JP2002269145A - Information processing device, terminal device, method, medium, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] The technical problem of the present invention is to provide a function capable of easily and passively using a large number of contents on a network. The present invention provides a storage unit (3, 3) for storing information.
4, 13 and 14) and a control unit (2, 12).
2) searching for instruction information indicating the location of the data, determining whether or not the data indicated by the instruction information is included in a predetermined type, and checking the storage unit (3, 4, 13, 14)
When the data is determined to be included in a predetermined type, the instruction information is stored, and instruction information indicating the location of the data is collected.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus for collecting information related to contents on a network, a collection method, and a computer program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As computers and communication technologies have developed, users can access various resources of networks such as the Internet. On the network, videos, sounds (including music data other than voice), still images,
Various contents such as character data are provided.

[0003] In addition, due to a decrease in communication charges, there are many cases where a network is always connected. In such an environment,
There may be a demand for using content on a network like a conventional television or radio. This is because moving pictures and sounds on the network also include the same kind of contents as those provided in television and radio programs.

[0004] However, the power is turned on for television and radio,
When the predetermined setting is made, the content is provided according to the program schedule without the user's active operation.
On the other hand, in order for the user to access the content on the network, an active operation was required.

[0005] In other words, before the user uses the content on the network, the user performs an interactive operation.
You have to follow the information on the network. Because of this, even though computers and networks have become widespread,
The contents on the network could not be used as easily and passively as television and radio.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such problems of the prior art. That is, a technical problem of the present invention is to provide a function that can easily and passively use a large number of contents on a network.

[0007]

The present invention employs the following means in order to solve the above-mentioned problems.

The present invention is an information processing apparatus including a storage unit for storing information and a control unit. The control unit searches for instruction information indicating the location of data, and is instructed by the instruction information. The storage unit determines whether the data is included in the predetermined type. When the data is determined to be included in the predetermined type, the storage unit stores the instruction information and indicates the location of the data. Is to collect.

The information processing device may be, for example, a terminal device for displaying contents, or a server requested to process by the terminal device (1).

Preferably, the information processing apparatus further includes a communication unit for accessing a network or a communication connection unit for connecting the communication unit, and the control unit is held by another information processing apparatus on the network. The searched instruction information may be searched.

Preferably, the communication unit receives a selection criterion for selecting data, and the control unit determines whether the data satisfies the selection criterion, and determines whether the data satisfies the selection criterion. Instruction information may be collected.

Preferably, the information processing apparatus further includes an input unit, and the input unit receives a selection criterion for selecting data, and the control unit determines whether the data satisfies the selection criterion. May be determined, and instruction information for data corresponding to the selection criterion may be collected.

Preferably, the communication unit may receive a request for collecting the instruction information from a terminal device connected to a network, and the control unit may cause the terminal device to display the collected instruction information.

Preferably, the information processing apparatus further includes a display unit for displaying information or a first connection unit connected to the display unit, and the control unit displays the collected instruction information on the display unit. May be.

[0015] Preferably, the control unit may search for character information relating to the data, and display the character information in combination with the instruction information.

Preferably, the type of the data is image data, sound data, moving image data, text data, or a combination thereof. Here, the sound data includes voice, sound and music data other than voice.

Preferably, in the information processing apparatus, an input unit, a display unit for displaying information or a first connection unit connected to the display unit, and a sound output unit or a sound output unit for outputting sound are connected. The input unit may be instructed to output the data, and the control unit may output the content described by the data. Here, outputting the content means, for example, reproducing a moving image or sound (including sound and sound and music data other than voice) and displaying a still image or text information.

The present invention is also a terminal device comprising a communication unit for accessing a network or a communication connection unit for connecting the communication unit, and a control unit, wherein the control unit includes instruction information indicating the location of data. The data designated by the instruction information may be included in a predetermined type, and the collection of such instruction information may be requested to a server on the network.

Preferably, the terminal device further includes a display unit for displaying information or a first connection unit connected to the display unit, wherein the control unit causes the display unit to display the collected instruction information. Is also good.

