Abstract:
An information distributing system, comprising: an information distributor side device; and audience side terminal unit; wherein the information distributor side device comprises: a database for storing sets of provided information and seller side information, the seller side information representing attributes of an audience to which an information provider wants to distribute the provided information; and a transmitter for distributing the sets to the audience side terminal units, and wherein each of the audience side terminal units comprises: receiver for receiving the sets from the information distributor side device; comparator for comparing each item of the seller side information of each set with each item of buyer side information that represents attributes of an audience who has the audience side terminal unit; and selector for selecting the provided information paired with the seller side information of which the number of matched items with the buyer side information is the maximum.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to an information distributing system and an information distributing method, and in particular, to those that allow provided information suitable for each audience to be selected from a variety of provided information that is equally distributed to a large number of non-specific audiences.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    As an information distributing method for a large number of nonspecific audiences, television broadcasts, radio broadcasts, and so forth have been used for a long time. In such broadcasts, the same information is distributed to a large number of non-specific people. Thus, after an audience has selected a channel, he or she cannot select information from the channel. For example, in a particular TV program of a particular TV broadcast station, at particular time, only one advertisement is broadcast. Thus, the audience cannot select another advertisement. In addition, even if multiplexed advertisements are broadcast, since the audience cannot select his or her desired advertisement, he or she inevitably watches an undesired advertisement. Thus, since the audience cannot watch the advertisement that he or she really wants to watch at his or her convenient time, the effect of the advertisement weakens.  
           [0005]    A technology that allows an audience to selectively watches or listens to his or her desired advertisement is described in JPA 11-17633 titled “Advertisement Information Broadcasting Method”. According to the technology, when a received digital broadcast wave contains advertisement information, a target ID added thereto is collated with an attribute of an audience who is pre-registered to an IC card. As a result, advertisement information for which they match is selected and an icon that represents the selected advertisement information is displayed on a screen. When the audience performs an operation for detailed information on the screen, he or she can obtain detailed information with link information contained in the advertisement information.  
           [0006]    In addition, a technology for filtering recipients to which information is distributed is disclosed in JPA 9-91358 titled “Information Providing Apparatus and Information Providing Method”. In this technology, an information recipient side registers an advertisement receiving condition with a distributing host computer, whereas an information transmitter side registers an advertisement transmitting condition therewith. Corresponding to the advertisement receiving condition and the advertisement transmitting condition, the distributing host computer creates a distribution list that satisfies both the recipient side and the transmitter side and transmits an advertisement corresponding to the distribution list.  
           [0007]    However, according to the technology disclosed in JPA 11-17633, an audience can decide whether or not to watch or listen to an advertisement. Therefore, the audience may not watch or listen to the advertisement, and in this case, the advertisement effect will weaken from a view point of the advertiser.  
           [0008]    In addition, according to the technology disclosed in JPA 9-91358, audience information stored in a receiving terminal unit is also registered with the distributing host computer. Since the audience information registered with the distributing host computer is used to identify a recipient side, the receiving terminal unit that each audience can use is fixed to one. In other words, one receiving terminal unit can be used by only one audience. Thus, in order to allow one receiving terminal unit to deal with a plurality of audiences, it is necessary to store audience information of a plurality of audiences to one receiving terminal unit. In addition, when the user of a receiving terminal unit is changed to another user, the new user should register his or her audience information therewith.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    In order to overcome the aforementioned disadvantage, the present invention has been made and accordingly, has an object to provide an information distributing system that allows information suitable for an audience to be securely distributed thereto.  
           [0010]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an information distributing system that allows any audience to use any terminal unit and one terminal unit to be used by a plurality of users.  
           [0011]    According to the present invention, there is provided an information distributing system, comprising: an information distributor side device; and a plurality of audience side terminal unit; wherein the information distributor side device comprises: a database for storing a plurality of sets of provided information and seller side information, the seller side information representing attributes of an audience to which an information provider wants to distribute the provided information; and a transmitting means for distributing the plurality of sets to the plurality of audience side terminal units, and wherein each of the plurality of audience side terminal units comprises: receiving means for receiving the plurality of sets from the information distributor side device; comparing means for comparing each item of the seller side information of each set and each item of buyer side information that represents attributes of an audience who has the audience side terminal unit; and selecting means for selecting the provided information paired with the seller side information of which the number of matched items with the buyer side information is the maximum.  
           [0012]    In the information distributing system, the provided information may be an advertisement.  
           [0013]    In the information distributing system, the seller side information may contain as items at least one of area, zip code, telephone area code, sex, age range, occupation, and hobby of an audience to which the information provider wants to provide the provided information.  
