JP2000250842A - System and method for retrieving information - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system and a server for retrieving information with which information related to a position can be collected while performing retrieval in place of a client when the client is to retrieve information stored on a server. SOLUTION: Concerning this information retrieval system, when an information retrieval client 110 transmits location information acquired by using a location acquiring means 111 to an information retrieval server 100, a recording position information retrieving means 101 extracts recording position information by retrieving a recording position information table 102 and on the basis of this recording position information, an information retrieving means 103 retrieves information related to the position information from a world wide web(WWW) home page 120 and transmits it to the information retrieval client 110. Then, the information retrieval client 110 displays the received information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information retrieval system which retrieves information stored in a plurality of information providing servers distributed on a network in response to a request from a client, and provides the retrieved information to the client. Information retrieval method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, many servers provided in a network provide information about a location or a region to a client.
In the (World Wide Web), many HTTP servers are provided which provide information on a specific point or area. For this reason, a search technology for a client to search for information on a desired position or area from a plurality of servers via a network has been spotlighted.

[0003] In one of the conventional information retrieval technologies via such a network, a position and information are registered in advance in a database in association with each other, and when position information is received from a client, information corresponding to the position information is obtained. Is obtained from the database and provided to the client.
For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-319300, when a terminal acquires position information with a GPS device and requests information related to a current position from a WWW server via a network, the WWW server stores the information in advance in association with the position. A technique for providing information is disclosed.

As another information search technique, if the position information received from the client is within a predetermined range,
A technique for providing information related to the position information is known, and in this case also, information provided by the server is stored in advance in a server providing information on a specific area. For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-40259, when a mobile terminal notifies a local information management device of its own location, the local information management device notifies the mobile terminal of a previously stored address for each region and the like. Techniques are disclosed.

Further, as another information search technique, there is known a technique of extracting information from a server connected to a network, extracting an information character string relating to a position such as an address included in the extracted information, and specifying the position. . For example,
Seiji Yokoji et al., "Information Collection Method Considering Information Contents", Information Processing Society of Japan 56th (early 1998) National Conference
3-81 to 3-82 disclose a technique of searching for homepage information on a WWW server using an information collecting robot, extracting an address of the homepage, and using the address as position information.

[0006]

However, in these prior arts, it is premised that information related to a position is stored in a database in advance in association with the position, so that information not yet stored in the database,
There is a problem that the latest information provided by the information provider in its own free format cannot be used.

Further, even if these conventional techniques are used, an arbitrary server connected to a network cannot be found and used, and information other than information on a position in a preset range cannot be searched. There is also a problem that information corresponding to geographical conditions such as along an overseas location cannot be searched.

Further, in these prior arts, it is assumed that information and a position range of a position related to the information correspond one-to-one. There is also a problem that it is necessary to perform a matching process with the range, which requires a great deal of processing time.

[0009] Further, when the information provided by the information providing server is provided to the user via the search server, the information is provided with an expiration date and an update interval, regardless of whether the information has an expiration date or an update interval.
There is a problem in that it is necessary to connect to the information providing server many times before the expiration date or before the update, to waste network resources, and to not be able to see the ever-changing past log.

Furthermore, when information provided by the information providing server is provided to the user via the search server, this information is effectively transmitted to the client even though the information is valid at a certain time in the future. The problem is that important information that the information provider wants to directly inform the information user cannot be transmitted without the request of the user.

Another problem is that information that requires a condition or an operation cannot be used, as in the case where the information to be retrieved from the information providing server by the search server is changed by the information of another information providing server. is there.

Further, when the information provided by the information providing server is provided to the user via the search server, the form of the information provided to the user is limited to the form provided by the information provider. Since the screen size and the information transmission means are not taken into account, there is a problem that when the client screen is small, a large image cannot be viewed, and information cannot be retrieved from the telephone or heard on the radio.

[0013] Further, when the information provided by the information providing server is provided to the user via the search server, not all the information retrieved from the plurality of information providing servers is required, and these are all delivered at once. However, there is a problem that it is difficult to see information.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and when a client searches for information stored on a server, the client performs search on behalf of the client and collects information related to the position. An object of the present invention is to obtain an information search system and an information search server capable of performing the above.

[0015] More specifically, an object of the present invention is to provide an information search system and an information search server that can freely search for information related to the location of a server on a network. It is another object of the present invention to provide an information search system and an information search server capable of collecting a connection position on a network of a server storing information on a position without manually checking the position in advance. It is another object of the present invention to provide an information search system and an information search server that can search not only a fixed position and a point but also information about an irregular position range.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an information retrieval system and an information retrieval server capable of retrieving information relating to geographical conditions such as information relating to a riverside area. Further, even when a server on the network has a large amount of information on a location area such as a section of a residential land development area, information that can provide information on a location requested by a client without burdening the server. The purpose is to obtain a search system and an information search server.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an information search system and an information search server capable of reducing the number of times of accessing data to a server that provides information and improving processing efficiency. It is another object of the present invention to provide an information search system and an information search server that can also view information provided in the past when information provided by the server changes every moment.

Also, for example, "I will make a sale tomorrow."
It is an object of the present invention to obtain an information search system and an information search server which can effectively provide this information to a user even when information about the future is provided like information on a shopping street. It is a further object of the present invention to provide an information search system and an information search server that can quickly send information that needs to be delivered directly, such as information on a large sale without notice, to a client.

Also, an information retrieval system and an information retrieval server capable of providing a user with information that changes due to a change in other information, such as a case where a store always sells cheaper than other stores, are obtained. With the goal. It is still another object of the present invention to provide an information search system and an information search server that can provide information in a form suitable for a client even when the range of a display screen of a client differs and the limitation on the media that can be output differs. .

It is another object of the present invention to provide an information search system and an information search server capable of providing information on a position even if a client is a radio, a personal computer, or a pager. Furthermore, even when a plurality of information is retrieved as search results from a variety of servers, it is possible to extract only the information required by the client and provide easy-to-view information that is synthesized as if it were one piece of information. An object is to obtain an information search system and an information search server.

[0021]

In order to achieve the above object, an information retrieval system according to the present invention transmits information stored in a plurality of information providing servers distributed on a network in response to a request from a client. In an information search system for searching and providing the searched information to the client, predetermined position information is stored in association with recording position information indicating a recording position on the network for recording information related to the position information. And a search unit that searches the table for recording position information corresponding to the position information when position information is received from the client, based on the recording position information searched by the search unit. Information obtaining means for obtaining information related to the information from the plurality of information providing servers, and information obtained by the information obtaining means Characterized by comprising an information search server and an information providing means for providing to the client.

According to the present invention, the predetermined position information and the recording position information indicating the recording position on the network for recording the information related to the position information are stored in the table in association with each other, and the position information is transmitted from the client. When the information is received, the recording position information corresponding to the position information is searched from the table, and information related to the position information is obtained from the plurality of information providing servers based on the searched recording position information. Is provided to the client, the client can efficiently search for information related to the position information via the information search server.

[0023] The information search system according to the next invention comprises:
The information retrieval server extracts recording position information from a list in which a large number of recording position information is registered, acquires information corresponding to the recording position information from the information providing server, and acquires the acquired information at a predetermined location In a case where the information is related to any one of a specific area, a section-arranged area, and an area satisfying a predetermined condition, an information registration unit for registering this information as geographical location information in the table in association with the recording location information is further provided. And wherein the search means searches the table for recorded position information and geographical position information corresponding to the position information when the position information is received from the client.

According to the present invention, recording position information is extracted from a list in which a large number of recording position information is registered, and information corresponding to the recording position information is obtained from the information providing server. When the information is related to any one of a point, an unspecified area, a sectioned area, or an area that satisfies predetermined conditions, this information is registered in a table as geographical location information in association with the recording location information, and the location information is transmitted from the client. When the information is received, the recording position information and the geographical position information corresponding to the position information are searched from the table, so that the geographical position information can be efficiently registered in the table in association with the recording position information. .

An information search system according to the next invention is as follows.
When the geographical position information searched by the search unit is an irregular region, the information search server further includes an irregular region determination unit that determines whether position information exists in the irregular region. It is characterized by having.

According to the present invention, when the searched geographical position information is an irregular area, it is determined whether or not the position information exists in the irregular area. Even in a fixed area, it is possible to determine the correspondence with the position information.

[0027] The information search system according to the next invention comprises:
The information search server, when the geographic location information searched by the search means indicates a geographical condition such as designation of an altitude range, a seaside area, a riverside area, and a vicinity of a main road, a predetermined information indicating a position, an altitude, and a land type. A geographical condition determining unit that determines whether the position information indicates a geographical condition indicated by the geographical position information based on the map topographical information.

According to the present invention, when the retrieved geographical location information indicates geographical conditions such as designation of an altitude range, a seaside area, a riverside area, and the vicinity of an arterial road, a predetermined value indicating a position, an altitude, and a land type. In order to determine whether the location information indicates the geographical conditions indicated by the geographical location information based on the map topographical information, even in relatively vague geographical conditions such as areas along the sea, the correspondence with the location information is determined. Can be determined.

An information search system according to the next invention is:
The information search server selects only information related to the position information received from the client when the information obtained by the information obtaining unit from the information providing server includes information related to a plurality of position information. Further, there is further provided an information selecting means.

According to the present invention, when information related to a plurality of pieces of position information is included in the information obtained from the information providing server, only information related to the position information received from the client is selected. It is possible to prevent the client from acquiring unnecessary information unrelated to the location information.

[0031] The information search system according to the next invention comprises:
The table stores information provided by the information providing unit to the client and an expiration date of the information in association with the recording position information in association with the position information, and the information obtaining unit searches the search unit. Only when the information corresponding to the recording position information has been searched in the past and is not within the expiration date stored in the table, when the expiration date is unknown or when the information itself does not exist, the information corresponding to the recording position information. Is acquired from the information providing server.

According to this invention, the table stores the information provided to the client and the expiration date of the information in association with the recording position information in association with the position information, and stores the information corresponding to the retrieved recording position information in the past. The information corresponding to the recording position information is obtained from the information providing server only when the expiration date is not within the expiration date stored in the table, when the expiration date is unknown, or when the information itself does not exist. Waste of acquiring effective information that does not elapse from the information providing server can be reduced.

[0033] The information search system according to the next invention comprises:
The table stores an update interval of various information and a past update record of the information in association with the recording position information in association with the position information, and the information acquisition unit determines when the search unit searches for the recording position information. Then, only when the update time of the information corresponding to the recording position information has elapsed, the information corresponding to the recording position information is obtained from the information providing server.

According to this invention, the table stores the update intervals of various types of information and the past update records of the information in association with the position information together with the recording position information. Only when the update time of the information corresponding to the position information has passed, the information corresponding to the recording position information is obtained from the information providing server, thereby reducing unnecessary use of acquiring effective information that is not updated from the information providing server. can do.

An information retrieval system according to the next invention is as follows.
The information search server includes: a history accumulating unit that sequentially accumulates a history including various types of information, position information, and recording position information searched by the searching unit; and a position information and a recording position information newly searched by the search unit. If the information is present in the storage means and the information newly obtained from the information providing server is different from the information stored in the history storage means, or if the information obtained from the information providing server does not exist in the storage means, Recording means for recording the position information, the recording position information, and the information obtained from the information providing server in the table together with the recording time in association with each other.

