JP2000035934A - Automatic downloading device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress and reduce the acquisition of a home page that does not suit user's taste and to effectively utilize use charges and a storage device by deciding the next download time allocation in each genre from the access frequency or access time information of the data of past users in each genre. SOLUTION: This device is provided with a management table 42 which shows the access frequency of each genre and decides the next download time allocation in accordance with the access frequency of each genre. When a user selects a certain page, an accessing means 2 checks whether or not the page exists in a cache part 41 of a storage device 4. When it does not exist in the part 41, the means 2 acquires the URL information of the page which exists in the table 42 and downloads the page by using a downloading means 1. Here, a download managing means 3 calculates download time allocated to each genre by using the table 42 and performs download time allocation that is in proportion to the access frequency of each genre.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic download, and more particularly, to an automatic download apparatus for selecting data to be viewed by a user in WWW browsing and reading the data from a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art WWW (World Wide Web) browsing device
(Referred to as “WWW browser”) sequentially selects data that the user wants to browse (this data is generally referred to as “homepage” or “page”) and reads the data from the network. Recently, in order to simplify a user's operation procedure, a device having an automatic download function for automatically capturing a page by the device itself has been developed.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a display screen of this type of automatic download device. In the example shown in FIG.
An RL (Uniform Resource Locator) is classified for each genre, and a genre name 601 and a page title 602 corresponding to each URL are displayed. The user can browse the page by selecting one of the page titles displayed on the screen. In other words, in the example shown in FIG. 6, the page of "Kanto Golf" of the genre "Golf / Tsurance" is selected.

A combination of a genre and a URL belonging to the genre is generally managed in a table as shown in FIG. This management table includes a genre field in which the homepage is classified, a sub-genre field in which the genre is further classified, and a plurality of U belonging to each genre.
And a URL field for storing the RL. The sub-genre is introduced for the purpose of performing internal management in detail.

[0005]

In this conventional downloader device, in a conventional download device that downloads automatically from above within a predetermined time for a predetermined time,
If there are many pages belonging to each genre, it may not be possible to download all pages by one download.

[0006] Also, the genre classification itself by the database administrator may not be optimal for the user.
That is, the conventional downloader device has the following problems.

[0007] A first problem is that data of a genre most desired by a user may not be obtained at all in a system for downloading for a certain period of time. The reason is that, in the conventional download device, pages are downloaded at a fixed time distribution regardless of the degree of interest of the user in each genre.

[0008] The second problem is that a certain amount of communication occurs even though the interest of the user is small, and the usage fee is wasted.

A third problem is that data of a genre that is less interesting to the user is stored in the storage device, and the free space is reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has as its object to suppress and reduce the acquisition of a homepage that does not meet the user's preference, to reduce the usage fee, and to store the storage device. Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic download device for effective use of a program.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a table for managing at least the browsing frequency for each genre, a download unit for acquiring data on the Internet, and a user-selected table. A browsing unit that displays a page and updates information in the table; and a download management unit that manages a list of data to be downloaded and controls the download unit, wherein the download management unit refers to the table. ,
For a given download time, the download time of each genre is allocated based on the total information of the browsing frequency for the pages of each genre.

In the present invention, the download time allocated to each of the genres is allocated to the download time among the sub-genres constituting the genre based on the total browsing frequency of the genres in page units. I do.

[0013] In the present invention, the download management means refers to the table, and allocates a given download time to a download time of each sub-genre based on total information on browsing frequency of pages of each sub-genre. You may make it.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described. In one embodiment to which the present invention is applied, in a device for automatically downloading homepages by genre, a user's past homepage browsing frequency is inspected, and those having a high browsing frequency, that is, the user seems to want the most. The data of the genre to be downloaded is preferentially downloaded.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a management table (42 in FIG. 1) indicating the browsing frequency for each genre is provided, and the next download time distribution is determined according to the browsing frequency for each genre.

More specifically, download means for acquiring data on the Internet, browsing means for displaying a page selected by a user and updating information in the management table, and managing a list of data to be downloaded, Download management means for controlling the download means. The download management means refers to the management table and, for a given download time, the next download of each genre based on the total information on the browsing frequency for each genre page. Allocate time.

