JPH08123820A - Online service system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To provide an online service system that allows users to easily use various services that will increase in the future. According to the present invention, an online service system includes a center that stores various kinds of information, a means that distributes information from the center to a large number of information terminals, and an information terminal that displays information sent from the center. It comprises an input means for inputting a request from a user to the information terminal and a means for transmitting information of the request input by the user to the center,
When the center allows the user to select a function, the provision of various information is expressed by a virtual shopping mall metaphor. [Effects] According to the present invention, the information terminal expresses the provision of various information by the metaphor of the virtual shopping mall and allows the user to select, so that the user can perform various online services like a computer game. Is easily available.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an online service system for providing various information terminals with various services including video information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a cable broadcasting service, only video information is provided to users. For example, JP-A-3-
In Japanese Patent No. 247035, it is possible to provide a video desired by the user by showing the digest version of the provided video information to the user.

[0003]

Due to the progress of network technology, various types of services will appear in the future only by providing video information, and in addition to video, online shopping services and games through information terminals and games. Various services such as software sales services are expected to emerge. However, it cannot be said that sufficient consideration has been given to a user interface that allows users to easily use various services that will increase in the future.

An object of the present invention is to provide an online service system in which a user can easily use various services which will increase in the future.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, an online service system is provided with a center for accumulating various kinds of information and means for distributing the information from the center to a large number of information terminals. And an information terminal for displaying information sent from the center, an input means for inputting a request from the user to the information terminal, and a means for transmitting the information of the request input by the user to the center,
When the center allows the user to select a function, the various services are represented by a virtual shopping mall metaphor so that the user can intuitively understand the content of the service and the online service.・ Make the system easy to use.

[0006]

When the center allows the user to select a function, the information terminal expresses the provision of various types of information by a virtual shopping mall metaphor and allows the user to select the function. A user walks through various shops in a computer game and makes it easy to use the online service system as if he / she purchased the desired item.

Information regarding the type of service selected by the user is transmitted to the center by communication. The center provides information services according to the selected service content.

[0008]

【Example】

<First Embodiment> FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of an embodiment of the present invention, showing a basic menu screen of an online service system of the present invention. In the figure, the component 101 shows an information terminal. A remote control device 102 controls the information terminal 101.

FIG. 2 is an external view of the remote control device 102. On remote control device 102, keys 200 to 205 are arranged as keys similar to a general VTR. The key 200 is a power key, and the user can turn on the information terminal 101 by pressing the key 200. Further, when the information terminal 101 is turned on, the information terminal 101 displays a broadcast television program as in a normal television. The key 201 is a program channel selection key, and the user can select the program he or she desires by using the key 201. In this embodiment, for example, the user presses the number [2] from among the program channel selection numeric keys 201 to display the online service shown in FIG.
The system basic menu screen shall be displayed.

In FIG. 2, 205 is a cursor key. The user can instruct the movement to the front, rear, left and right by the position where the cursor key 205 is pressed.

In FIG. 1, the information terminal 101 displays a screen of a shopping mall expressed by the perspective method as shown in the figure. The user presses the upper part of the cursor key 205 to display the screen when moving forward. When the right side of the cursor key 205 is pressed, the right side screen is displayed by rotating the viewpoint 90 degrees to the right, and when the left side of the cursor key 205 is pressed, the left side screen is displayed. Further, by pressing the lower side of the cursor key 205, the screen moves in the depth direction and moves backward. By this method, the user can
By operating 5, it is possible to move freely inside the virtual shopping mall and receive services at the desired store.

FIG. 3 is a map of a virtual shopping mall provided in this embodiment. In the figure, numbers 301 to 308 indicate shops. Numbers 309 and 310 indicate gates.

The screen of the shopping mall shown in FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional representation of the map of FIG. 3, and the user imitates the cursor key 205 as if he were moving on the map of FIG. You can have a realistic experience.