Preferably, the terminal device comprises: an input unit;
A display unit for displaying information or a first connection unit to which the display unit is connected, and a sound output unit for outputting sound (including sound data and music data other than voice) or a second connection unit to which a sound output unit is connected. The input unit may be instructed to output the data, and the control unit may output the content described by the data to a display unit or a sound output unit.

[0021] The control unit may continuously output a plurality of contents indicated by the collected plurality of instruction information.

According to the present invention, a search unit for searching for content data satisfying a predetermined condition, an order determination unit for determining a playback order of each searched content data, and controlling playback of the content data based on the playback order And a playback control unit that performs the playback.

Preferably, the content data may be held in another device accessible through a network.

Preferably, the condition may be specified by a user.

[0025] Preferably, the condition may specify a specific genre of the content.

Preferably, the condition may specify a specific data type of the content.

Preferably, the content data may be stream data.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for a computer to collect instruction information indicating the location of data, wherein the step of retrieving the instruction information indicating the location of the data includes determining whether the data is included in a predetermined type. And the step of storing the instruction information when it is determined that the data is included in the predetermined type.

According to the present invention, a step of searching for content data satisfying a predetermined condition, a step of determining a reproduction order of each searched content data, and a step of controlling reproduction of the content data based on the reproduction order are provided. May be used.

Further, the present invention may be a program for causing a computer to realize any of the above functions. In the present invention, such a program may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium.

[0031]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<< First Embodiment >> A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 11. FIG. 1 is a system schematic diagram of an information search system according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of a personal computer 1 (hereinafter simply referred to as PC1) as a client shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a hardware configuration diagram of the management server 11 shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is an EPG (Electric Program Guide) creation request screen 3 on the PC 1.
5 is an example of an EPG display screen 32 in the PC 1, FIG. 6 is an example of data of the directivity database 21 shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 7 is referred to by the management server 11. FIG. 8 is a data example of a content determination table. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing processing of an EPG creation program executed by the management server 11 of FIG.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing details of the URL search processing shown in FIG. 8, FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing content automatic reproduction processing based on relative time, and FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing content automatic reproduction processing synchronized with real time. is there.

<System Overview> FIG. 1 shows a system configuration diagram of the information retrieval system. This information retrieval system
The content server includes a content server that provides contents, a management server 11 that executes information search in the content server and its own database to create an EPG, and a PC 1 that accesses the management server 11 and the content server via a network. .

The management server 11 of the present information search system
It searches contents existing on various computers on the Internet, for example, moving images, sounds, still images, texts, or composite data thereof, and automatically creates a contents list. Here, the sound includes music data other than voice (the same applies hereinafter).

In this embodiment, this content list is called an EPG. The management server 11 executes an EPG creation program to create an EPG. In this process, the management server 11 creates an EPG by collecting contents related to the specification based on the field or keyword specified by the user.

Further, the management server 11 has a directivity database 21, an advertisement database 22, and a content database (not shown). The directivity database 21 has data indicating the type of content provided by the management server 11 or the content server. The management server 11 searches the directivity database 21 and, based on this, further searches for information in the management server 11 itself and in the content server.

The PC 1 of the information retrieval system executes a browser and automatically reproduces contents based on the EPG. Among such contents, moving images, sounds, or composite data thereof are particularly called stream data. The function of reproducing stream data is realized by a program embedded in a browser.

This stream data is on-demand, that is, data of a type downloaded at the time of reproduction. The browser has a function of continuously playing back contents according to the EPG, and an EPG designated by the user.
Provides the function of individually playing back the contents.

The outline of the processing of the system will be described below with reference to FIG. First, a client such as the PC 1 requests the management server 11 to create an EPG (arrow 101).
At this time, a field or a keyword desired by the user is delivered from the PC 1 to the management server 11.

The management server 11 stores the directivity database 2
1 to search for an HTML file stored in the management server 11 itself or a content server on the network (arrow 102). The management server 11 uses those HTMs
URL (Uniform) indicating content from L file
Resource Locater) Collect.

