Patent Publication Number: US-2013232015-A1

Title: Advertisement distribution system

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to an advertisement distribution system, and more specifically to an advertisement distribution system that distributes an advertisement from a server to a terminal. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     A method of distributing advertisements via communication is proposed, for example, by Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2002-91995 (Patent Document 1). According to the method in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2002-91995 (Patent Document 1), an advertisement is distributed separately from a Web content body in order to provide display advertisements different among users. Accordingly, even when the same Web content is presented, advertisements that vary among users can be displayed. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Document 
     PTD 1: Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2002-91995 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     The method in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2002-91995 (Patent Document 1) refers to information such as location (country, region), language, character, gender, age, occupation, family, and terminal, and medium representing ability (still images, motion images, graphics, animation, etc.) of external equipment connected to the terminal in order to determine an advertisement suitable for a user. 
     However, information of a company that sells a terminal is not adopted as reference information for the determination. As a result, an advertisement of a competitor of the company that sells the terminal may be displayed on the terminal. In this case, the seller company of the terminal loses customers to the competitor and cannot achieve advertising effectiveness. 
     An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a system that distributes advertisements so as to achieve effects of advertising. 
     Solution to Problem 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, an advertisement distribution system includes a server distributing advertisement information and a terminal communicating with the server through a communication line. The terminal includes an output unit for outputting information received through the communication line, an information accepting unit for accepting information related to the terminal, and an advertisement request unit for transmitting an advertisement request including the information related to the terminal to the server. 
     The server includes an advertisement storage unit for storing beforehand a plurality of advertisement information and information corresponding to each advertisement information that is related to a terminal as a distribution target of the advertisement information. The information related to the terminal indicates market information that designates a sales channel of the terminal. The server reads out the advertisement information corresponding to the information related to the terminal in the received advertisement request from the advertisement storage unit and transmits the read advertisement information to the terminal. 
     Preferably, the market information corresponds to part of identification information of a user of the terminal. 
     Preferably, each advertisement information in the advertisement storage unit includes distribution period information that refers to a period during which the advertisement information is to be distributed. The server determines whether to transmit the advertisement information to the terminal, based on the distribution period information of the advertisement information read out from the advertisement storage unit. 
     Preferably, the advertisement information includes specification information that specifies an advertisement image. The terminal includes an acquisition request transmission unit transmitting an advertisement image acquisition request including the specification information to the server. The terminal receives, from the server, an advertisement image specified by the specification information included in the advertisement image acquisition request transmitted by the acquisition request transmission unit, and stores the received advertisement image into a storage unit. 
     Preferably, when the received advertisement image agrees with an advertisement image already stored in the storage unit, the terminal discards the received advertisement image. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     The present invention can achieve effects of advertising using advertisement information distributed to a terminal. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram of an advertisement distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a functional configuration diagram of a terminal and a server according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an external view of the terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram for explaining transition of screens according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a sequence diagram illustrating an overall operation according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating information exchanged during communication between the terminal and the server according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating information exchanged during communication between the terminal and the server according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating attributes of a campaign according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating an advertisement space management DB according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating a creative management DB according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a diagram showing an example of a user information DB according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a main flowchart according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  is a main flowchart according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  is a flowchart of an application launcher screen process according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 15  is a flowchart of a display advertisement selecting process according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 16  is a diagram for explaining advertisement display control according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 17  is a diagram for explaining advertisement display control according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 18  is a diagram for explaining advertisement display control according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 19  is a flowchart of an advertisement list screen process according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 20  is a flowchart of an advertisement bookmark app startup process according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 21  is a flowchart of an advertisement bookmark registration process according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 22  is a flowchart of an advertisement data acquisition process according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 23  is a sub-flowchart of the advertisement data acquisition process according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 24  is a diagram illustrating status data according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 25  is a configuration diagram of a PC (Personal Computer) according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     An embodiment of the present invention will be described in details below with reference to the figures. 
     In the present embodiment, an advertisement distributed is assumed to be displayed on a screen of an application launcher that runs on an e-book (electronic book) reader terminal, although not being limited thereto. 
     In the present embodiment, the following terms are used. 
     “Market” refers to a sales channel of a terminal receiving a distributed advertisement. For example, assuming that the terminal is a mobile phone terminal, the mobile phone is sold for each company that provides communication service. If the terminal is an e-book reader terminal for viewing an e-book, the market refers to a seller company of the e-book reader terminal. The market here therefore corresponds to such a company. “Market ID” refers to information for identifying a market. 
     “Creative” refers to a content for representing an advertisement, for example, an entity of an advertisement such as images including still images and motion images, characters, and sound. Here, it is assumed that the creative is an image, for the sake of brevity. “Creative ID” refers to information for uniquely identifying or specifying the creative. In the present embodiment, a creative or creative image is used. 
     “Campaign” refers to a group of one or more creatives. 
     “Advertisement space” refers to a display region on a screen in which one or more campaigns are displayed, and “advertisement space ID” refers to an identifier (coordinate values on the screen) for uniquely identifying the region. One or more campaigns are associated with one advertisement space. 
     “Online” refers to a state in which a terminal can communicate through a communication line established with an external device, and “offline” refers to a state in which the communication line is disconnected and the terminal cannot communicate. 
     “Advertisement bookmark” refers to a creative (advertisement) that is registered by the user in the terminal as a favorite or an interesting creative. 
     &lt;System Configuration&gt; 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an advertisement distribution system according to the present embodiment includes a server  100  that distributes advertisements and a plurality of information processing terminals that communicate with server  100  through a communication network NT. Communication network NT includes a variety of networks including the Internet. A plurality of information processing terminals include a portable terminal  1  and a PC (Personal Computer)  200  fixedly installed. Information related to an advertisement including a creative (called advertisement information) is distributed from server  100  to each terminal  1  and each PC  200 . Here, terminal  1  is illustrated as an information processing terminal to which advertisement information is distributed from server  100 , for the sake of brevity. PC  200  also has a function of processing the distributed advertisement information in a similar manner as in terminal  1 . 
     Server  100  includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit)  101 , a storage unit  102 , a not-shown transitory storage unit, and a communication unit  105  for communicating with an external device through communication network NT. 
     Storage unit  102  includes a variety of storage devices such as a hard disk, a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory). An advertisement space management DB (abbreviation of database)  1021 , a creative DB  1022 , and a user information DB  1023  are stored in storage unit  102 . 
     Each terminal  1  has the same configuration. Terminal  1  includes a CPU  2 , a storage unit  3  including a non-transitory memory for storing programs and data, a temporary storage unit  4  used as a working area and a transitory storage area of data, an operation unit  5  operated by the user to input information, a display unit  6  for displaying information, a telephone network communication unit  7  connecting an antenna  8 , a communication unit  9 , an I/F (interface)  10  having a memory card  11  as a card-like storage medium removably attached thereto for accessing data in the attached memory card  11 , and a timer  12  for measuring time. 
     Terminal  1  here includes a telephone function but may be a portable terminal not having a telephone function (for example, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) having a connection function to communication network NT or an e-book viewer terminal having a connection function to communication network NT). 
     Communication unit  9  connects to the Internet, for example, via a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) in accordance with standards such as IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) 802.11a/b/g/n, or a wired LAN. Telephone network communication unit  7  of terminal  1  connects to the Internet via a mobile telephone network. 
     Operation unit  5  has a function for accepting information input operation by the user and includes, for example, buttons, keys, a trackball, and a touch panel. 
     &lt;Functional Configuration of Terminal&gt; 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , part of the functions of terminal  1  is described. Referring to  FIG. 2  (A), CPU  2  of terminal  1  includes a display processing unit  20  for displaying information using display unit  6 , an advertisement acquisition unit  21  for acquiring advertisement information from server  100  through communication network NT, a bookmark processing unit  23 , an advertisement data storage unit  25  for storing the acquired advertisement information, a data search unit  27  for searching data in advertisement data storage unit  25 , and an operation accepting unit  28 . 
     Operation accepting unit  28  accepts user&#39;s operation through operation unit  5  and outputs an instruction based on the accepted operation. Operation accepting unit  28  includes a selection accepting unit  29 . Selection accepting unit  29  accepts user&#39;s selecting operation such as a tap and a long tap through operation unit  5  and outputs an instruction based on the accepted operation. Advertisement data storage unit  25  corresponds to part of storage unit  3 . 
     Display processing unit  20  displays information on display unit  6  based on an instruction from operation accepting unit  28 . Display processing unit  20  includes a first display processing unit  20 A and a second display processing unit  20 B. First display processing unit  20 A displays predetermined advertisement information stored in advertisement data storage unit  25  on display unit  6 . Second display processing unit  20 B displays a list of advertisement information retrieved from advertisement data storage unit  25  on display unit  6  in accordance with the operation accepted by selection accepting unit  29 . 
