Notification information display apparatus notification information display system and recording medium6678866Abstract An advertising information memory area for storing advertising information for displaying prescribed advertisement, and a label information memory area for storing label information for presenting a space for displaying advertisement, are provided. A personal computer refers the label information memory area and the advertising information memory area, synthesizes advertisement images and character strings based on the advertising information, and displays the same in the label image based on the label information. An advertising environment is provided which is highly effective in a personal computer environment. Claims What is claimed is: Description BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
TABLE 1
File
Type attribute File name Content
Program proper Peta.exe Program data of present
invention
Advertising Sponsor identifier Default.sps * Sponsor identifier
information definition file * Valid time limit
Advertisement image Sponsor_name.ads * Advertisement text
(font size, data)
file * Trademark image (image
data)
Advertisement text Sponsor_name.adt *Advertisement character
string
file * Link destination URL
* Display start
date/time
Label Label definition file Module_name.epm * Label size,
advertisement position
information * Character string
display position,
display color
information
* Icon image data
* Related label image
data group
* Label back side image
data
Muttering file Sponsor_name.epw * Dialogue line
information indicating
content of muttering
Supplemental Label deletion Moddel.exe Executable file for
deleting
executable program individual label
definition files
Supplemental Help file Peta.hlp,cnt Character string and
control files for
explaining utilization
method, etc.
In Table 1, the program proper is that which causes the computer to execute processing at the notification information display apparatus of the present invention. The advertisement image files mainly comprise image data for advertisements used on the back side of the label image. The sponsor identifier is compared against sponsor identifiers stored in a registry for the purpose of specifying a label for displaying an advertisement. The advertisement text files are the notification information of the present invention, constituting textual information that forms the advertisement proper. The label definition files constitute label information and contain front and back side label images, the sizes thereof, and related label images for representing facial expressions. The muttering files relate to dialogue lines associated with icons registered in the task bar. The advertisement text files comprise data that are automatically downloaded from the delivery system 1 in association with the advertisement effective time limit. The advertisement image files, label definition files, and muttering files constitute notification information which is downloaded in the form of installer programs from the delivery system 1, either automatically as the sponsors change, or in response to a user operation. The download details are described in conjunction with the second embodiment aspect. In addition to the files noted in the foregoing, control files such as advertisement text production programs, advertisement image production programs, and label production executable programs are also used. The advertisement text production programs are executable files for generating the advertisement text files. The advertisement image production programs are executable files for generating the advertisement image files. And the label production executable programs are executable files for generating the label definition files. In Table 2 are listed the file groups produced at the time of installation and use. These files are stored in the hard disk 206, for example, and are transferred and used as they become necessary.
TABLE 2
File File Production
attribute name update time Content
User-specific Peta.ini Update at time of use * Utilization history
information * User name
* Setting information
* Proxy information
* Mail address
Destination list Default.adr Update at time of new * Destination user name
destination * IP address
registration
Label Peta.dat Create new at time of Date of production, facial
expression
information label production classification, display
position,
size, whether produced by user
or
received, advertisement text,
message
pointer, flag, sponsor
identifier
Message Fusenn.txt Create new at time of Message character string
input by user
information message production
The destination list is produced on the bases of the terminal specifying information and registration information of the present invention. In the label information is placed a flag which indicates whether an image display is to be made as a label on the desktop or a list display is to be enabled leaving only the message information. (This list display function is called an "storage box" in this embodiment aspect.) It is by this flag that a determination is made concerning pasting a message as a label on the desktop or making it referable by opening a storage box. The sponsor identifier is specific information for identifying the sponsor that should use that label. It is contained in the label information corresponding to all labels. Symbols are attached such as "AA0" for sponsor A and "BB0" for sponsor B, etc. There are also labels to which are assigned sponsor identifiers indicating that they do not belong to any particular sponsor. In FIG. 4 is represented a definition of a label image and the parts thereof which are displayed by this embodiment aspect. The label image is configured of a front side image and a back side image, as diagrammed in FIG. 4. This label image is defined by the label definition file noted in Table 1. The label image depicted here is a character figure image. The label front side image comprises an upper character figure display column A0 and lower character string display columns A1 to A4. The face of the character figure is displayed in the character figure display column A0. The face of the character figure is configured so that it can be changed by making selections and combinations from among replacement label image data. The facial expressions can be modified by overwriting the character figure display column A0 with replacement label images. The replacement label image data can be provided up to the limit of available data capacity (up to 8 types, for example). When minimized display is selected for the label image, a minimized icon image is displayed by the minimized image data instead of the label image. The character string display areas comprise a message display column A1, a user-specific information display character string A2, an advertisement text display column A3, and a URL display column A4. The message display column A1 is