Communication System

Abstract

To provide a communication system which facilitates communications between users while increasing new users.SOLUTION: In a communication system 100, when reading means 22 reads user information from a bar-code or a code on a non-contact IC chip, image display means 24 displays a user information display image related to the read user information. A free-subscription user who has been recorded as a first-type user on storage means 32 is allowed to record, on the storage means 32, the user information display image displayed on the image display means 24. A paid subscription user recorded as a second-type user on the storage means 32 is allowed to record, on the storage means 32, the user information display image displayed on the image display means 24 and also create and edit their user information display image.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a system (hereinafter simply referred to as a "communication system") that reads information recorded in a code with a mobile phone and promotes communication using the read information. [Background technology]

[0002] Systems that use mobile phone terminals to read information recorded on codes such as barcodes and contactless IC chips have been known for some time. In recent years, these systems have been used particularly in business settings. For example, the following systems are available that attach a contactless IC chip to a card-like medium such as a business card and read the information recorded on the contactless IC chip with a mobile phone terminal. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-167803 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The linking system between a mobile phone and a tagged card disclosed in Patent Document 1 is said to have the function of having the mobile phone read information recorded on an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag or the like attached to a business card, and then making a call based on the read information, or displaying the destination address of an e-mail on the display unit of the mobile phone. This system is said to have the advantages of making it easy to edit information to be sent, eliminating the need to manually input received information into a mobile phone terminal or the like, and making it easy to manage.

[0005] However, simply being able to read information on a tagged card with a mobile phone does not actively contribute to increasing the number of new users, nor does it lead to promoting communication between users.

[0006] In view of the above-mentioned problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a communication system that can easily attract new users and promote communication between users. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The system includes a read medium, an information terminal, and a server device, the read medium has a code in which user information is recorded, the information terminal comprises a reading means and an image display means, the server device includes a storage means and an image generating means, and is configured to be able to communicate with the information terminal; the image generating means is configured to generate a user information display image corresponding to the user information; When the reading means reads the user information from the code, the user information display image is received from the server device and displayed by the image display means, When the user of the information terminal is registered in the storage means as a first-class user, the user information display image can be recorded in the storage means; When the user of the information terminal is registered as a second-class user in the storage means, the user information display image can be recorded in the storage means, and the image generating means can create and edit the user information display image of the user. 、 the user information display image includes a video; Communication system. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, when the reading means of the information terminal reads the user information from the code, it receives a user information display image from the server device and displays it on the image display means, and further, if the user of the information terminal is registered in the storage means as a first-class user, it can record the user information display image in the storage means, and if the user of the information terminal is registered in the storage means as a second-class user, it can not only record the user information display image in the storage means but also create and edit the user's own user information display image by the image generation means, which makes it easy to create motivation to become a first-class user or a second-class user, and therefore easy to increase the number of new users.

[0009] Furthermore, if the user information display image includes a video, information related to the user can be conveyed in an easy-to-understand manner, thereby promoting communication between users. Furthermore, if the user information display image includes a hometown and a hometown character icon corresponding to the hometown, it is easy to understand the hometown and its representative character at a glance.

[0010] The information terminal may be configured so that the user is further recorded in the storage means as a third-type user associated with the first-type user and / or the second-type user, and the third-type user may display information about the first-type user and / or the second-type user. mention and configured to be removable. and the content of the user information display image of the second type user can be edited. In this case, for example, a communication system can be created in which an organization such as a corporation can easily manage information on individual first-class users and second-class users as third-class users.

[0011] Furthermore, if the first type user and / or the second type user is configured to be able to send a notification introducing each other to both one user associated with one user information display image and another user associated with another user information display image, both of which are recorded in the storage means, communication between users can be further promoted.

[0012] Furthermore, when one user and another user receive a notification, if the system is configured to allow them to approve the introduction and record the user information display image of the other user or one user in the display and storage means, or to reject the introduction, communication can be carried out only with the desired user.

