JP2011154520A - Information provision device, information provision method, information-providing program, database generation device and database generation method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a practical information provision device and the like for hardly causing a problem of being unable to transmit a URL to a terminal device because being unable to retrieve image data as few image data are registered in a database when transmitting the URL associated with the retrieved image data to the terminal device by searching the database wherein image data and a URL of a Web page are associated and registered based on the image data received from the terminal device. <P>SOLUTION: Image data disposed in a specific area in a Web page are acquired, the acquired image data and the URL of the Web page are automatically associated, and are registered in the database. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention provides an information providing device that acquires a URL by searching a database in which image data and a URL are registered in association with each other based on image data received from the terminal device, and transmits the URL to the terminal device. The present invention relates to a technical field of an information providing method, an information providing program, a database generating apparatus that generates the database, and a database generating method.

  With the widespread use of terminal devices such as the Internet and mobile phones, the number of users who access Web pages via the Internet by using terminal devices is increasing. Generally, when a user accesses a web page from a terminal device, the user accesses the portal site using browser software provided in the terminal device, and uses a search engine provided by the portal site to search for a desired web page. The URL is acquired.

  By the way, when you see a logo or a product of a company or the like in your daily life, you may be motivated to access a Web page related to the logo or product. At this time, the user operates the mobile terminal and acquires a URL of the Web page by inputting a keyword corresponding to a logo, a product, or the like to the search engine. However, when a user cannot come up with a keyword corresponding to a logo, a product, etc., or when it is troublesome to input a keyword because of the number of keywords that come up, the user gives up on accessing the Web page. There is.

  With respect to such a problem, Patent Document 1 describes a system in which a server is connected to a terminal device and a store terminal device via a network. In this example, the user manually registers image data such as a logo in association with the URL of the Web page in the server. In response to an image registration request from the terminal device of the store by user operation, the server registers the acquired image data and the URL of the Web page related to the image data in the image information database in association with each other. After registration, the server searches the image information database using image recognition based on the image data received from the terminal device, and transmits a URL corresponding to the searched image data to the terminal device.

  According to the system described in Patent Document 1, a user captures image data such as a logo or a product in a terminal device and transmits the image data to a server, and based on the image data among URLs registered in an image information database. The URL corresponding to the image data for displaying the same or similar image as the image can be acquired. That is, when accessing a Web page related to a logo, a product, or the like, the user can easily obtain a URL by transmitting image data such as a logo, a product, or the like to a server without inputting a keyword.

JP 2007-133627 A

  However, according to the technique described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary for the user to manually register image data such as a logo and the URL of the Web page in association with each other on the server, which is troublesome. Furthermore, registration of the image data and the URL corresponding thereto in the image information database is performed based on an image registration request from the terminal device of the store. Therefore, if there is no image registration request, the registration is not performed. The number of registrations does not increase that much. Therefore, even when the server receives image data from the terminal device, the image data for displaying the same or similar image as the image based on the received image data is not registered in the database, and the URL is The problem that it cannot be transmitted to the terminal device is likely to occur.

  The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and one example of the problem is an information providing apparatus, an information providing method, and an information providing program that can easily associate image data with a URL and register them. And a database generation apparatus and a database generation method for generating a database in which a large number of image data and URLs are associated and registered.

  In order to solve the above problem, the information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an area specified in advance in a Web page is set as a specific area, and image acquisition means for acquiring image data from the specific area; and the image acquisition means Registration means for automatically associating the image data acquired by the URL with the URL of the Web page and registering it in the database, receiving means for receiving image data from the terminal device, and image data received by the receiving means A URL acquisition unit that acquires the URL associated with the searched image data by searching the image data registered in the database based on the URL acquired by the URL acquisition unit; URL transmitting means for transmitting to the terminal device.

  With this configuration, the information providing apparatus can easily acquire image data from a large number of Web pages and register it in the database.

  Therefore, according to the information providing apparatus of the first aspect, since a large number of image data and URLs are associated and registered in the database, the database is searched based on the image data received from the terminal device. Thus, when transmitting the URL associated with the searched image data to the terminal device, the image data cannot be searched because the image data registered in the database is small, and the URL may be transmitted to the terminal device. It is practical that the problem of inability to occur is difficult to occur.

  An information providing apparatus according to a second aspect is the information providing apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the specific area is an upper end area of the Web page.

  Therefore, according to the information providing apparatus according to claim 2, since there is a high probability that an image representing a logo is generally arranged in the upper end area of a Web page, an image for displaying an image representing a logo Data can be registered in the database with high probability. Therefore, even when image data for displaying an image representing a logo is received from the terminal device, the URL can be transmitted to the terminal device with high probability.

  The information providing apparatus according to claim 3 is the information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image acquisition unit selects a plurality of the Web pages provided from one Web site and selects the selected Web pages. At least one or more pieces of image data arranged in substantially the same region in each Web page are acquired, and the registration unit acquires the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit and the URL of the Web site or the selected The URL is registered in the database in association with any one URL of the Web page.

  Therefore, according to the information providing apparatus of the third aspect, the image data arranged in substantially the same region in a plurality of Web pages generally provided from one Web site represents a logo, a product, or the like. Since there is a high probability of being image data, it is possible to register image data representing a logo, a product, etc. in the database with a high probability. Therefore, even when image data representing a logo, a product, or the like is received from the terminal device, the URL can be transmitted to the terminal device with high probability.

  The information providing apparatus according to claim 4 is the information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image acquisition unit selects a plurality of the Web pages provided from one Web site and selects the selected Web pages. The respective images arranged in substantially the same area in each Web page are compared, and when they are the same image, image data for displaying the image is acquired, and the registration unit includes the image acquisition unit The image data obtained by the above and the URL of the Web site or the URL of the selected Web page are associated with each other and registered in the database.

  Therefore, according to the information providing apparatus of the fourth aspect, when the same image data is arranged in substantially the same region in a plurality of Web pages generally provided from one Web site, the image Since there is a high probability that the data is image data for displaying an image representing a logo, a product, etc., image data for displaying an image representing a logo, a product, etc. can be registered in the database with a high probability. Therefore, even when image data for displaying an image representing a logo, a product, or the like is received from the terminal device, the URL can be transmitted to the terminal device with high probability.

  The information providing apparatus according to claim 5 is the information providing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the registration unit is image data acquired by the image acquisition unit. Thus, image data in which predetermined information indicating a logo is included in identification information for identifying each image data is registered.