provided in the center of the label display image and can be used for displaying messages stored in message information files input by users. The user-specific information display character string A2 is a box located below the message display column A1 for displaying the user name and production date and time contained in the user-specific information. The user name is a basic setting which is registered in the user-specific information file. The production date and time is obtained by a function call made to the computer system. The advertisement text display column A3 is an area below the message display column A1 for displaying character strings stored in advertisement text files. In this advertisement text display column A3 is set link information for an internet address in the same way as set in the URL display column A4. The URL display column A4, below the advertisement text display box, is for displaying URLs stored in advertisement text files, wherein is set link information for an internet address. When a user double-clicks on this URL display with the mouse, the browser is activated, and the website specified by that URL is connected to. For each of the various types of character string noted above, a display color is defined by the label definition file. The label back side image, which comprises an advertisement display area, is displayed by the label back side image data in the label definition file. The advertisement display area comprises an advertisement text display column A10 and a trademark image display column All which are generated from an advertisement image file. Installation Procedures The procedures for installing the notification information display program of the present invention in a user computer system are described with refer to FIG. 5 and FIG. 1. The user takes the floppy installation disk for the notification information display program of the present invention that was included with a magazine or purchased outright, loads it into the user computer, and starts the installation program (S100, FIG. 5). This program installation process is performed for all user computers forming a user group. In the installation program, therefore, it is desirable to generate a display that will encourage the user to install the program in other computers also with which it is desired to exchange messages. When the installation program is executed, an initial screen is displayed which asks the user whether or not he or she agrees with the terms of utilization appearing on the display device 211 (S101, FIG. 5). If the user does not agree with those terms (NO in S101, FIG. 5), the installation program terminates. If the user does agree (YES in S101, FIG. 5), a directory for the installation computer is created on the hard disk 206 (S101, FIG. 5), and the necessary files (cf. FIG. 3) are sequentially copied (S104, FIG. 5). If information needs to be entered for user registration, an entry screen is displayed and the user enters that information. Once the file copying and file generation have been completed, installation success or failure is determined. If the installation fails (NO in S105, FIG. 5), an error message is displayed (S106, FIG. 5). If installation is successful (YES in S105, FIG. 5), an icon is registered on the start-up menu of the operating system (S108, FIG. 5). At that point, the computer system recognizes a sponsor identifier that specifies a sponsor that should be used for that system, and that identifier is stored in the computer registry. The sponsor identifier stored in this registry is compared against the sponsor identifier in the label information when new label information is introduced, and a determination is made as to whether or not that label is to be used. It is also possible to perform all of the initial settings up to this point via the internet. In that case, as noted under S1 in FIG. 1, the user activates a browser on the computer for connecting to the internet, and a connection is made to a website provided by the delivery system 1. If a request is made at that website to download the files associated with the notification information display program, the same files as are provided on floppy disk are stored on the hard disk 206 of the user computer system. After this download, the user may decompress the compressed download program on the hard disk, using either publicly know technology or self-decompression, and generate the installation program. By executing that installation program, the user can establish the same environment as by installation from floppy disk. After icon registration, the installation program connects that notification information display apparatus 200 to the delivery system 1 and asks the user to perform user registration. The website viewing browser is automatically activated, and a website provided by the delivery system 1 is connected to (S109, FIG. 5). Should browser activation fail for some reason (NO in S110, FIG. 5), an error is displayed. When browser activation is successful (YES in S110, FIG. 5), the delivery system 1, at that website, displays an input screen for registering user-specific information in the notification information display apparatus. When the user responds by entering his or her name and mail address, etc., the CPU 201 of the notification information display apparatus transfers this information as a user-specific information file to the server 100 (S2, FIG. 1). This notification information display program is installed in a plurality of computer systems in the user group 2, and operated as notification information display apparatuses 200a, 200b, 200c, etc. Reciprocal communications are performed according to the protocol between these notification information display apparatuses 200, and message information is sent and received, etc. (S3, FIG. 1). When user-specific information is supplied from a new user, the server 100 registers that information in the user data base 103 (S112, FIG. 5). The server 100 also queries the user computer via the internet on whether or not news delivery is desired. The response of the user to this query is also stored in the user data base 103. After the installation, the user may download any label information, etc., from the delivery system 1. When a sponsor change occurs, as when the contract with a sponsor expires, etc., it is possible to download label information and advertising information provided by a new sponsor from the delivery system 1. It is of course also permissible to provide information in a form involving reinstallation from a floppy disk or other recording medium. Notification Information Display Operation When registration has been performed by the installation processing described in the foregoing, the user computer will operate as the notification information display apparatus of the present invention. The operation of this notification information display is now described making