JP2002099557A - Device and method for providing information - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device for providing information to a user by acquiring the information needed by the user from WWW without requiring any special operation of the user. SOLUTION: A circulating part 101 acquires designated Web information from the outside by circulation, based on the preset URL information. An extraction part 108 sorts the acquired information, a summary part 11 summarizes the acquired information, and an electronic mail transmission part 114 transmits the summarized information by an electronic mail.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a WWW (World
d Wide Web) relates to a technique for acquiring information and providing the information to a user.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, various types of information have been disclosed on the WWW which provides information in a format common throughout the world, and such information has been easily used. In order to obtain information from the WWW, a user uses a computer program called a browser to access a URL (Uniform).
m Resource Locator)
Specify the above information. The browser connects the client computer device used by the user to the WWW server computer device indicated by the URL via the Internet, acquires information indicated by the URL from the WWW server computer device into the client computer device, and obtains the information. Display or print the information. Thus, the user can acquire information from the WWW by specifying the URL using the browser.

A WWW patrol computer program that operates on a client computer and traverses the WWW to obtain information is provided with a plurality of URLs in advance.
And acquires the information indicated by each URL from the WWW server computer device indicated by each URL via the Internet, and stores the obtained information in the hard disk unit in the client computer device. The user can connect the client computer to another WWW
View each piece of information stored in the hard disk unit without connecting to the server computer. Users can browse the collected information offline,
The cost, time, and labor for collecting W information can be reduced.

[0004] Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-334026 discloses a Web server without performing any special operation on the client side.
Discloses a Web information providing server that realizes high-speed browsing. This Web information providing server is provided for the designated Web
Is automatically stored and updated in the server, a client request for Web information is accepted, and the received request is determined by providing information on the server or on an external network. Information provided to the client from the server internal or external network. The client issues an information acquisition request to the Web information providing server, and acquires necessary information from the Web information providing server.

[0005]

However, according to the method of acquiring information using the browser, the user must specify the URL, and the user must specify the URL.
There is a problem that the designation operation is troublesome. Further, there is a problem that whether or not desired information can be obtained by the designated URL cannot be known unless the information is acquired and its contents are viewed.

Further, according to the method of acquiring information using the WWW patrol computer program or the Web information providing server, the user is not required to specify the URL each time, so that the user is not bothered by the troublesome operation. , As above, whether the desired information is obtained,
There is a problem that it cannot be understood unless information is acquired and its contents are viewed.

According to the present invention, there is provided an information providing apparatus for acquiring information required by a user from the WWW and providing the information to the user without performing a special operation by the user. An object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium recording an information providing method and an information providing program.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention automatically circulates and collects information scattered on the Web and provides the client with the information.
Touring server device (hereinafter referred to as information providing server device)
Means for circulating the WWW based on URL information set in advance, means for reading the contents of the designated Web via an external network, means for automatically storing the information in the information providing server device, Means for extracting, classifying, and integrating information on the Web contents based on preset conditions, and analyzing the analyzed information based on a preset destination table. And (2) automatically transmitting a plurality of FAs
It is characterized by comprising at least one of a means for transmitting to an X output device and (3) means for automatically printing by a printing device such as a printer.

As described above, the data circulated and collected from the Web is analyzed based on the conditions set in advance on the information providing server device, and the result is automatically distributed by e-mail from the information providing server device. Therefore, information is automatically received without any work on the client side. Further, the information providing server device of the present invention has means for not only distributing analyzed information by e-mail but also automatically sending a print instruction to a printing device such as a facsimile device or a printer to print the information. The printed matter is automatically output without the user performing a special print instruction operation.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A WWW information acquisition system according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the WWW information acquisition system includes an information providing server device 10, a plurality of WWW server devices 20, 21, 2,
2,..., A plurality of facsimile machines 30, 31, 3,
2, a plurality of printer devices 40, 41, 42,
... and a plurality of e-mail transmitting / receiving devices 50, 51,
, And the information providing server device 10,
The WWW server devices 20, 21, 22,... And the electronic mail transmitting / receiving devices 50, 51, 52,.
, And the printer devices 40, 41, 42,.
, And the information providing server device 10 and the facsimile devices 30, 31, 32,... Are connected via a public telephone network 80.

The WWW information acquisition system shown in FIG.
This is an information distribution system in one company, which circulates and collects related information from news and the like transmitted daily by a WWW server device, categorizes the contents by category, sends the related information as e-mail to employees, The information is output to a facsimile machine installed at each business site, or the information is printed to a printer installed at each department. 1. The WWW server device 20, 21, 22,... Is, specifically, a computer system including a microprocessor, a RAM, a ROM, a hard disk unit storing a computer program, an input / output unit, and the like. The microprocessor operates according to the computer program.

The hard disk unit is divided into a plurality of directories, and each directory has a plurality of HTML files, a plurality of image files, and other files. Each HTML file links other HTML files, image files, and other files. Here, the HTML file is a file composed of documents created using the HTML language. The HTML language is well-known and will not be described.

The HTML file is specified by the following URL as an example. http: // www. xyz / abc / home. h
tm where http is HTTP (HyperText)
Transfer Protocol), and ww
w. xyz indicates one WWW server device, abc
Indicates one directory in the hard disk unit of the WWW server device, and home. html indicates an HTML file in the directory abc. Here, since HTTP is known, the description is omitted.

[0014] The WWW server device 20 receives information from the information providing server device 10 connected to the Internet 60 from the U.
It receives the RL, reads the information indicated by the received URL from the internal hard disk unit, and outputs the read information to the information providing server device 10. As an example,
The URL http: // www. xyz / abc / home. h
When the TWW is received from the information providing server device 10, the WWW server device 20 stores the directory ab in the hard disk unit.
c in the HTML file home.c. html, and outputs the read HTML file to the information providing server device 10.

The WWW server devices 21, 22,... Are the same as those of the WWW server device 20, and the description is omitted. 2. Here, the configuration and operation of the information providing server device 10 will be described. 2.1 Configuration of Information Providing Server 10 As shown in FIG. 2, the information providing server 10 includes a traveling unit 101, a target URL storage unit 102, and an e-mail receiving unit 1.
03, a URL updating unit 104, a traveling result storage unit 105, an input unit 106, a keyword updating unit 107, an extracting unit 108,
Keyword storage unit 109, extraction result storage unit 110, summarization unit 111, transmission information storage unit 112, control unit 113, e-mail transmission unit 114, e-mail transmission destination storage unit 115,
It comprises a FAX transmission unit 116, a FAX transmission destination storage unit 117, a printing unit 118, and a print output destination storage unit 119.

The information providing server device 10 is, specifically, a computer system including a microprocessor, a RAM, a ROM, a hard disk storing a computer program, a display, a keyboard, a mouse, and the like. When the microprocessor operates, the circulating unit 101, the e-mail receiving unit 103, the URL updating unit 10
4. Input unit 106, keyword update unit 107, extraction unit 1
08, the summary section 111, the control section 113, the e-mail transmission section 114, the FAX transmission section 116, and the printing section 118 achieve their functions.

The target URL storage unit 102, the traveling result storage unit 105, the keyword storage unit 109, the extraction result storage unit 110, the transmission information storage unit 112, the e-mail transmission destination storage unit 115, the FAX transmission destination storage unit 117, and the printing The output destination storage unit 119 is specifically configured from the hard disk. (1) Target URL Storage Unit 102 The target URL storage unit 102 has a target URL table 200 as shown as an example in FIG.

The target URL table 200 includes an area for storing a plurality of sets each including a URL, a priority, a traveling frequency level, a traveling frequency, a traveling time, an update frequency, an update history, and an evaluation frequency. The URL is the information providing server device 10
Indicates a URL from which information is obtained. The URL is, for example,
"Newspaper homepage", "Broadcasting station homepage"
Or, it is for identifying the “homepage of an affiliated company”.

The priority indicates the priority when acquiring information from the URL. The priority takes one of the values 1, 2, 3, and 4. The smaller the number, the higher the priority, and the larger the number, the lower the priority. The tour frequency level indicates the level of the tour frequency for acquiring information. The patrol frequency level is
The value takes one of 1, 2, 3, and "-" (no level). The smaller the number is, the higher the traveling frequency is, and the larger the number is, the less the traveling frequency is. "-" (No level) indicates that the traveling frequency is arbitrary, and here, the UR corresponding to every hour
L indicates that information is to be obtained. Travel frequency is 1, 2
Before setting to any of (3) and (3), “−” (no level) is set.

The traveling frequency is determined by the information providing server 10
Indicates the frequency of acquiring information from RL, "2 times / day",
One of “once / week”, “twice / month” and any time is set. “Twice / day” indicates that information is acquired twice a day, “once / week” indicates that information is acquired once a week, and “twice / month” indicates This indicates that information is acquired twice a month, and that information is acquired every hour as needed. Patrol frequency "2 times / day", "1 time / week",
“Twice / month” and occasionally correspond to the tour frequency levels 1, 2, 3, and “−” (no level), respectively.

