Information disseminating apparatus for automatically delivering information to suitable distributees

What is claimed is:

1. An information providing apparatus for use in an information processing system for distributing information from a sender to receivers, comprising:

inputting means for inputting information reception requirements and an information transmission requirement, each information reception requirement including a receiver attribute of one of the receivers and a desired condition of the one of the receivers for direct mail information, the information reception requirement being designated by and transmitted from the one of the receivers, the information transmission requirement including an information attribute of the direct mail information and a desired condition of the sender for the receivers, the information transmission requirement being designated by and transmitted from the sender;

determining means for determining distributees of a distribution of the direct mail information based on receiver attributes of the receivers, such that the desired condition of the sender for the receivers is satisfied by the receiver attribute of each of the distributees; and

processing means for allowing the direct mail information to be distributed from the sender to the distributees when the information attribute satisfies the desired condition for the direct mail information as designated by the distributees.

2. The information providing apparatus as set forth in claim 1,

wherein said inputting means is adapted for inputting a predetermined maximum transmission number designated by the sender, and

wherein said processing means is adapted for prohibiting information that exceeds the maximum transmission number from being distributed.

3. The information providing apparatus as set forth in claim 1,

wherein said inputting means is adapted for inputting a plurality of desired conditions for the receivers, and

wherein said determining means is adapted for selecting at least one of the distributees from among the receivers based on a combination of the desired conditions for the receivers.

4. The information providing apparatus as set forth in claim 1,

wherein said inputting means is adapted for inputting the receiver attribute including personal information of the one of the receivers, and

wherein said processing means is adapted for assuring the anonymity of the personal information from the sender.

5. The information providing apparatus as set forth in claim 1,

further comprising storing means for storing the information reception requirements, and

wherein said inputting means is adapted for inputting information of at least one of age, sex, residential area, and action range of the one of the receivers, as the receiver attribute.

6. The information providing apparatus as set forth in claim 1,

wherein said inputting means is adapted for inputting position information of a current position of the one of the receivers as the receiver attribute, and

wherein said determining means is adapted for selecting at least one of the distributees from among the receivers based on the position information.

7. The information providing apparatus as set forth in claim 1,

wherein said inputting means is adapted for inputting at least one distributing mode selected by the one of the receivers from conventional mail and network media including facsimile data, voice mail, electronic mail, and video-on-demand data, and

wherein said processing means is adapted for outputting an instruction for distributing the direct mail information in the selected distributing mode.

8. The information providing apparatus as set forth in claim 1,

further comprising: distributing means for automatically distributing the direct mail information from the sender to the distributees,

wherein said distributing means is adapted for automatically distributing the direct mail information allowed by said processing means when said inputting means changes one of the information reception requirements.

9. The information providing apparatus as set forth in claim 1,

further comprising distributing means for automatically distributing the direct mail information from the sender to the distributees, and

wherein said distributing means is adapted for automatically distributing permitted information allowed by said processing means when said inputting means inputs a new information reception requirement of the one of the receivers.

10. The information providing apparatus as set forth in claim 1,

further comprising:

storing means for storing the direct mail information related to at least one of commodities and services; and

distributing means for distributing the direct mail information to terminals of the distributees,

wherein said inputting means receives first type information of a commodity or a service designated by one of the distributees from predetermined commodity or service category information, and

wherein said processing means selects the direct mail information of the commodity or service from the direct mail information in said storing means, corresponding to the first type information, for said distributing means to distribute the selected direct mail information to a terminal of the one of the distributees.

11. The information providing apparatus as set forth in claim 10,

further comprising storing means for storing a commodity/service category table corresponding to the category information, and

wherein said processing means is adapted for displaying the commodity/service category table on the terminal of the one of the distributees and adding second type information that is not included in the commodity/service category table to the commodity/service category table when the one of the distributees designates the second type information.

12. The information providing apparatus as set forth in claim 10,

further comprising storing means for storing a commodity/service category table corresponding to the category information and the number of pieces of direct mail information distributed in a predetermined period,

wherein said processing means is adapted for displaying the number of pieces of the direct mail information corresponding to the first type information on the terminal of the one of the distributees.