     Display processing unit  20  also has a Web (abbreviation of World Wide Web) browsing function (hereinafter called browser) and an e-book viewer function for viewing an e-book. 
     The browser has a function of acquiring information of a predetermined site designated by an URL (Uniform Resource Locator) via communication network NT based on the URL and displaying the acquired information on display unit  6 . 
     The e-book viewer function displays data of an e-book content stored in storage unit  3  on display unit  6  to allow the user to view it. In this case, the user can turn pages to view using operation unit  5 . 
     For processing an advertisement bookmark, bookmark processing unit  23  has a bookmark management unit  23 A for managing an advertisement bookmark in terminal  1  and a bookmark registration unit  23 B for registering an advertisement bookmark. 
     CPU  2  of terminal  1  has a functional unit (not shown) that detects whether the status of terminal  1  is online in which a communication line is established with another device including server  100  via communication network NT to enable communication, or offline in which a communication line is cut off to disable communication. Whether online or offline is detected based on a response from an external device including server  100  to a signal output to the outside by telephone network communication unit  7  or communication unit  9 . 
     It is assumed that these functional units of CPU  2  are modules implemented by CPU  2  executing programs stored in storage unit  3 . These functional units are not limited to modules but may be configured with a microcomputer including CPU  2 , a microcontroller, or hardware circuitry, or may be configured with a combination of modules and hardware circuitry. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2(B) , CPU  101  of server  100  has an advertisement distribution unit  1011  for distributing advertisement information to terminal  1  through communication unit  105 . It is assumed that advertisement distribution unit  1011  is a module implemented by CPU  101  executing a program stored in storage unit  102 . Advertisement distribution unit  1011  is not limited to a module but may be configured with a microcomputer including CPU  101 , a microcontroller, or hardware circuitry, or may be configured with a combination of a module and hardware circuitry. 
     &lt;External View of Terminal&gt; 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , terminal  1  includes a touch panel input device  5 A and a key/trackball unit  5 B that can be externally operated by the user. Touch panel input device  5 A integrally includes operation unit  5  and display unit  6 . Touch panel input device  5 A detects an operation position on the screen of display unit  6  and inputs information based on the detected position or determines the kind of operation. Here, the kinds of operation are “tap” and “long tap,” by way of example. “Tap” refers to an operation of quickly touching the surface of the screen of display unit  6  with a finger and lifting the finger. “Long tap” refers to an operation of touching the surface of the screen with a finger for a certain period of time and lifting the finger. The kinds of operation are not limited thereto and may be, for example, drag operation (operation of sliding a finger while touching) or flick operation (an operation of swiftly sliding a finger in a predetermined direction while touching). 
     &lt;Transition of Display Screens&gt; 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , transition of screens appearing on display unit  6  is described. Display processing unit  20  switches display screens on display unit  6  in accordance with an instruction from operation accepting unit  28 . 
       FIG. 4(A)  shows a screen  61  that appears on startup of an application launcher. Screen  61  is an application launcher screen  613  in which a plurality of icons  612  are arranged and advertisement spaces  61 A and  61 B are displayed. Each icon  612  corresponds to an application of terminal  1  and includes a picture representing the corresponding application. A variety of application programs including the application launcher are stored beforehand in storage unit  3 . When the user taps icon  612 , CPU  2  starts up an application corresponding to the tapped icon  612 . “Startup” refers to that CPU  2  reads out an application program from storage unit  3  to cause the read application program to transit to an executable state or start execution. 
     An advertisement that meets a condition such as a market of terminal  1  is displayed in advertisement space  61 A. An advertisement selected in accordance with a prescribed rule is displayed in advertisement space  61 B on startup of the application launcher. 
     When a portion in advertisement space  61 B is tapped offline, the screen of display unit  6  switches from screen  61  to a screen  62  in  FIG. 4(B) . When a portion in advertisement space  61 B is long-tapped offline or online, a context menu  611  appears in advertisement space  61 B. When a portion in advertisement space  61 B is tapped online, screen  61  switches to a screen  64  in  FIG. 4(D) . 
     Context menu  611  includes three items, namely, “Register advertisement bookmark,” “Manage advertisement bookmark,” and “Display advertisement list.” When the item of context menu  611  is tapped either online or offline, the screen transits to the next level. Specifically, when “Register advertisement bookmark” is tapped, screen  61  switches to screen  62  in  FIG. 4(B) . When “Manage advertisement bookmark” is tapped, screen  61  switches to a screen  65  in  FIG. 4(E) . When “Display advertisement list” is tapped, screen  61  switches to a screen  63  in  FIG. 4(C) . 
     On screen  62 , a dialog  620  appears to ask whether to bookmark the advertisement displayed in advertisement space  61 B. On dialog  620 , if the user wishes to bookmark and selects “yes,” a window including a message  621  appears on screen  62  to indicate that the advertisement in advertisement space  61 B is bookmarked. 
     When “Manage advertisement bookmark” of context menu  611  is tapped, screen  61  switches to screen  65  in  FIG. 4(E) . Screen  65  displays a list of advertisement names registered as bookmarks that are stored in advertisement data storage unit  25 . That is, the list displays an “advertisement name” included in data D 81  of each creative registered as a bookmark by “Register advertisement bookmark.” 
     When “Display advertisement list” of context menu  611  is tapped, screen  61  switches to screen  63  in  FIG. 4(C) . Screen  63  includes an advertisement list  632 . Advertisement list  632  displays a list of different kinds of advertisements  633 . When the user taps a desired advertisement  633  from among advertisements  633  in advertisement list  632 , screen  63  switches to screen  64  in  FIG. 4(D)  online or switches to screen  62  in  FIG. 4(B)  offline, depending on the tapped position. 
     Screen  64  in  FIG. 4(D)  refers to a screen displayed by the browser based on an URL  641  associated with the tapped advertisement. 
     When advertisement  633  on screen  63  is long-tapped either online or offline, context menu  631  superimposed on advertisement  633  appears on display unit  6 . Context menu  631  includes items “Register advertisement bookmark” and “Manage advertisement bookmark”. When the item “Register advertisement bookmark” is tapped, screen  63  switches to screen  62  of dialog  620  in  FIG. 4(B) . When the item “Manage advertisement bookmark” is tapped, screen  63  switches to screen  65  in  FIG. 5(E) . 
     When a desired advertisement name is tapped online in a list of advertisement names on screen  65  in  FIG. 4(E) , screen  65  switches to screen  64  in  FIG. 4(D)  displayed by the browser based on the URL associated with the desired advertisement name. 
     &lt;Operation Sequence&gt; 
     Referring to  FIG. 5  to  FIG. 7 , an operation sequence according to the present embodiment is described.  FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate data to be handled in the sequence in  FIG. 5 . 
     First, a user signs up to purchase terminal  1  with a sales agent (step T 1 ). The sales agent communicates with server  100  through an in-store input terminal and requests server  100  for new registration of registration information D 2  (see  FIG. 6(A) ). CPU  101  of server  100  then receives registration information D 2 , stores the received registration information D 2  into user information DB  1023  (step T 2 ), and transmits registration completed information D 3  (see  FIG. 6(B) ) to the requestor (step T 3 ). Registration completed information D 3  is a user ID for identifying the user. The clerk at the sales agent lets the user know the user ID received from server  100  and sells terminal  1  to the user (step T 4 ). The user stores the known user ID (see data D 4  in  FIG. 6(C) ) into storage unit  3  of terminal  1  that the user purchased, through operation unit  5  (step T 5 ). 
     The user operates terminal  1  online to transmit activation D 6  (a procedure request for validating the user ID) in  FIG. 6(D)  to server  100  (step T 6 ). Activation D 6  is transmitted online. 
     After that, for example, at a timing of switching from offline to online or when the time measured by timer  12  indicates a predetermined time online, terminal  1  transmits an advertisement acquisition request D 7  in  FIG. 6(E)  to server  100  (step T 7 ). 
     Upon receiving the advertisement acquisition request, server  100  transmits advertisement metadata D 8  in  FIG. 7  to terminal  1  (step T 8 ). If advertisement metadata D 8  is received for the first time after purchase of terminal  1 , a plurality of creative images designated by advertisement metadata D 8  are also transmitted from server  100  to terminal  1 . Terminal  1  stores each received creative image into a predetermined area of storage unit  3 . For each creative, information that designates the area in which the creative is stored (for example, address information of storage unit  3 ) is registered as “creative image save path” corresponding to each creative in advertisement metadata D 8 . 
