Program and communication system

Abstract

The present invention aims to provide a program that can realize appropriate information transmission to each terminal without having a server manage information of multiple users and without having to specify to which terminal the information should be sent. [Solution] The program PG1 of the present invention causes a communication system CS1 to execute a storage function for storing personal information PI in each of multiple terminals 10, a transmission function for transmitting each of multiple pieces of transmission information SI from a server 20, a receiving function for causing the multiple terminals 10 to receive the multiple pieces of transmission information SI transmitted from the server 20, a judgment function for causing each terminal to judge based on personal information PI whether a piece of transmission information SI is information to be disclosed to each user of the multiple terminals 10 that received the piece of transmission information SI by the receiving function, and an notification function for, when the judgment result by the judgment function is a positive judgment, notifying the terminal that made the positive judgment that a piece of transmission information PI has been received.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a program and a communication system. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent document 1 discloses a network system that can transmit advertising data to terminals more effectively to attract customers, or that allows a user's family, friends, or coworkers to efficiently obtain store information or advertisements. Specifically, as shown in claim 1, Fig. 1, etc. of Patent Document 1, this network system includes a plurality of terminals used by a plurality of users, and a server capable of referencing information on the plurality of users and groups, as well as information on stores, locations, and advertisements. Then, when a first terminal of a first user enters within a first range from the location of the store, the server transmits an advertisement corresponding to the store to the terminal of a user belonging to a first group corresponding to the first user. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication 2015-219607 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] As mentioned above, the network system disclosed in Patent Document 1 is a so-called client (multiple terminals)-server type, and information about multiple users is managed by the server. Therefore, the more users who use this network system, the more information about multiple users the server manages, which means that the server's information management burden increases.

[0005] One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a program that, when transmitting information from a server to multiple terminals, can transmit appropriate information to each terminal without having the server manage information (personal information) of multiple users and without having to specify to which terminal the information is to be transmitted. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The program of the first aspect comprises: A program that operates in a communication system including a server and a plurality of terminals, The communication system includes: a storage function for storing personal information input by each user via an interface to each of the plurality of terminals in a storage unit managed by each of the plurality of terminals; A transmission function for causing the server to transmit each of the plurality of pieces of transmission information at different timings; a receiving function for causing the plurality of terminals to receive each of the plurality of pieces of transmission information transmitted from the server; a determination function that causes each of the plurality of terminals that received the one piece of transmission information by the receiving function to determine whether the one piece of transmission information is information to be disclosed to each user of the plurality of terminals based on the personal information stored in the storage unit of each terminal; a notification function for notifying a terminal that has made a positive determination that it has received the one piece of transmission information when the determination result by the determination function is a positive determination; Execute the command. The program of the second aspect is In the program of the first aspect, When the determination result is a negative determination, the notification function does not cause the terminal that made the negative determination to notify that it has received the one piece of transmission information. The program of the third aspect is In the program of the second aspect, moreover, The communication system includes: a disclosure function that enables a terminal that has been notified by the notification function that it has received the one piece of transmission information to disclose the one piece of transmission information; Execute the command. The program of the fourth aspect is In the program of the second or third aspect, the storage function stores a plurality of judgment results by the judgment function performed by each of the plurality of terminals in the storage unit managed by each of the plurality of terminals; moreover, The communication system includes: a suggestion function for suggesting to a terminal, when the terminal is not notified by the notification function that it has received the one piece of transmission information, that the terminal has received a predetermined number of pieces of transmission information in succession before receiving the one piece of transmission information, to correct or update the personal information; Execute the command. The program of the fifth aspect is In the program of the second or third aspect, The personal information is composed of (1) at least one required piece of information that each user is required to input, and (2) a plurality of optional pieces of information that each user is allowed to input voluntarily, The determination function causes a terminal of each of the users of the plurality of terminals to determine whether the one piece of transmission information is information to be disclosed to the users of the plurality of terminals on the precondition that there is input to at least one or more pieces of optional information requested by the one piece of transmission information among the plurality of pieces of optional information; moreover, The communication system includes: a reply function for causing a terminal that is not notified by the notification function that it has received the one piece of transmission information to reply, via a communication network, to the server with input presence / absence information for each of the plurality of pieces of optional information when the terminal is not notified that it has received a predetermined number of pieces of transmission information in succession before receiving the one piece of transmission information; a suggestion function that, when a result of comparing the preconditions in the other transmission information with the input presence / absence information returned by the reply function in the server and a fulfillment condition that fulfills the preconditions of the other transmission information if any information that has not been input has been input, transmits the fulfillment condition to the terminal that returned the input presence / absence information from the server and proposes updating the input presence / absence information; Execute the command. The program of the sixth aspect is In the program of the second or third aspect, The personal information is composed of (1) at least one required piece of information that each user is required to input, and (2) a plurality of optional pieces of information that each user is allowed to input voluntarily, The determination function causes a terminal of each of the users of the plurality of terminals to determine whether the one piece of transmission information is information to be disclosed to the users of the plurality of terminals on the precondition that there is input to at least one or more pieces of optional information requested by the one piece of transmission information among the plurality of pieces of optional information; moreover, The communication system includes: a reply function for causing the terminal notified by the notification function that it has received the one piece of transmission information to disclose the one piece of transmission information by the disclosure function, to reply to the server via a communication network, information on whether or not the terminal has input information for each of the plurality of pieces of optional information; a suggestion function that, when a result of comparing the preconditions in the other transmission information with the input presence / absence information returned by the reply function in the server and a fulfillment condition that fulfills the preconditions of the other transmission information if any information that has not been input has been input, transmits the fulfillment condition to the terminal that returned the input presence / absence information from the server and proposes updating the input presence / absence information; Execute the command. The seventh aspect of the program is In the program of the second or third aspect, The personal information is composed of (1) at least one or more pieces of mandatory information that each user is required to input, and (2) a plurality of pieces of optional information that each user is allowed to input voluntarily, The determination function causes a terminal of each of the users of the plurality of terminals to determine whether the one piece of transmission information is information to be disclosed to the users of the plurality of terminals, on the precondition that there is input to at least one or more pieces of optional information requested by the one piece of transmission information among the plurality of pieces of optional information; moreover, The communication system includes: a storage function that, when a terminal that has been notified by the notification function that it has received the one piece of transmission information discloses the one piece of transmission information by the disclosure function, stores in the storage unit of the terminal a disclosure record of the disclosure of the one piece of transmission information as a part of the personal information; a reply function for replying to the server, via a communication network, input presence / absence information for each of the plurality of pieces of optional information and the stored disclosure record after the disclosure record is stored by the storage function; a report function for generating a report for an administrator of the server regarding the relationship between the input presence / absence information returned by the reply function and the disclosure record; Execute the command. The program of the eighth aspect is In the program of the seventh aspect, The report function also creates a simulation result of the disclosure rate of the one piece of transmission information when the precondition is changed, based on the report for the administrator. The communication system according to the first aspect includes: A server; A plurality of terminals capable of communicating with the server via a communication network; A program according to a third aspect; Equipped with In association with the processing of the program, the storage function, the transmission function, the reception function, the determination function, the notification function, and the disclosure function are executed. The communication system according to the second aspect includes: A server; A plurality of terminals capable of communicating with the server via a communication network; A program according to a fourth aspect; Equipped with In association with the processing of the program, the storage function, the transmission function, the reception function, the determination function, the notification function, the disclosure function, and the proposal function are executed. Communication systems. A communication system according to a third aspect of the present invention includes: A server; A plurality of terminals capable of communicating with the server via a communication network; A program according to the fifth or sixth aspect; Equipped with In association with the processing of the program, the storage function, the transmission function, the reception function, the determination function, the notification function, the disclosure function, the reply function and the suggestion function are executed. A communication system according to a fourth aspect of the present invention includes: A server; A plurality of terminals capable of communicating with the server via a communication network; A program according to the seventh or eighth aspect; Equipped with In association with the processing of the program, the storage function, the transmission function, the reception function, the determination function, the notification function, the disclosure function, the reply function and the report function are executed. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the programs of the first and second aspects, when transmitting information from a server to multiple terminals, it is possible to transmit appropriate information to each terminal without having the server manage information (personal information) of multiple users and without having to specify to which terminal the information is to be transmitted. According to the program of the third aspect, the transmission information can be disclosed only to the terminal of a user who requires the transmission information. According to the programs of the fourth and fifth aspects, a user who has not been notified of the reception of transmitted information within a specified number of times (or period) can be suggested to update his / her personal information, making it possible for the user who has updated his / her personal information to view more transmitted information on the terminal. According to the program of the sixth aspect, a user who has not entered appropriate personal information can be suggested to update their personal information, and more transmitted information can be made viewable on the terminal of a user who has updated their personal information. According to the program of the seventh aspect, it is possible to inform the server administrator of the relationship between the personal information of a plurality of users and the number of pieces of transmitted information to be disclosed. According to the program of the eighth aspect, it is possible to propose to the server administrator to change the conditions of the personal information of a plurality of users requested by the transmitted information in order to improve the disclosure rate of the transmitted information. According to the communication systems of the first to fourth aspects, when transmitting transmission information from a server to multiple terminals, it is possible to transmit appropriate information without having the server manage information (personal information) of multiple users or identify to which of the multiple terminals the transmission information is to be transmitted. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1A] 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 1B] FIG. 2 is a detailed diagram of a management server and one terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 1C] FIG. 4 is a flow chart of initial settings of the communication program according to the first embodiment. [Figure 1D] 4 is a flow diagram of a communication program executed by the communication system of the first embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 2] FIG. 11 is a flow diagram of a communication program executed by the communication system of the second embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 11 is a flow diagram of a communication program executed by a communication system according to a third embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a communication system according to a first modified example. [Diagram 5]FIG. 11 is a flow diagram of a communication program executed by a communication system of a second modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] <Overview> The first to third embodiments and several modified examples will be described below in the order in which they are described. Note that in the description of the second and subsequent embodiments, the names and symbols of the previous embodiments are used mutatis mutandis for components that are equivalent or substantially equivalent to those described in the previous embodiments.