13. The information providing apparatus as set forth in claim 10,

further comprising: storing means for storing a thesaurus table corresponding to the category information,

wherein said processing means is adapted for retrieving the thesaurus table with a key of the first type information and selecting the direct mail information corresponding to the result retrieved from the thesaurus table.

14. The information providing apparatus as set forth in claim 10,

wherein said inputting means is adapted for inputting sender identification information of a particular sender designated by the one of the receivers, and

wherein said processing means is adapted for prohibiting the distribution of particular direct mail information among the direct mail information corresponding to the first type information, the particular direct mail information being received from the particular sender corresponding to the sender identification information.

15. The information providing apparatus as set forth in claim 10,

further comprising storing means for storing third type information designated by one of the receivers,

wherein said processing means is adapted for selecting the direct mail information using the third type information as the first type information.

16. The information providing apparatus as set forth in claim 10,

further comprising storing means for storing attribute information of the one of the distributees,

wherein said processing means is adapted for retrieving fourth type information designated by one of the receivers having the same attribute information as the attribute information stored in said storing means and selecting the direct mail information using the fourth type information as the first type information.

17. The information providing apparatus as set forth in claim 10,

wherein said processing means is adapted for providing the one of the distributees with at least one piece of standard type information, and

wherein said inputting means is adapted for selecting the direct mail information using fifth type information selected from the standard type information selected by the one of the distributees as the first type information.

18. The information providing apparatus as set forth in claim 10,

further comprising storing means for storing attribute information of the one of the distributees,

wherein said processing means is adapted for selecting the direct mail information when a piece of the attribute information of the one of the distributees accords with the desired condition of the sender of the direct mail information corresponding to the first type information, and

wherein said distributing means is adapted for displaying the piece of the attribute information corresponding to the desired condition of the sender and the direct mail information on the terminal of the one of the distributees.

19. The information providing apparatus as set forth in claim 1,

further comprising distributing means for distributing direct mail information to terminals of the distributees,

wherein said inputting means inputs a dividing condition for dividing distribution of the direct mail information for the distributees into a plurality of sessions, each session used for a distribution to at least one distributee, and

wherein said distributing means distributes the direct mail information in the plurality of sessions, the number of which is determined corresponding to the dividing condition.

20. The information providing apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

storing means for storing a profile of the sender, obtained from a sender terminal, representing at least one of a description of the sender and a summary of a commodity or a service; and

distributing means for distributing the profile of the sender along with direct mail information to terminals of the distributees when the sender initially sends the direct mail information to the terminals of the distributees.

21. The information providing apparatus as set forth in claim 1,

wherein said inputting means receives from the sender a validation period of a transmission of the direct mail information, the validation period being designated by the sender using predetermined units, and

wherein said processing means prohibits the distribution of the direct mail information when the validation period has expired.

22. The information providing apparatus as set forth in claim 1,

wherein said inputting means inputs a reception restriction for designating the amount of direct mail information to be received in a predetermined period, and

wherein said processing means allows the distribution of the direct mail information in the range of the reception restriction.

23. The information providing apparatus as set forth in claim 22, wherein said processing means is adapted for performing one of a process for prohibiting the distribution of excessive direct mail information that exceeds the reception restriction, a process for distributing the excessive direct mail information the next day or later, and a process for distributing a part of the excessive direct mail information.

24. The information providing apparatus as set forth in claim 23,

wherein said inputting means is adapted for inputting a reception restriction period designated by the one of the receivers and a validation period of the direct mail information, the validation period being designated by the sender, and

wherein said processing means is adapted for allowing the distribution of direct mail information whose validation period has expired in the reception restriction period, regardless of the reception restriction.

25. An information providing apparatus for use in an information processing system for distributing direct mail information from a sender to receivers, comprising:

inputting means for inputting at least one type of direct mail information that each of the receivers wants and a plurality of types that the sender designates; and

processing means for comparing the at least one type of direct mail information that each of the receivers wants with a combination of the plurality of types using an aggregate expression composed of the plurality of types and selecting at least one distributee, who wants direct mail information corresponding to the combination, from among the receivers.

