Matching Event System

Abstract

To provide an online academic conference management system, a conference management system, an exhibition system, an online event handout providing system, and a handout delivery system configured to improve efficiency of conference holding preparation work, suppress leakage of specific display information to a rival company or the like, increase opportunities for matching up an exhibition institution and a participant with each other, and efficiently handle information.SOLUTION: In a conference management system, a server 200, a manager's terminal 100 and a presenter's terminal 110 include a conference holding information input unit 1001, a conference holding screen generating unit 1002, a preparation status updating unit 1003, a contact document generating unit 1004, a transmitting unit 1005, a database 1011 storing user registration information on each user, such as a manager, a presenter, a participant, and an exhibition company, and a database 1012 storing conference holding information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a conference management system, an exhibition system, an online academic conference management system, a handout provision system and a handout delivery system for online events. [Background technology]

[0002] (Prior art 1)

[0003] To hold an academic conference, it is necessary to prepare information about the conference and to contact each person involved by email.

[0004] That is, when a conference (symposium, etc.) is held, a program is set for each theme (session). The conference organizer creates conference information for each session, including the session chairperson, speakers for each program, and abstracts for each program, and disseminates this information to those who wish to participate. Meanwhile, the conference organizer keeps in touch with each presenter (chairperson, speaker) by email, checking the progress of each presenter.

[0005] Previously, the preparation work of creating conference information and the preparation work of sending emails to each presenter were carried out in separate systems. The email text sent to each presenter varied depending on each presenter's role and their current progress. Furthermore, the email text needed to be changed for each program. Therefore, creating email text was extremely cumbersome, requiring manpower and time, resulting in low efficiency in conference preparation work.

[0006] Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2006-11796) describes an invention in which a meeting invitation email is automatically created based on information registered in a schedule storage unit.

[0007] (Prior art 2)

[0008] When holding an academic conference, multiple companies may exhibit at booths as supporting companies. At the conference, representatives from the supporting companies explain the latest product information and services to attendees, such as medical doctors who are members of the academic society.

[0009] However, in addition to information that may be disclosed to the public, the information provided by companies also includes special display information (premium information) that companies do not want to disclose to participants such as other competing companies.

[0010] Patent document 2 (JP Patent Publication No. 2004-318452) describes an invention in which, in business-to-business electronic commerce, an access right determination server, upon receiving a request from a requester to access business data, determines whether the requester has access rights based on the requester's company information and access restriction information, and decides whether to provide the business data depending on the determination result.

[0011] (Prior art 3)

[0012] The purpose of sponsoring companies distributing novelties to participants at academic conferences is to raise awareness of their company name, brand name, and products among participants who could be their target audience.

[0013] Participants who can be targeted by a company are those who take specific actions that are advantageous to the sponsoring company (exchanging business cards, filling out a questionnaire, attending an advertised session, etc.).

[0014] Patent document 3 (Japanese Patent Publication No. 2001-265993) describes an invention in which members are given a number of points based on how often they click on advertisements posted on a web page, and incentives (prizes, giveaways, etc.) are given to members based on the number of points.

[0015] (Prior art 4)

[0016] In a conventional system for managing online events such as online academic conferences, a management screen is set up for each event (academic conference).

[0017] Furthermore, in conventional systems, a management screen is set up for each participating company.

[0018] Patent document 4 (Japanese Patent Publication No. 2003-263444) describes an invention in which a user ID and password are input from a company terminal device, user authentication is performed, and an exhibit registration and exhibit input screen is displayed on the company terminal device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0019] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-11796 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-318452 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-265993 [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-263444 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0020] The first invention aims to improve the efficiency of preparations for holding a conference by automatically creating correspondence for each presenter.

[0021] The second invention aims to prevent the leakage of specific display information to competing companies, etc., when a company exhibits or displays online, by disclosing the specific display information only to participants who wish to provide that information, thereby increasing the chances of matching.

[0022] The third invention aims to increase the opportunities for matching between exhibiting organizations and participants by enabling exhibiting organizations such as sponsoring companies to determine specific actions that are advantageous to their organizations, and allowing only participants who take those specific actions to receive novelties from the exhibiting organization.

[0023] The fourth invention aims to construct an online academic conference management system that allows users participating in multiple online academic conferences to easily participate and handle information efficiently.

[0024] The fifth invention aims to construct an online academic conference management system that can efficiently handle information when users belonging to multiple companies form a group and exhibit at an online academic conference. [Means for solving the problem]

[0025] The first aspect is a conference management system that includes a conference event information input unit that inputs conference event information on a conference preparation screen, the information including the contents of the conference and the names and roles of presenters in the conference; a conference event screen generation unit that generates a conference event screen based on the conference event information input to the conference event information input unit; a preparation status update unit that updates the preparation status of the presenter; a communication document generation unit that generates a communication document according to the role of the presenter and the preparation status of the presenter based on the conference event information input to the conference event information input unit and the preparation status of the presenter updated by the preparation status update unit; and a sending unit that sends the communication document generated by the communication document generation unit to the corresponding presenter.

[0026] The second aspect is an exhibition system comprising a setting unit that sets display conditions under which an exhibiting institution displays specific display information on a participant's terminal in correspondence with the attributes of the participant; a reception unit that receives a display request from a participant for the specific display information; an acquisition unit that acquires the attributes of the participant whose display request has been received by the reception unit; a determination unit that determines whether the display conditions associated with the participant's attributes acquired by the acquisition unit are satisfied; and a display control unit that displays the specific display information on the participant's terminal when the determination unit determines that the display conditions are satisfied.

[0027] The third aspect is an exhibition system comprising a recording unit that records actions taken by participants toward an exhibiting institution in correspondence with the participant; a novelty receipt condition receiving unit that receives specific actions from the exhibiting institution as conditions for receiving a novelty provided by the exhibiting institution; a receipt request receiving unit that receives a request to receive the novelty from the participant; a judgment unit that determines, based on the contents recorded in the recording unit, whether the participant who received the novelty receipt request satisfies the novelty receipt conditions; and a receipt right granting unit that grants the participant who received the novelty receipt request the right to receive the novelty if the judgment unit determines that the novelty receipt conditions are met.

[0028] The fourth aspect is an online academic conference management system that manages multiple online academic conferences, and is equipped with a user information acquisition unit that acquires user information, a participation information acquisition unit that acquires, for each online academic conference, information on the participation authority of users who will participate in the online academic conference, and a display control unit that displays, on the user's terminal, management information corresponding to the user's participation authority in association with the multiple online academic conferences in which the user is participating.

[0029] The fifth aspect is an online academic conference management system in which, in the fourth aspect, the display control unit displays on the user's terminal a list management screen that lists management information for multiple online academic conferences in which the user participates, and an individual management screen that displays management information for individual online academic conferences in which the user participates.

[0030] A sixth aspect is an online academic conference management system that manages multiple online academic conferences, and includes a user information acquisition unit that acquires user information, a participation information acquisition unit that acquires, for each online academic conference, participation authority information that the users participating in the online academic conference are exhibitors that make up an exhibiting institution and information on the affiliated institutions to which each exhibitor that makes up the exhibiting institution belongs, and a display control unit that displays on the user's terminal, in accordance with the user's participation authority, management information including information on the exhibiting institution, each exhibitor that makes up the exhibiting institution, and the affiliated institutions to which each exhibitor belongs, in correspondence with the online academic conference in which the user is participating.

[0031] The seventh aspect is an online academic conference management system in which, in the sixth aspect, the display control unit displays on the user's terminal a list management screen that lists management information for multiple online academic conferences in which the user participates, and an individual management screen that displays management information for individual online academic conferences in which the user participates.

[0032] In an eighth aspect, an online academic conference management system that manages multiple online academic conferences is configured to include an information processing unit that uses user information and information on the user's participation authority for each online academic conference to generate management information corresponding to the user's participation authority, the management information corresponding to the multiple online academic conferences in which the user participates, so that the management information can be displayed on the user's terminal.

[0033] In a ninth aspect, an online academic conference management system that manages multiple online academic conferences is configured to include an information processing unit that uses user information, participation authority information that the user is an exhibitor that constitutes an exhibiting institution, and information on the affiliated institutions to which each exhibitor that constitutes the exhibiting institution belongs, to generate management information that corresponds to the user's participation authority and includes information on the exhibiting institution, each exhibitor that constitutes the exhibiting institution, and the affiliated institutions to which each exhibitor belongs, so that the management information can be displayed on the user's terminal.

[0034] A tenth aspect is a distribution system for an online event in which a providing participant who provides a distribution item grants a recipient candidate participant a right to receive the distribution item, the system comprising: a recipient candidate participant attribute acquisition unit that acquires attributes of the recipient candidate participant; an action acquisition unit that acquires actions taken by the recipient candidate participant toward the providing participant in association with the recipient candidate participant; a distribution right storage unit that stores a right to receive the distribution item according to the recipient candidate participant attributes and the content of the action; a right grant request receiving unit that receives from the recipient candidate participant a request to be granted the distribution right; and a right granting unit that retrieves from the distribution right storage unit a distribution right according to the recipient candidate participant attributes acquired in accordance with the recipient candidate participant received by the right grant request receiving unit and the content of the action acquired in association with the recipient candidate participant, and grants the distribution right to the recipient candidate participant.

[0035] An eleventh aspect is a distribution system for an online event in the tenth aspect, which is provided with a distribution announcement / distribution receipt screen display control unit that displays a distribution announcement / distribution receipt screen on the display screen of the candidate recipient participant's terminal to announce the distribution items that the providing participant will provide to the candidate recipient participant and / or to accept requests to receive the distribution items from the candidate recipient participant, and the distribution announcement / distribution receipt screen display control unit controls whether or not the distribution announcement / distribution receipt screen is displayed on the display screen of the candidate recipient participant's terminal depending on the candidate recipient participant attributes of the candidate recipient participant.

[0036] A twelfth aspect is a distribution item provision system for an online event in the tenth or eleventh aspect, which is further provided with a distribution item list screen display control unit that displays a distribution item list screen on the terminal of the candidate recipient participant, showing a list of distribution items that the providing participant will provide to the candidate recipient participant, and the distribution item list screen display control unit controls the content of the distribution item list screen displayed on the display screen of the terminal of the candidate recipient participant, or whether or not the distribution item list screen is displayed on the display screen of the terminal of the candidate recipient participant, depending on the candidate recipient participant attributes of the candidate recipient participant.

[0037] A thirteenth aspect is a distribution system for an online event in which a providing participant who provides a distribution grants a recipient candidate participant a right to receive the distribution, the system comprising: a contribution expectation acquisition unit that acquires the contribution expectation of the recipient candidate participant toward the providing participant; a contribution level acquisition unit that acquires the contribution level of the recipient candidate participant toward the providing participant, corresponding to the recipient candidate participant, depending on the content of the action taken by the recipient candidate participant toward the providing participant; a distribution right storage unit that stores distribution right(s) associated with a plurality of levels depending on the contribution expectation and contribution level; a right grant request receiving unit that receives from the recipient candidate participant a request to grant the distribution right; and a right granting unit that retrieves from the distribution right storage unit a distribution right of a level corresponding to the contribution expectation acquired corresponding to the recipient candidate participant and the contribution level acquired corresponding to the recipient candidate participant received by the right grant request receiving unit, and grants the distribution right of that level to the recipient candidate participant.

[0038] A fourteenth aspect is a distribution system for an online event, in which, in the thirteenth aspect, the expected contribution level is ranked into multiple ranks according to the attributes of the potential recipient participants.

[0039] In a fifteenth aspect, in the thirteenth or fourteenth aspect, a distribution notification / distribution receipt screen display control unit is provided that displays a distribution notification / distribution receipt screen on the display screen of the recipient candidate participant's terminal to notify the recipient candidate participant of the distribution that the providing participant will provide to the recipient candidate participant and / or to receive a request to receive the distribution from the recipient candidate participant, and the distribution notification / distribution receipt screen display control unit is

[0040] This is a distribution system for online events that controls whether or not the distribution announcement and distribution receipt screen is displayed on the display screen of the terminal of a potential recipient participant, depending on the expected contribution level of the potential recipient participant.

[0041] A sixteenth aspect is a distribution system for an online event, in any of the thirteenth to fifteenth aspects, which includes a distribution list screen display control unit that displays a distribution list screen on the terminal of the potential recipient participant, showing a list of distribution items that the providing participant will provide to the potential recipient participant, and the distribution list screen display control unit controls the display level of the distribution list screen displayed on the display screen of the terminal of the potential recipient participant, or whether or not the distribution list screen is displayed on the display screen of the terminal of the potential recipient participant, depending on the expected contribution level of the potential recipient participant.

[0042] The seventeenth aspect is a distribution system for an online event, including a display device of a providing participant terminal that displays a distribution registration screen for registering distributions to be provided at the online event, a distribution list screen that shows a list of registered distributions each having associated receipt conditions, a display device of a potential recipient terminal that displays a distribution receipt screen for accepting requests to receive distributions from potential recipient participants, and a display device of a sending terminal that displays a delivery list screen that shows a list of distributions for which the receipt conditions are met each having associated delivery destination information for sending the distributions to the delivery destination. [Effects of the Invention]

[0043] According to the first aspect, correspondence for each presenter is automatically created, which improves the efficiency of the conference preparation work compared to when the conference management system is not used.

[0044] According to the second aspect, when a company exhibits or displays online, the specific display information is made public only to participants who wish to provide that information. This increases the chances of matching and prevents the specific display information from leaking to competitors, etc., compared to when this exhibition system is not used.

[0045] According to the third aspect, exhibiting organizations such as supporting companies can determine specific actions that are advantageous to their organizations, and only participants who take those specific actions can receive novelties from the exhibiting organization. This increases the chances of matching exhibiting organizations and participants compared to when this exhibition system is not adopted.

[0046] According to the fourth, fifth and eighth aspects, it becomes easier for users who participate in multiple online academic conferences to participate and to handle information efficiently.

[0047] According to the sixth, seventh and ninth aspects, when users belonging to multiple companies form a group and exhibit at an online academic conference, it becomes possible to handle information efficiently.

[0048] According to the tenth to sixteenth aspects, when holding an event, it is possible to minimize the costs of distribution materials compared to conventional methods while maximizing opportunities for interaction and matching between providers and recipients of distribution materials.

[0049] According to the seventeenth aspect, when holding an event, the burden of selecting materials to be distributed, transporting them to the venue, distributing them to participants, and taking them home can be reduced compared to conventional methods. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0050] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a conference management system according to a first embodiment and an exhibition system according to a second embodiment and a third embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of the operator terminal, presenter terminal, participant terminal, exhibitor terminal, and server in each embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the functional configuration of the conference management system of the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the functional configuration of the exhibition system of the second embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating the functional configuration of the exhibition system of the third embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a conference opening screen. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a conference opening screen. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the conference preparation screen. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the conference preparation screen for presenters. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a company-side management screen. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of the company information screen. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of the novelty receipt acceptance screen. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating the functional configuration of an online academic conference management system according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 14] 14(A) and 14(B) are tables showing participation information. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the exhibitor information screen of the first exhibitor. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the exhibitor information screen of the second exhibitor. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 shows an exhibitor information screen for an exhibitor at another conference. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of an individual management screen that displays individual management information of a conference. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example of a list management screen that displays a list of management information for a plurality of conferences. [Figure 20] FIG. 20 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the functional configuration of a distribution system for an online event according to the fifth embodiment. [Figure 21] FIG. 21 is a table showing data stored in the distribution right storage unit and data for display control in the fifth embodiment. [Figure 22]FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an example of the distribution notice, receipt, and list screen. [Figure 23] FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of the distribution notice, receipt, and list screen. [Figure 24] FIG. 24 is a table showing data stored in the distribution right storage unit and data for display control in the sixth embodiment. [Figure 25] FIG. 25 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the functional configuration of a distribution system for an online event according to the sixth embodiment. [Figure 26A] FIG. 26A is a diagram showing a distribution item registration screen displayed on the display screen of the display device of the exhibitor's terminal on the provider side. [Figure 26B] FIG. 26B is a diagram showing a distribution item registration screen displayed on the display screen of the display device of the exhibitor's terminal on the provider side. [Figure 26C] FIG. 26C is a diagram illustrating an example of the distribution registration screen. [Figure 27] FIG. 27 is a diagram showing an example of the distribution management screen. [Figure 28] FIG. 28 is a diagram showing an example of the distribution management screen. [Figure 29] FIG. 29 is a diagram showing an example of a distribution item management screen for each providing participant. [Figure 30A] FIG. 30A is a diagram illustrating an example of a delivery list screen. [Figure 30B] FIG. 30B is a diagram illustrating an example of the delivery list screen. [Figure 30C] FIG. 30C is a diagram illustrating an example of the delivery list screen. [Figure 30D] FIG. 30D is a diagram illustrating an example of the delivery list screen. [Figure 30E] FIG. 30E is a diagram illustrating an example of the delivery list screen. [Figure 30F] FIG. 30F is a diagram illustrating an example of a delivery list screen. [Figure 30G] FIG. 30G is a diagram illustrating an example of the delivery list screen. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0051] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0052] 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a conference management system according to the first embodiment and an exhibition system according to the second and third embodiments. Events covered by the following embodiments include all types of events, such as online exhibitions, academic conferences, meetings, information exchange forums, lectures, and matching events.