[0010] First Embodiment The communication system CS1 of the first embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1A to 1D, in the order of (1) configuration and function, (2) operation, and (3) effect.

[0011] <Functions and configuration of the communication system according to the first embodiment> As shown in Fig. 1A, the communication system CS1 includes a plurality of terminals 10, a management server 20 (one example of a server), and a communication network 30 (the Internet is one example of the network). The plurality of terminals 10 and the management server 20 are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other via the communication network 30. The plurality of terminals 10 and the management server 20 are also able to transmit information to each other by a communication program PG1 (one example of a program, see Figs. 1C and 1D) described later.

[0012] The communication system CS1 executes multiple functions of the first embodiment described below in accordance with the communication program PG1, and has the function of providing information suitable for each user UA, UB, UC, UD, ... who uses each of the multiple terminals 10 from the management server 20 (see Figures 1C and 1D). Here, the communication system CS1 is used by an administrator (information provider) of the management server 20 to provide information to each of the users UA, UB, UC, UD, . . . . Here, Table 1 shows examples of the types of administrators and users who use the communication system CS1 and the relationships with their purposes.

[0013] [Table 1]

[0014] [Multiple devices] As shown in Fig. 1, each of the multiple terminals 10 is, for example, a mobile terminal such as a smartphone. Here, the multiple terminals 10 is a collective term for a collection of terminals 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, etc. used by each of users UA, UB, UC, UD, etc. As an example, each of the terminals 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, etc. runs a communication program PG1 using an application AP1 (an installed dedicated application). The essential configuration or functional requirements for each of the terminals 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, etc. are (1) the ability to communicate with the management server 20, (2) the ability of each of the users UA, UB, UC, UD, etc. to input information such as text, images, and voice, and (3) the ability to display, notify, and otherwise transmit information. Therefore, the types of each of the terminals 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, etc. are not important as long as they can communicate with the management server 20 via the communication network 30. Types other than smartphones include, for example, smart watches, mobile phones, tablets, personal computers, and other information and communication terminals.

