JP6500611B2 - Application distribution method, management server, application distribution system and application distribution program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an application distribution method and the like.

  There is a demand for a technology for distributing an appropriate application group to a terminal owned by a user according to changes in various situations such as place and time. The application mentioned here includes content such as an advertisement.

  In such a technology, for example, there is known a technology for distributing an advertisement of a nearby store to the user terminal in conjunction with the current location of the user terminal.

  In another technique, for example, in the content distribution system, the center device collects viewing results of content from the user terminal, and analyzes the viewing tendency from the collected viewing results. Then, a technology is disclosed in which the center apparatus rearranges the content to each of the archive server, the relay server, and the user terminal based on the analyzed viewing tendency. Further, in another technology, the distribution apparatus counts the number of accesses of the user to each content as log information, and calculates the access frequency to the content. Then, the distribution apparatus provides the content to the user based on the access frequency (see Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).

JP 2004-5309 A JP 2004-54887 A

  However, in the conventional technology for distributing applications, there is a problem in that there is a possibility that the browsing opportunity of each application may be biased in the user terminal.

  For example, since the center apparatus in the prior art rearranges the content based on the user's viewing tendency, it preferentially distributes to the user terminal the content presumed to be highly interested by the user, Lose access to content. Also, since the distribution apparatus in the prior art provides the content based on the access frequency to the content, the content assumed to be highly interested by the user is preferentially provided to the user terminal, and the other content is Lose access to

  One aspect aims at distributing appropriate applications to user terminals.

  In the application distribution method disclosed in the present application, the computer stores a plurality of applications related to a real area, and stores real area information in which a distribution server distributing the application and the real area corresponding to the distribution server are associated. Distributing any one of the stored applications to the distribution server, receiving from the distribution server usage information of the application in the user terminal included in the communication area of the distribution server, and using the received usage information It manages and determines the congestion degree of the real area corresponding to the distribution server using the real area information at a predetermined timing, and based on the usage information of the application related to the real area and the congestion degree of the real area Updating the distribution of the plurality of applications to the distribution server; Row.

  According to one aspect, appropriate applications can be distributed to user terminals.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of an application distribution system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a view showing an example of the data structure of the shop information DB according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a view showing an example of the data structure of the usage information DB according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of the data structure of the terminal information DB according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the user terminal according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the distribution server according to the embodiment. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the management server according to the embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a computer that executes an application distribution program.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of an application distribution method, a management server, an application distribution system, and an application distribution program disclosed in the present application will be described in detail based on the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited by the embodiments.

[Configuration of application distribution system according to the embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of an application distribution system according to an embodiment. The application distribution system 9 uses the real-time information of the store of the advertisement application as well as the use information of the advertisement application distributed by the distribution server 2 to the user who has entered the communication area of the distribution server 2, and the placement location of the advertisement application Decide. That is, the application distribution system 9 determines the arrangement location (distribution server 2) where the advertisement application is arranged so that the use opportunity of the advertisement application in the store is not biased. An advertisement application is an example of an application.

  The application distribution system 9 has a management server 1, a distribution server 2 and a user terminal 3.

  The management server 1 manages the distribution server 2 and arranges an advertisement application on the distribution server 2.

  The distribution server 2 distributes the arranged advertisement application to the user terminal 3 that has entered its communication area. Note that, in FIG. 1, the number of distribution servers 2 is not limited to the plurality shown in FIG. 1 and may be one. The distribution server 2 is installed in each area by the number of different communication areas.

  When the user terminal 3 enters the communication area of the distribution server 2, the user terminal 3 downloads the advertisement application distributed by the distribution server 2. When the user terminal 3 starts (clicks on) the distributed advertisement application, the user terminal 3 transmits usage information of the advertisement application to the distribution server 2. The user terminal 3 is configured to be able to communicate with the management server 1 and the distribution server 2 via the network, and includes a monitor capable of displaying the content of the advertising application. The user terminal 3 corresponds to, for example, a portable terminal device such as a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a mobile phone, a PHS (Personal Handyphone System), or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant).

  The management server 1 has an application DB (DataBase) 11, a shop information DB 12, a usage information DB 13 and a terminal information DB 14. The management server 1 includes a registration unit 15, a congestion information analysis unit 16, an information management unit 17, an application placement determination unit 18, and a control unit 19.

  The application DB 11 stores a plurality of advertisement applications. The application DB 11 is created, for example, by the registration unit 15 described later.

  The store information DB 12 stores the advertisement application and the nearest distribution server 2 in association with each other for the store. The store referred to here is not a store in the virtual space but a store in the real space. The store information DB 12 is created, for example, by the registration unit 15 described later.

  Here, the data structure of the store information DB 12 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a view showing an example of the data structure of the shop information DB according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the store information DB 12 stores a store name 12a, a nearby distribution server ID (identification) 12b and an advertisement application ID 12c in association with each other. The store name 12a indicates the name of the store. The neighboring distribution server ID 12 b indicates an identifier of a distribution server close in physical distance from the store. Advertising application ID12c shows the identifier of the advertising application of a store. As an example, when the store name 12 a is “store A”, “Psv 1” is stored as the proximity distribution server ID 12 b, and “App 1” is stored as the advertisement application ID 12 c.