[0053] The conference management system and exhibition system are composed of each operator's terminal 101, each presenter's terminal 111, 112, 113, each participant's terminal 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, each exhibitor's terminal 131, a server 200, and a network 300 connecting each terminal and the server 200 so that data can be sent and received between them.

[0054] Each operator terminal 101 will be collectively referred to as operator terminal 100. Each presenter terminal 111, 112, 113 will be collectively referred to as presenter terminal 110. Each participant terminal 121, 122, 123, 124, 125 will be collectively referred to as participant terminal 120. Each exhibitor institution terminal 131 will be collectively referred to as exhibitor institution terminal 130.

[0055] Exhibiting organizations include public institutions, universities, etc. other than companies, but in the embodiments, the exhibiting organizations are described as exhibiting companies. In the embodiments, it is assumed that when an academic conference is held, multiple companies exhibit booths as supporting companies. When a conference (symposium, etc.) is held, a person involved in a presentation is called a presenter. When an academic conference is held, a person involved in running the conference is called an organizer. Participants are people who take part in the academic conference, and exhibiting organizations are also participants.

[0056] The operator terminal 100, presenter terminal 110, participant terminal 120, and exhibitor terminal 130 are information processing devices, such as personal computers. The network 300 is the Internet, an intranet, or the like. The server 200 is a server device or a virtual server built on a cloud computing service.

[0057] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of the operator terminal 100, the presenter terminal 110, the participant terminal 120, the exhibitor terminal 130, and the server 200 in each embodiment.

[0058] As shown in Figure 2, in the operator's terminal 100, presenter's terminal 110, participant's terminal 120, exhibitor's terminal 130 and server 200, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, storage 14, an input device 16, a display device 17 and a communication I / F 18 are connected to each other so that they can communicate with each other via a system bus 15.

[0059] CPU 11 is a central processing unit that executes various programs and controls each device connected to system bus 15. That is, CPU 11 reads a program from ROM 12 or storage 14 and executes the program using RAM 13 as a work area. CPU 11 controls each device connected to system bus 15 and performs various arithmetic processing in accordance with the program recorded in ROM 12 or storage 14. ROM 12 or storage 14 stores a BIOS (Basic Input / Output System) and an OS (Operating System), which are control programs executed by CPU 11, as well as computer-readable and executable programs and various necessary data for realizing the present invention.

[0060] The ROM 12 stores various control programs and various data. The RAM 13 functions as the main memory, work area, etc. of the CPU 11 and temporarily stores programs or data as a working area. The storage 14 is composed of an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or SSD (Solid State Drive) and stores various programs including the BIOS and OS, and various data.

[0061] The input device 16 includes a pointing device such as a mouse and a keyboard, and is used to make various inputs.

[0062] The display device 17 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, and displays various information. The display device 17 may also function as the input device 16 by adopting a touch panel system.

[0063] The display screen of the display device 17 displays the conference opening screens 500, 510 (Figures 6 and 7), conference preparation screen 600 (Figure 8), conference preparation screen for presenters 610 (Figure 9), company management screen 750 (Figure 10), company information screen 700 (Figure 11), and novelty receipt acceptance screen 800 (Figure 12), which will be described later.

[0064] The communication interface 18 is an interface for communicating with other devices, and uses standards such as Ethernet (registered trademark), FDDI, Wi-Fi (registered trademark), etc. The communication interface 18 connects to a network 300 and controls the transmission and reception of data.

[0065] The presenter terminal 110 and the participant terminal 120 can access the server 200 to specify a specific conference from the conference opening screen 500 and hold the conference. For example, the presenter terminal 110 and the participant terminal 120 are connected to a web camera (not shown) for transmitting their own video images, a microphone (not shown) for transmitting audio, and speakers (not shown) for listening to the audio of the other party. In a conference, screen sharing can be performed in which the display screen of the display device 17 of the presenter terminal 110 acting as the host is displayed on the display screen of the display device 17 of the participant terminal 120 acting as the guest. The screen to be shared can be specified by the presenter terminal 110 acting as the host. Furthermore, the screen to be shared may be a screen showing an application, or the entire display screen of the display device 17.

[0066] An online academic conference lecture is conducted by installing an online conference program on the presenter terminal 110, which serves as the host, and the participant terminals 120, which serve as guests, and executing the online conference program.

[0067] The following online business card exchange program may be installed on the host presenter terminal 110 and the guest participant terminal 120 to conduct an online academic conference lecture. Alternatively, an online conference program having the functions of the following online business card exchange program may be used.

[0068] (Online business card exchange program)

[0069] (Previous problems)

[0070] One thing that exists in real academic conferences but is missing in online conferences is time to exchange business cards.

[0071] At real academic conferences, there is a time after the lecture where presenters and participants exchange business cards. Participants have a variety of reasons for exchanging business cards. Some simply want to get the presenter's business card, some want to leave a record of having spoken with the presenter, some want to ask questions about the lecture, some want to share their own ideas and see the presenter's reaction, some want to get permission to meet again at another time, and so on. The nature of the business card exchange time differs from the question time during or at the end of the lecture; the more popular the presenter, the more people want to exchange business cards, and the longer the line. Furthermore, even if participants who continue to talk for a long time during the business card exchange time are a nuisance to the presenter, they cannot simply refuse, and it also inconveniences the other participants who are waiting in line.

[0072] On the other hand, if online academic lectures don't have time to exchange business cards, they can be less appealing than real academic lectures. Even chatting during lectures makes it difficult to have conversations like exchanging business cards.

[0073] (Problem to be solved)

[0074] Therefore, the objective is to make online meetings closer to real meetings by adding an online business card exchange program to the online meeting program, and to provide additional functions to make them more convenient than real meetings.

[0075] (Example of an online business card exchange program)

[0076] The online business card exchange program is executed as follows: It is assumed that the online conference program is running.

[0077] 1) A business card exchange request button is displayed on the screen sharing page of the online conference on the display device 17 of the participant terminal 120.

[0078] 2) When the business card exchange request button is pressed on the screen of the display device 17 of the participant terminal 120, the participant is requested to input his / her affiliation and name.

[0079] 3) The affiliation and name of the participant who pressed the business card exchange request button and entered their own affiliation and name are displayed on the screen of the display device 17 of the presenter terminal 110. The presenter can see in real time the affiliation and name of the participant who wishes to exchange business cards.

[0080] 4) On the screen of the display device 17 of the presenter terminal 110, a priority button and a normal button are displayed in association with participants who wish to exchange business cards. The priority button and normal button are used to sort participants into those who wish to exchange business cards as a priority (referred to as priority participants) and other participants (referred to as normal participants) by pressing the priority button or normal button for each participant who wishes to exchange business cards.

[0081] In addition, presenters can determine which shared screen pages they are explaining are causing an increase in participants wanting to exchange business cards. This allows presenters to know which shared screen pages or explanations are most likely to attract an audience, and can use this information for their next lecture.

[0082] 5) After the presenter finishes his / her lecture, the total number of participants who wish to exchange business cards and the number of priority participants are displayed on the screen of the display device 17 of the presenter terminal 110. A business card exchange time start button is displayed on the screen of the display device 17 of the presenter terminal 110.

[0083] 6) When the presenter presses the business card exchange time start button on the screen of the display device 17 of the presenter terminal 110, the presenter terminal 110 and the participant terminal 120 of the participant who wishes to exchange business cards are connected via a webcam, microphone, and speaker so that they can have a face-to-face conversation, and an online face-to-face conversation can be held using the entire screen, for example. In the case where there are priority participants and regular participants, the priority participants are given priority over the regular participants. In the case where there are multiple priority participants, the person who wished to exchange business cards first is given priority.

[0084] 7) When having an online face-to-face conversation, a conversation private button is displayed on the screen of the display device 17 of the presenter terminal 110. When the presenter presses the conversation private button on the screen of the display device 17 of the presenter terminal 110, the conversation between the presenter and the other participants is prevented from being heard.

[0085] 8) When an online face-to-face conversation is being held, a business card exchange unit time selection button is displayed on the screen of the display device 17 of the presenter terminal 110. When the presenter presses the business card exchange unit time selection button on the screen of the display device 17 of the presenter terminal 110, the conversation time per person is limited by the selected business card exchange unit time. For example, a business card exchange unit time of "3 minutes" can be selected. When the selected business card exchange unit time is reached from the start of the online face-to-face conversation, an end message such as "The time limit has been reached. The next participant wishing to exchange business cards is waiting, so please end your conversation!" is displayed on the screen of the display device 17 of the presenter terminal 110. The end message may also be announced via a speaker. This prompts the presenter to change to the participant with whom they wish to exchange business cards next.

[0086] 9) When an online face-to-face conversation is being held, a conversation end button is displayed on the screen of display device 17 of presenter terminal 110. When the presenter presses the conversation end button on the screen of display device 17 of presenter terminal 110, an end message is displayed or announced even in the middle of the online face-to-face conversation.

[0087] 10) During an online face-to-face conversation, an online business card exchange is performed. A business card exchange button is displayed on the screen of the display device 17 of the presenter terminal 110. Similarly, a business card exchange button is displayed on the screen of the display device 17 of the participant terminal 120 during the online face-to-face conversation. When the presenter presses the business card exchange button on the screen of the display device 17 of the presenter terminal 110, data of the presenter's real business card can be downloaded to the participant terminal 120 during the online face-to-face conversation. Similarly, when a participant during the online face-to-face conversation presses the business card exchange button on the screen of the display device 17 of the participant terminal 120, data of the participant's real business card during the online face-to-face conversation can be downloaded to the presenter terminal 120.

[0088] If a participant or presenter has a plurality of types of business cards, the participant or presenter can select a type of business card suitable for the other party from among the plurality of types of business cards.

[0089] It is also possible to introduce a third party during an online face-to-face conversation. For example, the third party's email address can be displayed on the screen of the display device 17. Even those who are not registered as users of this online academic conference hosting system can exchange business cards with presenters and participants online via email.

[0090] It is also possible to automatically generate a confidentiality agreement during an online face-to-face conversation based on the user information of the parties to the online face-to-face conversation, information on the title of the lecture, and information on the date and time of the lecture, and have the parties to the online face-to-face conversation stamp the confidentiality agreement with an electronic seal.

[0091] 11) When the business card exchange time start button is pressed on the screen of the display device 17 of the presenter terminal 110, a message saying "There are xx people who want to exchange business cards. You are xxth" is displayed on the screen of the display device 17 of the participant terminal 120 of the participant who wishes to exchange business cards. This allows the participant who wishes to exchange business cards to know the approximate waiting time until the online face-to-face conversation begins.

[0092] As described above, by applying the online business card exchange program to an online academic conference hosting system, not only can business cards be exchanged in the same way as at a real academic conference, but the exchange of business cards can be done efficiently, improving convenience for both presenters and participants.

[0093] (First embodiment)

[0094] The conference management system of the first embodiment will be described below.

[0095] In the first embodiment, an application example of holding an online academic conference will be described.

[0096] 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the functional configuration of the conference management system of the first embodiment. The functional configuration illustrated in FIG.

[0097] The conference management system includes a conference hosting information input unit 1001, a conference hosting screen generation unit 1002, a preparation status update unit 1003, a communication document generation unit 1004, and a transmission unit 1005. The conference management system further includes a database 1011 that stores user registration information for each user, such as the organizer, presenters, participants, and exhibiting companies, and a database 1012 that stores conference hosting information.

[0098] (Meeting preparation screen)

[0099] When holding an academic conference, the organizers set up a program for each theme (session). The organizers create conference information consisting of the session chairperson, speakers for each program, session name, date, time and venue, title of each program, and abstract. Chairpersons and speakers are called presenters. The organizers communicate with each presenter (chairperson, speaker) by email, checking their progress.

[0100] For those who are scheduled to be presenters but have not yet registered as users, the organizers can register them on their behalf based on their email address, etc. Similarly, for those who are desirable participants but have not yet registered as users, the organizers can register them on their behalf based on their email address, etc.

[0101] The administrator has the authority to access the conference information input unit 1001 .

[0102] When user information (ID and password) identifying the conference organizer is entered from the organizer terminal 101, the conference preparation screen 600 shown in FIG.

[0103] The conference preparation screen 600 is a display screen for preparing a conference (for example, a symposium) called session SA1, for example.

[0104] The organizer inputs the conference holding information CO1 for the session SA1 on the conference preparation screen 600.

[0105] The conference information CO1 for session SA1 includes, for example, the following information:

[0106] Information that the session named SA1 contains programs titled PB1 and PB2

[0107] -Information that the order of presentation of programs PB1 and PB2 is OD1 first and OD2 second, respectively

[0108] The role R1 of the chairperson of session SA1 will be performed by YO, and the roles R2 of the presenters of programs PB1 and PB2 will be performed by KY and NT, respectively.

[0109] - Information that the abstracts for programs PB1 and PB2 are AB1 and AB2, respectively

[0110] - Information that the date, start time, end time and location of Session SA1 are D1

[0111] (Meeting screen)

[0112] The conference holding screen generating unit 1002 generates the conference holding screen 500 shown in FIG.

[0113] The conference opening screen 500 includes, for example, display sections 501, 502, and 503 associated with the sessions SA1, SA2, and SA3, respectively.

[0114] For example, the display unit 501 displays a session name (theme) called SA1 and the date, time, and location D1 of session SA1. The same applies to the other display units 502 and 503. The display unit 502 displays a session name (theme) called SA2 and the date, time, and location D2 of session SA2. The display unit 503 displays a session name (theme) called SA3 and the date, time, and location D3 of session SA3.

[0115] By the way, the sponsoring companies place their advertisements on the conference hosting screen 500. The advertisements may be displayed so that the larger the sponsorship amount, the more frequently the advertisements are displayed on the conference hosting screen 500.

[0116] 6 shows a case where sponsoring company COM1 has posted corporate advertisement AD1, sponsoring company COM2 has posted corporate advertisement AD2, and sponsoring company COM3 has posted corporate advertisement AD3 on the conference hosting screen 500. For example, when the display location of corporate advertisement AD1 on the conference hosting screen 500 is clicked, the screen transitions to a corporate information screen 700 (see FIG. 11) showing corporate information of sponsoring company COM1, which is hyperlinked to that display location. The corporate information screen 700 will be described in the second embodiment, which will be described later.

[0117] In addition, when soliciting sponsorship from each company, the organizer may send a sponsorship prospectus to each company, and each company may send a letter of acceptance to the organizer, using the conference hosting system (Figure 1), for example, by sending and receiving data to each other via a communication network such as the Internet.

[0118] By pressing a participation / viewing button (not shown) arranged near the display unit 501 on the conference opening screen 500, a user can participate in the conference of the corresponding session SA1 and view the conference.

[0119] Incidentally, there are credit-certified lectures for which attendance credits are certified under the specialist system, etc. In this case, it is possible to set a restriction on the attributes of participants, such as only allowing doctors PA1 who belong to an academic society to watch the credit-certified lectures.

[0120] Furthermore, conferences can be streamed in real time or as past recordings. The playback speed can be adjusted to a specific speed when viewing. It is also possible to impose a playback speed limit for each presenter. For example, a presentation by a fast-talking presenter can be limited to 1.2x speed or slower.

[0121] Furthermore, when streaming a lecture, it is possible to stream not only the video but also the audio only, which allows users to watch the lecture on a portable player while doing other tasks.

[0122] When a display location on the display unit 501 on the conference opening screen 500 is clicked, conference opening information CO1 of the session SA1 hyperlinked to that display location is displayed on the conference opening screen 510, as shown in FIG.

[0123] The conference opening screen 510 shown in FIG. 7 is configured as follows.

[0124] The upper part of the conference information screen 510 displays an "Outline of Session SA1" including the session name (theme) SA1, the date, time and location D1 of session SA1, and the role R1 of chairperson of session SA1, which will be performed by a person named YO.

[0125] Below the summary of session SA1 is a presenter group display area 511. The presenter group display area 511 displays information that the role R1 of chairperson of session SA1 is performed by a person named YO, and the roles R2 of speakers of programs PB1 and PB2 are performed by people named KY and NT, respectively.

[0126] In the presenter collective display section 511, information about affiliation 512 and an information exchange request contact button 513 are provided for each chairperson and speaker. Pressing the information exchange request contact button 513 allows you to contact the corresponding presenter by email or the like.

[0127] The presenter collective display area 511 is provided with a discussion room entry button 514 for entering a bulletin board where discussions regarding session SA1 will take place. The conditions for participating in the bulletin board can be determined according to the attributes of the participants (physician PA1 belonging to the academic society, invited presenter PA2, non-member physician PB, audience PC, exhibitor company PD). In this specification, the term "participant attributes" refers to the participant classification in an online event such as an online academic conference or online exhibition.

[0128] Below the presenter collective display section 511, a program PB1 information display section is arranged.

[0129] The program PB1 information display section displays information that the presentation order for program PB1 is first OD1, the title is PB1, the abstract is AB1, and the role R2 of presenter for program PB1 will be performed by a person named KY.

[0130] Below the program PB1 information display section, the program PB2 information display section is arranged.

[0131] The program PB2 information display section displays information that the presentation order for program PB2 is second by OD2, the title is PB2, the abstract is AB2, and the role R2 of presenter for program PB2 is performed by a person named NT.

[0132] Below the second program PB2 information display area, there is provided a support request button for requesting support from the organizer regarding session SA1. The support request button may be provided in the presenter collective display area 511. For example, the support request button can be provided near the discussion room entry button 514.

[0133] It should be noted that measures may be taken to allow access by persons other than the administrator so that information such as the title and abstract on the conference opening screen 510 can be modified by the presenter who is the author. The same applies to the company information screen.