           [0014]    In the information distributing system, the buyer side information may contain as items at least one of area, zip code, telephone area code, sex, age range, occupation, and hobby of an audience who receives the provided information.  
           [0015]    In the information distributing system, the buyer side information may be stored in an IC card attached to the audience side terminal unit.  
           [0016]    The information distributing system will be described in more detail. The information distributing system according to the present invention comprises an information distributor side device ( 30 , FIG. 2) and audience terminal units ( 11 ,  12 , and  13 , FIG. 2).  
           [0017]    The information distributor side device has a database ( 22 , FIG. 2) for storing information (letters α, β, and γ, FIG. 2) that the information distributor side device distributes (this information is referred to as provided information) and seller side information (α[n], β[n], and γ[n], FIG. 3) composed of attributes of providers. An information group (Z, FIG. 2) composed of a plurality of sets of provided information and seller side information corresponding thereto is multiplexed and distributed to a plurality of audience terminal units.  
           [0018]    Each audience terminal unit comprises an IC card ( 111 , FIG. 4) for storing buyer side information (A[n], B[n], and C[n], FIG. 2) composed of attributes of audiences and an information selecting portion ( 11   a ,  12   a , and  13   a , FIG. 2, equivalent to a digital broadcasting receiving portion  112 ) for receiving the information group distributed from the information distributor side device, comparing each detail item of seller side information with each detail item of buyer side information, and selecting provided information paired with the seller side information for which the number of matched items with the buyer side information is the maximum.  
           [0019]    According to the present invention, an information provider who has contracted with an information distributor stores provided information and seller side information to a database of an information distributor side device. The information distributor side device multiplexes a plurality of sets of provided information and seller side information as an information group and distributes the information group to a plurality of audience side terminal units. Each audience side terminal unit stores buyer side information and compares each item of seller side information with each item of buyer side information. As a result, each audience side terminal unit selects provided information paired with the seller side information for which the number of matched items with the buyer side information is the maximum. In reality, items of the buyer side information are stored in the IC card. Thus, when the IC card is replaced, one audience side terminal unit can be used by a plurality of users. In addition, when one audience attaches his or her IC card to another audience side terminal unit, he or she can use the audience side terminal unit.  
           [0020]    In such a manner, according to the present invention, since each audience side terminal unit selects provided information paired with the seller side information for which the number of matched items with the buyer side information is the maximum, the information distributor can distribute provided information (advertisements and so forth) to a large number of non-specific audiences so that the audiences can receive information most suitable therefor while not causing audiences who do not select the distributed provided information at all.  
           [0021]    In addition, according to the present invention, buyer side information is stored in an IC card. Thus, the buyer side information can be read by any audience side terminal unit. As a result, one audience can use a plurality of terminal units. In addition, one terminal unit can be used by a plurality of audiences.  
           [0022]    These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent in light of the following detailed description of a best mode embodiment thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0023]    [0023]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of an information distributing system according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the structure of principal portions of the information distributing system according to the embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing provided information and seller side information stored in a database as shown in FIG. 2;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the structure of an audience side terminal unit as shown in FIG. 2;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of seller side information according to the embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of buyer side information according to the embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 7 is a timing chart showing the state in which an information group Z according to the embodiment of the present invention is placed in an information providing time zone of one broadcast program. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0030]    [0030]FIG. 1 shows the structure of an information distributing system according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, in the system, an information provider side device  30 , an information distributor side device  20  (such as a broadcaster  21 ), and audience side terminal units  11 ,  12 , and  13  are connected to one another through a communication network  50  such as the Internet so that information can be exchanged thereamong. The information distributor side device  20  distributes provided information provided by the information provider side device  30  to the audience side terminal units  11 ,  12 , and  13  through a digital broadcast line  60 . The information provider who has the information provider side device  30  and the audiences who use the audience side terminal units  11 ,  12 , and  13  are connected through a distributor  40  and a general distribution network  70  so that the information provider can deliver commodities to the audiences.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 2 shows information that flows among the information provider side device  30 , the information distributor side device  20 , and the audience side terminal units  11 ,  12 , and  13 . In FIG. 2, advertisers α, β, and γ are shown as owners of the information provider side device  30  who have contracted the information distributor who has the information distributor side device  20  for information distributions. In addition, the broadcaster  21  is shown as an owner of the information distributor side device  20  that has a database  22 . As shown in FIG. 3, the database  22  stores provided information α, β, and γ that the advertisers α, β, and γ want to distribute and corresponding seller side information α[n], β[n], and γ[n]. Seller side information is attributes of an audience to which the information provider side device  30  wants to distribute provided information. Seller side information contains items of for example area, zip code, telephone area code, sex, age range, occupation, and hobby of an audience.  