  Therefore, according to the information providing apparatus of the fifth aspect, the image data in which the predetermined information indicating the logo is included in the identification information for identifying each image data generally displays an image representing the logo. Therefore, the image data for displaying the image representing the logo can be registered in the database with a high probability. Therefore, even when image data for displaying an image representing a logo is received from the terminal device, the URL can be transmitted to the terminal device with high probability.

  The information providing device according to claim 6 is the information providing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein characters are included in an image based on the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit. Character registration means for determining whether the character is included, and the registration means, when the character determination means determines that a character is included, character data indicating the character and the URL The URL acquisition unit registers the database based on the character data indicating the character when the image is based on the image data received by the receiving unit and the character is included in the image. The URL associated with the retrieved character data is obtained by retrieving the retrieved character data.

  Therefore, according to the information providing apparatus of the sixth aspect, since the search by the character data can be performed when searching the database, the search can be performed with higher accuracy than the search by the image data, and a plurality of search results can be obtained. The possibility of becoming can be reduced.

  The information providing apparatus according to claim 7 is the information providing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein an image based on the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit includes characters. A character determination unit that determines whether or not a character is included, and a character part in an image based on the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit when the character determination unit determines that the character is included. Image generating means for generating image data, and the registration means, when the character determining means determines that a character is included, the image data generated by the image generating means and the URL Are registered in the database in association with each other.

  Therefore, according to the information providing apparatus according to claim 7, since an image (for example, an image representing only a logo, a product, or the like) obtained by removing the character part from the image including the character is registered in the database, Even when image data for displaying an image not including a character part is received from the terminal device, the URL can be transmitted to the terminal device with high probability.

  An information providing apparatus according to an eighth aspect is the information providing apparatus according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, wherein the URL acquisition means is a part of the image data registered in the database. To retrieve image data that is the same as or similar to the image based on the image data received by the receiving means.

  The information providing apparatus according to claim 9 is the information providing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the URL acquisition unit is based on image data received by the receiving unit. When a plurality of image data are searched as a result of searching the image data registered in the database, the URL associated with each image data is acquired, and the URL transmitting means acquires the URL Each URL acquired by the means is transmitted to the terminal device.

  Therefore, according to the information providing apparatus of the ninth aspect, when there are a plurality of database search results based on the image data, the URL associated with each searched image data is stored in the terminal device. Since it is transmitted, the user of the terminal device can guess and select the URL of the Web page that he wants to access from the description contents of the received plurality of URLs. That is, the user of the terminal device can acquire the URL of the Web page he / she desires, as compared with the case where the information providing device selects and transmits any one of the URLs associated with the searched image data. The possibility can be increased.

  An information providing apparatus according to claim 10 is the information providing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the URL acquisition unit is based on image data received by the receiving unit. As a result of searching the image data registered in the database, when a plurality of image data are searched, the image transmitting means for transmitting these image data to the terminal device, and the image transmitting means Selection image receiving means for receiving selected image identification information indicating image data selected from the selected image data from the terminal device, wherein the URL acquisition means is received by the selected image receiving means. The URL associated with the image data indicated by the selected image identification information is acquired, and the URL transmission unit is configured to acquire the selected image identification information by the URL acquisition unit. The the URL acquired based and transmits to the terminal device.

  Therefore, according to the information providing device of claim 10, when there are a plurality of database search results based on the image data, the searched image data is transmitted to the terminal device, from which the terminal Since the URL associated with the image data selected by the user of the device is transmitted to the terminal device again, the user of the terminal device is the same as the image data transmitted from the image based on the plurality of received image data. By selecting an image representing the target, it is possible to acquire the URL of the Web page that the user desires to access. That is, the user of the terminal device can acquire the URL of the Web page he / she desires, as compared with the case where the information providing device selects and transmits any one of the URLs associated with the searched image data. The possibility can be increased.

  The information providing apparatus according to claim 11 is the information providing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the image acquisition unit acquires the image data when the image data is acquired. Title information indicating a title displayed on a title bar when displaying a Web page on which data is arranged is further acquired, and the registration unit includes the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit, the title information, As a result of searching the image data registered in the database based on the image data received by the receiving means, a plurality of URL acquisition means are registered in the database in association with the URL of the Web page. When image data is searched, the title information associated with the image data is transmitted to the terminal device. The URL acquisition means further comprises: a transmission means; and a selection title reception means for receiving from the terminal device selected title identification information indicating a title selected from the title information transmitted by the title transmission means. The URL associated with the title information indicated by the selected title identification information received by the selected title receiving means is acquired, and the URL transmitting means is acquired based on the selected title information by the URL acquiring means. The URL is transmitted to the terminal device.

  Therefore, according to the information providing device according to claim 11, when there are a plurality of database search results based on the image data, the title information associated with each searched image data is the terminal device. And the URL associated with the title information selected by the user of the terminal device is transmitted again to the terminal device. That is, the user of the terminal device can more reliably acquire the URL of the Web page that he / she desires to access by predicting / selecting the content of the Web page from the titles indicated by the received plurality of title information.

  The information providing method according to claim 12, wherein a computer acquires an image data from the specific region, wherein the computer designates a region specified in advance in a Web page, and the computer acquires the acquired image data and the A step of automatically associating the URL of the Web page with the database and registering it in the database; a step of receiving image data from the terminal device; and a computer registering in the database based on the received image data Retrieving the URL associated with the retrieved image data by retrieving the retrieved image data, and transmitting the acquired URL to the terminal device; and It is characterized by including.

  Therefore, according to the information providing method of claim 12, since a large number of image data and URLs are registered in the database in association with each other, the database is searched based on the image data received from the terminal device. Thus, when transmitting the URL associated with the searched image data to the terminal device, the probability that the problem that the image data cannot be searched and the URL cannot be transmitted to the terminal device is reduced. Can do.

  The information providing program according to claim 13, wherein the computer sets an area specified in advance on a Web page as a specific area, and acquires an image data from the specific area, the image acquired by the image acquisition means Registration means for automatically associating data and URL of the Web page and registering them in the database, receiving means for receiving image data from a terminal device, registered in the database based on image data received by the receiving means A URL acquisition unit that acquires the URL associated with the searched image data by searching the image data that is searched, and a URL that transmits the URL acquired by the URL acquisition unit to the terminal device It functions as a transmission means.

  Therefore, according to the information providing program of the thirteenth aspect, since a large number of image data and URLs are registered in association with each other in the database, the database is searched based on the image data received from the terminal device. As a result, when transmitting the URL associated with the searched image data to the terminal device, the probability that the problem that the image data cannot be searched and the URL cannot be transmitted to the terminal device is reduced. be able to.