[0134] Corporate advertisements can be displayed not only on a per-conference-organizing screen 500 basis, but also on a per-session or per-program basis within the conference organizing screen 510 .

[0135] 7, for example, if company COM1 manufactures and sells products related to the theme of session SA1, then company COM1's corporate advertisement AD1 will be placed, for example, at the lowest position on the conference opening screen 510 for session SA1 at the request of company COM1. Also, if company COM1 manufactures and sells products related to program PB1 in session SA1, then company COM1's corporate advertisement AD1 will be placed in the program PB1 information display section on the conference opening screen 510 for session SA1 at the request of company COM1.

[0136] Furthermore, when an operation such as clicking on the display location of the corporate advertisement AD1 displayed on a session or program basis is performed, the display screen transitions to the corporate information screen 700 (see Figure 11) of the sponsoring company COM1.

[0137] (Preparation status updates and correspondence generation)

[0138] Returning to FIG. 8, in order to hold the conference for session SA1, preparations are required to create conference holding information CO1 for session SA1 and to contact the people involved in session SA1 by email.

[0139] The organizers of Session SA1 will communicate with each presenter (chairman, speaker) of Session SA1 and other organizers of Session SA1 by email, checking the progress of each presenter.

[0140] The organizer of session SA1 prepares to create conference information CO1 for session SA1, while also preparing to contact each presenter and organizer of session SA1 by email.

[0141] The operator of session SA1 has the authority to access the preparation status update unit 1003 .

[0142] The conference preparation screen 600 has a presenter / manager list display section 601 for session SA1. The presenter / manager list display section 601 displays the roles and preparation statuses associated with each presenter and manager. The order displayed in the presenter / manager list display section 601 can be, for example, a random display in the order in which users were registered, or can be sorted and displayed in a pre-set order. For example, it can be set in advance to display users whose role is chairperson at the top, users whose role is performer below chairperson, and users whose role is performer below performer. If there are multiple presenters, it can be set in advance to display them in the order of presentation. Presenter information is displayed on the conference opening screens 500 and 510 according to this set order.

[0143] The preparation status includes, for example, the statuses "request," "acceptance," "online conference readiness confirmation," and "advance notice."

[0144] Each preparation status is associated with a check box 603. The check boxes 603 constitute the preparation status update unit 1003.

[0145] Checkbox 603 is checked automatically or manually depending on the current preparation status, and the preparation status of the presenter and organizer is updated.

[0146] Each preparation status is associated with a correspondence generation button 602 .

[0147] The create communication button 602 is a button for instructing the creation of a communication. When the create communication button 602 is pressed, the communication generation unit 1004 generates a communication to be sent to the corresponding presenter and administrator. The following describes the case where a communication to be sent to the presenter is generated.

[0148] The email message sent to each presenter will vary depending on their role and their current preparation status. For example, the email message sent to each presenter will need to be different for each program PB1 and PB2 in which the presenter is involved.

[0149] A text input box for inputting the proceedings outline E1 of session SA1 as text is provided on the conference preparation screen 600. It is desirable to include the proceedings outline E1 in the text of the email sent to the chairperson.

[0150] The following is an example of generating correspondence for the chairperson YO of session SA1, the speaker KY of program PB1, and the speaker NT of program B2.

[0151] When user YO wishes to create a communication requesting him / her to chair session A1, the user presses the communication generation button 602 associated with the user YO's preparation status "Request." In response, the communication generation unit 1004 generates a communication stating, "Dear YO, the date, start time, end time, and venue of session SA1 are scheduled for D1. I would like to request that you chair session SA1. Please accept."

[0152] When user KY wishes to create a communication requesting him / her to be a speaker for program PB1, the user presses the communication generation button 602 associated with the user KY's preparation status "Request." In response, the communication generation unit 1004 generates a communication stating, "Dear KY, The date, start time, end time, and venue for session SA1 are scheduled for D1. The presentation order for program PB1 is scheduled to be OD1. We would like to request that you be a speaker for program PB1. We ask for your approval. If you approve, please send us the abstract for program PB1."

[0153] When a user wants to create a communication requesting user NT to be a speaker for program PB2, the user presses the communication generation button 602 associated with the user NT's preparation status "Request." In response, the communication generation unit 1004 generates a communication stating, "Dear NT, The date, start time, end time, and venue for session SA1 are scheduled for D1. Program PB2 will be presented second on OD. We would like to request that you be a speaker for program PB2. We ask for your approval. If you approve, please send us the abstract for program PB2."

[0154] Similarly, correspondence documents are generated for translators and other conference organizers according to each user's role and preparation status "Request."

[0155] It is also possible to instruct the communication generator 1004 to generate "request" communication documents for all participants in session SA1 at once.

[0156] The sending unit 1005 sends the correspondence generated by the correspondence generating unit 1004 to the corresponding presenter. The sending of the correspondence may be performed by the administrator checking the text of the correspondence and issuing a transmission instruction, or may be performed automatically without issuing a transmission instruction.

[0157] It is also possible to instruct the sending unit 1005 to send all the generated "request" correspondence documents at once.

[0158] When a correspondence is sent, the preparation status is updated. For example, when a "request" correspondence is sent to user YO, the preparation status associated with user YO is updated to the "request" preparation status. For example, the "request" checkbox 603 is automatically checked, and the preparation status is updated to the "request" preparation status. Similarly, the preparation status associated with users KY and NT is updated to the "request" preparation status.

[0159] The presenter or administrator who receives the correspondence has the authority to update the preparation status for each user.

[0160] When user information (ID and password) identifying user YO is entered from presenter terminal 111 of user YO, presenter conference preparation screen 610 shown in FIG.

[0161] The presenter's conference preparation screen 610 displays the preparation status in the same manner as the conference preparation screen 600.

[0162] The preparation status of the presenter's conference preparation screen 610 is synchronized with the preparation status of the conference preparation screen 600, and the preparation status of one screen is updated in response to an update of the preparation status of the other screen.

[0163] Presenters and organizers who receive the communication document update their own preparation status according to the content of the communication document. For example, when user YO receives a communication document of a "request" from the chairperson of session SA1, if user YO decides to "accept" the "request" after checking the content of the communication document, user YO checks the "accept" checkbox 603 in the preparation status on the presenter's conference preparation screen 610. This updates the preparation status of chairperson YO of session SA1 on the presenter's conference preparation screen 610 to "accept."

[0164] When the preparation status of the chairperson YO of session SA1 on the conference preparation screen for presenters 610 is updated to "accepted", the preparation status of the chairperson YO of session SA1 on the conference preparation screen 600 is also updated synchronously to "accepted".

[0165] The preparation status is created and updated for each session. A session created on the conference preparation screen 600 is reflected in the presenter's conference preparation screen 610 in synchronization.

[0166] For example, it is assumed that the chairperson YO of session SA1 is also the chairperson of another session SA2. The chairperson YO of session SA1 can view the preparation status of session SA1 and the preparation status of another session SA2 on the presenter conference preparation screen 610. Note that, as shown in the example of FIG. 9, it is also possible to view the preparation status of session SB1 of another conference.

[0167] The same applies when presenter KY of program PB1 in session SA1 receives a communication document of a "request" and "accepts." When the preparation status is updated to "accepted" on the presenter's conference preparation screen on display device 17 of presenter terminal 112 of user KY, the preparation status of presenter KY of program PB1 in session SA1 on conference preparation screen 600 is also synchronously updated to "accepted."

[0168] If a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the "request" communication was sent and the corresponding preparation status has not been updated, a reminder communication can also be automatically sent. For example, if a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the "request" communication was sent to the presenter NT of program SB2 in session SA1 and the corresponding preparation status has not been updated, the sending unit 1005 automatically sends a reminder communication to the user NT again. When the preparation status is updated to "accepted" on the presenter's conference preparation screen on the display device 17 of the presenter terminal 113 of the user NT, the preparation status of the presenter NT of program PB2 in session SA1 on the conference preparation screen 600 is also synchronously updated to "accepted."

[0169] When the conference information CO1 for session SA1 is created on the conference preparation screen 600, a communication document for the "advance notice" for session A1 is generated. The conference information CO1 is stored in the database 1012 for conference information.

[0170] When a user wants to create a "pre-notification" communication to be sent to the chairperson YO of session SA1, the user presses the communication generation button 602 associated with the "pre-notification" preparation status of the chairperson YO. In response, the communication generation unit 1004 generates a communication stating, "Dear YO, The conference information for session SA1 is as shown in CO1 below. Please confirm. Please follow the procedure for session SA1 as shown in E1."

[0171] When creating a "pre-notification" communication to be sent to speaker KY of program PB1 in session SA1, the communication generate button 602 associated with the preparation status "pre-notification" of speaker KY of program PB1 is pressed. In response, the communication generator 1004 generates a communication stating, "Dear KY, The conference information for session SA1 is as follows in CO1. Please double-check the contents AB1 of the abstract for program PB1. The presentation order for program PB1 is OD1. We look forward to seeing you on the day."

[0172] When a user wishes to create a "pre-notification" communication to be sent to the speaker NT of program PB2 in session SA1, the user presses the communication generation button 602 associated with the preparation status "pre-notification" of the speaker NT of program PB2. In response, the communication generation unit 1004 generates a communication stating, "Dear NT, The conference information for session SA1 is as follows in CO1. Please double-check the contents AB2 of the abstract for program PB2. The presentation order for program PB2 is OD2. We look forward to seeing you there."

[0173] Similarly, correspondence documents are generated for translators and other conference organizers according to their roles and preparation status "advance notice."

[0174] It is also possible to instruct the communication generator 1004 to generate a "preliminary notice" communication to be sent to all participants in session SA1 all at once.

[0175] The sending unit 1005 sends the correspondence generated by the correspondence generating unit 1004 to the corresponding presenter.

[0176] It is also possible to instruct the sending unit 1005 to send all the generated "advance notice" correspondence documents at once.

[0177] When the transmission of the communication document is executed, the preparation status indicating that the transmission of the communication document has been executed is updated. For example, when the transmission of the "pre-notification" communication document to be sent to the chairperson YO of session SA1 is executed, the preparation status associated with the chairperson YO of session SA1 is updated to the preparation status of "pre-notification." For example, a check is automatically added to the checkbox 603 for "pre-notification" associated with the chairperson YO of session SA1. Similarly, the preparation status associated with the performer KY of program PB1 of session SA1 and the performer NT of program PB2 of session SA1 are updated to the preparation status of "pre-notification."

[0178] Information necessary for holding a conference, such as preparation status, can be managed in association with each presenter and each organizer. For example, this information includes the presenter's detailed role (e.g., vice chair), the organizer's detailed role (e.g., manager, faculty), whether the presenter is a speaker, whether the abstract required for the lecture has been submitted, whether the video or slides will be presented first during the lecture, and the honorific for addressing correspondence (e.g., "Sama," "Gotekishita," etc.). Correspondence documents can be generated based on this information. For example, if the abstract required for a lecture has not been submitted, a correspondence document can be generated requesting the presenter to submit an abstract.

[0179] Further, detailed preparation status such as "whether or not the abstract required for the lecture has been submitted" may be displayed on the conference preparation screen in association with the presenter and the organizer.

[0180] Furthermore, not only can the preparation status of the presenters and managers be displayed for each session SA1 on the conference preparation screen, but the preparation status of the presenters and managers for all sessions of the conference, or the preparation status of the presenters and managers for multiple conferences, can also be displayed together on the conference preparation screen.

[0181] In addition, the information prepared for the conference may be presented to the presenters when the online conference is held. For example, the proceedings outline E1 for session SA1 may be displayed on the screen of the display device 17 of the presenter terminal 110 of the chairperson and performers during the lecture. This allows the lecture to proceed smoothly.

[0182] As described above, according to the first embodiment, a communication document is automatically generated according to the role and preparation status of each presenter based on the conference information CO1 and the preparation status of each presenter on the conference preparation screen 600. This allows the preparation work of creating the conference information CO1 and the preparation work of contacting each presenter by email to be unified in one system. This dramatically improves the efficiency of conference preparation work compared to when the system of the first embodiment is not adopted.

[0183] In particular, in the first embodiment, the preparation status is automatically updated on the conference preparation screen 600 in response to an update of the preparation status on the presenter's conference preparation screen 610 on the recipient side, eliminating the need for the presenter on the recipient side to send a reply message to the sender and the need for the sender to check the reply message, thereby dramatically reducing the workload on both the presenter and the organizer side.

[0184] It is also possible for the presenter on the receiving side to send a correspondence back to the administrator on the sending side. It is also possible to update the preparation status entirely manually.

[0185] (Second embodiment)

[0186] The exhibition system of the second embodiment will be described below.

[0187] In the second embodiment, an application example of holding an online academic conference will be described.

[0188] 4 is a block diagram illustrating the functional configuration of the exhibition system of the second embodiment. The functional configuration illustrated in FIG. 4 includes a server 200, a participant terminal 120, and an exhibitor terminal 130.

[0189] The exhibition system includes a display information storage unit 2001, a setting unit 2002, a reception unit 2003, an acquisition unit 2004, a determination unit 2005, and a display control unit 2006. The exhibition system further includes a database 1011 that stores user registration information for each user, such as the administrator, presenter, participant, and exhibiting organization (exhibiting company).

[0190] (Company information screen)

[0191] In the following description, it is assumed that the exhibiting organization is a sponsoring company COM1 of the academic conference. Company information of the sponsoring company COM1 of the academic conference is stored in the display information storage unit 2001.

[0192] The exhibiting company COM1 has the authority to access the display information storage unit 2001.

[0193] The information provided by exhibiting company COM1 includes general display information DG that may be made public, and specific display information (premium information) DS that should not be disclosed to participants such as other competing companies. The display information storage unit 2001 stores the general display information DS and the specific display information DS.

[0194] FIG. 11 shows an example of a company information screen 700 that displays company information about exhibitor COM1.

[0195] The company information screen 700 is made up of a general display information screen 710 that displays general display information DG, and a specific display information screen 720 that displays specific display information DS.

[0196] General display information DG1, DG2, and DG3 are displayed in display areas 711, 712, and 713 of the general display information screen 710. Specific display information DS1, DS2, and DS3 are displayed in display areas 721, 722, and 723 of the specific display information screen 720. Specific display information DS1 is, for example, product information such as product specifications, specific display information DS2 is, for example, document request information related to a document request for the product, and specific display information DS3 is, for example, estimate request information related to a quote request for ordering the product.

[0197] Participants have the authority to access the general display information DG (DG1, DG2, DG3) among the company information stored in the display information storage unit 2001.

[0198] The participant can display the general display information screen 710 of the company information screen 700 on the display device 17 of the participant terminal 120.

[0199] The general display information screen 710 is provided with a display request acceptance button 714. When the display request acceptance button 714 is pressed, a display request for the specific display information DS (DS1, DS2, DS3) is accepted.

[0200] When the display conditions for specific display information DS (DS1, DS2, DS3) are met, participants are granted the authority to access specific display information DS (DS1, DS2, DS3) from the company information stored in the display information storage unit 2001.

[0201] Products may be displayed in 3D using 3D data on the company information screen 700. For example, the 3D data of a product may be requested online from an external vendor and delivered.

[0202] Furthermore, the company information data to be displayed on the company information screen 700 may be stored in the display information storage unit 2001, and the stored company information data may be copied and displayed on the company information screen 700 of another exhibition.

[0203] (Setting display conditions for specific display information)

[0204] The exhibitor COM1 has the authority to access the setting section 2002 .

[0205] When user information (ID and password) identifying exhibiting company COM1 is entered from the exhibitor's terminal 131, the company management screen 750 for exhibiting company COM1 can be displayed on the display device 17, as shown in FIG.

[0206] On the company management screen 750, the exhibiting company COM1 can set the display conditions for displaying the specific display information DS on the participant terminal 120.

[0207] As shown in FIG. 10, display conditions such as "display without conditions," "display on condition of placing a business card," and "display on condition of approval" can be set in association with participant attributes such as doctor PA1 belonging to an academic society, invited presenter PA2, non-member doctor PB, attendee PC, and exhibitor PD. For example, the display condition "display on condition of placing a business card" is set for doctor PA1 and invited presenter PA2 belonging to an academic society. The display condition "display on condition of approval" is set for non-member doctor PB, attendee PC, and exhibitor PD. As is clear from FIG. 10, participant attributes indicating participant classifications in an online event can be determined, for example, according to the type of participation ticket for the online event (doctor PA1, invited presenter PA2, non-member doctor PB, attendee PC, exhibitor PD).

[0208] In this embodiment, exhibitor COM1 acts as a user and manages the company information of this exhibitor COM1. However, in academic societies, it is sometimes desirable for multiple users constituting multiple companies (institutions) to form a team and manage the company information of the multiple companies (institutions). Therefore, it is also possible to configure multiple companies (institutions) as a team, and each user constituting the team manages the company information of the multiple companies (institutions).

[0209] In order to prevent advertisements for pharmaceuticals, etc. from being viewed by the general public other than medical professionals, advertisements for pharmaceuticals, etc. on the company management screen 750 may be made unavailable to the general public other than medical professionals based on the attributes of the participants who have registered as users.

[0210] (Acceptance of display requests)

[0211] Participants have the authority to access the reception unit 2003 .

[0212] When the user inputs user information (ID and password) that identifies the participant from the participant terminal 120, the company information screen 700 associated with the exhibiting company COM1 can be displayed on the display device 17.