Next, the management server 11 sends the collected URL
Are listed, and an EPG is created (arrow 103). Further, the management server 11 selects predetermined advertisement data from the advertisement database 22, and adds a URL indicating the advertisement data to the EPG (arrow 104). EPG created
Is delivered to the PC 1 (arrow 105).

The client such as the PC 1 requests the content server to distribute the content according to the URL described in the EPG (arrow 106). Upon receiving the request, the content server distributes the content to a client such as the PC 1 (arrow 107).

<Hardware Configuration> FIG. 2 shows a hardware configuration diagram of the PC 1. The PC 1 includes a CPU 2 that executes a program, and a memory 3 that stores a program executed by the CPU 2 and data processed by the CPU 2.
And a hard disk 4 for recording programs and data,
A display device 5 for displaying information such as menus, icons, and messages; a keyboard 6 for inputting character data;
Peripheral devices such as a pointing device 7 for operating menus and icons on the display device 5, a communication unit 8 for accessing a network, and a sound output unit 9b for outputting sound to a speaker 9c, and these peripheral devices are connected to the CPU 2. Interface.

The CPU 2 executes a program stored in the memory 3 and provides a function as a client.

The memory 3 stores programs executed by the CPU 2 and data processed by the CPU 2.

The hard disk 4 records programs executed by the CPU 2, data processed by the CPU 2, and the like. The hard disk 4 has an input / output interface 4a
Is connected to the CPU 2 via.

The display device 5 displays information, menus, icons, messages, EPGs delivered by the management server 11, contents provided by the content server, and the like input by the user. The display device 5 includes, for example, a CRT, a liquid crystal display, a plasma display panel (PDP), and an EL (elevation).
ctro luminescence panel, FED (field emission)
display). The display device 5 is connected to the CPU 2 via the display interface 5a.

The keyboard 6 is used for inputting character data. The keyboard 6 is connected to the CPU 2 via the input interface 6a.

The pointing device 7 is a display device 5
It is used to operate menus and icons displayed in. The pointing device 7 is, for example, a mouse, a trackball, a joystick, an electrostatic touchpad, a stick-shaped accu point, an optical pointing device, or a touch panel. The pointing device 7 has an input interface 7a.
Is connected to the CPU 2 via.

The communication unit 8 accesses the network and communicates with another host on the network in accordance with a command from the CPU 2. The communication unit 8 is connected to the CPU 2 via the input / output interface 8a.

The communication unit 8 is, for example, a LAN (Local Area)
Network) cards, modems and dial-up routers. The LAN card is inserted into a slot in PC1. The modem may be of a type built in the PC 1 or may be of an external type.

The sound output unit 9b generates an analog sound waveform from the sound data and outputs the generated sound waveform to the speaker 9c. Sound output unit 9
b is connected to the CPU 2 via the output interface 9a.

FIG. 3 shows a hardware configuration diagram of the management server 11. The management server 11 includes a CPU 12, a memory 1,
Three. In addition, peripheral devices such as a hard disk 14, a display device 15, a keyboard 16, a pointing device 17, and a communication unit 18 are connected to the management server 11 via respective interfaces.

The hard disk 14 is connected to the CPU 12 via an input / output interface 14a. Also,
The display device 15 is connected to the CPU 12 via the display interface 15a.

The keyboard 16 is connected to the CPU 12 via the input interface 16a. Also,
The pointing device 17 is connected to the CPU 12 via the input interface 17a. The communication unit 18 is connected to a CPU via an input / output interface 18a.
12 is connected. Since these configurations are the same as those of the PC 1, their description will be omitted.

<Screen Configuration> FIG. 4 shows an EPG creation request screen 31. The EPG creation request screen 31 is displayed on the display device 5 when the PC 1 accesses the server 11. The user can limit contents included in the EPG by setting predetermined items on this screen. That is, the EPG creation request screen 31 provides a function for setting filtering conditions.