FIG. 4 shows the online service of the present invention.
The block diagram of the whole system is shown. In the figure, component 101 is an information terminal, 401 is a video server, 402 is an external network, 403 is an external server, 405 is a switchboard, and 406.
Is a distributor.

The information terminal 101 is similar to that shown in FIG. 1 and is connected to a plurality of distributors 406. The distributor 406 is also called a hub. The information terminal 101 is a terminal that provides information services to the user by displaying information, and has a function of inputting the intention of the user by a remote control device or a pointing device and contacting the center. The video server 401 exists in the center and stores various information. The information from the video server 401 is sent to the distributor 406 by the exchange 405 composed of ATM or the like and further distributed to the information terminal 101. Video server 401 is external network 402
Is connected to a plurality of servers 403 existing outside.

The user accesses the video server 401 existing in the center by operating the information terminal 101 and pays an appropriate fee to receive the information service requested by the user. Also, if the center side determines that the video server 401 alone cannot satisfy the user's request, by accessing an external server through the external network 402, the video information and various kinds of information other than the video are obtained to obtain information. It is also possible to satisfy the user's wish by sending it to the terminal 101.

In order to display the menu screen as shown in FIG. 1, the menu screen may be created in the video server 401 according to the user's instruction input from the information terminal 101, or an appropriate protocol is determined. By doing so, the menu screen may be created by the distributor 406 called a hub. In this embodiment, it is assumed that a menu screen is created in the information terminal 101 in order to improve the response to the user, and the information necessary for creating the menu screen is sent from the center side. Then, it is assumed that only the selection information resulting from the information terminal 101 is sent to the center side where the video server 401 exists.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, component 101 is an information terminal, 102 is a remote controller, 401 is a video server, 403 is a server, 501 is a CPU, 502 is a communication interface, 503 is a channel selector, 504 is a video decoder, 505 is an input device, and 506 is a ROM. , 507 is a RAM, 508 is an image display means, 509 is an image synthesizer, and 510 is a display device. Since the information terminal 101, the video server 401, and the server 403 have the same elements as those in FIG. 4, their description will be omitted.
Further, the communication means for connecting the above-mentioned respective elements will be omitted in order to simplify the explanation.

The CPU 501 controls the information terminal 101 according to the program recorded in the ROM 506. The communication interface 502 communicates between the information terminal 101 and the video server 401 on the center side. The channel selector 503 selects necessary information from the information sent from the video server 401 and takes it into the information terminal 101. Since the information sent from the video server 401 is used by many information terminals, information having a plurality of channels is superimposed and sent. Examples of the superimposing method include a method of transmitting a signal by using different frequency bands for different channels, and a method of transmitting information in a packet by adding a channel number to each packet and time-division multiplexing on a communication line. And so on. In FIG. 5, the communication interface 502 and the channel selector 503 each have independent communication lines, but it is of course possible to use a common communication line by multiplexing both of them.

In this embodiment, it is assumed that the information sent from the video server 401 is a packet to which channel information and attributes are added. Channel selector 503
If the information sent is moving picture information, then sends the information to the moving picture decoder 504.

The moving picture decoder 504 restores the compressed moving picture information to the original moving picture, and the image synthesizer 509.
Through the display device 510. Information temporarily used by the CPU 501 and information sent from the video server 401 are recorded in the RAM 507. For example,
The information for constructing the main menu shown in FIG. 1 is recorded in the RAM 507, the image of the main menu is constructed by the CPU 501, and then displayed on the display device 510 by the image display means 508. At that time, the image synthesizer 509
The CPU 501 can superimpose and display the moving image information reproduced by the moving image decoder 504 and the image created by the image display unit 508, or one of them can be displayed according to a command from the CPU 501. The user inputs his or her intention to the information terminal 101 by using the remote controller 102 and the input device 505 while looking at the main menu displayed on the display device 510.