  The usage information DB 13 stores usage information of the advertisement application for each of the distribution servers 2 in which the advertisement application is arranged. The usage information here means, for example, the number of browsing times of the advertisement application, and is information indicating that the advertisement application has been clicked and activated. In addition, utilization information DB13 is managed by the information management part 17 mentioned later, for example.

  Here, the data structure of the usage information DB 13 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a view showing an example of the data structure of the usage information DB according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the usage information DB 13 stores the advertisement application ID 13a, the distribution server ID 13b, and the total browsing frequency history 13c in association with each other. Advertising application ID13a shows the identifier of the advertising application of a store. The distribution server ID 13 b indicates an identifier of the distribution server 2 of the arrangement destination in which the advertisement application indicated by the advertisement application ID 13 a is currently arranged. The total browsing frequency history 13c indicates, as a history, the total browsing frequency of browsing of the advertisement application indicated by the advertisement application ID 13a in a predetermined period. The total browsing frequency history 13c is managed for each distribution server 2 indicated by the distribution server ID 13b. As an example, when the advertisement application ID 13a is "App 1", "Psv1, Psv2" is stored as the distribution server ID 13b, and "[Psv1, 0], [Psv 2, 5]" is stored as the total browsing count history 13c. . That is, when the distribution server 2 is “Psv1”, the advertisement application indicated by “App1” is browsed 0 times, and when the distribution server 2 is “Psv2”, the advertisement application indicated by “App1” is 5 It shows that it has been viewed once.

  The terminal information DB 14 stores terminal information of the user terminal 3 that has entered the communication area of the distribution server 2. The terminal information here includes, for example, an identifier uniquely representing the user terminal 3 and a time when the user terminal 3 enters the communication area of the distribution server 2. The fact that the user terminal 3 has entered the communication area of the distribution server 2 is referred to as "check-in". The terminal information DB 14 is managed by, for example, an information management unit 17 described later.

  Here, the data structure of the terminal information DB 14 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of the data structure of the terminal information DB according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the terminal information DB 14 stores the distribution server ID 14a, the terminal ID 14b, and the check-in time 14c in association with each other. The distribution server ID 14 a indicates an identifier of the distribution server 2. The terminal ID 14 b indicates the identifier of the user terminal 3 that has checked in to the communication area of the distribution server 2 indicated by the distribution server ID 14 a. The check-in time 14c indicates the time checked in by the terminal ID 14b. As an example, when the distribution server ID 14a is "Psv1", "T10" is stored as the terminal ID 14b, and "2015/5/16 10:00" is stored as the check-in time 14c.

  The registration unit 15 registers an advertisement application in the application DB 11. For example, the registration unit 15 receives each advertisement application of each store input by the operation manager, and stores each received advertisement application in the application DB 11. The registration unit 15 may directly receive each of the input advertisement applications from the monitor, or may indirectly receive each of the input advertisement applications from the network.

  The control unit 16 outputs the use information and the terminal information transmitted from the distribution server 2 to the information management unit 17. For example, the control unit 16 receives, as usage information, the identifier of the distribution server 2 of the reception source and the identifier of the browsed advertisement application. The control unit 16 outputs the received usage information to the information management unit 17. The control unit 16 also receives, as terminal information, the identifier of the distribution server 2 of the reception source, the identifier of the user terminal 3 that has checked in, and the check-in time. The control unit 16 outputs the received terminal information to the information management unit 17.

  The information management unit 17 manages usage information and terminal information.

  For example, the information management unit 17 uses the usage information output from the control unit 16 to calculate the total number of browsing times of the advertisement application for each distribution server 2. The information management unit 17 sets the calculated total number of browsing times of the advertisement application in the total browsing number history 13 c corresponding to the corresponding advertising application in the usage information DB 13. Then, the information management unit 17 outputs the total number of browsing times of each distribution server 2 for each advertisement application stored in the usage information DB 13 to the application arrangement determination unit 19 at the update timing of relocation of the advertisement application. The update timing of the rearrangement of the advertisement application will be described later.

  Further, the information management unit 17 adds the terminal information output from the control unit 16 to the terminal information DB 14. Then, the information management unit 17 uses the terminal information stored in the terminal information DB 14 at the update timing of relocation of the advertisement application, and uses the distribution server 2 with the largest number of check-ins of the user terminal 3 as the application arrangement determination unit 19. Output to Note that, as an example, the update timing of the relocation of the advertisement application may be every 12 hours, every day, every week, or may be determined arbitrarily. The application placement determination unit 19 notifies that it is the update timing of the relocation of the advertisement application.

  The congestion information analysis unit 18 analyzes the degree of congestion of the store of the advertisement application. For example, the congestion information analysis unit 18 uses the shop information DB 12 to acquire the distribution server 2 closest to the shop of the advertisement application. The congestion information analysis unit 18 inquires the acquired distribution server 2 about the degree of congestion of the store.