The tour time is determined by the information providing server 10
Time, day of the week and time at which information is obtained from the RL,
Or, indicate the date and time. When the patrol frequency is “twice / day”, two times are set, and the patrol frequency is “once / week”.
In the case of, one day of the week and one time are set, and when the traveling frequency is “two times / month”, two dates and times are set.

The update frequency is the number of times the information indicated by the URL is updated, and is obtained by cumulatively counting the information that the information providing server device 10 has confirmed the update. The update history includes the date, time, date and time when the information indicated by the URL was updated, and includes a plurality of items that the information providing server device 10 has confirmed in a chronological order. The evaluation frequency is evaluation frequency A, evaluation frequency B,
It consists of an evaluation frequency C and an evaluation frequency D. The evaluation frequency A indicates the number of users who evaluate the information as being in the evaluation class A.
Similarly, the evaluation frequency B, the evaluation frequency C, and the evaluation frequency D are, respectively, the evaluation class B, the evaluation class C, and the evaluation class D.
Indicates the number of users who evaluate as. Here, evaluation class A, evaluation class B, evaluation class C, and evaluation class D
Indicates the degree of evaluation in this order.
Is the best rating, and rating D is the worst rating. (2) Input Unit 106 The input unit 106 specifically includes a keyboard, a display, and the like.

The input unit 106 stores the target URL storage unit 102
Are read out from the target URL table 200 included in, and the read out sets are displayed as a list. Next, an input of an instruction indicating a URL, a priority, a tour frequency, a tour time, and an operation end is received from the operator, and the received UR is received.
L, priority, tour frequency, and tour time are updated by the URL updating unit 104.
Output to The input unit 106 repeatedly accepts the input of the URL, the priority, the tour frequency, and the tour time until receiving an instruction to end the operation from the operator.

The input unit 106 reads out each set composed of a plurality of keywords corresponding to the category from a category table 230 (described later) of the keyword storage unit 109, and displays the read out sets on a display. Next, an input of a category and a plurality of keywords is received from the operator for each group, and the received category and a plurality of keywords are output to the keyword updating unit 107. The input unit 106 repeats the reception of the input until receiving an instruction to end the operation from the operator. (3) E-mail receiving unit 103 The e-mail receiving unit 103 receives an e-mail from any of the e-mail transmitting / receiving apparatuses 50, 51, 51,.

FIG. 4 shows an example of an e-mail received by the e-mail receiving section 103. As shown in this figure, the e-mail received by the e-mail receiving unit 103 includes a sender, a destination, a subject, a date and time, a URL, and an evaluation. Here, the sender indicates an e-mail address for identifying the sender of the e-mail, the destination indicates an e-mail address for identifying the destination of the e-mail, and the subject is a title indicating the contents of the e-mail. Indicates that the report is an evaluation report for a URL, the date and time indicate the date and time when the e-mail was sent, the URL indicates a URL to be evaluated, and the evaluation indicates a sender to the URL. Indicates the class evaluated. The evaluation class is any one of A, B, C, and D.

The e-mail receiving section 103 outputs the received e-mail to the URL updating section 104. (4) URL Update Unit 104 The URL update unit 104 receives the URL, priority, tour time, and tour frequency from the input unit 106.

Upon receiving the URL, the URL updating unit 104
Determines whether the received URL exists in the target URL table 200. If not present, a new area for one set is secured in the target URL table 200, and the received URL is written to the area. Here, in the area, all areas except for the URL are left blank.

Next, the URL updating unit 104 receives the priority. When the received priority is overwritten in the area where the priority belonging to the same set as the received URL is stored, and further, when the tour frequency is received, the tour frequency belonging to the same set as the received URL is stored. Overwrites the received traveling frequency in the area that has been visited. Further, when the tour time is received, the received tour time is overwritten in an area where the tour times belonging to the same set as the received URL are stored.

The URL updating unit 104 receives an electronic mail from the electronic mail receiving unit 103. When the e-mail is received, it is determined whether or not the URL in the e-mail exists in the target URL table 200. If it does not exist, an error message to that effect is displayed. If it exists, the URL in the target URL table 200
The evaluation frequency is updated by adding 1 to the evaluation frequency corresponding to the evaluation included in the received e-mail among the evaluation frequencies A, B, C, and D belonging to the same set. Next, U
The RL updating unit 104 calculates an evaluation level using the evaluation frequencies A to D according to (Equation 1), calculates a priority using the evaluation level calculated by (Equation 2) and the traveling frequency level, and The calculated priority is overwritten in an area in the URL table 200 in which the priority belonging to the same set as the URL is stored. (Equation 1) (Evaluation frequency S) = (Evaluation frequency A) + (Evaluation frequency B) +
(Evaluation frequency C) + (Evaluation frequency D) Evaluation level = c × (Evaluation frequency A) / (Evaluation frequency S) +
d × (evaluation frequency B) / (evaluation frequency S) + e × (evaluation frequency C) / (evaluation frequency S) + f × (evaluation frequency D) /
(Evaluation frequency S) Here, c, d, e, and f are constants, and c = 1, d
= 2, e = 3, f = 4. (Equation 2) Priority = {a × (tour frequency level) + b × (evaluation level)} / (a + b) However, when the tour frequency level is “−”, priority = 4
And

Here, a and b are constants, and a = b
0.5, b = 0.5. (5) Traveling unit 101 (update of target URL table)
One set is sequentially read from the target URL table 200 included in the RL storage unit 102, and it is determined whether or not the traveling frequency included in the read set is optional.
Further, the next set is read. When the traveling frequency included in the read set is arbitrary, and when the update history included in the read set includes 10 or more years, months, and days, the date and time of 10 or more included in the update history are included. The traveling frequency level, traveling frequency, and traveling time are determined using the minutes.

The determination of the tour frequency level and the tour time is performed, for example, as follows. When it is considered that the update is performed a plurality of times a day using ten or more years, months, and days included in the update history, the tour frequency level is set to 1 and the tour frequency is set to “twice / day”. And the tour times are 9:00 and 1
6:00. When it is considered that the information is updated about once a week, the tour frequency level is set to 2, the tour frequency is set to “once / week”, and the tour time is set to 9:00 on Monday.

If the update frequency is considered to be lower than in the above case, the tour frequency level is set to 3, the tour frequency is set to "2 times / month", and the tour times are set to 9:00 and 1 per day.
It is 9:00 on the 5th. Next, the traveling unit 101 checks the target UR
In the area where the tour frequency level, tour frequency and tour time included in the set read out in the L table 200 are stored, the tour frequency level, tour frequency and tour time determined as described above are overwritten. Next, until reading of all sets is completed, reading of sets, determination of frequency, and updating are repeated.

If the traveling frequency included in the read set is arbitrary, and if the update history included in the read set includes less than 10 years, months, and days, a URL is acquired,
The information indicated by the URL is obtained and compared with the information previously obtained and stored by the same URL to determine whether or not the information has been updated. U for year, month, day, hour, and minute of the added update
The data is additionally written in the update history area of the RL table 200. (Refer to URL traversal) The traversing unit 101 sequentially reads out pairs from the target URL table 200 of the target URL storage unit 102 in order from a pair having a higher priority to a pair having a lower priority.

When the reading of the set ends, the traveling unit 101 ends the processing. Also, the number of read sets is counted, and when the number of read sets exceeds 100, the process is terminated. If the number of read pairs is less than 100,
Do the following: If the traveling frequency level included in the read set is any of 1 to 3, the current time is acquired.
Here, the current time includes the current year, month, day, day of the week, and hour and minute.
It is determined whether or not the acquired current time and the traveling time included in the read set match, and when they match, the information indicated by the URL included in the read set is transmitted to the WWW server devices 20, 21, 22,.・ ・ Acquire from If the acquired information is an HTML file, the secondary information linked in the HTML file is further acquired, and the
The RL and the name for identifying the acquired information are associated with each other, and the URL and the name for identifying the acquired secondary information are associated with each other and written in the traveling result list 220 in the traveling result storage unit 105. Further, the acquired information and the acquired secondary information are associated with names for identifying the respective pieces of information,
It is written in the tour result storage unit 105.

Here, the traveling unit 101 obtains the secondary information only when the secondary information exists in the directory in the WWW server device indicated by the URL, and
If the next information does not exist in the directory indicated by the URL in the WWW server device, the secondary information is not obtained. When the acquired current time does not match the traveling time included in the read set, the next set is read from the target URL table 200.

When the traveling frequency level included in the read set is other than that, ie, other than 1 to 3, the information indicated by the URL is acquired, the secondary information is acquired, and the traveling result is obtained in the same manner as described above. The URL and the name are written in the list 220, and the acquired information and the acquired secondary information are written in the traveling result storage unit 105. Patrol unit 101
Repeats the above until all sets have been read from the target URL table 200. (6) Tour result storage unit 105 The tour result storage unit 105 stores the tour result list 220 and a plurality of files. FIG. 5 shows an example of the tour result list 220 stored in the tour result storage unit 105 and a plurality of files.