[0015] 1B is a detailed diagram of the management server 20 and one terminal (terminal 10A as an example) in the first embodiment. In this paragraph, terminal 10A will be described, but the description in this paragraph is also applicable to other terminals such as terminal 10B. The terminal 10A includes a processing unit 12 (an example of which is a CPU (Central Processing Unit)) and a storage unit 14 (an example of which is a RAM (Random Access Memory)). The processing unit 12 reads out data stored in the storage unit 14 and performs arithmetic processing. The data includes, as an example, an application AP1. The application AP1 includes a part of a communication program PG1, a data file DF1, and various libraries LB1. The data file DF1 includes personal information PI of a user UA, which will be described later.

[0016] [Management Server and Communication Network] As described above, the management server 20 is communicably connected to a plurality of terminals 10 via the communication network 30 (FIGS. 1A and 1B). As shown in FIG. 1B, the management server 20 has a processing unit 22 (an example of which is a CPU (Central Processing Unit)) and a memory unit 24 (an example of which is a RAM (Random Access Memory)). The processing unit 22 reads out data stored in the storage unit 24 and performs arithmetic processing. The data includes, as an example, an application AP2. The application AP2 includes a part of a communication program PG1, a data file DF2, and various libraries LB2. The data file DF2 includes address information MI for receiving information from a plurality of users UA, UB, UC, UD, ...

[0017] [Correspondence Program] The communication program PG1 has a function of executing a plurality of functions of the first embodiment in order to provide information suitable for each user UA, UB, UC, UD, . . . who uses each of the plurality of terminals 10 from the management server 20.

[0018] In the following, the functions constituting the multiple functions of the first embodiment will be described, but the functions cooperate with each other to achieve an organic technical significance as a whole. In this regard, please refer to the description of the operation of the communication system CS1 described later.

[0019] (Memory function) The storage function is (1) a function for storing personal information PI input by each user UA, UB, UC, UD, ... via an interface (not shown) into each of multiple terminals 10 using the communication program PG1 in a storage unit 14 managed by each of the multiple terminals 10, and (2) a function for storing address information MI (email address is an example) of each user UA, UB, UC, UD, ... sent from each of the multiple terminals 10 via the communication network 30 in association with the registration of the personal information PI of each user UA, UB, UC, UD, ... in a storage unit 24 managed by the management server 20. In the former case, each personal information PI is stored in a data file DF1 of each memory unit 14, and in the latter case, address information MI of each user UA, UB, UC, UD, ... is stored in a data file DF2 of each memory unit 24 (see Figure 1B).

[0020] (Transmission function) The transmission function is a function that causes the management server 20 to transmit each of the multiple pieces of transmission information SI to the multiple terminals 10 at different timings via the communication network 30 (see FIG. 1B). For example, if the administrator of management server 20 is a government office (local government), information on a plurality of administrative services as a plurality of pieces of transmission information SI is transmitted from management server 20 to terminals of residents under the jurisdiction of the government office who have been registered. Also, for example, if the administrator of management server 20 is a restaurant, a plurality of pieces of menu information, discount information, etc. as a plurality of pieces of transmission information SI is transmitted from management server 20 to terminals of registered customers.

[0021] (Receiving function) The receiving function is a function for causing each of the plurality of pieces of transmission information SI transmitted from the management server 20 to be received by the plurality of terminals 10. Here, it should be noted that although Fig. 1B illustrates that the plurality of pieces of transmission information SI transmitted from the management server 20 are received by the terminal 10A, in reality the plurality of pieces of transmission information SI are also received by other terminals such as the terminals 10B and 10C in addition to the terminal 10A.

[0022] (judgment function) The determination function is a function that causes each terminal to determine whether or not a piece of transmission information SI (meaning any piece of transmission information SI among the pieces of transmission information SI) received by the above-mentioned receiving function is information to be disclosed to each user UA, UB, UC, UD, ... of the multiple terminals 10, based on personal information PI stored in the storage unit 14 of each terminal. A specific method of determination by the determination function will be described later in the explanation of the operation of the communication system CS1.

[0023] (Alert function) The notification function is a function that (1) notifies the terminal that made the positive determination that it has received one piece of transmission information SI when the result of the determination by the above-mentioned determination function is a positive determination, and (2) does not notify the terminal that made the negative determination that it has received one piece of transmission information SI when the result of the determination is a negative determination. Here, an example of a notification method is a so-called push notification. Here, in the notification display of the push notification, for example, a title indicating the content of the transmission information SI is displayed. Examples of the titles are "New store opening announcement", "Health check announcement", "Half-price sale announcement", "Closing announcement", etc.

[0024] (Disclosure function) The disclosure function is a function that enables a terminal that has been notified by the above-mentioned notification function that it has received one piece of transmission information SI to disclose the one piece of transmission information SI. For example, when the notification method is a push notification, when a user presses the push notification (when the part of the screen displaying the push notification is touched with a finger), the one piece of transmission information SI is disclosed on the screen (not shown) of the user's terminal.

[0025] The above is a description of the functions and configuration of the communication system CS1 of the first embodiment.

[0026] <Operation of the communication system according to the first embodiment (flow of communication program)> Next, the initial settings of the communication system CS1 will be described, and then the specific operation of the communication system CS1 (flow S100 of the communication program PG1) will be described.

[0027] [Initial Settings of the Communication System] The initial setting of the communication system CS1 refers to the setting of personal information PI performed by each of the users UA, UB, UC, UD, . . . for each of the terminals 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, . Setting the personal information PI corresponds to the execution of part of the memory function described above. The initial setting flow S10 of the communication system CS1 will be described below with reference to Fig. 1C. Here, the case where the user UA sets personal information PI will be described as an example.

[0028] (S11) First, the user UA downloads the application AP1 from a storage server (not shown) of the application AP1 via the communication network 30 to the terminal 10A.