[0013] Furthermore, if the number of times approval has been given by first-class users and second-class users is recorded in the storage means, it is easy to identify users who are actively expanding their user communities. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a communication system 100 according to the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic diagram of a read medium 10. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing information about a user recorded in the storage means 32. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a user information display image. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a video creation confirmation page. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart of a process when a code 12 is read by an information terminal 20. [Figure 7] 10 is a flowchart of processing for each user type. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a management screen for third-class users. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a notification screen. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 9. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

[0016] 1, a communication system 100 according to the present invention comprises a read medium 10, an information terminal 20, and a server device 30. The information terminal 20 and the server device 30 can communicate with each other via a line such as the Internet.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 2, the read medium 10 can be, for example, a card-shaped medium such as a business card. The read medium 10 also includes a code 12. The code 12 can be a barcode, a two-dimensional code, or a contactless IC chip. In particular, an RFID tag such as an NFC (Near Field Communication) tag is preferably used. User information specific to each user, for example, a link to a website assigned to each user, is recorded in the code 12. The read medium 10 may be anything other than a card-shaped medium, as long as it can include the code 12.

[0018] 1 is a mobile phone terminal including a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a personal computer, etc. A known server may be used as the server device 30. The information terminal 20 and the server device 30 each have functions that are normally provided therein, such as a processing unit, a recording medium, a memory, and a communication means.

[0019] The information terminal 20 also includes a reading means 22 and an image display means 24. The reading means 22 is a device that optically identifies codes using infrared rays or a camera, which are typically provided in mobile phone terminals, or a reader that contactlessly reads codes such as NFC tags using magnetism or radio waves, and reads the information recorded in the code 12. The image display means 24 is a screen that is typically provided in mobile phone terminals, and has the function of displaying a user information display image 40, a video creation confirmation page 50, a third-type user management screen 60, a notification screen 70, etc., which will be described later.

[0020] The server device 30 includes a storage means 32 and an image generation means 34. The storage means 32 is a recording medium such as a hard disk or a solid state drive (SSD), and is configured to record information based on operations of the information terminal 20. The image generation means 34 generates a user information display image 40 corresponding to the user information of the second type user, as will be described later.

[0021] The information about a user recorded in the storage means 32 based on the operation of the information terminal 20 includes information about the user, such as the user name, user image, communication icon, name, contact information such as telephone number and email address, gender, age, date of birth, hometown information, organization information such as the name and job title of the organization to which the user belongs, links to SNS (short for social networking service) and websites used by the user, and the user ID and password used by the user to access the communication system 100. This information about the user may be recorded in the storage means 32 in a format such as the database 32a shown in FIG. 3. In addition, if the user is a first-class user, as will be described later, at least the user ID and password may be recorded in the storage means 32. In addition, the storage means 32 records a user information display image 40 (see FIG. 4) corresponding to the user information, generated by the image generation means 34.

[0022] The information about the user recorded in the storage means 32 includes the type of the user, i.e., whether the user is a first-type, second-type, or third-type user. For example, a first-type user may be a user who has registered with the communication system 100 free of charge, and a second-type user may be a user who has registered with the communication system 100 for a fee. In the communication system 100, a first-type user can read the code 12 of another second-type user with the reading means 22 of his / her information terminal 20, thereby displaying the user information display image 40 (see FIG. 4 ) of the second-type user on the image display means 24 and recording the user information display image 40 in the storage means 32. Meanwhile, a second-type user can further operate the information terminal 20 to create and edit his / her own user information display image 40 with the image generation means 34 and record it in the storage means 32. Third-type users will be described later.

[0023] The image generation means 34 generates a user information display image 40 as shown in Fig. 4 based on information about the second-type user recorded in the storage means 32. Fig. 4 shows an example of the user information display image 40 that the information terminal 20 receives from the server device 30 and displays on the image display means 24 when the reading means 22 of the information terminal 20 reads the code 12 of the read medium 10. It is preferable that the user information display image 40 is a web page, and link information (URL) of the web page, which serves as user information, is recorded in the code 12 of the read medium 10, so that the user information display image 40 is displayed on the web browser of the information terminal 20 when the reading means 22 of the information terminal 20 reads the code 12 of the read medium 10.