refer to the screen status transition diagram in FIG. 6 and to the display image examples in each status presented in FIG. 7-24. Task Bar Registration (S01): When from the S00 status after notification information display program registration the user employs a mouse or other input device 210 to start the program (double-click), the program icon is registered on the task bar (FIG. 7). More specifically, an icon I1 simulating a character figure that is a symbol for the notification information display program is displayed on the task bar TB at the bottom of the desktop DT. Every time this icon I1 is selected (double-clicked on), a new label is generated and displayed on the desktop DT. When the user employs the input device 210 and places the cursor over the icon I1, the CPU 201 detects that, accesses a muttering file, and displays a dialogue line C1 in the vicinity of the icon I1 (status S02, FIG. 8). Menu in Task Bar (S03): When the user double-clicks with the cursor over the icon I1, a pop-up menu M1 is displayed (status S03, FIG. 9). When "confirm have-opened" is selected from the pop-up menu M1, a have-opened confirmation window W1 is displayed to indicate whether the message information sent to that point in time from the notification information display apparatus has been opened or not (status S04, FIG. 10). In this window are displayed the transmission times and opening times for message information sent in the past, together with the message content and destination. The transmission time is the time the message information was sent as recorded by the notification information display apparatus. The opening times are recorded by the notification information display apparatus when opening information is received indicating that certain message information was received and referred by one or more of the notification information display apparatuses described earlier, and sent therefrom with that timing. When "open storage box" is selected from the pop-up menu M1, by designating that a previously produced message or a message sent from another notification information display apparatus is to be received into the storage box from the S11 status, a storage box window W2 for the message received is displayed (status S05, FIG. 11). The contents displayed in this window W2 are displayed by searching for and extracting that information designated to be received, from among message information stored in the notification information display apparatus. The information displayed in this window W2 includes the message producer (sender), production date, message content, and selected facial expression, etc., thus making it possible to comprehend at a glance the content of the label. A delete button is displayed in this window W2. When the user selects the delete button, all of the label information relating to the message designated is thereupon deleted. When "set" is selected from the pop-up menu M1, a setting window W3 is displayed (status S06, FIG. 12). Using this window W3, the user can set the user name to be shown in the label, whether or not to display the date and time, and whether or not to enable sound effects. When "more detailed settings" is selected from the window W3, a detailed setting window W4 is displayed (status 07, FIG. 13). From this window W4, the user can set whether or not to use proxy data, a proxy server name, and a proxy port. It is also possible from the pop-up menu M1 to display the version of the notification information display program being used and help information. Label Display (S10): When the user moves the cursor over the icon I1 and double-clicks, a label definition file is read out for the character figure that is set so that it will be displayed first, and the label front side image I2 is displayed in the initial position, such as in the center of the desktop DT (status S10, FIG. 14). At the same time, a label information file (peta.dat) is generated and given an association in order to record a display position or message information to be recorded in that label. For the label front side facial expression to be applied to that label, a default facial expression (such as an ordinary facial expression) is selected. In the S03 status, moreover, a new label is produced in like manner, even when new label or label biorhythm is selected from the pop-up menu M1. When label biorhythm is selected, a user birthday input window is displayed. When the date of birth is entered, text is generated to indicate the user's physical condition, feelings, intelligence, and calendar days to beware of, as based on publicly known technology using a biorhythm table or the like, and a label is displayed wherein are recorded those data as message information. When the label is displayed, the notification information display apparatus compares the sponsor identifier contained in the label information against the sponsor identifier stored in the registry. When these two identifiers match, the notification information display apparatus displays that label. If the two identifiers do not match, the display of that label is disabled. In the case of label information to which is attached an identifier that involves no sponsor restriction, a general purpose label is indicated, wherefore the notification information display apparatus displays that label. By employing such a configuration as this, it is possible to display sponsor-designating labels apparatus by apparatus. The notification information display apparatus is configured so that it calculates the total number of label images produced. When the total number of labels used by a user reaches a predetermined standard number, the notification information display apparatus reads out a prescribed message which is displayed in conjunction with the label. This standard number may be any number that is to constitute a division, such as 100 or 1000. The prescribed message might be "Thank you for 100 uses. We are always at your service." In addition to such a text display, the prescribed message may also include images and/or audio. A cursor is displayed in the message display column A1. In the user-specific information column A2 is displayed the user name recorded in the user-specific information file from the pop-up menu M1, together with the current date and time. In the advertising text display column A3 is displayed a character string corresponding to the advertising text file. In the URL display column A4 is displayed either a URL address or a character string associated with a website to be linked to (saying "click here," for example). When the user enters text characters using the keyboard or other input device 210, text characters passed to the notification information display system by the language input system of the computer are displayed in the message display column A1, and simultaneously stored in a message information file. When the user clicks the right mouse button to