According to the present invention, various types of retrieved information,
The history including the position information and the recording position information is sequentially accumulated in the history accumulation unit, and the newly retrieved position information and the recording position information are present in the history accumulation unit, and the information newly acquired from the information providing server is the history. If the information is different from the information stored in the storage means, or if the information obtained from the information providing server does not exist in the storage means, the position information, the recording position information, and the information obtained from the information providing server are associated with each other and the recording time is recorded in the table. The client can obtain the past history related to the position information.

An information search system according to the next invention is as follows.
The search means, when receiving current and future location information from the client, searches the table for a plurality of pieces of recording location information corresponding to the current and future location information, and the information acquisition means performs the search. Information corresponding to a plurality of pieces of recording position information retrieved by the means is obtained from the information providing server.

According to the present invention, when the current and future position information is received from the client, a plurality of recording position information corresponding to the current and future position information is retrieved from the table, and the retrieved plurality of recording positions are retrieved. Since the information corresponding to the position information is acquired from the information providing server, the client can acquire not only the information relating to the current position information but also the information relating to the future position information.

An information search system according to the next invention is as follows.
The information providing unit is a validity determining unit that determines whether the plurality of pieces of information acquired by the information acquiring unit is valid information at present or in the future, and the validity determining unit is valid. And information output means for outputting only the information determined to the client to the client.

According to the present invention, it is determined whether or not a plurality of pieces of acquired information are valid information at the present or future time, and only the information determined to be valid is output to the client. It is possible to prevent information to be invalidated from being output to the client.

The information search system according to the next invention is as follows.
A connection information storage unit configured to store connection information relating to connection with the client when receiving the position information from the client; and a predetermined information providing server for notifying the client of the information. Receiving the information content and the notification range from the information providing server,
Information notifying means for notifying the corresponding client of the content of the information based on the connection information stored in the connection information storage means.

According to the present invention, when position information is received from a client, connection information relating to connection with the client is stored in the connection information storage means, and a predetermined information providing server transmits information to the client. When notifying, the information providing server receives the information content and the notification range from the information providing server, and notifies the corresponding client of the information content based on the connection information stored in the connection information storage means. Information can be notified to the client to be notified.

An information retrieval system according to the next invention is as follows.
The information retrieval server, wherein the information acquisition means determines whether the content of the information obtained from the predetermined information providing server uses information provided by another information providing server; and When the usage status determining means determines that the information provided by the other information providing server is used, the information provided by the other information providing server is obtained, and the predetermined information providing is performed based on the information. And information processing means for processing information obtained from the server.

According to the present invention, it is determined whether or not the content of the information obtained from the predetermined information providing server uses information provided by another information providing server, and the information provided by the other information providing server is provided. When it is determined that the information is used, the client obtains the information provided by another information providing server, and processes the information obtained from the predetermined information providing server based on the information. It is possible to avoid a situation where information cannot be used as it is.

An information search system according to the next invention is as follows.
The information search server accepts form information and position information indicating a medium that can be used by the client, and, based on these pieces of information, converts the information acquired by the information acquisition unit from the information providing server into characters and voices matched to the client. , Media conversion means for converting into a form of a chart or a video.

According to the present invention, the form information and the position information indicating the media that can be used by the client are received, and the information obtained from the information providing server based on these information is matched with the client for characters, sounds, charts, and images. The information can be provided in a form suitable for the client.

An information retrieval system according to the next invention is:
The information search server further includes a distribution content selection unit that receives information related to the distribution to the client, and distributes the information acquired by the information acquisition unit to the client based on the information related to the distribution. And

According to the present invention, information relating to distribution to a client is received, and information acquired based on the information relating to the distribution is distributed to the client. it can.

The information search system according to the next invention is as follows:
The information providing means includes an information extracting means for extracting the content designated as the request information from the information acquired by the information acquiring means when receiving the instruction of the request information and the position information from the client. It is characterized by the following.

According to the present invention, when the instruction of the request information and the position information are received from the client, the content designated as the request information is extracted from the acquired information, so that unnecessary information not requested by the client is eliminated. Can be eliminated.

[0051] The information search system according to the next invention comprises:
The information providing means further includes an information combining means for combining a plurality of contents extracted by the information extracting means.

According to the present invention, since a plurality of contents respectively extracted from the obtained information are combined, the contents extracted by the client can be obtained collectively.

An information search method according to the next invention searches for information stored in a plurality of information providing servers distributed on a network in response to a request from a client, and provides the searched information to the client. In the search method, a storage step of storing predetermined position information in a table in association with recording position information indicating a recording position on the network for recording information related to the position information, and storing the position information from the client. When accepted,
A search step of searching the table for recording position information corresponding to the position information; and information for acquiring information related to the position information from the plurality of information providing servers based on the recording position information searched in the search step. An information providing step of providing the client with the information acquired in the information acquiring step.

According to the present invention, the predetermined position information and the recording position information indicating the recording position on the network for recording the information related to the position information are stored in the table in association with each other, and the position information is transmitted from the client. When the information is received, the recording position information corresponding to the position information is searched from the table, and information related to the position information is obtained from the plurality of information providing servers based on the searched recording position information. Is provided to the client, the client can efficiently search for information related to the position information via the information search server.

In the information search method according to the next invention, recording position information is extracted from a list in which a large number of recording position information are registered, information corresponding to the recording position information is obtained from the information providing server, and the obtained information is obtained. But at a given point,
When the information is related to any of an unspecified area, a sectioned area, or an area satisfying a predetermined condition, an information registration step of registering this information in the table as geographical location information in association with the recording location information is performed. Further, the search step is characterized in that, when position information is received from the client, the table is searched for recorded position information and geographical position information corresponding to the position information.

According to the present invention, recording position information is extracted from a list in which a large number of recording position information is registered, information corresponding to the recording position information is acquired from the information providing server, and the acquired information is a predetermined information. When the information is related to any one of a point, an unspecified area, a sectioned area, or an area that satisfies predetermined conditions, this information is registered in a table as geographical location information in association with the recording location information, and the location information is transmitted from the client. When the information is received, the recording position information and the geographical position information corresponding to the position information are searched from the table, so that the geographical position information can be efficiently registered in the table in association with the recording position information. .

In the information search method according to the next invention, when the geographical position information searched in the search step is an irregular area, it is determined whether or not position information exists in the irregular area. The method further includes an irregular-shaped area determination step.

According to the present invention, when the searched geographical location information is an irregular area, it is determined whether or not the position information exists in the irregular area. Even in a fixed area, it is possible to determine the correspondence with the position information.

The information retrieval method according to the next invention is characterized in that when the geographical position information retrieved in the retrieval step indicates a geographical condition such as designation of an altitude range, a seaside area, a riverside area, or the vicinity of a main road, the position and altitude are determined. And a geographical condition determining step of determining whether the position information indicates the geographical condition indicated by the geographical position information based on predetermined geographical landform information indicating a type of land.

According to the present invention, when the retrieved geographical location information indicates geographical conditions such as designation of an altitude range, a seaside area, a riverside area, and the vicinity of a main road, a predetermined value indicating a position, an altitude, and a land type. In order to determine whether the location information indicates the geographical conditions indicated by the geographical location information based on the map topographical information, even in relatively vague geographical conditions such as areas along the sea, the correspondence with the location information is determined. Can be determined.

[0061] The information search method according to the next invention is characterized in that, when the information obtained from the information providing server in the information obtaining step includes information related to a plurality of pieces of position information, the position information received from the client is obtained. The method further includes an information selecting step of selecting only information related to.

According to the present invention, when information related to a plurality of pieces of position information is included in the information obtained from the information providing server, only the information related to the position information received from the client is selected. It is possible to prevent the client from acquiring unnecessary information unrelated to the location information.

In the information search method according to the next invention, the table stores information provided to the client in the information providing step and an expiration date of the information in association with the recording position information and the position information. In the information acquisition step, information corresponding to the recording position information searched in the search step has been searched in the past, and the information is not within the expiration date stored in the table, the expiration date is unknown, or the information itself exists. Only when not, the information corresponding to the recording position information is obtained from the information providing server.

According to the present invention, the table stores the information provided to the client and the expiration date of the information in association with the recording position information in association with the position information, and stores the information corresponding to the retrieved recording position information in the past. The information corresponding to the recording position information is obtained from the information providing server only when the expiration date is not within the expiration date stored in the table, when the expiration date is unknown, or when the information itself does not exist. Waste of acquiring effective information that does not elapse from the information providing server can be reduced.

In the information search method according to the next invention, the table stores an update interval of various information and a past update record of the information in association with the recording position information in association with the position information. When the recording position information is searched in the search step, only when the update time of the information corresponding to the recording position information has passed,
The information corresponding to the recording position information is obtained from the information providing server.

According to the present invention, the table stores the update intervals of various types of information and the past update records of the information in association with the recording position information in association with the position information. Only when the update time of the information corresponding to the position information has passed, the information corresponding to the recording position information is obtained from the information providing server, thereby reducing unnecessary use of acquiring effective information that is not updated from the information providing server. can do.

In the information search method according to the next invention, a history accumulation step of sequentially accumulating histories composed of various types of information, position information and recording position information searched in the search step in the history accumulation means, If the retrieved position information and recording position information are present in the history storage means, and the information newly obtained from the information providing server is different from the information stored in the history storage means, or obtained from the information providing server A recording step of recording the position information, the recording position information, and the information obtained from the information providing server in the table together with the recording time when the information does not exist in the storage means. .

According to the present invention, various types of retrieved information,
The history including the position information and the recording position information is sequentially accumulated in the history accumulation unit, and the newly retrieved position information and the recording position information are present in the history accumulation unit, and the information newly acquired from the information providing server is the history. If the information is different from the information stored in the storage means, or if the information obtained from the information providing server does not exist in the storage means, the position information, the recording position information, and the information obtained from the information providing server are associated with each other and the recording time is recorded in the table. The client can obtain the past history related to the position information.

[0069] In the information search method according to the next invention, when the search step receives current and future position information from the client, the search step includes a plurality of recording position information corresponding to the current and future position information. A search is performed from a table, and the information obtaining step obtains, from the information providing server, information respectively corresponding to the plurality of pieces of recording position information searched in the searching step.

According to the present invention, when the current and future position information is received from the client, a plurality of recording position information corresponding to the current and future position information is retrieved from the table, and the retrieved plurality of recording positions are retrieved. Since the information corresponding to the position information is acquired from the information providing server, the client can acquire not only the information relating to the current position information but also the information relating to the future position information.

In the information search method according to the next invention, the information providing step is a step of determining whether or not the plurality of pieces of information acquired in the information acquiring step is valid at present or in the future. The method includes a determining step and an information output step of outputting only information determined to be valid in the validity determining step to the client.

According to the present invention, it is determined whether or not a plurality of pieces of acquired information is valid at present or in the future, and only the information determined to be valid is output to the client. It is possible to prevent information to be invalidated from being output to the client.

[0073] In the information search method according to the next invention, in the search step, when positional information is received from the client, a connection information storage step of storing connection information relating to connection with the client in connection information storage means. When a predetermined information providing server notifies the client of the information, the information content and the notification range are received from the information providing server, and the corresponding information is stored based on the connection information stored in the connection information storage unit. An information notification step of notifying the client of the content of the information.