[0213] As shown in FIG. 11, the company information screen 700 for the exhibitor company COM1 displays the general display information DG (DG1, DG2, DG3) for the exhibitor company COM1.

[0214] The display request acceptance button 714 on the company information screen 700 constitutes the acceptance section 2003 .

[0215] When the display request acceptance button 714 is pressed, a display request for specific display information DS is accepted in association with the participant's user information. The user information includes information on the participant's attributes (physician PA1 belonging to the conference, invited presenter PA2, non-member physician PB, attendee PC, exhibitor company PD).

[0216] On the company information screen 700, specific actions such as placing a business card or filling out a questionnaire can be performed by operating the screen.

[0217] (Getting participant attributes)

[0218] The acquiring unit 2004 acquires the attributes of the participant whose request for displaying the specific display information DS has been accepted by the accepting unit 2003 .

[0219] (Determining whether the display conditions are met)

[0220] The determining unit 2005 determines whether the display conditions associated with the attributes of the participants acquired by the acquiring unit 2004 are satisfied.

[0221] If the participant has the attribute of doctor PA1 who belongs to the academic society, it is determined that the display condition of "placing a business card" is satisfied.

[0222] If the participant has the attribute of invited presenter PA2, it is determined that the display condition "placing a business card" is satisfied.

[0223] If the participant has the attribute of non-member physician PB, it is determined that the display condition "approval" is met.

[0224] If the participant has the attribute of an audience PC, it is determined that the display condition "approval" is satisfied.

[0225] If the participant has the attribute of exhibitor PD, it is determined that the display condition "approved" is satisfied.

[0226] The exhibiting company COM1 can grant "approval" certification to a participant who has accepted a display request for specific display information DS on a company management screen (not shown).

[0227] (Display control of specific display information)

[0228] If the determination unit 2005 determines that the display conditions are met, the display control unit 2006 displays the specific display information DS of the exhibitor COM1 on the participant terminal 120 of the participant who requested the display of the specific display information DS.

[0229] If the participant who made the display request has the attribute of doctor PA1 who belongs to the academic conference, the display condition of "placing a business card" is satisfied, and the specific display information DS of exhibiting company COM1 is displayed on the display device 17 of the participant terminal 121 of doctor PA1 who belongs to the academic conference.

[0230] If the participant who made the display request has the attribute of invited presenter PA2, the display condition of "placing a business card" is satisfied, and the specific display information DS of exhibiting company COM1 is displayed on the display device 17 of the participant terminal 122 of the invited presenter PA2.

[0231] If the participant who made the display request has the attribute of non-member physician PB, once the display condition of "approval" is met, the specific display information DS of exhibiting company COM1 will be displayed on the display device 17 of the participant terminal 123 of the non-member physician PB.

[0232] If the participant who made the display request has the attribute of an audience PC, the display condition of "approval" is met and the specific display information DS of exhibiting company COM1 is displayed on the display device 17 of the participant terminal 124 of the audience PC.

[0233] If the participant who made the display request has the attribute of exhibiting company PD, the display condition of "approval" is met and the specific display information DS of exhibiting company COM1 is displayed on the display device 17 of the participant terminal 125 of that exhibiting company PD.

[0234] It is also possible to prepare a plurality of specific display information DS1, DS2, DS3 and set different display conditions for each of the specific display information DS1, DS2, DS3.

[0235] For example, the specific display information DS2 for the document request information and the specific display information DS3 for the estimate request information may be displayed on the display device 17 of the participant terminal 120 when the condition "approval" is met in addition to the condition "placing the business card on the company information screen of the exhibitor COM1." In this case, the specific display information DS1 for the product information is displayed on the display device 17 of the participant terminal 120 only when the display condition "placing the business card on the company information screen of the exhibitor COM1" is met.

[0236] Also, for example, if the attributes of the participant are an audience member PC or an exhibiting company PD, it is possible to implement an implementation in which the specific display information DS2 for the document request information and the specific display information DS3 for the estimate request information are not displayed regardless of whether the display conditions are met. In this case, if the attributes of the participant are a doctor PA1 belonging to the academic society, an invited presenter PA2, or a non-member doctor PB, the specific display information DS2 for the document request information and the specific display information DS3 for the estimate request information are displayed on the display device 17 of the participant side terminals 121, 122, and 123 as long as the display conditions are met.

[0237] According to the second embodiment, when a company exhibits online, it is possible to increase the chances of matching by disclosing specific display information DS only to participants who wish to provide that information, while preventing the leakage of specific display information DS to competing companies, etc.

[0238] The exhibition system of the second embodiment is applicable not only to corporate exhibitions at online academic conferences but also to a wide range of general exhibitions.

[0239] (Third embodiment)

[0240] The exhibition system of the third embodiment will be described below.

[0241] In the third embodiment, an application example of holding an online exhibition event such as an online academic conference will be described.

[0242] 5 is a block diagram illustrating the functional configuration of the online exhibit system of the third embodiment. The functional configuration illustrated in FIG. 5 includes a server 200, a participant terminal 120, and an exhibitor terminal 130.

[0243] The exhibition system includes a recording unit 3001, a novelty receipt condition receiving unit 3002, a receipt request receiving unit 3003, a determination unit 3004, and a receipt right granting unit 3005. The exhibition system further includes a database 1011 that stores user registration information for each user, such as the administrator, presenter, participant, and exhibiting organization (exhibiting company), and a database 1013 that stores novelty registration information.

[0244] (Recording of actions by the recording department)

[0245] Participants use participant terminal 120 to perform operations such as clicking hyperlinks, pressing buttons, or entering information into text boxes where corporate advertisement AD1 is displayed on conference hosting screens 500 and 510 shown in Figures 6 and 7 or on corporate information screen 700 shown in Figure 11. This enables participants to participate in session SA1, watch programs PB1 and PB2, view exhibitor COM1's corporate advertisement AD1, obtain exhibitor COM1's corporate information (catalog), request materials from exhibitor COM1, request a product estimate from exhibitor COM1, leave their business card with exhibitor COM1 (for example, by storing the business card information registered by the participant in a folder on the company's side), and fill out a questionnaire for exhibitor COM1.

[0246] The recording unit 3001 records actions taken by participants at the online exhibition event with respect to each exhibiting company (including exhibiting company COM1) exhibiting at the online exhibition event, in association with the participant. In addition, each action taken by a participant is associated with the number of points acquired, and the number of points acquired is recorded in association with the participant in the recording unit 3001.

[0247] It is also possible to record the actions taken by participants and analyze the records for use in marketing and conference management. For example, it is conceivable to display a list of the number of clicks in the past 60 minutes for each item, such as the number of clicks on sessions, programs, abstracts, corporate advertisements, and novelty items.

[0248] 6, sponsoring companies COM1, COM2, and COM3 place corporate advertisements AD1, AD2, and AD3 on the conference hosting screen 500. The corporate advertisements AD1, AD2, and AD3 may be displayed so that the larger the sponsorship amount, the more frequently the corporate advertisement is displayed on the conference hosting screen 500.

[0249] As shown in FIG. 7, corporate advertisements can be displayed not only on a conference opening screen 500 basis, but also on a session basis or program basis.

[0250] For example, if company COM1 manufactures and sells products related to the theme of session SA1, a corporate advertisement AD1 for company COM1 will be placed in the conference opening screen 510 for session SA1 at the request of company COM1, as shown in Figure 7. Also, if company COM1 manufactures and sells products related to program PB1 in session SA1, a corporate advertisement AD1 for company COM1 will be placed in the display location of program PB1 in the conference opening screen 510 for session SA1 at the request of company COM1.

[0251] When the display location of the corporate advertisement AD1 is clicked, the display screen transitions to the corporate information screen 700 of the exhibiting company COM1, as shown in Figure 11. On the corporate information screen 700, participants can view the general display information DG and specific display information (premium information) DS of the exhibiting company COM1.

[0252] (Acceptance of novelty receiving conditions)

[0253] In the following, we will explain the exhibiting companies by using exhibiting company COM1 as a representative.

[0254] The exhibiting company COM1 has the authority to access the novelty receiving conditions reception section 3002.

[0255] When user information (ID and password) identifying exhibitor company COM1 is entered from exhibitor company terminal 131, a company management screen (not shown) associated with this exhibitor company COM1 can be displayed on display device 17.

[0256] The company management screen accepts specific actions as conditions for receiving the novelty items provided by exhibitor COM1.

[0257] That is, exhibitor COM1 sets up the correspondence between the novelty items NV1, NV2, and NV3 that it wishes to offer and the conditions for receiving the novelty. Once the correspondence between the novelty items and the conditions for receiving the novelty has been set up, an operation to register this setting is performed, and the correspondence between the novelty items offered by exhibitor COM1 and the conditions for receiving the novelty is stored in novelty registration information database 1013. The same applies to other companies. The correspondence between the novelty items and the conditions for receiving the novelty for each company is stored in novelty registration information database 1013.

[0258] The conditions for receiving the novelty include specific actions specified by exhibitor COM1. Examples of specific actions specified by exhibitor COM1 are as follows:

[0259] Business card holder on company information screen 700 of exhibitor COM1

[0260] Fill out the questionnaire on the company information screen 700 of the exhibitor COM1

[0261] Participants watched session SA1 in which exhibitor COM1 ran corporate advertisement AD1.

[0262] Obtaining (downloading, etc.) the company information (catalog) of exhibitor COM1

[0263] - Requesting information from exhibitor COM1

[0264] -Requesting a product quotation from exhibitor COM1

[0265] The conditions for receiving the novelty can include the number of points acquired.

[0266] For example, novelty item NV1 can be associated with a specific action of "placing a business card on the company information screen of exhibitor COM1" and a number of points PO1. Novelty item NV2 can be associated with specific actions of "placing a business card on the company information screen 700 of exhibitor COM1" and "filling out a questionnaire on the company information screen 700 of exhibitor COM1" and a number of points PO2. Novelty item NV3 can be associated with a specific action of "requesting a product estimate from exhibitor COM1."

[0267] Similarly, for other exhibiting companies COM2 and COM3, novelty receiving conditions are stored in the novelty registration information database 1013 for each novelty item.

[0268] (Acceptance of receipt request)

[0269] The correspondence between the novelty items provided by the exhibiting companies COM1, COM2, and COM3 and the conditions for receiving the novelties stored in the novelty registration information database 1013 can be viewed by participants as a novelty list.

[0270] An example of a novelty list is shown in Figure 12. The novelty list shown in Figure 12 is provided by exhibitor COM1.

[0271] Although Figure 12 shows only exhibitor COM1 as a representative, the novelty list includes novelties offered by all companies that provided novelties. Participants can see at a glance which companies are providing which novelties. The novelty list may also display information about the names of local industry companies where the products provided as novelties can be purchased.

[0272] The participants have the authority to access the receipt request acceptance unit 3003 .

[0273] By entering user information (ID and password) that identifies the participant from the participant terminal 120, the novelty receipt acceptance screen 800 shown in Figure 12 can be displayed, and a novelty receipt request can be made on the novelty receipt acceptance screen 800.

[0274] The novelty item desired to be received is specified in a receipt receiving section 810 (for example, a drop-down list of novelty items) on the novelty receipt receiving screen 800. The receipt receiving section 810 constitutes the receipt request receiving section 3003.

[0275] Although the example shows the case where one novelty item is designated, multiple novelties may be designated. For example, a receipt request button may be provided for each of the novelties NV1, NV2, and NV3 shown in the novelty list.

[0276] (Decision on grant of rights of settlement)

[0277] Assume that the novelty item that participant PA1 wishes to receive is item NV1. Novelty item NV1 is associated with a specific action, "placing a business card on the company information screen 700 of exhibitor COM1," and a number of points PO1. The determination unit 3004 refers to the recording unit 3001 and determines whether the number of points acquired by participant PA1 satisfies the number of points PO1. The determination unit 3004 also refers to the recording unit 3001 and determines whether the actions taken by participant PA1 include the specific action, "placing a business card on the company information screen 700 of exhibitor COM1." If both are satisfied, it is determined that the conditions for receiving novelty item NV1 are satisfied.

[0278] If the determination unit 3004 determines that the novelty receipt conditions are met, the participant PA1 is granted the right to receive the novelty item NV1 on the novelty receipt reception screen 800. For example, a specific number or URL that certifies the right to receive the novelty item NV1 is presented on the novelty receipt reception screen 800.

[0279] The same applies if participant PA1 wishes to receive novelty item NV2. If the actions taken by participant PA1 include the specific actions of "placing a business card on the company information screen 700 of exhibitor COM1" and "filling out a questionnaire on the company information screen 700 of exhibitor COM1," and if the number of points acquired is PO2, participant PA1 will be granted the right to receive novelty item NV2.

[0280] The same applies if participant PA1 wishes to receive novelty item NV3. If the actions taken by participant PA1 include the specific action of "requesting a product quotation from exhibitor COM1," participant PA1 will be granted the right to receive novelty item NV3.

[0281] It is also possible to vary the conditions for receiving novelties depending on the participant attributes that indicate the participation category in the online event.

[0282] For example, even with the same novelty item NV1, the condition for receipt for doctor PA1 who belongs to an academic society might be limited to the specific action of "placing a business card on the exhibitor COM1's corporate information screen," while the condition for receipt for non-member doctor PB might be the specific action of "viewing session SA1 in which exhibitor COM1 placed corporate advertisement AD1" in addition to "placing a business card on the exhibitor COM1's corporate information screen."Also, for novelty item NV3, for example, doctor PA1 who belongs to an academic society, invited presenter PA2, and non-member doctor PB might be granted the right to receive the novelty if they fulfill the conditions for receipt, but attendee PC and exhibitor PD might be restricted from taking certain actions to fulfill the conditions for receipt (for example, "requesting a product quote from exhibitor COM1"), thereby not granting them the right to receive the novelty.

[0283] According to the third embodiment, exhibiting organizations such as supporting companies can determine specific actions that are advantageous to their organizations, and only participants who take those specific actions can receive novelties from the exhibiting organizations, which dramatically increases the chances of matching exhibiting organizations and participants.

[0284] The exhibition system of the third embodiment is applicable not only to corporate exhibitions at online academic conferences but also to a wide range of general exhibitions.

[0285] (Novelty Registration and Distribution System)

[0286] An example of a novelty registration and distribution system that registers novelties and distributes them to participants will be described below. The following example is implemented by mutually transmitting and receiving data via a communication network such as the Internet. The exhibition system of the third embodiment described above can be applied to the following steps 3), 4), and 5). Each step of the novelty registration and distribution system will be described below.

[0287] 1) Local industrial companies that are members of the local chamber of commerce where the academic conference is held will present a list of local specialties and other products that could be used as novelty items to the sponsoring companies of the conference.

[0288] 2) Sponsoring companies will select novelties from the above product list.

[0289] 3) Sponsoring companies will register products selected from the above product list as novelties (local industry company name and product name).

[0290] 4) Accept requests for novelty items from participants.

[0291] 5) Create a delivery list of novelty items (local industry company names and product names) to be delivered to participants who have been granted the right to receive novelty items (addresses, names, etc. registered as user information).

[0292] 6) The above delivery list will be sent to local industrial companies and delivery agents.

[0293] 7) According to the above delivery list, the delivery agent will collect the products from the local industry companies and deliver them to the participants who have been granted the right to receive the novelty items.

[0294] This novelty registration and distribution system not only revitalizes the local economy, but also has the beneficial effect of reducing the burden on sponsoring companies and participants, such as selecting novelty items, transporting them to the venue, distributing them to participants, and taking them home.

[0295] (Fourth embodiment)

[0296] The online academic conference management system of the fourth embodiment will be described below.

[0297] In this embodiment, an online conference management system is assumed that manages a plurality of online conferences, for example, an online conference called Conference A and an online conference called Conference B.

[0298] Conference A and Conference B are, for example, conferences held on different dates, or may be conferences held simultaneously.

[0299] In this specification, academic conferences include academic lectures, conferences, symposiums, study groups, study sessions, social gatherings, seminars, and the like.

[0300] Fig. 13 is a block diagram illustrating the functional configuration of an online academic conference management system according to the fourth embodiment. The functional configuration illustrated in Fig. 13 includes a server 200, an organizer terminal 100, a presenter terminal 110, a participant terminal 120, and an exhibitor terminal 130.

[0301] The online academic conference management system includes a user information acquisition unit 4001, a participation information acquisition unit 4002, and a display control unit 4003. The online academic conference management system further includes a user registration information database 1011 that stores user registration information for each user, such as the administrator, presenter, participant (audience), and exhibiting organization (exhibiting company), and a participation information database 1014 that stores, for each online academic conference, the participation information of users participating in that online academic conference.

[0302] (User information acquisition)

[0303] In the following description, it is assumed that the users who use the online academic conference management system are exhibitors.

[0304] The user information acquisition unit 4001 acquires user information ID1, ID2, ID3, and ID4. The user information ID1, ID2, ID3, and ID4 include a user ID that identifies the user name and information about the user's email address. The user information ID1, ID2, ID3, and ID4 are accounts that are common to multiple conferences A and B. Once the user information ID1, ID2, ID3, and ID4 is registered, there is no need to register the user information each time multiple conferences A and B are held.

[0305] For example, when user information (ID and password) identifying user U1 is entered from the exhibitor's terminal 130, the user information acquisition unit 4001 acquires user information ID1. Similarly, the user information acquisition unit 4001 acquires user information ID2, ID3, and ID4 for other users U2, U3, and U4, respectively. The user information ID1, ID2, ID3, and ID4 are stored in the user registration information database 1011.

