the DB server  13  within authorized limits mentioned later, while being able to peruse a presence status of a department, for example, as desired. Further, the operators of the information-display terminals  15   a – 15   n  can update a presence status of every person whose presence status is to be displayed within the authorized limits. 
     Programs used by the WWW server  11 , the event server  12 , and the DB server  13  are installed from recording media of various types, such as a recording medium that stores information optically, electrically, or magnetically, like CD-ROM, a floppy disk, or a magneto-optic disk (MO), or a semiconductor memory that stores information electrically like ROM and a flash memory. 
     Next, an outline about processing of the present invention is described, referring to a flowchart of  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2  explains the outline of processing of the information-display system of the present invention. In  FIG. 2 , processing based on a status updating demand is described as an example of processing of the information-display system  1 . 
     At step S 1  in  FIG. 2 , a presence status updating demand is transmitted to the WWW server  11  from information-display terminal  15   a  and the like which an operator operates. For example, the presence status updating demand is transmitted as an HTTP request from the browser of the information-display terminal  15   a  to the WWW server  11 . 
     Progressing to step S 2  following step S 1 , WWW server  11  performs a presence status updating process according to the presence status updating demand received. For example, the WWW server  11  searches the DB server  13  for a presence status of a person corresponding to the presence status updating demand received, and updates the presence status of the person according to the presence status updating demand. 
     Progressing to step S 3  following step S 2 , the WWW server  11  directs the event server  12  to transmit a notice that there is an update in a presence status. Following step S 3 , the process progresses to step S 4  wherein the event server  12  transmits the notice that there is an update in a presence status to all the information-display terminals  15   a – 15   n  according to the direction to transmit from the WWW server  11 . The notice that there is an update in the presence status, which is transmitted from the event server  12  is received by an applet that is executed by the information-display terminal  15   n , for example. The applet demands a browser to acquire a presence status according to the notice that there is an update in the presence status, which is received. 
     Following step S 4 , the process progresses to step S 5  wherein the browser of the information-display terminal  15   n , for example, performs presence status demand processing. Specifically, the browser of the information-display terminal  15   n  transmits an HTTP request for acquiring the updated presence status to the WWW server  11 . Following step S 5 , the process progresses to step S 6  wherein the WWW server  11  transmits the updated presence status to the information-display terminal  15   n , for example, according to the presence status demand. For example, the WWW server  11  transmits the updated presence status to the information-display terminal  15   n  as an HTTP response to the HTTP request. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , in the information-display system  1  of the present invention, when the data stored in the DB server  13  is updated, a notice that there is an update of a presence status is provided to all the information-display terminals  15   a – 15   n  from the event server  12 . Then, the information-display terminals  15   a – 15   n , upon receiving the notice that there is an update of a presence status from the event server  12 , acquire the updated presence status from the WWW server  11  and display the updated presence status. 
     That is, the information that the information-display terminals  15   a – 15   n  display is updated not by “pulling” activated by the browser, but by “pushing” the notice that there is an update of a presence status from the event server  12 . Therefore, the display of the information-display terminals  15   a – 15   n  can reflect updated data stored in the DB server  13  on a real time basis. 
     Details of processing of the present invention are explained hereafter.  FIG. 3  shows a flowchart of an example of starting processing of an information-display terminal. For example, if the information-display terminal  15   a  is started by an operator, the process progresses to step S 10  and the information-display terminal  15   a  determines whether or not an auto-login function is effective and whether a previous session has not been logged out. Here, the auto-login is a function that dispenses with inputting user ID and a password, which are required only at a first login, when the same information-display terminal is started for a second time and henceforth. 
     If it determined that the auto-login is effective and the previous session has not been logged out (YES at S 10 ), the process progresses to step S 12 , without the information-display terminal  15   a  repeatedly inputting the user ID and the password. If it is not determined that auto-login is effective and the previous session has not been logged out (NO at S 10 ), the process of the information-display terminal  15   a  progresses to step S 11 . 
     The information-display terminal  15   a  displays a login screen received from the WWW server  11  at step S 11 . Blanks are provided in the screen for inputting a user ID and a password. When the operator of the information-display terminal  15   a  fills the user ID and the password in the blanks of the login screen, the process of the information-display terminal  15   a  progresses to step S 12 . 