  The application arrangement determination unit 19 determines an advertisement application to be rearranged with respect to each distribution server 2 based on usage information of the advertisement application and the degree of congestion of the store of the advertisement application. For example, the application placement determination unit 19 sequentially selects the distribution server 2. The application placement determination unit 19 extracts a plurality of advertisement applications with high browsing frequency using the browsing frequency of the advertisement application of the distribution server 2 output from the information management unit 17. That is, the application arrangement determination unit 19 analyzes the usage information and determines a popular application. The application placement determination unit 19 inquires the congestion information analysis unit 18 about the degree of congestion of the extracted advertisement applications. Then, when the degree of congestion is higher than the reference value, the application placement determination unit 19 cancels the placement of the advertisement application and replaces it with an advertisement application with a low number of browsing times, when the degree of congestion is higher than the reference value. That is, if the stores are crowded, the application placement determination unit 19 places the advertisement for each store by placing even an advertisement application with low browsing frequency (unpopular) instead of the corresponding advertisement application. You can make sure that the browsing opportunity of the app is not biased. When all the inquired advertisement applications are lower than the reference value, the application placement determination unit 19 determines to continuously relocate the inquired advertisement applications. Then, the application placement determination unit 19 determines to rearrange the advertisement application with the low number of browsing times with respect to the distribution server 2 output from the information management unit 17 and having the largest number of check-ins. That is, the application placement determination unit 19 can increase the viewing opportunity of the advertisement application of each store by arranging even an (unpopular) advertisement application with a low browsing frequency in the area where the user comes in . In addition, although the advertisement application which canceled arrangement | positioning will not be arrange | positioned, if congestion degree becomes lower than a reference value, it should just make it arrange | position again.

  Further, the application placement determination unit 19 transmits the determined application placement information to the selected distribution server 2 to the distribution server 2. The application arrangement information includes the determined advertisement application. That is, the application arrangement determination unit 19 transmits the determined advertisement application to the selected distribution server 2 in order to rearrange the advertisement application.

  Next, the distribution server 2 includes an application DB 21, a receiving unit 22, an information transmitting unit 23, a congestion information calculating unit 24, an arrangement control unit 25, and an application distributing unit 26.

  The application DB 21 stores an advertisement application arranged by the management server 1.

  The receiving unit 22 receives the terminal information and the usage information transmitted from the user terminal 3, and outputs the terminal information and the usage information to the information transmitting unit 23. For example, the receiving unit 22 receives the identifier of the checked user terminal 3 and the check-in time as terminal information. The receiving unit 22 outputs the received terminal information to the information transmitting unit 23. Further, the receiving unit 22 receives the identifier of the user terminal 3 of the receiving source and the identifier of the browsed advertisement application as usage information. The receiver 22 outputs the received usage information to the information transmitter 23.

  Further, when receiving the terminal information from the user terminal 3, the receiving unit 22 notifies the application distribution unit 26 that the terminal information has been received from the user terminal 3.

  The information transmission unit 23 transmits, to the management server 1, the usage information of the advertisement application of the user group accumulated for a certain period. The information transmission unit 23 transmits, to the management server 1, terminal information of the user group accumulated for a certain period. The fixed period may be, for example, a period between the update timing and the update timing in relocation of the advertising application. If the time between the update timing and the update timing is one day, it may be one hour or two hours. If the interval between the update timing and the update timing is one week, it may be 0.5 days, 1 day, or 2 days.

  The congestion information calculation unit 24 calculates the degree of congestion of the store inquired about. As an example, when the congestion information calculation unit 24 receives an inquiry about the degree of congestion of the store from the management server 1, the congestion information calculation unit 24 uses the position of the user terminal 3, the position and area of the store, and the number of check-ins in the current store. Calculate the degree of congestion. As another example, the congestion information calculation unit 24 calculates the degree of congestion of the store using a sensor or a camera installed in the store. Then, the congestion information calculation unit 24 responds to the management server 1 with the degree of congestion of the store inquired about.

  The placement control unit 25 registers the rearranged advertisement application in the application DB 21. For example, the placement control unit 25 receives the advertisement application rearranged from the management server 1 and stores the received advertisement application in the application DB 21. The placement control unit 25 outputs the received advertisement application to the application distribution unit 26.

  The application distribution unit 26 distributes the arranged advertisement application to the user terminal 3 that has received the terminal information. For example, when the notification indicating that the terminal information has been received from the receiving unit 22 is received, the application distributing unit 26 corresponds the advertisement application output by the placement control unit 25 to the identifier of the user terminal 3 included in the terminal information. Transmit to user terminal 3.

  Next, the user terminal 3 includes a terminal information transmission unit 31, a terminal control unit 32, an application display unit 33, and a usage information transmission unit 34.

  The terminal information transmission unit 31 transmits, to the distribution server 2, terminal information of the user terminal 3 that has entered the communication area of the distribution server 2. For example, the terminal information transmission unit 31 transmits the identifier of the user terminal 3 checked in and the check-in time as the terminal information to the distribution server 2 checked in.