The traveling result list 220 has an area for storing one or more sets each including a URL and one or more file names. The URL included in each set is the URL written by the traveling unit 101. The file names included in each set are a name for identifying information written by the traveling unit 101 and a name for identifying secondary information. The file is information written by the traveling unit 101 and secondary information, and is identified by a file name.

As shown in FIG. 5, an example of a set including a URL and one or more file names is “http:
// www. business. co. jp / "," h
ome. html "," i001.html "," i0
02. html "," g001.jpeg "," g00
2. jpeg "and" g003.jpeg ".
“Home.html” is the URL “http: // w
ww. business. co. jp / ”is a file name for identifying the information indicated by“ jp / ”, and indicates that the file is an HTML file. HTML file "hom
e. “html” includes “i001.html”, “i0
02. html "," g001.jpeg "," g00
2. jpeg "and" g003.jpeg "are linked. "I001.ht
“ml” and “i002.html” are HTML files, “g001.jpeg” and “g002.jp”.
“eg” and “g003.jpeg” are image files that hold images compressed by JPEG.

One example of a plurality of files stored in the traveling result storage unit 105 is a file 22 as shown in FIG.
1, 222, 223,..., 224. (7) Keyword Update Unit 107 The keyword update unit 107 receives a category and a plurality of keywords corresponding to the category from the input unit 106, and determines whether the received category exists in the category table 230 of the keyword storage unit 109. It is determined whether or not there is no keyword, and a plurality of keywords corresponding to the received category are added and written in the category table 230. If the keyword exists, the received keyword is overwritten in the category table 230. (8) Keyword Storage Unit 109 The keyword storage unit 109 has a category table 230. FIG. 6 shows an example of the category table 230.

The category table 230 includes categories and
An area is provided for storing a plurality of sets each including a plurality of keywords corresponding to the category. The category is W
This is item information for classifying information acquired from the WW server device. The keyword corresponding to the category is W
This is a simple word used to determine whether information acquired from the WW server device is classified into the category. When the acquired information includes one keyword in the category table 230, the acquired information is classified into a category corresponding to the keyword.

The category table 230 shown in FIG.
As an example, five categories “politics”, “economy”, “international”, “society” and “sports” are stored,
As keywords corresponding to “politics”, the keywords “diet”, “election system reform”, “official residence of the prime minister”, and “financial reconstruction” are stored. (9) Extracting Unit 108 The extracting unit 108 reads out URLs one by one from the traveling result list 220 included in the traveling result storage unit 105. URL
Is completed, the process ends. Next, the extraction unit 108 reads all sets of the category and the plurality of keywords stored in the category table 230 included in the keyword storage unit 109, stores all the read sets, and counts the total number of counts for each read category. Is secured, and for each of the plurality of read keywords,
An area for storing the count number is secured, and an area for storing the total count number and an area for storing the count number are initialized with a value of 0.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the intermediate data composed of the read URL, all the read sets, the total count, and the count. Next, the extraction unit 108 reads out the file names stored in the traveling result list 220 corresponding to the read URLs one by one. If the read file name does not indicate an HTML file, the next file name is read. If the read file name indicates an HTML file, the file identified by the read file name is read from the traveling result storage unit 105. Next, the number in which each of the stored plurality of keywords is included in the read file is counted and stored as the counted number. When the reading of all the file names corresponding to the read URL is completed, all the count numbers counted for each keyword corresponding to the category are totaled, and the total count number of the category is calculated and stored as the total count number. I do.

As shown in FIG. 7 as an example, the counts of the keywords “diet”, “election reform”, “official residence of the prime minister”, and “fiscal reconstruction” corresponding to the category “politics” are as follows.
They are 10, 15, 5, and 10, respectively, and the total count of the category “politics” is 40 (40 = 10 + 15 + 5).
+10). Next, the extraction unit 108 selects the largest total number of counts from among the total number of counts of each category, extracts a category corresponding to the selected total number of counts, reads out the URL, ,
Extraction result storage unit 1 extracts a set consisting of the selected total number of counts
Write to 10.

The extraction unit 108 repeats the above-described processing until reading of all URLs from the traveling result list 220 is completed. When the processing is completed, a plurality of sets (here, Each set is composed of a URL, a category, and the total number of counts), and is rearranged in descending order of the total number of counts, and the rearranged plural sets are overwritten on the extraction result storage unit 110. (10) Extraction Result Storage Unit 110 The extraction result storage unit 110 stores the extraction result data 250. The extraction result data 250 includes a plurality of sets each including a URL, a category, and a total count. These plural sets are arranged in descending order of the total count number. FIG. 8 shows an example of the extraction result data 250. (11) Summarizing Unit 111 The summarizing unit 111 reads out, from the extraction result data 250 included in the extraction result storage unit 110, a set of a URL whose total count is equal to or more than a predetermined number, a category, and a total count, one by one. The set of the URL and the category is written to the transmission information storage unit 112. Here, the predetermined number is 30, for example.

Next, the summarizing section 111 outputs the read URL.
Result list 220 for each file name corresponding to
And reads the file identified by the read file name from the traveling result storage unit 105. If the read file is an HTML file, the summarizing section 1
11 removes control commands such as tags and reserved words from the read HTML file, acquires 100 characters from the beginning of the remaining character strings, stores the acquired character strings in the circulation result storage unit 105, and stores the URL and category Write in association with the set of

If the read file is a JPEG file, the summarizing section 111 expands the JPEG file into an image, reduces the image obtained by expansion to a size within 50 dots × 50 dots, and A JPEG file is generated again from the obtained image, and the generated JPEG file and the obtained character string are stored in the circulation result storage unit 105.
Writing is performed in association with the set of the URL and the category.

The summarizing unit 111 repeats the acquisition and writing of the character string or the generation and writing of the JPEG file until reading of all the file names corresponding to the read URL is completed. In addition, the summarizing unit 111 extracts, from the extraction result data 250 of the extraction result storage unit 110,
The above operation is repeated until all the sets of the URL, the category, and the total number of counts whose total count is equal to or more than the predetermined number are read. (12) Transmission Information Storage Unit 112 The transmission information storage unit 112 stores the transmission information 260.
The transmission information 260 includes one or more sets including a URL, a category, and a summary (or / and a JPEG image file). An example of the transmission information 260 is shown in FIG. (13) Control Unit 113 The control unit 113 receives an instruction from the operator and holds the received instruction. The instruction indicates whether to operate each of the e-mail transmission unit 114, the FAX transmission unit 116, and the printing unit 118.

The control unit 113 determines whether to operate each of the e-mail transmission unit 114, the FAX transmission unit 116, and the printing unit 118 according to the stored instruction.
When the operation is performed, the operation permission information is output to each of them. When the operation is not performed, the operation non-permission information is output. (14) E-mail Transmission Destination Storage Unit 115 The e-mail transmission destination storage unit 115 has an e-mail transmission destination table 270 as shown as an example in FIG.

The e-mail transmission destination table 270 includes a plurality of pairs of destinations and categories. The address,
Indicates the destination of the email. The category indicates a category of information that the person indicated by the destination desires to transmit, and includes one or more category names. When the category includes one or more category names, the order in which the category names are arranged corresponds to the order in which the information is arranged when the electronic mail transmitted to the destination includes a plurality of pieces of information.

An example of a set composed of a destination and a category is “uno@panaoffice.com” as shown in FIG.
abc. xyz. com "and" economy and politics ". This is for the destination "uno@panaoffice.abc.
xyz. com "wants to send an email containing information that falls into the economic or political category. When a plurality of pieces of information are included in an e-mail, it is desired that the information be arranged in the order of economy and politics in the e-mail. (15) E-mail Transmission Unit 114 The E-mail transmission unit 114 receives the operation permission information or the operation non-permission information from the control unit 113, and operates as follows when receiving the operation permission information. Does not work if it receives

The e-mail transmission unit 114 stores the e-mail transmission destination table 2 in the e-mail transmission destination storage unit 115
From 70, sets each including a destination and a category are sequentially read one by one. Next, a URL, a category, and a summary (and / or a JPEG file) having a category that matches the category included in the read set are read from the transmission information 260 stored in the transmission information storage unit 112. Since a plurality of category names are stored in the e-mail transmission destination table 270, if there are a plurality of matching categories, the URL, the category, and the summary sentence (and / or the JPE
G file) is read from a plurality of pieces of transmission information 260.

Next, when there are a plurality of matching categories, the electronic mail transmitting unit 114
And the category and the summary sentence (and / or JPEG file) are rearranged according to the order of the category names in the categories stored in the electronic mail transmission destination table 270. Next, the e-mail transmitting unit 114 transmits one or more URs.
L, category and summary (and / or JPEG file)
And write the sender, destination, subject, date and time to the set. Here, the sender is an e-mail address indicating the information providing server device 10, the destination is a destination included in the read set, and the subject is a “URL patrol report” indicating information obtained by circulating the URL. And the date and time is the current date and time. Thus, transmission information is generated.