         [0032]    A transmitting portion  23  distributes the provided information α, β, and γ and the seller side information α[n], β[n], and γ[n] (all these information is referred to as “information group Z”) stored in the database  22  to the audience side terminal units  11 ,  12 , and  13  using a digital broadcast transmitting facility through the digital broadcast line  60 .  
         [0033]    The audience side terminal unit  11  has buyer side information A[n] of audience A and an information selecting portion  11   a . The information selecting portion  11   a  compares each item of the seller side information α[n], β[n], and γ[n] contained in the information group Z that has been multiplexed and distributed through the digital broadcast line  60  with each item of the buyer side information A[n] and selects provided information paired with the seller side information for which the number of matched items with the buyer side information is the maximum (in FIG. 2, the provided information α). Likewise, the audience side terminal unit  12  has buyer side information B[n] of audience B and an information selecting portion  12   a . The information selecting portion  12   a  compares each item of the seller side information α[n], β[n], and γ[n] contained in the information group Z that has been multiplexed and distributed through the digital broadcast line  60  with each item of the buyer side information B[n] and selects provided information paired with the seller side information for which the number of matched items with the buyer side information is the maximum (in FIG. 2, the provided information β). Likewise, the audience side terminal unit  13  has buyer side information C[n] of audience C and an information selecting portion  13   a . The information selecting portion  13   a  compares each item of the seller side information α[n], β[n], and γ[n] contained in the information group Z that has been multiplexed and distributed through the digital broadcast line  60  with each item of the buyer side information C[n] and selects provided information paired with the seller side information of which the number of matched items with the buyer side information is the maximum (in FIG. 2, the provided information γ). Thus, the audience side terminal units  11 ,  12 , and  13  can receive useful information that most matches the attributes of the audiences among the information α, β, and γ that have been multiplexed and distributed.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 4 shows the detailed structure of the audience side terminal unit  11 . The audience side terminal unit  11  comprises a personal computer  113 , a digital broadcast receiving portion  112 , and an IC card  111 . The digital broadcast receiving portion  112  receives a program that is broadcast through the digital broadcast line  60 . The IC card  111  has an information storing portion that stores the buyer side information A[n]. The information selecting portion  11   a  shown in FIG. 2 is accomplished by the digital broadcast receiving portion  112 . The personal computer  113  controls the digital broadcast receiving portion  112 . The structure and operation of each of the audience side terminal units  12  and  13  are the same as those of the audience side terminal unit  11 .  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 5 shows the detailed structure of the seller side information α[n], β[n], and γ[n]. The seller side information α[n] is composed of n items αi (where i=1 to n). As was described above, αi are area, zip code, telephone area code, sex, age range, occupation, and hobby of an audience to which information A is distributed. The structure of each of the seller side information β[n] and γ[n] is the same as that of the seller side information α[n].  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 6 shows the detailed structure of the buyer side information A[n], B[n], and C[n]. The buyer side information A[n] is composed of n items Ai (where i=1 to n). In reality, as was described above, Ai are area, zip code, telephone area code, sex, age range, occupation, and hobby of an audience A. The structure of each of the buyer side information B[n] and C[n] is the same as that of the buyer side information A[n].  
         [0037]    Next, the operation of the embodiment will be described.  
         [0038]    First, the advertisers α, β, and γ who want to provide provided information such as advertisements contract with the information distributor and then registers the provided information α, β, and γ that they want to distribute with the database  22  of the information distributor side device  20 . The information provider may register the provided information α, β, and γ using portable record mediums (CD-Rs, floppy disks, or the like) or through the communication network  50 . In addition, the advertisers α, β, and γ create seller side information α[n], β[n], and γ[n] corresponding to the registered provided information α, β, and γ, respectively.  
         [0039]    Next, the information group Z composed of the provided information α, the seller side information α[n], the provided information β, the seller side information β[n], the provided information γ, and the seller side information γ[n] registered with the database  22  is distributed by the broadcaster  21  to the audience side terminal units  11 ,  12 , and  13  through the digital broadcast line  60  in an information providing time zone.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 7 shows the state in which the above-described information group Z is inserted in the information providing time zone of one broadcast program. Referring to FIG. 7, it is clear that the provided information α, the seller side information α[n], the provided information β, the seller side information β[n], the provided information γ, and the seller side information γ[n] are multiplexed in one information providing time zone.  
         [0041]    On the other hand, the audience A attaches the IC card  111  that stores the buyer side information A[n] to the audience side terminal unit  11 . Likewise, the audiences B and C attach the respective IC cards  111  that store the buyer side information B[n] and C[n] to the audience side terminal units  12  and  13 , respectively. In this state, the digital broadcast receiving portion  112  of each of the audience side terminal units  11 ,  12 , and  13  receives the information group Z composed of the information α, the seller side information α[n], the information β, the seller side information β[n], the information γ, and the seller side information γ[n].  