[0306] (Obtain participation information)

[0307] The participation information acquisition unit 4002 acquires participation information for a plurality of online academic conferences, that is, for each of conferences A and B, and for each user participating in the conferences A and B.

[0308] At online conferences, users belonging to multiple companies may form groups called teams to exhibit.

[0309] For example, users U1 and U2 belong to company COM1, and users U3 and U4 belong to company COM2.

[0310] For example, in Conference A, users U1, U2, and U3 form a group called a team and exhibit as the first exhibitor EX1 and the second exhibitor EX2. In Conference B, users U1, U2, and U4 form a group called a team and exhibit as the exhibitor EX3.

[0311] In this case, users U1, U2, and U3 are granted the participation authority of being exhibitors of the first exhibitor EX1 and the second exhibitor EX2 at conference A. Users U1, U2, and U4 are granted the participation authority of being exhibitors of the exhibitor EX3 at conference B.

[0312] For example, users U1, U2, U3, and U4 apply to participate on the display screen of the exhibitor's terminal 130, and when the administrator permits the users to participate, they are granted the right to participate as exhibitors.

[0313] It should be noted that participation may not be permitted based on participation applications, but may be permitted to users whom the organizer desires to participate, for example, by distributing tickets or purchasing tickets.

[0314] The participation information acquisition unit 4002 acquires the participation information shown in the tables of FIGS. 14(A) and 14(B) for each of the users U1, U2, U3, and U4.

[0315] That is, the participation information acquisition unit 4002 acquires, in response to conference A, participation authority information that users U1, U2, and U3 are exhibitors that make up the first exhibitor EX1 and the second exhibitor EX2, and information on the affiliated companies COM1 and COM2 to which exhibitors U1, U2, and U3 that make up the exhibitor EX1 and EX2 belong (see FIG. 14(A)). Also, in response to conference B, the participation information acquisition unit 4002 acquires participation authority information that users U1, U2, and U4 are exhibitors that make up the exhibitor EX3, and information on the affiliated companies COM1 and COM2 to which exhibitors U1, U2, and U4 that make up the exhibitor EX3 belong (see FIG. 14(B)). The participation information is stored in the participation information database 1014.

[0316] The participation information shown in FIG. 14 is an example, and the combination of users making up the exhibiting institutions is arbitrary.

[0317] 14(A), the combination of users constituting the first exhibiting organization EX1 and the second exhibiting organization EX2 is the same, but the combination of users may be different for each of the first exhibiting organization EX1 and the second exhibiting organization EX2. For example, the first exhibiting organization EX1 may be composed of users U1, U2, and U3, while the second exhibiting organization EX2 may be composed of users U1, U2, and U5 (belonging to company COM3).

[0318] (Display Control)

[0319] The display control unit 4003 is an information processing unit that generates management information so that it can be displayed on the user's terminal.The display control unit 4003 displays, for example, on the exhibitor's terminal 130 of user U1, management information corresponding to user U1's participation authority, in association with conferences A and B in which user U1 is participating.

[0320] User U1 has the authority to participate in Conference A as an exhibitor of first exhibitor EX1 and second exhibitor EX2. User U1 has the authority to participate in Conference B as an exhibitor of exhibitor EX3.

[0321] Therefore, the display screen of the exhibitor-side terminal 130 of user U1 displays management information corresponding to conference A, including information on the first exhibitor EX1 and the second exhibitor EX2, the exhibitors U1, U2, and U3 that make up the exhibitors EX1 and EX2, the affiliated company COM1 to which exhibitors U1 and U2 belong, and the affiliated company COM2 to which exhibitor U3 belongs. Also, the display screen of user U1's exhibitor-side terminal 130 displays management information corresponding to conference B, including information on the exhibitor EX3, the exhibitors U1, U2, and U4 that make up the exhibitor EX3, the affiliated company COM1 to which exhibitors U1 and U2 belong, and the affiliated company COM2 to which exhibitor U4 belongs. The same applies to the other users U2, U3, and U4.

[0322] The display control unit 4003 switches between displaying a list management screen that displays a list of management information for multiple conferences A and B in which user U1 is participating and an individual management screen that displays management information for an individual online academic conference A (or conference B) in which user U1 is participating, on the display screen of user U1's exhibitor terminal 130, for example, in response to a selection by user U1. The same applies to other users U2, U3, and U4.

[0323] (Management screen)

[0324] The relationship between the management screen and the exhibitor information screen will be explained.

[0325] First, the exhibitor information screen will be explained below.

[0326] 15 shows an exhibitor information screen 701 for a first exhibitor EX1 at conference A. FIG. 16 shows an exhibitor information screen 702 for a second exhibitor EX2 at conference A. FIG. 17 shows an exhibitor information screen 703 for an exhibitor EX3 at conference B.

[0327] The same components as those in the company information screen 700 shown in FIG. 11 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0328] As with the company information screen 700 shown in FIG. 11, on the exhibitor information screens 701, 702, and 703, participants can view the general display information DG and specific display information (premium information) DS of the first exhibitor EX1.

[0329] On the exhibitor information screen 701 of the first exhibitor EX1 of the conference A, general information DG1 and DG4 are displayed, as well as premium information DS1 and DS4.

[0330] On the exhibitor information screen 702 of the second exhibitor EX2 of the conference A, general information DG2 and DG5 are displayed, as well as premium information DS2 and DS5.

[0331] On the exhibitor screen 703 of exhibitor EX3 at conference B, general information DG2 and DG5 are displayed, as well as premium information DS2 and DS5.

[0332] The general information DG1 and DG2 and the premium information DS1 and DS2 are, for example, product information of the company COM1. The general information DG4 and DG5 and the premium information DS4 and DS5 are, for example, product information of the company COM2.

[0333] Similar to the display request acceptance button 714 on the company information screen 700 shown in Figure 11, when the display request acceptance button 714 on the exhibitor information screens 701, 702, and 703 is pressed, premium information DS is displayed on the exhibitor information screens 701, 702, and 703 according to the predetermined premium information display conditions, similar to Figure 10.

[0334] The exhibitor information screens 701, 702, 703 are provided with message input boxes 741, 742, 743, respectively, in which a message can be entered and an inquiry can be sent by e-mail to exhibitors U1, U2, U3, U4 that make up exhibitor institutions EX1, EX2, EX3.

[0335] The contents of the message are "I would like to know about the product," "Please send me product materials," "Can we have an online meeting?", "Is there anyone who can help?", "Please call me," etc. The message entered as text may be sent by entering text in message input boxes 741, 742, and 743 and pressing the send button, or a button may be provided that allows the user to select the short sentences exemplified above, and a short message may be sent by pressing the button.

[0336] Message input boxes 741, 742, 743 may be displayed on exhibitor institution information screens 701, 702, 703 so that messages can be sent regardless of participant attributes, or may be displayed on exhibitor institution information screens 701, 702, 703 so that messages can be sent only to participants with specific attributes. For example, message input boxes 741, 742, 743 may be displayed on the display screens of the terminals of doctor PA1 who belongs to the academic society, invited presenter PA2, and non-member doctor PB so that messages can be sent, but message input boxes 741, 742, 743 may not be displayed on the display screens of the terminals of attendee PCs and exhibitor company PD.

[0337] It is also possible to vary the welcome message to prompt participants to enter a message in the message input boxes 741, 742, and 743 depending on the attributes of the participants. For example, it is possible to display a welcome message according to the attributes of the participants, such as "Please enter a message" or "Welcome, please feel free to contact us."

[0338] In addition, message input boxes 741, 742, 743 may be displayed on exhibitor information screens 701, 702, 703 so that messages can be sent regardless of whether the premium information display conditions are met, or message input boxes 741, 742, 743 may be displayed on exhibitor information screens 701, 702, 703 so that messages can be sent only when the premium information display conditions are met.

[0339] For example, at conference A, a participant sends an "inquiry regarding premium information (e.g., product information) DS1 of company COM1" to exhibitors U1, U2, and U3 that make up the first exhibitor EX1 via the message input box 741 on the exhibitor information screen 701 of the first exhibitor EX1.

[0340] At conference A, a participant sends an "inquiry regarding premium information (e.g., product information) DS4 of company COM2" to exhibitors U1, U2, and U3 that make up the first exhibitor EX1 via the message input box 741 on the exhibitor information screen 701 of the first exhibitor EX1.

[0341] At Conference A, a participant sends an "inquiry regarding premium information (e.g., product information) DS2 of company COM1" to exhibitors U1, U2, and U3 that make up the second exhibitor EX2 via the message input box 742 on the exhibitor information screen 702 of the second exhibitor EX2.

[0342] At Conference A, a participant sends an "inquiry regarding premium information (e.g., product information) DS5 of company COM2" to exhibitors U1, U2, and U3 that make up the second exhibitor EX2 via the message input box 742 on the exhibitor information screen 702 of the second exhibitor EX2.

[0343] At conference B, a participant sends an "inquiry regarding premium information (e.g., product information) DS2 of company COM1" to exhibitors U1, U2, and U4 that make up exhibitor EX3 via message input box 743 on exhibitor information screen 703 of exhibitor EX3.

[0344] At conference B, a participant sends an "inquiry regarding premium information (e.g., product information) DS5 of company COM2" to exhibitors U1, U2, and U3 that make up exhibitor EX2 via message input box 743 on exhibitor information screen 703 of exhibitor EX3.

[0345] The management screen is a screen that displays management information for managing the exhibitor institution information screens 701, 702, and 703, and specifically, it constructs the exhibitor institution information screens 701, 702, and 703 and responds to messages sent via the exhibitor institution information screens 701, 702, and 703.

[0346] Fig. 18 shows an example of an individual management screen 900 that individually displays management information for conference A. Fig. 19 shows an example of a list management screen 1900 that displays a list of management information for conferences A and B.

[0347] The individual management screen 900 includes, for example, an exhibitor display section 910, a first exhibitor institution information display section 920, a second exhibitor institution information display section 930, a first exhibitor institution premium information display condition setting section 940, a first exhibitor institution message display section 950, a second exhibitor institution premium information display condition setting section 960, and a second exhibitor institution message display section 970.

[0348] The exhibitor display section 910 displays the user names of each exhibitor constituting the first exhibitor EX1 and the second exhibitor EX2, which are the exhibitors of Conference A, "Users U1, U2, U3", their user information (email addresses, etc.) "ID1, ID2, ID3", and the names of the companies to which exhibitors U1 and U2 belong, "Company COM1", and the name of the company to which exhibitor U3 belongs, "Company COM2".

[0349] The first exhibitor information display section 920 displays the contents of the general information DG1, DG4 and premium information DS1, DS4 displayed on the exhibitor information screen 701 of the first exhibitor EX1.

[0350] The second exhibitor information display section 930 displays the contents of the general information DG2, DG5 and the premium information DS2, DS5 displayed on the exhibitor information screen 702 of the second exhibitor EX2.

[0351] The first exhibitor's premium information display condition setting section 940 displays the display conditions for displaying the premium information DS1 and DS4 on the exhibitor's information screen 701 of the first exhibitor EX1 on the display screen of the participant's terminal.

[0352] The first exhibitor's message display section 950 displays the sender of the message (user name, email address, etc.) sent via the message input box 741 on the exhibitor's information screen 701 of the first exhibitor EX1, the contents of the received message and the reply, and the name of the exhibitor (user name) replying to the received message. Note that there may be multiple exhibitors who can reply.

[0353] The second exhibitor's premium information display condition setting section 960 displays the display conditions for displaying the premium information DS2 and DS5 on the exhibitor's information screen 702 of the second exhibitor EX2 on the display screen of the participant's terminal.

[0354] The second exhibitor institution message display section 970 displays the sender of the message (user name, email address, etc.) sent via the message input box 742 on the exhibitor institution information screen 702 of the second exhibitor institution EX2, the content of the received message and the reply content, and the name of the exhibitor (user name) replying to the received message. Note that there may be multiple exhibitors who can respond to the replies.

[0355] The list management screen 1900 includes, for example, a conference A exhibitor display section 1910, a conference A first exhibitor message display section 1920, a conference A second exhibitor message display section 1930, a conference B exhibitor display section 1940, and a conference B exhibitor message display section 1950.

[0356] The Conference A / Exhibitor display section 1910 displays the user names of each exhibitor who makes up the first exhibitor EX1 and second exhibitor EX2, which are the exhibitors of Conference A, "Users U1, U2, U3", their user information (email addresses, etc.) "ID1, ID2, ID3", and the names of the companies to which exhibitors U1 and U2 belong, "Company COM1", and the name of the company to which exhibitor U3 belongs, "Company COM2".

[0357] The Conference A·First Exhibitor Message Display Area 1920 displays the sender of the message (user name, email address, etc.) sent via the message input box 741 on the exhibitor information screen 701 of the first exhibitor EX1 of Conference A, the contents of the received message and the reply, and the name of the exhibitor (user name) replying to the received message. Note that there may be multiple exhibitors to whom replies can be made.

[0358] The Conference A / Second Exhibitor Message Display Area 1930 displays the sender of the message (user name, email address, etc.) sent via the message input box 742 on the exhibitor information screen 702 of the second exhibitor EX2 of Conference A, the contents of the received message and the reply, and the name of the exhibitor (user name) replying to the received message. Note that there may be multiple exhibitors to whom replies can be made.

[0359] The Conference B Exhibitor Display section 1940 displays the user names of each exhibitor making up the exhibiting organization EX3 of Conference B, "Users U1, U2, U4," each exhibitor's user information (email address, etc.), "ID1, ID2, ID4," and the names of the companies to which exhibitors U1 and U2 belong, "Company COM1," and the name of the company to which exhibitor U4 belongs, "Company COM2."

[0360] The Conference B exhibitor message display section 1950 displays the sender of the message (user name, email address, etc.) sent via the message input box 743 on the exhibitor information screen 703 of the exhibitor EX3 of Conference B, the contents of the received message and the reply, and the name of the exhibitor (user name) replying to the received message. Note that there may be multiple exhibitors to whom replies can be made.

[0361] The individual management screen 900 in FIG. 18 and the list management screen 1900 in FIG. 19 are merely examples, and the display layout can be changed, and display sections can be deleted or added as desired.

[0362] User U1 has the authority to participate in Conference A as an exhibitor of first exhibitor EX1 and second exhibitor EX2. User U1 also has the authority to participate in Conference B as an exhibitor of exhibitor EX3.

[0363] Therefore, when user information (ID and password) identifying user U1 is entered from the exhibitor's terminal 130, the individual management screen 900 and the list management screen 1900 can be displayed on the display device 17. The same applies to user U2 who has the right to participate as an exhibitor of the first exhibitor EX1, the second exhibitor EX2, and the exhibitor EX3.

[0364] User U3 has the right to participate in conference A as an exhibitor of first exhibitor EX1 and second exhibitor EX2, but does not have the right to participate in conference B as an exhibitor of exhibitor EX3.

[0365] Therefore, when user information (ID and password) identifying user U3 is entered from the exhibitor's terminal 130, an individual management screen 900 can be displayed on the display device 17, and a list management screen can be displayed that removes the management information of exhibitor EX3 at conference B.

[0366] User U4 has the right to participate in Conference B as an exhibitor of exhibiting organization EX3, but does not have the right to participate in Conference A as an exhibitor of first exhibiting organization EX1 or second exhibiting organization EX2.

[0367] Therefore, when user information (ID and password) identifying user U4 is entered from the exhibitor institution's terminal 130, the display device 17 can display an individual management screen for conference B similar to the individual management screen 900 for conference A, and a list management screen can be displayed in which the management information of the first exhibitor institution EX1 and the second exhibitor institution EX2 at conference A has been removed.

[0368] (Message support on individual management screens)

[0369] The following description will be given assuming that the individual management screen 900 in FIG. 18 and the list management screen 1900 in FIG. 19 are displayed on the display device 17 of the exhibitor's terminal 130 of the exhibitor U1.

[0370] According to this embodiment, inquiries about products from multiple companies can be handled on a single screen.

[0371] That is, in the first exhibitor's message display section 950 of the individual management screen 900, the messages "Inquiry regarding premium information DS1 of company COM1" and "Inquiry regarding premium information DS4 of company COM2" sent by participants via the exhibitor's information screen 701 of the first exhibitor EX1 can be viewed.

[0372] Therefore, exhibitor U1 who belongs to company COM1 can personally respond to "inquiries regarding premium information DS1 on products of company COM1" to which he belongs.

[0373] On the other hand, in response to an "inquiry regarding company COM2's premium information (e.g., product information) DS4," it is possible to instruct another exhibitor U3 belonging to company COM2 who is familiar with company COM2's product information DS4 to reply. For example, since the exhibitor display section 910 displays the company COM2 to which exhibitor U3 belongs and its email address, on the individual management screen 900, exhibitor U1 sends an email to other exhibitor U3 instructing him or her to respond to the inquiry regarding company COM2's product information DS4. Upon receiving the email, exhibitor U3 can reply on his or her own individual management screen to the message "inquiry regarding company COM2's premium information DS4" sent by the participant via the exhibitor information screen 701 of the first exhibitor EX1.

[0374] The same applies to the second exhibitor message display section 970 of the individual management screen 900.