According to the present invention, when position information is received from a client, connection information relating to connection with the client is stored in the connection information storage means, and a predetermined information providing server sends information to the client. When notifying, the information providing server receives the information content and the notification range from the information providing server, and notifies the corresponding client of the information content based on the connection information stored in the connection information storage means. Information can be notified to the client to be notified.

In the information search method according to the next invention, it is determined whether or not the content of the information obtained from the predetermined information providing server in the information obtaining step uses information provided by another information providing server. In the use status determining step, when it is determined that the information provided by the other information providing server is used in the use status determining step, the information provided by the other information providing server is acquired, and the information is acquired. An information processing step of processing information obtained from the predetermined information providing server based on the information processing server.

According to the present invention, it is determined whether or not the content of the information obtained from a predetermined information providing server uses information provided by another information providing server, and the information provided by the other information providing server is provided. When it is determined that the information is used, the client obtains the information provided by another information providing server, and processes the information obtained from the predetermined information providing server based on the information. It is possible to avoid a situation where information cannot be used as it is.

[0077] The information search method according to the next invention receives form information and position information indicating a medium that can be used by the client, and based on the information, obtains information obtained from the information providing server in the information obtaining step. The method may further include a media conversion step of converting into a form of characters, voices, charts, and images according to the client.

According to the present invention, the form information and the position information indicating the media that can be used by the client are received, and the information obtained from the information providing server based on these information is matched with the client for characters, voices, charts, and images. The information can be provided in a form suitable for the client.

The information retrieval method according to the next invention is a distribution content selecting step of receiving information relating to distribution to the client, and distributing the information acquired by the information acquiring means to the client based on the information relating to the distribution. Is further included.

According to the present invention, information relating to distribution to a client is received, and information obtained based on the information relating to the distribution is distributed to the client. it can.

[0081] In the information search method according to the next invention, the information providing step includes, when receiving an instruction of request information and position information from the client, selecting the request information from the information obtained in the information obtaining step. The method includes an information extracting step of extracting the designated content.

According to the present invention, when the instruction of the request information and the position information are received from the client, the contents designated as the request information are extracted from the acquired information, so that unnecessary information not requested by the client is eliminated. Can be eliminated.

[0083] The information retrieval method according to the next invention is characterized in that the information providing step further includes an information synthesizing step of synthesizing a plurality of contents extracted in the information extracting step.

According to the present invention, since a plurality of contents respectively extracted from the obtained information are combined, the contents extracted by the client can be obtained collectively.

[0085]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of an information search system and an information search server according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following,
It is assumed that the HTTP server on the Internet WWW is a server for providing information.

Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating a system configuration of the information search system used in the first embodiment. The information search system shown in FIG. 1 is an information search client 1 used by a user who requests information search.
10, WWW homepages 120 and 121 for providing information to a client equipped with a browser via the Internet WWW, and search information client 110 and WWW homepages 120 and 121, and information search by search information client 110 And an information search server 100 supporting the information search.

The information search server 100 includes a recording position information searching means 101, a recording position information table 102,
Information retrieval means 103. The recording position information retrieving means 101 is a retrieval processing unit for retrieving recording position information indicating on which of the WWW homepages 120 and 121 the information is recorded on the network based on the position information. Specifically, this recording position information is, for example, a URL (Uniform Resource Locat) in WorldWideWeb.
or).

The recording position information table 102 includes, for example, a position range such as Tokyo, a narrow position range such as 10-10-10 Chiyoda-ku, position information which is a point specified by latitude and longitude, and It is a table in which information relating to this position information is stored and stored in association with recording position information for specifying an information providing server on the network.
The information search means 103 is a processing unit that actually accesses the information providing server and retrieves the information specified by the recording position information, and performs, for example, the same processing as a proxy server in WorldWideWeb.

On the other hand, the information retrieval client 11
0 is a position acquisition unit 111, a position notification unit 112,
Information display means 113. Position acquisition means 110
Is the key input or voice input of the operator, or GPS
(GlobalPointingSystem) This is a processing unit that acquires position information for specifying a position such as a latitude and longitude or an address by receiving a beacon of the GlobalPointingSystem or the like. Also, the position notifying means 112
Is a processing unit that notifies the information search server 100 of position information via a wired or wireless communication line. For example, TCP / TCP by dial-up connection using a mobile phone
Information retrieval server 10 via communication by IP protocol
0 to send the location information.

The information display means 113 is a processing section for displaying the information returned from the information retrieval client 100 on a display section (not shown).
When information is obtained through the browser, the browser plays the role. WWW homepages 120 and 121
Each is provided on an HTTP server which is an information providing server, and provides information formed in hypertext to each client.

As described above, in this information search system,
Information retrieval client 110 is WWW homepage 12
Instead of retrieving information by walking over 0 and 121, the information on the WWW homepages 120 and 121 is retrieved via the information providing server 100.

Next, the processing procedure of the information search system shown in FIG. 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the information search system shown in FIG. FIG.
As shown in (1), in this information search system, the information search client 110 acquires position information using the position acquisition unit 111 (step S201), and transmits this position information to the information search server 100 by the position notification unit 112 ( Step S202), the information search server 100 receives this position information (step S203).

More specifically, the recording position information retrieving means 101
Is the “position” in the recording position information table 102 shown in FIG.
Is checked, and if the same latitude / longitude or address as the position information received from the position notification unit 112 of the information search client 110 is present, all the contents of the recording position information included in the row are read out. Here, the read recording position information indicates a URL.
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a case where a recording position information table 102 in which a position, recording position information, recording date and time, update interval, expiration date, information content, and history information are associated with each other is used. It will be shown.

Thereafter, in the information search server 100, the recording position information retrieving means 101
Is retrieved and the recording position information corresponding to this position information is extracted (step S204), and the information retrieval means 103 acquires information from the information providing server using this recording position information (step S205). Specifically, the information search means 103 retrieves the information specified by the recording position information from the information providing server via the network. If the recording position information is a URL,
Since this indicates an electronic file stored in the WWW server, this electronic file is acquired.

When the information search server 100 transmits the obtained information to the information search client 110 (step S206), the information search client 110
The transmitted information is received (Step S207). More specifically, the information search server 100 sends the electronic file extracted from the information providing server via a wired or wireless communication line to the information, and sends the information to the information search client 11
0 to the information display means 113 using the TCP / IP protocol. Thereafter, the information search client 110 displays the received information on a display unit (not shown) using browser software (step S208).

By performing the above-described series of processing, the information search client 110 can efficiently acquire information related to the position information without directly walking the WWW homepages 120 and 121.

As described above, in the information search system according to the first embodiment, the recording position searching means 101 stores information related to all kinds of position information such as a city name, an address, and latitude and longitude in any position on the network. Because it is possible to search for information, not only a fixed position range but also information related to various position information can be searched by the information search client 11.
0 can be provided. Further, even when the information is updated without the knowledge of the administrator of the information search server 100, the information search server 100 acquires the information from the information providing server each time. Users can always use the latest information.

Embodiment 2 Next, an information search system according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The information search system shown in the second embodiment is to automatically find an information providing server which is an information source connected on a network.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing a system configuration of the information search system according to the second embodiment. Parts having the same functions as those of the functional units of the information search system shown in FIG. 1 are given the same numbers, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted. As shown in the figure, the information search server 400 of this information search system includes a position-related recording position information collecting unit 401 in the information search server 100 shown in FIG.
And a location description dictionary information 402, and a domain name server (DNS) 410 and a WWW homepage 420 are newly provided.

The rank related recording position information collecting means 401
WWW of an information providing server that is an information source on a network
The information of the homepage 420 is checked to determine whether or not there is information related to the position information. If the related information exists, the information is recorded in the recording position information table 102. The location description dictionary information 402 is stored in the WWW homepage 420 by the location-related recorded location information collecting means 401.
Is dictionary information used when confirming whether or not the position information is described in the content of. Specifically, the names of municipalities,
For example, <! Position></! It is information for specifying a position such as a combination of tags of position> and latitude and longitude.

The DNS server 410 is a server that covers a domain name indicating the address of an information providing server (WWW server) connected to the network. By using this domain name, the information of many WWW servers can be grasped. can do. However, a list in which a large number of URLs are described in advance can be used instead of the DNS server 410.

Next, the information search server 400 shown in FIG.
Will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the information search server 400 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the information search server 400
S server 410 to connect to a large number of recording location information (UR
L) is acquired (step S501), and information is acquired from the information providing server based on each recording position information (step S502).

More specifically, the position-related recording position information collecting means 401 performs a recording position information collecting process once a day or at a timing when an operator gives an instruction. That is, first, a connection is made to the DNS server 410 via the network, and the information providing server (W
A large number of IP addresses for accessing a WW server are obtained. Instead of the DNS server 410, the URL may be obtained from a list of a large number of URLs prepared in advance by the operator.

Thereafter, the position-related recording position information collecting means 4
01 is, for example, FTP (File Transfer Protocol) or HTTP for each IP address and URL.
Using (hypertext transfer protocol), a connection is made to an information providing server which provides information indicated by an IP address or a URL via a network, and the corresponding electronic file is taken out.

Then, the information obtained from the information providing server is read (step S503), and it is checked whether or not the information includes information related to the position information (step S5).
04), if related information exists (step S
505 affirmative), and stores this information in the recording position information table 102.
(Step S506). If there is no information related to the position information (No at Step S505), the information is not registered in the recording position information table.
Specifically, the position-related recording position information collecting unit 401
By referring to the contents of the location description dictionary information 402, it is checked whether a place name or a tag is included in the extracted electronic file, and if it is included, the recording location information is registered in the recording location information table 102.

If the location of the extracted electronic file includes, for example, a place name, the place name is written in the position column of the recording position information table 102, and if the position tag is included, the place name is written. The information enclosed by the position tag is also described in the position column, and if there is a description of the latitude and longitude, this latitude and longitude and the following numerical value are also described in the position column, for example, near the Ota Ward coast. If the geographical condition is included, the geographical condition is described. If the geographical condition is represented by a point sequence of latitude and longitude, the irregular range is described. Further, in the same row of the recording position information table 102, as the recording position information, the URL connected to the information providing server to retrieve the electronic file or the IP address when connecting using FTP is recorded. Is recorded in the recording date column, and the contents of the electronic file are recorded in the information contents.

When the electronic file is, for example, a binary file indicating moving image information, a character string of a directory indicating a storage location of the moving image file and a file name of the moving image file are described. At this time, the position-related recording position information collecting means 401 transmits the recording position information table 1
The information content to be written in 02 is not the electronic file in which the character string indicating the position and the file name of the moving image file are written, but the binary data of the moving image file itself. The series of processes shown in steps S503 to S506 is repeated until there is no more information acquired from the information search server (step S507), and the process ends when there is no more information.

As described above, in the information retrieval system according to the embodiment, the position-related recording position information collecting means 401 automatically retrieves position information from an information providing server (WWW server) which is an information source on the network. Since the information retrieval server 400 is configured to retrieve the information, the administrator of the information search server 400 does not need to register the recording position information (URL) of the information providing server. When the information provider registers information related to the position information on the information providing server, the position-related recording position information collecting means 401 automatically detects whether or not this information includes the position information. Only information related to location information is automatically searched.