     At step S 12 , the information-display terminal  15   a  transmits to the WWW server  11  the user ID and the password, which were inputted into the login screen. Here, in the information-display system  1 , operators are categorized as a viewer, a receptionist, a switcher, a general affairs person, and a user, and different access permissions are assigned, respectively. 
     An example of the access permissions follows. The viewer is allowed to peruse a presence status. The receptionist is allowed to peruse and update “absence (out of building)” and “presence (in the building)” of persons whose presence status is to be displayed. The switcher is allowed to update a more comprehensive presence status, namely, “absence (out of the building)”, “presence (in the building)”, “out of office”, “in a conference”, “in a meeting” and the like. 
     In addition to the access permission of the switcher, the general affairs person is allowed to edit information about persons whose presence status is to be displayed, and also to edit information required for operation of the information-display system  1 . A user is allowed to peruse and update presence status of one or more specific persons whose presence status, such as “absence (out of the building)”, “presence (in the building)”, “out of office”, “in a conference”, “in a meeting” and the like, is to be displayed. 
     By categorizing the operators into a viewer, a receptionist, a switcher, a general affairs person, and a user, and by setting up different access permissions in this manner, different sets of functions of the information-display system  1  can be assigned to each category. In addition to the viewer, the receptionist, the switcher, the general affairs person, and the user, access permission may be defined for a manager who maintains the information-display system  1 . 
     If login is successful, the process progresses to step S 13  following step S 12 , and the information-display terminal  15   a  is connected to the event server  12 . In addition, when the login fails, while displaying the fact of the failed login on the information-display terminal  15   a , the login screen may be displayed again. 
     Progressing to step S 14  following step S 13 , the information-display terminal  15   a  receives and displays a default screen from the WWW server  11  according to the access permission of an operator. For example, the information-display terminal  15   a  displays a presence status screen as shown in  FIG. 4 , showing the presence status of a default set of the persons to be displayed. Here, the information-display terminal  15   a  may be structured such that a set of persons to be displayed in a previous session is saved for customizing the presence status display screen, without requiring the WWW server  11  to prepare an individual configuration for each of the information-display terminals  15   a – 15   n.    
       FIG. 4  shows an example of the presence status screen. The presence status screen  20  of  FIG. 4  includes a department name box  21 , a presence status box  22 , a department selection link  23 , a label  24 , and a name label  25 . The department name box  21  indicates a name of a department of persons whose presence status is displayed on the presence status screen  20 . The presence status box  22  displays a presence status of a selected name label, according to the access permission of the operator of the information-display terminal  15   a , for example. The presence status of the selected name label can be updated by changing the presence status of the presence status box  22 . 
     The department selection link  23  is a link for displaying a department menu screen as shown in  FIG. 5 , through which a presence status of a selected department is displayed.  FIG. 5  shows an example of the department menu screen. The department menu screen  30  of  FIG. 5  includes a department name link box  31 . The department name link box  31  includes one or more department name links. By selecting a department name link, a presence status screen of the selected department is displayed. 
     The label  24  displays a section name and the like, registered as a label. The label  24  does not react to updating operation of a presence status, but is displayed in a fixed background color (for example, yellow). The name label  25  displays title and name of the persons whose presence status is displayed, and background color of the name label changes according to the persons&#39; presence status. 
     The presence status can be displayed with a colored background so that a visual distinction is facilitated, for example, by making the background color of the name label  25  green if a corresponding person is absent, white if the person is present, blue if the person is in a meeting, and the like. 
       FIG. 6  shows a flowchart of an example of a presence status updating process of an information-display terminal. For example, when an operator of the information-display terminal  15   a  updates a presence status of a person whose presence status is to be displayed, the process progresses to step S 20 , wherein the name label  25  corresponding to the person whose presence status is to be changed is selected on the presence status screen  20 , and the presence status in the presence status box  22  is changed. Progressing to step S 21  following step S 20 , the information-display terminal  15   a  transmits the name label ID and the presence status ID of the selected name label  25  to the WWW server  11 . More details about the name label ID and the presence status ID will be provided later. 
       FIG. 7  shows a flowchart of an example of a presence status updating process of the information-display server  10 . At step S 30 , the WWW server  11 , for example, receives a presence status updating demand from the information-display terminal  15   a  in  FIG. 7 . Here, the updating demand of the presence status includes the name label ID and the presence status ID. 
     Progressing to step S 31  following step S 30 , the WWW server  11  searches the DB server  13  for a presence status of the person, using the name label ID corresponding to the received demand for presence status updating, and updates his or her presence status based on the presence status ID. 