     Terminal  1  thereafter refers to advertisement metadata D 8  newly received to determine whether there exists an updated creative image. If it is determined that there exists an updated creative image, terminal  1  transmits a creative image request D 9  in  FIG. 6(F)  to server  100  (step T 9 ). Server  100  transmits the requested creative image D 10  (see  FIG. 6(G) ) to terminal  1  (step T 10 ). Terminal  1  receives the updated creative image D 10  and stores the updated creative image D 10  into storage unit  3 . This processing is repeated for each updated creative image. 
     The user operates operation unit  5  of terminal  1  to start up the application launcher (step T 11 ). Screen  61  in  FIG. 4(A)  then appears on display unit  6  (step T 12 ). When the user operates (for example, taps) screen  61  (step T 13 ), the screen switches in accordance with the operation. 
     User registration information D 2  in  FIG. 6(A)  includes the user&#39;s name, birth date and gender, a market ID, and a terminal serial number. 
     Registration completed information D 3  in  FIG. 6(B)  refers to the user ID allocated by server  100  for identifying the user whose registration information D 2  has been stored in user information DB  1023 . Data D 4  and activation data D 6  in  FIG. 6(C)  and (D) refer to the user ID. 
     Advertisement acquisition request D 7  in  FIG. 6(E)  refers to a market ID. This market ID is represented by the upper two digits of the user ID. 
     Creative image request D 9  in  FIG. 6(F)  is represented by data (described later) of the creative image save path of advertisement metadata D 8  ( FIG. 7 ). 
     On screen  61 , advertisement spaces  61 A and  61 B are displayed at the lower portion of the screen. However, the display position thereof may be any position other than the lower portion. If the creative in advertisement space  61 B is tapped offline, terminal  1  may display an image different from an advertisement. If there is no creative to be displayed in advertisement space  61 A,  61 B, the advertisement space may not be displayed per se or an alternative image may be displayed. 
     When “yes” is selected in dialog  620  for confirming the advertisement bookmark registration, and the creative is registered as a bookmark, the invoking screen  63  may thereafter be displayed. If a “Display advertisement bookmark” button is provided in dialog  620  and the button is selected, the screen may transit to screen  65  of advertisement bookmarks. 
     Display control as follows may be performed on screen  63  displaying advertisement list  632 . When online, screen  63  of advertisement list  632  may appear directly from screen  61  while bypassing context menu  611 . The order in which creatives are arranged in advertisement list  632  can be specified by the user (for example, the arrangement order may be specified, for example, by the order of the expiry date of advertisement, the number of times creative is tapped, or the update date of creative). 
     When a creative in advertisement list  632  is registered as an advertisement bookmark, the creative may be removed from display in advertisement list  632 . When a creative registered as an advertisement bookmark is displayed in advertisement list  632 , it may be displayed in such a manner that it has already been bookmarked. 
     When offline, the tapped creative in advertisement list  632  may be displayed in a manner to indicate as such. In this case, when going online, information acquired in accordance with link information (URL) of data D 81  corresponding to the creative may be presented using a popup or an icon. The popup refers to that the browser automatically opens a new window on the screen and displays information in that window. 
     &lt;Advertisement Metadata&gt; 
     In each advertisement space (advertisement space  61 A,  61 B on screen  61 ) displayed on display unit  6 , terminal  1  displays data of one or more campaigns associated with the advertisement space. Data of each campaign is represented by advertisement metadata D 8  in  FIG. 7 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , advertisement metadata D 8  includes a kind, a book content ID for identifying a book content, an advertisement space ID, a campaign ID, and one or more data D 81 . 
     The “kind” refers to the kind of an application with which “advertisement space” is displayed. For example, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the advertisement space is displayed on a screen appearing when an “application launcher” (which is a kind of application) is started up. In the present embodiment, therefore, the kind refers to an “application launcher.” The advertisement space may be displayed on a display screen on startup of another application. In the present embodiment, however, it is assumed that the “kind” in advertisement metadata D 8  received by terminal  1  refers to an “application launcher,” for the sake of brevity. 
     CPU  2  can determine whether to display an advertisement space on startup of any one of applications, based on the kind in advertisement metadata D 8  received from server  100 . An advertisement space may be displayed in a region (a coordinate position on the screen) based on the advertisement space ID. 
       FIG. 8  shows the details of “campaign ID.” Referring to  FIG. 8 , the campaign ID includes the kind of campaign, specification of period, the upper limit value of impressions/clicks per day, specification of distribution period, setting of advertisement fee, distribution ratio, and information of creatives included in the campaign. 
     Each data D 81  represents data of each creative included in the campaign. The details of data D 81  will be described later. 
     &lt;Description of Database on Server Side&gt; 
     In the present embodiment, server  100  prepares one or more advertisement metadata D 8  configured with a set of an e-book content and one or more advertisement space IDs and one or more creative IDs corresponding to the e-book content ID using a database. No identical combination exists. 
       FIG. 9  shows a record R 1  of advertisement space management DB  1021  by way of example. Advertisement space management DB  1021  has a plurality of records R 1 , and record R 1  includes values shown on the right end in  FIG. 9  as examples. Each record R 1  corresponds to the set as described above. In  FIG. 9 , “column” and “type” are shown to explain record R 1 . More specifically, record R 1  includes values corresponding to different kinds of data designated by “column,” and those values are represented by “type” (integer, string, etc.). 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , record R 1  includes values of an ID for identifying the record R 1 , the kind of the corresponding set, a book content ID, an advertisement space ID, and an ID of a creative displayed in the advertisement space. 
       FIG. 10  shows a record R 2  corresponding to each creative in creative DB  1022  by way of example. Creative DB  1022  has a plurality of records R 2 , and record R 2  includes values shown on the right end in  FIG. 10  as examples. In each record R 2 , “column” and “type” are shown to explain the record R 2 . More specifically, record R 2  includes values corresponding to different kinds of data designated by “column,” and those values are represented by corresponding types (integer, string, etc.). 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , record R 2  includes values of the ID of the corresponding creative, the advertisement name of the creative, the number of times the creative is displayed on terminal  1 , the latest update time of the creative, the URL of information associated (linked) with the creative that is displayed when the creative is tapped, the creative image save path that is the storage location (address information) of the creative image, the type of creative image data, the term of validity (the display start date and end date) of the creative, a time frame and a day of the week during which the creative is to be displayed, a display content range (page range, for example), the maximum number of times the advertisement is displayed, the minimum age and gender of a target user eligible for display of the creative, data specifying whether to display the creative when online, the priority of display order of the creative, a flag specifying whether the creative is displayed by default, and a product category (for example, electrical appliance, food, etc.) to which the advertisement of the creative belongs. 
     Server  100  generates advertisement metadata D 8  from information of advertisement space management DB  1021  and creative DB  1022  based on a predetermined combination as described above and transmits the generated advertisement metadata D 8  to the requestor terminal  1 . The predetermined combination is determined based on the value of “creative ID” of advertisement space management DB  1021  and the value of “creative ID” of creative DB  1022 . In other words, data of each creative management DB having the “creative ID” having a value that matches the value of the “creative ID” of advertisement space management DB  1021  serves as data  81  to generate advertisement metadata D 8 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , each data D 81  of advertisement metadata D 8  includes values corresponding to various data of record R 2  of creative DB  1022  described above. 
     In this manner, server  100  and terminal  1  have creative DB  1022  and advertisement metadata D 8 , respectively, as databases having the same structure. Server  100  uses creative DB  1022  for managing information of each creative to be distributed, and terminal  1  uses advertisement metadata D 8  for managing information of each distributed creative. 
     Accordingly, the “creative image save path” refers to the storage location (address information) of a creative image in terminal  1  in advertisement metadata D 8  and refers to the storage location (address information) of a creative image in server  100  in creative management DB  102 . Display processing unit  20  of terminal  1  increments the “number of times of creative display” of advertisement metadata D 8  by one every time the creative image is displayed. The number of times the creative image is displayed in terminal  1  can thus be counted. 
       FIG. 11  shows user information DB  1023 . User information DB  1023  stores a record R 3  based on registration information D 2 , corresponding to each user registered in server  100  through user registration (step T 5 ) in  FIG. 5 . The user ID, birth date, gender, and market ID are stored in record R 3 . 
     Server  100  searches user information DB  1023  based on the user ID received from terminal  1  and reads out the birth date and gender of the user corresponding to the user ID. Creative DB  1022  is searched based on the age and gender of the user in accordance with the read birth date. Based on the search result, among records R 2  storing the values of “target age” and “target gender” that match the age and gender, advertisement information that indicates within the term of validity is distributed. 