FIG. 6 shows an example of information output from the video server 401 and sent to the information terminal 101. FIG. 6 shows a case in which video information having a certain length of one hour is shifted every 15 minutes and transmitted through four channels. Original video information is stored inside the video server 401, and the video server 401 performs a multiplexing process to compress a moving image and sends it to the information terminal 101.

In FIG. 5, it is assumed that the video server 401 supplies the programs reproduced by shifting the same video program at regular intervals as shown in FIG. 6 to the information terminal 101 through different channels. The information terminal 101 selects the channel desired by the user using the channel selector 503, and
4. Through the image synthesizer 509, the display device 510 allows the user to watch a program desired to be auditioned.

However, in order to provide the above services to the user, it is necessary to explain the contents of the service and the fee to the user in an easy-to-understand manner. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a system that achieves the above-mentioned object is realized by using a metaphor of a virtual mall and a movie theater.

First, the user gives a command to the information terminal 101 with the remote controller 102 by pressing a specific button or the like to display the shopping street as shown in FIG. The screen of FIG. 1 shows the video server 4 when the information terminal 101 is powered on.
01 to the coordinates and appearance information of the store shown in FIG. 3 are transferred and stored in the RAM 407. When a specific button is selected, the CPU 501 creates the screen of FIG. 1 from the above information and displays the image. The screen information is generated from the means 508 and displayed on the display device 510 through the image synthesizer 509. If a memory element backed up by a battery or the like is used for the RAM 407, or if a non-volatile memory element such as a flash memory is used, it is not necessary to transfer information every time the information terminal 101 is powered on. In this case, the information may be updated only when the information on the store changes.

When the screen of the shopping street in FIG. 1 is displayed,
When the down cursor key 205 is pressed once with the remote controller 102 and the left cursor key 205 is pressed once, the appearance of the movie theater in FIG. 7 is displayed. This means that the cursor key 205 has moved on the map shown in FIG. In the state shown in FIG. 7, by pressing the up key of the cursor key 205, it is possible to enter the inside of the movie theater. When you enter the inside of the movie theater, the screen shown in Fig. 8 will be displayed.
Indicates that two movies are showing. The configuration of the inside of the movie theater and the information of the movie being shown are sent from the video server 401 to the information terminal 101 through the communication interface 502, and the CPU 501 reconstructs the sent information and is shown in FIG. A screen to be displayed is created and displayed on the display device 510.

FIG. 8 shows a scene in which four different movies are shown, but this shows that four different movies are respectively shifted in the time axis direction and sent at the same time. There is. For example, one movie for one hour
It is necessary to have 4 channels for each one if it is shown every 5 minutes, but if you show 4 of them, it will take 16 channels in total.
Channel needed. The user can select up to 15 channels by selecting one from 16 channels.
If you wait a minute, you can watch one of the four movies from the beginning.

The scene shown in FIG. 8 is a menu screen for allowing the user to intuitively perform a work for selecting a desired movie from the four movies. The user can select a movie that he or she wants to watch by selecting a screening hall by operating the cursor keys 205 as in the case of selecting a shop in the shopping district. In the case of selecting the movie A being shown in the hall A in FIG. 8, the cursor key 205 is pressed once and then the left key is pressed once to display the screen shown in FIG. Further, by pressing the up key of the cursor key 205 once, FIG. 10 expressing that the inside of the hall A is entered is displayed.

In FIG. 10, the movie A is visually expressed as being broadcast on different channels by being temporally shifted as shown in the schedule of FIG. The desired image can be selected and viewed by selecting the entrance number with the key or the number key 201. When the user operates the remote controller 102, the input device 505 receives the input and sends the selected information to the CPU 501.
The information on the screen of FIG. 10 is created by the CPU 501 based on the information on the title of the movie to be broadcast and the broadcast schedule, which is sent from the video server 401 to the information terminal 101 through the communication interface 502 and stored in the RAM 507.