As shown in FIG. 4, an EPG creation request screen 31
Displays the title EPG World at the top of the screen, displays three filtering conditions next to the title, and has a "Create" button at the bottom of the screen.

Of the three filtering conditions, the first filtering condition is "what field of data is targeted?" The options for this filtering condition are "sound", "video", "image", "
"Text" and "Not specified" are prepared.

When the user designates "sound", URLs indicating contents including sound are collected, and an EPG is created. When the user designates “moving picture”, contents including the moving picture are collected. When the user designates an image, contents including the image are collected. When the user specifies the text, content including the text is collected.

If the user selects "not specify", all data is to be collected. The user may specify a combination of a plurality of options other than “not specify”.

The second filtering condition among the three filtering conditions is “What is the genre?”.
“News”, “movie”, “music”, and “not specified” are prepared as options of the filtering condition.

When the user specifies these genres,
URL to content included in the corresponding genre
Is collected. The user may specify a combination of a plurality of options other than “not specify”.

The last of the three filtering conditions is "
“Specify Keyword” is provided. “Yes” and “No” are provided as options for this filtering condition. The user can select “Yes” and further specify a keyword. Then, the URL to the estimated content is collected.

The content related to the keyword means, for example, a site name of a content providing site, a title of the content included in link information to the content, etc., including the keyword.

After setting these conditions, when the user presses a “create” button using the pointing device 7, the management server 11 searches for a URL,
Creation starts.

FIG. 5 is an example of the EPG display screen 32 displayed on the PC 1. This EPG is created in HTML format on the management server 11. The browser of the PC 1 accesses the management server 11 and displays the EPG display screen 32.

The EPG display screen 32 includes a title, a filtering condition display section 33, an E
It has a PG display section 34, an advertisement display section 36, and a "play from beginning" button 37.

At the top of the screen, a title "EPG World" and a filtering condition display section 33 are displayed.
The filtering condition display unit 33 displays the filtering conditions set on the EPG creation request screen 31 in FIG.

The EPG display section 34 is composed of a combination of a plurality of content fields 35. Content column 35
Indicates the playback time and playback time of each content, the site title name of the content, and the URL.

The reproduction time of each content is, for example, 0
0:00 to 00:10 are displayed. 00:00 indicates 0:00. This time is a relative time with an arbitrary reproduction start time being 00:00.

However, the user may make this time coincide with the actual time by using an environment setting function (not shown). Thus, the browser continuously reproduces the content described in the EPG in synchronization with the actual time. Also,
The user may display the reproduction time to the second by an environment setting function (not shown).

The reproduction time is displayed as, for example, 00:15. 00:15 indicates that the reproduction time is 0 hour and 15 minutes. The user may display the reproduction time to the second by using an environment setting function (not shown).

The playback time is obtained from the content indicated by the URL when the management server 11 searches for each URL.

The user can use an environment setting function (not shown) to
You can set the playback time for text and still images. The set time for the text is set, for example, to 5 seconds / line. This gives the text 5 seconds /
Scrolls at line speed. The set time for a still image is set, for example, to 60 seconds / sheet.
Thus, each still image is displayed for 60 seconds.

The site title of the content is the name of the site that provides the content. In FIG. 5, for example, “Today's News” or “International Today”
Is displayed.

[0076] The advertisement display section 36 displays a banner advertisement. The management server 11 distributes a banner advertisement according to a contract with a customer.

When the user presses the “play from start” button with the pointing device 7 while the EPG is displayed, the playback starts from the content at time 00:00. While the content is being reproduced, an emphasis pattern 38 indicating that the content is being reproduced is displayed in the content display column 35.

<Data Structure> FIG. 6 shows an example of data in the directivity database 21. The management server 11 uses the directivity database 21 to search for a content providing site to be accessed first.

Each record of the directivity database 21 is
It has an item number, a server URL, a site title name, a content type, and a main data type.

The item number is a serial number for identifying each record. The server URL is a U indicating the content providing site.
RL. The site title name is the name of the content providing site. The content type is a genre of the content, for example, news, movie, music, and the like. The main data type is the type of the content, for example,
Sound, video, etc.