[0029] (S12) Next, the user UA starts the application AP1 downloaded in S11 on the terminal 10A. Then, an input screen (not shown) for the personal information PI of the user UA is displayed on the screen of the terminal 10A. The input items of personal information PI consist of (1) at least one or more pieces of mandatory information RI that each user is required to input, and (2) multiple pieces of optional information OI that each user may input voluntarily. Table 2 summarizes examples of combinations of administrators and users who use communication system CS1, and the relationships between the contents of multiple pieces of mandatory information RI and multiple pieces of optional information OI. First, an input screen for the essential information RI is displayed on the screen of the terminal 10A together with a prompt to input the essential information. Then, when the user UA inputs the essential information and presses an input completion button (not shown), S12 ends.

[0030] [Table 2]

[0031] (S13) Next, in S13, it is determined whether the required information RI was entered in S12 properly. For example, if an incorrect number is entered in the date of birth, or if there is no input in a field that should be entered, the result is deemed to be negative (a negative judgment). If the answer is YES in S13, the process proceeds to S14, and if the answer is NO, the process returns to S12.

[0032] (S14) If the process proceeds to S14, i.e., if a positive judgment is made in S13, an input screen for multiple pieces of optional information OI (input is not yet possible at this point) is displayed on the screen of terminal 10A, along with an instruction message prompting the user to select whether or not to input information. Then, if the user UA presses a selection button (not shown) for input, S14 ends and the process proceeds to S15. On the other hand, if the user UA presses a selection button (not shown) for not inputting, S14 ends and the process proceeds to S16.

[0033] (S15) When the process proceeds to S15, a plurality of pieces of optional information OI can be input on the screen of the terminal 10A. Then, when the user UA inputs some or all of the pieces of optional information OI and presses an input completion button (not shown), S15 ends.

[0034] (S16) Next, in S16, information including the required information RI entered in S12 and the optional information OI entered in S15 (only in the case of S14), i.e., the personal information PI after input, is displayed again on the screen of terminal 10A, and the user UA is prompted to select using a selection button whether correction is not required (whether it is OK to store the information). If the user UA presses the selection button indicating no correction is required, the process proceeds to S17. On the other hand, if the user UA presses the selection button indicating correction is required, the process returns to S12 again and correction of some or all of the personal information PI begins.

[0035] (S17, S18 and S19) Next, in S17, the input personal information PI is stored (written) in the data file DF1 of the storage unit 14 of the terminal 10A. Furthermore, in S18, following S17, the email address of the user UA is transmitted from the terminal 10A to the management server 20. Furthermore, in S19, the email address transmitted in S18 is stored (written) in the data file DF2 of the storage unit 24 of the management server 20.

[0036] The above is a description of the initial settings of the communication system CS1.

[0037] [Specific operation of the communication system (flow of communication program)] Next, a specific operation of the communication system CS1 (flow S100 of the communication program) will be described with reference to FIG. 1D.

[0038] (S110) First, the management server 20 transmits the transmission information SI to the email addresses of all registered users (all users stored in the storage unit 24). Here, if the administrator is a food service operator, an example of the transmission information SI is limited-time new menu information, discount information, etc. If the administrator is a government office (local government), an example of the transmission information SI is administrative service information. The transmission information SI also includes disclosure target conditions as to whether or not the information is to be disclosed to each of the terminals 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, .... The disclosure target conditions can be set by the administrator of the management server 20. For example, examples of the disclosure target conditions include an age of a certain age or older, a gender of female, an address of a specific set district, and the like. S110 corresponds to the step of executing the transmission function described above.

[0039] (S120) Next, in S120, the transmission information SI transmitted from the management server 20 in S110 is received by a plurality of terminals 10 (terminals of all registered users). S110 corresponds to the step of executing the receiving function described above.

[0040] (S130) Next, in S130, it is determined whether the transmission information SI is information to be disclosed to each of the multiple terminals 10 (terminals of all registered users). S130 corresponds to the step of executing the above-mentioned determination function. Here, the specific determination method is as follows. As described above, the transmission information SI includes the disclosure target condition. For example, when the transmission information SI is from the management server 20 managed by the retailer and the disclosure target condition is for ages 50 and above, each of the terminals 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, etc. calculates the user's age from the date of birth and the date and time of reception of the required information RI stored in each of the storage units 14, and judges whether the calculated age is 50 or above. Also, for example, when the transmission information SI is from the management server 20 managed by the service provider and the disclosure target condition is for women only, each of the terminals 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, etc. judges whether the gender of each user is female based on the gender of the required information RI stored in each of the storage units 14. If the result of each of the above determinations is positive, the process proceeds to S140, and if the result is negative, the process proceeds to S145.

[0041] (S140 and S145) If the process proceeds to S140 because the judgment result in S130 is positive, that is, if the judgment result in S130 is positive for a terminal that has transmission information SI sent from the management server 20 and received by terminals 10A, 10B, 10C, and 10D of all registered users, the terminal notifies the user that it has received the transmission information SI in S120, for example by push notification. In contrast, if the process proceeds to S145 because the determination result in S130 is negative, the terminal that made the negative determination does not notify the user of the terminal that has proceeded to S145 that it has received the transmission information SI, and the flow of the communication program PG1 related to the transmission information SI ends without informing the user of the terminal that the transmission information SI has been received.

[0042] (S150) When the user clicks on the display portion (not shown) of the push notification of the terminal that has been notified of the receipt of the transmission information SI in S140, a selection button (not shown) for disclosing the transmission information SI is displayed on the display screen of the terminal. If the user presses the selection button for disclosing, the process proceeds to S160. On the other hand, if the user presses the selection button for not disclosing, the transmission information SI is not displayed on the display screen of the user's terminal, and the flow of the communication program PG1 related to the transmission information SI ends.

[0043] (S160) If the user presses the selection button for disclosure in S150, that is, if the judgment result in S150 is a positive judgment, the transmission information SI is displayed on the display screen of the terminal of this user. With this, the flow of the communication program PG1 related to this transmission information SI ends.