designate a character string range on the message input column A1, a menu is displayed, from which copy, cut, or paste can be selected, and from which the attributes (color, etc.) of the characters can be altered using the control key. The label image can be moved by placing the cursor on any part of the label and dragging it. When the cursor is placed on the advertising text display column A3 or URL display column A4 and double-clicked, the website viewing browser is called up, and the website indicated by that URL is connected to in accordance with the address information set in the URL character string. If the address of a home page established by the sponsor providing that advertisement is designated beforehand as the URL or IP address to be passed to the browser, it becomes possible to present one's own company's advertisement by a simple operation performed by the user next to where the message is written. When the right mouse button is clicked on the advertising text display column A3 or the URL display column A4, the URL is copied to the clipboard. In the case of a computer system in which no URL link has been set, after running the browser manually, this URL copying function can be used by the user to view the website at that URL. Label Display Menu (S11): When the cursor is placed over the character figure display column A0 and the right mouse button is clicked, a pop-up menu M2 is displayed (status S11, FIG. 15). From this menu M2 can be selected the operations of character figure selection, facial expression selection, reversal, minimization, storage box reception, multiple transmission modes, property display, and deletion. When "character figure selection" is designated from the pop-up menu M2, a label selection window W5 is displayed for selecting the label type (status S12, FIG. 16). The notification information display apparatus searches for the registered label information and displays the registered label icon in the window. In the display example, two types of label are registered. When the user places the cursor over the desired label icon and double-clicks, the label information corresponding to the selected icon is read and the label image correspond to that label information is displayed. What is altered is only the label definition file containing the label image data. The label information file (peta.data) defining the message information, facial expression, position, and other attributes is not altered, wherefore the message, facial expression, and position, etc., in effect for the label prior to alteration are retained as is. Below the label selection window W5 is displayed the icon for the character FIG. displayed initially when newly produced. When the type of character figure displayed initially is to be changed, the user clicks on the icon of the desired character figure displayed in the window W5 and drags it onto the newly produced icon below. The notification information display apparatus, when the new character figure icon is so dragged, changes the newly produced icon display to the character figure icon dragged. The label information (label definition files) pertaining to these icons and label images can be additionally obtained by connecting to the delivery system 1 and downloading the desired label information into the notification information display apparatuses 200x. Every time new label information is obtained, a new icon is added in the label selection window W5, so that the new label image can be used by clicking on the new icon. Facial Expression Selection Process (S13): When "select facial expression" is designated in the pop-up menu M2 (FIG. 15), a label front side facial expression data group is read out from the label definition file and a facial expression selection window W6 is displayed (status S13, FIG. 17). When the user places the cursor over a desired facial expression selected from those displayed in the window W6 and double-clicks, the selected facial expression data are read. The notification information display apparatus displays those facial expression data in the character figure facial expression column A0 in the label front side image. Thus the selected facial expression is displayed in place of the previous facial expression. Miniaturizing Process (S14): When "make small" is selected from the pop-up menu M2 (FIG. 15), minimized image data are read out from the label definition file, and a miniaturized icon I4 is displayed in place of the label front side image I2 (status S14, FIG. 18). The position information contained in the label information corresponding to that label is used, so the display position of the icon I4 does not change. This icon miniaturizing process is useful when wishing to make the size of the label smaller on the desktop DT in the interest of neatness. When the cursor is placed on the miniaturized icon I4, the CPU 201 detects that the cursor is positioned on the icon, reads out message information associated with that label, and displays a message C2 that is a prescribed number of characters in the first line of that message (status S15, FIG. 19). Thus, even when multiple labels are miniaturized to effect neatness, the content of the label associated with that icon can be discerned merely by the user placing the cursor over the miniaturized icon. When the user places the cursor over the miniaturized icon I4 and clicks the right mouse button, a pop-up menu M4 is displayed (status S16 is FIG. 20). By selecting "make large" from this menu M4 or double-clicking on the miniaturized icon, the maximized display, that is, the label front side image I2, is again displayed. When the user selects "turn over" from the pop-up menu M2 (FIG. 15) displayed by the label front side image or double-clicks on the character figure display column A0, the notification information display apparatus refers the label definition file, reads the label back side image data, and displays a label back side image I3 in place of the label front side image (status S17, FIG. 21). There is no alteration in the label information file (peta.dat), wherefore the label back side image is displayed in the same position as the label front side image. By referring an advertising image file, advertisement text and advertisement images are displayed in the label back side image I3. When the user places the cursor over the label back side image and clicks the right mouse button, the pop-up menu M3 is displayed (status S18, FIG. 22). If the user here selects "make small," the miniaturized icon is displayed (status S14, FIG. 18). If "turn upside down" is selected, the label front side image data are again read from the label definition file and the label front side image I2 is displayed (status S10, FIG. 14). Every time the user double-clicks on the label, the display is toggled back and forth between the front side image and back side image of the label image. When the user selects "storage box