  The terminal control unit 32 receives the advertisement application transmitted from the distribution server 2 and stores the received advertisement application.

  When any one of the stored advertisement applications is activated (clicked), the application display unit 33 displays the activated advertising application on the monitor.

  When the advertisement display is displayed by the application display unit 33, the usage information transmission unit 34 transmits the usage information of the advertisement application to the distribution server 2. For example, the usage information transmitting unit 34 transmits, as usage information, the identifier of the user terminal 3 who browsed the advertisement application and the identifier of the advertisement application.

[Process procedure of user terminal]
Next, the processing procedure of the user terminal 3 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the user terminal according to the embodiment. In the flowchart, an advertisement application is called an application.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the terminal information transmission unit 31 determines whether or not the terminal information transmission unit 31 is within the communication area of the distribution server 2 (step S11). For example, the terminal information transmission unit 31 determines whether a signal from the distribution server 2 has been detected. If it is determined that the communication area is not in the communication area of the distribution server 2 (step S11; No), the terminal information transmission unit 31 repeats the determination process until it is determined that the communication area is in the communication area of the distribution server 2.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the user is in the communication area of the distribution server 2 (step S11; Yes), the terminal information transmission unit 31 transmits the terminal information to the distribution server 2 (step S12). The terminal information includes, as an example, the identifier of the user terminal 3 determined to be in the communication area of the distribution server 2, that is, the identifier of the user terminal 3 checked in and the check-in time. After this, the advertisement application is transmitted (distributed) from the distribution server 2.

  Subsequently, the terminal control unit 32 determines whether an application has been received (step S13). If it is determined that the application is not received (Step S13; No), the terminal control unit 32 repeats the determination process until the application is received. On the other hand, when it is determined that an application has been received (step S13; Yes), the application display unit 33 selects an application (step S14).

  Then, the application display unit 33 determines whether the application is displayed in the screen of the monitor (step S15). If it is determined that the application is not displayed in the screen of the monitor (Step S15; No), the application display unit 33 repeats the determination processing until the application is displayed. On the other hand, when it is determined that the application is displayed in the screen of the monitor (Step S15; Yes), the use information transmission unit 34 transmits the use information of the application to the distribution server 2 (Step S16). The usage information includes, as an example, an identifier of the user terminal 3 displaying the application and an identifier of the application. Then, the process of the user terminal 3 ends.

[Distribution server procedure]
Next, the processing procedure of the distribution server 2 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the distribution server according to the embodiment. In the flowchart, an advertisement application is called an application.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the placement control unit 25 determines whether the application placement information transmitted from the management server 1 has been received (step S21). The application arrangement information includes the application determined by the management server 1. If it is determined that the application arrangement information transmitted from the management server 1 is not received (step S21; No), the arrangement control unit 25 repeats the determination process until the application arrangement information is received.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the application arrangement information transmitted from the management server 1 is received (step S21; Yes), the arrangement control unit 25 registers the application included in the application arrangement information in the application DB 21 (step S22). ). In addition, when the application arrangement information already exists, the arrangement control unit 25 updates the application DB 21 to the application included in the application arrangement information so as to update the application arrangement information received this time.

  Subsequently, the receiving unit 22 determines whether or not the terminal information transmitted from the user terminal 3 has been received (step S23). When it is determined that the terminal information transmitted from the user terminal 3 is not received (Step S23; No), the receiving unit 22 repeats the determination processing until the terminal information is received.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the terminal information transmitted from the user terminal 3 has been received (step S23; Yes), the application distribution unit 26 transmits the terminal information to the application contained in the application arrangement information. Distribution (step S24).

  Subsequently, the receiving unit 22 determines whether the use information transmitted from the user terminal 3 has been received (step S25). If it is determined that the usage information transmitted from the user terminal 3 has not been received (Step S25; No), the receiving unit 22 repeats the determination processing until the usage information is received.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the usage information transmitted from the user terminal 3 has been received (step S25; Yes), the information transmission unit 23 transmits the usage information to the management server 1 (step S26). The information transmission unit 23 transmits terminal information to the management server 1 (step S27). For example, the information transmission unit 23 transmits, to the management server 1, the usage information of the application stored for a certain period. The information transmission unit 23 transmits, to the management server 1, terminal information of the application stored for a certain period. Then, the process of the distribution server 2 ends.

[Processing Procedure of Management Server]
Next, the processing procedure of the management server 1 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the management server according to the embodiment. In the flowchart, an advertisement application is called an application. It is assumed that the distribution server 2 is installed in each area.

  As shown in FIG. 7, first, the registration unit 15 determines whether the application is registered in the application DB 11 (step S31). If it is determined that the application is not registered (step S31; No), the registration unit 15 repeats the determination process until the application is registered. On the other hand, when it is determined that the application has been registered (Step S31; Yes), the application placement determination unit 19 determines the placement of the application and notifies the distribution server 2 (Step S32). For example, the application arrangement determination unit 19 randomly determines the arrangement of the application with respect to the distribution server 2 installed in each area at the first time, and transmits the determined application to each distribution server 2.