     In the present embodiment, the market ID indicated by advertisement acquisition request D 7  is represented by the upper two digits of the user ID. This cannot completely specify the user of terminal  1  but can specify the market of terminal  1 , so that only advertisement metadata D 8  and a creative corresponding to the market ID can be transmitted to terminal  1 . 
     &lt;Process Flow&gt; 
     Referring to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , a main process according to the present embodiment is described. It is assumed that a plurality of advertisement metadata D 8  and creative images referred to by the advertisement metadata D 8  are stored in advertisement data storage unit  25  in terminal  1 . 
     First, terminal  1  is powered on (step S 1 ). Operation accepting unit  28  of terminal  1  then waits for operation by the user (step S 3 ). 
     Upon accepting operation, CPU  2  determines whether the accepted operation is the operation to start up the application launcher (step S 5 ). If it is determined that the operation is not the operation to start up the application launcher, another process corresponding to an instruction based on the operation is executed (step S 7 ), and the process then returns to step S 3  again. 
     If it is determined that the operation is the operation to start up the application launcher (YES in step S 5 ), the application launcher is started up. Display processing unit  20  then displays screen  61  (step S 9 ). This process will be described later. 
     Operation accepting unit  28  thereafter waits for operation by the user (step S 11 ). Upon accepting operation, it is deter mined what operation has been performed (step S 13 ). If it is determined that the operation is a tap on an advertisement in advertisement space  61 B, CPU  2  determines whether the status of terminal  1  is online, based on a transmission/reception signal of telephone network communication unit  7  or a transmission/reception signal of telephone network communication unit  7  (step S 15 ). If it is determined that it is online (YES in step S 15 ), in step S 17 , the browser of display processing unit  20  is started up. The browser acquires and displays a page (referred to as landing page) of the URL associated with the tapped advertisement. The process thereafter proceeds to step S 3 . 
     Here, the URL of the landing page can be acquired by reading out the value of “link information” of the creative displayed in advertisement space  61 B from advertisement metadata D 8 . In the present embodiment, data D 81  of the creative currently being displayed in advertisement space  61 B is pointed to by a pointer D 82  (see  FIG. 7 ). CPU  2  therefore acquires the URL by reading out the value of “link information” from data D 81  pointed to by pointer D 82  and outputs the acquired URL to the browser of display processing unit  20 . 
     On the other hand, if it is determined that terminal  1  is not online, that is, offline (NO in step S 15 ), display processing unit  20  displays screen  62  to confirm with the user whether to register the advertisement being displayed in advertisement space  61 B as a bookmark (step S 19 ). 
     Even when online, the user may wish to view the creative in advertisement space  61 B later. Therefore, the advertisement may also be allowed to be registered as a bookmark online. When offline, the advertisement may be registered as a bookmark without confirming with the user. 
     Operation accepting unit  28  determines whether dialog  620  of screen  62  is operated. CPU  2  determines whether bookmark registration is requested based on the operation accepted by operation accepting unit  28  (step S 21 ). If it is determined that bookmark registration is requested (YES in step S 21 ), bookmark registration unit  23 B performs an advertisement bookmark registration process (step S 23 ) described later. In the advertisement bookmark registration process, data B(i) (where i=1, 2, 3, . . . , m) is added corresponding to data D 81  of the creative being displayed in the tapped advertisement space  61 B. Data B(i) indicates that the creative of the corresponding data D 81  has been registered as an advertisement bookmark. The variable “i” indicates the order of bookmark registration. 
     Upon completion of the advertisement bookmark registration process, a message  621  indicating the advertisement bookmark registration completed appears on the screen (step S 25 ). The process thereafter proceeds to step S 3 . After the process in step S 25 , the display may switch to screen  65 . 
     The advertisement bookmark registered offline may automatically display the landing page associated with the advertisement bookmark when going online later. 
     On the other hand, if it is determined that advertisement bookmark registration is not requested in step S 21  (NO in step S 21 ), the process returns to step S 3 . 
     Here, return to the process in step S 13 . In step S 13 , if it is determined that the operation accepted by operation accepting unit  28  is a tap on an advertisement bookmark app icon among app icons on screen  61 , the process proceeds to step S 27 , and CPU  2  starts up the advertisement bookmark app by bookmark processing unit  23 . Second display processing unit  20 B then displays screen  65 . The details thereof will be described later. 
     Thereafter, the process waits for a tap on one bookmark (creative) from among creatives of data D 81  advertisement-bookmarked that are displayed in a list on screen  65  (step S 29 ). When selection accepting unit  29  of operation accepting unit  28  accepts a tap, in the process in step S 17 , the browser displays the landing page using the URL read out from data D 81  of the tapped creative. 
     Returning to the process in step S 13 , if operation accepting unit  28  determines that the kind of accepted operation is a tap on an icon other than the advertisement bookmark app among icons  612 , the process proceeds to step S 31 . In step S 31 , the application corresponding to the tapped icon is started up and executed. The process thereafter proceeds to step S 3 . 
     In step S 13 , if operation accepting unit  28  determines that the operation in advertisement space  61 B is a long tap, in step S 33 , display processing unit  20  displays context menu  611  (step S 33 ). If offline, advertisement list  632  may be displayed without displaying context menu  611 . 
     Subsequently, the user&#39;s operation in the displayed context menu  611  is determined (step S 35 ). If selection accepting unit  29  of operation accepting unit  28  determines that the item “Manage advertisement bookmark” is tapped, the process proceeds to step S 27 , and the subsequent process is performed in the same manner as described above. 
     If it is determined that the item “Register advertisement bookmark” is tapped, the process proceeds to step S 19 . The process subsequent to step S 19  is performed in the same manner as described above. 
     If it is determined that the item “Display advertisement list” is tapped, an advertisement list screen process is started in step S 37  (step S 37 ). The details of this process will be described later. 
     Operation accepting unit  28  thereafter waits for user&#39;s operation (step S 39 ), and upon accepting operation, determines the kind of the accepted operation (step S 41 ). 
     If it is determined that the accepted operation is a tap on an “advertisement” (creative) displayed in a list, the process proceeds to step S 15 . The process in step S 15  is performed in the same manner as described above. 
     If it is determined that the accepted operation is a long tap on an “advertisement” (creative) displayed in a list, in step S 43 , context menu  631  appears. 
     Operation accepting unit  28  thereafter waits for user&#39;s operation (step S 45 ). In step S 45 , if operation accepting unit  28  determines that the item “Register advertisement bookmark” is selected, the process proceeds to step S 27 . The process subsequent to step S 27  is performed in the same manner as described above. 
     If it is determined that the item “Manage advertisement bookmark” is selected, the process proceeds to step S 19 . The process subsequent to step S 19  is performed in the same manner as described above. 
     In the foregoing steps S 17 , S 31 , S 21 , and S 25 , after the process is finished, the process returns to the initial main screen (not shown) by way of example. The process, however, may return to the display screen before processing. For example, after the process in step S 17 , the process may return to a state before startup of the browser (for example, a state in which the screen of the advertisement bookmark app is displayed, a state in which screen  61  of the application launcher is displayed, or the state in which screen  63  of advertisement list  632  is displayed). 
     When an advertisement bookmark is tapped offline on screen  65 , the process may proceed to any of the processing below. 
     A dialog may be displayed to ask the user whether to connect communication using the associated URL. If an instruction of connection OK is input, the browser attempts to display a landing page through communication network NT. If communication using the URL fails to be established, display processing unit  20  displays a dialog “Connection failed.” 
     For the purpose of display offline, another data acquired in advance in terminal  1  during acquisition of advertisement data may be displayed. For example, the browser may display a simple-version landing page data (for example, HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) data). Alternatively, another image data (for example, a larger-size image with more information) may be displayed. 
     &lt;Application Launcher Screen Process&gt; 
     The application launcher screen process (step S 9 ) is described with reference to  FIG. 14 . 
     First, display processing unit  20  displays icons  612  arranged corresponding to the already-registered applications in the application icon display region of screen  61  in  FIG. 4(A)  (step S 51 ). 
     Here, data of icon  612  for uniquely identify an application is stored in storage unit  3  corresponding to each of different kinds of applications stored beforehand. Display processing unit  20  therefore reads out data of icons  612  from storage unit  3  and arranges them to be displayed on screen  61 . 
     A process of selecting a display advertisement for advertisement space  61 A (step S 53 ) is thereafter performed. The details of the display advertisement selecting process will be described later. 
     CPU  2  then determines whether there exists a creative to be displayed in advertisement space  61 A based on the result of the display advertisement selecting process (step S 55 ). If it is determined that there exists no creative (NO in step S 55 ), the process proceeds to step S 59 . If it is determined that there exists (YES in step S 55 ), in step S 57 , a creative that meets a predetermined condition such as a market ID is displayed in advertisement space  61 A (step S 57 ). Thereafter, in step S 59 , a process of selecting a display advertisement for advertisement space  61 B (step S 59 ) is performed. The details of the display advertisement selecting process will be described later. 