[0024] The user information display image 40 has a user information display section 42, and displays information about the user recorded in the storage means 32, as described above. The user information display section 42 may include a video playback icon 48 for playing a video that the user recorded in the storage means 32. The user information display image 40 may also be provided with an icon display section 44. The user information display section 42 and the icon display section 44 may be displayed on a single screen, or may be configured to be displayed across multiple screens.

[0025] The icon display unit 44 includes one or more icons 46a to 46c. The icons 46a to 46b are configured to be linked to applications such as a web browser on the information terminal 20. For example, when the website icon 46a is selected, the web browser on the information terminal 20 is launched and the displayed user's website is accessed. When the SNS icon 46b is selected, an application for the SNS on the information terminal 20 is launched and the displayed user's SNS page is accessed. Furthermore, based on the user's hometown information, a representative character of the hometown may be displayed as a hometown character icon 46c. When the hometown character icon 46c is selected, the web browser on the information terminal 20 is launched and a website providing information about the hometown is accessed. This configuration makes it easy to understand the hometown and its representative character at a glance. Alternatively, selecting an icon may display a message creation screen for calling the user or sending an email.

[0026] In this embodiment, regardless of the user type, all users of the information terminal 20 can, when they read the code 12 of another second-type user with the information terminal 20, cause the image display means 24 to display a user information display image 40 based on the user information of the other second-type user. If the user is a first-type user, the user information display image 40 can be recorded in the storage means 32. On the other hand, if the user is a second-type user, in addition to being able to record the user information display image 40 in the storage means 32, the user can also create and edit the content of his or her own user information display image 40. In this way, the communication system 100 provides different functions that can be used depending on the user type, which easily motivates users to become first-type or second-type users, and therefore easily increases the number of new users of the communication system 100.

[0027] The user information display image 40 may also be configured to include a video. The video may be displayed by the image display means 24 when the reading means 22 of the information terminal 20 reads the user information from the code 12. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4, a video playback icon 48 may be provided, and the video may be played by the image display means 24 when the video playback icon 48 is selected. If the user information display image 40 includes a video, information related to the user can be conveyed in an easy-to-understand manner, thereby promoting communication between users. Note that after a video is played, the video may be repeatedly played, the user information display image 40 may be displayed by operating the information terminal 20, or the user information display image 40 may be displayed automatically. In the case of a touchscreen information terminal 20, the user information display image 40 may be displayed by swiping or tapping during or after video playback.

[0028] A video can be created and saved in the storage means 32 by a video creation confirmation page 50 as shown in FIG. 5. The video creation confirmation page 50 is configured so that selecting a video creation button 52b activates a camera mounted on or connected to the information terminal 20, captures a video, and saves the video in the storage means 32. Also, selecting a video save button 52c allows video data saved in the information terminal 20 to be saved in the storage means 32. Videos recorded in the storage means 32 can be played back by selecting a video area 52d, and it is preferable that the content of the video can be confirmed. A user information edit button 52a may be provided to display the user information display image 40 shown in FIG. 4, allowing the content of the video to be edited.

[0029] 6 is a flowchart of the process when the code 12 is read by the information terminal 20. First, in a reading step S1, the reading means 22 of the information terminal 20 reads the user information recorded in the code 12 of the medium 10 to be read.

[0030] Next, an image display step S2 is executed. In the image display step S2, the user information corresponding to the code 12 read in the reading step S1 is transmitted to the server device 30, and the information terminal 20 receives the user information display image 40 corresponding to the user information from the server device 30, whereby the user information display image 40 is displayed by the image display means 24.