reception" from the pop-up menu M2 (FIG. 15), the notification information display apparatus receives message information associated with that label into the storage box. More specifically, the notification information display apparatus sets a flag in the message information indicating that it is to be received into the storage column And the status S01 is reverted to wherein display of that label image is suspended. Subsequently, when "open storage box" is selected from the pop-up menu M1 (FIG. 9), the notification information display apparatus extracts the flagged message and displays a message list in the storage box format as indicated in FIG. 10. From the pop-up menu M2 it is also possible to make selections to refer a help file, display properties, or delete the label itself (destroy the message information and suspend label display). When "paste to self" is selected from the menu M2, furthermore, the name registered to oneself is displayed in the user personal information character string A2. "Paste to self" is used when wishing to use the label as a memo to oneself. Communication Processing: The details of intercommunications between multiple notification information display apparatuses 200 (S3, FIG. 1) are described with refer to the sequence diagram given in FIG. 25. When a message needs to be sent to someone else, the user enters the message in the message display column A1, then displays the pop-up menu M2, and selects "past to someone else." The configuration (non-active status) does not allow this selection to be made for a received label or for a reply label for a received label. When message transmission is selected, the destination list is read out, and a registered destination list window W7 is displayed (status S20, FIG. 23). All of the registered destinations are displayed in this window W7. A particular notification information display apparatus 200x transmits terminal-specifying information for specifying that apparatus via a LAN at prescribed times to the other notification information display apparatuses 200y (where y is all the terminal apparatuses other than x) (S200). By prescribed times is meant at program start-up time (FIG. 8), when one's name is changed (FIG. 12), when registering a destination (FIG. 24), and when the program terminates. In response to this, the other notification information display apparatuses 200y are configured to transmit terminal-specifying information to specify themselves (S201). Should there be a notification information display apparatus which does not transmit back its terminal-specifying information, it has to be a terminal that is registered, but either the power thereto is not turned on, or the notification information display program is not running. The notification information display apparatus 200x, based on that terminal-specifying information received, specifies the other notification information display apparatuses 200y to which it is possible to transmit message information (S202). The notification information display apparatus 200x refers the destination list, attaches a specific icon to terminals at registered destinations to which transmission is possible, and displays the destination list window W7 (status S20, FIG. 23). In the example depicted in FIG. 23, a specific icon is placed in front of the names of destinations to which it is possible to send. In order to indicate a non-active status for the destinations to which transmission is impossible, the notification information display apparatus 200x either changes the display color for those destinations, or dims the display thereof. In cases where the user has made a setting to change a name or other specific information pertaining thereto used by that user, the notification information display apparatus 200x is configured to transmit terminal-specifying information containing that changed user-specific information to the other notification information display apparatuses 200y (S203). When the other notification information display apparatuses 200y that received this terminal-specifying information are in transmit mode, these other notification information display apparatuses 200y are configured to change the display of the destination name or other user-specific information in the destination list window W7 (S202). When the user selects "register" from the destination list window W7, the notification information display apparatus 200x transmits the terminal-specifying information described above (S210). The other notification information display apparatuses 200y that receive this terminal-specifying information send back terminal-specifying information corresponding to an acknowledgment (S211). So long as the other notification information display apparatuses 200y are operating with the same communications protocol and running the notification information display program, they are able to send back the terminal-specifying information. The notification information display apparatus 200x, in order to specify the other notification information display apparatuses 200y that send back that terminal-specifying information, refer the terminal-specifying information, and display an other-party adding window W8 comprising names, IP addresses, machine designations, and port numbers (status 21, FIG. 24, S212). If the user, selects "add" from the window W8 after selecting an apparatus to be registered (by reversing the display, etc.), the window W8 disappears and the window W7 is displayed with the selected destination added in the list menu thereof. The added destination is added to the destination list. By selecting the "delete" icon from the window W7, any registration can be erased from the destination list. When the user selects a destination from the destination list window W7 to which it is desired to make a transmission and either double-clicks or selects the "transmit" button, the notification information display apparatus 200x transmits message information corresponding to that label to the selected notification information display apparatus 200y (S220). At that time, a label definition file name is added as information to specify the label type. A number specifying a facial expression is added as information to specify the facial expression of the character figure. The other notification information display apparatuses 200y, upon the transmission of information such as message information (S221), refer the label definition file name attached to the message information and determine whether or not the same file is registered in that notification information display apparatus. When the designated label information is registered, that label definition file is used, and when the designated label information is not registered, the label definition file designated as the default is read out. The notification information display apparatus, using the label back side image data read out, first displays the label back