[0044] The above is a description of the specific operation of the communication system CS1 (the flow S100 of the communication program PG1). The above is also a description of the operation of the communication system CS1 of the first embodiment.

[0045] <Advantages of the First Embodiment> Next, the effects of the first embodiment will be described.

[0046] [First effect] As mentioned above, the network system of Patent Document 1 (hereinafter referred to as the comparative form) is a so-called client (multiple terminals)-server type system. In the comparative form, information on multiple users is managed by the server. The server also selects which terminal to send information to. Because the above-mentioned method is adopted, in the comparative example, the larger the number of registered users, the larger the amount of information about multiple users that the server must manage, i.e., the greater the burden of information management on the server. In contrast, in the case of the communication system CS1 of the first embodiment, the information (personal information PI) of the registered users is managed at the terminal of each registered user (see FIG. 1B). Also, the selection of which terminal should receive the transmission information SI transmitted from the management server 20 is determined at each terminal using the personal information PI stored at each registered user's terminal (see S130 in FIG. 1D). Therefore, according to the first embodiment, when transmitting transmission information SI from the management server 20 to multiple terminals 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, ..., it is possible to transmit appropriate information to each terminal without having the management server 20 manage the information (personal information PI) of multiple users UA, UB, UC, UD, ... and without having to specify to which terminal the transmission information SI is to be transmitted. [Second Effect] In the first embodiment, (1) the determination function determines whether the disclosure condition is satisfied, (2) the notification function notifies the reception of the transmission information SI, and (3) the disclosure function allows the transmission information SI to be disclosed only to terminals that have selected to disclose the transmission information SI (see S240, S150, and S160 in FIG. 1D). From another perspective, if certain transmission information SI does not satisfy the disclosure condition in relation to personal information PI of a certain terminal, the fact that the transmission information SI has been received is not notified to the terminal (see S145 in FIG. 1D). As described above, in the first embodiment, the management server 20 does not select which terminal to send the transmission information SI to, but sends the transmission information SI to the terminals of all registered users, and yet the transmission information SI can be disclosed only to the terminals of users who need the transmission information SI.

[0047] The above is a description of the effects of the first embodiment. The above is a description of the first embodiment.

[0048] Second Embodiment Next, a communication system CS2 according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 2. The second embodiment will be described only with respect to the points different from the first embodiment described above.

[0049] <Functions and configuration of the second embodiment> The differences between the first and second embodiments are (1) initial settings (setting of personal information PI) and (2) the change from program PG1 and communication program PG1 operation flow P100 to program PG2 and communication program PG2 operation flow P200. Due to the above changes, the functions of the communication system CS2 of the second embodiment include the following two functions in addition to all the functions of the first embodiment. Also, the determination function of the second embodiment is set to determine the following prerequisites as a prerequisite for reaching a determination on the disclosure target conditions, more so than in the first embodiment. Below, we will explain the initial settings of the second embodiment (setting of personal information PI) as well as an overview of the judgment function and two additional functions of the second embodiment, but the specific execution methods of each function will be explained in the explanation of the operation of the communication system CS2 described later.

[0050] [Initial Settings of the Second Embodiment] The initial setting of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1C for the initial setting of the first embodiment. In the initial setting of the second embodiment, in S17 in Fig. 1C, input presence / absence information IW is stored in the storage unit 14 of the terminal together with personal information PI. Here, the input presence / absence information IW is information regarding the presence or absence of input for each of a plurality of pieces of optional information OI.

[0051] [Determination function of the second embodiment] The judgment function of the second embodiment has each user's terminal judge whether a certain piece of transmission information SI transmitted from the management server 20 is information to be disclosed to each user of multiple terminals 10, under the prerequisite that there is input into at least one or more pieces of optional information OI required by the transmission information SI among the multiple pieces of optional information OI. For example, if the transmission information SI is transmitted from the management server 20 that is managed by the service provider, and if the transmission information SI is based on the precondition that the occupation, which is optional information OI, is input, the terminal of the user who has the occupation input is determined to satisfy the precondition. Then, in the second embodiment, the determination function of the first embodiment is executed.

[0052] [Reply function] The reply function is a function in which, when a terminal that has been notified by the notification function that it has received certain transmitted information SI discloses the transmitted information SI using the disclosure function, the terminal returns input presence / absence information IW to the management server 20 via the communication network 30 (see Figure 1B).

[0053] [Suggestion function] The suggestion function is a function that (1) causes the management server 20 to compare the preconditions in other transmission information SI different from the above-mentioned certain transmission information SI with the input presence / absence information IW returned by the reply function, and if there is a fulfillment condition that satisfies the preconditions of the other transmission information SI if input has been made in any information OI in which no input has been made, (2) sends the fulfillment condition from the management server 20 to the terminal that returned the input presence / absence information IW to suggest updating the input presence / absence information IW.

[0054] <Operation of the communication system according to the second embodiment> Next, a specific operation of the communication system CS2 (communication program flow S200) will be described with reference to FIG. Here, the flow S200 of the communication program of the second embodiment (see FIG. 2) differs from that of the first embodiment (see FIG. 1D) in the following respects: S130, which executes the determination function in the first embodiment, is changed to S230 in the second embodiment, and while the first embodiment ends after S160, the second embodiment ends after executing S210, S220, and S240 to S270.

[0055] (S230) S230 is a step for executing the determination function of the second embodiment described above.

[0056] (S210) S210 is executed after S160. In S210, the terminal that disclosed the transmission information SI in S160 returns input presence / absence information IW to the management server 20. S210 is a step of executing the above-mentioned return function.