  Subsequently, the control unit 16 determines whether the usage information and the terminal information of the application transmitted from the distribution server 2 have been received (step S33). When it is determined that the application usage information and the terminal information are not received (Step S33; No), the control unit 16 repeats the determination processing until the usage information and the terminal information of the application are received.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the application usage information and the terminal information are received (Step S33; Yes), the information management unit 17 adds the usage information of the application to the usage information DB 13 (Step S34), and the terminal information is It adds to terminal information DB14 (step S34 A). For example, the information management unit 17 calculates the total number of browsing times of the application for each distribution server 2 using the usage information of the application. That is, the information management unit 17 calculates the total number of browsing times for each distribution server 2 for each application. As an example, it is assumed that apps of A, B, C, D, E, and G as app IDs are arranged on the distribution server a. It is assumed that apps of A, C, D, and H are disposed as app IDs on the distribution server b. It is assumed that the total number of browsing times of the distribution server a is calculated as 10 and the total number of browsing times is calculated as 5 for the application A from the respective usage information. Then, the information management unit 17 adds the application A to the usage information DB 13 as [distribution server a, 10] and [distribution server b, 5].

  Subsequently, the application placement determination unit 19 determines whether it is a relocation update timing (step S35). If it is determined that it is not the update update timing for relocation (Step S35; No), the application placement determination unit 19 proceeds to Step S33 in order to cause the control unit 16 to receive the usage information. On the other hand, when it is determined that it is the update update timing for relocation (Step S35; Yes), the application deployment determination unit 19 starts relocation processing for all the distribution servers 2 (Step S36).

  The application placement determination unit 19 determines whether there is the distribution server 2 with the largest number of check-ins (step S37). For example, the application placement determination unit 19 inquires from the information management unit 17 the distribution server 2 with the largest number of check-ins. The information management unit 17 searches for the distribution server 2 with the largest number of check-ins in the user terminal 3 using the terminal information stored in the terminal information DB 14 and notifies the application arrangement determination unit 19 of the search result.

  If it is determined that there is no distribution server 2 with the largest number of check-ins (step S37; No), the application placement determination unit 19 proceeds to step S39A.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that there is the distribution server 2 with the largest number of check-ins (step S37; Yes), the application placement determination unit 19 performs the following processing. That is, the application placement determination unit 19 passes the application ID of the application with the low browsing count to the distribution server 2 with the largest number of check-ins (step S37A). That is, the application layout determination unit 19 can increase the browsing opportunity of the application of each store by arranging the (unpopular) application with a low browsing frequency in the area where the user arrives.

  Then, the application placement determination unit 19 determines whether the distribution server 2 with the largest number of check-ins has received application placement information even once (step S38). If it is determined that the distribution server 2 with the largest number of check-ins has not received the application arrangement information even once (step S38; No), the application arrangement determination unit 19 proceeds to step S39A.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the distribution server 2 with the largest number of check-ins has received the application arrangement information even once (step S38; Yes), the application arrangement determination unit 19 passes The application ID is added as the next placement application (step S39). Then, the application placement determination unit 19 proceeds to step S48.

  In step S39A, the application placement determination unit 19 sequentially selects the distribution server 2 (step S39A). That is, when there is the distribution server 2 with the largest number of check-ins, the application placement determination unit 19 sequentially selects the distribution server 2 from among the distribution servers 2 excluding the distribution server 2. The application placement determination unit 19 sequentially selects the distribution server 2 from among all the distribution servers 2 when there is no distribution server 2 with the largest number of check-ins.

  Then, the application placement determination unit 19 extracts, for the selected distribution server 2, an application ID having a high browsing frequency from the usage information corresponding to the selected distribution server 2 stored in the usage information DB 13 (step S40). Here, as an example, it is assumed that application IDs of applications already arranged in the selected distribution server 2 are A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, and I. Then, it is assumed that A, D, and G are extracted as the application IDs having a high browsing frequency. The application placement determination unit 19 inquires the distribution server 2 corresponding to the degree of congestion of the store corresponding to the extracted application ID (step S41).

  Then, the application placement determination unit 19 determines whether the degree of congestion of the store corresponding to the extracted application ID is higher than a reference value (step S42). If it is determined that the degree of congestion is higher than the reference value (step S42; Yes), the application placement determination unit 19 places an application with a low browsing frequency instead (step S43). As an example, it is assumed that the congestion levels of A, D, and G extracted as application IDs having a high browsing frequency are all higher than a reference value. Then, the application placement determination unit 19 cancels the placement of the popular apps A, D, and G, and selects and places them from alternative non-popular apps (B, C, E, F, H, I). The selection method of the alternative application may be a method in which the number of browsing times is high at the time of the popular applications A, D, and G, or a method in which the number of browsing times is the lowest. That is, if the stores are crowded, the application placement determination unit 19 can place the unpopular apps in place of the popular apps, so that the browsing opportunities of the apps in each store can not be biased. Then, the application placement determination unit 19 proceeds to step S48.