     CPU  2  then determines whether there exists a creative to be displayed in advertisement space  61 B based on the result of the display advertisement selecting process (step S 61 ). If it is determined that there exists no creative (NO in step S 61 ), the process proceeds to the initial process in  FIG. 12 . If it is determined that there exists (YES in step S 61 ), in step S 63 , a creative selected from among creatives currently valid in accordance with a predetermined rule is displayed in advertisement space  61 B. The process thereafter returns to the process in  FIG. 12 . 
     In the present embodiment, two advertisement spaces, namely, advertisement spaces  61 A and  61 B are displayed on screen  61  upon startup of the application launcher. The advertisement spaces, however, may be displayed on another screen. The number of advertisement spaces displayed on one screen is not limited to two. The advertisement spaces may not be displayed on a particular screen but may be displayed in a window (region) that pops up. 
     Data of creatives displayed in a region of the advertisement space may be image data (still images, animation, images in accordance with GIF (Graphic Interchange Format)/PNG (Portable Network Graphics), motion images), HTML data, text data, or the like. 
     &lt;Display Advertisement Selecting Process&gt; 
     The display advertisement selecting process (steps S 53  and S 59  in  FIG. 14 ) is described with reference to  FIG. 15 . In  FIG. 14 , the procedure of selecting a creative to be displayed in advertisement space  61 A,  61 B is shown. 
     First, first display processing unit  20 A acquires advertisement metadata D 8  of the campaign associated with the “advertisement space ID” assigned to advertisement space  61 A from among advertisement metadata D 8  in storage unit  3  (step S 71 ). The corresponding advertisement metadata D 8  can therefore be identified with the advertisement space ID. Here, it is assumed that a plurality of advertisement metadata D 8  of campaigns are acquired. 
     Next, of the acquired plurality of advertisement metadata D 8 , advertisement metadata D 8  in which the distribution period of the campaign ID does not match the present time is excluded (step S 73 ). Specifically, advertisement metadata D 8  in which the present time measured by timer  12  does not fall in the distribution period (the start date and time, and the end date and time) of the campaign ID is excluded. 
     For each of the remaining advertisement metadata D 8  of campaigns, advertisement metadata D 8  in which the number of times of display is equal to or greater than “the upper limit value of impressions/clicks per day” of the campaign ID is excluded. 
     First display processing unit  20 A counts the number of times of display of the creative in the advertisement space indicated by data  81  on a day-by-day basis, for each data D 81  of advertisement metadata D 8 , and calculates the total count value of the numbers of times of display for all the creatives of advertisement metadata D 8  using the count values. The value of “the number of times of creative display” of data D 81  corresponding to each creative is incremented every time the creative is displayed. Accordingly, the value of “the number of times of creative display” designates the number of times of display per day. Therefore, these count values are compared with “the upper limit value of impressions/clicks per day,” and when it is determined that the count or total count value on a day-by-day basis indicates the upper limit or more, based on the comparison result, that advertisement metadata D 8  is excluded (step S 75 ). 
     Of the remaining plurality of advertisement metadata D 8 , one advertisement metadata D 8  of the creative to be displayed in the advertisement space is selected in accordance with the “distribution ratio” of the campaign ID (step S 77 ). Here, the distribution ratio refers to the probability that, among advertisement metadata, the creative of that advertisement metadata is displayed in the advertisement space. 
     For example, in a case where three advertisement metadata D 8  (for example, advertisement metadata A, B, C) are acquired through the process in step S 75 , and, as the “distribution ratio,” “7” is set for advertisement metadata A, “2” for advertisement metadata B, and “1” for advertisement metadata C, in step S 77 , one of advertisement metadata A, B, and C is selected with the probability in accordance with the ratio of 7:2:1. The advertisement metadata not selected is excluded from the display target. If the “distribution ratio” is not specified, each advertisement metadata D 8  is selected at the same ratio. 
     As a result of step S 77 , (a plurality of) data D 81  of creatives in the selected advertisement metadata D 8  are acquired (step S 79 ). 
     Of the acquired data D 81 , data D 81  in which the distribution period and the present time do not match is then excluded (step S 81 ). In other words, data D 81  in which the distribution period (the start date and time and the end date and time of the term of validity) does not correspond to the present time measured by timer  12  is excluded. 
     Then, of the remaining data D 81 , data D 81  in which the display period does not match the present time is excluded (step S 83 ). In other words, data D 81  in which the display period (the display time frame and the display day of the week) does not correspond to the present time (the time frame and the day of the week) measured by timer  12  is excluded. 
     Then, of the remaining data D 81 , data D 81  in which the value of the creative ID matches the value of the predetermined “book content ID” specified by display processing unit  20  is extracted (step S 85 ). Here, it is assumed that a plurality of data D 81  are extracted. 
     Of the extracted data D 81 , data D 81  in which the “display content range” currently being displayed of the book content falls in the range of book content as specified by display processing unit  20  is extracted. For example, if page  100  to page  110  of an e-book is specified by display processing unit  20 , data D 81  that indicates “display content range” indicating a page falling within the range of “page  100  to page  110 ” is extracted (step S 87 ). In some cases, no data D 81  may be extracted, or one or more (two or more) data D 81  may be extracted. 
     The number of data D 81  extracted in step S 87  is determined (step S 89 ). If it is determined that there exists “no” extracted data D 81  (“none” in step S 89 ), a creative of a default advertisement stored in advance in storage unit  3  is selected (step S 91 ). 
     If it is determined that “a plurality of” data D 81  are extracted in step S 87  (“a plurality” in step S 89 ), one data D 81  is selected in accordance with the value of “priority” of each data D 81  (step S 93 ). The priority is shown, for example, by an integer value from one to nine. Therefore, data D 81  with the smallest value of priority is selected. 
     If it is determined that “one” data D 81  is left (“one” in step S 89 ), that data D 81  is selected. 
     Data D 81  selected in the foregoing manner or the creative of the default advertisement is provided to the process in  FIG. 14 , in the process in step S 95 . The process thereafter returns to the process in  FIG. 14 . 
     The “display content range” of a book content as described above is described. 
     For example, it is assumed that terminal  1  is used as an e-book viewer terminal. Each e-book content is provided with an identification ID (=book content ID), and the book content ID of the e-book content currently being displayed on terminal  1  specifies the “display content ID” described above. As for this “display content ID,” when the e-book viewer (a function of display processing unit  20  that displays the content of e-book content) starts displaying the e-book content, the book content ID thereof is stored into temporary storage unit  4  of terminal  1 . The predetermined “book content ID” described above can be acquired by reading out the book content ID from temporary storage unit  4 . 
     During display of an e-book content, the e-book viewer stores the position currently being displayed (for example, the number of pages of the e-book, the proportion (percentage) of the number of current display pages to the total number of pages) into temporary storage unit  4 . The “display content range” currently being displayed of the book content can be acquired. 
     In this manner, in the present embodiment, for each advertisement space, the creative to be displayed in the advertisement space is selected in two steps as described above. First, of the campaigns associated with the advertisement space, the one that does not satisfy the display control conditions is excluded. Next, for each of the remaining campaigns not excluded, of the creatives included therein, the one that does not satisfy the display control conditions is excluded. Accordingly, only the creative that satisfies the predetermined display control conditions can be selected. 
     In the present embodiment, if a creative to be displayed in advertisement space  61 A (or  61 B) fails to be extracted (none exists), a default creative is selected. The selection procedure, however, is not limited thereto. 
     For example, even though the advertisement space is displayed, none may be displayed in the advertisement space. Alternatively, an alternative image (an image that is not a default creative) stored in storage unit  3  of terminal  1  may be displayed in the advertisement space, or the advertisement space may not be displayed per se. 
     &lt;Other Display Control Conditions According to Characteristics of Advertisement&gt; 
     The conditions of selecting a creative to be displayed in advertisement spaces  61 A and  61 B are not limited to the conditions shown in  FIG. 15 .  FIGS. 16 and 17  show examples of other conditions identified with numbers (01) to (22) in the form of a table. 
     As shown in the tables in  FIGS. 16 and 17 , the advertiser or advertisement distributor can set display control conditions for an advertisement (creative) to be distributed. The specifying conditions, such as market ID, target age, target gender, term of validity, display day of the week, display time, field, and distribution target region, are compared with the information stored in terminal  1 . Display of creative is thus controlled. 
