JP3273128B2 - Local information service method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a local information service method for providing local information using a portable telephone system, a simplified portable telephone system (PHS) or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-54895 provides an information notification system capable of informing a user of current position information of a portable terminal. In this case, the portable terminal having the current position detecting means transmits the position information to the host, searches for the information, and notifies information corresponding to the current position. Also, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-8917,
It provides a system that can provide the user with various information on the location of the PHS and the surrounding area. In the PHS, after receiving and storing the base station ID transmitted by the PHS base station, transmitting a search key indicating the type of information to be requested and the stored base station ID to the center of the system,
The center holds various information (for example, shopping information, road information, etc.) in the management area of all base stations in a database, and returns information corresponding to the search key from the database to the user.

[0003]

In the prior art, a portable terminal or a portable telephone and position information of a portable telephone, a user who uses the portable telephone, and a database for providing information are provided. Have been.

However, in FIG. 11 of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-54895, a third party at a police station has joined this configuration.
In this example, when a disaster occurs, the position information of the mobile phone is provided to the police station via a communication host.

According to the conventional technique, when a user of a portable telephone does not sufficiently know his / her current position and calls a center for providing information, the user searches an information database in the center. It provides search result information to the user.

However, in a database placed in a center, a person who provides information to the database (for example, a hotel or a restaurant) must provide information individually. If the user does not perform sufficient maintenance, the information in the database may become outdated, or real-time information may not be provided.

That is, the problems of the conventional system are as follows.
(A) a person who uses a mobile phone, (b) a center or host that manages a database, and (c) a person who provides information to the database (for example, a hotel or restaurant). Nevertheless, the range connected online (that is, the range that can be dealt with immediately) is that of a mobile phone user and a database center.

[0008] In other words, as the original ideal form,
(1) The above three parties can be connected online, and the information provider can immediately provide necessary information to the user of the mobile phone.

[0009] Ultimately, (2) a system in which an information provider can provide necessary information to a portable telephone user without setting up a database center.

[0010] According to the present invention, a portable terminal holder (user) of a portable telephone set on the street searches local information to be collected using terminal equipment such as a portable telephone set. This is a regional information service method that provides a high value-added information service by providing information to a mobile phone holder as a user and an information destination (information provider).

[0011]

According to the present invention, a provision information database is provided for each local information providing source such as a store or a company, and the telephone company is provided with a telephone number of the local information providing source and a telephone number database based on information items. The telephone company,
In response to a mobile phone user's request to provide information through the telephone, the current location of the user is automatically identified, and the telephone number of the regional information source corresponding to the current location and the information item is entered. The telephone number database is searched, and a line connection between the local information providing source, which is the telephone number, and the user's mobile telephone is automatically performed, and the provided information of the local information providing source is provided through the connected line. A method of providing a regional information service that provides information from a database to a user is disclosed.

Further, the present invention provides a provision information database for each local information providing source such as a store or a company, and provides a telephone company with a telephone number database of telephone numbers and information items of the local information providing source, and a mobile telephone. First means for automatically detecting the current call area of the user in response to a request for information provision by the user, second means for detecting and decoding a keyword required for information provision by the mobile telephone user, and detection A third step of searching the telephone number database for the telephone number of the local information source from the current call area and the decrypted requested keyword.
In the telephone company, in response to a request for information provision through a telephone of a mobile telephone user, the first
Means for detecting the current call area of the user by means of (2), detecting a request keyword included in the request for information provision by means of second means, and using the detected current call area and request keyword by means of third means. The telephone number of the corresponding regional information providing source is searched from the telephone number database, and the line connection between the local information providing source which is this telephone number and the user's mobile telephone is automatically performed. Disclosed is a method of providing a local information service, which provides information from a provided information database of the local information providing source to a user through the line.

[0013] Among the above means, on the side that uses a portable telephone as a portable terminal, there is a portable telephone company as a telephone company. In such a mobile phone company, location information (location information) obtained from a mobile phone is obtained from a mobile phone system, and location information of a limited area of a mobile phone holder (user) is specified. Furthermore, by combining the information search information required by the mobile phone user and calling the mobile phone company, the mobile phone company selects an information provider that matches the search information and provides the information provider with the information. Connect the phone (this function is called the automatic exchange function).

