JP2001084269A - Context grasping system and method, and recording medium recording the processing program - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] In the conventional technology, context information cannot be handled independently from an application, and it is necessary to respond to a change in a situation such as a failure of a sensor means or the like for collecting data. Points that cannot be handled flexibly. SOLUTION: An application 2 for requesting context information has an A for referring to the context information.
The PI is defined, and the context information is provided to the application via the context information request input / output unit 120 based on the PI, and the context information generation part of the context grasping system 1 is hidden from the application 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a GPS (Global P
ositioning system) or a so-called "exhibition guide system", which indicates the situation (context) surrounding the user, such as location information of the user who moves on a network or between a plurality of interconnected networks using a computer. The present invention relates to a technique for providing a multimedia communication service most suitable for a user's request based on information (context information), and in particular, a context grasping system and method suitable for efficiently collecting context-related information and processing thereof. The present invention relates to a recording medium on which a program is recorded.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a service such as a GPS for detecting the position of a moving user via a network and providing the position information to the user is provided on a single network or a plurality of interconnected services. A network service technology using a computer that provides various communication services to a user who moves between networks has been developed.

For example, as a system for providing such a network service, “Abowd, GD, Atkenson,
CG, Hong, J., Long, S., Kooper, R. and Pinkerto
n, M .: Cyberguide: A mobile context-aware tour gui
de, Wireless Networks, Vol.3, No.5, pp.421-433 (19
97)). With this technology,
Information can be provided depending on the position of the user on the exhibition hall map displayed on the mobile terminal.

Further, in such a network service system as an example of an exhibition, in order to realize a service that can increase the user's satisfaction as much as possible, a user who moves on a network is asked "user's Conventional technologies that grasp and utilize not only “location information” but also “user's personal interests” as so-called “contexts” (situations surrounding users) include, for example, “Yasuyuki Kado, Takuyuki Eya, Sydney Fels” , Nicola Simone, Kaoru Kobayashi, Kenji Mase: "C-MAP: Conte
Prototype of xt-aware exhibition guide system ", Transactions of Information Processing Society of Japan, vol.39, No.10, pp.2886-2877 (Oct.1
998)].

[0005] According to this technology, it is possible to grasp the position and interest ("context") of a user at an exhibition or the like, and to provide a guide service according to the information.
In order to provide the most suitable service at the time to the user who moves on one network or a plurality of interconnected networks like the guide system at this exhibition, the situation surrounding the user ( "Context") needs to be efficiently understood through multiple networks.

However, this prior art (“C-MAP: C
In the case of "prototype of an on-text exhibition guide system"), when an application intends to provide a service utilizing context information, the application performs a consistent process from acquisition of data which is the source of context information to utilization of context information. Direct control is required.

The data acquisition / management technology used as the basis of context information used therein includes a position management server that manages information based on position detection by a sensor or the like, a database that stores user interest, and the like. Is used. For example, it is a GPS position management server in a car navigation system. As described above, in the conventional context grasping technology, only a sensor registered in the server in advance or a database to be referred to is targeted.

A technology for supporting the development of an application utilizing a context is described in, for example, “Dani
el Salber, Anind K. Dey and Gregory D. Abowd, "The
Context Toolkit: Aiding the Development of Context
-Enabled Applications ", CHI'99, to appear, Pittsbu
rgh, PA, May 15-20, 1999 ".
However, in this technology, the service provided is uniquely determined by the situation of the user, such that the context information to be handled is only the position of the user, and a certain service is activated if the user is at a certain place. It is.

As described above, the conventional technology cannot flexibly respond to changes in the situation. For example, sensors
If the means for collecting the data on which the context information is based fails, service provision becomes impossible. Also,
In the conventional technology, the context information referred to in a certain service is stored and used in a format unique to the system of the service. Therefore, the context information cannot be handled independently from the application, and the same context information cannot be used. It is difficult to develop new applications.

[0010]

The problems to be solved are that the conventional technique cannot handle context information independently from an application, and that the data that is the source of the context information is collected. In this case, it is not possible to flexibly respond to a change in the situation, for example, when the sensor means or the like breaks down.

