Abstract: Provided is an audio version social network service system specialized for voice, through which conversations can be enjoyed in spaces on the Web. In the system, a plurality of client terminals and at least one server are connected over a network. The server sorts voice data received from virtual room attribute information means and client terminals into each of a number of virtual rooms, associating the audio data of a given virtual room with the virtual room, and delivering the data to all client terminals that have selected the virtual room in question.

Abstract: Provided is a system that: makes it possible to get a picture of how satisfaction levels of people viewing content change over time; and can generate content-playback timing and content summaries. A host computer: receives satisfaction-level-data time information and content information from each monitor terminal; computes satisfaction-level-data received count totals for a prescribed time period; organizes the distribution of satisfaction-level-data received count totals from the beginning of a piece of content to the end thereof in a chronological manner; and generates satisfaction-level-data chronological distribution data per piece of content information.

Abstract: To provide a terminal with which user can pay safely using communication network, the terminal has a browser for communicating with World Wide Web and a message viewer for communicating with a private network. The browser includes means for ordering goods from a host computer connected to World Wide Web, means for receiving a bill for the goods from World Wide Web, and means for transmitting the bill to the message viewer. The message viewer includes means for paying the bill through the private network.

Abstract: An information providing system, which transmits a passive image such as an advertisement while providing a requested image. The passive image and the requested image, for example, information from the Internet 9, are transmitted from the information provider 4 to the terminal 1 and displayed separately on the display 8. The whole passive image is displayed in the front of the display 8.

Abstract: To provide a terminal with which a user can safely make payments using a communication network. The terminal has a browser for communicating with the World Wide Web or other public computer network and a message viewer for communicating with a private network. The browser allows for ordering goods from a host computer connected to the World Wide Web, for receiving a bill for the goods from the World Wide Web, and for transmitting the bill to the message viewer. The message viewer allows for paying the bill through the private network.

Abstract: In the communication network for distributing messages such as advertisements to terminal users, an information providing system provides the suitable information to each user. The system includes a terminal connected to a communications network, a user database for storing the characteristics of each user, a message database for storing messages, and a transmittal condition database for storing the user characteristics of the class of suitable recipients for each message. A message searcher searches for messages from the transmittal condition database based on the characteristics read out from the user database. A reader reads the retrieved messages from the message database and a transmitter transmits the messages to the terminal. An adder increases the value of a parameter associated with each user when the transmitted message is displayed on the terminal. A detector detects whether the user is active, and a stop means prevents the value of the parameter from being increased when the user is inactive.

Abstract: An information providing system, which transmits a passive image.such as an advertisement while providing a requested image. The passive image and the requested image, for example, information from the Internet 9, are transmitted from the information provider 4 to the terminal 1 and displayed separately on the display 8. The whole passive image is displayed in the front of the display 8.

Abstract: In the communication network for distributing messages such as advertisements to terminal users, an information providing system provides the suitable information to each user. The system includes a terminal connected to a communications network, a user database for storing the characteristics of each user, a message database for storing messages, and a transmittal condition database for storing the user characteristics of the class of suitable recipients for each message. A message searcher searches for messages from the transmittal condition database based on the characteristics read out from the user database. A reader reads the retrieved messages from the message database and a transmitter transmits the messages to the terminal. An adder increases the value of a parameter associated with each user when the transmitted message is displayed on the terminal. A detector detects whether the user is active, and a stop means prevents the value of the parameter from being increased when the user is inactive.

Abstract: A message searching and system and a terminal, which display messages to terminal users based on their individual characteristics profile, even when a plurality of users use the same terminal and even when users copy and use the same program. The system includes a message user database for storing records defining user characteristics profiles of terminal users, and a transmittal condition database for storing searching conditions for each message which may be transmitted to the terminal. This system detects a necessity to revise the user characteristics when communicating with the terminal, and revises the user characteristics if necessary. This system reads user characteristics from the message user database, and searches for appropriate messages from the transmittal condition database based on the user characteristics and characteristics associated with each message identifier. The message user database stores each user's birth date and the last system communication date.

Abstract: In the communication network for distributing messages such as advertisements to terminal users, an information providing system provides the suitable information to each user. The system includes a terminal connected to a communications network, a user database for storing the characteristics of each user, a message database for storing messages, and a transmittal condition database for storing the user characteristics of the class of suitable recipients for each message. A message searcher searches for messages from the transmittal condition database based on the characteristics read out from the user database. A reader reads the retrieved messages from the message database and a transmitter transmits the messages to the terminal. An adder increases the value of a parameter associated with each user when the transmitted message is displayed on the terminal. A detector detects whether the user is active, and a stop means prevents the value of the parameter from being increased when the user is inactive.

Abstract: An information provider and a searcher provide messages appropriate to a particular user of a terminal regardless of the sites of the World Wide Web the user accesses. The information provider establishes a physical communication line to the terminal. A first logical link is established on the physical communication line for forwarding a first image from the World Wide Web to the terminal. User identification is received from the terminal, and forwarded to a searcher storing user information and the transmittal conditions of a second message, through a second communication line. An second image appropriate for the particular user is searched for by a searcher from a message database based on the user information and the transmittal conditions, and transmitted to the terminal through a second logical link also established on the first communication line.