Abstract: According to the present invention, the step of requesting of an associated information provision server KS for associated information about contents broadcast in a broadcast program being received is provided. The step of acquiring the associated information corresponding to the request from the associated information provision server KS and storing this is provided. And the retrieval step of transmitting a part of the associated information as a retrieval key to retrieve contents to a CD seller server 31, and obtaining retrieval results from the CD seller server 31 is provided. Thereby, the associated information about the contents broadcast in the broadcast program being received is obtained. The retrieval results are obtained from a contents retrieval server by using the part of the associated information as retrieval keys. Therefore, retrieval results having variety that are not limited to results conceived by the user in a certain degree can be obtained.

Abstract: Even in the case where a first request signal for requesting the source of the top page and a second request signal for requesting the source of A Corporation CD sales page were transmitted from a client terminal 2, if the source of an information page has been stored in a portal server 4, the above source of the information page is transmitted from the portal server 4 to the client terminal 2 before the source of the top page or the source of the A Corporation CD sales page is transmitted from the portal server 4 or the contents sales server 5.

Abstract: A server receives a call sign from a client terminal CT to identify a currently received radio station RS. There is provided state information which indicates states of an information provision service associated with the radio station RS corresponding to the call sign. At least when the information provision service is available, the server sends the state information as well as a URL corresponding to the information provision service to the client terminal CT. In this manner, the client terminal CT can be provided with not only the state information indicative of states of the information provision service associated with the radio station RS, but also the URL corresponding to the information provision service. A user can be clearly notified of service states of an information provision service prior to access to the information provision service.

Abstract: Request information 3 is transmitted from a transmission means la of a communication device 1 to a server 2. Then, related information 4a corresponding to the request information 3 and an identification code 4b are obtained and transmitted to the communication device 1 by a transmission means 2c. The related information 4a and identification code 4b are stored in a storage means 1c of the communication device 1. Thereafter, purchase request information 5a is transmitted to the server 2 by the transmission means 1a. This purchase request information 5a is added with an identification code 5b and user identification information 5c. Then, content data 6a corresponding to the purchase request information 5a and additional data 6b corresponding to the identification code 5b are transmitted to the communication device 1 by the transmission means 2c of the server 2.

Abstract: When in receiving a call sign to identify the radio station RS being received now from a client terminal CT and transmitting state information that shows the state of an information provision service about the radio station RS corresponding to the call sign to the above client terminal CT, if at least the information provision service is available, a URL corresponding to the above information provision service is transmitted to the client terminal CT together with the state information. Thereby, the URL corresponding to the above information provision service can be provided to the client terminal CT together with the state information showing the state of the information provision service about the radio station RS. It enables the user to clearly recognize the service state of the above information provision service in a step before accessing the information provision service.

Abstract: A user sets an apparatus name easily identified by the user to a terminal, transmits the apparatus name together with user identification information to a terminal management server for managing a terminal, and the terminal management server registers the apparatus name as associated with the user identification information, thereby allowing the terminal management server to uniquely identify each terminal based on the apparatus name associated with the user identification information. Furthermore, a user can easily identify an apparatus name, thereby realizing a service utilizing system capable of reducing the laborious procedure of operating the terminal management server, and easily identifying each terminal.

Abstract: An information provision apparatus previously stores associated information concerning an on-air program. The apparatus accepts a request for associated information from a client terminal CT which receives a program's broadcast signal. In synchronization with timing of accepting the request, the apparatus reads the associated information and transmits it to the client terminal CT. When the on-air program changes to a next program in such situation, the apparatus updates the associated information which should be read and transmitted. The apparatus can update the associated information to be transmitted in synchronization with program changeover. It is possible to provide the program in synchronization with the associated information without a time difference between both.

Abstract: The name of a broadcasting station, transmitting broadcast signals being received by a user, is to be informed extremely readily to the user. A radio receiver (2) transmits frequency data corresponding to the frequency of FM broadcast signals being received, and territory data corresponding to the territory where the radio receiver is used, to an information providing server (3) over the Internet (5). The information providing server (3) specifies the broadcasting station, transmitting the broadcast signals being received by the radio receiver (2), based on the frequency data and the territory data transmitted, and sends a letter/character string data and a call signal corresponding to the broadcasting station specified. The radio receiver (2) demonstrates the name of the radio station on a display based on the letter/character string data displayed.