The CPU 501 controls the channel selector 503 according to the selected information to select a required channel and display it on the display device 510. Further, the CPU 501 sends selection information to the center side through the communication interface 502 and charges. The video server 401 on the center side determines the charge depending on which program is selected, and contacts the server 403 corresponding to a bank, for example, with the user's ID information and the charge information to perform the charge processing.

With the above operation, the user can watch the desired movie from the four different movies by waiting for a maximum of 15 minutes from the beginning. The number of movies to be broadcast and the time interval for shifting can be set freely, but if the number of movies is increased or the interval is shortened, the number of broadcast channels is increased accordingly.

<Second Embodiment> In the first embodiment, since the moving images reproduced by shifting from the file server 401 at regular time intervals are multiplexed and broadcast, the video information is available even when only a limited number of channels can be used. Although it can be said that the method is suitable for providing a large number of viewers, there is a drawback that the user has to wait for a certain period of time when he / she wants to watch an image, and that only a limited program can be watched.

If the same number of channels as the number of information terminals 101 can be used between the video server 401 and the information terminal 101, the video server 401 and each information terminal 1
By combining 01, it becomes possible to construct a system in which each user can enjoy his / her favorite video at his / her favorite time.

The system configuration of the second embodiment is similar to the system shown in the configuration diagram of FIG. 5, but the video server 4
The information sent from 01 is sent to each information terminal 101 for each different channel. In addition, the information terminal 101 performs processing by selecting information for itself by the channel selector 503.

When using this embodiment, the user must first
When a command is given to the information terminal 101 by the remote controller 102 by pressing a specific button, the shopping street as shown in FIG. 1 is displayed. When the screen of the shopping street in FIG. 1 is displayed, pressing the down cursor key 205 twice and the left cursor key 205 once on the remote controller 102 displays the appearance of the rental video shop, and further the cursor key 20
You can enter the inside of the rental video store by pressing the 5 up key. When entering the rental video shop, the screen shown in FIG. 11 is displayed. Inside the rental video store, for example, it indicates that videos in four fields are rented. The configuration of the rental video store and the video information during the rental are sent from the video server 401 to the information terminal 101 through the communication interface 502, and the CPU 501 rebuilds the sent information and is shown in FIG. A screen is created and displayed on the display device 510.

In FIG. 11, when the user designates the field he / she wants to see by inputting the cursor key 205 or the number key 201, a menu as shown in FIG. 12 is displayed, and the video retrieval method is designated. Here, for example, by designating the search by the title [3], the list as shown in FIG. 13 is displayed. The title with an arrow in the figure is a selectable title, but the arrow can be moved up and down by pressing the cursor key 205. When the arrow is at the top, if you keep pressing the cursor further up, the entire list will scroll down. Conversely, if the arrow is at the bottom, if you continue pressing the cursor key 205 below, the list will move up. By scrolling to, a title desired by the user can be selected from a large number of titles.

When a specific title is designated in FIG. 11, the screen shown in FIG. 14 is displayed. Here, the user
You can check the content and price of the title and start watching the video. Information on the screens of FIGS. 11 to 14 is sent from the video server 401 to the information terminal 101 through the communication interface 502 and stored in the RAM 507.
CPU5 based on the title of the video and the content / charge information
01 creates.

The CPU 501 informs the information input by the remote controller 102 to the video server 401 on the center side through the communication interface 502. The video server 401 puts the video information designated based on the notified information on the channel assigned to the information terminal 101 and sends it out. The information terminal 101 selects the video information sent from the channel selector 503 and displays it on the display device 510. Further, the CPU 501 sends selection information to the center side through the communication interface 502 and charges. The video server 401 on the center side determines a charge from the selected program, and informs the server 403, which corresponds to a bank, of the user's ID information and the charge information to perform the charge processing.