[0057] (S220, S240 and S250) In S220, the management server 20, which has received the input presence / absence information IW returned from the terminal in S210, compares the preconditions in the other transmission information SI with the input presence / absence information IW. As a result, in S240, if there is a satisfying condition that would satisfy the precondition of the other transmission information SI if input was made for any information OI for which no input has been made, a positive determination is made and the process proceeds to S250, whereas if there is no satisfying condition, a negative determination is made and the flow of the communication program PG2 for this transmission information SI ends. If the process proceeds to S250 following a positive determination, the management server 20 transmits the fulfillment condition to the terminal that returned the input presence / absence information IW, and the display screen of the terminal that received the fulfillment condition notifies the user that the fulfillment condition has been received, and suggests updating the plurality of pieces of optional information OI to the user. Specifically, a suggestion is made that if some of the plurality of pieces of optional information OI is input, the user will be able to receive other reception information SI.

[0058] (S260 and S270) In S260, the user who has received updates to the multiple pieces of optional information OI in S250 is asked via the display screen of the terminal whether or not to update the multiple pieces of optional information OI. If the user selects update (positive determination in S260), a personal information input screen is displayed on the display screen of the terminal, and the personal information can be modified (the initial setting flow in FIG. 1C applies mutatis mutandis). Then, when the modification of the personal information is completed, the flow of the communication program PG2 ends. On the other hand, if the user does not select update (negative determination in S260), the personal information is not modified and the flow of the communication program PG2 ends.

[0059] <Effects of the second embodiment> According to the second embodiment, a user who has not entered appropriate personal information PI is suggested to update the personal information PI, and more transmission information SI can be viewed on the terminal of a user who has updated the personal information PI.

[0060] The above is a description of the second embodiment.

[0061] Third Embodiment Next, a communication system CS3 according to a third embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 3. The third embodiment will be described only with respect to the points different from the second embodiment described above.

[0062] <Functions and configuration of the third embodiment> The third embodiment differs from the second embodiment in that the operation flow P200 of the program PG2 and the communication program PG2 is changed to an operation flow P300 of the program PG3 and the communication program PG3. Specifically, the flow S300 (see FIG. 3) of the communication program PG3 in the third embodiment differs in that, whereas in the second embodiment, S210, S220, S240 to S270 are executed and then the program ends, S310, S320, and S330 are executed and then the program ends. Due to the above changes, the communication system CS3 of the third embodiment does not execute the reply function and suggestion function (S210, S220, S240 to S270) of the second embodiment, but executes the accumulation function, reply function, and report function (S310, S320, and S330) described below. The following provides an overview of the storage function, reply function, and report function of the third embodiment, but the specific method of executing each function will be described later in the description of the operation of the communication system CS3.

[0063] [Storage function] The storage function is a function that, when a terminal that has been notified by the notification function that it has received transmitted information SI discloses the transmitted information SI using the disclosure function, the storage function stores a disclosure record of the disclosure of the transmitted information SI in the memory unit 14 of the terminal as part of the personal information PI.

[0064] [Reply function] The reply function is a function that, after storing the disclosure record using the storage function, causes the terminal to return the input presence / absence information IW for each of the multiple optional information OI and the stored disclosure record to the management server 20 via the communications network 30.

[0065] [Report function] The report function is to create a report for the administrator of the management server 20 regarding the relationship between the input presence / absence information IW returned from the terminal to the management server 20 by the reply function and the disclosure record. Specifically, the report for the administrator quantifies the contents of the transmitted information SI that are likely or unlikely to be disclosed from the input presence / absence information IW of each user. Furthermore, as an optional function, the report function may generate a simulation result of the disclosure rate of the transmitted information SI when the preconditions are changed based on a report for the administrator, thereby making it possible to inform the administrator how the disclosure rate of the transmitted information SI changes by changing the preconditions that the administrator can set.

[0066] <Operation of the communication system according to the third embodiment> Next, a specific operation of the communication system CS3 (flow of the communication program S300) will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Here, steps S310 to S330, which are different from those in the second embodiment (see Fig. 2), will be described.

[0067] (S310) S310 is a step that performs the storage function described above.

[0068] (S320) Next, in S320, the terminal that disclosed the transmission information SI in S160 returns the input presence / absence information IW and the disclosure record to the management server 20. S320 is a step of executing the above-mentioned reply function.

[0069] (S330) Next, S330 is a step of creating a report for the administrator of management server 20 regarding the relationship between input presence / absence information IW and disclosure records based on the input presence / absence information IW and disclosure records returned by S320. Furthermore, as an option, the port function may also create a simulation result of the disclosure rate of transmission information SI when the prerequisites are changed based on the report for the administrator. S330 is a step of executing the above-mentioned report function. The created report for the administrator is transmitted from the management server 20 to a terminal (not shown) used by the administrator, and the specific operation of the communication system CS3 (communication program flow S300) ends.

[0070] <Effects of the third embodiment> According to the third embodiment, the relationship between the personal information PI of multiple users and the number of disclosures of multiple pieces of transmission information SI can be notified to the administrator of the management server 20. In addition, according to the above-mentioned optional function, it is possible to propose to the administrator of the management server 20 a change in the conditions of the personal information PI of multiple users requested by the transmission information SI in order to improve the disclosure rate of the multiple pieces of transmission information SI.

[0071] The above is a description of the third embodiment.

[0072] <<Multiple Modifications>> As described above, the present invention has been described by taking the first to third embodiments as examples, but the forms included in the technical scope of the present invention are not limited to these examples. For example, the following modified examples are also included.

[0073] For example, in the above description, the second embodiment and the third embodiment are separate from each other, but they may be combined into one embodiment.

[0074] In addition, in each embodiment, the communication programs PG1 to PG3 used in the terminal 10A and the like are applications that are downloaded and used, but the communication programs PG1 to PG3 may be provided as so-called web applications that use a web browser. Also, it may be possible to select whether the communication programs are of the download type or the browser type for each terminal.

[0075] In addition, in each embodiment, the destination information for the transmission information SI to each terminal managed by the management server 20 is an email address, but as long as the transmission information can be delivered to each terminal, the destination information may also be a telephone number, individual registration information set in a program, etc.

[0076] Furthermore, in each embodiment, the transmission information SI is transmitted to all terminals of registered users, but the transmission information SI may be set to be deleted from each terminal after a certain period of time has elapsed after it has been received.