Thus, the portable telephone holder (user)
And the information provider can be directly connected by telephone line, and the necessary information is transferred from the information provider to the mobile phone holder (user)
Can provide information.

[0015] Thus, the user of the cellular phone can easily and easily obtain the local information at the current location, and the user can benefit from using the information promptly. it can. Telephone companies can increase the effectiveness of advertising by providing information, and can obtain the number of subscribers who use telephone lines and increase telephone line usage fees.
The information data provider can acquire customers by the effect of the advertisement and thereby increase sales. In this way, a system can be constructed in which the three parties have a stake in each other and the three parties can have a relationship in which the three parties can give and receive benefits. Also, there may be an example of a line connection company instead of a telephone company.

[0016]

FIG. 1 is an overall system diagram and processing diagram. In FIG. 1, a user A has a mobile phone 1 which is a mobile phone. The telephone company B has a telephone communication system 2 including an exchange and various communication systems. The information providing sources (registered companies) C-1, C-2, and Cn have service providing systems 3, 4, and 5, respectively.

The telephone communication system 2 of the telephone company B transmits information sources C-1, C-2, and C-
3. Perform information communication processing with the user A. Further, the telephone communication system 2 has area information number data 17, a telephone number search processing unit 21, a voice guidance function unit 18, a position detection processing unit 19, and a keyword detection processing unit 20, and the communication processing units 15, 16 Includes switching and communication networks.

The information providing sources C-1, C-2, and Cn have service information systems 3, 4, and 5, which are different in scale but are substantially the same. The scale is determined by the size of the information source and the number and type of information to be serviced. The service providing systems 3, 4, and 5 respectively include information input processing units 9, 1
0, 11, store information data 6, 7, 8, communication processing unit 1
It has 2, 13, and 14. Store information databases 6, 7,
Reference numeral 8 includes information, scale, and content determined by the scale of the information providing sources C-1, C-2, and C-3 and the information to be provided. The communication system 30 includes both wired and wireless communication. Further, there may be a communication system in which both are combined.

The function of each component will be listed. Information input processing units 9, 10, 11 ... including a keyboard and a mouse, for inputting, updating, and peripherally performing information. Information differs for each store. Store information databases 6, 7, 8... Information determined by stores is stored as a database. Communication processing units 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 31 ... include communication modems and form terminals for telephone communication data communication. Regional information telephone number database 17: A source that provides regional information is divided into regions and telephone numbers are compiled into a database. The region refers to a communication area to which the current position of the user A belongs, which is automatically detected by the position detection processing unit 19. Voice guidance unit 18: A guidance voice to be played to the user A is created. The voice is an artificial voice generated using a voice code stored in, for example, a ROM. Position detection processing section 19: Through reception from the user A obtained through the communication processing section 16, the communication area to which the current position of the user belongs is specified and detected. Although it is not an absolute detection of the current position, mobile radio is divided into areas according to the communication area, and it is possible to search for the necessary area information by dividing the information source according to the divided area Aim. Keyword detection processing unit 20 detects a keyword for selecting an information provision item. In particular, when there are many provided items, a keyword for detailed provided information is always required. When the user inputs these keywords, it receives and decodes them. Telephone number search processing section 21... The telephone number database 17 is accessed by inputting the current position of the user (call area) detected by the processing section 19 and the decoded keyword (or information item requested by the user voice). Select the corresponding area and search for the telephone number of the corresponding information source. Here, there is one example of the information providing source, and there is also an example of searching for two or more information providing sources. Input information of user A: telephone number for receiving service provision to telephone company B, and keyword information indicating the type and contents of desired area information. In the latter information, in addition to the keyword, there is an example of voice input by dialogue.