[0109] Further, the creator of a certain WWW homepage newly creates information on the shopping street, and writes the information in the information by enclosing the location information with a place name or a tag character string reserved in advance by the location description dictionary information 402. If the electronic file is placed on the WWW homepage, the position information is automatically written into the recording position information table 102.

Embodiment 3 Next, an information search system according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The information search system described in the third embodiment is a system that can search for information on an irregular position range.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram showing a system configuration of the information search system according to the third embodiment. Parts having the same functions as those of the functional units of the information search system shown in FIG. 4 are assigned the same numbers, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted. As shown in the figure, an information search server 600 of this information search system is configured by adding an irregular-shaped area determination means 601 to the information search server 400 shown in FIG. When the recording position information retrieving unit 101 retrieves the recording position information of the information related to the position information from the recording position information table 102, the irregular-shaped area determining unit 601 determines whether the position information is specified by the recording position information. This is a processing unit that determines whether or not the image belongs to a fixed area.

FIG. 7 shows the information retrieval server 600 shown in FIG.
5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for determining an irregular area. As shown in the drawing, the irregular-shaped area determination means 601 of the information search server 600
In step S701, it is checked whether there is any information of an irregular shape (step S701), and it is checked whether there is a part that overlaps with the position information (step S702). Specifically, if the position information is a point of latitude and longitude, and the information of the irregular shape is a point sequence of latitude and longitude, the latitude and longitude are regarded as XY coordinates, and If the result of sequentially integrating the angles of the points indicating the irregular shape becomes 0, it is determined that this position information is included in the information of the irregular shape.

If there is an overlapping portion (Yes at Step S703), the recording position information is extracted (Step S704). If there is no overlapping portion, the position information is not extracted. Steps S701 to S70
The process of No. 4 is repeated until there is no information on the irregular shape (step S705), and the process ends when the information on the irregular shape disappears.

As described above, by providing the irregular-shaped area determining means 601, the range of information about the irregular shape can be specified. The range can be specified by the information provider so that only the person who receives the information can receive the information.

Embodiment 4 Next, an information search system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The information search system described in the fourth embodiment is a system that can provide information only to an area suitable for geographical conditions.

FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram showing a system configuration of the information search system according to the fourth embodiment. Parts having the same functions as those of the functional units of the information search system shown in FIG. 6 are assigned the same numbers, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted. As shown in the figure, an information search server 800 of the information search system is configured by adding a geographic condition determining means 801 and map topographic information 802 to the information search server 600 shown in FIG.

The geographic condition determining means 801 determines that the position information is
A processing unit that checks whether the geographical conditions such as mountainous areas, near the coast, and along rivers are met.
02 is terrain information used as a criterion for determining whether the position information matches the geographical conditions. Specifically, the map terrain information 802 is a numerical map issued by the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan showing the altitude, or a polygonal line format in which a plurality of contour lines at every 5 meters above sea level are regarded as coordinates of latitude and longitude. Create and use a connected elevation map, or create and use a point sequence that records the longitude and latitude of the river from the headwater of the Sumida River to the river mouth, for example, every 100 meters as river data of the Sumida River Will do.

FIG. 9 shows the information search server 800 shown in FIG.
9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure at the time of geographic condition determination. As shown in FIG.
A value of 0 checks whether or not information indicating the geographical condition exists in the recording position information table 102 (step S901), and checks whether or not there is a portion overlapping the position information (step S9).
02). Specifically, the recording position information searching means 101
It checks all the information in the position column of the recording position information table 102 and, together with a geographic range such as “Tokyo” or “Ota-ku” which is a range including the position information, indicates “geographic conditions” such as “5 m above sea level indicating near the coast. The following information is sent to the geographical condition determination unit 801 with the information on the range designated as “Sumida River Basin” indicating the range along the river and the position information received from the search information client 110.

Then, the geographic condition determining means 801 compares the position information with the geographic condition to determine whether or not the condition is satisfied. For example, when the geographical condition “land above sea level of 5 meters or less” is described, the numerical map of the map terrain information 802 is read out, and the point indicated by the latitude and longitude of the position information is set to 5 meters above sea level. If it can be confirmed that it is outside the contour line area and inside the contour line at 0 meters above sea level, the condition of “land below 5 meters above sea level” is satisfied.

When the condition “near a river” is described, the latitude and longitude of the position information are compared with the latitude and longitude of a point indicating a river bank, which is a point sequence of data of all rivers, and the position is compared. Calculate the straight line distance from the latitude and longitude difference of.
For example, if “near a river” is set to be 1 km from a river, it is determined to be “near a river” if the straight-line distance is 1 km or less.

If there is an overlapping portion (Yes at Step S903), the recording position information is extracted (Step S904). If there is no overlapping portion, the position information is not extracted. Steps S901 to S90
The process of No. 4 is repeated until there is no more information indicating the geographic condition (step S905), and the process is terminated when there is no more information indicating the geographic condition.

As described above, in the information retrieval system according to the fourth embodiment, by limiting the position range according to the geographical conditions, the “light-up information near the harbor” or the “colored leaves in a high altitude area” It is possible to cope with a case where a geographical condition such as "information" is described.

Embodiment 5 FIG. Next, an information search system according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The information search system described in the fifth embodiment can provide information on a large number of small sections such as a product content of each store in a shopping street, a list of areas of each section of a residential land development site, and a cropping situation of a field. It is a system that can do it.

FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram showing a system configuration of the information search system according to the fifth embodiment.
Parts having the same functions as those of the respective functional units of the information search system shown in FIG. 8 are given the same numbers, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted. As shown in the figure, the information search server 1000 of this information search system is configured by adding an information selection means 1001 to the information search server 800 shown in FIG. When the information retrieved from the information providing server (WWW server), which is an information source on the network, by the information retrieval unit 103 has information on a large number of small location areas, the information selection unit 1001 identifies the information by location. Things.

FIG. 11 shows the information search server 1 shown in FIG.
It is a flowchart which shows the processing procedure at the time of information selection of 000. As shown in FIG.
000, the information retrieval means 103 acquires the information specified by the recording position information from the information providing server (step S
1101), it is checked whether or not the acquired information includes a plurality of pieces of information on the position (step S1102).

More specifically, whether or not information on a plurality of positions is included is determined based on whether or not a tag having a predetermined description is written in the information content. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, it is assumed that a range surrounded by two tags <! * 1> and </! * 1> is information indicating an area, and <! # 1> and </! # The information enclosed by the tags <> is <! * 1
> And </! * 1>.
Similarly, it is assumed that information regarding the information of the area described in the range enclosed by <! * 2> and </! * 2> is described in <! # 2> and </! # 2>. Here, if there is a tag such as <! * Number> and </! * Number> such as <! * 1>, the information search unit 103 determines that the information is for a plurality of positions.

In this case, the information selecting means 1001 sets the <!
The information of the area surrounded by * number> and </! * Number> is checked. If the area is an irregular area, for example, the position information requested by the user is stored in this area as in the third embodiment. Is determined, and if it is included, the content enclosed by <! # Number> and </! # Number>, which are tags indicated by the same number, is returned to the information search means 103 as a search result. . Then, when information on a plurality of positions is included (Yes at Step S1103), the information on the plurality of positions is output to the information search client 110 (Step S1104).

More specifically, the information search means 103 transmits the information of the search result to the information display means of the requesting information search client 110 via a wired or wireless communication line. If information on a plurality of positions is not included (No at Step S1103), the acquired information itself is output to the information search client 110 (Step S1103).
1105).

As described above, the information retrieval system according to the third embodiment can provide information on a plurality of areas as one piece of information. For example, as shown in FIG. If there is an area like a shopping street that includes, even if the information provider changes the information about each store or the location of the store is changed,
The information search client 110 can always use the information of the store according to the location information.

Further, in the example of the shopping street shown in FIG. 12, the recording position information table 101 only needs to describe the area as the shopping street, and even if each store is not described.
Since it is possible to provide store information corresponding to the position information received from the information search client 110, information related to the position information can be stored in the recording position information search means 101 and the information selection means 10
01, so that the processing can be distributed. Further, a search service can be provided to the information providing client 110 more quickly than in a case where information of a store and a shopping street is separately registered.

Embodiment 6 FIG. Next, an information search system according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The information search system described in the sixth embodiment is a system that can efficiently reuse search results according to the expiration date of information.

FIG. 13 is a functional block diagram showing a system configuration of the information search system according to the sixth embodiment.
Parts having the same functions as those of the functional units of the information search system shown in FIG. 1 are given the same numbers, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted. As shown in the figure, an information search server 1300 of this information search system is configured by adding an expiration date confirmation unit 1301 to the information search server 100 shown in FIG. Expiration date checking means 1301
Is a processing unit that, when the information to be searched by the information search unit 103 has been retrieved in the past, checks the expiration date, and if it is within the time limit, does not perform useless search processing.

FIG. 14 shows the information search server 1 shown in FIG.
It is a flowchart which shows the processing procedure at the time of the expiration date confirmation selection of 300. As shown in the figure, when the recording position information searching means 101 retrieves the recording position information from the recording position information table 102 (step S1401), the information search server 1300 sets the expiration date corresponding to the recording position information. The recording position information table 102 is searched to determine whether or not the setting has been made (step S140).
2). More specifically, the expiration date checking unit 1301 checks the information of the row having the same recording position information as the recording position information sent from the information searching unit 103 in the recording position information table 102 by referring to the information of the expiration date column. Take out.

Thereafter, if the date and time of the expiration date is later than the date and time when the processing is performed, the information in the column of the information content on the same line is extracted and the information retrieval means 10
3; otherwise, it expires. If the expiration date has been set (Yes at step S1403), it is checked whether or not the expiration date has passed (step S1405). If the expiration date has not yet passed (step S1406 negative), The information corresponding to the recording position information is obtained from the information providing server (step S14).
07) If the acquired information has an expiration date, it is registered in the recording position information table 102 (step S1408).

On the other hand, when the expiration date has not been set (step S1403) and when the expiration date has not expired (step S1406: YES), the information content is extracted from the recording position information table 102 (step S14).
04). Specifically, upon receiving the search result information from the information search unit 103, the expiration date checking unit 1301 checks whether or not this information includes expiration date information. As a method of checking, it is determined that the part between the two tags <! KIGEN> and </! KIGEN>, which are predetermined tags, is a character string indicating the expiration date. For example,
This string indicates the year, month, and day, such as December 2, 1998.

When there is information on the expiration date, the expiration date checking unit 1301 writes the expiration date in the column of the expiration date of a row having the corresponding recording position in the recording position information table 102. If there is already a description in the column of the expiration date, this information is rewritten with new information, and at the same time, the information contents searched and the recording date and time are written in the recording position information table.

As described above, in the information retrieval system according to the sixth embodiment, for example, the information indicated by the URL or the expiration date of the information when the HTML document is extracted and returned to the user is added to the information. If the information is stored in the storage location information table 102, the expiration date and the information itself are stored in the recording position information table 102. If the information at the same recording position is accessed again, the information is stored before the expiration date. Since the information is output and the information is newly extracted from the recording position when the expiration date has passed, it is not necessary to extract the same information from the information providing server indicated by the recording position every time, and the information can be promptly transmitted to the information retrieval client 110. Can be provided.