With the above operation, the user can watch the desired video at any time. Also, FIG.
As shown by, the remote controller 102 is provided with a video control key 201 so that the information terminal 101 or the video server 401 can be provided with video control functions such as stop, fast rewind, and fast forward of video information. The person can also control the playback of the image as if using the video at hand.

<Third Embodiment> In the second embodiment, the information terminal 101 is connected between the video server 401 and the information terminal 101.
By preparing the same number of channels as the above, it became possible for the user to build a system that allows each user to enjoy their favorite video at their favorite time. However, even in the situation where the system as described above is complete, it seems that there is still a desire to keep the video information as a personal library. Further, it is expected that a buffer for storing video information needs to be placed in the information terminal or hub in order to reduce the load on the video server. In this embodiment, an online service system that can realize a personal library by providing a storage device in an information terminal will be described.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram of this embodiment. In the figure, the constituent elements 101 to 510 have the same contents as the elements having the same constituent element numbers shown in FIG. The component 520 is a storage device, and has a function of recording video information and the like in the storage medium 521 and reproducing it as needed. The storage medium 521 is a recording medium using a magnetic recording medium or an optical disc, and is used as the information terminal 101.
A removable medium may be used, or a medium such as a hard disk that is generally not removable does not cause any problem. The video information may be recorded after being decoded by the moving image decoder 504, but it is advantageous to record the information as it is before being decoded because it can record more information.

When using this embodiment, the user first
By pressing a specific button or the like to give a command to the information terminal 101 by the remote controller 102, the shopping street as shown in FIG. 1 is displayed. When the screen of the shopping street in FIG. 1 is displayed, if the down cursor key 205 is pressed once and the right cursor key 205 is pressed once on the remote controller 102, the FIG.
The appearance of the video store is displayed as shown in FIG. 7, and by pressing the cursor key 205 in the upward direction, the user can enter the inside of the video store. When entering the inside of the video shop, the screen of FIG. 11 is displayed. Although the rental video shop is shown in FIG. 11, the operation method is almost the same for both the rental video shop and the video shop, which will be described with reference to FIG. Inside the video store, for example, it indicates that videos in four fields are rented. For information on the structure of the video store and the video information on sale, see
From the information terminal 10 through the communication interface 502
The CPU 501 creates the screen shown in FIG. 11 by rebuilding the sent information and displays it on the display device 510.

In FIG. 11, when the user designates the video field he / she wants to purchase by inputting the cursor key 205 or the number key, a menu as shown in FIG. 12 is displayed, and the video retrieval method is designated. . Here, for example, by designating the search by the title [3], the list as shown in FIG. 13 is displayed. The title with an arrow in the figure is a selectable title, but the arrow can be moved up and down by pressing the cursor key 205. When the arrow is at the top, if you keep pressing the cursor further up, the entire list will scroll down. Conversely, if the arrow is at the bottom, if you continue pressing the cursor key 205 below, the list will move up. By scrolling to, a title desired by the user can be selected from a large number of titles.

In FIG. 11, when a specific title is designated, the screen shown in FIG. 17 is displayed. Here, the user
You can purchase the video software by checking the content and price of the title. The CPU 501 informs the information input by the remote controller 102 to the video server 401 on the center side through the communication interface 502. The user can record (download) the specified video information in the storage medium 521 by using the storage device 520 at hand, or can purchase it by a package medium such as a video tape or a video disc.

In the case of recording by the storage device 520, the video server 401 puts the video information designated based on the notified information on the channel assigned to the information terminal 101 and sends it out. The information terminal 101 selects the video information sent by the channel selector 503 and records it in the storage medium 521 by the storage device 520. At a later time, the user reproduces the video information recorded in the storage medium 521 on the storage device 520 and views it on the display device 510. Further, the CPU 501 sends selection information to the center side through the communication interface 502 and charges. The video server 401 on the center side determines a charge depending on which program is selected, and informs the server 403 corresponding to, for example, a bank of the user's ID information and charge information to perform a charge process.