Next, the e-mail transmitting unit 114 assigns one or more URLs, categories, and summary sentences (and / or JPEG files) to “Evaluation A”, Character strings of "Evaluation B", "Evaluation C" and "Evaluation D" are added. Furthermore, an evaluation e-mail is generated for each of the four levels of the article evaluations “Evaluation A”, “Evaluation B”, “Evaluation C”, and “Evaluation D”.

The contents of each evaluation e-mail to be generated are the sender, destination, subject, date and time, URL and evaluation. The sender is a destination included in the read set. The address,
This is an electronic mail address indicating the information providing server device 10. The subject is “URL evaluation report” indicating the evaluation of the information obtained by circulating the URL. The date and time are blank. URL is a URL included in the set. The evaluation is the corresponding evaluation.

The e-mail transmitting section 114 links the generated four evaluation e-mails to the four-level article evaluations “Evaluation A”, “Evaluation B”, “Evaluation C” and “Evaluation D”. Next, the e-mail transmission unit 114 transmits the generated transmission information and multiple evaluative e-mails linked to the transmission information as e-mails to destinations included in the read set.

FIG. 11 shows an example of the generated transmission information and a multiple of four evaluation e-mails linked to the transmission information.
Shown in FIG. 12 shows the data structure and link relationship of the transmission information and the evaluation e-mail. In FIG. 11, transmission information 280 includes a sender, a destination, a subject, a date and time, and two pieces of information. The sender is "center @ panaof"
figure. abc. xyz. com ”, indicating the information providing server device 10. The destination is "uno @ pa
naoffice. abc. xyz. com "
This shows the destination included in the read set. The subject is
"URL patrol report", which indicates information obtained by patrol of the URL. The date and time is “August 5, 2000 1
3:30 ". The two pieces of information include a category, a URL, a summary sentence, and four article evaluations, respectively.

The evaluation e-mail 290 is linked to the article evaluation “Evaluation C” included in one of the two pieces of information, and includes a file name, a sender, a destination, a subject, a date, a URL, It is composed of article evaluations indicating “Evaluation C”. The sender is "uno @ panaoffic
e. abc. xyz. com ", indicating the destination included in the read set. The destination is "center @
panaoffice. abc. xyz. com ”, indicating the information providing server device 10. Subject is U
"UR" indicating the evaluation of the information acquired through the RL
L evaluation report. " The date and time are blank. The URL is
"Http: //www.business.co.j
p / ", indicating the provider of the one piece of information.
The article evaluation indicating “Evaluation C” indicates the article evaluation to which the evaluation e-mail 290 is linked.

In FIG. 12, the transmission information 300 includes a sender, a destination, a subject, a date and time, and one or more pieces of information. Each piece of information is a category, URL, summary article (and / or JP
EG file), evaluation A and file name, evaluation B and file name, evaluation C and file name, evaluation D and file name. Here, each file name indicates the file name of the linked evaluation e-mail.

The evaluation electronic mail 310 includes a file name, a sender, a destination, a subject, a date and time, a URL, and an evaluation A. The same applies to the evaluation e-mails 311 to 312. The evaluation e-mail 310 is linked to the evaluation A of the first information in the transmission information 300. The evaluation e-mail 311 is linked to the evaluation B of the first information in the transmission information 300. The same applies hereinafter.

The e-mail transmission unit 114 stores the e-mail transmission destination table 2 in the e-mail transmission destination storage unit 115
From step 70, the above-described processing is repeated until all pairs of destinations and categories are read. (16) FAX Transmission Destination Storage Unit 117 The FAX transmission destination storage unit 117 has a FAX transmission destination table 320 as shown as an example in FIG.

The facsimile transmission destination table 320 includes a plurality of sets each including a facsimile number, a destination, and a category.
The FAX number indicates the telephone number of the facsimile machine. The destination indicates the transmission destination of the facsimile information.
The category indicates a category of information that the person indicated by the destination desires to transmit, and includes one or more category names. When the category includes one or more category names, the order in which the category names are arranged corresponds to the order in which the respective information is arranged when the facsimile information transmitted to the destination includes a plurality of pieces of information. (17) FAX Transmission Unit 116 The FAX transmission unit 116 receives the operation permission information or the operation non-permission information from the control unit 113, operates when receiving the operation permission information, and receives the operation non-permission information as described below. Does not work.

The facsimile transmission unit 116 reads the FAX transmission destination table 320 from the facsimile transmission destination storage unit 117
The set including the AX number, the destination, and the category is sequentially read one by one. Next, a URL, a category, and a summary (and / or a JPEG file) having a category that matches the category included in the read set are read from the transmission information 260 stored in the transmission information storage unit 112. Since a plurality of category names are stored in the facsimile transmission destination table 320, when a plurality of matching categories exist, a plurality of pairs of a URL, a category, and a summary (and / or a JPEG file) are transmitted. Read from 260.

Next, when there are a plurality of matching categories, the FAX transmission unit 116 stores a set of a plurality of URLs, categories, and a summary (and / or JPEG file) in the FAX transmission destination table 320. Sort according to the order of the category names in the category. next,
The FAX transmission unit 116 writes a sender, a destination, a subject, a date and time to a set of one or more URLs, a category, and a summary (and / or a JPEG file). The information generated in this way is facsimile transmission information.

Next, the facsimile transmitting section 116 transmits the generated facsimile transmission information to the FA included in the read set.
Send to X number. The FAX transmission unit 116 repeats the above-described processing until all the sets including the FAX number, the destination, and the category are read from the FAX destination table 320 included in the FAX destination storage unit 117. (18) Print Output Destination Storage Unit 119 The print output destination storage unit 119 has a print destination table 330 as shown as an example in FIG.

The print destination table 330 includes a plurality of sets each including a printer number, a destination, and a category. The printer number is a number uniquely assigned to each printer device in the LAN 70. The destination indicates the transmission destination of the print information. The category indicates a category of information that the person indicated by the destination desires to transmit, and includes one or more category names. When the category includes one or more category names, the order in which the category names are arranged corresponds to the order in which the information is arranged when the print information transmitted to the destination includes a plurality of pieces of information. (19) Printing Unit 118 The printing unit 118 receives the operation permission information or the operation non-permission information from the control unit 113, operates as follows when the operation permission information is received, and receives the operation non-permission information. Does not work.

The printing unit 118 includes a print output destination storage unit 119
Are sequentially read one by one from the printing destination table 330 included in the printer. Next, a URL having a category matching the category included in the read set, the category, and the summary (and / or JP)
EG file) is read from the transmission information 260 stored in the transmission information storage unit 112. Print destination table 330
When there are a plurality of matching categories because a plurality of category names are stored in the file, a set of a URL, a category, and a summary (and / or a JPEG file) is read from the plurality of transmission information 260.

Next, when there are a plurality of matching categories, the printing unit 118 stores a set of a plurality of URLs, categories, and summary sentences (and / or JPEG files) in the printing destination table 330. Sort according to the order of the category names in the existing category. Next, the printing unit 118
Writes a set of at least one URL, a category, and a summary (and / or a JPEG file) with a sender, a destination, a subject, and a date and time added. The information generated in this way is print information.

Next, the printing section 118 transmits the generated print information to the printer identified by the printer number included in the read set. The printing unit 118
The processing described above is repeated until all sets including the printer number, the destination, and the category are read from the print destination table 330 included in the X transmission destination storage unit 117. 2.2 Operation of Information Providing Server Device 10 Here, the operation of the information providing server device 10 will be described. (1) Overall Operation of Information Providing Server Device 10 The overall operation of the information providing server device 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

The traveling unit 101 obtains information from the target URL (step S101), and the extracting unit 108 classifies the obtained information for each category (step S10).
2) The summarizing unit 111 selects and summarizes the classified information having the largest total count to generate a summary sentence (step S103). The e-mail transmission unit 114 transmits the summary sentence by e-mail (step S10).
4). The facsimile transmitting unit 116 transmits the summary sentence by facsimile (step S105). The printing unit 11
8 prints the summary by the printer device (step S119). Next, the process returns to step S101 to repeat the processing.

The URL updating unit 104 receives the URL received by the input unit 106, the article evaluation received by the e-mail receiving unit 103, and the URL acquired by the traveling unit 101.
Is used to repeatedly update the contents of the target URL storage unit 102 (step S111). (2) URL Update Operation The URL update operation will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

UR from the keyboard by the input unit 106
When the input of L is received (step S121), the URL
The update unit 104 updates the contents of the target URL storage unit 102 using the URL that has received the input (step S12).
2) Return to step S121. E-mail receiving unit 10
3 receives the e-mail via the Internet 60 (step S123), and updates the contents of the target URL storage unit 102 using the received e-mail (step S1).
24), and return to step S121.

When acquiring the information indicated by the URL (step S125), the traveling unit 101 updates the contents of the target URL storage unit 102 using the acquired information (step S12).
6), and return to step S121. (3) Update Operation of URL Input from Keyboard A description will be given of an operation of updating a URL input from the keyboard with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.