Embodiment 7 FIG. Next, an information search system according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described. The information search system described in the seventh embodiment uses information that has already been cached until the next update time limit, when extracting information that is updated periodically from the information providing server, thereby reducing waste on the information providing server. It is a system that can reduce unnecessarily access.

FIG. 15 is a functional block diagram showing a system configuration of the information search system according to the seventh embodiment.
Parts having the same functions as those of the functional units of the information search system shown in FIG. 13 are given the same numbers, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted. As shown in the figure, the information search server 1500 of this information search system is configured by adding an update confirmation unit 1501 to the information search server 1300 shown in FIG. Update confirmation means 1501
If the information to be searched by the information search means 103 has been retrieved in the past, the update interval and the past access date and time are checked. If the information is not updated, useless search processing is not performed. This is a processing unit that uses information extracted in a certain past.

FIG. 16 shows the information search server 1 shown in FIG.
5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure at the time of confirming the update of the 500. As shown in the figure, the information search server 1500
After acquiring the recording position information corresponding to the position information from the recording position information table 102 (step S1601), the contents of the update term and the recording date and time are extracted (step S160).
2) Compare the content of the update term with the recording date and time (step S1603). Specifically, the update confirmation unit 1501
In the record position information table 102, information of a row having the same record position information as the record position information sent from the information search means 103 is indicated by the contents of the update period column and the record position information in the past. The information and the information are extracted, and the recording date and time are extracted in a column of the recording date and time when the information is accumulated.

Then, the content of the update term is compared with the recording date and time to determine whether or not the information has been updated after recording. For example, the update expiration date of certain recording location information is "EVER
In the case of "YFRIDAY", the information is updated every Friday. For this reason, the recording date and time when the information was accessed in the past is compared with the current date and time, and if Friday exists between them, it is determined that the information has been updated.

As a result, if it is determined that the information has been updated (Yes at Step S1604), information corresponding to the recording position information is obtained from the information providing server (Step S1606), and the obtained information is updated with the update time limit. It is checked whether or not there is information (step S1607). If there is information on the update term, the contents of the recording position information table 102 are updated (step S1608). Specifically, update confirmation means 1
When the information of the search result arrives from the information search means 103, the 501 checks whether or not this information includes the information of the update time limit. As a method of checking, use tags determined in advance as rules, such as <! TEIJIKOUSIN> and </! TEIJI
It is determined that the portion between the two tags KOUSIN> is a character string indicating the update interval.

For example, if this character string is described with a date such as "100DAYS" along with a number, the date is updated by 10 days from the last updated date that means the date.
It means that it is updated after 0 days. Also, if the character string is a combination of a word meaning "EVERY", that is, "every", such as "EVERYFRIDAY", the word is updated every weekday.

If there is information relating to the update interval, the update confirmation means 1501 writes the update interval in the update interval column of a row having the corresponding recording position in the recording position information table 102. If there is already a description in the column of the update interval, this information is rewritten with new information, and at the same time, the searched information content and recording date and time are written in the recording position information table 102. If it is determined that the information has not been updated (step S1604)
No), the information stored corresponding to the recording position information is extracted from the recording position information table 102 (step S16).
05).

As described above, in the information search system according to the seventh embodiment, the cached information and the information retrieved from the information providing server in real time are selectively used according to the update interval attached to the information. Accordingly, the latest information can always be provided to the information search client 110 by the least access processing.

Embodiment 8 FIG. Next, an information search system according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The information search system described in the eighth embodiment is a system in which information accumulated in the past is recorded in chronological order and can be provided as needed.

FIG. 17 is a functional block diagram showing a system configuration of the information search system according to the eighth embodiment.
Parts having the same functions as those of the functional units of the information search system shown in FIG. 15 are given the same numbers, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted. As shown in the figure, the information search server 1700 of the information search system records the information searched by the information search means 103 in the information search server 1500 shown in FIG. It is configured by adding a history accumulation unit 1701.

FIG. 18 shows the information search server 1 shown in FIG.
7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when history information is stored in the storage location information 700. As shown in FIG. 7, recording location information corresponding to the location information is extracted from the recording location information table 102 (step S1801). When the corresponding information is acquired from the information providing server or the like (step S1802), the acquisition date and the content of the information are recorded in the history information of the recording position information table 102 (step S18).
03).

[0149] For example, when a menu that changes every week is posted on a homepage of a restaurant, UR, which is recording position information of the homepage, is used every week.
When the information retrieval means retrieves information using L, the name of the menu changed every week can be acquired as information. Therefore, if the contents of the menu are stored together with the date of the search, the past menu list of the restaurant can be searched. Note that the history information can be, for example, a character string in the format of date [information content].

FIG. 19 shows the information search server 1 shown in FIG.
7 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure when using history information accumulated in a 700. As shown in the figure, when the information search client 110 acquires the position information (step S1901), the information search client 110 transmits the position information to the information search server 1700 and requests history information (step S1902). .

When the information search server 1700 receives the request for the position information and the history information (step S1903), the information search server 1700 extracts the recording position information and the history information from the recording position information table 102 (step S1904).
Information corresponding to the recording position information is obtained from the information providing server or the like (step S1905), and the obtained information and history information are transmitted to the information search client 110 (step S1906). Then, the information search client 110, which has received the information related to the position information and the history information,
The received information is displayed on a display unit (not shown) (steps S1907 to S1908).

As described above, in the information search system according to the eighth embodiment, the information search client 110
Is configured to be able to acquire past history information, so that even if information changes rapidly, the past history information can be retained and searched, so that the user of the information search client 110 can obtain the information of the information. You can know the transition of change.

Embodiment 9 FIG. Next, a ninth embodiment of the information search system according to the present invention will be described. The information search system described in the ninth embodiment is a system that can provide, when the searched information includes information relating to a certain point in the future, information that is effective in the place when the user stops at the time. It is.

FIG. 20 is a functional block diagram showing a system configuration of the information search system according to the ninth embodiment.
Parts having the same functions as those of the functional units of the information search system shown in FIG. 17 are given the same numbers, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted. As shown in the figure, the information search server 2000 of this information search system is configured by adding a forecast confirmation means 2001 to the information search server 1700 shown in FIG.

The forecast confirmation means 2001 is provided by the information search means 1
In the case where the information searched by 03 includes information for the future such as “one day after one day” and “after December”, this information is stored in the future “one day after” and “after December” of the user. A processing unit that provides the information only when it is related to the moving position.

FIG. 21 shows the information search server 2 shown in FIG.
000 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when 000 provides current or future valid information. As shown in the figure, the information search server 2000 receives the current position information and the future position information from the client (step S2101), and extracts the recording position information respectively corresponding to the current and future position information (step S2101). Step S2102).
Specifically, the current date and time are TA, and the current location information is PA
The date and time one hour after the user notifies the information search server 2000 is TB, and the position information at that time is PB,
If the date and time one day later is TC and the position information at that time is PC, the user himself / herself inputs the expected arrival times TB and TC using the information search client 110.

In this case, the recording position information search means 101
Then, the recording position information RA corresponding to the current position information PA is obtained from the recording position information table 102.
At this time, recording position information RB and RC corresponding to future position information PB and PC, respectively, are also extracted. Then, information corresponding to each record information is acquired from the information providing server or the like (step S2103), and it is confirmed whether future information is valid at that time (step S2104), and information relating to the current position information is obtained. The information and valid information among the information related to the future position information are output to the information search client 110 (step S21).
05).

More specifically, the recording position information search means 101
Sends the recording position information RA and the time TA, the recording position information RB and the time TB, and the recording position information RC and the time TC to the information searching means 103 in pairs.

The information retrieval means 103 extracts the information IA corresponding to the recording position information RA, the information IB corresponding to the recording position information RB, and the information RC corresponding to the recording position information RC, respectively, and retrieves the time TB and the information IB. The pair and the pair of the time TC and the information IC are output to the forecast confirmation means 2001. Then, in the forecast confirmation means 2001, the information I
By examining the contents of B, it is confirmed whether this information IB is valid at the time TB.

For example, in the information IB, “98 1
The sales will be conducted between noon and 18:00 on February 5 ", which can be described in the form of (future effective time) + (information content). . Specifically, (1998/12/5 / 1200-1
998/12/5/1800) + (Mitsubishi Shoten's annual half-day sale ...) Forecast confirmation means 2001
Finds a time character string indicating the time range in the character string in parentheses if such a description is made.

Next, it is confirmed whether or not the time TB is included in the period indicated by the time character string. If the time TB is included, the information described following the time character string is added in the future time TB. Extract as valid information. Similarly, information valid at time TC is also extracted,
A time TB and information IB valid at that time, and a time TC
And the information IC valid at that time is transmitted to the information retrieval client 110 as future information.

As described above, in the information search system according to the ninth embodiment, even when the user is going to move, the information corresponding to the position and time at which the user is going to move is stored in the information connected to the network. Since the search can be performed from the providing server, it is not necessary to request information many times, and not only the information at the present time but also information about a schedule such as a sale at a store can be used.

In the present embodiment, the case where the user himself / herself inputs the expected arrival times TB and TC using the information search client 110 has been described. Enter the travel position of the user and the estimated time of passage through the service area on the way to the destination from the output of the car navigation system, or enter the information by looking at the screen of the car navigation system and the estimated arrival time. Is also good. Furthermore, as in the case of transporting business trucks, the location information and the scheduled arrival time of the delivery point of the luggage are scheduled for each location, and the location information and the estimated arrival time are stored as data, and this is stored in the future. Scheduled time and its location information can also be used.

Embodiment 10 FIG. Next, an information search system according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The information search system described in the tenth embodiment is a system in which an information provider to an information providing server on a network notifies the information search client 110 of information.

FIG. 22 is a functional block diagram showing a system configuration of the information search system according to the tenth embodiment. Parts having the same functions as those of the functional units of the information search system shown in FIG. 20 are assigned the same numbers, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted. As shown in the figure, the information search server 2200 of this information search system is provided with a synchronization notification unit 2201 to the information search server 2000 shown in FIG.
And connection destination information 2202.

The synchronization notification means 2201 is a processing unit for forcibly sending information from the WWW home page 120 to the information retrieval client 110 used by the user. The connection destination information 2202 is information necessary for connecting to the information search client 110, and corresponds to, for example, the IP address of the information search client in the TCI / IP protocol. Note that the connection destination information 2202 is accumulated when the information search unit 103 extracts information related to the position information from the information providing server.

FIG. 23 shows the information search server 2 shown in FIG.
5 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure when an information providing server provides information to an information search client 110 via a server 200; As shown in the figure, with the information search server 2200 holding the connection destination information of each information search client (step S2301), the information providing server (WWW server) sends an information notification request to the information search client 110 to the information search server. 2200 (step S2302).

For example, the information is transmitted to the information search server 2200 as information on the position of the shopping street, information on the bargain sale in the shopping street, and information on the shopping street. As this transmission method, a URL for connecting to the information search server 2200 is prepared in advance, and connection is performed using the URL by the HTTP protocol.