side image I3 in the prescribed position (status S17, FIG. 21, S222). Audio data may be used at this time to generate a sound to indicate that a transmitted message has arrived. It is also permissible to employ a moving image display (animation) by changing the size of the icon I1 in the task tray in a time sequence. The point where the back side of the label is first displayed is important. That is, with the label image of this embodiment aspect, the trademark image and advertisement text that make up the main part of the advertisement are deployed on the back side, wherefore the attention of the user who has received a message is first drawn to the advertisement information. In other words, just as with a commercial broadcast on television, the advertisement display is presented unilaterally, and the user who wishes to see the content of the message can be made continually aware of the advertisement. A user who is aware of the advertisement on the label back side image I3 either right-clicks to display a menu and selects "turn upside down" from the menu, or moves the mouse pointer over the label and double-clicks to display the label front side image I2 (status S10, FIG. 14). In the message display column A1 on the label back side is displayed a character string based on a message information file received, that is, based on message information wherein text produced by a sender has been sent. Also, the sender's name is displayed based on user-specific information received, as the user-specific information character string A2, together with the time of transmission. Further advertising display is effected with the advertising text display column A3, etc. When the user has replied to a message received, the pop-up menu M2 (status S11, FIG. 15) is displayed and "reply" is selected (S223). This reply selection is only valid for a received label, and the configuration prevents this selection being made from a self-produced label. When "reply" is selected, another label front side image I2 is separately produced and displayed. If the user writes a message for this label, and replies in the same manner as described above, the message information will be received by the original notification information display apparatus 200x (S224), and the back side of the label image corresponding to the reply message will be displayed (S225). Thus a user can select any label, and effect the display of messages and advertisements within the user group 2. Every time a message is transmitted or received, the number of labels used, sent, or received is accumulated in a user-specific information file in the form of historical information, together with time information. The number of registered destinations is also accumulated in the same file. Advantages of First Embodiment Aspect As based on this first embodiment aspect, in addition to the benefits noted for the invention, the following specific benefits are realized. As based on this embodiment aspect, for example, it is possible to set up the environment in one operation from a floppy disk using the installation program, which is convenient for the user. As based on this embodiment aspect, the configuration is made to facilitate label display on the WYSWYG operating systems which are widely and commonly used, wherefore, by being installed on many personal computers, effective advertisement is made possible. As based on this embodiment aspect, the configuration is made so that a browser can be automatically called up, wherefore it is possible to obtain advertising information with the necessary timing. As based on this embodiment aspect, the configuration makes it possible to change attributes such as character color, wherefore it is possible to exchange advertisements and messages while stimulating user interest. As based on this embodiment aspect, the label can be made smaller, permitting the desktop to be neatly arranged. In addition, the first part of a message can be displayed by placing the cursor on the label, wherefore the label content can be previewed even when the display is minimized. As based on this embodiment aspect, the back side which exhibits high advertising effectiveness is first displayed when receiving a message, wherefore a user wishing to read a message can be confronted with concrete advertising. As based on this embodiment aspect, the label is given the form of a character figure, thereby making it possible to stimulate the interest of a user who likes that character figure. If the configuration enables the downloading of charming character figure labels, the user can be induced to use this system enthusiastically, even further enhancing the advertising effectiveness. As based on this embodiment aspect, the mutterings of the character figure can be displayed merely by placing the cursor over the label, so that user interest can be stimulated. As based on this embodiment aspect, whether or not a label can be displayed is determined by comparing a sponsor identifier assigned to the label information against sponsor identifiers stored in a computer registry, wherefore it is possible to display only those labels which a sponsor wishes used. Second Embodiment Aspect A second embodiment aspect of the present invention relates to a configuration wherewith it is possible to regularly download notification (advertising) information from a delivery system. The configuration in this second embodiment aspect is the same as the configuration in the first embodiment aspect. However, in order to download advertising information from the delivery system 1 frequently, at least one of the systems in the user group 2 is configured so that it can be connected to the server 100 of the delivery system 1 by a dedicated line or dial-up connection. The operation in this embodiment aspect is now described with refer to the flowchart in FIG. 26. The operation in the notification information display apparatuses is the same as in the first embodiment aspect described earlier. This embodiment aspect is further configured, however, so that the latest advertising information or label information can be updated. Free Acquisition of Advertising Information: When new label information is to be acquired at will (YES in S300), the user starts the browser in the notification information display apparatus 200x and connects to the delivery system 1 (S301). If the connection is successful, the user selects any label information from among a plurality of label information offered for download in a website provided by the delivery system 1, and effects download to the hard disk 206 of the notification information display apparatus he or she is using (S302). The downloaded label information is stored in the notification information display apparatus in the form of an installation program, and an icon therefor is displayed on the desktop. When the user clicks on this icon, the label installation program executes, new label