  If it is determined that the degree of congestion is lower than the reference value (step S42; No), the application placement determination unit 19 determines whether the degree of congestion of all target stores of the extracted application ID is lower than the reference value Step S44). If it is determined that the congestion degree of all the target stores of the extracted application ID is not necessarily lower than the reference value (step S44; No), the application layout determination unit 19 browses only the stores whose congestion degree is higher than the reference value It replaces with the application of the low frequency (step S45). As an example, it is assumed that the congestion degree of only the store A among the A, D, and G extracted as the application ID having a high browsing frequency is higher than the reference value. Then, the application arrangement determination unit 19 cancels the arrangement of the popular application A and selects and arranges from the alternative unpopular applications (B, C, E, F, H, I). A method of selecting an alternative application may be the same as the method described above. For example, applications of D, G and next point B are arranged. That is, if there is a crowded store, the application placement determination unit 19 can place an unpopular app instead of the popular app, so that the browsing opportunity of the app of each store can not be biased. Then, the application placement determination unit 19 proceeds to step S48.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the congestion degree of all the target stores of the extracted application ID is lower than the reference value (step S44; Yes), the application layout determination unit 19 continues the application corresponding to the extracted application ID It arranges (step S46). Furthermore, if the selected distribution server 2 is the distribution server with the largest number of check-ins, the application placement determination unit 19 passes the application ID with a low browsing count (step S47). As an example, it is assumed that the selected distribution server 2 is the distribution server with the largest number of check-ins. Then, for example, A, D, G and the next application B are arranged. That is, the application layout determination unit 19 can increase the browsing opportunity of the application of each store by arranging the (unpopular) application with a low browsing frequency in the area where the user arrives. Then, the application placement determination unit 19 proceeds to step S38.

  In step S48, the application arrangement determination unit 19 notifies the distribution server 2 of the determined application (step S48). Then, the application placement determination unit 19 determines whether there is an unselected distribution server 2 (step S49). If it is determined that there is an unselected distribution server 2 (step S49; Yes), the application placement determination unit 19 proceeds to step S39A in order to select the next unselected distribution server 2.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that there is no unselected distribution server 2 (step S49; No), the process of the management server 1 ends.

[Effect of the embodiment]
Thus, in the above embodiment, the management server 1 updates the distribution of the plurality of advertisement applications to the distribution server 2 based on the usage information of the advertisement application related to the actual store and the congestion degree of the actual store I made it. According to this configuration, the management server 1 can distribute an appropriate advertisement application to the distribution server 2. That is, the management server 1 can increase the viewing opportunity of the advertisement application disposed in the distribution server 2.

  Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the management server 1 extracts the advertisement application with high usage frequency using the usage information of the advertisement application related to the actual store, and corresponds the actual store congestion degree related to the extracted advertisement application to the actual store The distribution server 2 to be Then, when the degree of congestion is higher than the reference value, the management server 1 distributes, to the distribution server 2, advertisement applications with low usage frequency instead of high-frequency usage advertisement applications. According to this configuration, the management server 1 not only prioritizes the advertisement application with high frequency of use but also distributes the advertisement application with low frequency of use. Therefore, the browsing opportunity of the advertisement application of each store is biased. It becomes possible to distribute so as not to. As a result, the management server 1 can be expected to improve the sales of the store of the advertisement application to be distributed.

  Further, in the above embodiment, when the degree of congestion is lower than the reference value, the management server 1 distributes the advertisement application with high use frequency to the distribution server 2 and the user terminal included in the communication area of the distribution server 2 In the case where the number of is the largest, the advertisement application with low use frequency is distributed to the distribution server 2. According to this configuration, the management server 1 distributes not only the advertisement application with high usage frequency but also the advertisement application with low usage frequency, so that the distribution opportunity of the advertisement application of each store may be distributed without bias. It becomes possible. As a result, the management server 1 can be expected to improve the sales of the store of the advertisement application to be distributed.

  Further, in the above embodiment, when the number of user terminals 3 included in the communication area of the distribution server 2 is the largest, the management server 1 advertises a low usage frequency to the distribution server 2 regardless of the degree of congestion. Sort apps. According to this configuration, the management server 1 distributes the advertisement application with low frequency of use to the distribution server 2 in the communication area where the number of people comes most, so the distribution opportunity of the advertisement application of each store is distributed without bias. It becomes possible. As a result, the management server 1 can be expected to improve the sales of the store of the advertisement application to be distributed.

[Others]
In the above embodiment, the management server 1 arranges the advertisement application determined by the application arrangement determination unit 19 in the distribution server 2 with respect to the selected distribution server 2. Then, it has been described that the distribution server 2 distributes the advertisement application arranged by the application distribution unit 26 to the user terminal 3 that has received the terminal information from the user terminal 3. However, the management server 1 is not limited to this, and may have an application distribution unit having the same function as the application distribution unit 26. That is, the management server 1 outputs the advertisement application determined by the application arrangement determination unit 19 to the application distribution unit with respect to the selected distribution server 2. Then, the application distribution unit of the management server 1 may distribute the terminal information to the user terminal 3 that has received the terminal information from the user terminal 3. According to this configuration, the management server 1 can distribute an appropriate advertisement application to the user terminal 3 that has entered the communication area of the distribution server 2.

