Information distribution system, information distribution server, mobile terminal, and information distribution method

An information distribution server comprising:

• a content database that associates and memorizes content downloadable to a mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment, or content data indicating the registration location of such content, and area information indicating the specific geographical area to which such content may be downloaded by the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment, and distributes the content requested by the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment;
• a content guide information distribution means that distributes guidance information to the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment on the content downloadable by the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment;
• a distribution request reception means that receives content distribution requests from the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment;
• a position judgment means that determines the position of the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment;
• and
• a distribution enabled/disabled decision means that checks the position of the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment as determined by the position judgment means against the area information associated with the content whose distribution is requested and decides whether to distribute the content data in question;
• and where the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment is equipped with:
• a display unit that displays a menu list for selecting a desirable item from within plural items;
• a position information transmission means that transmits information on the current position of the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment to the information distribution server;
• and
• a distribution request means that makes distribution requests to the information distribution server and selects content to be downloaded according to the content guide information distributed by the information distribution server;
• and where the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment acquires the content guide information associating the content corresponding to the selected item in the menu list with the geographical area to which such content may be downloaded, from the information distribution server and, in case of acquiring a specific content on the content guide information, unless the specific content is a content that is distributed in a geographical area including the current position, the distribution request means transmits the distribution request of the specific content along with the information on the current position to the information distribution server when the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment moves to a geographical area where the specific content is distributed,
• and the information distribution server is configured in such manner that when the information distribution server receives the distribution request of the content being selected based on the content guide information from the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment, if the area information associated with the content whose distribution is requested matches the position of the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment, the information distribution server transmits the content in question to the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment,
• wherein the content guide information is transmitted from the information distribution server to the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment in advance of the information distribution server distributing the content in question to the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) and other mobile communication terminal equipment,
• wherein a distribution request for said content in question is made based on and after the content guide information is received by mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) and other mobile communication terminal equipment, and
• wherein the information distribution server is equipped with a current position information reception means that receives current position information generated by the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment according to the output of the current position detection means, and the position judgment means determines the current position of the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment according to current position information received from the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment in question.

A mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment that receives any desired content from an information distribution server equipped with a content database that associates and memorizes content downloadable to a mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment, or content data indicating the registration location of such content, and area information indicating the specific geographical area to which such content may be downloaded by the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment, comprising:

• a display unit that displays a menu list for selecting a desired item from within plural items;
• a position information transmission means that sends information on the current position of the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment to the information distribution server;
• a distribution request means that makes distribution requests to the information distribution server and selects content to be downloaded according to the content guide information distributed by the information distribution server;
• and
• a receiving means that receives content that is distributed to the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment when the information distribution server receives the distribution request of the content being selected based on the content guide information from the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment, checks the position of the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment against the area information associated with the content whose distribution is requested and determines that the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment is situated in a geographical area that matches the area information;
• where the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment acquires the content guide information associating the content corresponding to the selected item in the menu list with the geographical area to which such content may be downloaded, from the information distribution server and, in case of acquiring a specific content on the content guide information, unless the specific content is a content that is distributed in a geographical area including the current position, the distribution request means transmits the distribution request of the specific content along with the information on the current position to the information distribution server when the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment moves to a geographical area where the specific content is distributed,
• wherein the content guide information is transmitted from the information distribution server to the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment in advance of the information distribution server distributing the content in question to the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) and other mobile communication terminal equipment,
• wherein a distribution request for said content in question is made based on and after the content guide information is received by mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) and other mobile communication terminal equipment, and
• wherein the position information transmission means comprises a current position detection means and a current position information transmission means that transmits current position information generated by the output of the current position detection means.

An information distribution method for distributing information between a mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment and an information distribution server equipped with a content database that associates and memorizes content downloadable to the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment, or content data indicating the registration location of such content, and area information indicating the specific geographical area to which such content may be downloaded by the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment, comprising the following steps executed by the information distribution server:

• a step in which a content guide information associating the content downloadable to a mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment with the geographical area to which such content may be downloaded is distributed to the mobile telephones, Personal
• Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment;
• a step in which a content distribution request is received from the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment;
• a step in which the position of the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment is determined;
• a step in which the position of the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment as determined by the position judgment means is checked against the area information associated with the content whose distribution is requested and decision is made whether to distribute the content in question;
• and
• a step in which the content is distributed to the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment in accordance with the judgment result;
• as well as the following steps executed by the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment equipped with a display unit that displays a menu list for selecting a desirable item from within plural items, a position information transmission means that transmits information on the current position of the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment to the information distribution server and a distribution request means that makes distribution requests to the information distribution server and selects content to be downloaded according to the content guide information distributed by the information distribution server:
• a step in which the content guide information associating the content corresponding to the selected item in the menu list with the geographical area to which such content may be downloaded is acquired from the information distribution server;
• and
• a step in which in case of acquiring a specific content on the content guide information, unless the specific content is a content that is distributed in a geographical area including the current position, the distribution request of the specific content along with the information on the current position is transmitted to the information distribution server when the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment moves to a geographical area where the specific content is distributed;
• wherein the content guide information is transmitted from the information distribution server to the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment in advance of the information distribution server distributing the content in question to the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) and other mobile communication terminal equipment,
• wherein a distribution request for said content in question is made based on and after the content guide information is received by mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) and other mobile communication terminal equipment, and
• wherein the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment further executes:
• a step in which the current position of the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment is determined;
• and
• a step in which the current position information generated by the current position detection means is transmitted to the information distribution server;
• and
• the information distribution server further executes:
• a step in which the current position of the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment is determined according to the current position information received from the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment in question.

An information distribution method employing an information distribution server equipped with a content database that associates and memorizes content downloadable to a mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment which displays a menu list for selecting a desired item from within plural items, or content data indicating the registration location of such content, and area information indicating the specific geographical area to which such content may be downloaded by the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment, and distributes the content requested by the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment, comprising the following steps executed by the information distribution server:

• step in which a content guide information associating the content downloadable to a mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment with the geographical area to which such content may be downloaded is distributed to the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment according to the selected item in the menu list of the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment;
• a step in which the content guide information corresponding to the selected item in the menu list is acquired from the information distribution server and in case of acquiring a specific content on the content guide information, unless the specific content is a content that is distributed in a geographical area including the current position, a content distribution request transmitted from the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment is received along with the information on the current position when the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment moves to a geographical area where the specific content is distributed;
• a step in which the position of the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment is determined;
• a step in which the position of the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment as determined by the position judgment means is checked against the area information associated with the content whose distribution is requested and a decision is made whether to distribute the content in question;
• and
• a step in which the content is distributed to the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment in accordance with the judgment result,
• wherein the content guide information is transmitted from the information distribution server to the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment in advance of the information distribution server distributing the content in question to the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) and other mobile communication terminal equipment,
• wherein a distribution request for said content in question is made based on and after the content guide information is received by mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) and other mobile communication terminal equipment,
• wherein the information distribution server executes a further step whereby current position information generated by the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment according to the output of the current position detection means is received, and the current position of the mobile telephones, Personal Handyphone System (“PHS”) devices and other mobile communication terminal equipment in question is determined according to the current position information received.