The input unit 106 stores the target URL storage unit 102
Are read from the target URL table 200 included in the list, and the read sets are displayed as a list (Step S
141), when the input of the instruction indicating the end of the operation is received (step S142), the process ends. Next, when it is not an instruction to end the operation (step S142), the input unit 106 receives an input of a URL from the operator, outputs the received URL to the URL updating unit 104, and the URL updating unit 104 receives the URL. And (step S143),
The URL updating unit 104 determines that the received URL is the target URL.
It is determined whether or not it exists in the table 200, and if it does not exist (step S144), a new area for one set is secured in the target URL table 200, and the URL for which input has been accepted is obtained. Write to the area (step S145).

Next, the input unit 106 receives an input of a priority from the operator, and displays the received priority in the URL updating unit 1.
04, the URL updating unit 104 receives the priority, and overwrites the area in which the priority belonging to the same set as the received URL is stored with the received priority (step S146). Next, the input unit 106 receives the patrol frequency from the operator, and
The URL is output to the L updating unit 104, and the URL updating unit 104 receives the traveling frequency, and overwrites the received traveling frequency in an area in which the traveling frequency belonging to the same set as the received URL is stored (step S147). .

Next, the input unit 106 receives the patrol time from the operator, and transmits the received patrol time to the URL updating unit 10.
4, the URL updating unit 104 receives the traveling time, and overwrites the area where the traveling time belonging to the same set as the received URL is stored with the received traveling time (step S148). Next, step S141
And the above processing is repeated. (4) Operation of URL Update by E-mail Regarding the operation of URL update by e-mail, FIG.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

The URL updating unit 104 receives the electronic mail from the electronic mail receiving unit 103, and stores the URL in the electronic mail.
It is determined whether or not L exists in the target URL table 200. If it does not exist (step S161), an error message indicating that fact is displayed (step S16).
2), end the process. If it exists (step S
161), the URL updating unit 104 evaluates the evaluation frequencies A, B, and C belonging to the same set as the URL in the target URL table 200.
And D, the evaluation frequency is updated by adding a value of 1 to the evaluation frequency corresponding to the evaluation included in the received e-mail (step S163), and the priority is updated (step S164). The process ends. (5) Priority Update Operation The priority update operation will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

The URL updating unit 104 calculates an evaluation level using the evaluation frequencies A to D according to (Equation 1) (step S
171) Next, the priority is calculated using the evaluation level and the traveling frequency level calculated by (Equation 2), and the target UR is calculated.
The calculated priority is overwritten in an area in the L table 200 in which the priority belonging to the same set as the URL is stored (step S172). (6) Operation of URL Update by Patrol The operation of URL update by tour will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

The traveling unit 101 includes a target URL storage unit 102
One set is sequentially read from the target URL table 200 included in (1) (step S180), and when the reading is completed (step S181), the process ends. If the reading is not completed (step S181), it is determined whether or not the traveling frequency included in the read set is optional. If not (step S182), the process returns to step S180 to read the next set. If the traveling frequency included in the read set is arbitrary (step S182), and the update history included in the read set includes ten or more years, months, and days (step S183), the update history includes The traveling frequency level, traveling frequency, and traveling time are determined using the ten or more years, months, days, and hours (step S18).
4).

Next, the traveling unit 101 stores the traveling frequency level determined as described above in an area where the traveling frequency level, the traveling frequency, and the traveling time included in the set read out in the target URL table 200 are stored. Is overwritten with the tour frequency and the tour time (step S185). Next, UR
The priority updating process is performed by the L updating unit 104 (step S186), the process returns to step S180, and the reading of the sets, the determination of the frequency, and the updating are repeated until the reading of all the sets is completed.

When the traveling frequency included in the read set is arbitrary (step S182), and when the update history included in the read set includes less than 10 years, months, and days (step S183), the URL is used. And obtains the information indicated by the URL, compares it with the information previously obtained and stored by the same URL, and determines whether or not the information has been updated. The date and time of the update added to the acquired information are written in the update history area of the target URL table 200 (step S187). Next, returning to step S180, the reading of the sets, the determination of the frequency, and the updating are repeated until the reading of all the sets is completed. (7) URL traversing operation The URL traversing operation will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

The traveling unit 101 includes a target URL storage unit 102
Are sequentially read from the target URL table 200 of the set in order from the set including the higher priority to the set including the lower priority (step S189). When the reading of the set ends (step S190), the traveling unit 101 ends the processing. Further, the number of read sets is counted, and if the number of read sets exceeds 100 (step S19)
1), end the process. If the number of read sets is less than 100 (step S191), the following is performed.

When the traveling frequency level included in the read set is 1 (step S192), the current time is obtained,
It is determined whether or not the acquired current time and 9:00 or 16:00, which is the cyclic time included in the read set, match. , And the secondary information is further acquired (step S194), and the URL is associated with a name for identifying the acquired information. The traveling result list 220 in the traveling result storage unit 105 is associated with the URL and a name for identifying the acquired secondary information.
And the acquired information and the acquired secondary information are written in the traveling result storage unit 105 in association with the names for identifying each of them (step S195).

When the traveling frequency level included in the read set is 2 (step S192), the current time is obtained, and
The acquired current time and Monday, which is the tour time included in the read set, match (step S196), and the acquired current time and the tour time included in the read set 9:
When 00 matches (step S197), the information indicated by the URL is acquired (step S198), and the URL is acquired.
And the name that identifies the acquired information,
The URL and the name for identifying the acquired secondary information are written in the traveling result list 220 in association with each other, and the acquired information and the acquired secondary information are associated with the name for identifying each, and the traveling result The data is written in the storage unit 105 (step S199).

If the traveling frequency level included in the read set is 3, the current time is acquired, and the acquired current time matches one or 15 days as the traveling time included in the read set (step S201). Further, when the obtained current time and 9:00, which is a cyclic time included in the read set, match (step S202), the information indicated by the URL is obtained (step S203), and the URL and the obtained information are identified. And writes the acquired information and the acquired secondary information in the traveling result list 220 by associating the acquired information with the name of the acquired secondary information. Write in the tour result storage unit 105 in association with the identification name (step S2
04).

When the traveling frequency level included in the read set is other than that, that is, other than 1 to 3 (step S192), the information indicated by the URL is acquired and the secondary information is acquired in the same manner as described above. (Step S20)
5) Write the URL and name in the tour result list 220, and write the acquired information and the acquired secondary information in the tour result storage unit 105 (step S20).
6).

Next, returning to step S189, the traveling unit 101 repeats the above until reading of all sets from the target URL table 200 is completed. (8) Operation of Extraction Unit 108 The operation of the extraction unit 108 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

The extraction unit 108 reads URLs one by one from the tour result list 220 of the tour result storage unit 105 (step S211). When the reading of the URL is completed (step S212), the plurality of sets written in the extraction result storage unit 110 are rearranged in descending order of the total count, and the rearranged plurality of sets are extracted. The data is overwritten in the storage unit 110 (step S221), and the process ends.

If the reading of the URL has not been completed (step S212), the extracting unit 108 reads out all the sets of the category and the plurality of keywords stored in the category table 230 of the keyword storage unit 109, and reads out all the readouts. Area for storing the total number of counts for each read category, and an area for storing the total number of counts for each of the plurality of read keywords, and an area for storing the total number of these counts And an area for storing the count number is initialized with a value of 0 (step S213).

Next, the extraction unit 108 sets the traveling result list 2
File names corresponding to the read URLs are read out one by one (step S214). If the read file name does not indicate an HTML file, the next file name is read. When reading of all the file names corresponding to the read URL is completed (step S215), the counts counted for each keyword corresponding to the category are totaled (step S219), and the total count of the category is calculated. It is calculated and stored as the total count (step S220), and the process returns to step S211.

If reading of all file names corresponding to the read URL has not been completed (step S21).
5) When the read file name indicates an HTML file (step S216), the file identified by the read file name is stored in the tour result storage unit 10
5 (step S217), the number of the plurality of stored keywords included in the read file is counted, and stored as the counted number (step S218), and then to step S214. Return. If the read file name does not indicate an HTML file (step S216), then step S216
Return to 214. (9) Operation of Summarizing Unit 111 The operation of the summarizing unit 111 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

The summarizing section 111 reads, from the extraction result data 250 included in the extraction result storage section 110, one set of a URL whose total count is equal to or more than a predetermined number, a category, and a total count (step S231). Is completed (step S232), the process ends. If the reading is not completed (step S232), for the set of the URL, the category, and the total number of counts whose total count is equal to or more than a predetermined number (here, the predetermined number is 30) (step S243), the read URL and category Is written in the transmission information storage unit 112 (step S23).
3).

Next, the summarizing section 111 outputs the read URL
Result list 220 for each file name corresponding to
(Step S234). When the reading is completed (step S235), the process returns to step S231. If the reading is not completed (step S235), the file identified by the read file name is read from the traveling result storage unit 105 (step S236).