If the synchronization notifying means 2201 has an interface as, for example, a WWW home page, and there is a position input form and a content sentence input form, the information provider uses the above-mentioned URL. Then, in the position input form and the content sentence input form, the position range to be information is, for example, "Chiyoda-ku"
Etc., and the detailed text of the bargain sale, which is the content text, is described. This information notification request is sent to the information search server 2
When the information retrieval server 200 receives the information (Step S2303), the information search server 2200 specifies an information search client to be notified of information (Step S2304), and notifies the specified information requesting client of the information (Step S2305).

Specifically, the synchronization notifying means 2201 searches for the location information included in the location range entered in the form in the connection destination information 2202. For example, if this location range was Chiyoda-ku,
The location information "Kanda" is included, but "Kawasaki" is not included.

After that, the synchronization notifying means 2201 extracts the IP address which is the connection destination information 2202 recorded as a pair with the position information included in the position range.
The information content is transmitted to the information retrieval client that can be specified by the P address using FTP (File Transfer Protocol) or the like. Then, when this information is received by the information search client (step S2306), this information is displayed on a display unit (not shown) (step S230).
7). As described above, by using connection destination information such as an IP address, information can be transmitted to a terminal machine such as a personal computer that sets the IP address by using FTP (File Transfer Protocol).

As described above, in the information retrieval system according to the tenth embodiment, the connection destination information 220 necessary for connecting to the information requesting client used by the user.
2, and by recording the position information when the user last used, even if the shopkeeper suddenly makes a sale, the shopkeeper can use the information search server 220.
By transmitting the information to 0, the information of the sale can be distributed to users near the store.

Embodiment 11 FIG. Next, an information search system according to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The information search system shown in the eleventh embodiment is a system that provides information obtained by processing information of another information providing server and combining the information when providing information of an information providing server on a network to the information searching client 110. is there.

FIG. 24 is a functional block diagram showing a system configuration of the information search system according to the eleventh embodiment. Parts having the same functions as those of the functional units of the information search system shown in FIG. 22 are assigned the same numbers, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted. As shown in the figure, the information search server 2400 of this information search system is configured by adding a condition determining means 2401 to the information search server 2200 shown in FIG. Condition determining means 2401
Is used to check the contents of the information retrieved and obtained by the information search means 103, and when the contents indicate that information corresponding to other recording position information is to be processed and used, A processing unit that acquires and processes the information.

FIG. 25 shows the information search server 2 shown in FIG.
10 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure when information acquired from an information providing server via the 400 uses information of another information providing server. As shown in the figure, the recording position information corresponding to the position information is extracted from the recording position information table 102 (step S2501). When the information corresponding to the recording position information is obtained from the information search server (step S2502), the condition judgment is performed. The means 2401 checks whether or not the acquired information uses information of another information providing server (step S2503).

If another information is to be used (step S2504: YES), the obtained information is processed using information provided by another information providing server (step S2504), and the processed information is processed. Is output to the information search client 110 (step S2507). On the other hand, when other information is not used (No at Step S2504), the acquired information itself is output to the information search client 110 (Step S250).
5).

Specifically, assuming that the information retrieved from the information providing server is information A, the information retrieving means 103 outputs this information A to the condition determining means 2401. Then, the condition determining means 2401 checks the contents of the information A, and checks whether there is a condition determination made up of a character string set in advance and whether there is a character string indicating that information of another information providing server is to be used.

Here, it is assumed that such a character string is written after the symbol #, the description #if () indicates that the condition is described in parentheses, and the description #> indicates the content of the condition written on the left side. Is true, it means that the process on the right side is executed. The description of #EXE () indicates that the content in parentheses is a process, and the content enclosed in square brackets [] is the URL. And the like. At this time, a column indicating the price of the product is included in the information A, and #if ([URL1] <[URL2]) #># EXE (# [URL3] *
In the case where the character string of 0.7) exists, if the price of the product in the own store stored in URL2 is higher than the price of a certain product in another store stored in URL1 which is the recording position information, # #If the contents indicated by EXE
([URL1] <[URL2]) #>#EXE(# [URL1] * 0.7) is replaced with the entire character string to be a part of the content of information A. #E
The content executed by XE (# [URL1] * 0.7) means 0.7 times the price of the product of another store indicated by the recording position information of URL1.

After that, the condition judging means 2401
Is compared with the contents of another information providing server based on the description contents of the information A, operated, changed, updated the information A itself, and output this to the information search means 103.

As described above, in the information providing system according to the eleventh embodiment, for example, a pharmacy store owner who provides price information by using a WWW server receives information from another store that provides price information in the same manner. If you always sell at a low price, you do not always need to check the price information of other stores, but you can check the price information of other stores with the price information you provide, and the other stores are cheaper. For example, a description can be made such that a discount is set and displayed from another store.

Embodiment 12 FIG. Next, an information search system according to a twelfth embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The information search system described in the twelfth embodiment processes information so that it is easy to see according to the form of the information search client used by the user, and selects a means for returning the information according to the media requested by the user. System.

FIG. 26 is a functional block diagram showing a system configuration of the information search system according to the twelfth embodiment. Parts having the same functions as those of the respective functional units of the information search system shown in FIG. 24 are assigned the same numbers, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted. As shown in the figure, the information search server 2600 of the information search system includes a media conversion unit 260 in the information search server 2400 shown in FIG.
1 and a distribution means selection means 2602.

When the information display means of the information search client 110 can use only voice, the media conversion means 2601 converts the obtained information into voice and outputs the information, and the processing capacity of the information display means is slow and video and image data are used. If the environment is difficult, the processing unit converts the information into a form that is easy for the user to use by reducing or eliminating such information. The distribution means selection means 2602 includes:
When the user of the information retrieval client 110 wishes to provide information by radio or by telephone, the processing unit selects information distribution means in accordance with the instruction.

FIG. 27 shows the information retrieval server 2 shown in FIG.
6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when a media conversion and distribution unit 600 is selected. As shown in the drawing, when the information search server 2600 receives position information and form information from the information search client 110 (step S2701), the recording position information table 102
Then, the recording position information corresponding to the position information is extracted from (step S2702), and the information corresponding to the recording position information is obtained from the information providing server (step S2703).

Here, the form information includes information relating to media, such as audio and video, which the information retrieval client 110 desires to receive information, and information relating to the type of distribution means such as radio and telephone. Specifically, this form information can be described as, for example, a character string enclosed in square brackets, and [AUDIO VIDEO IMAGE DISPL
AYSIZE200X100 ｜ 25CX12L FM9936MHz POINTE133.0000N
46.0000AM390.23MHz TEL010123456].

"AUDIO" shown in this character string indicates that audio output is possible, "VIDEO" indicates that video output is possible, and "IMAGE" indicates that image output is possible.
“DISPLAYSIZE200X100 | 25CX12L” indicates that the display size is 200 dots wide × 100 dots high or 25 digits × 12 lines. Also, "FM9936MHz" indicates that information can be heard if the information is distributed at the frequency of 9936MHz of the FM radio wave, and "POINTE133.0000N46.0000AM390.23MHz"
Is 390.AM of AM modulation around 133 degrees east longitude and 46 degrees north latitude.
Indicate that you want to hear information on radio waves of 23 MHz,
“TEL010123456” indicates that information is desired to be received on the telephone having the telephone number 010123456.

Then, after the media converting means 2601 converts the obtained information according to the morphological information (step S2704), the distribution means selecting means 2602 retrieves the converted information according to the description related to the distribution of the morphological information. Distributed to the client 110 (step S2
705).

More specifically, the media conversion means 2601 reads the above-mentioned form information and obtains information relating to the form, for example, audio, moving picture, screen size, and the like. And
When the obtained information is described in, for example, HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language), the information includes a file B indicating a sound information file.
IRD. If a file name such as WAV is described, and the information indicated by the file name of the audio or video with the HTML file description has already been acquired from the information providing server by the information search means 103, this information is included in this information. It extracts information related to various media, that is, audio information, image information, and moving image information.

According to the description of the HTML, it is clear whether it is a voice or an image. For example, as shown in “<IMAGE SRC = XYZ.GIF>”, the SRC = The character string XYZ.GIF immediately following the description indicates an image.

If the part of the form information relating to the form of the terminal is [IMAGE DISPLAYSIZE200X100 | 25CX12L], the sound information and the moving picture information cannot be used by the information search client 110, so Erase the description part of the video information. Note that "DI
If the description is “SPLAYSIZE200X100 | 25CX12L”, insert a line feed code in the search result information so that it fits in 25 horizontal characters, and for image information, a maximum of 200 × 10
Since only 0 dot size can be displayed, convert to this size.

On the other hand, the distribution means selection means 2602 checks this form information, and returns search result information to the information search means 103 if there is no description about the distribution form. Also,
For example, if there is a description such as [TEL010123456] in the distribution means, the character string of the search result information is converted into voice using a commercially available PCMCIA card for voice synthesis, etc., and the telephone is automatically transmitted from the personal computer. The responding machine calls the corresponding telephone number, 010123456, and distributes the information by playing this voice.

If the description is [FM9936MHz], the voice information is transmitted to the FM transmitter using the FM transmitter.
The search result information is transmitted at a frequency of 36 MHz. Further, if the description is [POINTE133.0000N46.0000AM390.23MHz], another information search server closest to 133 degrees east longitude and 46 degrees north latitude is searched for, and the distribution method of the information search server is selected. The information and the form information are transferred to the means 2602.

To find the nearest information search server,
Reads location information of the information search server such as an IP address, which is information for connecting to another information search server,
Connects to another information search server according to the position information of this information search server, acquires physical position information such as latitude and longitude stored in advance, and searches for the information closest to the latitude and longitude specified in the form information Select a server.

Note that, to the nearest information search server, the information related to the position is removed from the form information, and is converted to [AM390.23 MHz] in the above-described example, and then sent. The distribution means selecting means 2602 of the received information search server checks [AM390.23M
Hz], the information character string is converted into voice using a function such as a commercially available PCMCIA card for voice synthesis, and 390.23 MHz using an AM transmitter.
Distribute search result information at frequency z.

As described above, according to the information search system of the twelfth embodiment, information can be viewed in a display format suitable for the information search client 110 used by the user. Information can be provided corresponding to the information distribution media requested by the user.

Embodiment 13 FIG. Next, an information search system according to a thirteenth embodiment of the present invention will be described.
In the information search system shown in the thirteenth embodiment, when the information search means 103 searches and extracts a plurality of information from a plurality of information sources, the information search client 1
This is a system that extracts only information necessary for ten users and collectively returns this information as one piece of information.

FIG. 28 is a functional block diagram showing a system configuration of the information search system according to the thirteenth embodiment. Parts having the same functions as those of the functional units of the information search system shown in FIG. 26 are given the same numbers, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted. As shown in the figure, the information search server 2800 of this information search system extracts only a part of the information corresponding to the user's request from a plurality of pieces of information to the information search server 2600 shown in FIG. 26, and combines them. This is configured by adding an information synthesizing unit 2801 to make one piece of information.

FIG. 29 shows the information search server 2 shown in FIG.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when 800 extracts a part of information and combines it. Note that it is not always necessary to combine the extracted information, and some of this information can be output to the information search client 110. As shown in the figure, when the information search server 2800 receives the position information and the specification of the request content from the information search client 110 (step S2901), a plurality of pieces of recording position information corresponding to the position information are recorded from the recording position information table 102. (Step S2902), and information corresponding to each recording position information is obtained from an information providing server or the like (step S2903).