26. The information providing apparatus as set forth in claim 25, wherein said processing means is adapted for displaying a commodity/service category table classifying commodities or services and statistical information representing one of the number and an attribute of receivers who want to receive direct mail information corresponding to a particular type of category in the commodity/service category table on a sender terminal.

27. An information providing apparatus for use in an information processing system having a host computer for distributing direct mail information from a sender terminal to a receiver at a receiver terminal via a network, comprising:

confirming means for electronically confirming that the receiver has received the direct mail information and displayed the content thereof on a screen of the receiver terminal; and

generating means for automatically generating confirmation information representing that the receiver has performed an access operation to display the content of the direct mail information, and for sending the confirmation information from the receiver terminal to one of the host computer and the sender terminal.

28. The information providing apparatus as set forth in claim 27,

wherein said generating means is adapted for sending at least one of reception information that represents that the receiver terminal has received the direct mail information and a response of the receiver against the direct mail information to the sender terminal through the host computer.

29. The information providing apparatus as set forth in claim 27, further comprising:

charging means for charging the sender an additional fee when the information providing apparatus receives the confirmation information.

30. A computer-readable recording medium used by a computer performing information processing in a network that connects a sender terminal and a receiver terminal, and used to direct the computer to perform a process comprising:

inputting information reception requirements and an information transmission requirement, each information reception requirement designated by one of a plurality of receivers and including a receiver attribute of the one of the receivers and a desired condition of the one of the receivers for direct mail information, the information transmission requirement including an information attribute of the direct mail information and a desired condition of the sender for the receivers, the information transmission requirement being designated by the sender;

narrowing a selection of receivers based on receiver attributes of the receivers and the desired condition of the sender for the receivers;

determining distributees of a narrowed selection of the receivers for a distribution of the direct mail information, each receiver attribute of each of the distributees satisfying the desired condition of the sender for the receivers; and

allowing the information to be distributed from the sender to the distributees when the information attribute satisfies the desired condition for the direct mail information as designated by the distributees.

31. An information providing method of distributing information from a sender to receivers, comprising:

generating information reception requirements, each including a receiver attribute of one of the receivers and a desired condition of the one of the receivers for direct mail information being sent;

generating an information transmission requirement including an information attribute of the direct mail information being sent and a desired condition of the sender for the receivers;

narrowing a selection of receivers based on receiver attributes of the receivers and the desired condition of the sender for the receivers;

determining distributees of a narrowed selection of the receivers for a distribution of the direct mail information, each receiver attribute of each of the distributees satisfying the desired condition of the sender for the receivers; and

distributing the direct mail information from the sender to the distributees when the information attribute satisfies the desired condition for the direct mail information as designated by the distributees.

Description Submit all comments and votes

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an information providing apparatus for automatically determining the distribution of information such as electronic mail, voice mail, video-on-demand data, facsimile data, and conventional mail, received by a receiver from a sender, and a method thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, as computer networks have grown in size and personal computers have become more common, mass-marketing systems using computer communications have been attempted. As examples of such mass-marketing, vendors that provide commodities, services, and so forth may send direct mail such as electronic messages including advertisement information to users. A user receives this direct mail and accesses the content thereof. If the user wants a commodity or the like featured in the direct mail, he or she will order it by a predetermined method.

However, the conventional distributing method for distributing advertisement information has the following problems.

Since a sender of direct mail almost unconditionally sends advertisement information to all subscribers of the computer network, even users who have received the direct mail may not access the contents thereof. In addition, even if the users access the contents of the direct mail, they may not be interested in the commodities featured in the direct mail and may not order them. Thus, the hit ratio of the advertisement for the sender is very low.

Further, advertisement information is one-directionally sent to the users of the computer network, even if the users have not required the advertizing information. Thus, users have to spend a lot of time handling the advertisement information. When the users continuously receive large amounts of advertisement information on vendors or commodities or the like, in which the users are not interested, the user's burden further increases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an information providing apparatus for effectively restricting distributees for various types of information transmitted by senders and a method thereof.