When purchasing as packaged media, the center side takes measures such as contacting the store and sending it by courier. With the above operation, the user can purchase the desired video only by operating the remote controller.

<Fourth Embodiment> According to the present invention, the karaoke service can be easily provided to the user. The block diagram of this embodiment is shown in FIG. When using this embodiment, the user first displays a shopping street as shown in FIG. 1 by giving a command to the information terminal 101 with the remote controller 102 by pressing a specific button or the like. When the screen of the shopping mall in FIG. 1 is displayed, pressing the up cursor key 205 twice and the right cursor key 205 once on the remote controller 102 displays the appearance of the karaoke shop, and the cursor key 205 You can enter the karaoke shop by pressing the up key. When entering the store, the screen shown in FIG. 18 is displayed. A music selection method is selected according to FIG.

In FIG. 18, when the user designates the field of a desired song by inputting the cursor key 205 or the number key, a menu as shown in FIG. 19 is displayed to specify the song. The title with an arrow in the figure is a selectable title, but the arrow can be moved up and down by pressing the cursor key 205. Also,
When the arrow is at the top, pressing and holding the cursor above it scrolls the entire list downward, while when the arrow is at the bottom, pressing and holding the cursor key 205 below scrolls the list upwards. By doing so, a title desired by the user can be selected from a large number of titles. In FIG. 19, when a specific title is designated, the performance of the designated song is started and the lyrics are displayed on the display device 5.
It is displayed on 10.

The video server 401 puts the video information of the music designated on the basis of the notified information on the channel assigned to the information terminal 101 and sends it out. The information terminal 101 selects and displays the video information sent by the channel selector 503. When the video information is sent from the server 401, it is selected by the channel selector 503, decoded by the video decoder 504, and displayed on the display device 510. Alternatively, the lyrics information may be transmitted from the communication interface 502 and converted into character information by the image display unit 508, and then displayed on the display device 510 by being superimposed on the moving image by the image synthesizer 509.

The CPU 501 is the communication interface 50.
By 2 the selection information is sent to the center side for charging. The video server 401 on the center side determines the charge depending on which song is selected, and for example, the server 403 corresponding to a bank.
Then, the user's ID information and billing information are communicated with each other to perform billing processing. With the above operation, the user can play a desired karaoke piece by only operating the remote controller.

<Fifth Embodiment> According to the present invention, it is possible to easily provide the service of the game center to the user. The block diagram of this embodiment is shown in FIG.

When using this embodiment, the user must first
By pressing a specific button on the remote control, the remote control 10
2 by giving a command to the information terminal 101 in FIG.
Display a shopping street like. When the screen of the shopping mall in FIG. 1 is displayed, press the up cursor key 205 and the right cursor key 205 once on the remote controller 102 to display the appearance of the game center. You can enter inside the arcade by pressing the up key. Once inside the game center, the screen shown in FIG. 20 is displayed.

In FIG. 20, when the user specifies his / her desired game by inputting the cursor key 205 or the number key, the video server 401 causes the information terminal 1 to specify the program of the specified game based on the contacted information.
It is sent on the channel assigned to 01. The information terminal 101 selects the information sent by the channel selector 503 and stores it in the RAM 507. CP
The U 501 provides a game service to the user by executing the game program stored in the RAM 507 and displaying the game screen on the display device 510.

The CPU 501 is the communication interface 50.
By 2 the selection information is sent to the center side for charging. The video server 401 on the center side determines the fee depending on which game is selected, and for example, the server 4 corresponding to a bank.
03, the user's ID information and billing information are communicated to perform billing processing. With the above operation, the user can play the desired game only by operating the remote controller.

<Sixth Embodiment> In this embodiment, an online shopping system which realizes an intuitive user interface by using a shopping street and a metaphor of a shop will be described. The system configuration of this embodiment can be realized by the same system as that shown in FIG. In this embodiment, an electronic store is used as an example of a store.