FIG. 7 shows a data example of a content determination table for determining content. Management server 11
Uses a content determination table to determine the data type of the content indicated by the URL when searching for the URL.

The management server 11 determines the data type of the content held in the file based on the suffix (file extension) of the file name including the content specified by the searched URL. For example, if the file name is
xxxx.mpg, the management server 11 determines that the content is M
It is determined that the moving image is in the PEG format.

For such a determination, each row of the content determination table has columns for suffix, data type, and format. The suffix is the suffix of the file containing the content. Suffixes are, for example, .au, .sn
Sounds such as d, .aif, .wav, .mp3, .mpeg, .m
pg, .qt, .mov, .avi, etc.
For images such as tif, .xbm, .pdf, .pcx, .pct,
.Txt for text, .html. For documents, .xm
l. There are .doc., .jtd, etc. corresponding to the document creation application.

The data type is the type of data held by a file whose file name includes the suffix. The data type includes, for example, sound, moving image, image, text, document, and the like. The format is the data format of the content.

<Operation and Effect> FIG. 8 shows a processing procedure of the EPG creation program executed by the CPU 12 of the management server 11. When the press of the “Create” button is detected on the EPG creation request screen 31 of the PC 1, the management server 1
1 executes an EPG creation program.

In this process, the CPU 1 of the management server 11
2 first reads out user input information of the EPG creation request screen 31, that is, the filtering condition (S
1).

Next, the CPU 12 searches the directivity database 21. Then, in the directivity database 21, a web page of the content providing site that matches the filtering condition is searched (S2, search / read of server information).

Next, the CPU 12 retrieves a URL from an HTML file describing the web page (S12).
3). Next, the CPU 12 stores the searched URL in E
Register in the PG (S4).

Next, the CPU 12 determines whether or not the next data remains in the directivity database 21 (S
5).

If the next data remains in the directivity database 21, the CPU 12 returns the control to S2. On the other hand, when the next data does not remain in the directivity database 21, the CPU 12 generates an EPG in a web page format by HTML (S6). At this time, a predetermined advertisement in the advertisement database 22 is incorporated into the web page.

The URL obtained by the search processing
The order in which the EPGs are created, that is, the order in which the content data is reproduced and displayed, may be the order of the acquired URLs, or may be determined by random processing. Alternatively, this order may be determined according to a predetermined sorting order.

Next, the CPU 12 distributes the created EPG to the client (S7). After that, the CPU 12
Ends the processing of the EPG creation program.

FIG. 9 shows details of the URL search process. In this process, first, the CPU 12 determines whether or not the time is over (S30). If time is over, CP
U12 ends the process.

When the time is not over, the CPU 12
HTM that describes the web page of the content providing site
The link destination of the L file is read (S31).

Next, the CPU 12 determines whether or not there is another link at the link destination (S32). If there is a next link, the CPU 12 recursively calls the URL search process. As a result, the URL search processing is executed for the link destination. After that, CP
U12 advances the control to S37.

On the other hand, if there is no next link destination in the determination in S32, the CPU 12 determines whether the file of the link destination is one defined in the content definition table (S34).

If the file at the link destination is not defined in the content definition table, the CPU 12 proceeds to S3
Control is advanced to 7. If the link destination file is defined in the content definition table, the CPU 12
It is determined whether the file at the link destination matches the filtering condition (S35).

If the file at the link destination does not match the filtering condition, the CPU 12 advances the control to S37. When the file at the link destination matches the filtering condition, the CPU 12 saves the URL, the reproduction time of the content, and the site title name in the memory 13 (S
36).

Next, the CPU 12 checks the HTM currently being searched.
It is determined whether the L file has the next link destination (S
37). If there is a next link destination, the CPU 12 returns the control to S31. If there is no next link destination, the CPU 12 ends the URL search process.

FIG. 10 shows the procedure of the content automatic reproduction process based on the relative time. This function is provided as a browser function in the PC 1. When the user instructs the automatic reproduction of the EPG during the execution of the browser, the C
PU2 executes the process of FIG.