     Data in accordance with the conditions in  FIGS. 16 and 17  is additionally registered in data D 81  corresponding to each creative, whereby display control of creatives in advertisement space  61 A,  61 B, display control of creative in advertisement list  632 , and display control of advertisement bookmark on screen  65  can be performed by comparing the conditions of data D 81  with the user information, etc. stored in terminal  1 . In this manner, a creative suitable for user&#39;s information and advertiser&#39;s wishes can be distributed (displayed) without transmitting personal information such as preferences of the user of terminal  1  to the outside. 
     In the tables in  FIGS. 16 and 17 , a set of display control conditions including “characteristics of advertisement,” “display in advertisement space,” “display in advertisement list,” and “display in advertisement book” is provided corresponding to each “number” (01) to (22). The “characteristics of advertisement” refers to the characteristics of an advertisement related to display control. The “display in advertisement space” refers to a display manner of a creative in the advertisement space. The “display in advertisement list” refers to a display manner of a creative in advertisement list  632 . The “display of advertisement bookmark” refers to a display manner of a creative on screen  65 . These display manners differ from the normal creative display manner. 
     For each set of display control conditions in  FIGS. 16 and 17 , the condition in a row with a hyphen (“-”) mark may be applied (may not be applied), and the condition without a hyphen mark is not applied. A plurality of applicable conditions with a hyphen mark may be combined. 
     An example of changing display methods as indicated by (*1) in  FIGS. 16 and 17  is explained. Examples of a common method that can be used for display of a creative in advertisement spaces  61 A,  61 B, display of a creative in advertisement list  632 , and display of an advertisement bookmark on screen  65  include changing the color of the advertisement space, display with the color tone or brightness of the creative being changed (for example, the creative currently invalid is displayed darkly with a reduced brightness), allowing the creative to flash (giving a glowing effect for a short period of time), allowing the creative to blink, rotating the creative (rotating the advertisement space and the creative inside thereof), shaking the creative (slightly moving the display position of the advertisement space for a short period of time as if the creative was shaken), producing sound effects, allowing terminal  1  to vibrate (using a not-shown vibration function of terminal  1  to allow terminal  1  to vibrate for a short period of time), and displaying a mark in addition to the creative. 
     As for the advertisement space, the display position of the advertisement space may be changed (for example, in a case where the advertisement space is usually displayed in the lower portion of screen  61  of the application launcher, the display position thereof may be changed to the upper portion of screen  61 ). 
     By changing the display manners in this way, it can be expected that the user is less likely to miss an interesting advertisement, while the advertiser can expect improvement of advertising effectiveness. 
     Examples of changing the display priority as indicated by (*2) in  FIGS. 16  and  17  include displaying the creative that meets the condition on a higher level (in the first place, by priority) or conversely on a lower level. 
     As for (*3) in  FIGS. 16 and 17 , the creative that matches the corresponding advertisement characteristic may be excluded from the target and hidden, or may be displayed in such a display manner that suggests the creative is currently invalid. Alternatively, the creative currently invalid may be hidden. 
     If there are a plurality of creatives that satisfy the characteristics of advertisement (*4) corresponding to numbers (08) to (17) in  FIGS. 16 and 17 , the priority order of display may be specified. 
     For a plurality of creatives that satisfy the characteristics of advertisement indicated by (*5) in  FIGS. 16 and 17 , the display frequency may be increased or the display time may be prolonged for the creative recently used. 
     The creative as indicated by (*6) in  FIGS. 16 and 17  is “registered as an advertisement bookmark or tapped” so that it may be displayed in such a manner as to “be subsequently hidden or be subsequently displayed with a lower priority or inconspicuously because an object of attracting the user&#39;s interest has been achieved.” Alternatively, it may be displayed in such a manner as to “be continuously displayed with a higher priority or distinctively because it is a creative that attracts the user&#39;s interest.” 
       FIG. 18  shows examples of the control method for controlling the display order of creatives. The arrangement order of creatives to display a list of creatives in advertisement list  632  and on screen  65  of advertisement bookmarks can be controlled with the condition settings shown in  FIG. 18 . 
     The setting conditions shown in a table in  FIG. 18  are described. The hyphen (“-”) mark in the table indicates that the method provided in the “sorting method” field corresponding to the hyphen mark may be applied (may not be applied). Where there is no hyphen mark, the method provided in the corresponding “sorting method” field is not applied. A plurality of applicable sorting methods with a hyphen mark can be combined. 
     &lt;Advertisement List Screen Process&gt; 
     Here, it is assumed that a plurality of data D 81  are extracted in the process in step S 87  in  FIG. 15  described above. The extracted plurality of data D 81  are passed to the advertisement list screen process. 
     Referring to  FIG. 19 , the advertisement list screen process (step S 37 ) in  FIG. 13  is described. 
     Second display processing unit  20 B of display processing unit  20  acquires a plurality of data D 81  extracted in the process in step S 87  in  FIG. 15  (step S 101 ). 
     The acquired data D 81  are then sorted in ascending order or descending order in accordance with the values of “priority” (step S 103 ). Second display processing unit  20 B reads out the creative images of the sorted data D 81  from storage unit  3  based on the “creative image save path” and displays a list of advertisements  633  of the read creative images as advertisement list  632  (step S 105 : see screen  63  in  FIG. 4 ). The process thereafter returns to the process in  FIG. 13 . 
     Second display processing unit  20 B arranges the creative long-tapped by the user in step S 13  (the creative displayed in advertisement space  61 B) such that it breaks in at the position where the creative of advertisement list  632  is displayed (that is, the position corresponding to the advertisement space  61 B). 
     In general, it can be assumed that the selected creative is successively tapped. Therefore, the creative long-tapped can be displayed at the same position as (or close to) the position where it is long-tapped, so that user&#39;s operability is not impaired. 
     Such arrangement is not necessarily employed. The creative selected by a long tap may also be handled in the same manner as other creatives and displayed at the position in accordance with the sorted order. 
     With advertisement list  632 , advertisements other than the advertisement (creative) in advertisement space  61 B that the user now sees and selects are displayed simultaneously, thereby expanding opportunities of presenting advertisements to the user. The advertiser thus can expect improvement of advertising effectiveness. 
     In addition, when the user wishes to review the advertisement that the user viewed in the past, the user can easily find it from the presented advertisement list  632 . 
     Moreover, the user can actively select and view an advertisement from advertisement list  632  rather than following the advertisement display control method in accordance with values of attributes of data D 81  set by the advertisement distributor. 
     The size of display region of advertisement list  632  may be variable depending on the number of creatives in creative list  632 . When the number of creatives is small, the size of the display region may be reduced. When there are too many that advertisement list  632  does not fit in one screen, the screen may be scrolled so that advertisement list  632  can be seen. 
     &lt;Advertisement Bookmark App Startup&gt; 
     Referring to  FIG. 20 , startup of the advertisement bookmark app in  FIG. 13  (step S 27 ) is described. 
     CPU  2  acquires a list of already-registered advertisement bookmarks (step S 111 ). Specifically, the value (address) of “creative image save path” of each data D 81  with data B(i) added thereto is read out from advertisement metadata D 8  in advertisement data storage unit  25 . Advertisement data storage unit  25  is then searched based on the read value to read out the corresponding creative image. The creative image for displaying a list of advertisement bookmarks is thus acquired. 
     CPU  2  outputs the acquired creative image to second display processing unit  20 B. Second display processing unit  20 B displays a list of provided creative images in the display region of display unit  6  (step S 113 : see screen  65  in  FIG. 4 ). The process thereafter returns to the process in  FIG. 13 . 
     The display region of screen  65  may be variable depending on the number of creatives displayed in a list. If there are few, the size may be reduced. If there are too many to fit in one screen, they may be scrolled. 
     By using the “advertisement bookmark,” the advertisement that the user is interested in can be stored with addition of a bookmark (data B(i)). Accordingly, the user can promptly view the interesting advertisement only by starting up the advertisement bookmark app. As a result, the advertiser can expect expansion of opportunities of user acquisition and improvement of advertising effectiveness. 
     Here, the “advertisement bookmark” function is handled separately from a general bookmark function of a browser. However, the “advertisement bookmark” function using the bookmark function of the browser may be provided. More specifically, the URL of the landing page associated with the user&#39;s favorite advertisement (creative), that is, the value (URL) of “link information” of data D 81  of the creative may be managed using the bookmark function of the browser. In this case, the browser manages (stores) the URL of the favorite advertisement (creative) in a predetermined area of storage unit  3 . When the browser displays the URL read out from storage unit  3  online and the user designates the displayed URL, the browser may acquire the landing page of the designated URL and display the acquired landing page on display unit  6 . Also in this manner, the user can acquire related information of the favorite advertisement. 