[0011] An object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art, to collect contexts flexibly in response to a dynamic situation change, to continue service provision, and to provide the same context. It is an object of the present invention to provide a context grasping system and method capable of facilitating the development of a new application using information, and a recording medium recording a processing program thereof.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, in the context grasping system and method of the present invention, an application (API) for referring to context information for an application requesting context information is provided.
Programming Interface) is defined, and the context information is provided to the application based on the definition, and a generation part of the context information is hidden from the application. In addition, for one piece of context information, a plurality of information sources (“context data source”) such as data used for generating the context information (“context data”) and sensors used for collecting the context data are prepared in advance. In advance, context data is acquired by changing the association with context information according to a change in an application or a situation. For example, if it is impossible to obtain the first associated context data due to a failure of the first sensor (context data source) or the like, the other associated second sensor (context data source) Generate context information instead of context data that can be obtained.
When providing context information to an application, additional information such as reliability of information is provided. Also, when providing context information to an application, if it is not possible to obtain the necessary context data by any means, the context data is estimated based on the past history (history information) and the context data is estimated. The information is generated and provided to the application.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the context grasping system of the present invention according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a network provided with the context grasping system in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a computer device implementing the context grasping system in FIG.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 31 denotes a CRT (Cathode Ra).
y, a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), an input device 32 such as a keyboard and a mouse, an external storage device 33 such as a hard disk drive, and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a main memory. An information processing apparatus for performing computer processing according to the storage program method, an optical disk 35 on which a processing program, data, and the like according to the present invention are recorded, and a driving device 36 for reading the optical disk 35

By installing the processing programs and data recorded on the optical disk 35 and reading them into the main memory, the components of the context grasping system shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the context grasping system 21 of the present embodiment includes one or more networks 22 and 22n.
, And connected to providers 23 and 23m and users 24 and 24i via the respective networks 22 and 22n. Then, the positions and interests of the users 24 and 24i
The situation surrounding the user including knowledge, that is, data representing a context (“context data”) is collected via a source group 25 composed of sensors and a database (DB).

The "context" does not include, in detail, things that require user's action, such as emotions, intentions, and explicit requests, and includes monitoring with a physical sensor or reference to a database. Means the situation surrounding the user, including the user's position, interests, and knowledge, which can be grasped by external means such as.

Further, a service that can adapt to the user's situation and increase the user's satisfaction by grasping and using this context is called a "context storeware service". Is described as "context-aware application".

[0019] Also, the context in a representation format that can be used by an application is called "context information". Furthermore, information such as raw data obtained from sensors or data obtained by referring to a database, which can be obtained on one network or a plurality of interconnected networks serving as a source of "context information" is referred to as "context information". Information sources such as sensors and databases that provide the "context data" are referred to as "context data sources".

Hereinafter, the context grasping system of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will be described in detail. In FIG. 1, 1 is a context grasping system, 2 is an application, and 3 is a context data source group. The context grasping system 1 includes a context information request input / output unit 120, a context information generating unit 140, a context data source specifying unit 150, It has an association information registration unit 160.

The context information request input / output unit 120, the context information generation unit 140, and the context data source identification unit 150 all indicate software modules stored in a memory, and these software are read out by a CPU as a processing device. Performs each function by being executed. Further, the association information registration unit 160 stores an information / data association table 161 that is stored in a storage device such as an HDD and pre-registers association between context information and context data, and associates context data with context data sources. It consists of a data source correspondence table 162 registered in advance.

In such a configuration, in the context grasping system 1 of the present embodiment, exchange with the application 2 is performed by using an API (Application Programmable Program) defined in advance.
ingInterface). For example, if a provider provides a nursing service as an example,
The context information requested from the application includes “location information”, “health status”,
“User preference”, “resource status (use status, load information)” and the like can be considered.

If the context information is “health state”, the application 2 requests the “health state” at the level of only comprehensive judgment and individual elements (heart function, lung function, muscle strength, etc.). APIs at each level are defined.

When the application 2 issues a request for context information based on the specified API, the context grasping system 1 of this embodiment receives the context information request by the context information request input / output unit 120, and receives the request. Is passed from the context information request input / output unit 120 to the context information generation unit 140.