In this process, the CPU 2 first determines whether or not the content is being reproduced (S100). Whether or not the content is being reproduced is specified in a predetermined status register.
If the content is being reproduced, the CPU 2 waits until the reproduction is completed.

If the content is not being reproduced, the CPU 2
Determines whether or not there is a termination instruction from the user (S
101). When there is a termination instruction, the CPU 2 terminates the content automatic reproduction process.

When there is no end instruction, the CPU 2
The next URL is read in the PG (S102). Here, the “next URL” refers to the URL described in the column next to the content column 35 (see FIG. 5) on the EPG indicating the content currently being reproduced.

Next, the CPU 2 records the position on the EPG of the currently reproduced content section 35 (S103). This position is used for searching for the next content.

Next, the CPU 2 checks the URL (S102
It is determined whether or not the content specified by the content read out in step S10 is a sound (sound including voice and music) (S10).
4). If the content is a sound, the CPU 2 requests a sound reproduction program to reproduce the sound (S105). This is, for example, a request for decoding a MP3 data decoder. Thereafter, the CPU 2 returns the control to S100.

If the content indicated by the URL is not sound, the CPU 2 determines whether or not the content is a moving image (S106). If the content is a video, C
PU2 requests the moving image reproduction program to reproduce the moving image (S107). This is, for example, a request for decoding to an MPEG decoder. Thereafter, the CPU 2 returns the control to S100.

If the content indicated by the URL is not a moving image, CPU 2 determines whether or not the content is a still image (S108). If the content is a still image, the CPU 2 requests the image display program to display an image for a predetermined time (S109).

After that, the CPU 2 returns the control to S100. Thus, for example, if the image is in JPEG format,
Decoding is requested from a JPEG decoder, and the decoding result is displayed for a predetermined time.

If the content indicated by the URL is not a still image, CPU 2 determines whether or not the content is a document (S110). If the content is a document, the CPU 2 requests the document program to display the document for a predetermined time (S111). Thereafter, the CPU 2 returns the control to S100. Thereby, for example, the text and the image are scrolled and displayed at a predetermined speed.

If the content indicated by the URL is not a document, the CPU 2 returns the control to S100.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an automatic content reproduction process synchronized with the actual time. When the user sets the EPG time to be synchronized with the actual time by using an environment setting function (not shown), and then instructs automatic reproduction of the EPG, the processing in FIG. 11 is executed.

The processing in FIG. 11 is performed in steps S102a and S10.
Except for the process of 3a, it is the same as FIG. Therefore, the same processes are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

When the current content reproduction process is completed and there is no user's end instruction, the CPU 2 obtains the current time from the OS timer (S102a).

Next, the CPU 2 searches the EPG for contents scheduled to be reproduced near the current time. For example, the content column 35 (see FIG. 5) at which the reproduction is started within a 30-second error from the current time may be obtained. The content indicated by the URL thus obtained is reproduced in the same manner as in the case of FIG. 10 (S104 to S111).

As described above, in the information retrieval system according to the present embodiment, the management server 11 collects URLs to contents held on the content server 11 or the management server 11 itself on the network, creates an EPG, Deliver to client. According to the EPG, the client can play or display the content on the network as if receiving television or radio.

Further, in creating an EPG, the user can specify a filtering condition based on a desired data type, genre, and keyword, and create an EPG that meets the condition.

<Modification> [Modification of Hardware Configuration] In the information retrieval system of the above embodiment, a personal computer was used as a client. The personal computer may be a notebook computer or a desktop computer.

The client may be a so-called portable information terminal PDA (Personal Digital Assistants), a portable telephone, a digital television, a set-top box for connecting a television monitor, or the like.

[Modification of Data Format] In the above embodiment,
EPG was described in HTML. However, the practice of the present invention is not limited to such a procedure. For example, EPG
May be described in XML (Extensible Markup Language). Further, the EPG may be described in plain text, a spreadsheet program sheet format, or a word processor program document format, for example, a Microsoft Corporation Word document file format.