Next, the operation of FIG. 1 will be described. User A
A call is made from the mobile phone 1 to the telephone company B. Company B obtains the position information of user A (current call area) by the position detection processing of processing unit 19 in order to detect the position information of user A (current call area). At the same time, the user A is caused to input an information search keyword from the mobile phone 1. As means for inputting, there are a conversation method with a telephone operator, a method of obtaining a search keyword of the user A, a character information flowing on a display of a mobile phone of the user A, and a character output for inputting a number of the information search keyword. There is a number input method, and a voice output number input method in which voice guidance is sent from the guidance unit 18 to the mobile phone 1 of the user A, and the number of an information search keyword is input.

The telephone company B specifies the area divided by the communication area based on the detected position information,
Based on the location information of the user A obtained by the location detection processing of No. 9 and the search keyword number obtained by the processing unit 20, the telephone number of the information provider C providing the information required by the user A is processed. Select in part 21. Next, the telephone company B enables the service providing system 9 (or 10 or 11) of the information provider C having the selected telephone number and the mobile phone 1 of the user A to make a telephone call or data transmission. Automatically connect the line. Thus, the connection between the information provider (for example, the hotel C) and the mobile phone of the user A is made through the telephone line.

The information provider C stores the store information database 6 (or 7, 8) for the incoming call (ie, the call from the user A) through the service providing system 9 (or 10, 11). Access and provide information about the store. When there are many items to be provided, the user A can be provided with a keyword for further detailed information provision and guidance for information search.

The search result is directly transferred to the user A through the connected line. As a transfer method, there is a voice guidance system that reads out a search result by voice or a character output. Further, as a method of providing information to the user A, there is a method of providing audio information, character output information, video output information, and the like.

The mobile phone user A according to the present embodiment,
The advantages of the telephone company B and the information source C, which are engaged in the mobile phone business, will be described. (1) The user A of the mobile phone device can now find his desired information on the street (for example, searching for a hotel in a strange town, hot spot / event information, restaurant information of a genre he wants to eat, movie and theater event information, etc.). The person who has the information you want on the spot). This person has the advantage of being able to utilize this information by obtaining this information. For example, searching for a hotel at night in a strange land,
It starts by searching the phone book and looking up the hotel's phone number. Call the hotel at a few or dozens of houses and make a reservation. In large cities, many hotels are chronically full, and it is not easy to make a reservation at a well-known hotel. In addition, minor hotels are anxious and the level of making reservation calls is low, so it is likely to be the final candidate. It takes a lot of time and effort to get to a hotel where reservations can be made. In rural areas, where there are no hotels nearby and there is no sense of land, the scope of the investigation must be expanded, which also consumes considerable time and effort. If information can be obtained instantly in this manner, sufficient profits can be generated for this person (user) by saving information provision costs, telephone call costs, time, and benefits of information services. This is realized by the system shown in FIG. (2) The telephone company B, which operates the mobile phone business, can specify the place (communication area) where the mobile phone user A makes a call within a range of, for example, 500 m. This is known as a "location information service system". This 5
00m and specified location information and mobile phone user A
Combining the keywords of the information that the user wants, the mobile phone user A is provided with the local information in real time. Here, based on the location information of the mobile phone user A and the information items (keywords) required by the mobile phone user A, the telephone company B determines the provider of the search information, that is, the phone number of C. Find out. This is a combination of the location information and the search keyword in advance, and the information provider C
It can be realized if there is a telephone number search and circuit switching function.
This is realized by the system shown in FIG. Furthermore, in order to increase profits as a company, the telephone company B, which operates the mobile phone business, will expand its business and corporate profits by expanding mobile phone line subscription fees and line usage fees (call charges). Can be expanded. For this purpose, it is necessary to sell services that other companies do not have, but this local information service does not make mobile phone user A aware of the place where the user is calling, And provide benefits to the region, so it could be a corporate expansion strategy for other companies as a regional return information provision service. The effect has the effect of encouraging more users to expand. Naturally, it is conceivable that an increase in revenue such as an advertising fee from a company, which will be described later. This is realized by the system shown in FIG. (3) For example, Hotel C, which is an information providing source, provides vacancy information, campaign advertisement information, charges, discount service information, directions to the hotel, etc. daily or every few days in order to acquire customers, and a regional information database. Provide to service company C. This is the advertisement and customer acquisition information in the hotel D, and by providing this information, it is possible to acquire the last customers on the day, and to expect an increase in sales opportunities. The customer acquisition information of the hotel C is input and registered using the online terminal of the information providing system 3 (or 4, 5) installed in the hotel C. In the same manner as in the hotel C, an advertisement for acquiring customers such as event information, vacant seat information, advertisement, etc. can be issued for the restaurant D and the theater E. FIG. 1 illustrates a system that provides such benefits.

