Broadcasting type information providing system and travel environment information collecting device

A server which provides information via broadcasting, comprising:

• a communication unit which performs bi-directional communication with a terminal, and receives an inquiry including search demand information and current position information from the terminal;
• an information provider which requires answer information with respect to said inquiry from the terminal;
• and
• a broadcasting unit which transmits the answer information to the terminal;
• wherein
• the communication unit transmits to the terminal broadcast receive information, including a broadcast channel, scheduled broadcast starting time, scheduled broadcast ending time and a signal receive ID, before broadcasting the answer information;
• and
• the broadcast unit broadcasts the answer information, together with the signal receive ID, via the broadcast channel previously transmitted after the scheduled broadcast starting time.

A method of receiving distributed signal information at a terminal on a moving body comprising steps of:

• transmitting an inquiry from a terminal including at least search demand information and current position information, to a server situated at a location external to the terminal, via a bidirectional communication;
• receiving from the server signal receiving information, including a broadcast channel for receiving answer information, a scheduled broadcast starting time, a scheduled broadcast ending time and a first receive signal ID for identifying the answer information via the bidirectional communication;
• setting a digital broadcast receiver to a signal receiving the channel which broadcasts the answer information, before the scheduled broadcast starting time of the answer information;
• and
• receiving from the broadcast channel via the digital broadcast the answer information having signal receive ID coincident with the first signal receive ID, commencing after the scheduled broadcast starting time.