  Further, each component of the illustrated apparatus does not necessarily have to be physically configured as illustrated. That is, the specific aspect of the distribution and integration of the devices is not limited to the illustrated one, and all or a part thereof may be functionally or physically distributed or integrated in any unit according to various loads, usage conditions, etc. Can be configured. For example, the control unit 16 and the information management unit 17 may be integrated as one unit. The receiving unit 22 and the information transmitting unit 23 may be integrated as one unit. Further, the application placement determination unit 19 includes a first determination unit that determines an advertisement application to be rearranged based on the congestion degree, and a second determination unit that determines an advertisement application to be rearranged based on the number of check-ins. It may be dispersed. The application DB 11, the store information DB 12, the usage information DB 13, and the terminal information DB 14 may be connected as an external device of the management server 1 via a network.

  The various processes described in the above embodiments can be realized by executing a prepared program on a computer such as a personal computer or a workstation. Therefore, hereinafter, an example of a computer that executes an application distribution program that realizes the same function as the management server 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 will be described. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a computer that executes an application distribution program.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the computer 200 has a CPU 203 that executes various arithmetic processing, an input device 215 that receives an input of data from a user, and a display control unit 207 that controls the display device 209. The computer 200 further includes a drive device 213 that reads a program or the like from a storage medium, and a communication control unit 217 that exchanges data with other computers via a network. The computer 200 also has a memory 201 for temporarily storing various information, and an HDD 205. The memory 201, the CPU 203, the HDD 205, the display control unit 207, the drive device 213, the input device 215, and the communication control unit 217 are connected by a bus 219.

  The drive device 213 is a device for the removable disk 211, for example. The HDD 205 stores an application distribution program 205 a and application distribution processing related information 205 b.

  The CPU 203 reads the application distribution program 205a, develops it in the memory 201, and executes it as a process. The process corresponds to each functional unit of the management server 1. The application distribution processing related information 205 b corresponds to the application DB 11, the store information DB 12, the usage information DB 13, and the terminal information DB 14. Then, for example, the removable disk 211 stores each information such as the application distribution program 205a.

  The application distribution program 205a may not necessarily be stored in the HDD 205 from the beginning. For example, the program is stored in a "portable physical medium" such as a flexible disk (FD), a CD-ROM, a DVD disk, a magneto-optical disk, an IC card or the like inserted into the computer 200. Then, the computer 200 may read and execute the application distribution program 205a from these.

  Further, the following appendices will be disclosed regarding the embodiment including the above-described example.

(Supplementary Note 1) The computer is
Remember multiple applications related to real area,
Storing real area information in which a distribution server distributing the application and the real area corresponding to the distribution server are associated;
Distribute any of the stored applications to the distribution server;
Receiving from the distribution server application usage information of a user terminal included in a communication area of the distribution server, and managing the received usage information;
At a given timing,
Determining the degree of congestion of the real area corresponding to the distribution server using the real area information;
An application distribution method comprising: executing distribution of a plurality of applications to the distribution server based on usage information of an application related to a real area and a congestion degree of the real area.

(Supplementary Note 2) In the determination process, an application having a high usage frequency is extracted using the usage information, and the congestion degree of the real area related to the extracted application is distributed to the distribution server corresponding to the real area Inquiry,
The application according to appendix 1, wherein, when the degree of congestion is higher than a reference value, the process of updating distributes the less frequently used application to the distribution server instead of the frequently used application. Distribution method.

(Supplementary Note 3) In the process of updating, when the degree of congestion is lower than a reference value, the high-frequency applications are distributed to the distribution server, and the number of user terminals included in the communication area of the distribution server In the case of the largest number of applications, the application distribution method according to appendix 2, wherein low-frequency applications are distributed to the distribution server.

(Supplementary Note 4) If the number of user terminals included in the communication area of the distribution server is the largest, the process of updating distributes applications with low use frequency to the distribution server regardless of the congestion degree. The application distribution method according to appendix 1, characterized in that

(Supplementary note 5) The application distribution method according to supplementary note 1, wherein the predetermined timing is every one day, one week, or one month.

(Supplementary Note 6) A first storage unit that stores a plurality of applications related to a real area,
A second storage unit storing real area information in which a distribution server for distributing the application and the real area corresponding to the distribution server are associated;
A management unit that receives, from the distribution server, usage information of an application in a user terminal included in a communication area of the distribution server, and manages the received usage information;
A determination unit that determines the degree of congestion of the real area corresponding to the distribution server using the real area information stored in the second storage unit;
An updating unit that updates distribution of a plurality of applications to the distribution server based on usage information of the application managed by the management unit and the congestion degree of the real area determined by the determination unit;
A management server characterized by having.