  The database generation device according to claim 14, wherein an area specified in advance in a Web page is a specific area, image acquisition means for acquiring image data from the specific area, image data acquired by the image acquisition means, Registration means for automatically associating the URL of the Web page with the database and registering it in the database.

  Therefore, according to the database generation device of the fourteenth aspect, a large number of image data and URLs are registered in the database in association with each other.

  A database generation apparatus according to a fifteenth aspect is the database generation apparatus according to a fourteenth aspect, wherein the specific area is an upper end area in the Web page.

  Therefore, according to the database generation device according to claim 15, since there is a high probability that an image representing a logo is generally arranged in the upper end area of a Web page, an image for displaying an image representing a logo is displayed. Data can be registered in the database with high probability.

  The database generation device according to claim 16 is the database generation device according to claim 14, wherein the image acquisition unit selects a plurality of the Web pages provided from one Web site and selects the selected Web pages. At least one or more pieces of image data arranged in substantially the same region in each Web page are acquired, and the registration unit acquires the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit and the URL of the Web site or the selected The URL is registered in the database in association with any one URL of the Web page.

  Therefore, according to the database generation device of the sixteenth aspect, image data arranged in substantially the same region in a plurality of Web pages generally provided from one Web site represents a logo, a product, or the like. Since there is a high probability of being image data, it is possible to register image data representing a logo, a product, etc. in the database with a high probability.

  The database generation method according to claim 17, wherein an area specified in advance in a Web page is set as a specific area, and image data is acquired from the specific area, and the acquired image data and the URL of the Web page are automatically set. And registering them in a database in association with each other.

  Therefore, according to the database generation method of the seventeenth aspect, a large number of image data and URLs can be registered in the database in association with each other.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, the image data and the URL can be easily associated and registered. Since a large number of image data and URLs are registered in association with each other in the database, by searching the database based on the image data received from the terminal device, the URL associated with the retrieved image data Is transmitted to the terminal device, and since there is little image data registered in the database, the problem that the image data cannot be retrieved and the URL cannot be transmitted to the terminal device is less likely to occur.

It is a figure which shows an example of schematic structure of a URL provision system. It is a block diagram which shows an example of schematic structure of a URL provision server. It is a figure which shows an example of the content of the information registered into image DB. It is a figure which shows an example of a Web screen. It is a figure which shows a mode that the image containing a character was divided | segmented into the removal-processed image and character data. It is a figure which shows a mode that the image containing a character was divided | segmented into the removal-processed image and character data. It is a figure which shows an example of schematic structure of a portable terminal device. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process at the time of image DB registration by a URL provision server. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the URL provision process by a URL provision system. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the URL provision process by a URL provision system. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process at the time of the image search completion | finish by a URL provision server. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the search result multi-time process by a URL provision server.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The embodiment described below is an embodiment when the present invention is applied to a URL providing system.

[1. Configuration and function overview of URL providing system]
First, the configuration and outline function of the URL providing system S according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of a URL providing system S according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the URL providing system S includes a URL providing server 1 including a Web page DB (Data Base) 101 and an image DB 102, a Web server 2 in which a Web page is stored in a storage unit, and a mobile terminal device 3. And. In FIG. 1, for convenience of explanation, one web server 2 and one mobile terminal device 3 are shown, but actually, a plurality of web servers 2 are connected to the network NW and a plurality of portable terminals are connected. The terminal device 3 can be connected to the URL providing server 1 and the Web server 2. Further, the URL providing server 1 can share the function among a plurality of servers.

  The URL providing server 1, the Web server 2, and the mobile terminal device 3 can transmit and receive data with each other using, for example, TCP / IP as a communication protocol via the network NW. The network NW is constructed by, for example, the Internet, a dedicated communication line (for example, a CATV (Community Antenna Television) line), a mobile communication network (including a base station), a gateway, and the like.

  In the URL providing system S having such a configuration, the URL providing server 1 has a so-called crawler function, an image data collecting function, and a URL providing function. The crawler function is a function that comprehensively collects Web pages from the Web server 2 connected to the network NW and registers them in the Web page DB 101 in association with the URLs. The image data collection function is a function for extracting image data (particularly, image data for displaying a logo) from a Web page registered in the Web page DB 101 and registering it in the image DB 102 in association with a URL. The URL providing function searches the image DB 102 based on the image data received from the mobile terminal device 3, and the URL associated with the image data for displaying the same or similar image as the image based on the received image data Is transmitted to the mobile terminal device 3.

  A user of the mobile terminal device 3 captures a logo, a product, or the like he / she sees in the mobile terminal device 3 as image data by shooting it with a camera, and transmits the captured image data to the URL providing server 1. The URL of the Web page that displays the image data can be received from the URL providing server 1. As a result, the user can access a web page related to a logo, a product, or the like that the user has seen.

  Note that a predetermined operating system, a Web browser application, an e-mail application, and the like are installed in the mobile terminal device 3.

[2. Configuration and function of URL providing server 1]
Next, the configuration and function of the URL providing server 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the URL providing server 1 includes an operation unit 11, a display unit 12, a communication unit 13, a drive unit 14, a storage unit 15, an input / output interface unit 16, and a system control unit 20. It is equipped with. The system control unit 20 and the input / output interface unit 16 are connected via a system bus 21.

  Note that the URL providing server 1 may be a server system including a plurality of server devices such as a server that implements a crawler function, a server that implements an image data collection function, and a server that implements a URL providing function.

  The operation unit 11 includes, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, and the like. The operation unit 11 receives an operation instruction from an operator or the like, and outputs the instruction content to the system control unit 20 as an instruction signal. The display unit 12 includes, for example, a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display, a liquid crystal display, and the like, and displays information such as characters and images. The communication unit 13 is connected to a network NW or the like, and controls the communication state with the Web server 2, the mobile terminal device 3, and the like. For example, the drive unit 14 reads data from a disk DK such as a flexible disk, a CD (Compact Disc), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), and the like, and records data on the disk DK. The storage unit 15 is configured by, for example, a hard disk drive or the like, and stores various programs, data, and the like. The input / output interface unit 16 performs interface processing between the operation unit 11 to the storage unit 15 and the system control unit 20. The system control unit 20 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 17, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 18, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 19, and the like.

  In the storage unit 15, a Web page DB 101 and an image DB 102 are constructed.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the image DB 102, information related to image data collected from the Web page stored in the Web page DB 101 is registered in association with an image ID for identifying the image data. Yes. Specifically, an image ID, collected image data, character data, and URL are registered. Note that character data is registered only when characters are included in the collected image data.