     The user can give an instruction to delete a creative as desired from the list of creatives of advertisement bookmarks on screen  65  through operation unit  5 . Data B(i) added to data D 81  of the creative is then deleted, so that the bookmark registration of the creative is cleared. This operation may delete data D 81  of the creative and the creative image from advertisement data storage unit  25 . 
     &lt;Advertisement Bookmark Registration Process&gt; 
     Referring to  FIG. 21 , the advertisement bookmark registration process in  FIG. 13  (step S 23 ) is described. 
     Bookmark registration unit  23 B reads out data D 81  of the creative tapped in advertisement space  61 B or the creative tapped or long-tapped in advertisement list  632 , from advertisement metadata D 8  (step S 121 ). 
     The read data D 81  is then registered as an advertisement bookmark (step S 123 ). That is, data B(i) of the data D 81  is added. The process then returns to the process in  FIG. 13 . Accordingly, the favorite or interesting advertisement (creative) specified by the user through a tap or long-tap can be registered as an “advertisement bookmark”. 
     Here, bookmark registration unit  23 B registers an advertisement bookmark by adding data B(i) to data D 81 . However, a not-shown database for advertisement bookmark management in advertisement data storage unit  25  may be used. More specifically, data D 81  of the creative tapped or long-tapped by the user may be read out from advertisement metadata D 8  and registered in the database for advertisement bookmark management in advertisement data storage unit  25 . 
     The user may operate a button or specify the item of menus so that the advertisement bookmark specified is deleted by bookmark management unit  23 A. More specifically, the added data B(i) may be deleted or data D 81  of the corresponding creative may be deleted from the database for advertisement bookmark management (or data D 81  is set in a readout-disabled state in the database for advertisement bookmark management). Alternatively, irrespective of the user&#39;s instruction, bookmark management unit  23 A may delete, of the registered advertisement bookmarks, the one whose term of validity as specified by the “start date and time of term of validity” and the “end date and time of term of validity” of the corresponding data D 81  expires, through the procedure described above. 
     In deletion based on the term of validity, a mark indicative of deletion completed is displayed a predetermined number of times or for a prescribed period of time after the deletion so that the user is aware of deletion. Alternatively, the display color of the mark is changed. The user may restore the advertisement bookmark data by cancelling the deletion based on the term of validity. The restoration refers to, for example, adding data B(i) again to the corresponding data D 81  or changing the data D 81  in a readout-disabled state to a readout-enabled state in the database for advertisement bookmark management. 
     Bookmark management unit  23 A may manage advertisement bookmarks in groups (classify them using folders). 
     As for advertisement bookmarks, the advertiser or advertisement distributor may set the term of validity of an advertisement bookmark independently of the “start date and time of term of validity” and the “end date and time of term of validity” of the corresponding data D 81 . For example, even though the “start data and time of term of validity” and “end date and time of term of validity” indicates one week after the start of distribution of the creativity, if the creative is bookmarked, the term of validity of the advertisement bookmark may be set to two weeks after the start of distribution of the advertisement. 
     &lt;Advertisement Data Acquisition Main Process&gt; 
     In the present embodiment, advertisement acquisition unit  21  of terminal  1  acquires advertisement information (advertisement metadata D 8  and creative) from server  100  periodically or non-periodically in accordance with the process flow in  FIGS. 22 and 23 . Here, it is assumed that a plurality of advertisement metadata D 8  are stored in advertisement metadata storage unit  25 . 
     Advertisement acquisition unit  21  uses status data  33  in  FIG. 24  corresponding to each advertisement metadata D 8  in order to acquire advertisement metadata D 8  and creative from server  100 . 
     Status data  33  in  FIG. 24  is stored in storage unit  3 . Status data  33  is a set of flags. A flag corresponds to one bit. Each bit of status data  33  has one-to-one correspondence with each data D 81  of the corresponding advertisement metadata D 8 . If a flag corresponding to data D 81  is set “OFF” (“0”), it is indicated that acquisition of the creative of data D 81  fails, and if it is set “ON” (“1”), it is indicated that acquisition of the creative of data D 81  succeeds. 
     Referring to  FIG. 22 , advertisement acquisition unit  21  compares the distribution period (a period indicated by the “start date and time of term of validity” and “end date and time of term of validity”) of each data  81  of advertisement metadata D 8  with the present time indicated by the time data output by timer  12 . Based on the comparison result, data D 81  in which the present time does not fall in the distribution period is deleted from advertisement metadata D 8  (step S 131 ). This can avoid shortage of space of storage unit  3 . 
     Advertisement acquisition unit  21  then sets all the flags OFF of status data  33  corresponding to advertisement metadata D 8  (step S 133 ). 
     Advertisement acquisition unit  21  then reads out the value of “advertisement space ID” from advertisement metadata D 8  (step S 135 ) and transmits a request for acquiring advertisement metadata including the read “advertisement space ID” to server  100  (step S 137 ). If terminal  1  cannot transmit the acquisition request depending on the status of communication network NT, transmission of the acquisition request may be repeated. 
     Advertisement distribution unit  1011  of server  100  receives the acquisition request from terminal  1  (step S 1381 ). Advertisement distribution unit  1011  then searches advertisement space management DB  1021  based on the “advertisement space ID” in the received acquisition request and reads out record R 1  having an “ID” that designates the value of the “advertisement ID.” Advertisement distribution unit  1011  then searches creative DB  1022  based on the “creative ID” in the read record R 1  and reads out one or more records R 2  having a “creative ID” that designates the value of the “creative ID”. Advertisement metadata D 8  is generated from the records R 1  and R 2  read out in this manner (step S 1382 ). The generated advertisement metadata D 8  is transmitted to terminal  1  (step S 1383 ). Server  100  terminates the process if it no longer receives the acquisition request from terminal  1  (YES in step S 1384 ). While server  100  is receiving, the process returns to step S 1381 . 
     When terminal  1  receives advertisement metadata D 8  from server  100  (step S 139 ), the process proceeds to a subroutine process of advertisement data acquisition (see  FIG. 23 ). 
     Referring to  FIG. 23 , in the subroutine process, advertisement acquisition unit  21  acquires a default creative image from server  100  (step S 151 ). The default creative image is thereafter stored into advertisement data storage unit  25  (step S 153 ). 
     Advertisement acquisition unit  21  reads out one advertisement metadata D 8  received (step S 155 ). The read advertisement metadata D 8  refers to information related to a corresponding campaign (hereinafter referred to as campaign information). Advertisement acquisition unit  21  checks the distribution period for the campaign information (step S 157 ). Specifically, based on the “distribution period” specified by the “campaign ID” and the present time measured by timer  12 , if the present time falls in the distribution period, the campaign information is determined to be valid, otherwise the campaign information is discarded as being invalid. As a result of checking, the campaign information determined to be valid is subjected to the following process. 
     First, advertisement acquisition unit  21  reads out one data  81  from advertisement metadata D 8  of the campaign information (step S 159 ). For the read data D 81 , the distribution period (“start date and time of term of validity” and “end date and time of term of validity”) is compared with the present time measured by timer  12 . Based on the result of comparison, data D 81  in which the present time does not fall in the distribution period is discarded as being invalid. Here, it is assumed that data D 81  is such valid data in that the present time falls in the distribution period (step S 161 ). 
     Advertisement acquisition unit  21  then reads out the value of “creative ID” from data D 81  and transmits a request for acquiring a creative image including that value to server  100  (step S 163 ). Upon receiving the acquisition request, advertisement distribution unit  1011  of server  100  searches storage unit  102  based on the value of “creative ID” included in the acquisition request and acquires the corresponding creative image. The acquired creative image is transmitted to terminal  1 . Advertisement distribution unit  1011  adds data of the latest update time of the image to the creative image to be transmitted and transmits the added data. The “creative ID” may refer to an URL related to the creative image. 
     Advertisement acquisition unit  21  determines whether reception of a creative image succeeds (step S 165 ). If it is determined that acquisition of a creative image fails (“fail” in step S 165 ), the process proceeds to step S 159 , and the process is performed on the next data D 81 . 
     On the other hand, if it is determined that acquisition of a creative image succeeds or no update (“succeed/no update” in step S 165 ), the process proceeds to step S 167 . Here, advertisement acquisition unit  21  compares data of the update time added to the received creative image with the “creative update time” in data D 81 . As a result of comparison, if it is determined that the added update time is earlier than the “creative update time,” advertisement acquisition unit  21  determines that the creative image is “not updated.” If it is determined that the added update time is later than the “creative update time,” advertisement acquisition unit  21  determines that acquisition of the creative image “succeeds.” 