As described above, the download time of the genre in which the user is interested is long, and the download time of the genre in which the user is less interested is allocated less, so that a homepage that reflects the user's preference can be obtained. And In the embodiment of the present invention, the functions of the download unit, the browsing unit, and the download management unit are realized by program control executed on a computer constituting the browsing device, and the present invention realizes these units. The program can be executed by installing the program from a recording medium on which the program is recorded in a computer and starting the program. Hereinafter, a detailed description will be given in accordance with embodiments.

[0018]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the automatic download apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a download unit 1 for acquiring data on the Internet, a browsing unit 2 for displaying a page selected by a user and updating management information in a management table 42. , A download management unit 3 that manages a list of data to be downloaded and controls the download unit 1, and a storage device 4 that stores information.

The storage device 4 includes a cache unit 41 and a management table 42. The cache unit 41
The data downloaded by the download means 1 is stored.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the management table 42 in one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2, the management table 42 includes a genre field in which the homepage is classified, a sub-genre field in which the genre is further classified, and a plurality of URs belonging to the genre.
L, a URL field that stores the number of times the user has viewed the home page in the past, a subtotal field that stores the total value of the browsing frequency of each sub-genre, and a total browsing frequency of each genre. A total field for storing a value.

For example, in the genre "golf / fishing", the sub-genre "golf" has been viewed nine times in the past, and the sub-genre "fishing" has been viewed once, and the genre has been viewed ten times in total (total). (See field 201).

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the contents of the management table 42 shown in FIG. 2 in a state where the user has not browsed it after downloading. Referring to FIG. 3, at this time, the values of all browsing frequencies are 0.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are flowcharts showing the processing flow of one embodiment of the present invention. The operation of this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

When the user selects a certain page (step A1 in FIG. 4), the browsing means 2 makes the selected page
It is checked whether it exists in the cache unit 41 of the storage device 4 (step A2 in FIG. 4).

When the page does not exist in the cache unit 41, the browsing unit 2 acquires the URL information of the page in the management table 42 and downloads the page using the download unit 1 (step in FIG. 4). A
4). The download unit 1 stores the downloaded page in the cache unit 41 of the storage device 4.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step A2 in FIG. 4 that the page exists in the cache unit 41, the browsing unit 2 reads the corresponding data from the cache unit 41.
(Step A3 in FIG. 4).

Next, the browsing means 2 increases the value of the browsing frequency field of the corresponding page in the management table 42 of the storage device 1 by one, and further re-displays the subtotal field of the corresponding sub-genre and the total field of the corresponding genre. After the calculation, the page is displayed (step A5).

At this time, the total fields of the management table 42 are changed from 301 to 303 in FIG. 3 to 201 to 20 in FIG.
It changes like 3.

Next, a method of allocating time at the next download using the management table 42 will be described below.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the download time is distributed in proportion to the browsing frequency of each genre. The download management means 3 reads the value of the total field of the management table 42 and calculates the download time to be assigned to each genre (step B1 in FIG. 5).

For example, if the download time is limited to 170 minutes, in the example shown in FIG. 2, the download allotment time of the genre "golf / hanging" is 100 minutes (1
70 × 10/17), 20 minutes (17 minutes)
0 × 2/17), 50 minutes (170 ×
5/17).

Next, the download management means 3 downloads the page by the download means 1 for the time assigned to each genre (step B2 in FIG. 5).

The download unit 1 stores the downloaded page in the cache unit 41 of the storage device 4.

As another method, in the method of the above embodiment, the time distribution for each genre allocated may be further distributed in proportion to the browsing frequency of each sub-genre.

The download management means 3 reads the value of the subtotal field of the management table 42 based on the download time for each genre determined in the above embodiment, and calculates the download time for each sub-genre.

For example, when the download time is limited to 170 minutes, in the example shown in FIG. 2, the sub-genre "golf" is 90 minutes (170.times.9 / 17), and "fishing" is 10 minutes.
Min (170 x 1/17), "Western" is 10 minutes, "Japanese"
Is 10 minutes, "mail order" is 30 minutes (170 × 3/17),
The "department store" is 20 minutes (170 x 2/17).

As still another time distribution method, the allocated time of each genre may be equally distributed. Then, the time is equally distributed for each sub-genre according to the browsing frequency among the sub-genres constituting each genre.