If the read file is an HTML file (step S237), the summarizing unit 111 removes control instructions such as tags and reserved words from the read HTML file, and replaces the remaining 100 characters from the beginning of the character string. The acquired character string is obtained (step S238), and the obtained character string is written in the traveling result storage unit 105 in association with the URL and category set (step S239), and step S234 is performed.
Return to

If the read file is a JPEG file (step S240), the summarizing section 111
The EG file is developed into an image, the image obtained by the development is reduced to a size within 50 dots × 50 dots, and a JPEG file is generated again from the reduced image (step S241). The JPEG file and the obtained character string are stored in the cyclic result storage unit 105 in the URL.
And write in association with a set of categories (step S24).
2) Return to step S234. (10) Operation of E-mail Transmission Unit 114 The operation of the e-mail transmission unit 114 will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

The electronic mail transmission section 114 is provided with a control section 113
It operates as follows when it receives the operation permission information from. The e-mail transmission unit 114 stores the e-mail transmission destination table 27 included in the e-mail transmission destination storage unit 115.
From 0, pairs each consisting of a destination and a category are sequentially read one by one (step S251), and when the reading is completed (step S252), the processing is terminated. If the reading is not completed (step S252), the URL stored in the transmission information storage unit 112 includes the URL, the category, and the summary sentence (and / or the JPEG file) having the category matching the category included in the read set. The information is read from the information 260 (step S253).

Next, when there are a plurality of matching categories, the electronic mail transmitting unit 114
The group of the category, the category, and the summary sentence (and / or the JPEG file) is rearranged according to the order of the category names in the categories stored in the electronic mail transmission destination table 270 (step S254). Next, the e-mail transmitting unit 114
Is written with a sender, a destination, a subject, and a date and time added to a set of at least one URL, a category, and a summary (and / or a JPEG file) (step S255), and the category and the URL are written in each summary. Is added (step S256),
One or more URLs, categories and summaries (and / or JP
A character string of “Evaluation A”, “Evaluation B”, “Evaluation C”, and “Evaluation D” indicating the four-level article evaluation is added to each of the pairs (EG file) (step S257). Furthermore, an evaluation e-mail is generated and linked to each of the four levels of the article evaluations “Evaluation A”, “Evaluation B”, “Evaluation C”, and “Evaluation D” (step S258). Next, the generated transmission information and a multiple of four evaluation e-mails linked to the transmission information are transmitted as e-mails to destinations included in the read set (step S25).
9).

Next, returning to step S 251, the electronic mail transmitting section 114 repeats the above processing until all sets of destinations and categories are read from the electronic mail destination table 270 of the electronic mail destination storage section 115. The process shown is repeated. (11) Operation of FAX Transmission Unit 116 The operation of the FAX transmission unit 116 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

FAX transmission section 116 operates as follows when receiving operation permission information from control section 113. The facsimile transmission unit 116 stores the facsimile destination storage unit 11
7 are sequentially read one by one from the FAX transmission destination table 320, which includes a FAX number, a destination, and a category (step S271). When the reading is completed (step S272), the process ends. If the reading is not completed (step S272), the URL, the category, and the summary sentence (and / or the JPEG file) having the category matching the category included in the read set are stored in the transmission information storage unit 112. It is read from the transmission information 260 (step S273).

Next, when there are a plurality of matching categories, the FAX transmission unit 116 stores a set of a plurality of URLs, categories, and a summary (and / or a JPEG file) in the FAX transmission destination table 320. Are rearranged according to the order of the category names in the specified category (step S274). Next, the FAX transmission unit 116 writes the set of one or more URLs, categories, and summary sentences (and / or JPEG files) with the sender, destination, subject, and date and time added (step S275). A category and a URL are added to the sentence (step S276).
The transmitting unit 116 converts the generated facsimile transmission information into image information, and transmits the FAX
It transmits to the number (step S277).

Next, returning to step S271, the fax
The transmission unit 116 stores the F in the FAX transmission destination storage unit 117
The above-described processing is repeated until all sets including the FAX number, the destination, and the category are read from the AX transmission destination table 320. (12) Operation of Printing Unit 118 The operation of the printing unit 118 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

The printing unit 118 operates as follows when receiving the operation permission information from the control unit 113.
The printing unit 118 sequentially reads out sets of printer numbers, destinations, and categories one by one from the printing destination table 330 included in the print output destination storage unit 119 (step S28).
1). When the reading is completed (step S282), the process ends. If the reading is not completed (step S
282) Next, a URL having a category that matches the category included in the read set, a category, and a summary (and / or a JPEG file) are read from the transmission information 260 stored in the transmission information storage unit 112 (step). S283).

Next, when there are a plurality of matching categories, the printing unit 118 stores a set of a plurality of URLs, categories, and summary sentences (and / or JPEG files) in the printing destination table 330. (Step S28).
4). Next, the printing unit 118 adds a sender, a destination, a subject, and a date and time to a set of one or more URLs, a category, and a summary (and / or a JPEG file) (step S285). Next, the category and URL are added to each summary
Is added (step S286). Next, the printing unit 11
8 transmits the generated print information to the printer identified by the printer number included in the read set (step S287).

Next, returning to step S281, the printing unit 118 performs the processing described above until all the sets including the printer number, the destination, and the category are read from the printing destination table 330 included in the FAX transmission destination storage unit 117. repeat. 3. E-mail Transmission / Reception Device 50 Here, the configuration and operation of the e-mail transmission / reception device 50 will be described. 3.1 Configuration of E-mail Transmission / Reception Device 50 The e-mail transmission / reception device 50 includes, as shown in FIG.
And an input unit 504. (1) Transmission / Reception Unit 501 The transmission / reception unit 501 is connected to the Internet 60. The transmission / reception unit 501 receives an e-mail from the information providing server device 10 via the Internet 60, and writes the received e-mail in the e-mail storage unit 502.

Further, the transmitting / receiving unit 501 reads out the electronic mail from the electronic mail storage unit 502 according to the instruction of the input unit 504, and transmits the read electronic mail to a destination recorded in the electronic mail via the Internet 60. . Further, the transmission / reception unit 501 receives a selection of evaluation from the input unit 504. Upon receiving the selection, an evaluation e-mail corresponding to the evaluation for which the selection was received is stored in the e-mail storage unit 50.
2, the current date and time are written in the read evaluation e-mail, and the evaluation e-mail in which the date, month, day and time is written is sent as an e-mail to the destination recorded in the evaluation e-mail via the Internet 60. Send. (2) Display Unit 503 The display unit 503 reads an e-mail from the e-mail storage unit 502 according to an instruction of the input unit 504, and displays the read e-mail. (3) Input Unit 504 The input unit 504 receives an operation of the operator. Input unit 5
04 outputs an instruction to display an e-mail to the display unit 503 according to the operation. In addition, according to the above operation, an instruction to transmit an e-mail is output to the transmission / reception unit 501.

The input unit 504 accepts a selection of an evaluation included in the displayed electronic mail from the operator. When any one of evaluation A, evaluation B, evaluation C, and evaluation D is accepted, any selection is output to the transmission / reception unit 501. 3.2 Operation of E-mail Transmission / Reception Device 50 The operation of the e-mail transmission / reception device 50 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

The transmission / reception unit 501 receives an e-mail from the information providing server device 10 via the Internet 60 (step S301), and writes the received e-mail into the e-mail storage unit 502 (step S302). The input unit 504 accepts the operation of the operator and outputs an instruction to display an e-mail to the display unit 503. The display unit 503 reads and reads the e-mail from the e-mail storage unit 502 according to the instruction of the input unit 504. The e-mail is displayed (step S303).

The input unit 504 receives a selection of an evaluation contained in the displayed electronic mail from the operator (step S304). The selection is output to the transmission / reception unit 501, and the transmission / reception unit 501 receives the selection of the evaluation from the input unit 504, reads the evaluation e-mail corresponding to the received evaluation from the e-mail storage unit 502 (step S305), and reads the evaluation e-mail. The current date is written in the evaluation e-mail (step S306), and the evaluation e-mail in which the date is written is transmitted to the destination recorded in the evaluation e-mail via the Internet 60 (step S307). ). 4. Conclusion As described above, the information providing server device that automatically circulates and collects information scattered on the Web and provides the information to the client automatically traverses based on the URL information set in advance, thereby specifying the information. The contents of the stored Web are read from an external network, automatically stored in the information providing server device, and the stored contents of the Web are analyzed based on preset conditions, such as extraction, classification, and integration of information. Automatically distributing the information by e-mail based on a destination table set in advance by analyzing the information analyzed by the analyzing means,
The data is transmitted to an output device or automatically printed by a printing device such as a printer.

As described above, the information providing server device is provided with functions for operations such as WEB patrol, information analysis, and information transmission, and a function for managing information acquisition contents and information transmission destinations in a table is provided. Thereby, it is possible to obtain an excellent effect that information can be all automatically distributed without an operation by a specific worker.
Also, just change the content managed in the table,
Since the method of classifying the acquired information and the information to be distributed can be changed, it is possible to flexibly respond to the request of the user.