The context information generator 1 to which the request has been passed
40 refers to the information / data correspondence table 161 of the association information registration unit 160, and stores (one or more) context data associated with the context information.
The specified context data is passed to the context data source specifying unit 150.

The context data source specifying unit 150 having received the context data sets the association information registration unit 1
Referring to the 60 data source correspondence tables 162,
Information sources such as sensors and databases used to obtain the relevant context data on multiple networks,
That is, a context data source is selected and specified from the context data source group 3, and a request is made to collect the context data.

Select from context data source county 3
The specified context data source collects the context data requested from the context data source specifying unit 150 and sets the context data source specifying unit 1
50, and the context data source specifying unit 150
Passes the context data acquired from the context data source group 3 to the context information generation unit 140.

The context information generating unit 140 generates context information using the context data received from the context data source specifying unit 150 and passes the generated context information to the context information request input / output unit 120. The context information request input / output unit 120 The context information from the context information request input / output unit 120 is provided to the application 2 using a prescribed API.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the context information request input / output unit in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the context information request input / output unit 120
Context information request receiving means 120 for receiving a request from application 2 using a prescribed API
1 and context information providing means 1202 for providing the generated context information to the application 2 using a prescribed API.

As shown by the arrows in the figure, the context information request input / output unit 120 is provided with an input / output line to the context information generation unit 140. Note that these units (the context information request receiving unit 1201 and the context information providing unit 1202) that constitute the context information request input / output unit 120 are subroutines that respectively constitute a part of the software module.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the context information generator in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the context information generation unit 140 is the information / data correspondence table 16
1, a context data specifying unit 1401 for specifying one or a plurality of context data corresponding to the context information passed from the context information request input / output unit 120, and a context data specifying unit 140
1 comprises a context data requesting unit 1402 for requesting the context data source specifying unit 150 to obtain the context data specified by 1 and a context information generating unit 1403 for generating context information from the obtained context data.

As shown by the arrows in the figure, the context information generating unit 140 includes an input / output line from the context information request input / output unit 120, an input / output line from the context data source specifying unit 150, and Input / output lines from the association information registration unit 160 are provided. Each of these units constituting the context information generation unit 140 (context data specifying unit 1401, context data requesting unit 1402, context information generation unit 1)
403) are subroutines each constituting a part of a software module.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the context data source specifying unit in FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, the context data source specifying unit 150
A context data request receiving unit 1501 for receiving a context data request input from the context information generating unit 140, and a data source correspondence table 162 of the association information registration unit 160 in FIG. 1 from the received context data request. Context data source specifying means 1 for specifying a context data source by referring to it
502, a context data obtaining unit 1503 for obtaining context data from the specified context data source, and a context data providing unit 1504 for providing the required context data to the context information generating unit 140.

As shown by the arrows in the figure, the context data source specifying unit 150 is provided with a context information generation unit 140, input / output lines from the context data source group 3 and an association information registration unit 160, respectively. ing. Note that the context data source specifying unit 150
(Context data request receiving means 1501, context data source specifying means 1)
Reference numeral 502, a context data obtaining unit 1503, and a context data providing unit 1504) are subroutines each constituting a part of a software module.

As a specific application example of the context grasping system having such a configuration, the above-mentioned nursing service will be described. A provider (service provider) providing a nursing service requests the context grasping system for context information of a certain user's "health status".

In response to this request, the context grasping system uses the biological information, such as blood pressure and body temperature, required to generate the context information “health status”.
A source used to identify context data such as activity record information such as the user's position (walking speed) and acquire this context data, for example, a sensor that monitors the user's walking, a measuring device worn by the user, etc. And obtains necessary data (context data) of the user from the specified source.

From the context data obtained in this way, the context information generating section 140 generates context information, that is, information indicating whether the user's health condition is good or bad, and where it is bad. , Via the context information request input / output unit 120 by a prescribed API to the service provider.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing operation according to the present invention of the context grasping system in FIG. This example is a processing example according to the context grasping method of the present invention, and shows a series of processing from input of a context information request from an application to provision of context information.