information is generated, and the new icon is displayed in the label selection window W1. Automatic Acquisition of Advertising Information: The notification information display apparatus 200x is configured so that, at a prescribed inspection times, it monitors display time designating information contained in the advertisement text file in the label information, that is, display start dates and times, and valid time limits (S303). When an inspection time is reached (YES in S303), the notification information display apparatus 200x refers display time designating information set in the advertising information associated with the label image currently displayed (S304). If the current time (date and time) obtained from the system is within the display time period designated by the display time designating information referred (YES in S305), the advertisement display based on that advertising information is continued without modification (S313). If the current time has exceeded the display time period (NO in S305), the notification information display apparatus 200x connects to the delivery system 1 (S306), and transmits the sponsor identifier and the user-specific information (S308). The server 100 of the delivery system 1 determines whether or not the advertisement of the sponsor specified by that sponsor identifier is still within the contract period (S309). If that sponsor advertisement contract is still in effect (NO in S309), the server 100 transmits new advertising information containing the next advertisement display time designating information for that sponsor to the notification information display apparatus specified by the user-specific information. This advertising information is downloaded by that notification information display apparatus and the advertising information is updated (S310). When the server 100 determines that the sponsor has changed (YES in S309), the browser in the notification information display apparatus 200x specified by that user-specific information is activated to permit viewing a website HTML file so that the user can select a sponsor. The user selects a sponsor from this website (S311). The server 100 transmits information necessary for the new sponsor advertising for the sponsor selected by the notification information display apparatus 200x (S312). The information necessary for the new sponsor advertising refers to information comprising the sponsor identifier file, advertising image files, advertisement text files, label definition files, and muttering files for that sponsor and like that. The server 100 reads the advertising information from the advertising information data base 101, for example, and sends it to the notification information display apparatus 200x. In cases where the label information applied to that sponsor is defined, the server 100 reads out new label information from the label information data base 102 and sends it to the notification information display apparatus 200x. In the notification information display apparatus 200x, the downloaded advertising information and label information are stored respectively in memory areas, and the new advertisement images and advertisement text are displayed (S313). Also, the sponsor identifier associated with the new sponsor is stored in the computer registry. By means of the operations described above, advertisement display is continued so long as the advertisement display time period is in effect. When that advertisement time period has been exceeded, new advertising information is automatically downloaded, and, if the sponsor has changed, advertising information produced by a sponsor selected by the user is downloaded, and the advertisement display is renewed. The processing described in the foregoing may be performed individually for each label or it may be performed commonly for all types of labels. When it is performed label by label, a plurality of advertising information will exist for a plurality of labels. Different advertisements will be displayed sequentially, at certain times, for each label. The server 100, by transferring a plurality of advertising information to the notification information display apparatus beforehand, can display the advertisement content according to the time frame and time period. The replenishment and display of advertising information can be continued without missing a time period even when the user does not voluntarily connect to the delivery system 1. In cases where advertising information is commonly downloaded for all labels, one set of advertising information is referred for all of the labels, wherefore the advertising content can be changed at the same time. It is also possible to make the configuration so that the next advertising information is downloaded a certain period of time prior to the end of the advertisement display time limit. In that case, it is possible to start a new advertisement without fail from a designated date according to the wishes of the sponsor. Instead of downloading new advertising information when the sponsor has changed, the service provider controlling the delivery system 1 may send to the user a floppy disk containing the information necessary to conduct advertising for a selected sponsor. The user would then load this floppy disk in the notification information display apparatus using the same procedures as when installing. In the procedures described in the foregoing, the user is required to select the sponsor. However, if it is possible in terms of the contract for the service provider to unilaterally determine a sponsor, information necessary to the new sponsor advertisement may be automatically transmitted to a notification information display apparatus on the user end from the delivery system 1. If this is the configuration adopted, a sponsor can be changed without user involvement. Embodiment An embodiment of this notification information display system featuring automatic advertisement delivery and renewal functions, as described in the foregoing, is now described. The display time for advertising information can be set as desired with the display time designating information, as a time period, time frame, or year, etc. This setting can be made freely so that, for example, the display will be made during a certain time frame every day, or only for a certain length of time, or for an entire year. In terms of the display mode, it is possible to make settings to change the character color, alter the character size, or display text so that it scrolls up. Information concerning the display mode is added to the attribute information at the time that advertising information is sent from the server 100 to the notification information display apparatus. In FIG. 27 is diagrammed an example of advertising display time settings for a product campaign in a case where the sponsor is a cosmetic manufacturer. As based on this embodiment, the contract period with the