For example, if the download time is limited to 60 minutes, "golf / fishing", "movie", "shopping"
Are allocated equal to 20 minutes each. The breakdown is calculated from the browsing frequency of the sub-genre. “Golf” is 18 minutes (20 × 9/10), and “hang” is 2 minutes (20 × 2/1).
0), "Western" is 10 minutes (20 x 1/2), "Japanese" is 10 minutes, "Mail order" is 12 minutes (20 x 3/5), and "Department store" is 8 minutes (20 x 2/5) ).

In the above-described embodiment, the same effect can be obtained by replacing the browsing frequency with the browsing time (total viewing time of the homepage).

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the page of the genre preferred by the user is preferentially downloaded, it is possible to obtain a homepage that does not match the preference of the user, and to reduce the usage fee and the waste of the storage device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a management table according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an initial state of a management table in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen in a conventional automatic download device.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a management table in a conventional automatic download device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 download means 2 browsing means 3 download management means 4 storage device 41 cache unit 42 management table 5 network 10 control unit 201 to 203, 301 to 303 total field 601 genre name 602 title

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. An automatic download apparatus comprising means for determining the next download time distribution for each genre from information on the browsing frequency or browsing time of data for each genre of past users. 2. A table for managing at least a browsing frequency for each genre, download means for acquiring data on the Internet, browsing means for displaying a page selected by a user and updating information in the table, Download management means for managing a list of data to be downloaded and controlling the download means, wherein the download management means refers to the table and sets a given download time to a browsing frequency for pages of each genre. Automatic download device, wherein the download time of each genre is distributed based on the total information of the genres. 3. The download management means refers to the table to determine a download time allocated to each genre, and further determines the genre on the basis of a total browsing frequency of sub-genres of the genre in page units. 3. The automatic download device according to claim 2, wherein the automatic download device is distributed among the constituent sub-genres. 4. The download management means according to claim 2, wherein the download time of each genre is distributed in proportion to the total information on the browsing frequency of each genre.
Automatic download device as described. 5. The download managing means distributes the download time allocated to the genre as the download time of each sub-genre in proportion to the total information of the browsing frequency of each sub-genre. 3. The automatic download device according to claim 2, wherein: 6. A table for managing at least a genre and a browsing frequency for each sub-genre constituting the genre, download means for acquiring data on the Internet, a page selected by a user, and a page selected by the user. A browsing unit for updating information; and a download management unit for managing a list of data to be downloaded and controlling the download unit. The download management unit refers to the table to determine a given download time. An automatic download device for allocating a download time of each sub-genre based on total information on browsing frequency of pages of each sub-genre. 7. The table includes a genre field for classifying a home page, a sub-genre field for further classifying a genre, and a plurality of U belonging to a genre.
A URL field for storing an RL, and a UR for storing how many times the user has viewed the URL home page in the past.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a browsing frequency field for each L; a subtotal field storing a total browsing frequency of each sub-genre; and a total field storing a browsing frequency of each genre. 7. The automatic download device according to any one of 6. 8. A table for managing at least browsing time for each genre, download means for acquiring data on the Internet, browsing means for displaying a page selected by a user and updating information in the table, A download management means for managing a list of data to be downloaded and controlling the download means, wherein the download management means refers to the table to determine a given download time and a browse time for a page of each genre. Automatic download device, wherein download time of each genre is distributed based on total information of the genres. 9. The download management means refers to the table to determine a download time allocated to each genre, and further determines the genre based on a total of page-by-page browsing times of sub-genres of the genre. 2. The automatic download device according to claim 1, wherein the automatic download device is distributed among constituent sub-genres. 10. A table for managing at least a genre and a browsing frequency for each sub-genre constituting the genre, download means for acquiring data on the Internet, a page selected by a user, and information of the table displayed. And a download management unit that manages a list of data to be downloaded and controls the download unit, wherein the download management unit refers to the table to determine a given download time, An automatic download apparatus, wherein a download time of each sub-genre is allocated based on total information of browsing frequency regarding pages of each sub-genre. 11. A table for managing at least the browsing frequency for each genre, (a) download means for acquiring data on the Internet, (b) a page selected by a user is displayed and information in the table is displayed. Browsing means for updating; (c) download management means for managing a list of data to be downloaded and controlling the download means, and referring to the table to determine a given download time for each genre and / or sub- Download management means for allocating the download time of each genre and / or sub-genre based on the total information of the browsing frequency or browsing time related to the genre page; and (a) to (c) above constitute an automatic download apparatus. A recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to function is recorded.