(Supplementary Note 7) In an application distribution system having a distribution server that distributes an application related to a real area, a management server that manages distribution of the application, and a user terminal that displays an application distributed from the distribution server.
The management server is
A first storage unit storing a plurality of the applications;
A second storage unit for storing real area information in which the distribution server and the real area corresponding to the distribution server are associated;
A management unit that receives, from the distribution server, usage information of an application in a user terminal included in a communication area of the distribution server, and manages the received usage information;
A determination unit that determines the degree of congestion of the real area corresponding to the distribution server using the real area information stored in the second storage unit;
An updating unit that updates distribution of a plurality of applications to the distribution server based on usage information of the application managed by the management unit and the congestion degree of the real area determined by the determination unit;
An application distribution system characterized by having.

(Supplementary Note 8)
Remember multiple applications related to real area,
Storing real area information in which a distribution server distributing the application and the real area corresponding to the distribution server are associated;
Distribute any of the stored applications to the distribution server;
Receiving from the distribution server application usage information of a user terminal included in a communication area of the distribution server, and managing the received usage information;
At a given timing,
Determining the degree of congestion of the real area corresponding to the distribution server using the real area information;
An application distribution program that executes processing of updating distribution of a plurality of applications to the distribution server based on usage information of an application related to the real area and the congestion degree of the real area.

1 management server 2 distribution server 3 user terminal 11 application DB
12 store information DB
13 Usage Information DB
14 Terminal Information DB
15 registration unit 16 control unit 17 information management unit 18 congestion information analysis unit 19 application arrangement determination unit 21 application DB
22 Receiver 23 Information Transmitter 24 Congestion Information Calculator 25 Layout Controller 26 Application Distributor 31 Terminal Information Transmitter 32 Terminal Controller 33 Application Display 34 Usage Information Transmitter

Claims (6)

The computer is
Remember multiple applications related to real area,
Storing real area information in which a distribution server distributing the application and the real area corresponding to the distribution server are associated;
Distribute any of the stored applications to the distribution server;
Receiving from the distribution server application usage information of a user terminal included in a communication area of the distribution server, and managing the received usage information;
At a given timing,
The frequently used application is extracted using the usage information, and the distribution area of the real area related to the extracted application is inquired to the distribution server corresponding to the real area of the real area information.
When the congestion degree is higher than a reference value, each process of distributing an application with low use frequency to the distribution server instead of an application with high use frequency is executed. In the distribution process, when the degree of congestion is lower than a reference value, an application with high usage frequency is distributed to the distribution server, and the number of user terminals included in the communication area of the distribution server is the largest. an application distribution method according to claim 1, characterized in that for distributing low application usage frequency to the distribution server. The distribution process is characterized in that, when the number of user terminals included in the communication area of the distribution server is the largest, an application with low use frequency is distributed to the distribution server regardless of the congestion degree. An application distribution method according to claim 1. A first storage unit that stores a plurality of applications related to a real area;
A second storage unit storing real area information in which a distribution server for distributing the application and the real area corresponding to the distribution server are associated;
A management unit that receives, from the distribution server, usage information of an application in a user terminal included in a communication area of the distribution server, and manages the received usage information;
An application with high usage frequency is extracted using the usage information managed by the management unit, and the congestion degree of the real region related to the extracted application is stored in the second storage unit according to the real region information stored in the second storage unit. An inquiry unit for inquiring of the distribution server corresponding to the area;
A distribution unit that distributes the less frequently used application to the distribution server instead of the frequently used application when the congestion degree is higher than a reference value;
A management server characterized by having. In an application distribution system having a distribution server for distributing an application related to a real area, a management server for managing distribution of the application, and a user terminal for displaying the application distributed from the distribution server.
The management server is
A first storage unit storing a plurality of the applications;
A second storage unit for storing real area information in which the distribution server and the real area corresponding to the distribution server are associated;
A management unit that receives, from the distribution server, usage information of an application in a user terminal included in a communication area of the distribution server, and manages the received usage information;
An application with high usage frequency is extracted using the usage information managed by the management unit, and the congestion degree of the real region related to the extracted application is stored in the second storage unit according to the real region information stored in the second storage unit. An inquiry unit for inquiring of the distribution server corresponding to the area;
A distribution unit that distributes the less frequently used application to the distribution server instead of the frequently used application when the congestion degree is higher than a reference value;
An application distribution system characterized by having. On the computer
Remember multiple applications related to real area,
Storing real area information in which a distribution server distributing the application and the real area corresponding to the distribution server are associated;
Distribute any of the stored applications to the distribution server;
Receiving from the distribution server application usage information of a user terminal included in a communication area of the distribution server, and managing the received usage information;
At a given timing,
The frequently used application is extracted using the usage information, and the distribution area of the real area related to the extracted application is inquired to the distribution server corresponding to the real area of the real area information.
When the congestion degree is higher than a reference value , an application distribution program that executes processing of distributing an application with low use frequency to the distribution server instead of an application with high use frequency .

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