sponsor's delivery system provider is three months. For two months after the new product first goes on sale, the delivery system 1, treating this as a campaign product recognition period, presents advertising information for introducing the campaign product to each notification information display apparatus in the user group. Then, treating the final month as a period for actually using the product at a store, advertising information is presented that is coordinated such trial use of the product at a store. Advertisement 1 is based on advertising information for which the display time is limited to the morning hours. Advertisement 2 is based on advertising information for which the display time is limited to the noon hours. The advertising information display time is set so that advertisement 1 and advertisement 2 are continued throughout the entire contract period. For advertisements 3-8, it is only necessary to set the advertising information so that the advertisement content is changed every two weeks during the afternoon hours. In FIG. 28 is diagrammed an example of display time settings for product advertising wherein advertising is conducted with time limits in a case where the sponsor is a convenience store chain. The time frames are divided between morning, noon, afternoon, evening, and night. The advertising information for the advertisements 10-21 need only be set so that products can be introduced which sell well during those respective time frames. Advantages of Second Embodiment Aspect As based on the second embodiment aspect described in the foregoing, in addition to providing the same benefits as the first embodiment aspect described earlier, it is possible to freely alter the advertisement content according to time. Hence it is possible to employ advertisements closely associated with certain times, bringing these to the attention of users during the most effective time frames. As based on this second embodiment aspect, necessary advertising information can be added at any time, without the necessity of storing all advertising information in the user's computer beforehand. As based on this second embodiment aspect, even should the sponsor change, advertising information can be updated and its content changed, either at the selection of the user or unilaterally. In point of fact, it is herewith possible to display advertisements which accord with the wishes of clients, just as with television commercials. Other Modifications It is also possible to provide the embodiment aspects described in the foregoing in variously modified forms. For example, in the embodiment aspects, advertising functions are built into application functions for exchanging labels as message information, but advertising functions may be added by other methods. More specifically, an icon for bringing up an ordinary application may be made capable of displaying advertisements, or advertising functions may be added to part of a character figure upbringing application, or advertising functions may be built into part of the task bar beforehand. The embodiment aspects described in the foregoing are limited to advertising, but configurations may be implemented wherewith it is possible to display government notices or news as the notification information instead of advertising information. In the embodiment aspects described in the foregoing, moreover, file groups are configured wherewith the advertising information and label information are divided. The file configuration is not limited thereby, however, and file design changes can be made as desired. In the embodiment aspects described in the foregoing, furthermore, intercommunications between notification information display apparatuses is limited to the scope of an LAN, but the configuration may be made so that transmissions of message information and the like are possible between notification information display apparatuses in remote areas via a router and public communication lines. It is also possible to use the commonly known functions available in internet electronic mail. The delivery system data base structure may also be made some other data base structure than one comprising an advertising information data base and label information data base. The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. H10-184963 filed on Jun. 30, 1998, including specification, claims, drawings and summary, are incorporated herein by refer in its entirety. Industrial Applicability As based on the present invention, the configuration is made so that it is possible to display advertisements and other notification information in a label image, wherefore a highly effective advertising environment can be provided in a personal computer environment. As based on the present invention, the configuration is made so that it is possible to control the display of advertisements and other notification information according to time, wherefore an advertising environment can be provided wherewith it is possible to conduct advertising which is coordinated with times of high advertising effectiveness. As based on the present invention, URLs are set in the advertisements and other notification information, wherefore an advertising environment can be provided wherewith it is possible to present more specific advertising information when a user so desires. As based on the present invention, the configuration is made so that it is possible to present images which simulate the image of an actual paper label, wherein are secured display spaces for advertisements and other notification information, wherefore an advertising environment can be provided wherewith it is possible to conduct effective advertising while stimulating user interest. As based on the present invention, the configuration is made to that it is possible to alter the label images, wherefore an advertising environment can be provided wherewith it is possible to stimulate user interest. As based on the present invention, the configuration is made so that it is possible to display attractive label images which speak dialogue lines, wherefore an advertising environment can be provided wherewith it is possible to present useful information while stimulating user interest. As based on the present invention, whether or not labels can be displayed is determined by comparing identifiers assigned to the label information against identifiers assigned to the apparatus, wherefore it is possible, using these identifiers, to have only those labels displayed which one wishes displayed. As based on the present invention, the configuration is made so that it is possible to sequentially add advertisements and other notification information from the delivery system, wherefore an advertising environment can be provided wherewith it is possible to conduct highly effective advertising wherein advertisements are changed according to time.
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