[0375] A message "Inquiry regarding premium information DS2 of company COM1" sent by a participant via the exhibitor information screen 702 of the second exhibitor EX2 will be replied to by user U1 who is familiar with the premium information DS2 of company COM1, and a message "Inquiry regarding premium information DS5 of company COM2" sent by a participant via the exhibitor information screen 702 of the second exhibitor EX2 will be replied to by another exhibitor U3 who is familiar with premium information DS5 of company COM2, for example, at the instruction of exhibitor U1.

[0376] (Message support on the list management screen)

[0377] According to this embodiment, it is possible to respond to inquiries about multiple online meetings on a single screen.

[0378] The Conference A·First Exhibitor Message Display section 1920 of the list management screen 1900 allows you to see the message "Inquiry regarding premium information DS1 of company COM1" sent by a participant via the exhibitor information screen 701 of the first exhibitor EX1 of Conference A, and the Conference B·Exhibitor Message Display section 1950 allows you to see the message "Inquiry regarding premium information DS2 of company COM1" sent by a participant via the exhibitor information screen 703 of the exhibitor EX3 of Conference B.

[0379] Therefore, exhibitor U1 can respond to different inquiries about the different conferences A and B on the same list management screen 1900. There is no need to handle information on separate management screens set up for multiple academic conferences.

[0380] On the other hand, the Conference A·First Exhibitor Message Display section 1920 of the list management screen 1900 allows you to see the message "Inquiry regarding premium information DS4 of company COM2" sent by a participant via the exhibitor information screen 701 of the first exhibitor EX1 of Conference A, and the Conference B·Exhibitor Message Display section 1950 allows you to see the message "Inquiry regarding premium information DS5 of company COM2" sent by a participant via the exhibitor information screen 703 of the exhibitor EX3 of Conference B.

[0381] Therefore, on the same list management screen 1900, exhibitor U1 can instruct another exhibitor U3 belonging to company COM2 who is familiar with company COM2's product information DS4 to reply to different inquiries from different conferences A and B, and can also instruct another exhibitor U4 belonging to company COM2 who is familiar with company COM2's product information DS5 to reply. As a result, at conference A, another exhibitor U3 at conference A will respond, and at conference B, another exhibitor U4 at conference B will respond. This eliminates the need to handle information on separate management screens set up for multiple academic conferences.

[0382] The above explanation assumes that messages sent by participants via the exhibitor information screen are sent to all exhibitors that make up the exhibitor organization, but it is also possible to send messages only to specific exhibitors that make up the exhibitor organization depending on the content of the message.

[0383] For example, if the message content is an inquiry about company COM1, it can be sent only to users U1 and U2 who belong to company COM1, and if the message content is an inquiry about company COM2, it can be sent only to users U3 and U4 who belong to company COM2. Also, if the message content is an inquiry about technology development at company COM1, it can be sent only to user U1 who is in charge of technology development at company COM1, and if the message content is an inquiry about sales at company COM1, it can be sent only to user U2 who is in charge of sales at company COM1.

[0384] (Variation of the list management screen)

[0385] The list management screen may display a list of premium information display conditions. By arranging the first exhibitor's premium information display condition setting section 940, the second exhibitor's premium information display condition setting section 960, and the premium information display condition setting section for setting the conditions for displaying premium information on the exhibitor information screen 703 of the exhibitor EX3 of conference B on a single screen, it is possible to display a list of premium information display conditions for each conference A and B. This makes it possible to set the premium information display conditions for each conference A and B on a single screen. There is no need to handle information on separate management screens set up for multiple academic conferences.

[0386] The list management screen may also display exhibitor information in a list. By arranging the first exhibitor information display section 920, the second exhibitor information display section 930, and the exhibitor information display section that displays the general information and premium information on the exhibitor information screen 703 for exhibitor EX3 of conference B on a single screen, it is possible to display a list of exhibitor information for each conference A and B. This makes it possible to modify exhibitor information for each conference A and B on a single screen. There is no longer a need to handle information on separate management screens set up for multiple academic conferences.

[0387] For example, the data of the second exhibitor information display section 930 can be copied and used as the exhibitor information display section for Conference B. This eliminates the need to newly create and register the general information DG2, DG5 and premium information DS2, DS5 on the exhibitor information screen 703 for exhibitor EX3 of Conference B.

[0388] The above describes a list management screen that is suitable for when a user of an online academic conference has the participation authority of an exhibitor. However, when a user of an online academic conference is an administrator, a presenter (chairman, speaker, etc.), a participant (audience), or a user who has all of these participation authorities, a list management screen that lists the management information for each conference can be provided in the same way as when the user is an exhibitor.

[0389] (Administrator list management screen)

[0390] For example, by arranging all or some of the management information items (for example, a list of presenters and organizers) shown on the conference preparation screen 600 shown in Fig. 8 so that they can be listed on one screen in association with each conference, it is possible to create a list management screen for users who have the organizer's participation authority. This makes it possible to proceed with the preparation of sessions for conferences A and B in parallel on one screen. There is no longer a need to handle information on separate management screens set up for multiple academic societies.

[0391] (Presenter list management screen)

[0392] For example, the presenter's conference preparation screen 610 shown in Fig. 9 can be used as a list management screen for users who have the participation authority of a presenter (chairperson). This makes it possible to proceed with the work of preparing presentations for sessions in conferences A and B in parallel on a single screen. This eliminates the need to handle information on separate management screens set up for multiple academic societies.

[0393] (List of attendees management screen)

[0394] For example, by arranging the novelty list shown on the novelty receipt reception screen 800 in Fig. 12 so that it can be displayed on one screen in association with each conference, it can be used as a list management screen for users who have the right to participate as attendees. This makes it possible to simultaneously apply for novelty receipts for conferences A and B on one screen. This eliminates the need to handle information on separate management screens set up for multiple academic societies.

[0395] The novelty receipt acceptance screen 800 may be displayed on the display screen of the terminal of a participant regardless of the participant's attributes, or may be displayed on the display screen of the terminal of only participants with specific attributes. For example, the novelty receipt acceptance screen 800 may be displayed on the display screen of the terminal of a doctor PA1 who belongs to the academic conference, an invited presenter PA2, and a non-member doctor PB, but may not be displayed on the display screen of the terminal of an attendee PC or an exhibiting company PD.

[0396] A novelty list may also be displayed according to the attributes of the participants.

[0397] For example, a novelty list consisting of all novelty items can be displayed on the display screens of the terminals of a doctor PA1 belonging to the society, an invited presenter PA2, and a non-member doctor PB, but a novelty list consisting of novelty items excluding specific novelty items that cannot be provided to these attendee PCs and exhibitor company PDs can be displayed on the display screens of the terminals of attendee PCs and exhibitor company PDs.

[0398] In addition, for example, at the same online conference, the same user may be both an exhibitor and a presenter. In this case, for example, the management information shown on the exhibitor list management screen 1900 and the management information shown on the presenter conference preparation screen 610 can be arranged on a single screen to create a list management screen for users who are both exhibitors and presenters.

[0399] (Fifth embodiment)

[0400] The fifth embodiment of the system for providing handouts for an online event will be described below.

[0401] The objective of the invention of this embodiment is to minimize the costs of distribution compared to conventional methods when holding events such as online exhibitions, while maximizing opportunities for interaction and matching between providers and recipients of distribution items.

[0402] The events covered by this embodiment include any online event such as an online exhibition, academic conference, meeting, information exchange forum, lecture, or matching event, and are any online event in which a providing participant who provides a distribution item can provide the distribution item to a potential receiving participant who may be a candidate to receive the distribution item.

[0403] In this specification, the term "online event" includes hybrid events. It does not necessarily have to be entirely online. For example, an event that combines a real event venue with online live streaming or a virtual room is also included in the concept of an online event.

[0404] The distribution items that are the subject of this embodiment include all types of distribution items that cannot be distributed in real life, such as novelties, promotional items, souvenirs, samples, etc.

[0405] In this embodiment, the entity distributing (providing) the distribution material (referred to as the providing participant) is any entity that distributes the distribution material to event participants, and includes all types of event participants, such as corporations such as companies, institutions, and organizations, and individuals such as presenters and speakers.

[0406] Fig. 20 is a block diagram illustrating the functional configuration of a distribution system for an online event according to the fifth embodiment. The functional configuration illustrated in Fig. 20 includes a server 200, an organizer terminal 100, a presenter terminal 110, a participant terminal 120, and an exhibitor terminal 130.

[0407] The distribution system for an online event is composed of a recipient candidate participant attribute acquisition unit 5001, a behavior acquisition unit 5002, a distribution receipt right storage unit 5003, a receipt right grant request acceptance unit 5004, a receipt right grant unit 5005, a distribution notification / distribution receipt screen display control unit 5006, and a distribution list screen display control unit 5007.

[0408] In this embodiment, the content of the right to receive a distribution, whether or not a distribution announcement screen and a distribution receipt screen will be displayed, the display content, and whether or not a distribution list screen will be displayed and the display content are uniquely determined based on the participant attributes indicating the participant classification of the potential recipient participant in the online event and the behavior of the potential recipient participant toward the online event provider in the online event. This will be explained below. Note that while the following assumes an online academic conference, this embodiment is not limited to online academic conferences, as mentioned above, and can be applied to any event.

[0409] (Recipient candidate participant attribute acquisition part)

[0410] The recipient candidate participant attribute acquisition unit 5001 acquires the attributes of the recipient candidate participants.

[0411] The potential recipient participants are event participants who are candidates for receiving the distribution items.

[0412] The attributes of potential recipient participants are PA1, a physician belonging to an academic society participating in the event, PA2, an invited presenter, PB, a non-member physician, PC, and PD, an exhibitor company.

[0413] (Behavior acquisition department)

[0414] The behavior acquisition unit 5002 acquires the behavior that the recipient candidate participant has taken toward the providing participant in association with the recipient candidate participant.

[0415] An action is an action taken by a potential recipient participant toward a providing participant, such as "no action," "visiting a booth," "leaving a business card," "filling out a questionnaire," "watching a session featuring a company advertisement," "obtaining (downloading) company information (catalog)," "requesting materials," "requesting a product estimate," "applying for a product demonstration," etc. In this specification, a participant's action or behavior refers to an action or behavior taken by a participant toward a participant such as an exhibiting organization that exhibits at an online event such as an academic conference or exhibition.

[0416] (Distribution Rights Storage Unit)

[0417] The distribution right storage unit 5003 stores distribution rights according to the recipient candidate participant attributes and the content of the action taken by the recipient candidate participant toward the providing participant.

[0418] 21 is a table showing data stored in distribution right storage unit 5003 and data for display control in the fifth embodiment. FIG. 21 shows an example of data stored in distribution right storage unit 5003.

[0419] As shown in FIG. 21, data indicating the content of the right to receive the distribution is stored in association with the recipient candidate participant attributes and the content of the action taken by the recipient candidate participant toward the providing participant.

[0420] For example, the contents of the rights to receive the distribution items provided by exhibitor COM1 are "no rights to receive," "can receive regular item NV11," and "can receive special item NV12."

[0421] As shown in Figure 21, the content of the distribution rights will differ depending on the attributes of the potential recipient participant and the actions mentioned above. For example, even if a participant who is an audience member PC takes the action of "requesting a product estimate," the content of the distribution rights will remain "no right to receive." Also, if a participant who is a non-member physician PB takes the same action of "requesting a product estimate," he or she will be entitled to "receive the regular product NV11." Also, if a participant who is a physician PA1 who belongs to the academic society takes the same action of "requesting a product estimate," he or she will be entitled to "receive the special product NV12," which is more expensive than the regular product NV11.

[0422] Furthermore, if a participant who is a doctor PA1 belonging to the society takes the action of "placing down a business card," they will be granted the right to receive "regular product NV11." Even if a participant who is a non-member doctor PB or an audience member PC takes the same action of "placing down a business card," they will remain "without the right to receive" and will not be granted the right to receive "regular product NV11."

[0423] (Entitlement grant request reception unit)

[0424] The distribution right grant request receiving unit 5004 receives a distribution right grant request from a distribution candidate participant.

[0425] Figures 22 and 23 show distribution notification, receipt, and list screens 1800A and 1800B similar to the screen shown in Figure 12. By entering user information (ID and password) identifying a potential recipient participant from participant terminal 120, distribution notification, receipt, and list screens 1800A and 1800B shown in Figure 22 or 23 can be displayed, and a request to receive a distribution can be made on distribution notification, receipt, and list screens 1800A and 1800B.

[0426] A distribution list is displayed in distribution list display section 1801 of distribution announcement / receive / list screens 1800A and 1800B. For example, distribution list display section 1801 of distribution announcement / receive / list screen 1800A displays only regular item NV11 as a distribution item provided by exhibiting company COM1, who is a providing participant. Distribution list display section 1801 of distribution announcement / receive / list screen 1800B displays regular item NV11 and special item NV12 as distribution items provided by exhibiting company COM1, who is also a providing participant.

[0427] The receiving conditions are displayed in association with each of the regular product NV11 and the special product NV12. The receiving conditions are the attributes of the receiving candidate participant of the participant terminal 120 shown in Figure 21 (not shown on the screens of Figures 22 and 23) and the actions taken by the receiving candidate participant of the participant terminal 120 toward the providing participant.

[0428] The receiving conditions are displayed for the regular product NV11 and the special product NV12.

[0429] A potential recipient can request to receive a delivery right by pressing a delivery acceptance button 1841 or 1842 associated with the item they wish to receive (regular item NV11, special item NV12) on the notification, receipt, and list screen 1800A or 1800B. The delivery acceptance buttons 1841 and 1842 constitute the delivery right grant request acceptance unit 5004.

[0430] (Entitlement Division)

[0431] The distribution right granting unit 5005 retrieves, from the distribution right storage unit 5003, the distribution right corresponding to the recipient candidate participant attributes acquired in accordance with the recipient candidate participant accepted by the distribution right grant request accepting unit 5004 and the content of the action acquired in association with this recipient candidate participant. The distribution right granting unit 5005 then grants the extracted distribution right to the recipient candidate participant.

[0432] The decision as to whether or not to grant the right to receive distribution items is made based on the "participant attributes" of the potential recipient participant of the participant terminal 120 shown in FIG. 21 and the "actions taken by the potential recipient participant of the participant terminal 120 toward the providing participant."

[0433] Suppose the distribution item that a potential recipient with the attribute of non-member physician PB wishes to receive is the item "Regular Product NV11." If the potential recipient with the attribute of non-member physician PB has taken the action of "requesting a product estimate," the condition for granting the right to receive "Regular Product NV11" is met. When it is determined that this condition is met, the distribution item notification, receipt, and list screen 1800A grants the right to receive the distribution item "Regular Product NV11" to the potential recipient with the attribute of non-member physician PB. For example, the right to receive display section 2801 on the distribution item notification, receipt, and list screen 1800A displays a message indicating that the right to receive the distribution item "Regular Product NV11" has been granted.

[0434] The same applies if a recipient candidate with the attribute of doctor PA1 who belongs to the academic society wishes to receive the distribution item "Special Item NV12." If the recipient candidate with the attribute of doctor PA1 who belongs to the academic society has taken the action of "requesting a product estimate," the condition for granting the right to receive "special item NV12" is met. If it is determined that this condition is met, the recipient candidate with the attribute of doctor PA1 who belongs to the academic society is granted the right to receive the distribution item "Special Item NV12" on the distribution notification / receive / list screen 1800B. For example, the right to receive display section 2801 on the distribution receipt reception screen 1800B displays a message indicating that the right to receive the distribution item "Special Item NV12" has been granted.

[0435] (Display control unit of the distribution notification screen, the distribution receipt screen, and the distribution list screen)

[0436] The distribution announcement / distribution receipt screen display control unit 5006 displays a distribution announcement screen for announcing the distribution that the providing participant will provide to the candidate recipient participants on the display device 17 of the participant terminal 120. The distribution announcement / distribution receipt screen display control unit 5006 also displays a distribution receipt screen for accepting a request to receive the distribution from the candidate recipient participant on the display device 17 of the participant terminal 120.

[0437] Furthermore, the distribution list screen display control unit 5007 displays on the display device 17 of the participant terminal 120 a distribution list screen showing a list of distributions that the providing participant is providing to the potential recipient participants.

[0438] The distribution notification / distribution receipt screen display control unit 5006 controls whether or not a distribution notification screen and a distribution receipt screen are displayed on the display screen of the participant terminal 120 of the candidate recipient participant, depending on the attributes of the candidate recipient participant.

[0439] The distribution list screen display control unit 5007 controls the content of the distribution list screen displayed on the display screen of the participant terminal 120 of the recipient candidate participant and whether or not the distribution list screen is displayed, depending on the attributes of the recipient candidate participant.

[0440] The control of whether or not to display the distribution announcement screen and whether or not to display the distribution receipt screen, as well as the content of the distribution list screen and whether or not to display the distribution list screen, is performed according to the attributes of the potential recipient participants on the participant side terminal 120, as shown in Figure 21.

[0441] The distribution item announcement screen, distribution item receipt screen, and distribution item list screen described above may be displayed individually as separate screens, or may be displayed as a common screen.

[0442] The following description will be given taking as an example a case where the distribution announcement screen, distribution receipt screen, and distribution list screen are displayed as a common distribution announcement, receipt, and list screen.

[0443] 22 and 23 respectively show examples of the above-mentioned common distribution notification, receipt, and list screens 1800A and 1800B. Distribution notification, receipt, and list screens 1800A and 1800B display a distribution list display section 1801.