The present invention includes an information providing apparatus for performing a process for distributing non-specific information from a sender to a receiver, a storing medium, and a method thereof.

The information providing apparatus according to the present invention includes an inputting unit, a processing unit, a distributing unit, a storing unit, a confirming unit, and a replying unit.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the inputting unit inputs an information reception requirement and an information transmission requirement. The information reception requirement includes receiver attributes of a receiver and the desired conditions of the information to be transmitted. The information reception requirement is designated by the receiver. The information transmission requirement includes information attributes of information to be transmitted and the desired conditions of a sender for receivers. The information transmission requirement is designated by the sender.

When the information attributes satisfy the desired conditions for the information and the receiver attributes satisfy the desired conditions for the receivers, the processing unit allows the distribution of the information from the sender to the receivers.

The receiver attributes and the desired conditions of the sender for the receivers are input to the information providing apparatus by the inputting unit. The processing unit determines whether or not the receiver attributes accord with the desired conditions of the senders. The receiver attributes are attributes of receivers such as age, sex, and occupation. The sender inputs the desired conditions for these attributes. The processing unit can select receivers that satisfy the desired conditions of the sender.

The information attributes and the desired conditions of the receivers for the information are input from the inputting unit. The processing unit can determine whether or not the information attributes satisfy the desired conditions of the receivers. The information attributes are attributes of information to be sent such as a type of information, a category, and a validation period. A receiver inputs the desired conditions for these attributes. The processing unit can select a sender of information that satisfies the desired conditions of the receivers.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the inputting unit inputs type information of commodities or services designated by a receiver from predetermined commodity or service category information. The processing unit selects advertisement information of commodities or services corresponding to the type information input. The distributing unit distributes the selected advertisement information to the receivers. Thus, the receiver receives only the advertisement information that he or she wants to receive and can refuse advertisement information that he or she does not want.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the inputting unit inputs a dividing condition for dividing the distribution of advertisement information for a plurality of receivers into a plurality of sessions. The distributing unit distributes the advertisement information in a plurality of sessions corresponding to the dividing condition. Thus, the distributing process for distributing advertisement information to many receivers can be divided into any number of sessions.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the storing unit stores a profile of the sender. The distributing unit distributes the profile along with advertisement information when the sender initially sends the advertisement information to the receiver. Thus, the receiver can know about the commodities and so forth of a sender from which the receiver receives advertisement information.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the inputting unit inputs a validation period for the advertisement information, the validation period being designated by the sender in a predetermined unit such as a particular time or a particular period. The processing unit prohibits the distribution of the advertisement information when the validation period has expired. Thus, the sender can only distribute valid advertisement information.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the inputting unit inputs a reception restriction designated by the receiver, the reception restriction restricting amount of advertisement information received by the receiver in a predetermined period. The processing unit allows the distribution of advertisement information in the extent of the reception restriction. Thus, the sender can only distribute advertisement information to a receiver such that, for example, it does not exceed the capacity of the mail box of the receiver.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the inputting unit inputs a type of advertisement information that the receiver wants and a plurality of types that the sender designates. The processing unit compares a type of advertisement information that the receiver wants with a combination of a plurality of types of information and selecting distributees from a plurality of receivers. Thus, the sender can select a receiver who wants two or more types of commodities or services such as "cars" and "houses", and send advertisement information thereof.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the confirming unit electronically confirms that the receiver has received the advertisement information and accessed the content thereof. The replying unit automatically generates confirmation information that represents that the receiver has accessed the content of the advertisement information and sends the confirmation information to the distributing unit or the sender terminal.