[0077] In addition, in the third embodiment, analysis of each terminal, such as the report function, is performed by the management server 20. However, functions other than the function of transmitting information, such as analysis, may be performed by a physically different server (external server 20A, as an example), as in the communication system CS4 shown in the first modified example of FIG. 4.

[0078] Also, it may be the same as the communication program P500 (flow S500) of the communication system CS5 shown in the second modified example of Fig. 5. Here, only the parts that differ from the first embodiment (see Fig. 1D) will be described. For example, a plurality of judgment results by the judgment function performed by each of the plurality of terminals 10 are stored in the storage unit 14 managed by each of the plurality of terminals 10. Specifically, if the result of S130 is a positive judgment, i.e., if the transmission information SI received by a certain terminal is transmission information SI to be disclosed for that terminal, the reception of the transmission information SI to be disclosed is stored in the storage unit 14 of that terminal in S510. On the other hand, if the result of S130 is a negative judgment, i.e., if the transmission information SI received by a certain terminal is not transmission information SI to be disclosed for that terminal (transmission information SI to be not disclosed), the reception of the transmission information SI to be not disclosed is stored in the storage unit 14 of that terminal in S515. Then, using the information stored in the storage unit 14 of the terminal as a result of S145, if the currently received transmission information SI has been subject to non-disclosure for a predetermined number of consecutive times in the past, that is, if non-notification continues for a certain number of times (if a positive judgment is made in S520), the terminal proposes to the user via the screen that the personal information PI be modified or updated (suggestion function of the second modified example, S530). Here, if a positive judgment is made in S520, in other words, a terminal that is not notified by the notification function that it has received a certain transmission information SI is not notified that it has received a predetermined number of pieces of transmission information in succession before receiving the certain transmission information SI. The predetermined number (predetermined number of times) can be set arbitrarily by the administrator of the management server 20. In the second modified example, if a negative determination is made at S520, the process ends without executing S530. Once S530 is executed, the process ends regardless of whether or not the user modifies or updates the personal information PI. According to the second variant, a user who has not been notified of the receipt of transmission information SI within a specified number (or period) can be suggested to update his / her personal information PI, making it possible to view more transmission information SI on the terminal of a user who has updated his / her personal information PI.

[0079] In addition, when executing S530 of the second modified example (FIG. 5), a part of the reply function and an element of the suggestion function of the second embodiment may be integrated into the second modified example. Specifically, if the result of S520 is a positive determination, the terminal causes the terminal to return input presence / absence information IW to the management server 20 via the communication network 30 (see FIG. 1B). That is, in this modified example, if a terminal that is not notified by the notification function that it has received a certain transmission information SI is not notified that it has received a predetermined number of transmission information SI in succession before receiving the transmission information SI, the terminal causes the terminal to return input presence / absence information IW for each of a plurality of pieces of optional information OI to the management server 20 via the communication network 30. Then, the communication system is caused to execute the suggestion function of the second embodiment. The effect of this modified example is the same as that of the second modified example.

[0080] The above is a description of several modified examples. [Explanation of symbols]

[0081] 10 Multiple Devices 10A Terminal 10B Terminal 10C Terminal 10D Terminal 12 Processing section 14 Storage section 20 Management Server 22 Processing section 24 Memory section 30 Communication Network AP1 Application AP2 Application CS1 Communication System CS2 Communication System CS3 Communication System CS4 Communication System PG1 Communication Program PG2 Communication Program PG3 Communication Program PG4 Communication Program PI personal information UA User UB User UC Users UD User SI Transmission Information MI Address Information OI optional information RI Required Information

Claims

1. A program operating in a communication system including a server and a plurality of terminals, The communication system includes: a storage function for storing personal information input by each user via an interface to each of the plurality of terminals in a storage unit managed by each of the plurality of terminals; A transmission function for causing the server to transmit each of the plurality of pieces of transmission information at different timings; a receiving function for causing the plurality of terminals to receive each of the plurality of pieces of transmission information transmitted from the server; a determination function that causes each of the plurality of terminals that received the one piece of transmission information by the receiving function to determine whether the one piece of transmission information is information to be disclosed to each user of the plurality of terminals based on the personal information stored in the storage unit of each terminal; a notification function for notifying the terminal that made the positive determination that it has received the one piece of transmission information when the determination result by the determination function is a positive determination, and for not notifying the terminal that made the negative determination that it has received the one piece of transmission information when the determination result is a negative determination; a disclosure function that enables a terminal that has been notified by the notification function that it has received the one piece of transmission information to disclose the one piece of transmission information; Run the command, the storage function stores a plurality of judgment results by the judgment function performed by each of the plurality of terminals in the storage unit managed by each of the plurality of terminals; moreover, The communication system includes: a suggestion function for suggesting to a terminal, when the terminal is not notified by the notification function that it has received the one piece of transmission information, that the terminal has received a predetermined number of pieces of transmission information in succession before receiving the one piece of transmission information, to correct or update the personal information; Execute the program.