     In step S 167 , advertisement acquisition unit  21  stores the creative image determined to “succeed,” that is, updated, into advertisement data storage unit  25  and sets ON the flag of status data  33  corresponding to data D 81  of the creative image determined as “succeed/no update” (step S 167 ). Advertisement acquisition unit  21  stores the creative image into advertisement data storage unit  25  based on the value (address value) of “creative image save path” of the data D 81 . 
     If it is determined that the received creative image is determined as “no update,” that is, if it is determined that it agrees with the creative image already received (acquired) by terminal  1 , that creative image does not have to be stored into advertisement data storage unit  25 , and advertisement acquisition unit  21  discards that creative image. 
     Advertisement acquisition unit  21  then determines whether all data D 81  are read out from advertisement metadata D 8  of the campaign information (step S 169 ). If it is determined that all data D 81  are not read out (NO in step S 169 ), the process returns to step S 159 , and the next data D 81  is read out and subjected to the same process. 
     If it is determined that all data D 81  are read out (YES in step S 169 ), data D 81  corresponding to the flag set “OFF” of status data  33  is deleted from advertisement metadata D 8  of the campaign information (step S 171 ). 
     Advertisement acquisition unit  21  then determines whether advertisement metadata D 8  of all the campaign information have been read out (step S 173 ). If it is determined that all have not yet been read out (NO in step S 173 ), the process returns to step S 155 , and the subsequent process is performed similarly for advertisement metadata D 8  of the next campaign information. 
     On the other hand, if it is determined that advertisement metadata D 8  of all the campaign information have been read out (YES in step S 173 ), data D 81  having the flag set OFF of status data D 33  corresponding to each advertisement metadata D 8  of the advertisement space is deleted from advertisement metadata D 8  (step S 175 ). The process thereafter returns to the original process in  FIG. 22 . 
     Returning to the process in  FIG. 22 , after completion of the process in  FIG. 23 , in step S 143 , advertisement acquisition unit  21  determines whether data related to advertisements for all the advertisement space IDs has been acquired (step S 143 ). If it is determined that all the data have been acquired (YES in step S 143 ), the process proceeds to step S 145  described later. If it is determined that all have not been acquired, the process proceeds to step S 135 , and the subsequent process is performed similarly for the next advertisement space ID. 
     In step S 145 , for each advertisement metadata D 8 , data D 81  for which the corresponding creative image is not transmitted from server  100  is deleted, based on the flag of the corresponding status data  33 . This can increase free space of storage unit  3 . 
     Advertisement acquisition unit  21  then deletes the creative image not referred to from advertisement data storage unit  25  (step S 147 ). Specifically, advertisement acquisition unit  21  deletes the creative image designated by the “creative image save path” of data D 81  deleted through the process above, from advertisement data storage unit  25 . This can increase free space of storage unit  3 . 
     Advertisement acquisition unit  21  may start the process above independently (asynchronously) of the main flow in  FIGS. 12 and 13  when terminal  1  is offline or may start the process above as designated by user&#39;s operation. It may be started by both cases. 
     The time for processing by advertisement acquisition unit  21  offline may be decided. For example, the processing may be performed periodically, for example, once a week (for example, at midnight on Sunday), once a day (for example, at midnight every day), or once an hour (for example, at the end of every hour). 
     The process may be started when terminal  1  changes from offline to online. That is, the process starts every time terminal  1  changes from offline to online through any other operations or once in several times. Alternatively, the process may be started when connection is established via wireless LAN. 
     The process may be started in accordance with data of the creative already acquired. For example, the process described above may be started if the date and time indicated by the “end date and time of term of validity” has passed, or if a predetermined number (or a predetermined proportion) of data D 81  approaching the “end date and time of term of validity” are included in advertisement metadata D 8 . 
     In the process described above, a distribution period is used as a creative display control condition. A creative in which the display control conditions is set is deleted from advertisement data storage unit  25  and subsequently not displayed on display unit  6  when it no longer satisfies the conditions. However, without deletion, when display processing unit  20  displays a creative image, whether to display/not display may be determined based on the display control conditions. 
     Advertisement acquisition unit  21  may acquire all the creative images every time or may acquire a new creative image only for the creative image with the display control conditions set “invalid” and replace it with the new creative image. The timing for acquiring is, for example, once a week (for example, at midnight on Sunday), once a day (for example, at midnight every day), or once an hour (for example, at the end of every hour). 
     According to the present embodiment, when the user misses an advertisement (creative), operation to display the advertisement is performed. Even when the advertisement displayed again differs from the intended advertisement, a list of advertisements that have been displayed in the advertisement space (including an advertisement downloaded but not yet displayed) is displayed by selecting that advertisement space (through input operation such as a click or tap), so that the intended advertisement can easily be found therefrom. 
     The advertisement information is deleted upon expiration of the term of validity, and the advertisement information can be presented to the user even offline before expiration. When going on line again, the expired advertisement information can be updated, thereby preventing the user from being confused with the expired advertisement. 
     In a case of a tap operation offline, operation such as registration as a bookmark is performed without changing the initial destination to be accessed, thereby giving the opportunity to reach effective information when going online next time, without wasting the user&#39;s operation. 
     Modification 
     In the advertisement acquisition process by advertisement acquisition unit  21 , server  100  transmits (distributes) advertisement data matched with the advertisement space ID to terminal  1 . However, the advertisement data matched with the user ID of data D 4  (see  FIG. 6(C) ) in place of the advertisement space ID may be distributed. 
     Specifically, terminal  1  transmits an acquisition request including data D 4  to server  100 . Advertisement distribution unit  1011  of server  100  searches user information DB  1023  based on the user ID in the received data D 4  and reads out information of the user&#39; age and gender. A creative image in which the values of “target age” and “target gender” match the read age and gender, and the “start date and time of term of validity” and “end date and time of term of validity” designates the term of validity may be distributed. 
     Server  100  may distribute a creative image matched with a market ID to terminal  1 . More specifically, as the upper two digits of the user ID allocated to each user indicates a market ID, server  100  can specify a market although it cannot specify the user&#39;s personal information completely from the acquisition request received from terminal  1 . Accordingly, only the advertisement information that is matched with a market can be distributed. 
     Other Embodiments  
     The advertisement distribution method, display method, and management method as described above can be provided as a program. A computer-readable recording medium such as a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, a ROM, a RAM, and a memory card supplied with a computer that is encoded with such a program may be provided as a program product. Alternatively, a recording medium such as a hard disk included in a computer that is encoded with the program may be provided. The program downloaded via a network may be provided. For example, in the configuration in  FIG. 1 , terminal  1  with CPU  2  and having a computer function may be supplied with the program using memory card  11 . CPU  2  reads out and executes the program stored in memory card  11  through I/F  10 . The program may be downloaded through communication network NT to terminal  1  and stored into storage unit  3 . 
     PC  200  is also provided with a program in the same manner.  FIG. 25  shows an exemplary configuration of PC  200 . Referring to  FIG. 25 , PC  200  has a processing unit  201 , a display  202  such as a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) or a liquid crystal display, a keyboard  203 , and a mouse  204 . Processing unit  201  includes a CPU  205  for centrally controlling PC  200  per se, a memory  206  configured to include a ROM or a RAM, a fixed disk  207 , an FD drive  211  having an FD (Flexible Disk)  212  removably attached thereto for accessing the attached FD  212 , a CD-ROM drive  213  having a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory)  214  removably attached thereto for accessing the attached CD-ROM  214 , and a communication interface  209  for communication connection between communication network NT and PC  200 . These units are connected via communication through a bus  208 . 
     PC  200  may be provided with a magnetic tape device having a cassette-type magnetic tape removably attached thereto for accessing the magnetic tape. 
     PC  200  in  FIG. 25  can be provided with a program using FD  212  and CD-ROM  214 . A program may be downloaded to PC  200  through communication network NT and stored into memory  206  or fixed disk  207 . 
     In this manner, terminal  1  and PC  200  are supplied with a program product for implementing the method according to the foregoing embodiment using a computer. The program product includes the program per se and a recording medium encoded with the program. 
     The embodiments disclosed here should be understood as being illustrative rather than being limitative in all respects. The scope of the present invention is shown not in the foregoing description but in the claims, and it is intended that all modifications that come within the meaning and range of equivalence to the claims are embraced here. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
     
         
           3  storage unit,  4  temporary storage unit,  5  operation unit,  5 A touch panel input device,  5 B trackball unit,  6  display unit,  7  telephone network communication unit,  9  communication unit,  11  memory card,  12  timer,  20  display processing unit,  20 A first display processing unit,  20 B second display processing unit,  21  advertisement acquisition unit,  23  bookmark processing unit,  23 A bookmark management unit,  23 B bookmark registration unit,  25  advertisement data storage unit,  27  data search unit,  28  operation accepting unit,  29  selection accepting unit,  33  status data.