Hereinafter, the processing operation in each step of FIG. 7 will be described using the configuration example of the context grasping system described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIGS. When the generation of the context information is requested from the application 2, the processing is started. That is, the context information request input / output unit 120 receives the context information request by the context information request receiving unit 1201 (step 201).
0), request the context information generation unit 140 to specify the context data necessary for generating the context information.

The context information generating unit 140 generates the context information in response to the received context information request by the context data specifying unit 1401 with reference to the information / data correspondence table 161 of the association information registration unit 160. One or a plurality of context data is specified (step 2011), and context data is requested by the context data requesting means 1402 in order to obtain the context data from the context data source specifying unit 150 (step 2012).

Context data source specifying unit 150
The context data request receiving unit 1501 receives the context data request, and the context data source specifying unit 1502 outputs the association information registration unit 160
With reference to the data source correspondence table 161 of FIG. 1, a context data source for providing context data that meets the request is specified (step 2013), and the requested context data is converted by the context data acquisition unit 1503 into the relevant context data. The data is obtained by requesting the data source, and provided to the context information generating unit 140 by the context data providing unit 1504 (step 2014).

Upon obtaining the context data, the context information generating section 140 generates context information by the context information generating means 1404 (step 2015). Then, the context information request input / output unit 120 provides the context information generated by the context information generation unit 140 to the application (step 2016), and ends the processing.

If the acquisition of context data by the context data source identification unit 150 fails in step 2104, the result is returned to the context information generation unit 140 and the process is terminated. Alternatively, as in the example described below, the context data source specifying unit 150 acquires alternative context data.

That is, in the configuration of the context information generating unit 140 shown in FIG.
01, the context data specifying unit 1401 selects a plurality of context data candidates as alternative context data, and attempts to obtain the context data obtained by the context data obtaining unit 1503 of the context data source specifying unit 150. Is not available, the context data source specifying unit 150 is requested to select alternative context data.

As a specific application example of such a processing operation, the nursing service mentioned above as an application example will be described. In the nursing service, when the blood pressure sensor fails and biological information cannot be acquired, a plurality of context data candidates (pulses and electrocardiograms) previously selected as biological information to be replaced with blood pressure are provided by the context data source identification unit 1.
50, and the context information generation unit 140 determines the health state using such obtainable context data.

An example of such a processing operation will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing another processing operation example of the context grasping system in FIG. 1 according to the present invention. This example is another example of processing related to the context grasping method of the present invention, and corresponds to step 201 in the example of processing shown in FIG.
In step 4, when context data cannot be obtained, a process (step 2110) for obtaining alternative context data is added.

That is, in this example, the processing content of the context data specifying means 1401 of the configuration of the context information generating unit 140 shown in FIG. 5 is changed, and if there is a context information request (step 2010), The means 1401 selects a plurality of context data candidates used for generating context information (step 2011a).

Then, a context data source is specified based on the context data request (step 201).
2 to 2013), when the context data is acquired, if the context data for which acquisition was attempted cannot be acquired (step 2014a), the context information generation unit 140 prepares the context data using the context data identification unit 1401. The alternative context data is selected from the plurality of context data (step 211).
0) Again, the context data requesting unit 1402 processes the context data request to the context data source specifying unit 150 (step 201).
2).

Next, another example of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing another configuration example of the context information generating unit in FIG.
0 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing operation of the context information generation unit in FIG. 9.

The context information generator 140 shown in FIG.
a is obtained by adding a context data evaluation unit 1404 to the configuration of the context information generation unit 140 shown in FIG. This context data evaluation means 1404
Is for calculating additional information such as reliability of information based on context data.

As described above, the operation of the context information generation unit 140a to which the context data evaluation means 1404 is added is described with reference to FIG. When the context information “health state” is generated using the alternative context data, the reliability of the information provided to the application is indicated, so that the situation of the user can be grasped more accurately.

In other words, when acquiring biological information, it is possible to provide more limited context information by using context data acquired by a highly accurate sensor.
If context data having an error is used, it is possible to provide information that does not deviate from the user's actual health condition by providing a certain amount of context information.