For example, the confirming unit confirms not only that the advertisement information is distributed to a receiver terminal by electronic mail, but also that the receiver has accessed the content of the advertisement information. The confirmation information is sent from the replying unit to the distributing unit. Thus, the distributing unit can confirm that the receiver has accessed the content of the advertisement information. Accordingly, the sender can obtain confirmation information from the distributing unit or the replying unit. This confirmation information can be used for charging the sender for the distribution service of the advertisement information.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent in light of the following detailed description of a best mode embodiment thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the theory of an information providing apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a structure of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a structure of a distributing host computer;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a process of a receiver terminal;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a process of a sender terminal;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a commodity/service category table;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a thesaurus table;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an advertisement reception requirement;

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing a first advertisement reception requirement registering process;

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing a second advertisement reception requirement registering process;

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a receiving means registration table;

FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing a receiving means registering process;

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an advertisement transmission requirement;

FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing an advertisement transmission requirement registering process;

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a distribution list;

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a transmission advertisement document;

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a sender profile;

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram showing an example of transmission completion management information;

FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram showing an example of reception restriction information;

FIG. 20 is a flow chart showing an advertisement information distributing process;

FIG. 21 is a flow chart showing a restricting process; and

FIG. 22 is a flow chart showing a sending process.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Next, with reference to the accompanying drawings, an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the principle of an information providing apparatus according to the present invention. The information providing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 comprises an inputting unit 1, a processing unit 2, a distributing unit 3, a confirming unit 4, and a replying unit 5.

The inputting unit 1 inputs an information reception requirement and an information transmission requirement. The information reception requirement includes receiver attributes of a receiver and desired conditions of information to be transmitted. The information reception requirement is designated by the receiver. The information transmission requirement includes information attributes of information to be transmitted and desired conditions of a sender for receivers. The information transmission requirement is designated by the sender. When the information attributes satisfy the desired conditions for the information and the receiver attributes satisfy the desired conditions for the receivers, the processing unit 2 allows the distribution of the information from the sender to the receivers.

The receiver attributes and the desired conditions of the sender for the receivers are input to the information providing apparatus by the inputting unit 1. The processing unit 2 determines whether or not the receiver attributes accord with the desired conditions of the senders. The receiver attributes are attributes of receivers such as age, sex, and occupation. The sender inputs the desired conditions for these attributes. The processing unit 2 can select receivers that satisfy the desired conditions of the sender.

The information attributes and the desired conditions of the receivers for the information are input from the inputting unit 1. The processing unit 2 can determine whether or not the information attributes satisfy the desired conditions of the receivers. The information attributes are attributes of information being sent such as a type of information, a category, and a validation period. A receiver inputs the desired conditions against these attributes. The processing unit 2 can select a sender of information that satisfies the desired conditions of the receivers.

Moreover, the inputting unit 1 inputs first type information of commodities or services designated by a receiver from predetermined commodity or service category information. The processing unit 2 selects advertisement information of commodities or services corresponding to the first type information being input. The distributing unit 3 distributes the selected advertisement information to the receivers.

The commodity or service category information includes types of advertisement information to be sent in the form of a list or a thesaurus. A receiver inputs the first type information that designates one or more types of the advertisement information. The processing unit 2 designates the type of commodities or services that the receiver wants from the category information corresponding to the first type information. The distributing unit 3 distributes the advertisement information corresponding to the type to the receiver. Thus, the receiver can receive only the advertisement information that he or she wants to receive and can refuse advertisement information that he or she does not want.

When the receiver has received the advertisement information from the distributing unit 3 and has accessed the content thereof, the confirming unit 4 electronically confirms this. The replying unit 5 automatically generates confirmation information that represents that the receiver has accessed the content and sends back the confirmation information to the distributing unit 3 or the sender terminal.

For example, in addition to the distribution of advertisement information to the receiver terminal by electronic mail, the confirming unit 4 can confirm that the receiver has accessed the content. The replying unit 5 sends the confirmation information to the distributing unit 3. Thus, the distributing unit 3 can confirm that the receiver has seen the advertisement information. Accordingly, the sender can obtain the confirmation information from the distributing unit 3 or the replying unit 5. The confirmation information may be used for the fees for the distribution services of the advertisement information.