  Further, in addition to a predetermined operating system, the storage unit 15 is stored in the storage unit 15 in response to a request transmitted from the mobile terminal device 3 or the like using an HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) protocol. Other mail servers using a WWW (World Wide Web) server program and SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) protocol for generating a Web page based on various data and transmitting the Web page to the mobile terminal device 3 or the like A mail server program for transmitting an electronic mail created by the server itself to another mail server, a database management program for managing each database, and the like are stored.

  Further, the storage unit 15 stores a program for realizing a crawler function, an image data collection function, and a URL providing function.

  Various programs may be acquired from, for example, another server device via the network NW, or may be recorded on a disk DK such as a CD-ROM and read via the drive unit 14. Anyway.

  The system control unit 20 controls each unit of the URL providing server 1 by the CPU 17 reading various programs stored in the ROM 18 or the storage unit 15 and executing them while using the RAM 19. In particular, the system control unit 20 executes processing for realizing a crawler function, an image data collection function, and a URL providing function.

[Crawler function]
The system control unit 20 sequentially collects Web pages 500P stored in a plurality of Web servers 2 and registers them in the Web page DB 101 in association with URLs. At this time, if an address indicating the location of the image data is described in the Web page 500P, the system control unit 20 obtains the image data by accessing the address, and associates it with the Web page 500P and the URL. Is registered in the Web page DB 101. In addition, the system control unit 20 registers many web pages 500P in the web page DB 101 by following the links described in the web page 500P one after another.

[Image data collection function]
The system control unit 20 extracts image data from the Web page 500P registered in the Web page DB 101, and registers it in the image DB 102 together with the URL of the Web page 500P. Specifically, image data for displaying an image arranged in a specific area where an image such as a logo or a product is highly likely to be arranged on the Web screen based on the Web page 500P is extracted. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, when the Web screen 500 is displayed based on the Web page 500P, an image arranged in the upper end area (an example of “specific area”) of the Web screen 500 is displayed. The logo 510 is extracted. At this time, the system control unit 20 refers to the Web page 500P described in HTML (Hyper Text Mark-up Language), and sets the image data arranged in the upper end area (an example of “specific area”) of the Web screen 500. The logo 510 is determined. At this time, the system control unit 20 uses predetermined characters (for example, “logo”) indicating a logo in identification information (for example, data name or information indicating the location of the image data) for identifying each image data. ) May be registered in the image DB 102 only. In addition, since there is a high possibility that a logo image is arranged particularly in the left area of the upper end area, a logo for displaying an image arranged in the upper left area of the web screen 500 (an example of “specific area”). 510 may be extracted.

  By the way, when searching the image DB 102 based on the image data received from the mobile terminal device 3, an image based on each image data registered in the image DB 102, an image based on the image data received from the mobile terminal device 3, and The identity and similarity are determined by an image recognition program using a known image recognition technique. The image recognition program determines whether or not the images are the same or similar by, for example, extracting and comparing feature amounts of the images to be compared. The similar range differs depending on the design of the image recognition program itself and the set parameters. According to the image recognition program, for example, images that are similar in outline, color, shape, etc. of display objects are determined to be similar images.

  When there is only one image determined to be the same or similar by comparing the image based on the image data received from the mobile terminal device 3 and the image based on the image data registered in the image DB 102, One URL corresponding to the image data for displaying the image can be transmitted to the mobile terminal device 3. However, when there are a plurality of images determined to be the same or similar, the image data for displaying the plurality of searched images or the plurality of searched images is transmitted to the mobile terminal device 3, It is necessary for the user to select one of them, and as a result, a burden is imposed on the user.

  For example, the image data of Rokumaru Confectionery for displaying the logo 510 shown in FIG. 5A and the image data of Rokumaru food for displaying the logo 610 shown in FIG. 6A are registered in the image DB 102. Think about the case. In this example, the logo 510 includes a mark 510L and a character 510T, and the logo 610 includes a mark 610L and a character 610T. In this case, when the URL providing server 1 receives image data for displaying the logo 510 (or an image representing the same object as the logo 510) from the mobile terminal device 3, the identity and similarity of the image recognition program When the determination is made, the logo 510 based on the image data of Rokumaru Confectionery registered in the image DB 102 and the logo 610 based on the image data of Rokumaru Foods are the same or different depending on the quality of the image data, parameter setting values, etc. It is determined that the images are similar, and there is a risk that the search results will be two.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, when a character (text) is included in an image based on the image data, a comparative search using character (text) data is performed. For example, as shown in FIG. 5A, image data of Rokumaru confectionery for displaying a logo 510 in which a character 510T of “Rokumaru confectionery” and a mark 510L of Rokumaru confectionery are displayed is extracted from a Web page 500P. Suppose that At this time, the system control unit 20 determines whether or not characters are included in the logo 510 based on the image data of Rokumaru Seika, using a character recognition program using character recognition technology such as OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology. If it is determined that a character is included, as shown in FIG. 5B, the character is extracted as character (text) data 512, and at the logo 510 based on the image data of Rokumaru Seika. Image data indicating the image 511 excluding the character portion (image data representing an image obtained by removing the character portion from the image including the character is referred to as “removed image data”) is generated. Then, the system control unit 20 associates the character (text) data 512, the removal-processed image data 511, and the URL associated with the Web page 500P from which the image data of Rokumaru Seika has been extracted, in association with the image. Register in DB102. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 6 (a), image data of Rokumaru food for displaying a logo 610 on which a character 610T of “Rokumaru food” and a mark 610L of Rokumaru food are displayed is a Web page. 6B, character (text) data 612 is extracted and an image 611 excluding the character portion in the logo 610 based on the image data of Rokumaru food is displayed as shown in FIG. 6B. Image data that has been subjected to removal processing is generated, and each is registered in the image DB 102 in association with the URL of the Web page of the extraction source.

  On the other hand, when image data is received from the mobile terminal device 3, the system control unit 20 determines whether or not characters are included in the image based on the image data by the character recognition program, and the characters are included. Is determined, the character data registered in the image DB 102 is searched based on the character data indicating the character. As described above, according to the search using the character data, it is possible to perform a search with higher accuracy than the search using the image recognition program.

[URL providing function]
When receiving image data from the mobile terminal device 3, the system control unit 20 determines whether or not characters are included in the image based on the image data as described above, and determines that the characters are included. In this case, the character data registered in the image DB 102 is searched based on the character data indicating the character. On the other hand, if it is determined that no character is included, the image data registered in the image DB 102 is searched based on the image data. When the search result is one, the system control unit 20 transmits the associated URL to the mobile terminal device 3, and when there are a plurality of search results, the plurality of searched URLs. The image data is transmitted to the mobile terminal device 3, and the URL associated with the selected image data is transmitted again.