Further, specific information is obtained from the Web,
It may be necessary to periodically deliver necessary information to multiple users. For example, there is a case where a company collects news data distributed daily and wants to provide common information for each department such as technical information, political information, and economic information. There is also a case where a user wants to print a web screen to which a specific keyword belongs and distribute it to each department. In such a case, information can be provided by the information providing server device described in the above embodiment.

In this manner, the information providing server device
Information can be obtained by circulating through the WEB without requiring any operation by the user. Further, when it is desired to change the category of the information to be acquired, it becomes possible only by changing the name of the category described in the e-mail transmission destination storage unit, the FAX transmission destination storage unit, and the print output destination storage unit. 5. Other Modifications Although the present invention has been described based on the above embodiment, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. The following cases are also included in the present invention. (1) Although the electronic mail transmitting unit transmits the information as an electronic mail, the information may be transmitted as an attached file of the electronic mail. (2) The category paired with the destination included in the e-mail transmission destination table may be ALL indicating all categories. In this case, information classified into all categories is transmitted to the destination as an e-mail. In addition,
The same applies to the FAX transmission destination table and the printing destination table. (3) In the present embodiment, information is transmitted by e-mail, fax,
And printers, but these three
You may use a means other than one transmission means. For example, information may be transmitted to a mobile phone or a portable information terminal.

Further, the information providing server device of the present invention transmits the information obtained by circulating the WEB by the means, and further provides a WEB service for providing the collected information in response to a request from the client side. You may comprise so that it may have a function. (4) The number of electronic mail transmitting / receiving devices, facsimile devices, and printer devices is not limited. (5) In the embodiment of the present invention, information acquired by WEB patrol is classified by category, but this classification is not limited to the category. For example, it may be classified into character information and image information. Alternatively, only updated information may be extracted. (6) In the embodiment, the traveling unit determines the U
Although the RL is circulated, a keyword may be stored in advance and a WEB page including the keyword as a character string may be acquired. W by any keyword
By circulating through the EB, a wider range of information can be obtained.

More specifically, the traveling section stores the keyword “personnel notification” and stores the keyword “<T” in the HTML file.
A web page in which a character string "personnel notification" is enclosed between ITLE> and </ TITLE> may be acquired. (7) Since the summarizing section limits the amount of information to be transmitted to the e-mail transmitting / receiving device, the facsimile device, and the printer device, it is possible to suppress output of an enormous amount of printed matter from a facsimile or a printer, and to reduce paper resources. And the traffic of e-mail transmission can be suppressed. Note that the acquired information may be transmitted without being summarized. (8) The summary section outputs the first 100 characters from the HTML file excluding the control characters and reserved words, but the number of characters is not limited to 100 characters. Also, the original H
The limited number of characters may be changed according to the file size of the TML file. For example, if the file size of the HTML file is less than 1000 bytes, 100 characters are output, if the file size is larger than 1000 bytes and less than 2000 bytes, 150 characters are output.
If less than 000 bytes, 200 characters may be output, and if more than 3000 bytes, 250 characters may be output. Alternatively, all of the acquired information may be output without being summarized. (9) The summary unit may extract a character string included in a specific control statement from the HTML file. For example, <
A character string enclosed between <TITLE> and </ TITLE> may be extracted. Also, a character string surrounded by other control statements may be extracted.

The summary section may extract a character string having a certain size or more. The following is an example of an HTML file. In the following HTML file, if a character string with a character size of 5 or more is to be extracted, the character string "Request for the invitation of the upper house budget" is extracted, and the character string "The Diet asks the went.···"
Are not extracted. A character string with a large character size is often an important sentence. (Sample HTML file) <html><head><meta http-equiv = "Content-Type" content = "text / html; charset = x-sjis"><title> Title </ title></head>< body bgcolor = "# 9FE29C"><p align = "center"><font color = "# 000000" size = "5">
Request for Upper House Budget Invitation </ font></p><p align = "center"><font color = "# 000000" size = "3">
The Diet made basic questions at the Upper House Budget Committee. ...
</ font></p></body></html> (10) The URL updating unit adds the URL obtained by the circulating unit to the target URL table.
The URL may be deleted from the RL table.

At this time, the URL updating unit may determine that a URL with a low priority is to be deleted in the target URL table and delete it. For example, a UR with a priority of 3
L may be deleted. In addition, the URL updating unit includes:
Of the extraction result data generated by the extraction unit, a URL having a small total count may be determined as a deletion target and deleted. For example, a URL having a total count of 10 or less may be deleted. (11) The category table included in the keyword storage unit has an area for storing a plurality of sets each including a category and a plurality of keywords corresponding to the category. It may be arranged in order of degree. Specifically, in the category table shown in FIG. 6, among the keywords corresponding to the category "politics", "diet" has the highest importance, followed by "election reform", "official residence of the prime minister", and "financial finance". The importance may be higher in the order of “reconstruction”. At this time,
After the extracting unit generates the intermediate data shown in FIG. 7, the count number may be calculated by multiplying each count number by a weighting coefficient according to the importance. Specifically, the weighting factors are set to 2.0, 1.5, 1.0 and 0.5 in the order of “Diet”, “Election Reform”, “President's House”, and “Financial Reconstruction”. Here, "diet", "election reform",
The count of “Prime Minister's Office” and “Financial Reconstruction” is 10,
Since it is 15, 5, and 10, the extraction unit calculates the total number of counts as follows.

Total number of counts = 2.0 × 10 + 1.5 ×
15 + 1.0 × 5 + 0.5 × 10 = 52.5 (12) The electronic mail transmitting / receiving device transmits a set including a category and a keyword to the information providing server device as an electronic mail, and the electronic mail receiving unit of the information providing server device Receives the e-mail, outputs the received e-mail to a keyword update unit, and the keyword update unit uses the category and the keyword included in the received e-mail to store the category stored in the keyword storage unit. The table may be updated. (13) The information providing server device includes a target URL table stored inside the information providing server device for providing information to an administrator who manages the information providing server device;
Tour result list, category table, intermediate data generated by the extraction unit, extraction result data generated by the extraction unit, transmission information stored in the transmission information storage unit, e-mail transmission destination table, FAX transmission destination table, printing The contents of the destination table may be transmitted to the administrator by e-mail. Further, these contents may be displayed. (14) The WWW server device, the information providing server device, and the electronic mail transmitting / receiving device are connected via the Internet, but may be connected via an intranet.

In this embodiment, information is obtained from the WWW via the Internet. However, the information is collected from the specific server device while traveling around a specific server device connected to the intranet. May be configured. (15) The circulating unit stores the file size and the file update date of the external HTML file, and then stores the stored file size and the file update date in the same HT
Compare the file capacity and file update date obtained when referring to the ML file, and if they do not match,
Considering that the HTML file has been updated,
An ML file may be obtained. (16) In the present embodiment, the extraction unit 108 selects the largest total count number from the total count numbers of each category, extracts the category corresponding to the selected total count number, and reads out the read URL. And a set composed of the extracted category and the selected total number of counts are written in the extraction result storage unit 110, but may be as follows.

The extraction unit 108 selects the largest total number of counts and the next largest total number of counts from the total number of counts of each category, and selects two counts corresponding to the selected two total counts. A category may be extracted, and a set including the read URL, the extracted two categories, and the selected total count may be written to the extraction result storage unit 110. Further, the extraction unit 108 selects the category in which the total count of each category is larger than a predetermined value, extracts one or more categories corresponding to the selected total of one or more counts, and reads out the read URL. And a set including one or more extracted categories and the selected total count may be written to the extraction result storage unit 110.

At this time, the summarizing section 111 writes one or more categories, URLs, and summary sentences into the transmission information storage section 112 as transmission information. If at least one category that matches one or more categories included in the transmission information exists in the e-mail transmission destination table 270, the e-mail transmission unit 114 transmits the transmission information to the corresponding destination. . Further, the FAX transmission unit 116 and the printing unit 1
The same applies to 18. (17) The present invention may be the method described above. Further, these methods may be a computer program that is realized by a computer, or may be a digital signal formed by the computer program.

The present invention also relates to a computer readable recording medium for the computer program or the digital signal, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, a CD-ROM, an MO, a DVD, a D
The information may be recorded on a VD-ROM, a DVD-RAM, a semiconductor memory, or the like. Further, the present invention may be the computer program or the digital signal recorded on these recording media.

Further, in the present invention, the computer program or the digital signal may be transmitted via an electric communication line, a wireless or wired communication line, a network represented by the Internet, or the like. The present invention may also be a computer system including a microprocessor and a memory, wherein the memory stores the computer program, and the microprocessor operates according to the computer program.

The computer or the digital signal may be recorded on the recording medium and transferred, or the program or the digital signal may be transferred via the network or the like, to thereby provide another independent computer system. May be implemented. (18) The above embodiment and the above modifications may be combined.