When using this embodiment, the user first
By pressing a specific button or the like to give a command to the information terminal 101 by the remote controller 102, the shopping street as shown in FIG. 1 is displayed. When the screen of the shopping mall in FIG. 1 is displayed, press the down cursor key 205 twice and the right cursor key 205 once on the remote controller 102 to display the appearance of the electronic store, and further press the cursor key 205 You can enter the electronics store by pressing the up key. When entering the inside of the video shop, the screen of FIG. 21 is displayed. FIG. 21 is a visual representation of the inside of an electronic store, in which the products sold at the electronic store are selected using the cursor keys 205 or the number keys.

In FIG. 21, when the user designates a product he / she desires to purchase by inputting the cursor key 205 or the number key, a menu as shown in FIG. 22 is displayed. When the right cursor key 205 is pressed here, the next page is displayed as shown in FIG. 23, and when the left cursor key 205 is pressed, the previous page is displayed. When the user wishes to purchase the displayed product, he / she presses the [Enter] key 204 and the screen of FIG. 24 is displayed for confirmation.

In the screens of FIGS. 21 to 24, the center sends images of products and catalogs stored in the video server 401, a list of products and various information to the information terminal 101,
The information terminal 101 displays the image by reconstructing the image. Here, the user can confirm the content and price of the product and purchase the product. The CPU 501 communicates the information input by the remote controller 102 to the center side through the communication interface 502. Video server 4
The center having 01 determines the price according to which product is selected, and for example, the server 403 corresponding to a bank.
Then, the user's ID information and billing information are communicated with each other to perform billing processing. After that, the center side will contact the store and take measures such as sending the product by courier. With the above operation, the user can purchase the desired product only by operating the remote controller.

<Seventh Embodiment> In the present embodiment, even when the center is located in a foreign country, the shopping mall and the metaphor of the shop are used to facilitate the shopping with an intuitive user interface.
Describe the shopping system. The system configuration of this embodiment is the same as the system shown in FIG. 5, but the center and the video server are assumed to exist outside the country.

When using this embodiment, the user first
By pressing a specific button or the like to give a command to the information terminal 101 by the remote controller 102, the shopping street as shown in FIG. 1 is displayed. When the screen of the shopping mall in FIG. 1 is displayed, the up cursor key 205 is pressed on the remote controller 102 several times to pass through the gate seen in front. Passing through this gate makes you intuitively recognize that you will be accessing an overseas center.

When passing through the gate, the screen as shown in FIG. 1 is displayed and the service can be received by the same operation as in the above-mentioned embodiment. However, in this case, the center side is provided with a function of converting the language used and the currency according to the user who uses the information terminal 101. Furthermore, the information terminal 101
The information indicating the nationality to which they belong is stored in advance, and the information on the nationality is transmitted to the center side when the communication starts. By using a language or currency that matches the nationality of the information terminal 101, the center side allows the user to enjoy shopping without being aware of the country to which the center belongs.

[0062]

According to the present invention, when the center allows the user to select a function, the information terminal expresses the provision of various information by a metaphor of a virtual shopping mall. By making the selection, the user can easily use the services of various online service systems like a computer game.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view of a remote controller.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a map of a shopping district.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an online service system.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an online service system.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a diagram of video reproduction.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a display image.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a display image.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a display image.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a display image.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a display image.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a display image.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a display image.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a display image.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram of an online service system.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of a display image.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of a display image.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of a display image.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of a display image.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of a display image 1.