Here, the specification of the request content means, for example, the specification of information such as sale information, discount information, arrival information and the like, and when the content of such information is specified, information other than the specified information Is not output to the information retrieval client 110. After that, the information synthesizing unit 2801 examines the contents of the obtained information, extracts the specified request contents from the information (step S2904), combines the extracted contents, and outputs the combined information to the information search client 110. (Step S2905).

More specifically, the information acquired from the information providing server is information IA and information IB, the request content is designated as “arrival information”, and information IA and IB are represented by () +
Add a symbol between parentheses and brackets like [], describe the type of information in parentheses, and if the content of the information is described in brackets, send the text in brackets. Extract as information.

For example, if the information IA has a description of (arrival information) + [furniture imported from Italy ...], the arrival information is the brackets starting with "furniture imported from Italy". It becomes the sentence inside. In addition,
Although a plurality of arrival information can be described in the content of the information IA, in this case, the information synthesizing unit 2801 extracts all the arrival information.

In addition to the arrival information, information that has no relation to the holiday information, such as (holiday information) + [until the end of the year until 30th], is not extracted, but the title, eg, (title) + [shop A ] Is extracted.
Similarly, the arrival information and the title are extracted from the information IB.
For example, it is assumed that the arrival information of the information IB is a sentence beginning with "chairs arrived from Germany", and the title of the information IB is store B. In this case, the information combining unit 2801 combines information by combining a plurality of text formats. For example, when the arrival information of the information IA is a description of 12 points of Gothic type and the arrival information of the information IB is a description of 10 points of Mincho type, the default font which the information synthesizing unit 2801 has as a standard is set in advance. And the number of points.

For example, when 10.5 points of the Mincho font are set as the standard of the information synthesizing means 2801, the character strings of the arrival information of both the information IA and IB are changed to 10.5 points of the Mincho font. Convert to Similarly, Information IA
For both titles IB and IB, the information combining means 2801 sets the font and character size predetermined for the title and stored, for example, 12 points of Gothic font.

Thereafter, this information synthesizing means 2801
The two pieces of information IA and IB are combined, and a table with two rows and two columns is created as data in the information, for example, in the format of an HTML document. The left column of the first row describes the title of the information IA, the right column of the first row describes the arrival information of the information IA, and the left column of the second row describes the information IB. Is described, and the arrival information of the information IB is described in the right column of the second row.

As described above, in the information retrieval system according to the thirteenth embodiment, the information retrieved from a plurality of information sources is composed by the information compositing means 2801 so as to be easily viewed as if it were provided by one information source. Even if the information is from different information sources, the user can view the information in the same row and does not display unnecessary information, so that it is not necessary to find only necessary information from many pieces of information.

[0206]

As described above, according to the present invention, predetermined position information and recording position information indicating a recording position on a network for recording information related to the position information are associated with each other in a table. When the position information is received from the client, the recording position information corresponding to the position information is retrieved from the table, and a plurality of pieces of information related to the position information are provided based on the retrieved recording position information. Since the information is obtained from the server and the obtained information is provided to the client, the client can efficiently search for the information related to the position information via the information search server, and the position information and the information related to the position information can be obtained. There is no need to record information together, and the latest information is used even if individual administrators of different information providing servers update information independently. An effect that can be provided to.

According to the next invention, recording position information is extracted from a list in which a large number of recording position information is registered, and information corresponding to the recording position information is obtained from the information providing server. Location, unspecified area,
If the information is related to either the area where the land is sorted or the area that satisfies the predetermined condition, this information is registered in the table as geographical position information in association with the recording position information, and when position information is received from the client, Since the recording position information and the geographical position information corresponding to the position information are configured to be searched from the table, the geographical position information can be efficiently registered in the table in association with the recording position information. The information related to the position information created by each administrator of the providing server can be provided to the user without the administrator of the information search server knowing the recording position.

According to the next invention, when the searched geographical position information is an irregular area, it is determined whether or not the position information exists in the irregular area. Even if the location information is an irregular area, the correspondence with the location information can be determined, and the information on the location where the information provider arbitrarily sets the area, such as a shopping street, a skiing place, etc. It has the effect that it can be used.

According to the next invention, when the searched geographical position information indicates geographical conditions such as designation of an altitude range, a seaside area, a riverside area, and a vicinity of a main road, the position, the altitude and the type of land are indicated. Since it is configured to determine whether the location information indicates the geographical condition indicated by the geographical location information based on the predetermined map topographical information, even if the location information is relatively vague, such as an area along the sea, the location information and And the information provider can use the information on the position where the information provider sets the area based on the terrain conditions, such as the lit-up information of the coastal area.

[0210] According to the next invention, when the information obtained from the information providing server includes information related to a plurality of pieces of position information, only the information related to the position information received from the client is selected. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the client from acquiring unnecessary information that is not related to the location information. For example, the information provider can collect a large amount of information about the location range, such as information about each section of the residential land development site. When the information is provided by one information providing server, such information can be efficiently searched.

According to the next invention, the table stores the information provided to the client and the expiration date of the information in association with the recording position information in association with the position information, and stores the information corresponding to the retrieved recording position information. Searched in the past,
Only when not within the expiration date stored in the table, when the expiration date is unknown or when the information itself does not exist,
Since the information corresponding to the recording position information is configured to be acquired from the information providing server, it is possible to reduce the waste of acquiring valid information that does not expire after the expiration date from the information providing server.
This has the effect of shortening the processing time for the user to receive the information of the search result and enabling the user to receive the latest information.

According to the next invention, the table stores the update intervals of various types of information and the past update records of the information in association with the recording position information in association with the position information. Since the information corresponding to the recording position information is obtained from the information providing server only when the update time of the information corresponding to the recording position information has elapsed, valid information that is not updated is obtained from the information providing server. Waste, the processing time for the user to receive the information of the search result is shortened, and the latest information can be received.

[0213] According to the next invention, the history including the retrieved various information, the position information, and the recording position information is sequentially accumulated in the history accumulating means, and the newly retrieved position information and recording position information are stored in the history accumulating means. If the information exists and the information newly obtained from the information providing server is different from the information stored in the history storage means, or if the information obtained from the information providing server does not exist in the storage means, the location information;
Since the recording position information and the information obtained from the information providing server are configured to be recorded together with the recording time in the table, the client can acquire the past history relating to the position information, and the user can obtain the past history at a certain point in the past. When it is desired to know what the information corresponding to the same position is, it is possible to obtain the information.

According to the next invention, when the current and future position information is received from the client, a plurality of pieces of recording position information corresponding to the current and future position information are searched from the table, and the plurality of searched positions are searched. Since the information corresponding to the recording position information is configured to be acquired from the information providing server, the client can acquire not only the information relating to the current position information but also the information relating to the future position information, There is an effect that a user who moves based on some schedule can search for information that matches the schedule.

According to the next invention, it is determined whether or not a plurality of pieces of acquired information is valid at present or in the future, and only the information determined to be valid is output to the client. It is possible to prevent information to be invalidated in the future from being output to the client, and it is possible to reduce the user's effort to select whether the information is valid or invalid in the future.

According to the next invention, when position information is received from a client, connection information relating to the connection with the client is stored in the connection information storage means, and a predetermined information providing server transmits the position information to the client. When notifying information, the information content and the notification range are received from the information providing server, and the content of the information is notified to the corresponding client based on the connection information stored in the connection information storage means. The information can be notified from the providing server to the client to be notified, and the information provider can reliably transmit the desired information to the user who previously accessed the information search server. To play.

According to the next invention, it is determined whether or not the content of the information acquired from the predetermined information providing server uses information provided by another information providing server, and the other information providing server provides the information. When it is determined that the information to be used is used, the information provided by the other information providing server is obtained, and the information obtained from the predetermined information providing server is configured to be processed based on the information. It is possible to avoid situations where the information obtained by the client cannot be used as it is, and if the information provider presents statistical information or comparative information along with other information providers, This has the effect that information can be used.

According to the next invention, the form information and the position information indicating the media that can be used by the client are accepted, and the information obtained from the information providing server based on these information is matched with the client in characters, voices, charts, charts, and the like. Since the information is converted into a video format, the information can be provided in a format suitable for the client, and it is possible to eliminate the need for the user to select the client terminal.

According to the next invention, the information relating to the distribution to the client is received, and the information obtained based on the information relating to the distribution is configured to be distributed to the client. Since it can be distributed and can be transmitted wirelessly from the information search server to the user only in the area where the user is located,
There is an effect that it is possible to cope with a large number of users as a result while efficiently distributing information and improving the cost of information transmission and the efficiency of resources used.

According to the next invention, when the instruction of the request information and the position information are received from the client, the content specified as the request information is extracted from the acquired information, so that the client does not request. Unnecessary information can be eliminated, and it is possible to eliminate the need for the user to select desired information from the received information.

According to the next invention, since a plurality of contents respectively extracted from the obtained information are combined, the contents extracted by the client can be obtained collectively, and the user can efficiently use the information. It has the effect that it can be done.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a system configuration of an information search system used in a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the information search system shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a recording position information table shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram illustrating a system configuration of an information search system according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the information search server shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram illustrating a system configuration of an information search system according to a third embodiment;

7 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure when the information search server illustrated in FIG. 6 determines an irregular-shaped area.

FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram illustrating a system configuration of an information search system according to a fourth embodiment;

9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when the information search server shown in FIG. 8 determines a geographic condition.

FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram illustrating a system configuration of an information search system according to a fifth embodiment;

11 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when the information search server shown in FIG. 10 selects information.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a description point of information content of information related to a shopping street including a plurality of shops.

FIG. 13 is a functional block diagram illustrating a system configuration of an information search system according to a sixth embodiment;

14 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when the expiration date confirmation of the information search server shown in FIG. 13 is selected.

FIG. 15 is a functional block diagram illustrating a system configuration of an information search system according to a seventh embodiment;

16 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when the information search server shown in FIG. 15 confirms an update.

FIG. 17 is a functional block diagram illustrating a system configuration of an information search system according to an eighth embodiment;

18 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure when accumulating history information in the information search server illustrated in FIG.

19 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when using history information stored in the information search server shown in FIG.

FIG. 20 is a functional block diagram illustrating a system configuration of an information search system according to a ninth embodiment;

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when the information search server shown in FIG. 20 provides current or future valid information.

FIG. 22 is a functional block diagram illustrating a system configuration of an information search system according to a tenth embodiment;

23 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when an information providing server provides information to an information search client via the information search server shown in FIG.

FIG. 24 is a functional block diagram illustrating a system configuration of an information search system according to an eleventh embodiment;

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when information obtained from the information providing server via the information search server shown in FIG. 24 uses information of another information providing server.

FIG. 26 is a functional block diagram illustrating a system configuration of an information search system according to a twelfth embodiment;

27 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when the information search server shown in FIG. 26 performs media conversion and selection of a distribution means.