[3. Configuration and Function of Portable Terminal Device 3]
Next, the configuration and functions of the mobile terminal device 3 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, the mobile terminal device 3 includes an operation unit 31, a display unit 32, a communication unit 33, a photographing unit 34, a storage unit 35, an input / output interface unit 36, a system control unit 40, It has. The system control unit 40 and the input / output interface unit 36 are connected via a system bus 41.

  The operation unit 31 includes, for example, a numeric keypad for inputting characters and numbers, a cross key, various function keys, and the like. The operation unit 31 receives an operation instruction from the user and sends the instruction content to the system control unit 40 as an instruction signal. It is designed to output. The display unit 32 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display, an organic EL (Electro-luminescence) display, and the like, and displays information such as characters and images. The communication unit 33 is connected to a network NW or the like, and controls the communication state with the URL providing server 1, the Web server 2, and the like. The storage unit 35 is configured by, for example, a flash memory, and stores various programs, data, and the like. The input / output interface unit 36 performs interface processing between the operation unit 31 to the storage unit 35 and the system control unit 40. The system control unit 40 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 37, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 38, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 39, and the like.

  The imaging unit 15 performs imaging when a camera function key in the operation unit 31 is pressed. The captured image is converted into digital data by the system control unit 40 and recorded in the image data storage area of the storage unit 35 as image data. The image data recorded in the image data storage area can be transmitted to the URL providing server 1.

  In this example, the system control unit 40 of the mobile terminal device 3 transmits image data to the URL providing server 1 using a predetermined communication protocol (for example, http). After transmitting the image data, when the system control unit 40 receives the URL searched based on the image data from the URL providing server 1, the system control unit 40 accesses the Web server 2 based on the URL and acquires the Web page 500P. A screen 500 is displayed on the display unit 32.

[4. Operation of URL providing server 1 and portable terminal device 3]
Next, operations of the URL providing server 1 and the mobile terminal device 3 in the URL providing system S will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, the operation of the URL providing server 1 when realizing the image data collection function will be described using the flowchart of FIG. It is assumed that a plurality of Web pages 500P are registered in the Web page DB 101 in association with URLs by the crawler function before the processing shown in the flowchart is executed.

  The system control unit 20 of the URL providing server 1 acquires one web page 500P from the web page DB 101 (step S101). Next, the system control unit 20 refers to the acquired web page 500P and determines whether there is image data to be arranged in the specific area (step S102). If the system control unit 20 determines that there is no image data to be arranged in the specific area, the system control unit 20 returns to the process of step S101. On the other hand, if it is determined that there is image data to be arranged in the specific area, The process proceeds to step S103. Next, the system control unit 20 refers to the acquired web page 500P and extracts image data for displaying an image to be arranged in the specific area (step S103).

  Next, the system control unit 20 determines whether or not characters are included in the image based on the image data extracted in the process of step S103, using a character recognition program (step S104). At this time, when the system control unit 20 determines that no character is included (step S104: NO), the system control unit 20 associates the image data extracted in the process of step S103 with the Web page 500P acquired in the process of step S101. The associated URL is registered in the image DB 102 (step S105), and the process proceeds to step S108. On the other hand, when it is determined that the character is included (step S104: YES), the system control unit 20 generates removal processed image data from the image data extracted in the process of step S103 (step S106). Next, the system control unit 20 corresponds to the generated removal-processed image data, the character data indicating the characters included in the image data extracted in step S103, and the Web page 500P acquired in step S101. The attached URL is associated and registered in the image DB 102 (step S107), and the process proceeds to step S108.

  When the process of step S105 or the process of step S107 is completed, the system control unit 20 then determines whether or not all the Web pages 500P to be acquired have been acquired from the Web page DB 101 (step S108). For the Web page 500P to be acquired, an operator or the like can arbitrarily set in advance all or part of the Web page 500P registered in the Web page DB 101. When the system control unit 20 determines that all the Web pages 500P to be acquired have not been acquired (step S108: NO), the system control unit 20 proceeds to the process of step S101, and acquires the Web pages 500P that have not been acquired so far. get. On the other hand, when the system control unit 20 determines that all the Web pages 500P to be acquired have been acquired (step S108: YES), the process in the flowchart ends.

  Next, using the flowcharts of FIGS. 9 to 12, URL provision when the URL providing server 1 receives image data from the mobile terminal device 3 and transmits a URL corresponding to the image data to the mobile terminal device 3 is provided. The operation of the system S will be described.

  First, as shown in FIG. 9, the system control unit 40 of the mobile terminal device 3 transmits the image data selected by the user to the URL providing server 1 (step S201A). When receiving the image data (step S201B), the system control unit 20 of the URL providing server 1 determines whether or not characters are included in the image based on the image data using the character recognition program (step S202B). . At this time, when it is determined that the character is not included (step S202B: NO), the system control unit 20 searches the image DB 102 based on the received image data (step S203B), and then uses FIG. The image search end process described later is executed (step S204B), and the process in the flowchart ends. On the other hand, when it is determined that the character is included (step S202B: YES), the system control unit 20 searches the image DB 102 based on the character data indicating the character (step S205B).

  Next, the system control unit 20 determines whether or not there is one search result in the process of step S205B (step S206B). At this time, when the system control unit 20 determines that there is one search result (step S206B: YES), the system control unit 20 acquires the URL associated with the search result (that is, the searched character data) from the image DB 102. (Step S207B), the URL is transmitted to the mobile terminal device 3 (Step S208B), and the processing in the flowchart ends. On the other hand, when the system control unit 20 determines that the number of search results is not one (step S206B: NO), as shown in FIG. 10, it generates removal processed image data from the image data received in the process of step S201B. Then (step S301B), the image DB 102 is searched based on the removed image data (step S302B). Next, the system control unit 20 executes an image search end process described later with reference to FIG. 11 (step S303B), and ends the process in the flowchart.

  Here, the image search end process will be described with reference to FIG. The image search end process is a process executed by the system control unit 20 of the URL providing server 1 in step S204B in FIG. 9 or step S303B in FIG.

  First, the system control unit 20 determines whether or not the number of search results in step S203B in FIG. 9 or step S302B in FIG. 10 is zero (step S401). At this time, when the system control unit 20 determines that the search result is 0 (step S401: YES), the system control unit 20 transmits error data indicating that the search result is 0 to the mobile terminal device 3 (step S401). S402), the image search end process is terminated. On the other hand, when it is determined that the search result is not 0 (step S401: NO), the system control unit 20 then determines whether the search result is 1 (step S403).