2. A program operating in a communication system including a server and a plurality of terminals, The communication system includes: a storage function for storing personal information input by each user via an interface to each of the plurality of terminals in a storage unit managed by each of the plurality of terminals; A transmission function for causing the server to transmit each of the plurality of pieces of transmission information at different timings; a receiving function for causing the plurality of terminals to receive each of the plurality of pieces of transmission information transmitted from the server; a determination function that causes each of the plurality of terminals that received the one piece of transmission information by the receiving function to determine whether the one piece of transmission information is information to be disclosed to each user of the plurality of terminals based on the personal information stored in the storage unit of each terminal; a notification function for notifying the terminal that made the positive determination that it has received the one piece of transmission information when the determination result by the determination function is a positive determination, and for not notifying the terminal that made the negative determination that it has received the one piece of transmission information when the determination result is a negative determination; a disclosure function that enables a terminal that has been notified by the notification function that it has received the one piece of transmission information to disclose the one piece of transmission information; Run the command, The personal information is composed of (1) at least one or more pieces of required information that each user is required to input, and (2) a plurality of pieces of optional information that each user is allowed to input voluntarily, The determination function causes a terminal of each of the users of the plurality of terminals to determine whether the one piece of transmission information is information to be disclosed to the users of the plurality of terminals, on the precondition that there is input to at least one or more pieces of optional information requested by the one piece of transmission information among the plurality of pieces of optional information; moreover, The communication system includes: a reply function for causing a terminal that is not notified by the notification function that it has received the one piece of transmission information to reply, via a communication network, to the server with input presence / absence information for each of the plurality of pieces of optional information when the terminal is not notified that it has received a predetermined number of pieces of transmission information in succession before receiving the one piece of transmission information; a suggestion function that, when a result of comparing the preconditions in the other transmission information with the input presence / absence information returned by the reply function in the server and a fulfillment condition that fulfills the preconditions of the other transmission information if any information that has not been input has been input, transmits the fulfillment condition to the terminal that returned the input presence / absence information from the server and proposes updating the input presence / absence information; Execute the program.

3. A program operating in a communication system including a server and a plurality of terminals, The communication system includes: a storage function for storing personal information input by each user via an interface to each of the plurality of terminals in a storage unit managed by each of the plurality of terminals; A transmission function for causing the server to transmit each of the plurality of pieces of transmission information at different timings; a receiving function for causing the plurality of terminals to receive each of the plurality of pieces of transmission information transmitted from the server; a determination function that causes each of the plurality of terminals that received the one piece of transmission information by the receiving function to determine whether the one piece of transmission information is information to be disclosed to each user of the plurality of terminals based on the personal information stored in the storage unit of each terminal; a notification function for notifying the terminal that made the positive determination that it has received the one piece of transmission information when the determination result by the determination function is a positive determination, and for not notifying the terminal that made the negative determination that it has received the one piece of transmission information when the determination result is a negative determination; a disclosure function that enables a terminal that has been notified by the notification function that it has received the one piece of transmission information to disclose the one piece of transmission information; Run the command, The personal information is composed of (1) at least one or more pieces of required information that each user is required to input, and (2) a plurality of pieces of optional information that each user is allowed to input voluntarily, The determination function causes a terminal of each of the users of the plurality of terminals to determine whether the one piece of transmission information is information to be disclosed to the users of the plurality of terminals on the precondition that there is input to at least one or more pieces of optional information requested by the one piece of transmission information among the plurality of pieces of optional information; moreover, The communication system includes: a reply function for causing the terminal notified by the notification function that it has received the one piece of transmission information to disclose the one piece of transmission information by the disclosure function, to reply to the server via a communication network, information on whether or not the terminal has input information for each of the plurality of pieces of optional information; a suggestion function that, when a result of comparing the preconditions in the other transmission information with the input presence / absence information returned by the reply function in the server and a fulfillment condition that fulfills the preconditions of the other transmission information if any information that has not been input has been input, transmits the fulfillment condition to the terminal that returned the input presence / absence information from the server and proposes updating the input presence / absence information; Execute the program.

4. A program operating in a communication system including a server and a plurality of terminals, The communication system includes: a storage function for storing personal information input by each user via an interface to each of the plurality of terminals in a storage unit managed by each of the plurality of terminals; A transmission function for causing the server to transmit each of the plurality of pieces of transmission information at different timings; a receiving function for causing the plurality of terminals to receive each of the plurality of pieces of transmission information transmitted from the server; a determination function that causes each of the plurality of terminals that received the one piece of transmission information by the receiving function to determine whether the one piece of transmission information is information to be disclosed to each user of the plurality of terminals based on the personal information stored in the storage unit of each terminal; a notification function for notifying the terminal that made the positive determination that it has received the one piece of transmission information when the determination result by the determination function is a positive determination, and for not notifying the terminal that made the negative determination that it has received the one piece of transmission information when the determination result is a negative determination; a disclosure function that enables a terminal that has been notified by the notification function that it has received the one piece of transmission information to disclose the one piece of transmission information; Run the command, The personal information is composed of (1) at least one or more pieces of required information that each user is required to input, and (2) a plurality of pieces of optional information that each user is allowed to input voluntarily, The determination function causes a terminal of each of the users of the plurality of terminals to determine whether the one piece of transmission information is information to be disclosed to the users of the plurality of terminals on the precondition that there is input to at least one or more pieces of optional information requested by the one piece of transmission information among the plurality of pieces of optional information; moreover, The communication system includes: a storage function that, when a terminal that has been notified by the notification function that it has received the one piece of transmission information discloses the one piece of transmission information by the disclosure function, stores in the storage unit of the terminal a disclosure record of the disclosure of the one piece of transmission information as a part of the personal information; a reply function for replying to the server, via a communication network, input presence / absence information for each of the plurality of pieces of optional information and the stored disclosure record after the disclosure record is stored by the storage function; a report function for generating a report for an administrator of the server regarding the relationship between the input presence / absence information returned by the reply function and the disclosure record; Execute the program.

5. The report function also creates a simulation result of a disclosure rate of the one piece of transmission information when the precondition is changed based on the report for the administrator. The program according to claim 4.

6. A server; A plurality of terminals capable of communicating with the server via a communication network; The program according to claim 1 ; Equipped with In association with the processing of the program, the storage function, the transmission function, the reception function, the determination function, the notification function, the disclosure function, and the proposal function are executed. Communication systems.

7. A server; A plurality of terminals capable of communicating with the server via a communication network; A program according to claim 2 or 3; Equipped with In association with the processing of the program, the storage function, the transmission function, the reception function, the determination function, the notification function, the disclosure function, the reply function, and the suggestion function are executed. Communication systems.

8. A server; A plurality of terminals capable of communicating with the server via a communication network; A program according to claim 4 or 5; Equipped with In association with the processing of the program, the storage function, the transmission function, the reception function, the determination function, the notification function, the disclosure function, the reply function, and the report function are executed. Communication systems.

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