FIG. 21 is a block diagram of an online service system.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an example of a display image.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of a display image.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing an example of a display image.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 ... Information terminal, 102 ... Remote control, 201 ... Numeric key, 202 ... Video control key, 203 ... Menu key, 204 ... Enter key, 205 ... Cursor key, 301-308 ... Shop, 309 ... Gateway diagram, 310 ... Exit , 401 ... Video server, 402 ... External network, 403 ... Server, 405 ... Exchanger, 406 ... Distributor, 501 ... CPU, 502 ... Communication interface, 503 ... Channel selector, 504 ... Video decoder, 505 ... Input device, 506 ... ROM, 507 ... RAM, 508 ... image display device, 509 ... image synthesizing device, 510 ... image display device, 520 ... storage device, 521 ... storage medium.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Reference number within the agency FI Technical indication location H04L 12/58 H04N 5/93 7/173 H04N 5/93 E (72) Inventor Toshiyuki Oda Kanagawa Prefecture 292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Ltd.

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A center that stores various kinds of information, a means for distributing the information from the center to a large number of information terminals, an information terminal that displays the information sent from the center, and a request from a user to the information terminal. It is composed of input means for inputting and means for transmitting the information of the request input by the user to the center, and when various information is requested from the center to the user, it is possible to virtually provide various information. An online service system characterized by the metaphor of a shopping street. 2. A center for accumulating various kinds of information, shifting them at regular time intervals, and sending out the same moving picture information in a multiplexed manner with respect to a time axis, and a means for selecting information sent from the center. It is composed of an information terminal for displaying information, an input means for inputting a request from the user to the information terminal, and a means for transmitting the information of the request input by the user to the center. The online service system according to claim 1, wherein the provision of information is represented by a metaphor of a virtual movie theater when the selection is made. 3. A center for storing various kinds of information and sending out moving picture information, a means for selecting the information sent from the center, an information terminal for displaying the selected information, and a request from the user to the information terminal. It is composed of an input means for inputting a request and a means for transmitting the information of the request input by the user to the center. When the center allows the user to select a function, provision of information is a virtual rental. The online service system according to claim 1, wherein the online service system is represented by a metaphor of a video shop. 4. A center having various information and transmitting various information, a means for selecting information transmitted from the center, a function of accumulating the selected information and a function of displaying the accumulated information. It consists of an information terminal, an input means for inputting a request from the user to the information terminal, and a means for transmitting information of the request input by the user to the center. The center selects the function for the user. The online service system according to claim 1, wherein the provision of information is expressed by a metaphor of a virtual video software store when the information is provided. 5. A center for accumulating karaoke song information and lyric information and sending the information, means for selecting the information sent from the center, and an information terminal having a function of displaying the selected information. , Consisting of an input means for inputting a request from the user to the information terminal and a means for transmitting the information of the request input by the user to the center. When the center makes the user select the function, The online service according to claim 1, wherein the provision of information is expressed by a metaphor of a virtual karaoke shop.
system. 6. A center for accumulating computer program information and transmitting the program information, a means for selecting the information transmitted from the center, a function for accumulating the selected program information, and executing the accumulated program information. An information terminal having a function to perform, an input means for inputting a request from a user to the information terminal, and a means for transmitting information of the request input by the user to the center,
The online service system according to claim 1, wherein the provision of information is represented by a metaphor of a virtual game center when the center allows the user to select a function. 7. A center for accumulating information of various products and sending out information of various products, a means for selecting information sent from the center, an information terminal having a function of displaying selected program information, and information. It consists of an input means for inputting a request from the user to the terminal and a means for transmitting the information of the request input by the user to the center.When the center makes the user select a function, the information is 2. The online service system according to claim 1, wherein the provision of is represented by a metaphor of a virtual retail store. 8. A center for accumulating information on various products and sending out information on various products, a means for selecting information sent from the center, an information terminal having a function of displaying selected program information, and information. It consists of an input means for inputting a request from the user to the terminal and a means for transmitting the information of the request input by the user to the center.When the center makes the user select a function, the information is Is provided by a metaphor of a virtual retail store, and has means for designating a language used in the information terminal, and when the user communicates with the center, information is exchanged in the language desired by the user. If a means is provided and different languages are used, it is recognized that the user can communicate with different languages by going through the virtual gate metaphor. Online service system according to claim 1, wherein Rukoto.