  At this time, when the system control unit 20 determines that the search result is one (step S403: YES), the URL associated with the search result (that is, the searched image data) is acquired from the image DB 102. (Step S404), the process proceeds to Step S406. On the other hand, when the system control unit 20 determines that the search result is not one (step S403: NO), the system control unit 20 then executes a search result multi-time process which will be described later with reference to FIG. 12 (step S405), and step S406. Move on to processing. The search result multi-time process is a process of acquiring one URL from a plurality of URLs associated with the search result (that is, searched image data).

  When the system control unit 20 acquires one URL in the process of step S404, the system control unit 20 then transmits the URL to the mobile terminal device 3 (step S406), and ends the image search end time process.

  Next, the search result multi-time process will be described with reference to FIG. The search result multi-time process is a process executed by the system control unit 20 of the URL providing server 1 in step S405 of FIG. Further, the search result multi-time process is performed when there are a plurality of search results in the process of step S203B of FIG. 9 or the process of step S302B of FIG. 10 (that is, when there are a plurality of identical or similar images). ) Is executed.

  First, the system control unit 20 transmits all image data obtained as a result of the search in the process of step S203B in FIG. 9 or the process of step S302B in FIG. 10 to the mobile terminal device 3 together with the respective image IDs (steps). S501). Next, the system control unit 20 temporarily saves (temporarily stores in the work area of the storage unit 15) the image ID and URL associated with all the transmitted image data (step S502).

  Next, the system control unit 20 receives an image ID corresponding to one image data selected by the user from all the image data transmitted in the process of step S501 from the mobile terminal device 3 (step S503). Next, the system control unit 20 acquires a URL corresponding to the received image ID from the temporarily saved URLs (step S504), and ends the search result multi-time processing.

  On the other hand, after completing the process of step S201A in FIG. 9, the system control unit 40 of the mobile terminal device 3 receives error data from the URL providing server 1 as shown in FIG. 10 (step S301A), URL The standby state is maintained until a URL is received from the providing server 1 (step S303A) or a plurality of image data and image IDs are received from the URL providing server 1 (step S305A).

  If the error data is received from the URL providing server 1 (step S301A: YES (see the process of step S402 of FIG. 11)), the system control unit 40 transmits the image transmitted by the process of step S201A of FIG. An error message indicating that the search result based on the data is 0 or that the URL could not be acquired is displayed on the display unit 32 (step S302A), and the processing in the flowchart ends.

  Further, when the system control unit 40 receives a URL from the URL providing server 1 (step S303A: YES (see the process of step S208B in FIG. 9 and the process of step S406 in FIG. 11)), the received URL is The information is displayed on the display unit 32 (step S304A), and the process in the flowchart ends.

  In addition, when the system control unit 40 receives a plurality of image data and image IDs from the URL providing server 1 (step S305A: YES (see the process in step S501 in FIG. 12)), the system control unit 40 sends any image to the user. In order to select data, an image based on the plurality of received image data is displayed on the display unit 32 (step S306A). At this time, the user can select and determine any image data with the cross key or the like in the operation unit 31. When the system control unit 40 detects an operation for selecting / determining any image data by the user, the system control unit 40 transmits an image ID corresponding to the selected image data to the URL providing server 1 (step S307A), and performs the process of step S301A. Migrate to

  As described above, the URL providing server 1 (an example of “information providing apparatus” and “database generating apparatus”) of the present embodiment is the upper end area (“specific area” in the Web screen 500 displayed based on the Web page 500P. The system control unit 20 (an example of “image acquisition unit”) that acquires image data for displaying the logo 510 arranged in the “example”) and the URL of the Web page are associated with each other. A system control unit 20 (an example of “registration means”) that is registered in the image DB 102 (an example of “database”) and a system control unit 20 (an example of “terminal device”) that receives image data from the mobile terminal device 3 (an example of “terminal device”). Searching for image data registered in the image DB 102 based on the received image data) A system control unit 20 (an example of “URL acquisition unit”) that acquires a URL associated with image data, and a system control unit 20 (“URL transmission unit” that transmits the acquired URL to the mobile terminal device 3 For example). With this configuration, image data can be easily acquired from a large number of Web pages 500P existing on the Internet and registered in the database.

  Therefore, according to the URL providing server 1 of the present embodiment, a large number of image data and URLs are registered in association with each other in the image DB 102, so that the image DB 102 is based on the image data received from the mobile terminal device 3. When the URL associated with the searched image data is transmitted to the portable terminal device 3 by searching for the URL, the image data cannot be searched because the image data registered in the image DB 102 is small. The problem that it cannot be transmitted to the terminal device 3 hardly occurs and is practical.

  Also, according to the URL providing server 1 of the present embodiment, since there is a high probability that an image representing a logo is generally arranged in the upper end area of the Web screen, image data for displaying an image representing a logo is high. Can be registered in the image DB 102 with a high probability. Therefore, even when image data for displaying an image representing a logo is received from the mobile terminal device 3, the URL can be transmitted to the mobile terminal device 3 with high probability.

  Further, the system control unit 20 (an example of “character determination unit”) of the URL providing server 1 according to the present embodiment determines whether or not characters are included in the image based on the image data acquired from the Web page 500P. When it is determined that a character is included, the character data indicating the character and the URL of the Web page 500P are associated with each other and registered in the image DB 102. Then, when a character is included in the image based on the image data received from the mobile terminal device 3, the system control unit 20 searches the character data registered in the image DB 102 based on the character data indicating the character. As a result, the URL associated with the retrieved character data is acquired and transmitted to the mobile terminal device 3.

  Therefore, according to the URL providing server 1, when searching the image DB 102, a search by character data can be performed, so that a search with higher accuracy than a search by image data can be performed, and a plurality of search results may be obtained. Can be reduced.

  In addition, the system control unit 20 (an example of “image generation unit”) of the URL providing server 1 according to the present embodiment acquires the character image included in the image based on the image data acquired from the Web page 500P. Removal-processed image data for displaying an image excluding character portions in the image based on the image data is generated. Then, the system control unit 20 registers the removed image data and the URL of the Web page 500P in the image DB 102 in association with each other.

  Therefore, according to the URL providing server 1, removal processed image data for displaying an image obtained by removing a character portion from an image including characters (for example, an image representing only a logo or a product) is stored in the image DB 102. Since it is registered, even when image data for displaying an image not including a character part is received from the mobile terminal device 3, the URL can be transmitted to the mobile terminal device 3 with high probability.