In the above example, the communication area and the area of the information providing source are the same. However, there may be cases where the areas do not completely match, partially match, or do not completely match.
In this case, if the relationship between the two areas is provided as data, one or two or more corresponding information providing sources are searched from the area of the information providing source to obtain necessary information. Also,
There is also a method of obtaining information on the area by inputting the area that the user wants to know (other area different from the current position).

The above-mentioned portable terminal is an example of a PHS or a general mobile telephone. In addition, a portable information terminal having various information transfer functions in addition to a call function similar to a mobile telephone, and a navigation system can also be used as the information terminal. In addition, the call area is found as the user's position information. However, there are examples of obtaining absolute position information and examples of obtaining position information using GPS. In such an example, there is also an example in which a line connection company intervenes in place of the telephone company.

[0027]

According to the present invention, there is no need for the user to input his / her current position, so that the user is not burdened, and it is possible to easily obtain limited local information. This will increase the added value of use. In addition, it is expected that profits will be brought to each of the telephone companies and hotels and restaurants that provide local information, which has an effect of generating corporate profits.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a local information service system of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Mobile telephone 2 Telephone communication system 3, 4, 5 Service provision system 6, 7, 8 Store information database 9, 10, 11 Information input processing unit 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 31 Communication processing unit 17 Regional information Telephone number database 18 Voice guidance section 19 Position detection processing section 20 Keyword detection processing section 21 Phone number search processing section

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Shingo Maeda 5-2-1 Omikacho, Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture Inside the Omika Plant, Hitachi, Ltd. (72) Inventor Masafumi Okada 5-2-2 Omikacho, Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture No. 1 Hitachi, Ltd. Omika Plant (72) Inventor Kazuhiko Okamoto 5-2-1 Omika-cho, Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture Hitachi, Ltd. Omika Plant (56) References JP-A-6-269044 (JP, A JP-A-9-200346 (JP, A) JP-A-1-206764 (JP, A) JP-A-6-178348 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04B 7/24-7/26 113 H04Q 7/00-7/38

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] Claims: 1. A provision information database is provided for each regional information providing source such as a store or a company, and a telephone company is provided with a telephone number database of telephone numbers and information items of local information providing sources. In response to a mobile phone user's request to provide information through the telephone, the current location of the user is automatically identified, and the telephone number of the regional information source corresponding to the current location and the information item is entered. The telephone number database is searched, and the line connection between the local information providing source, which is the telephone number, and the user's mobile telephone is automatically performed. The information provided by the local information providing source is provided through the connected line. A regional information service method that provides users with information from a database. 2. A provision information database is provided for each regional information providing source such as a store or a company, and a telephone company provides a telephone number database of telephone numbers and information items of the local information providing source, and a mobile telephone user's A first means for automatically detecting a current call area of a user in response to a request for information provision; a second means for detecting and decoding a keyword required for information provision by a mobile telephone user; A third means for retrieving the telephone number of the local information source from the telephone number database from the area and the decrypted requested keyword, and the telephone company provides the mobile telephone user with the information provision through the telephone. In response to the request, the first means detects the current call area of the user, and the request keyword included in the information provision request is detected by the second means. Using the request keyword and the third means, the telephone number of the corresponding regional information providing source is searched from the telephone number database, and the telephone number of the local information providing source and the user's mobile telephone are searched. A local information service method that automatically establishes a line connection between users and provides information from a provided information database of the local information source to the user through the connected line. 3. The local information service method according to claim 1, wherein the information provided to the user is provided by voice or text from a mobile telephone.