For example, the inputting unit shown in FIG. 1 accords with an inputting/outputting unit for a network 12 of a distribution host computer 11 or an inputting unit of each of a receiver terminal 13 and a sender terminal 14 shown in FIG. 2. In addition, the processing unit 2 accords with a distribution list generating portion 23 shown in FIG. 3. The distributing unit 3 accords with an advertisement information distributing portion 27. The confirming unit 4 and the replying unit 5 accord with a CPU (central processing unit) of the receiver terminal 13. These structures will be described in the following.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a structure of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, a distribution host computer 11, a receiver terminal 13, and a sender terminal 14 are connected to a communication network 12. The sender terminal 14 is a computer terminal of a vendor of commodities, services, or the like. The receiver terminal 13 is a computer terminal of another user of the network. Generally, a plurality of receiver terminals 13 and a plurality of sender terminals 14 are connected to the network 12. The distribution host computer 11 designates senders and receivers who send and receive advertisement information corresponding to various information received from the receiver terminals 13 and the sender terminals 14.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a structure of the distribution host computer 11 and a flow of information exchanged between the distribution host computer 11 and the receiver terminal 13 or the sender terminal 14. The distribution host computer 11 shown in FIG. 3 comprises a distribution list generating portion 23, an advertisement information distributing portion 27, a charging processing portion 28, and a response sending portion 33. The distribution host computer 11 stores a thesaurus table 20, a commodity/service category table 21, an advertisement reception requirement 22, an advertisement transmission requirement 34, a receiving means registration table 24, a distribution list 25, a transmission advertisement document 26, transmission completion management information 29, reception restriction information 30, confirmation information 31, and a sender profile 32.

The distribution list generating portion 23 and the charging processing portion 28 are realized by the function of the CPU in the distribution host computer 11. The thesaurus table 20, the commodity/service category table 21, the advertisement reception requirement 22, the advertisement transmission requirement 34, the receiving means registration table 24, the distribution list 25, the transmission advertisement document 26, the transmission completion management information 29, the reception restriction information 30, the confirmation information 31, and the sender profile 32, are stored in a memory or a disk unit of the distribution host computer 11. The structure of the advertisement information distributing portion 27 and the response sending portion 33 depends on the communication mode. When electronic mail is used for communication, these portions are realized by the CPU of the distribution host computer 11. When voice mail is used for communication, these portions are realized by the CPU and a telephone terminal. When facsimile data is used for communication, these portions are realized by the CPU and a FAX terminal. When conventional mail is used for communication, these portions are realized by the CPU and a conventional mail service.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, a flow of an information distributing process in a direct mail distributing system having the distribution host computer 11 shown in FIG. 3 will be described.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the process of the receiver terminal 13. In FIG. 4, when the process is started, the receiver terminal 13 registers the advertisement reception requirement 22 designated by the user as the receiver to the distribution host computer 11 (at step S1). In addition, the receiver terminal 13 registers an advertisement receiving means (advertisement reception mode) to the receiving means registration table 24 (at step S2). The advertisement reception requirement 22 represents attributes of the receiver and desired conditions of the receiver for the advertisement information. The advertisement receiving means represents a distribution mode that the receiver requires. When the advertisement reception requirement 22 is registered, if necessary, the thesaurus table 20 or the commodity/service category table 21 is used.

In the case that the designated advertisement receiving means is electronic mail sent through the network 12, when the receiver receives advertisement information of the sender from the advertisement information distributing portion 27 (at step S3), the receiver accesses the content of the advertisement information (at step S4). The receiver terminal 13 electronically confirms that the receiver has accessed the content. The access to the advertisement information by the receiver is confirmed when the receiver has performed an operation for displaying the content of the electronic mail on the screen. The receiver terminal 13 automatically generates the confirmation information 31 that represents that the receiver has accessed the content of the advertisement information and sends back the confirmation information 31 to the distribution host computer 11. When the receiver generates electronic mail in reply to the advertisement information, the receiver terminal 13 sends the electronic mail to the response sending portion 33 (at step S5). As a result, the process is completed.

When the designated advertisement receiving means is other than electronic mail, the process performed by the receiver is basically the same as the above-described process. However, in this case, the confirmation information is not always generated. In addition, the response is not always sent by electronic mail.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the process of the sender terminal 14. In FIG. 5, when the process is started, the sender terminal 14 registers the sender profile 32 generated by the provider who is the sender and the transmission advertisement document 26 to the distribution host computer 11 (at steps S11 and S12). The tr