  In addition, the system control unit 20 (an example of “image transmitting unit” and “selected image receiving unit”) of the URL providing server 1 according to the present embodiment is registered in the image DB 102 based on the image data received from the mobile terminal device 3. When a plurality of image data are searched as a result of searching for the image data, the image data is transmitted to the mobile terminal device 3, and an image showing the image data selected from the transmitted image data An ID (an example of “selected image identification information”) is received from the mobile terminal device 3. Then, the system control unit 20 acquires a URL associated with the image data indicated by the image ID received from the mobile terminal device 3 and transmits the URL to the mobile terminal device 3.

  Therefore, according to the URL providing server 1, when there are a plurality of search results of the image DB 102 based on the image data, these image data are transmitted to the mobile terminal device 3, from which the user of the mobile terminal device 3 is sent. Since the URL associated with the image data selected by the above is transmitted to the mobile terminal device 3 again, the user of the mobile terminal device 3 can transmit the image data transmitted by himself / herself from the image based on the plurality of received image data. By selecting images representing the same target, it is possible to acquire the URL of the Web page that the user desires to access. That is, the user of the mobile terminal device 3 is more than the configuration in which the system control unit 20 of the URL providing server 1 selects and transmits any one of the URLs associated with the searched image data. It is possible to increase the possibility that the user can acquire the URL of the Web page he desires.

  In the present embodiment, when the system control unit 20 of the URL providing server 1 acquires image data from the web page 500P, an image arranged in the upper end area of the web screen 500 displayed based on the web page 500P is displayed. However, instead of this, a plurality of Web pages provided from one Web site are selected, and the Web screens displayed based on the selected Web pages are substantially the same. It is also possible to obtain at least one piece of image data for displaying each image arranged in the area. In this case, the system control unit 20 registers the acquired image data and the URL of the Web site or the selected Web page in association with each other in the image DB 102. In this case, the area where these images are arranged corresponds to the specific area of the present invention.

  With this configuration, images placed in substantially the same area on each of the web screens that are generally displayed based on a plurality of web pages provided from one web site are logos, products, etc. Since there is a high probability of being an image to be displayed, image data for displaying an image representing a logo, a product, or the like can be registered in the image DB 102 with a high probability. Therefore, even when image data for displaying an image representing a logo, a product, or the like is received from the mobile terminal device 3, the URL can be transmitted to the mobile terminal device 3 with high probability.

  In addition, the system control unit 20 selects a plurality of Web pages provided from one Web site, and the respective images arranged in substantially the same area on the Web screen displayed based on the selected plurality of Web pages. When the images are the same, the image data for displaying the images may be acquired. In this case, the system control unit 20 registers the acquired image data and the URL of the Web site or the selected Web page in association with each other in the image DB 102. In this case, the area where these images are arranged corresponds to the specific area of the present invention. The determination of whether or not the images are the same may be performed by determining whether or not the identification information (for example, the data name) of the image data is the same, or the image may be determined using an image recognition program. May be performed by determining the identity of.

  By adopting such a configuration, when the same image data is arranged in substantially the same area on each Web screen generally displayed based on a plurality of Web pages provided from one Web site, Since the image data has a high probability of being an image data for displaying an image representing a logo or a product, the image data for displaying an image representing a logo or a product or the like is registered in the image DB 102 with a high probability. Can do. Therefore, even when image data for displaying an image representing a logo or a product is received from the mobile terminal device 3, the URL can be transmitted to the mobile terminal device 3 with high probability. Note that “images arranged in substantially the same area on each Web screen displayed based on a plurality of Web pages” means that each Web screen is superimposed on the basis of any side of the Web screen. The image is arranged in a region where at least part of the image overlaps.

  Further, identification information (for example, data name and information indicating the location of the image data) that is image data acquired from the Web page 500P by the system control unit 20 of the URL providing server 1 and that respectively identifies the image data. Alternatively, image data including a predetermined character (for example, “logo”) indicating a logo may be registered. In this case, an area where an image based on the image data is arranged corresponds to a specific area of the present invention.

  With this configuration, image data in which predetermined information indicating a logo is generally included in identification information for identifying each image data is likely to be image data for displaying an image representing the logo. Thus, image data for displaying an image representing a logo can be registered in the image DB 102 with a high probability. Therefore, even when image data for displaying an image representing a logo is received from the mobile terminal device 3, the URL can be transmitted to the mobile terminal device 3 with high probability.

  In the present embodiment, the system control unit 20 of the URL providing server 1 stores these image data in the mobile terminal when there are a plurality of search results in the image DB 102 based on the image data received from the mobile terminal device 3. The image is transmitted to the apparatus 3 and the user selects any image data, and the URL associated with the selected image data is transmitted again. Instead, the system control unit 20 When there are a plurality of search results in the image DB 102 based on the image data received from the device 3, URLs associated with the searched image data are acquired, and each URL is sent to the mobile terminal device 3. May be configured to transmit.

  With this configuration, when there are a plurality of search results of the image DB 102 based on the image data, URLs associated with the respective image data are transmitted to the mobile terminal device 3. The user of the device 3 can guess and select the URL of the Web page that he / she wants to access from the description contents of the plurality of received URLs. That is, the user of the mobile terminal device 3 is more than the configuration in which the system control unit 20 of the URL providing server 1 selects and transmits any one of the URLs associated with the searched image data. It is possible to increase the possibility that the user can acquire the URL of the Web page he desires.

  Further, when the system control unit 20 of the URL providing server 1 acquires image data from the Web page 500P, it is displayed on the title bar 520 (see FIG. 4) when displaying the Web screen 500 displayed based on the Web page 500P. Title information indicating the title to be played (in the example of FIG. 4, “Rokumaru Confectionery—Top Page”) is further acquired, and the image data, the title information, and the URL of the Web page are associated with each other and registered in the image DB 102. At the same time, the system control unit 20 (an example of “title transmitting means” and “selected title receiving means”) searches the image data registered in the image DB 102 based on the image data received from the mobile terminal device 3, When a plurality of image data is searched, each title information associated with these image data is stored in the portable terminal. Selected title identification information (for example, a title ID transmitted together with the title information and corresponding to the title information selected by the user). ) From the mobile terminal device 3, and a URL associated with the title information indicated by the received selected title identification information may be acquired and transmitted to the mobile terminal device 3.

  With this configuration, when there are a plurality of search results of the image DB 102 based on the image data, the title information associated with each searched image data is transmitted to the mobile terminal device 3, and The URL associated with the title information selected by the user of the mobile terminal device 3 is transmitted to the mobile terminal device 3 again. That is, the user of the mobile terminal device 3 can more reliably obtain the URL of the Web page that he / she desires to access by predicting and selecting the content of the Web page from the titles indicated by the received plurality of title information.

