Information providing system and identification information adding device

Abstract

The present invention has an object to facilitate investigation of access status in internet. To achieve this object, when the HTTP server ( 203 ) transmits prescribed image data, identity information meeting the access from the terminal unit ( 30 ) is generated in the identity information adding process ( 205 ), and added to prescribed image data. The corresponding relationship between the identity information and the image data containing the added identity information is recorded in the database ( 206 ).

1 - 21 . (canceled)  
   
   
       22 . An information providing system having an informant server unit providing at least image data via a network, and a terminal acquiring image data provided by said informant server unit, the system comprising: 
 identity information adding means for adding intrinsic identity information meeting an access from said terminal, to prescribed image data provided by said informant server unit; and    identity information recording means for recording a corresponding relationship between the identity information added by said identity information adding means and the image data containing the added identity information.    
   
   
       23 . An information providing system according to  claim 22 , wherein said identity information adding means generates said identity information on the basis of at least an address of said terminal on the network.  
   
   
       24 . An information providing system according to  claim 22 , wherein said identity information adding means generates said identity information on the basis of at least an access time from said terminal.  
   
   
       25 . An information providing system according to  claim 22 , wherein said identity information adding means is provided separately from said informant server unit.  
   
   
       26 . An information providing method providing at least image data from the informant server unit to the terminal via a network, the method comprising the steps of: 
 generating intrinsic identity information meeting an access from said terminal;    adding the generated identity information to prescribed image data to be transmitted by said informant server unit; and    recording a corresponding relationship between said added identity information and the image data containing the added identity information.    
   
   
       27 . An identity information adding unit comprising: 
 identity information adding means which, when an informant server unit providing at least image data to a terminal via a network provides prescribed image data, generates intrinsic identity information meeting an access of said terminal, and adds the generated identity information to the prescribed image data; and    identity information recording means which records the corresponding relationship between the identity information added by said identity information adding means and the image data containing the added identity information.    
   
   
       28 . A machine-readable medium in which an identity information adding program is recorded, wherein: the identity information adding program instructs an informant server unit which provides at least image data to a terminal via a network to generate, upon providing prescribed image data, intrinsic identity information meeting an access of said terminal; 
 to add the thus generated identity information to said prescribed image data; and    to record the corresponding relationship between said added identity information and the image data containing the added identity information.    
   
   
       29 . An informant server unit providing at least image data to a terminal connected via a network, the unit comprising: 
 identity information adding means for generating intrinsic identity information meeting an access from said terminal, and adding the generated identity information to prescribed image data provided by said informant server unit; and    identity information recording means for recording the corresponding relationship between the identity information added by said identity information adding means and the image data containing the added identity information.    
   
   
       30 . A machine-readable medium in which information providing program is recorded, wherein: 
 the information providing program instructs a computer to generate intrinsic identity information meeting an access, when prescribed image data are provided to a terminal connected via a network, from said terminal; to add the generated identity information to said prescribed image data; and to record the corresponding relationship between said added identity information and the image data containing the added identity information.    
   
   
       31 . An information providing system according to  claim 22 , wherein said image data are publicity image data.  
   
   
       32 . An information providing method according to  claim 26 , wherein said image data are publicity image data.  
   
   
       33 . An identity information adding unit according to  claim 27 , wherein said image data are publicity image data.  
   
   
       34 . An informant server unit according to  claim 29 , wherein said image data are publicity image data.