[0122]

As described above, the present invention relates to an information providing apparatus for acquiring information from a WWW that provides information in a format common worldwide and providing the information to a user.
Means for obtaining information from the Internet via the Internet, a classifying means for classifying the obtained information into predetermined categories, and transmitting data relating to the information classified into the category desired by the user to the user And transmission means for performing the transmission.

According to this configuration, the user can obtain necessary information from the WWW without performing any special operation. Here, the acquisition unit is a URL storage unit that stores a URL indicating a position where information is present in the WWW in association with a priority, and a URL corresponding to a priority higher than a predetermined value from the URL storage unit. And information acquisition means for acquiring information indicated by the read URL.

According to this configuration, since information indicated by a URL having a high priority is obtained, there is an effect that wasteful information having a low priority is not transmitted to a user. Here, the information providing apparatus further includes an e-mail receiving unit that receives the evaluation e-mail including the one evaluation level selected by the user, with the user as a sender, the information providing apparatus as a destination, A priority order updating unit for updating the priority order stored in the URL storage unit based on the received evaluation email may be provided.

According to this configuration, since the information providing apparatus receives the e-mail including the evaluation by the user and updates the priority of the URL, the information providing apparatus can maintain the URL necessary for the user. This has the effect.
Here, the classification unit includes a keyword storage unit that stores a keyword for each category, a counting unit that counts the number of keywords included in the acquired information for each category, and a keyword that is counted for each category. And a category determining means for determining a category into which the information is classified based on the number of items.

According to this configuration, since the category is determined based on the number of keywords included in the acquired information, there is an effect that the acquired information can be surely classified into each category. Here, the transmitting means is provided for each user,
A destination storing means for storing a destination to which information is to be transmitted and a category into which the information desired by the user is classified; a category in which the information is classified by the classification means; When the category stored in the storage unit matches, the information transmission unit may include an information transmission unit that transmits the information to a destination associated with the category.

According to this configuration, there is an effect that information desired by the user is transmitted to the user. Here, the transmitting unit is a first adding unit that adds a plurality of evaluation titles respectively indicating a plurality of evaluation levels to the information classified into a category desired by the user, and the user is a sender, A second adding unit that associates a plurality of evaluation e-mails each including an evaluation level corresponding to each evaluation title with the information providing apparatus and adds the evaluation e-mail to the information in association with each evaluation title; An electronic mail transmitting means for transmitting, as an electronic mail, information to which a plurality of evaluation electronic mails are added to the user may be included.

According to this configuration, since the information providing apparatus transmits an e-mail for evaluating information to the user,
When the information providing device receives the e-mail, the priority of the URL can be updated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a WWW information acquisition system.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the information providing server device 10.

FIG. 3 shows a data structure of a target URL table 200 included in a target URL storage unit 102.

FIG. 4 shows an example of an e-mail received by an e-mail receiving unit 103.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a data structure of a tour result list 220 stored in a tour result storage unit 105 and a plurality of files.

FIG. 6 shows a data structure of a category table 230 included in the keyword storage unit 109.

FIG. 7 shows a read URL, all the read sets,
An example of the intermediate data composed of the count number total and the count number is shown.

8 shows an example of extraction result data 250 stored in the extraction result storage unit 110. FIG.

FIG. 9 shows an example of transmission information 260 stored in the transmission information storage unit 112.

FIG. 10 shows an example of an e-mail transmission destination table 270 included in the e-mail transmission destination storage unit 115.

FIG. 11 shows an example of transmission information generated by the e-mail transmission unit 114 and an evaluation e-mail linked to the transmission information.

FIG. 12 shows a data structure of transmission information generated by the electronic mail transmission unit 114 and a data structure of an evaluation e-mail linked to the transmission information.

13 shows an example of a facsimile transmission destination table 320 included in the facsimile transmission destination storage unit 117. FIG.

FIG. 14 illustrates an example of a print destination table 330 included in the print output destination storage unit 119.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the operation of the entire information providing server device 10;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of updating a URL.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of updating a URL input from a keyboard.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing an operation of updating a URL by e-mail.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of updating a priority.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing an operation of updating a URL by patrol.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing an operation of URL patrol.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing the operation of the extracting unit 108.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing the operation of the summarizing section 111.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing an operation of the electronic mail transmitting unit 114. It continues to FIG.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing an operation of the electronic mail transmitting unit 114. Continued from FIG.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing the operation of the FAX transmission unit 116.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the printing unit 118.

FIG. 28 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic mail transmitting / receiving device 50.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing the operation of the electronic mail transmitting / receiving device 50.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Information providing server device 20, 21, 22, ... WWW server device 30, 31, 32, ... Facsimile device 40, 41, 42, ... Printer device 50, 51, 52, ... E-mail Transmission / reception device 60 Internet 70 LAN 80 Public telephone network 101 Touring unit 102 Target URL storage unit 103 E-mail receiving unit 104 URL updating unit 105 Touring result storage unit 106 Input unit 107 Keyword updating unit 108 Extraction unit 109 Keyword storage unit 110 Extraction result storage Unit 111 Summary unit 112 Transmission information storage unit 113 Control unit 113 E-mail transmission unit 114 E-mail transmission unit 115 E-mail transmission destination storage unit 116 FAX transmission unit 116 Printing unit 117 FAX transmission destination storage unit 118 Printing unit 119 Print output destination storage Unit 501 Transmission / Reception unit 5 2 e-mail storage unit 503 display unit 504 input unit

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. An information providing apparatus for obtaining information from a WWW that provides information in a format common worldwide and providing the information to a user, comprising: an obtaining unit that obtains information from the WWW via the Internet; An information providing apparatus comprising: a classifying unit that classifies acquired information into predetermined categories; and a transmitting unit that transmits data related to information classified into a category desired by a user to the user. apparatus. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the obtaining unit stores a URL indicating a position where information exists in the WWW and a priority in association with each other, and corresponds to a priority higher than a predetermined value from the URL storage. The information providing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an information acquisition unit that reads a URL to be read and obtains information indicated by the read URL. 3. The information providing apparatus further comprises: an e-mail receiving means for receiving an evaluation e-mail including a user as a sender, an information providing apparatus as a destination, and one evaluation level selected by the user. The information providing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a priority update unit that updates a priority stored in the URL storage unit based on the received evaluation email. 4. The classification means includes: keyword storage means for storing keywords for each category; counting means for counting the number of keywords included in the acquired information for each category; The information providing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a category determining unit that determines a category into which the information is classified based on the number of keywords. 5. The destination storing means for storing, for each user, a destination to which information is to be transmitted and a category into which information desired by the user to be classified is classified, When the category in which the information is classified by the classifying unit matches the category stored in the destination storage unit, an information transmitting unit that transmits the information to a destination associated with the category, The information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information providing apparatus includes: 6. The transmitting means, a first adding means for adding a plurality of evaluation titles respectively indicating a plurality of evaluation levels to the information classified into a category desired by a user, A second adding unit that associates a plurality of evaluation emails each including an evaluation level corresponding to each evaluation title with the information providing apparatus as a destination and adds the plurality of evaluation e-mails to the information in association with each evaluation title; 6. An electronic mail transmitting means for transmitting information to which a title and a plurality of evaluation electronic mails are added as an electronic mail to the user.
Information providing device according to the item. 7. An information providing method for use in an information providing apparatus that obtains information from a WWW that provides information in a worldwide common format and provides the information to a user, wherein the information is obtained from the WWW via the Internet Acquiring the information, classifying the acquired information into predetermined categories, and transmitting the data relating to the information classified into the category desired by the user to the user. Characteristic information provision method. 8. The information providing apparatus further comprises: a URL storage unit that stores a URL indicating a position where information exists in the WWW and a priority in association with each other; 8. The information providing method according to claim 7, further comprising an information acquisition step of reading a URL corresponding to a priority higher than the value and acquiring information indicated by the read URL. 9. The information providing method further comprising: an e-mail receiving step of receiving an evaluation e-mail including a user as a sender, an information providing apparatus as a destination, and one evaluation level selected by the user. 9. The information providing method according to claim 8, further comprising: a priority update step of updating a priority stored in the URL storage unit based on the received evaluation email. 10. A computer-readable recording medium that records an information providing program used by a computer that acquires information from a WWW that provides information in a globally common format and provides the information to a user. An information providing program comprising: an acquiring step of acquiring information from the WWW via the Internet; a categorizing step of categorizing the acquired information for each predetermined category; A transmitting step of transmitting data to the user. 11. The computer according to claim 1, further comprising: a URL storage unit that stores a URL indicating a position where information exists in the WWW and a priority in association with each other; 11. The recording medium according to claim 10, further comprising an information acquisition step of reading a URL corresponding to a higher priority and acquiring information indicated by the read URL. 12. The information providing program further comprises: an e-mail receiving step of receiving an evaluation e-mail including a user as a sender, an information providing device as a destination, and one evaluation level selected by the user. 12. The recording medium according to claim 11, further comprising: a priority update step of updating a priority stored in the URL storage unit based on the received evaluation email.