1 URL providing server 11 URL providing server / operation unit 12 URL providing server / display unit 13 URL providing server / communication unit 14 URL providing server / drive unit 15 URL providing server / storage unit 16 URL providing server / input / output interface unit 17 URL Provision server / CPU
18 URL server / ROM
19 URL server / RAM
20 URL providing server / system control unit 21 URL providing server / system bus 101 URL providing server / Web page DB
102 URL providing server / image DB
3 mobile terminal device 31 mobile terminal device / operation unit 32 mobile terminal device / display unit 33 mobile terminal device / communication unit 34 mobile terminal device / photographing unit 35 mobile terminal device / storage unit 36 mobile terminal device / input / output interface unit 37 Terminal device / CPU
38 Mobile Terminal / ROM
39 Mobile terminal / RAM
40 mobile terminal device / system control unit 41 mobile terminal device / system bus NW network S URL providing system

Claims (17)

An image acquisition means for acquiring an image data from the specified area, with a specified area in the Web page as a specified area;
Registration means for automatically associating the image data acquired by the image acquisition means with the URL of the Web page and registering them in a database;
Receiving means for receiving image data from the terminal device;
URL acquisition means for acquiring the URL associated with the searched image data by searching the image data registered in the database based on the image data received by the receiving means;
URL transmitting means for transmitting the URL acquired by the URL acquiring means to the terminal device;
An information providing apparatus comprising: The information providing device according to claim 1,
The information providing apparatus, wherein the specific area is an upper end area in the Web page. The information providing device according to claim 1,
The image acquisition means selects a plurality of the Web pages provided from one Web site, acquires at least one or more image data arranged in substantially the same area in each of the selected Web pages,
The registration unit registers the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit and the URL of the Web site or the URL of the selected Web page in association with each other in the database. Information providing device. The information providing device according to claim 1,
The image acquisition means selects a plurality of the Web pages provided from one Web site, compares the respective image data arranged in substantially the same region in the selected Web pages, and outputs the same image If it is data, get the image data,
The registration unit registers the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit and the URL of the Web site or the URL of the selected Web page in association with each other in the database. Information providing device. An information providing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein
The registration unit registers image data that is acquired by the image acquisition unit and includes predetermined information indicating a logo in identification information for identifying each image data. Information providing device. An information providing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
Character determination means for determining whether or not a character is included in an image based on the image data acquired by the image acquisition means;
Further comprising
The registration means registers the character data indicating the character and the URL in the database in association with each other when the character determination means determines that the character is included,
The URL acquisition means, when a character is included in an image based on the image data received by the receiving means, searches for character data registered in the database based on character data indicating the character. To obtain a URL associated with the retrieved character data. An information providing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
Character determination means for determining whether or not a character is included in an image based on the image data acquired by the image acquisition means;
An image generating means for generating image data excluding character portions in an image based on the image data acquired by the image acquiring means when the character determining means determines that a character is included;
Further comprising
The registration unit registers the image data generated by the image generation unit and the URL in association with each other when the character determination unit determines that the character is included. To provide information. An information providing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The URL acquisition unit searches the image data registered in the database for image data that is the same as or similar to an image based on the image data received by the receiving unit. An information providing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
The URL acquiring unit searches for image data registered in the database based on the image data received by the receiving unit, and as a result, searches for a plurality of image data, associates with each image data. Get the URL
The URL transmitting unit transmits each URL acquired by the URL acquiring unit to the terminal device. An information providing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
When a plurality of image data are searched as a result of searching the image data registered in the database based on the image data received by the receiving unit, the URL acquisition unit stores these image data in the terminal Image transmitting means for transmitting to the device;
Selection image receiving means for receiving selected image identification information indicating image data selected from the image data transmitted by the image transmitting means from the terminal device;
Further comprising
The URL acquisition unit acquires the URL associated with the image data indicated by the selection image identification information received by the selection image reception unit,
The URL transmitting unit transmits the URL acquired by the URL acquiring unit based on the selected image identification information to the terminal device. An information providing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
When acquiring the image data, the image acquisition means further acquires title information indicating a title displayed on a title bar when displaying a Web page on which the image data is arranged,
The registration unit registers the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit, the title information, and the URL of the Web page in association with each other in the database,
When the URL acquisition means searches the image data registered in the database based on the image data received by the receiving means, and a plurality of image data is searched, it is associated with these image data. Title transmitting means for transmitting the title information being transmitted to the terminal device;
Selected title receiving means for receiving from the terminal device selected title identification information indicating a title selected from the title information transmitted by the title transmitting means;
Further comprising
The URL acquisition means acquires the URL associated with the title information indicated by the selected title identification information received by the selected title receiving means,
The URL transmitting unit transmits the URL acquired based on the selected title information by the URL acquiring unit to the terminal device. A computer acquiring an image data to be displayed as the Web page from the specific region, and a region designated in advance in the Web page as the specific region;
A computer automatically associating the acquired image data with the URL of the Web page and registering it in a database;
A computer receiving image data from a terminal device;
The computer retrieves the image data registered in the database based on the received image data, thereby obtaining the URL associated with the retrieved image data;
A computer transmitting the acquired URL to the terminal device;
An information providing method comprising: Computer
An image acquisition means for acquiring an image data from the specified area, with a specified area as a specified area in the Web page;
Registration means for automatically associating the image data acquired by the image acquisition means with the URL of the Web page and registering them in a database;
Receiving means for receiving image data from the terminal device;
URL acquiring means for acquiring the URL associated with the searched image data by searching the image data registered in the database based on the image data received by the receiving means;
URL transmission means for transmitting the URL acquired by the URL acquisition means to the terminal device;
An information providing program characterized by functioning as An image acquisition means for acquiring an image data from the specified area, with a specified area in the Web page as a specified area;
Registration means for automatically associating the image data acquired by the image acquisition means with the URL of the Web page and registering them in a database;
A database generation device comprising: 15. The database generation device according to claim 14, wherein
The database generation apparatus, wherein the specific area is an upper end area of the Web page. 15. The database generation device according to claim 14, wherein
The image acquisition means selects a plurality of the Web pages provided from one Web site, acquires at least one or more image data arranged in substantially the same area in each of the selected Web pages,
The registration unit registers the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit and the URL of the Web site or the URL of the selected Web page in association with each other in the database. Database generator. An area designated in advance in the web page as a specific area, and acquiring image data from the specific area;
Automatically associating the acquired image data with the URL of the Web page and registering it in the database;
A database generation method comprising:

Images