[0031] After the image display step S2, a user determination step S3 is executed. In the user determination step S3, it is confirmed whether the user has already been registered as a first- to third-class user in the communication system 100. Specifically, a login screen for the communication system 100 may be displayed, prompting the user to log in to the communication system 100 with a user ID and password. If the information recorded in the storage means 32 is compared and it is determined that the user is registered as a first- to third-class user, the process proceeds to a save necessity step S6. If the user is not registered as a first- to third-class user, the process proceeds to a registration necessity step S4, where a process is performed to select whether or not to register as a first- to third-class user in the communication system 100. If registration is desired, the process proceeds to a user registration step S5, where user information can be entered and the information is recorded in the storage means 32. Thereafter, the process proceeds to a save necessity step S6, which will be described later. If registration is not desired, the process ends.

[0032] In save necessity step S6, it is possible to select whether or not to record the user information display image 40 displayed in image display step S2 in storage means 32. If save is selected, image save step S7 is executed, and the user information display image 40 is saved in a form linked to the user. If save is not required, the process ends.

[0033] 7 is a flowchart of processing for each user type executed in the communication system 100. First, when a user uses the communication system 100, a user authentication step S11 is executed. In the user authentication step S11, the user logs in to the communication system 100 with a user ID and password, and the user type (first to third type user) is determined by checking information about the user associated with the user ID against a database such as that shown in FIG. 3. If the user ID cannot be checked against the database, the above-mentioned registration necessity step S4 and user registration step S5 may be executed.

[0034] If the user is determined to be a first-class user as a result of the user authentication step S11, an image inquiry step S12 can be executed. The image inquiry step S12 is configured to be able to inquire about the user information display image 40 saved in the image saving step S7 described above. At this time, the user information display image 40 can be searched for, or unnecessary user information display image 40 can be deleted.

[0035] If the user is determined to be a second-type user as a result of the user authentication step S11, the image editing step S13 can be executed. The image editing step S13 is configured to allow the content of the user information display image 40 of the second-type user to be edited. For example, the user information display image 40 shown in FIG. 4 or the video creation confirmation page 50 shown in FIG. 5 can be displayed, and each item can be edited. The second-type user can also execute the image inquiry step S12, and the order of execution of the image inquiry step S12 and the image editing step S13 is not fixed.

[0036] If the user is determined to be a third-type user as a result of the user authentication step S11, the system is configured to execute the user management step S14. The third-type user is configured to be linked to one or more first-type users and / or second-type users in terms of data. Therefore, the user management step S14 is configured to allow the first-type users and / or second-type users linked to the third-type user to be viewed and deleted. When the third-type user executes the image editing step S13, it is preferable that the content of the user information display image 40 of the second-type user linked to the third-type user can also be edited. Furthermore, when the third-type user executes the image inquiry step S12, it is preferable that the user information display image 40 saved by the first-type user and the second-type user linked to the third-type user can be viewed. The order of execution of the image inquiry step S12, the image editing step S13, and the user management step S14 can be random. With this configuration, the communication system 100 can be configured to allow, for example, an organization such as a corporation to easily manage information on individual first-type users and second-type users as third-type users.

[0037] FIG. 8 shows a third-type user management screen 60, an example of an image displayed on the information terminal 20 of a third-type user in the user management step S14. The third-type user management screen 60 includes a user information list section 62 that displays a list of first-type users and / or second-type users associated with the third-type user. The user information list section 62 can display the name of the organization to which the first-type user and / or second-type user belongs, their name, and the start date of use. Furthermore, by providing an enable / disable column 66a for each first-type user and / or second-type user and configuring the account of the first-type or second-type user to be enabled or disabled, the third-type user can decide whether to activate or deactivate the account, thereby facilitating user management. Furthermore, by providing a successful introduction count column 66b for each first-type user and / or second-type user and configuring the column 66b to display the number of accepted introductions between users (described later), it becomes easier to identify users who are actively expanding their user communities.

[0038] The image editing step S13 described above may be executed by selecting a second-class user displayed in the user information list section 62. The image query step S12 described above may be executed by selecting a first-class or second-class user displayed in the user information list section 62. The user information search section 64 may be configured to search for first-class users and / or second-class users, and the search results may be displayed in the user information list section 62.

