Information distribution system and information distribution method

Abstract

An information distribution system include a reporting unit that reports guide information to a user, the guide information showing information to be additionally stored in a storing unit, a receiving unit that receives identification information from the user, the identification information being associated with stored information selected by the user from the stored information shown by the guide information, and a transmitting unit that transmits suitable stored information to the user, the suitable stored information being selected from the stored information based on the identification information as to the stored information selected by the user.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates the entire structure of a system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates the structure of the data distribution system;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the operation to be performed by the system;

FIG. 4 shows a distribution list to be distributed to each user terminal;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the operation to be performed when a conference data distribution request is made with the use of a search keyword;

FIG. 6 shows a distribution list to be distributed to each user terminal;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a “push” distribution operation based on a report destination list;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a data list to be managed by the data managing unit;

FIG. 9 shows divided sessions;

FIG. 10 illustrates an example structure of a system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 illustrates an example structure of a system in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 12 illustrates an example structure of a system in accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. An information distribution system comprising: a reporting unit that reports guide information to a user, the guide information showing information to be additionally stored in a storing unit;a receiving unit that receives identification information from the user, the identification information being associated with stored information selected by the user from the stored information shown by the guide information; anda transmitting unit that transmits suitable stored information to the user, the suitable stored information being selected from the stored information based on the identification information as to the stored information selected by the user.

2. The information distribution system according to claim 1, wherein: the receiving unit receives information as to a search keyword from the user, the search keyword being to be used for the stored information selected by the user; andthe transmitting unit transmits the stored information selected by the user to the user, in accordance with a result of a search using the search keyword for the stored information selected by the user.

3. The information distribution system according to claim 1, further comprising a list generating unit that generates a list for collectively showing information stored in the storing unit, wherein the reporting unit reports the guide information containing the list to the user.

4. The information distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the reporting unit has the guide information containing a referencer for access to the stored information.

5. The information distribution system according to claim 1, further comprising a summarizing unit that produces a summary of each suitable piece of stored information among the information stored in the storing unit, based on the identification information as to the stored information selected by the user, wherein the transmitting unit transmits the summary of the stored information, instead of the stored information, to the user.

6. The information distribution system according to claim 1, further comprising a summarizing unit that produces a summary of each suitable piece of stored information among the information stored in the storing unit, based on the identification information as to the stored information selected by the user, wherein the reporting unit transmits the summary of the stored information, instead of the stored information, to the user.

7. The information distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the reporting unit reports the guide information to the user via electronic mail.

8. The information distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the reporting unit reports the guide information to the user, when information is newly stored in the storing unit.

9. The information distribution system according to claim 5, further comprising a managing unit that manages a list having sets of elements, each set of elements consisting of an identifier of the stored information and a referencer coupled to the summary generated by the summarizing unit, wherein the managing unit adds the identifier of the stored information of the latest element and erases the identifier of the stored information of the oldest element when the number of elements on the list exceeds a predetermined number, so as to maintain the number of elements on the list less than the predetermined number.

10. The information distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the reporting unit notifies the user that the stored information is newly added to the storing unit.

11. The information distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the reporting unit notifies the user of a reference coupled to the stored information, when the stored information is newly added to the storing unit.

12. The information distribution system according to claim 3, wherein the reporting unit has the guide information containing a referencer coupled to the list, when the addition of the stored information to the storing unit is reported.

13. The information distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the reporting unit changes data to be distributed in accordance with the characteristics of a device on the receiving end, when the addition of the stored information to the storing unit is reported.

14. The information distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the reporting unit reports the guide information to the user, when plural sets of relevant data are added to the storing unit.

15. The information distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the managing unit divides a set of stored information into two different sets of information and stores the two different sets of information in the storing unit, when the set of stored information stored in the storing unit contains plural sets of data and one of the sets of data lasts longer than a predetermined period of time.

16. The information distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the storing unit captures the stored information offline.

17. The information distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the stored information is conference data.

18. An information distribution method comprising: reporting guide information to a user, the guide information showing information to be additionally stored in a storing unit;receiving identification information from the user, the identification information being associated with stored information selected by the user from the stored information shown by the guide information; andtransmitting suitable stored information to the user, the suitable stored information being selected from the stored information based on the identification information as to the stored information selected by the user.

19. The information distribution method according to claim 18, wherein: receiving includes further receiving information as to a search keyword from the user, the search keyword being to be used for the stored information selected by the user; andtransmitting includes transmitting the stored information selected by the user to the user, in accordance with a result of a search using the search keyword for the stored information selected by the user.

20. The information distribution method according to claim 18, further comprising generating a list for collectively showing information stored in the storing unit, wherein the step of reporting includes reporting the guide information containing the list to the user.