[0444] The distribution list display section 1801 of the distribution announcement / receipt / list screen 1800B shown in Figure 23 is configured to include distribution display sections 1811 and 1812 corresponding to distributions NV11 and NV12 provided by exhibitor COM1, and distribution display sections 1813 and 1814 corresponding to distributions NV21 and NV22 provided by exhibitor COM2. Distribution item NV21 provided by exhibitor COM2 is a "regular item" similar to distribution item NV11 provided by exhibitor COM1. Distribution item NV22 provided by exhibitor COM2 is a "special item" similar to distribution item NV11 provided by exhibitor COM1.

[0445] Distribution display areas 1811, 1812, 1813, and 1814 are display areas relating to distribution items NV11, NV12, NV21, and NV22, respectively.

[0446] The distribution item display sections 1811, 1812, 1813, and 1814 are each composed of an item display section 1821, 1822, 1823, and 1824, a receipt condition display section 1831, 1832, 1833, and 1834, receipt acceptance buttons 1841, 1842, 1843, and 1844, a cancel button 1851, 1852, 1853, and 1854, a receipt content change instruction section 1861, 1862, 1863, and 1864, a delivery address instruction section 1871, 1872, 1873, and 1874, an ordering method instruction section 1881, 1882, 1883, and 1884, and a 3D display section 1891, 1892, 1893, and 1894.

[0447] Distribution items NV11, NV12, NV21, and NV22 are displayed in item display areas 1821, 1822, 1823, and 1824, respectively. Receipt condition display areas 1831, 1832, 1833, and 1834 display the receipt conditions for distribution items NV11, NV12, NV21, and NV22, respectively.

[0448] When the recipient candidate presses the receipt acceptance buttons 1841, 1842, 1843, and 1844, the receipt request for distribution items NV11, NV12, NV21, and NV22 is accepted.

[0449] When a potential recipient presses a cancel button 1851, 1852, 1853, or 1854, the acceptance of the request to receive distributions NV11, NV12, NV21, and NV22 is canceled.

[0450] The recipient candidate can change the receipt request details of distribution items NV11, NV12, NV21, and NV22 by inputting the change details into the receipt content change instruction fields 1861, 1862, 1863, and 1864. Here, the change to the receipt request details of the distribution items includes, for example, the quantity, color, and size of the distribution items.

[0451] Delivery address instruction sections 1871, 1872, 1873, and 1874 respectively consist of registered address instruction sections 1871A, 1872A, 1873A, and 1874A and delivery destination change instruction sections 1871B, 1872B, 1873B, and 1874B. By selecting registered address instruction section 1871A, 1872A, 1873A, or 1874A, the address previously registered by the potential recipient participant is set as the delivery destination for distribution items NV11, NV12, NV21, and NV22. Furthermore, by inputting an address in destination change instruction section 1870B (1871B, 1872B, 1873B, 1874B), the destination of distribution items NV11, NV12, NV21, and NV22 can be changed to an address different from the pre-registered address. For example, if a potential recipient wants to change the destination of distribution item NV11 to their home address, they input their home address in destination change instruction section 1871B.

[0452] Ordering method instruction sections 1881, 1882, 1883, and 1884 respectively consist of bulk ordering instruction sections 1881A, 1882A, 1883A, and 1884A and individual ordering instruction sections 1881B and 1883B. Selecting bulk ordering instruction section 1881A, 1882A, 1883A, or 1884A instructs an ordering method (hereinafter referred to as bulk ordering) in which the corresponding distribution items are ordered together with other distribution items when the online event period expires. Selecting individual ordering instruction section 1881B or 1883B instructs an ordering method (hereinafter referred to as individual ordering) in which the corresponding distribution items are ordered individually when a receipt request is made, without waiting for the online event period to expire.

[0453] Distributed materials are often ordered from the manufacturer once the number to be sent to participants has been determined at the end of the online event period. In such cases, it is desirable to wait until the end of the online event period, place a bulk order for the determined number of items with the manufacturer, and have them delivered to each participant. Such distributed materials are handled through bulk ordering. Also, depending on the type of distributed material, some can be delivered as soon as an order is placed, without waiting for the end of the online event period. Such distributed materials can be ordered individually. For example, NV11 and NV21 can be ordered individually, while distributed materials NV12 and NV22 can only be ordered through bulk ordering.

[0454] The distribution items NV11, NV12, NV21, and NV22 may be displayed in 3D using a 3D model, similar to the products displayed on the company information screen 700 described above.

[0455] 3D display sections 1891, 1892, 1893, and 1894 display 3D models of distribution items NV11, NV12, NV21, and NV22, respectively. Furthermore, distribution items NV11, NV12, NV21, and NV22 may be displayed in stereoscopic view using stereoscopic technology such as parallax. Furthermore, the 3D models of distribution items NV11, NV12, NV21, and NV22 may be rotated so that each part of the distribution item can be viewed from any direction within 360 degrees. Similarly, for products displayed on company information screen 700, the 3D models of the products may be rotated so that each part of the product can be viewed from any direction within 360 degrees.

[0456] On the other hand, the distribution list display section 1801 of the distribution announcement / receipt / list screen 1800A shown in Fig. 22 is configured to include a distribution display section 1811 corresponding to distribution NV11 provided by exhibiting company COM1 and a distribution display section 1813 corresponding to distribution NV21 provided by exhibiting company COM2. The display of distribution display section 1812 corresponding to distribution NV12 provided by exhibiting company COM1 and distribution display section 1814 corresponding to distribution NV22 provided by exhibiting company COM2 are omitted. In addition, the receipt conditions for distributions NV11 and NV21 shown in Fig. 22 are different from the receipt conditions for distributions NV11 and NV21 shown in Fig. 23.

[0457] If the attribute of the recipient candidate participant is non-member physician PB, the display screen of the display device 17 of the participant terminal 120 of this recipient candidate participant will display the distribution notification, receipt, and list screen 1800A shown in Figure 22.

[0458] The distribution item list display section 1801 of the distribution item announcement / receipt / list screen 1800A displays distribution announcement information indicating that the distribution item, regular item NV11, will be distributed by provider participant COM1 and the distribution item, regular item NV21, will be distributed by provider participant COM2. Furthermore, via the distribution item list display section 1801 and the receipt right display section 2801 of the distribution item announcement / receipt / list screen 1800A, it is possible to accept receipt requests for the distribution items, regular items NV11 and NV21, and grant receipt rights. Furthermore, the distribution item list display section 1801 of the distribution item announcement / receipt / list screen 1800A displays the distribution item list. However, the display content of the distribution item list is limited. In other words, only regular items NV11 and NV21 are displayed as distribution items in the distribution list, and special items NV12 and NV22 are not displayed. Therefore, while participating in the event, a potential recipient participant with the attribute of non-member physician PB can obtain information from the information displayed on the display screen of the participant terminal 120 that the provider participant will provide regular items NV11 and NV21, but cannot obtain information that the provider participant will provide special items NV12 and NV22.

[0459] If the attributes of the potential recipient participant are a doctor PA1 belonging to the academic conference and an invited presenter PA2, the distribution notification, receipt, and list screen 1800B shown in Figure 23 will be displayed on the display screen of the display device 17 of the participant terminal 120 of this potential recipient participant.

[0460] The distribution item list display section 1801 of the distribution item announcement / receipt / list screen 1800B displays distribution announcement information indicating that provider participant COM1 will distribute the distribution items regular item NV11 and special item NV12, and provider participant COM2 will distribute the distribution items regular item NV21 and special item NV22. Furthermore, via the distribution item list display section 1801 and the receipt right display section 2801 of the distribution item announcement / receipt / list screen 1800B, receipt requests for the distribution items regular items NV11 and NV21 and the special items NV12 and NV22 can be accepted and receipt rights can be granted. The distribution item list display section 1801 of the distribution item announcement / receipt / list screen 1800B displays a distribution item list. The distribution item list displays all of the distribution items provided by the provider participants, namely regular items NV11 and NV21 and special items NV12 and NV22, as distribution items. Therefore, potential recipient participants who have the attributes of doctor PA1 and invited presenter PA2 belonging to the academic society can obtain information on all distribution items (regular items NV11, NV21 and special items NV12, NV22) provided by providing participants while participating in the event via the display screen of the participant terminal 120.

[0461] If the attributes of a recipient candidate participant are an audience PC or an exhibitor PD, the distribution item announcement screen, distribution item receipt screen, and distribution item list screen are not displayed on the display device of the participant terminal 120 of the recipient candidate participant who has the attributes of an audience PC or an exhibitor PD. Therefore, a recipient candidate participant who has the attributes of an audience PC or an exhibitor PD cannot obtain information via the display screen of the participant terminal 120 that distribution items (regular items NV11, NV21 and special items NV12, NV22) will be provided by the providing participant while participating in the event.

[0462] (Sixth embodiment)

[0463] In the sixth embodiment, a rank is pre-determined for the expected contribution of the potential recipient participant to the providing participant and the contribution of the potential recipient participant to the providing participant, and levels are pre-determined for the right to receive a distribution item, the distribution announcement screen display, the distribution receipt screen display, and the distribution list screen display, and a level of right to receive a distribution item according to the rank of the expected contribution and the contribution is granted, and the distribution announcement screen display, the distribution receipt screen display, and the distribution list screen display are pre-determined for the rank of the expected contribution and the contribution.

[0464] A sixth embodiment of a system for providing handouts for an online event will be described below.

[0465] It should be noted that matters common to the fifth embodiment will be omitted as appropriate.

[0466] Fig. 24 is a table corresponding to Fig. 21, showing data stored in a distribution receipt right storage unit 6003 (described later) in the sixth embodiment and data for display control. Fig. 24 shows the contribution expectation level and contribution level rank, receipt right, distribution notification screen display, distribution receipt screen display, and distribution list screen display levels determined in the sixth embodiment.

[0467] Fig. 25 is a block diagram illustrating the functional configuration of a distribution system for an online event according to the sixth embodiment. The functional configuration illustrated in Fig. 25 includes a server 200, an organizer terminal 100, a presenter terminal 110, a participant terminal 120, and an exhibitor terminal 130.

[0468] The distribution system for online events includes a contribution expectation acquisition unit 6001, a contribution level acquisition unit 6002, a distribution right storage unit 6003, a right grant request acceptance unit 6004, a right grant unit 6005, a distribution announcement / distribution receipt screen display control unit 6006, and a list screen display control unit 6007.

[0469] (Contribution Expectation Acquisition Department)

[0470] The expected contribution acquisition unit 6001 acquires recipient candidate participant attributes indicating participant classifications in an online event as the expected contribution of the recipient candidate participant relative to the providing participant.

[0471] As shown in FIG. 24, the expected contribution level is ranked into a plurality of ranks, for example, rank 1, rank 2, and rank 3, depending on the attributes of the potential recipient participants.

[0472] (Contribution Expectation Acquisition Department)

[0473] The contribution degree acquisition unit 6002 acquires the degree of contribution of the recipient candidate participant to the providing participant in association with the recipient candidate participant according to the content of the action taken by the recipient candidate participant toward the providing participant in the online event.

[0474] As shown in FIG. 24, the contribution level is ranked into a plurality of ranks, for example, rank 1, rank 2, and rank 3, depending on the content of the action taken by the potential recipient participant toward the providing participant.

[0475] (Distribution Rights Storage Unit)

[0476] Distribution right storage section 6003 stores distribution rights associated with a plurality of levels according to expected contribution and contribution level.

[0477] As shown in FIG. 24, distribution rights are stored at a plurality of levels, for example, level 1, level 2, and level 3, according to the expected contribution level and the rank of the contribution level.

[0478] For example, the rights to receive distribution items provided by exhibitor COM1, a participating provider, are Level 1 (no rights to receive), Level 2 (can receive regular item NV11), and Level 3 (can receive special item NV12).

[0479] As shown in Figure 24, depending on the expected contribution and contribution rank of the potential recipient participant, the level of the right to receive the distributed item and the content of the right to receive the distributed item will differ accordingly. For example, even if a participant who is a rank 1 attendee PC takes an action belonging to rank 3, "requesting a product quote," the level of the right to receive the distributed item will remain at level 1 and the content will remain "no right to receive." Also, if a participant who is a rank 2 non-member physician PB takes the same action belonging to rank 3, "requesting a product quote," he will receive a level 2 right to receive "regular item NV11." Also, if a participant who is a physician PA1 belonging to a rank 3 academic society takes the same action belonging to rank 3, "requesting a product quote," he will receive a level 3 right to receive "special item NV12," which is more expensive than regular item NV11.

[0480] Furthermore, if a participant who is a doctor PA1 belonging to a rank 3 society takes the rank 2 action of "leaving a business card," they will obtain the level 2 right of "being able to receive the regular product NV11." A participant who is a rank 2 non-member doctor PB or a rank 1 audience member PC will only obtain the level 1 right of "no right of receipt," and will not obtain the level 2 right of "being able to receive the regular product NV11," even if they take the same rank 2 action of "leaving a business card."

[0481] (Entitlement grant request reception unit)

[0482] The distribution right grant request receiving unit 6004 receives a distribution right grant request from a distribution candidate participant, and is the same as the distribution right grant request receiving unit 5004 in the fifth embodiment, so a description thereof will be omitted.

[0483] (Entitlement Division)

[0484] The distribution right granting unit 6005 retrieves, from the distribution right storage unit 6003, a distribution right of a level corresponding to the expected contribution degree acquired in association with the recipient candidate participant received by the distribution right grant request receiving unit 6004 and the contribution degree acquired in association with this recipient candidate participant.Then, the distribution right of the retrieved level is granted to the recipient candidate participant.

[0485] The decision as to whether or not to grant the right to receive handouts is made based on the expected contribution level and contribution level rank of the recipient candidate participant of the participant terminal 120 shown in FIG.

[0486] Suppose the distribution item desired by a potential recipient with the attribute of a non-member physician PB of rank 2 is the item "Regular Product NV11." If the potential recipient with the attribute of a non-member physician PB of rank 2 has taken an action belonging to rank 3, "requesting a product estimate," then the condition for granting a level 2 right of receipt, "ability to receive regular product NV11," is met. If it is determined that this condition is met, the distribution item notification, receipt, and list screen 1800A shown in FIG. 22 grants the right of receipt for the distribution item "Regular Product NV11" to the potential recipient with the attribute of a non-member physician PB. For example, the right of receipt display section 2801 on the distribution item notification, receipt, and list screen 1800A displays a message indicating that the right of receipt for the distribution item "Regular Product NV11" has been granted.

[0487] The same applies when a recipient candidate with the attributes of doctor PA1 who belongs to a rank 3 academic society wishes to receive the distribution item "Special Item NV12." If a recipient candidate with the attributes of doctor PA1 who belongs to a rank 3 academic society has taken an action belonging to rank 3, "requesting a product estimate," then the condition for granting a level 3 right of receipt, "ability to receive special item NV12," is met. If it is determined that this condition is met, the recipient candidate with the attributes of doctor PA1 who belongs to the academic society is granted the right of receipt for the distribution item "Special Item NV12" on the distribution notification / receive / list screen 1800B shown in FIG. 23. For example, the right of receipt display section 2801 on the distribution receipt reception screen 1800B displays a message indicating that the right of receipt for the distribution item "Special Item NV12" has been granted.

[0488] (Display control unit of the distribution notification screen, the distribution receipt screen, and the distribution list screen)

[0489] The distribution announcement / distribution receipt screen display control unit 6006 displays a distribution announcement screen for announcing the distribution that the providing participant will provide to the candidate recipient participants on the display device 17 of the participant terminal 120. The distribution announcement / distribution receipt screen display control unit 6006 also displays a distribution receipt screen for accepting a request to receive the distribution from the candidate recipient participant on the display device 17 of the participant terminal 120.

[0490] Furthermore, the distribution list screen display control unit 6007 displays on the display device 17 of the participant terminal 120 a distribution list screen showing a list of distributions that the providing participant is providing to the potential recipient participants.

[0491] The distribution announcement / distribution receipt screen display control unit 6006 controls whether or not to display a distribution announcement screen and whether or not to display a distribution receipt screen on the display screen of the participant terminal 120 of the potential recipient participant, depending on the expected contribution level of the potential recipient participant.

[0492] The distribution list screen display control unit 6007 controls the display level of the distribution list screen on the display screen of the participant terminal 120 of the recipient candidate participant and whether or not the distribution list screen is displayed, depending on the expected contribution level of the recipient candidate participant.

[0493] The display of the distribution announcement screen and the display of the distribution receipt screen are leveled as Level 1 and Level 2, as shown in Figure 24. The display of the distribution list screen is leveled as Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3, as shown in Figure 24.

[0494] As shown in the distribution notification, receipt, and list screens 1800A and 1800B in Figures 22 and 23, the distribution notification screen, distribution receipt screen, and distribution list screen are displayed at a level corresponding to the rank of the contribution of the potential recipient participant on the participant terminal 120.

[0495] Seventh embodiment

[0496] An embodiment of a distribution system for handouts at an online event to which the fifth or sixth embodiment is applied will be described below.

[0497] The distribution system for online events can be implemented by transmitting and receiving data between terminal devices via a communication network such as the Internet.

[0498] Each step of the distribution system for handouts at an online event will be described below. As in the fifth or sixth embodiment, the explanation will be given assuming that sponsoring companies COM1 and COM2 of the online event are providing participants who provide handouts to participants at the online event.