An example of the processing operation will be described with reference to FIG. The example of FIG. 10 illustrates a process of calculating the additional information of the context, that is, a series of processes from the generation of the context information to the calculation of the additional information of the context. When generated in 2015, the context data evaluation unit 1404 evaluates the context data (step 3010), calculates context additional information based on the evaluation (step 3011), and provides the context information when providing the context information in step 2016. I do.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing another example of the configuration of the context grasping system of the present invention according to the present invention. FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the context information generating unit in FIG. 11, and FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a context history management unit in FIG. 1.

The context grasping system 1 shown in FIG.
FIG. 7A shows a configuration in which a context history management unit 141 is added to the context grasping system shown in FIG. By adding such a context history management unit 141 and managing the history of context data and context information, it is possible to use any means to acquire the necessary context data when acquiring context information. If not possible, estimate the context data and generate the required context information;
Alternatively, the context information itself can be estimated.

In order to use the context history management section 141, the context information generation section 140b has, as shown in FIG. 12, the configuration of the context information generation section 140a shown in FIG.
Estimating means 1405 and context information reference / estimating means 1
406 is added.

Context data reference / estimation means 140
5: When acquiring context information, if acquisition of necessary context data is impossible by any means, the context data is estimated by referring to history information in the context history management unit 141, Generate the required context information.

Context information reference / estimation means 1
If the context data cannot be estimated, 406 estimates this context information and generates the required context information. In addition, as shown by the arrow in the figure,
An input / output line for the context history management unit 141 is added to the context information generation unit 140b.

As shown in FIG. 13, the context history management unit 141 manages the context data history which is referred to by the context information generation unit 140, as well as the context information history management unit 1411. And a context information history management unit 1412 for performing the operation.

As shown by the arrows in the figure, the context history management unit 141 has the context information generation unit 14
Input / output lines from 0b are provided. Each of these units (the context data history management unit 1411 and the context information history management unit 1412) constituting the context history management unit 141 is a subroutine that constitutes a part of a software module.

As a specific application example of such a configuration,
Take the nursing services mentioned earlier and explain them. When the context information “health state” is generated using the alternative context data as described above, if none of the plurality of context data candidates can be obtained, the biological state cannot be obtained. become unable.

In this case, referring to the activity information, the biological information is estimated by using the record of the activity information closest to the user's health status history managed in the context history management unit 141, Estimate the required context information "health status". At the same time, the additional information shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 is provided, and the application is notified that the context information is not so reliable.

An example of such a processing operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing operation according to the present invention of the context grasping system in FIG. 11. This example has a function of estimating context data and context information shown in FIG. 12, and shows a series of processing from input of a context information request from an application to provision of context information.

That is, in the flow shown in FIG. 8, when it is impossible to obtain context data by any means, a step for estimating context data or context information in order to provide required context information. (Step 2210 to Step 2211)
Is added.

In the following, the configuration shown in FIGS.
The steps of the flow of the portion added to the description will be described. If it is not possible to obtain any context data in response to the change of the context data (step 2110a), the context information generation unit 140b causes the context data reference / estimation unit 1405 to execute the context data history management unit 1411 of the context history management unit 141. Refer to the context data history managed in
The context data is estimated (step 2210), and context information is generated by the context information generating means 1403 (step 2105).

However, in step 2210, if the requested context data history cannot be referred to, the context information generating unit 140
The context history management unit 141 is used by the estimation unit 1406.
Context information is estimated with reference to the context information history managed by the context information history management unit 1412 (step 2211), and required context information generation processing is performed (step 2105).

As described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 14, in the context grasping system and method of the present embodiment, an API for referencing context information in response to a context information request from an application is defined. A
Receiving a request for context information based on the PI,
The generated context information is provided, and the process of generating the context information is hidden from the application.

That is, the context data required for generating the context information requested by the application is specified, the context data source for obtaining the context data is specified, and the context data obtained from the specified context data source is used. The hidden context information generation process is hidden from the application, and the context information reference procedure is made general-purpose for the application.

Thus, the application does not need to be aware of the internal structure of the network or the type of the context data source, and only needs to specify the arguments for calling the functions of the API defined by the context grasping system and method in this example. Therefore, a new application can be easily developed and constructed.