     Progressing to step S 32  following step S 31 , the WWW server  11  prepares display data (for example, HTML-data) for displaying the name label  25  according to the presence status of the corresponding person after updating. The display data may be prepared in advance, or alternatively, the WWW server  11  may generate the display data for displaying the name label  25  according to the presence status demand from the information-display terminal  15   a . Progressing to step S 33  following step S 32 , the WWW server  11  directs the event server  12  to send a notice that there is an update of a presence status. The event server  12  transmits the notice that there is an update of a presence status to all the information-display terminals  15   a – 15   n  according to the direction of the WWW server  11 . 
       FIG. 8  shows a flowchart of an example of a display information updating process of the display terminal. In  FIG. 8 , at step S 40 , the information-display terminal  15   a  is waiting for a notice that there is an update of a presence status from the event server  12 . Progressing to step S 41  following step S 40 , the information-display terminal  15   a  receives the notice that there is an update of a presence status from the event server  12 . 
     Progressing to step S 42  following step S 41 , the information-display terminal  15   a  demands the display data for displaying the name label  25  after the updating of the WWW server  11 . Then, the process progresses to step S 43  following step S 42 , wherein the information-display terminal  15   a  acquires the demanded display data from the WWW server  11 , and the acquired name label  25  is displayed, for example, as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     In addition, an operator who has a relatively wider access permission, for example, a manager, a general affairs person, etc., can display a management menu as shown in  FIG. 9  on the information-display terminal  15   a , and can maintain the information-display-system  1 .  FIG. 9  shows an example of a management menu screen. 
     The management menu screen  40  of  FIG. 9  includes a department edit link  41 , a name label edit link  42 , a presence status edit link  43 , and a presence status link  44 . The department edit link  41  is a link for displaying a department editing screen  50  as shown in  FIG. 10  for editing department information. The name label edit link  42  is a link for displaying a name label editing screen  60  as shown in  FIG. 11  for editing name label information. The presence status edit link  43  is a link for displaying a presence status editing screen  70  as shown in  FIG. 12  for editing the presence status of a name label. The presence status link  44  is a link for displaying the presence status screen  20  as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 10  shows an example of the department editing screen. The department editing screen  50  of  FIG. 10  includes a department list box  51 , a department name box  52 , and a layout box  53 . The department list box  51  is for selecting a department of which information is to be edited. When preparing information for a new department, “New Department” is to be selected in the department list box  51 . 
     The department name box  52  is a box for inputting a department name. The layout box  53  is for selecting a layout of the label  24  and the name label  25  contained in the presence status screen  20 . For example, if a layout indicated by “20×2” in the layout box  53  is selected, the label  24  and the name label  25  are displayed in two lines, each having  20  entries like the presence status screen  20  of  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 11  shows an example of the name label editing screen  60 . In the event that the name label edit link  42  of the management menu screen  40  is chosen, the presence status screen  20  as shown in  FIG. 4 , or the department menu screen  30  as shown in  FIG. 5  is displayed for selection of a nameplate to be edited. 
     The name label editing screen  60  of  FIG. 11  includes a classification selection box  61 , a name label ID box  62 , a title box  63 , a name box  64 , a user ID box  65 , a password box  66 , and a name label link box  67 . The classification selection box  61  selects an attribute of inputs to these boxes. For example, if “Label” is selected in the classification selection box  61 , the inputs are displayed like the label  24  of  FIG. 4 . If “Name Label” is selected in the classification selection box  61 , the inputs are displayed like the name label 
     The name label ID box  62  displays the name label ID of the name label. The title box  63  is for inputting a title for displaying on the name label. The name box  64  is for inputting a name for displaying on the name label. Here, character sizes of the name and the title displayed on a label may be selectable, respectively. 
     The user ID box  65  is for inputting a user ID. The password box  66  is for inputting a password. The name label link box  67  is for inputting the name label ID shared when sharing a label. Here, the sharing of the name label means a sharing of the same name label between the presence status screens of two or more departments. 
       FIG. 12  shows an example of the presence status editing screen  70 . The presence status editing screen  70  of  FIG. 12  includes a presence status box  71  and a color selection box  72 . The presence status box  71  is for inputting “Present”, “Absent”, and the like. The presence status inputted into the presence status box  71  is displayed, for example, on the presence status box  22  of  FIG. 4 . The color selection box  72  is for selecting a background color of the name label  25  according to a presence status. For example, a color pallet is displayed when an operator clicks the color selection box  72  with a mouse, etc. By choosing a desired color from the color pallet, background colors of the name label  25  for different presence statuses can be chosen. 