FIG. 28 is a functional block diagram illustrating a system configuration of an information search system according to a thirteenth embodiment;

29 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when the information search server shown in FIG. 28 extracts a part of information and combines it.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 information retrieval server, 101 recording position information retrieval means, 102 recording position information table, 103 information retrieval means, 110 information retrieval client, 111 position acquisition means (such as GPS), 112 position notification means, 113 information display means, 120, 121 WWW homepage (information search server), 400 information search server, 401 position-related record position information collecting means, 410 DNS server,
420 WWW homepage, 600 information search server,
Reference numeral 601: irregular-shaped area determination means, 800 information search server, 801 geographic condition determination means, 802 map topographic information, 1000 information search server, 1001 information selection means, 1300 information search server, 1301 expiration date confirmation means, 1500 information search server, 1501 Update confirmation means, 1700 information search server, 1701 history accumulation means, 2000 information search server, 2001 forecast report confirmation means, 2200 information search server, 2201 synchronization notification means, 2202 connection destination information, 2400 information search server, 2401 condition judgment means, 2600 , 2603 Information search server, 2601 Media conversion means, 2602
Distribution means selection means, 2800 information search server, 28
01 information combining means.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) // G01C 21/00 H04L 11/20 101A 5K030 G08G 1/0969 9A001 F term (Reference) 2C032 HB05 HB15 HB31 2F029 AA02 AB07 AC02 AC06 5B075 PP02 PP07 PP30 PQ02 PQ05 PR03 5B089 GA11 GA21 GB03 HA10 JA24 JB22 KA03 KB07 LB04 LB14 5H180 AA01 BB15 FF05 FF13 FF32 5K030 HC01 KA01 KA05 KA07 LB16 LD11 LD17 LD01

Claims (32)

[Claims] 1. An information search system for searching information stored in a plurality of information providing servers distributed on a network in response to a request from a client and providing the searched information to the client. And a table in which recording position information indicating a recording position on the network that records information related to the position information is stored in association with each other. When position information is received from the client, the table corresponds to the position information. Searching means for searching recording position information from the table; information obtaining means for obtaining information related to the position information from the plurality of information providing servers based on the recording position information searched by the searching means; Information providing means for providing the client with the information obtained by the obtaining means; and an information search server comprising: Information retrieval system characterized by and. 2. The information retrieval server retrieves recording position information from a list in which a large number of recording position information is registered,
When the information corresponding to the recording position information is obtained from the information providing server, and the obtained information is related to any one of a predetermined point, an unspecified area, a sectioned area, or an area satisfying a predetermined condition, Further comprises information registration means for registering this information in the table in association with the recording position information as geographical position information, the search means, when receiving position information from the client,
2. The recording position information and geographical position information corresponding to the position information are searched from the table.
Information retrieval system described in. 3. When the geographical position information searched by the search means is an irregular area, the information search server determines whether the position information exists in the irregular area. 3. The information retrieval system according to claim 1, further comprising an area determination unit. 4. The information search server according to claim 1, wherein the geographical location information searched by the search means specifies an altitude range, a seaside area,
When indicating geographical conditions such as a riverside area and around a main road, it is determined whether or not the position information indicates the geographical condition indicated by the geographical position information based on predetermined map topographical information indicating the position, altitude and land type. 4. The information retrieval system according to claim 1, further comprising a geographical condition determining unit that performs the operation. 5. The information search server, when the information acquired by the information acquisition unit from the information providing server includes information related to a plurality of pieces of location information, relates to the location information received from the client. The information retrieval system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising information selection means for selecting only information to be performed. 6. The table stores information provided by the information providing unit to the client and an expiration date of the information in association with the recording position information in association with the position information. Only when the information corresponding to the recording position information retrieved by the retrieval means has been retrieved in the past and is not within the expiration date stored in the table, when the expiration date is unknown or when the information itself does not exist, the recording position The information search system according to claim 1, wherein information corresponding to information is obtained from the information providing server. 7. The table stores an update interval of various types of information and a past update record of the information in association with the recording position information in association with the position information. The information corresponding to the recording position information is acquired from the information providing server only when an update time of the information corresponding to the recording position information has passed when the information is searched. 1 to
6. The information retrieval system according to any one of 6. 8. The information search server includes: a history storage unit for sequentially storing a history including various types of information, position information, and recording position information searched by the search unit; and a position information and record newly searched by the search unit. When the position information is present in the history storage unit, and the information newly obtained from the information providing server is different from the information stored in the history storage unit, or the information obtained from the information providing server is stored in the storage unit. And a recording unit for recording the position information, the recording position information, and the information acquired from the information providing server in the table together with the recording time when the information does not exist, and further comprising a recording unit.
The information retrieval system according to any one of the above. 9. When the current and future position information is received from the client, the search means searches the table for a plurality of pieces of recording position information corresponding to the current and future position information, and obtains the information. The information retrieval system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the means acquires information respectively corresponding to the plurality of pieces of recording position information retrieved by the retrieval means from the information providing server. 10. The information providing unit includes: a validity determining unit configured to determine whether the plurality of pieces of information acquired by the information acquiring unit is valid information at present or a future time; The information retrieval system according to claim 9, further comprising: an information output unit that outputs only information determined to be valid by the unit to the client. 11. A search device comprising: connection information storage means for storing connection information relating to connection with a client when position information is received from the client; Information notifying means for receiving the information content and the notification range from the information providing server when notifying information, and notifying the corresponding client of the information content based on the connection information stored in the connection information storage means; The information retrieval system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising: 12. The use status in which the information retrieval server determines whether or not the content of the information obtained by the information obtaining means from a predetermined information providing server uses information provided by another information providing server. Determining means, and when the use status determining means determines that information provided by another information providing server is used, obtains the information provided by the other information providing server, and based on the information, 12. An information processing means for processing information obtained from the predetermined information providing server.
The information retrieval system according to any one of the above. 13. The information search server receives form information and position information indicating a medium that can be used by the client, and sends the information obtained by the information obtaining means from the information providing server to the client based on the information. The information retrieval system according to any one of claims 1 to 12, further comprising a media conversion unit that converts the data into a form of a combined character, voice, chart, and video. 14. The information search server according to claim 1, further comprising: a distribution content selection unit that receives information related to the distribution to the client and distributes the information acquired by the information acquisition unit to the client based on the information related to the distribution. The information retrieval system according to any one of claims 1 to 13, further comprising: 15. The information providing means extracts information specified as the request information from information obtained by the information obtaining means when receiving an instruction of request information and position information from the client. 15. The information retrieval system according to claim 1, further comprising an extraction unit. 16. The information retrieval system according to claim 15, wherein said information providing means further comprises an information synthesizing means for synthesizing a plurality of contents extracted by said information extracting means. 17. An information search method for searching information stored in a plurality of information providing servers distributed on a network in response to a request from a client, and providing the searched information to the client. And a storage step of storing in a table the recording position information indicating the recording position on the network that records information related to the position information, and storing the position information in a table. A search step of searching the table for recording position information corresponding to, and an information obtaining step of obtaining information related to the position information from the plurality of information providing servers based on the recording position information searched in the search step. An information providing step of providing the information obtained in the information obtaining step to the client; Information retrieval method and butterflies. 18. A recording position information is extracted from a list in which a large number of recording position information is registered, information corresponding to the recording position information is obtained from the information providing server, and the obtained information is stored in a predetermined location, an unspecified location. An area, a section-arranged area, or an area that satisfies a predetermined condition, an information registration step of registering this information in the table as geographical location information in association with the recording location information, 18. The information search method according to claim 17, wherein the searching step searches the table for recorded position information and geographical position information corresponding to the position information when the position information is received from the client. Method. 19. When the geographical position information searched in the search step is an irregular area, the irregular area determination step of determining whether or not position information exists in the irregular area is further included. The information retrieval method according to claim 18, wherein the information is included. 20. When the geographical position information retrieved in the retrieval step indicates geographical conditions such as designation of an altitude range, a seaside area, a riverside area, and a vicinity of a main road, predetermined geometries indicating a position, an altitude and a type of land. 20. The information according to claim 17, further comprising a geographical condition determining step of determining whether the position information indicates a geographical condition indicated by the geographical position information based on map topographical information. retrieval method. 21. When the information obtained from the information providing server includes information related to a plurality of pieces of position information in the information obtaining step, only information related to the position information received from the client is selected. 21. The method according to claim 17, further comprising an information selecting step.
The information retrieval method described in any one of the above. 22. The table stores information provided to the client in the information providing step and an expiration date of the information in association with the recording position information and the position information, and the information obtaining step includes: Only when the information corresponding to the recording position information retrieved in the retrieval step has been retrieved in the past and is not within the expiration date stored in the table, when the expiration date is unknown or when the information itself does not exist, the recording position 22. The information search method according to claim 17, wherein information corresponding to information is obtained from the information providing server. 23. The table stores an update interval of various types of information and a past update record of the information in association with the recording position information in association with the position information. The information corresponding to the recording position information is acquired from the information providing server only when an update time of the information corresponding to the recording position information has passed when the information is searched. 17. The information search method according to any one of 17 to 22. 24. A history accumulation step of sequentially accumulating histories composed of various types of information, position information, and recording position information retrieved in the retrieval step, and position information and recording position information newly retrieved in the retrieval step. Exists in the history storage unit and the information newly obtained from the information providing server is different from the information stored in the history storage unit, or the information obtained from the information providing server does not exist in the storage unit 24. The recording method according to claim 17, further comprising: a recording step of recording the position information, the recording position information, and the information obtained from the information providing server together with the recording time in the table. Information search method described in one of the above. 25. The search step, when receiving current and future location information from the client, searches the table for a plurality of pieces of recording location information corresponding to the current and future location information, and acquires the information. The information search method according to any one of claims 17 to 24, wherein in the step, information respectively corresponding to the plurality of pieces of recording position information searched in the search step is obtained from the information providing server. 26. The information providing step, comprising: a validity determining step of determining whether a plurality of pieces of information acquired in the information acquiring step are valid information at present or a future time; 26. The information retrieval method according to claim 25, further comprising an information output step of outputting only information determined to be valid in the step to the client. 27. The method according to claim 27, wherein the search step includes a step of storing connection information relating to connection with the client in connection information storage means when receiving position information from the client; When notifying the client of the information, the information content and the notification range are received from the information providing server, and the corresponding client is notified of the content of the information based on the connection information stored in the connection information storage unit. The information search method according to any one of claims 17 to 26, further comprising an information notification step of performing the information search. 28. A use status judging step of judging whether or not the content of information obtained from a predetermined information providing server in said information obtaining step uses information provided by another information providing server; When it is determined in the situation determination step that information provided by another information providing server is used, the information provided by the other information providing server is obtained, and the predetermined information providing server is obtained based on the information. The information retrieval method according to any one of claims 17 to 27, further comprising: an information processing step of processing information obtained from the information processing apparatus. 29. Form information and position information indicating a medium usable by the client are received, and information obtained from the information providing server in the information obtaining step is matched to the client based on the information, and characters, voices, 18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising a media conversion step of converting the data into a chart and a video.
28. The information search method according to any one of 28. 30. A distribution content selecting step of receiving information relating to distribution to the client and distributing information acquired by the information acquiring means to the client based on the information relating to the distribution. The information search method according to any one of claims 17 to 29. 31. The information providing step includes, when receiving an instruction of request information and position information from the client, extracting information designated as the request information from the information acquired in the information acquiring step. The information retrieval method according to any one of claims 17 to 30, further comprising an extraction step. 32. The information search method according to claim 31, wherein the information providing step further includes an information combining step of combining a plurality of contents extracted in the information extracting step.