In the context grasping system and method of the present embodiment, the context information is a source of context information which can be obtained through a plurality of networks for one context information, and is an information source for providing context data. A plurality of context data sources are prepared, the association with the context information is set again according to the application and the situation, the context data to be acquired is changed, and the context information requested by the application is generated.

For example, when it is impossible to obtain context data due to a failure of the context data source or the like, the data is replaced with context data that can be obtained from another context data source. This allows, for example,
If the user's location information was obtained from the PHS,
Even if there is a dynamic change in the user's situation, such as when the power supply of the user is turned off, the execution and continuation of the service can be performed by changing the acquisition means to GPS or the like.

In the context grasping system and method of the present embodiment, when providing context information to an application, additional information such as the reliability of the information is provided. As a result, the application can easily consider the reliability of information and the like, and can provide a service by accurately determining the user's situation.

Further, in the context grasping system and method of the present embodiment, when providing context information to an application, if the necessary context data cannot be obtained by any means, the context data is estimated. To generate context information, or
The context information itself is estimated and provided to the application.

As described above, according to the context grasping system and method of the present embodiment, the network itself connects and manages a variety of context data sources existing on a plurality of networks, so that the context data due to a failure or the like can be obtained. In response to changes in the source and dynamic situation changes of the user, the context to support the realization of the optimal service at that time can be grasped. At that time, it is possible to receive a service that matches the user's request and situation, that is, that maximizes the user's satisfaction as much as possible.

The present invention is not limited to the examples described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 14 and can be variously modified without departing from the gist thereof. For example, FIGS.
The context grasping system and method of the example described with reference to FIG. 14 are described based on the context grasping system configured to evaluate the context information described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. A configuration based on the context grasping system having a configuration that does not evaluate the context information described in (1) may be used.

[0076]

According to the present invention, context information can be handled separately from an application,
It can facilitate the development of new applications using the same context information, and is also an alternative in the event that the sensor means for collecting the data that is the source of the context information breaks down, etc. Can be used to substitute for a failed sensor, collect context in response to dynamic changes in the situation, and continue to provide services. By providing the additional information to the application, it is possible to accurately determine the user's situation and provide a service, and to provide a service that further enhances user satisfaction, and to provide a service using such context information. Can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration according to the present invention of a context grasping system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a network provided with the context grasping system in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a computer device implementing the context grasping system in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a context information request input / output unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a context information generation unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a context data source specifying unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing operation according to the present invention of the context grasping system in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing another processing operation example of the context grasping system in FIG. 1 according to the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating another configuration example of the context information generation unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing operation of a context information generation unit in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing another example of the configuration according to the present invention of the context grasping system of the present invention.

12 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a context information generation unit in FIG.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a context history management unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing operation according to the present invention of the context grasping system in FIG. 11;

[Description of Signs] 1, 1a: Context grasp system, 2, 2a: Application, 3, 3a: Context data source group, 21: Context grasp system, 22, 22n:
Network, 23, 23m: Provider, 24, 24
i: user, 25: source group, 31: display device, 32:
Input device, 33: external storage device, 34: information processing device,
35: optical disk, 36: drive unit, 120: context information request input / output unit, 140, 140a, 140b:
Context information generation unit, 150: context data source identification unit, 160: association information registration unit, 161: information / data correspondence table, 162: data / source correspondence table, 1201: context information request receiving means,
1202: context information providing means, 1401: context data specifying means, 1402: context data requesting means, 1403: context information generating means, 1
404: context data evaluation means, 1405: context data reference / estimation means, 1406: context information reference / estimation means, 1411: context data history management means, 1412: context information history management means, 1501: context data request receiving means, 15
02: Context data source specifying means, 1503:
Context data acquisition means, 1504: context data providing means.