     Information updated by the maintenance, etc., is reflected to the information stored in the DB server  13 . The DB server  13  has various databases, for example, as shown in  FIG. 13 . 
       FIG. 13  shows block diagrams of an example of databases of the DB server  13 . A block diagram of an example of a display layout DB is indicated by (a) of  FIG. 13 . A block diagram of an example of a label information DB is indicated by (b) of  FIG. 13 . A block diagram of an example of a presence status DB is indicated by (c) of  FIG. 13 . 
     The display layout DB includes “department name”, “line count”, “box count” and the like as database items. The label information DB includes “name label ID”, “classification”, “title”, “name” “user ID”, “password”, “label link”, “presence status” and the like as the database items. The presence status DB includes “situation”, “color” and the like as the database items. 
     The display layout DB is associated with the information updated, for example, by the department editing screen  50  of  FIG. 10 . The label information DB is associated with the information updated, for example, by the label editing screen  60  of  FIG. 11 . The presence status DB is associated with the information updated, for example, by the presence status editing screen  70  of  FIG. 12 . In addition, the label information DB is associated with one or more departments and a display position of the presence state screen. 
     Although the above embodiments are described along with examples that display a presence status of selected persons on an information-display terminal, the present invention can be applied to various other information display applications, including, for example, displaying an attendance situation of participants of a fair as shown in  FIG. 14 , displaying situations of doctors who are available for visiting patients as shown in  FIG. 15 , and displaying an event schedule as shown in  FIG. 16 , on the information-display terminals. 
       FIG. 14  shows an example of an attendance situation screen. The attendance situation screen  80  displays fair participants and distinguishes ones who are present from ones who are absent by differentiating the background color of name labels.  FIG. 15  shows an example of a visiting doctor situation screen. The visiting doctor situation screen  81  distinguishes doctors who are available for making a house call, for example, from doctors who are unavailable by differentiating the background color of the name labels. 
       FIG. 16  shows an example of an event schedule screen. The event schedule screen  82  displays, for example, “The event schedule of this week” and the like. In this example, the kinds of events are displayed on the label with differentiated background colors such that the kinds are visually distinguishable. 
     In addition, the information-display system  1  of the present invention can be used as an attendance record by saving updated presence status records for the persons whose presence status is displayed. Moreover, by connecting the information-display system  1  to an extension telephone system, a system can be structured such that one checks whether a party to be called is present on the presence status screen  25 , and the party is automatically dialed by touching the name label of the party on the presence status screen  25 . 
     As described above, according to the present invention, as soon as information stored in the information storing means is updated, a notice that there is an update is transmitted to information-display terminals, and the information-display terminals acquire the updated information from the information-display server. That is, since the information-display terminal accesses the information-display server only when there is an update of the information stored in information storing means, network traffic is mitigated. In this manner, the information-display terminal displays current information updated in real time. 
     Further, the kind of information displayed on an information-display terminal can be changed easily, because the information storing means stores the information to be displayed on the information-display terminal. Moreover, maintenance and management become easy by structuring the information-display system with an information-display server and one or more information-display terminals connected via a network. 
     According to the present invention, the information stored in the information storing means can be updated by an updating demand from an information-display terminal. When the information stored in the information storing means is updated, the information-display server transmits a notice that there is an update to information-display terminals. Therefore, the information-display terminals can be updated in real time such that updated current information is displayed. 
     According to the present invention, the information-display terminal can display status of one or more persons, the status being the information to be displayed. 
     According to the present invention, one or more pieces of layout information are provided for displaying status of one or more persons on the information-display terminals. In this manner, display layout can be modified easily. By using the layout information, status of one or more persons in a predetermined group can be displayed on the information-display terminals. 
     Further, according to the present invention, the status of the person or persons can be visually distinguished by displaying each person in a specific area, and assigning specific colors for different statuses. 
     According to the present invention, an information-display terminal can display at least a presence or absence of a person or persons. 
     Further, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, but various variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     Specifically, displaying a presence status of office personnel is described as an example. However, any desired information may be displayed. 
     The present application is based on Japanese priority application No. 2001-079474 filed on Mar. 19, 2001, with the Japanese Patent Office, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.