         [0042]    First, the operation of the audience side terminal unit  11  will be described. Each item of the buyer side information A[n] of the audience A is compared with each item of each of the seller side information α[n], β[n], and γ[n] contained in the distributed information group Z. It is assumed that when each item of the buyer side information A[n] and each item of the seller side information α[n] are compared (namely, A1 and α1, A2 and α2, A3 and α3, . . . , and An and αn are compared), the number of matched items is i. In addition, it is assumed that when each item of the buyer side information A[n] and each item of the seller side information β[n] are compared (namely, A1 and β1, A2 and β2, A3 and β3, . . . , and An and βn are compared), the number of matched items is k. In addition, it is assumed that when each item of the buyer side information A[n] and each item of the seller side information γ[n] are compared (namely, A1 and γ1, A2 and γ2, A3 and γ3 . . . , and An and yn are compared), the number of matched items is l. Moreover, it is assumed that i is larger than k and l (namely, i&gt;k, l). In this case, the audience side terminal unit  11  selects the provided information α as shown in FIG. 2.  
         [0043]    Likewise, the operation of the audience side terminal unit  12  will be described. Each item of the buyer side information B[n] of the audience B and each item of each of the seller side information α[n], β[n], and γ[n] contained in the distributed information group Z are compared. It is assumed that when each item of the buyer side information B[n] and each item of the seller side information α[n] are compared (namely, B1 and α1, B2 and α2, B3 and α3, . . . , and Bn and αn are compared), the number of matched items is p. It is assumed that when each item of the buyer side information B[n] and each item of the seller side information β[n] are compared (namely, B1 and β1, B2 and β2, B3 and β3, . . . , and Bn and βn are compared), the number of matched items is q. In addition, it is assumed that each item of the buyer side information B[n] and each item of the seller side information γ[n] are compared (namely, B1 and γ1, B2 and γ2, B3 and γ3, . . . , and Bn and γn are compared), the number of matched items is r. Moreover, it is assumed that q is larger than p and r (namely, q&gt;p, r). In this case, the audience side terminal unit  12  selects the provided information β as shown in FIG. 2.  
         [0044]    Next, the operation of the audience side terminal unit  13  will be described. Each item of the buyer side information C[n] is compared with each item of each of the seller side information α[n], β[n], and γ[n] contained in the distributed information group Z. It is assumed that when each item of the buyer side information C[n] and each item of the seller side information α[n] are compared (namely, C1 and α1, C2 and α2, C3 and α3, . . . , and Cn and αn are compared), the number of matched items is s. It is assumed that when each item of the buyer side information C[n] and each item of the seller side information B[n] are compared (namely, C1 and β1, C2 and β2, C3 and β3, . . . , and Cn and βn are compared), the number of matched items is t. In addition, it is assumed that when each item of the buyer side information C[n] and each item of the seller side information γ[n] are compared (namely, C1 and γ1, C2 and γ2, C3 and γ3, . . . , and Cn and γn are compared), the number of matched items is u. Moreover, it is assumed that u is larger than s and t (namely, u&gt;s, t). In this case, the audience side terminal unit  13  selects the provided information γ as shown in FIG. 2.  
         [0045]    If there are a plurality of seller side information as a result of the above comparison, provided information corresponding to the plurality of seller side information is selected. For example, when the relation of j=k&gt;l is satisfied by the audience side terminal unit  11 , it selects the provided information α and β.  
         [0046]    In such a manner, even if the same information group Z is distributed to all the audience side terminal units, provided information selected from the information group Z differs depending on the contents of the buyer side information of each audience.  
         [0047]    In addition, an audience side terminal unit that an audience can use is not fixed. For example, when audience X attaches the IC card  111  that stores buyer side information X[n] therein to the audience side terminal unit  11 , the audience X can watch or listen to provided information most suitable therefor using the audience side terminal unit  12 .  
         [0048]    When the audience A who watched or listened to provided information α of the advertiser a that the audience side terminal unit  11  has selected corresponding to the buyer side information A[n] uses hyperlink information recited in the provided information α and the audience side terminal unit  11  connected to the communication network  50 , he or she can obtain additional information beyond the provided information α from the information provider side device of the advertiser a connected to the communication network  50 . When the provided information α is commodity information, the audience A can order desired commodity described in the commodity information to the advertiser a through the communication network  50 . The advertiser a can deliver the ordered commodity to the audience A through the distributor  40  and the general distribution network  70 .  
         [0049]    Although the present invention has been shown and described with respect to the best mode embodiment thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and various other changes, omissions, and additions in the form and detail thereof may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.