[0039] Furthermore, the system can be configured so that a first-type user and / or a second-type user can send a mutual introduction notification to both one user associated with one user information display image and another user associated with another user information display image, both of which are stored in the storage means 32. This can be performed, for example, by selecting the introduction icon 46d of one user information display image 40 as shown in Fig. 4 and selecting another user. This configuration can further promote communication between users.

[0040] When the introduction icon 46d of the first user information display image 40 is selected and another user is selected, a notification is sent to the information terminals 20 of the first user and the other user, and a notification screen 70 is displayed on the image display means 24. The introduction destination display field 72 displays at least a portion of information about the user who made the introduction and the user who was introduced. The first user and the other user should be able to decide whether to accept the introduction by selecting an accept button 74 or a reject button 76. When both the first user and the other user select the accept button 74, the user information display image 40 of the first user is displayed on the image display means 24 of the other user, and the user information display image 40 of the first user is recorded in the storage means 32 in a manner linked to the other user. The user information display image 40 of the other user is displayed on the image display means 24 of the first user, and the user information display image 40 of the other user is recorded in the storage means 32 in a manner linked to the first user. On the other hand, if one user and / or another user selects the reject button 76, the user information display image 40 of any user is not displayed and is not recorded in the storage means 32. With this configuration, communication can be carried out only with desired users.

[0041] Furthermore, if the number of times that introductions by a first-type user or a second-type user have been accepted by one user and other users is configured to be recorded in the storage means 32, it is easy to grasp users who are actively expanding the user community. The number of acceptances recorded in the storage means 32 can be configured to be displayed in the user information display section 42 of the user information display image 40 as shown in Fig. 4, or to be displayed in the number of successful introductions field 66b of the third-type user management screen 60 as shown in Fig. 8.

[0042] Furthermore, when there is common or related content in the information about a plurality of first-type users and second-type users, it is also possible to configure the system so as to suggest whether to record each other's user information display images 40 in the storage means 32. In this case, too, as described above, it is sufficient to configure the system so that notifications are sent to the information terminals 20 of each user and the notification screens 70 are displayed on the image display means 24 thereof.

[0043] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a communication system 100 that can easily increase the number of new users and further promote communication between users. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 10 Readable media 12 chords 20 Information terminal 22 Reading means 24 Image display means 30 Server device 32 Memory means 34 Image generation means 40 User information display image 50 Video creation confirmation page 60 Third-class user management screen 70 Notification screen 100 Communication Systems

Claims

1. The system includes a read medium, an information terminal, and a server device, the read medium has a code in which user information is recorded, the information terminal comprises a reading means and an image display means, the server device includes a storage means and an image generating means, and is configured to be able to communicate with the information terminal; the image generating means is configured to generate a user information display image corresponding to the user information; When the reading means reads the user information from the code, the user information display image is received from the server device and displayed by the image display means, When the user of the information terminal is registered in the storage means as a first-class user, the user information display image can be recorded in the storage means; When a user of the information terminal is registered as a second-class user in the storage means, the user information display image can be recorded in the storage means, and the image generating means can create and edit the user information display image of the user, the user information display image includes a video; Communication system.

2. The communication system according to claim 1 , wherein the user information display image includes a hometown and a hometown character icon corresponding to the hometown.

3. When a user of the information terminal is further registered in the storage means as a third-type user linked to the first-type user and / or second-type user, the third-type user is configured to be able to display and delete information of the first-type user and / or second-type user, and is configured to be able to edit the content of the user information display image of the second-type user. The communication system of claim 1.

4. The first-class user or the second-class user is configured to be able to transmit a mutual introduction notification to both one user related to one user information display image and another user related to another user information display image, both of which are recorded in the storage means.

4. The communication system of claim 1 or 3.

5. When the one user and the other user receive the notification, the one user and the other user can approve the introduction and display and record in the storage means a user information display image of the other user or the one user, or can reject the introduction. The communication system of claim 4.

6. The number of times of approval of the first type user and the second type user is recorded in the storage means. The communication system of claim 5.

Images