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A computer system for generating information (context information) indicating a situation (context) surrounding a management target requested from an application via a network and passing the information to the application, wherein the context information and the An information / data association registering means for associating and registering context data used for generating the context information, and associating and registering in advance the context data and a resource (context data source) used for acquiring the context data Data source correspondence registration means and a predefined API (Application Program
request input means for receiving a request for context information relating to the management object using the ingInterface), and one or more context data used to generate the context information received by the request input means in the information / data correspondence registration. Data specifying means for specifying with reference to the means, source specifying means for specifying the context data source used for acquiring the context data specified by the data specifying means with reference to the data / source correspondence registration means, Data acquisition means for acquiring the context data from the context data source identified by the identification means; information generation means for generating context information requested by the application using the context data acquired by the data acquisition means; The context information generated by the generation means And an information output means for sending the application to the application using the API. 2. The context grasping system according to claim 1, wherein said information / data correspondence registration means registers context data capable of generating the same context information as alternative context data, and wherein said data acquisition means Generating context information requested by the application using the alternative context data obtainable by the data obtaining means, when the context data specified by the data specifying means cannot be obtained by the data specifying means. Grasp system. 3. The context grasping system according to claim 1, wherein a result of specifying the context data with respect to the context information by the data specifying means is registered as history information. Providing a managing means, wherein the data specifying means comprises:
If the context data used to generate the context information received by the request input means cannot be specified by referring to the information / data association registration means, the context data is referred to by referring to the history information of the data history management means. A context grasp system characterized by estimating and specifying. 4. The context grasping system according to claim 1, wherein a result of generating said context information in response to a request from said application by said information generating means is registered as history information. Provision of management means, when the context data used for generating the context information received by the request input means in the data specifying means can not be specified by referring to the information and data association registration means, by the information generating means, A context grasping system which estimates and generates the context information with reference to history information of the information history management means. 5. The context comprehension system according to claim 1, wherein the information generation unit generates the context using the context data according to the context data acquired by the data acquisition unit. Data evaluation means for obtaining information including the reliability of the context information obtained, the information obtained by the data evaluation means being added to the context information generated by the information generation means, and transmitted to the application. Grasp system. 6. A context grasp method in a computer system, which generates information (context information) indicating a situation (context) surrounding a management target requested from an application via a network and passes the information to the application. A first step of registering the context information and context data used for generating the context information in association with each other, and registering the context data and resources (context data source) used for acquiring the context data in advance And a predetermined API (Application Program Mining) from the application.
gInterface), and a third step of receiving a request for context information related to the management target using the first step and the one or more context data used for generating the context information received in the third step. A fourth step of specifying with reference to the registered contents in the step, and a second step of specifying the context data source used for acquiring the context data specified in the fourth step with reference to the registered contents in the second step. Step 5, a sixth step of obtaining the context data from the context data source specified in the fifth step, and context information requested by the application using the context data obtained in the sixth step And the context generated in the seventh step Broadcast a context grasping method characterized by a step of the eighth to be sent to the application by using the API. 7. The context grasping method according to claim 6, wherein in the first step, context data capable of generating the same context information is registered as alternative context data, and When the context data specified in the fourth step cannot be obtained, the context information requested by the application is generated using the alternative context data obtainable in the sixth step. How to grasp the context. 8. The context grasping method according to claim 6, wherein a result of specifying said context data with respect to said context information in said fourth step is registered as history information. And in the fourth step, if the context data used for generating the context information requested by the application cannot be specified by referring to the registration content in the first step, the history information is referred to. And estimating and specifying the context data. 9. The context grasping method according to claim 6, wherein a result of generating said context information in response to a request from said application in said seventh step is registered as history information. If the context data used for generating the context information requested by the application cannot be specified by referring to the registration contents in the fourth step, the seventh step , Wherein the context information is estimated and generated with reference to the history information. 10. The context grasping method according to claim 6, wherein, in accordance with the context data obtained in said sixth step, said seventh step is performed by using said context data. A step of obtaining information including the reliability of the context information generated in the step (a), adding the information obtained in the step to the context information generated in the seventh step, and transmitting the information to the application. How to figure out. 11. A processing procedure program of a context grasping method by a computer system, which generates information (context information) indicating a situation (context) surrounding a management target requested from an application via a network and passes the information to the application. A recording medium for recording, wherein a program for causing a computer to execute each step of the context grasping method according to any one of claims 6 to 10 is recorded.