[0499] Step 1 (Registering distribution materials)

[0500] 26A and 26B show distribution registration screens 2100A and 2100B displayed on the display screens of the display devices 17 of the exhibitor-side terminals 130 on the side of the providing participants COM1 and COM2, respectively.

[0501] Handout registration screens 2100A and 2100B are screens for registering handouts to be provided at online events.

[0502] Distribution registration screen 2100A displays registration request buttons 2111, 2112 and statuses 2121, 2122 associated with requested distributions NV11, NV12.

[0503] Similarly, distribution registration screen 2100B displays registration request buttons 2113 and 2114 and statuses 2123 and 2124 in association with requested distributions NV21 and NV22.

[0504] The provider participant COM1 selects distributions NV11 and NV12 for this online event B. The selected distributions NV11 and NV12 are displayed as requested distributions NV11 and NV12 on the distribution registration screen 2100A. When the registration request buttons 2111 and 2112 are pressed, the statuses 2121 and 2122 are displayed as "Requesting." In response, information about the requested distributions NV11 and NV12 is displayed on the display device 17 of the operator terminal 100 of the operator (administrator) of online event B. When the operator (administrator) of online event B performs an operation to approve the registration of the requested distributions NV11 and NV12, the displayed statuses 2121 and 2122 of the requested distributions NV11 and NV12 are updated to "Registered."

[0505] Similarly, provider participant COM2 selects distributions NV21 and NV22 for this online event B. The selected distributions NV21 and NV22 are displayed as requested distributions NV21 and NV22 on distribution registration screen 2100B. When registration request buttons 2113 and 2114 are pressed, statuses 2123 and 2124 are displayed as "Requesting." In response, information about the requested distributions NV21 and NV22 is displayed on display device 17 of operator terminal 100 of the operator (administrator) of online event B. When the operator (administrator) of online event B performs an operation to approve the registration of requested distributions NV21 and NV22, the displayed statuses 2123 and 2124 of requested distributions NV21 and NV22 are updated to "Registered."

[0506] When applying for registration of a distribution item, the number of distribution items to be provided may also be applied. For example, the number of distribution items to be provided (for example, 10) can be associated with the distribution item application NV11.

[0507] It is also possible to select items to distribute from a pre-submitted product list and then submit the application for registration. For example, a local industrial company that is a member of the chamber of commerce in the area where the event (academic conference) is being held will submit a list of local specialties that could be used as distribution items to sponsoring companies COM1 and COM2 of the conference.

[0508] FIG. 26C illustrates an example of distribution registration screen 2100C.

[0509] The distribution registration screen 2100C is displayed on the display device 17 of the exhibitor's terminal 130 of the providing participants COM1 and COM2.

[0510] Distribution registration screen 2100C displays product names NV11, NV12, NV21, and NV22 in association with manufacturers LC1, LC2, LC3, and LC4, registration application buttons 2111, 2112, 2113, and 2114, and statuses 2121, 2122, 2123, and 2124.

[0511] Provider participant COM1 selects the requested distribution items NV11 and NV12 for this online event B from among the products NV11, NV12, NV21, and NV22. Similarly, provider participant COM2 selects the requested distribution items NV21 and NV22 for this online event B from among the products NV11, NV12, NV21, and NV22.

[0512] For example, when providing participant COM1 presses registration request button 2111 associated with distribution NV11, a registration request is made that distribution NV11 is a distribution provided by providing participant COM1 at the current online event B. Similarly, when providing participant COM1 presses registration request button 2112 associated with distribution NV12, a registration request is made that distribution NV12 is a distribution provided by sponsoring company COM1 at the current online event B. When the registration of requested distributions NV11 and NV12 is approved, the display of statuses 2121 and 2122 is updated to "Registered", respectively.

[0513] Similarly, providing participant COM2 can apply for and register, via distribution registration screen 2100C, for example, distributions NV21 and NV22, after approval.

[0514] The registered distributions NV11, NV12, NV21, and NV22 are associated with the receiving conditions shown in the table of FIG. 21 or FIG. 24, as explained in the fifth or sixth embodiment.

[0515] Step 2 (Management of distribution materials)

[0516] The registered distribution items are displayed on a distribution item management screen 2200A as shown in FIG.

[0517] The distribution management screen 2200A is displayed on the display device 17 of the organizer terminal 100 of the organizer (manager) of online event B.

[0518] The distribution management screen 2200A displays registered distribution items NV11, NV12, NV21, and NV22 in association with providing participants COM1 and COM2, distribution destinations (receiving candidate participants), and distribution quantities.

[0519] After Online Event B ends, the recipients (potential recipient participants) and number of items to be distributed will be determined.

[0520] This allows you to monitor whether the number of items provided is within the actual number of items distributed when the requested item is associated with a specific number. For example, if the requested number of items NV11 is 10 and the actual number of items distributed during online event B is 2, you can determine that the distribution was carried out as requested.

[0521] Step 3 (Acceptance of distribution request and granting of rights to receive)

[0522] As described in the fifth or sixth embodiment, the distribution item notification / receipt / list screen 1800A shown in FIG. 22 or the distribution item notification / receipt / list screen 1800B shown in FIG. 23 displays a list of registered distribution items with associated receipt conditions, and a display that accepts requests to receive the distribution items from potential recipient participants and grants the right to receive the distribution items to the potential recipient participants when the receipt conditions are met.

[0523] A distribution item is selected from the distribution item list shown on the distribution item notification / receive / list screen 1800A shown in FIG. 22 or the distribution item notification / receive / list screen 1800B shown in FIG. 23, and a request to receive the distribution item is accepted. If the conditions for receiving the distribution item are met, the right to receive the distribution item is granted.

[0524] Step 4 (Generating a shipping list)

[0525] The acceptance of requests to receive the distribution material is closed, for example, when the period for online event B expires.

[0526] When the acceptance of distribution item receipt requests is closed, the recipients (candidate recipient participants) and the number of distribution items registered for distribution items NV11, NV12, NV21, and NV22 will be confirmed.

[0527] During the period of online event B, potential recipient participants (users) U11, U12, U13, and U14 make the following receipt requests and are granted the right to receive the items. By being granted the right to receive the items, the order for the items is confirmed.

[0528] User U11

[0529] One distribution item NV11 was individually ordered on the 5th of month N during the period of online event B. Also, one distribution item NV21 was individually ordered on the 7th of month N during the period of online event B. The delivery address was specified as the home address. Information including the home address, name, and telephone number of the delivery recipient of user U11 is designated as ADR11.

[0530] User U12

[0531] One distribution item NV11 was individually ordered on the 6th of month N during the online event B. The delivery address was specified as a home address. Information including the home address, name, and telephone number of the delivery recipient of user U12 is designated as ADR12.

[0532] User U13

[0533] An order was placed for one distribution item NV12 and one distribution item NV22. The order date is the 10th of month N, when the online event B ends. The delivery address is specified as the home address. Information including the home address, name, and phone number of the delivery recipient of user U13 is designated as ADR13.

[0534] User U14

[0535] One distribution item NV21 was individually ordered on the 8th of month N during the online event B. The delivery address was specified as a home address. Information including the home address, name, and telephone number of the delivery recipient of user U14 is designated as ADR14.

[0536] User U15

[0537] One distribution item NV21 was individually ordered on the 9th of month N during the online event B. The delivery address was specified as home address ADR15. ADR15 contains information including the home address, name, and telephone number of the delivery recipient of user U15.

[0538] User U16

[0539] A bulk order was placed for one distribution item NV22. The order date is the 10th of month N, when the online event B expires. The delivery address is specified as the home address. Information including the home address, name, and phone number of the delivery recipient of user U16 is designated as ADR16.

[0540] 28 shows a distribution management screen 2200B when the distribution destinations and distribution quantities have been confirmed. The distribution management screen 2200B is displayed on the display device 17 of the organizer terminal 100 of the organizer (administrator) of online event B.

[0541] The distribution management screen 2200B displays the registered distribution items NV11, NV12, NV21, and NV22 in correspondence with the providing participants COM1 and COM2, the user identification information UI11, UI12, UI13, UI14, UI15, and UI16 of the distribution recipients (potential recipient participants) users U11, U12, U13, U14, U15, and U16, and the distribution quantities 2, 1, 3, and 2.

[0542] Here, the user identification information UI11, UI12, UI13, UI14, UI15, and UI16 is limited to information that identifies the user, such as the user name, and does not include personal information such as a home address or telephone number.

[0543] Therefore, the operator (administrator) can obtain information that the providing participant COM1 has provided one distribution item NV11 each to user U11 and user U12, for a total of two items.

[0544] The operator (administrator) can also obtain information that one distribution item NV12 has been provided to user U13 by providing participant COM1.

[0545] The operator (administrator) can also obtain information that the provider participant COM2 has provided one distribution item NV21 each to user U11, user U14, and user U15, for a total of three items.

[0546] The operator (administrator) can also obtain information that the provider participant COM2 has provided one distribution item NV22 each to user U13 and user U16, for a total of two items.

[0547] 29 shows a distribution item management screen for each providing participant 2300. The distribution item management screen for each providing participant 2300 is displayed on the display device 17 of the exhibitor's terminal 130 of the providing participant (for example, supporting company COM1).

[0548] The distribution item management screen 2300 by providing participant displays the user identification information UI11, UI12, UI13 and distribution quantities 2 and 1 of users U11, U12, U13 who are the distribution recipients (potential recipient participants) for distribution items NV11, NV12 registered by the providing participant (e.g., sponsoring company COM1).

[0549] Therefore, the providing participant COM1 can obtain information that two distribution items NV11 have been provided, one each to user U11 and user U12.

[0550] Furthermore, the providing participant COM1 can obtain information that one distribution item NV12 has been provided to the user U13.

[0551] Next, we will explain about the distribution list. A distribution list is created to distribute items from the source to the destination.

[0552] The delivery list is updated each time a receipt entitlement is granted, and is finalized when the acceptance of receipt entitlement applications is closed (for example, when the period for online event B expires).

[0553] The source of the distribution may be any of the following:

[0554] - When manufacturers LC1, LC2, LC3, and LC4 are the shipping origins

[0555] When the delivery company is the shipping source

[0556] When the provider participant (sponsoring companies COM1 and COM2) is the shipping source

[0557] -Any combination of two or three of the above

[0558] (When manufacturers LC1, LC2, LC3, and LC4 are the shipping origins)

[0559] 30A shows a delivery list screen 2400A. The delivery list screen 2400A is displayed on the display device 17 of the terminal of the local industrial company LC1 (not shown) that is the delivery source.

[0560] The delivery list screen 2400A displays the products for which delivery rights have been granted in association with the delivery address.

[0561] The delivery list screen 2400A displays the delivery destination information (ADR11, ADR12), quantity (1 of each, total of 2), order date (5th of N month, 6th of N month), and scheduled delivery date (6th of N month, 7th of N month) in association with product NV11.

[0562] Similarly, a delivery list screen 2400B shown in FIG. 30B is displayed on the display device 17 of the terminal of the local industrial company LC2, which is the delivery source (not shown).

[0563] The delivery list screen 2400B displays the delivery destination information (ADR13), quantity (1), order date (10th of month N), and expected delivery date (11th of month N) in association with the product NV12.

[0564] Similarly, a delivery list screen 2400C shown in FIG. 30C is displayed on the display device 17 of the terminal of the local industrial company LC3, which is the delivery source (not shown).

[0565] The delivery list screen 2400C displays the delivery destination information (ADR11, ADR14, ADR15), quantity (one of each, for a total of three), order date (7th of N month, 8th of N month, 9th of N month), and scheduled delivery date (8th of N month, 9th of N month, 10th of N month) in association with product NV21.

[0566] Similarly, a delivery list screen 2400D shown in FIG. 30D is displayed on the display device 17 of the terminal of the local industrial company LC4, which is the delivery source (not shown).

[0567] The delivery list screen 2400D displays the delivery destination information (ADR13, ADR16), quantity (1 of each, total of 2), order date (10th of Nth month), and expected delivery date (11th of Nth month) in association with the product NV22.

[0568] (When the delivery company is the shipping source)

[0569] A delivery list screen 2400E shown in FIG. 30E is displayed on the display device 17 of the terminal of the delivery company LG1 (not shown) that is the delivery source.

[0570] Delivery list screen 2400E is an integration of the delivery lists of delivery list screens 2400A, 2400B, 2400C, and 2400D.

[0571] (When the provider is the shipping source)

[0572] The distribution item management screen 2300 by providing participant shown in Figure 29 (the screen when the deadline for granting receipt rights has passed) is a distribution list for distribution items provided by providing participant COM1. The display of the distribution item management screen 2300 by providing participant is controlled so as not to include personal information such as the home address and telephone number of potential recipient participants. The same applies to the distribution list for providing participant COM2.

[0573] Step 5 (Delivery of distribution materials)

[0574] (When the manufacturer is the shipping source)

[0575] Manufacturers (e.g., local industrial companies) LC1, LC2, LC3, and LC4 each request delivery from a delivery agent in accordance with the information displayed on the delivery list screens 2400A, 2400B, 2400C, and 2400D. The delivery agent then delivers the items to the addresses specified by each user U11, U12, U13, U14, U15, and U16 who has been granted the right to receive the distribution item.

[0576] (When the delivery company is the shipping source)

[0577] According to the delivery list screen 2400E, delivery company LG1 collects the products from manufacturers (local industrial companies) LC1, LC2, LC3, and LC4 and delivers them to the addresses specified by each user U11, U12, U13, U14, U15, and U16 who has been granted the right to receive the distribution items.

[0578] (When the provider is the shipping source)

[0579] A delivery list screen 2400F shown in Figure 30F is displayed on the display device 17 of the terminal of the delivery agent (not shown). The delivery list screen 2400F corresponds to the delivery list of the provider participant COM1. The delivery list screen 2400F is an extract of the distribution items provided by the provider participant COM1 from the delivery list screen 2400E.

[0580] The delivery agent delivers the distribution items to the addresses specified by the users U11, U12, and U13 who have been granted the distribution item receiving rights, in accordance with the delivery list of the provider participant COM1 shown on the delivery list screen 2400F.

[0581] Similarly, a delivery list screen 2400G shown in FIG. 30G is displayed on the display device 17 of the terminal of the delivery agent (not shown). The delivery list screen 2400G corresponds to the delivery list of the providing participant COM2. The delivery list screen 2400G shows the distribution items provided by the providing participant COM2 extracted from the delivery list screen 2400E.

[0582] The delivery agent delivers to the addresses specified by each of the users U11, U13, U14, U15, and U16 who have been granted the right to receive the distribution item, in accordance with the delivery list of the provider participant COM2 shown on the delivery list screen 2400G.

[0583] As a result, each user will receive the following distributions:

[0584] User U11

[0585] One distribution item, NV11, was ordered individually on N month 5th during the period of online event B and received at home address ADR11 on N month 6th. Also, one distribution item, NV21, was ordered individually on N month 7th during the period of online event B and received at home address (ADR11) on N month 8th.

[0586] User U12

[0587] One distribution item, NV11, was individually ordered on N month 6th during the online event B period and received at home address (ADR12) on N month 7th.

[0588] User U13

[0589] One distribution item NV12 and one distribution item NV22 that were ordered in bulk were received at the home address (ADR13) on N month 11th after the end of the online event B period (until N month 10th).

[0590] User U14

[0591] One distribution item, NV21, was individually ordered on N month 8th during the online event B period and received at home address (ADR14) on N month 9th.

[0592] User U15

[0593] One distribution item, NV21, was individually ordered on N month 9th during the online event B period and received at home address (ADR15) on N month 10th.

[0594] User U16

[0595] One bulk order of distribution item NV22 was received at my home address (ADR16) on the 11th of N month, after the end of the online event B period (until the 10th of N month).

[0596] The handout delivery system for online events of this embodiment has the effect of reducing the burden associated with selecting handouts, transporting them to the venue, distributing them to participants, and taking them home compared to conventional systems. Furthermore, providing participants (such as sponsoring companies) and event managers can obtain information about how many handouts were provided to which participants during the event.

[0597] The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-89493, filed on May 27, 2021, is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0598] All publications, patent applications, and technical standards mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent application, or technical standard was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. [Explanation of symbols]

[0599] 1001 Conference information input section 1002 Conference screen generation unit 1003 Preparation Status Update Section 1004 correspondence generation unit, 1005 Transmitter 2002 Setting Department 2003 Reception Department 2004 Acquisition Department 2005 Judgment Department 2006 Display control unit 3001 Recording Department 3002 Novelty Receipt Conditions Reception Department 3003 Receipt request acceptance unit 3004 Judgment section 3005 Entitlement Division

Claims

1. The first participant selects a display condition for displaying premium information on the terminal of the second participant. a setting unit that sets the event in association with an attribute of the second participant and a specific action taken by the second participant toward the first participant on a display screen of the terminal of the second participant; displaying, on a display screen of a terminal of the second participant, general information provided by the first participant and a general information display screen on which the second participant can take an action on the first participant by operating the screen; a display control unit that displays a premium information screen displaying the premium information on a display screen of a terminal on the side of the second participant, when the attributes of the second participant satisfy the display conditions and when at least one of the actions taken by the second participant through operations on the general information display screen satisfies the display conditions; Equipped with a matching event system.

2. A plurality of pieces of premium information are prepared, and display conditions are different for each of the plurality of pieces of premium information. The matching event system of claim 1 .

3. If the attribute of the second participant is a specific attribute, the specific premium information among the plurality of premium information is hidden regardless of the behavior of the second participant. The matching event system of claim 2 .

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