[0120] In the above embodiment, the management server 11 uses the HTML describing the web page of the content providing site.
Was searched, and the URL indicating the content was searched. However, the practice of the present invention is not limited to such a procedure. For example, data described in XML may be searched, and a URL to the content may be searched.

Also, for example, an HT simplified for a mobile phone
For example, data described in HTML, such as HTML supported by i-mode service by NTT DoCoMo, Inc. may be searched.

[Timeout processing] EP of the above embodiment
In the G creation program, the CPU 12 determines whether or not a timeout has occurred, and ends the URL search process. However, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to such processing. For example, the user may specify the maximum number of searches, the maximum number of search pages, or the maximum number of search contents, and end the search when the above value is reached in the search.

The URL search process may be terminated by a user operation instead of the timeout. For this purpose, an end button may be provided on a browser (not shown), and a pressing operation by the pointing device 7 may be detected. When the end button is pressed, the browser may notify the program for executing the processing in FIG. 9 that the end button has been pressed. Then, for example, S3 shown in FIG.
In the process of 0, instead of determining the timeout,
What is necessary is just to determine whether the end button is pressed.

[Method of Determining Data Type of Content] In the above embodiment, the data type was determined based on the suffix of the file holding the content, using the content determination table shown in FIG. However, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to such a configuration and procedure. For example, read the file header of the file that holds the content,
The data type may be determined from the header information.

<< Second Embodiment >> A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 12 is a system schematic diagram of the information search system according to the present embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an EP executed by the PC 1 shown in FIG.
6 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a G creation program.

In the first embodiment, in response to a request from a client, the management server 11 searches for a URL pointing to content on the network, and creates an EPG.

In the information search system according to the present embodiment, the client PC 1 executes the EPG creation program to execute the creation of the EPG and the reproduction and display of contents. Other configurations and operations are the same as those of the first embodiment. Therefore, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 12 shows a system outline of the information search system according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the PC 1 as a client has the directivity database 21. The PC 1 executes the same EPG creation program as the management server 11 of the first embodiment.

Then, the PC 1 stores the directivity database 2
According to No. 1, the content server on the network or its own database is searched to create an EPG. The browser is delivered the EPG and reproduces the content according to the EPG.

FIG. 13 shows the processing of the EPG creation program executed on the PC 1. This program is executed in the PC 1 as one function of a browser or as a function of controlling the browser. S of this program
The processing from 1 to S6 is the same as that of the EPG creation program of the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

In the present embodiment, the PC 1 generates an EPG in the form of a web page, and then displays the EPG (S1).
7a). The user reproduces or displays the content according to the displayed EPG. The user may instruct the browser to continuously output the content according to the EPG.

As described above, in the information search of this embodiment, the client executes the EPG creation program. Therefore, the client searches for the URL pointing to the content without accessing the management server 11,
An EPG can be created.

<< Computer-Readable Recording Medium >>
The program of the management server 11 or the client according to the above embodiment can be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. Then, by causing a computer to read and execute the program on the recording medium, the computer can function as the management server 11 or the client described in the above embodiment.

Here, a computer-readable recording medium is a recording medium in which information such as data and programs is stored by electrical, magnetic, optical, mechanical, or chemical action and can be read by a computer. Say. Among such recording media, those removable from a computer include, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R / W, and a DV.
D, DAT, 8mm tape, memory card, etc.

A recording medium fixed to the computer includes a hard disk, a ROM (Read Only Memory), and the like.

<< Data communication signal embodied in carrier wave >>
Further, the program can be stored in a hard disk or a memory of a computer, and can be distributed to another computer through a communication medium. In this case, the program is transmitted over a communication medium as a data communication signal embodied by a carrier wave. Then, the computer that has received the distribution can function as the above-described embodiment management server 11 or client.

Here, as the communication medium, a wired communication medium,
For example, any of metal cables including a coaxial cable and a twisted pair cable, an optical communication cable and the like, or a wireless communication medium such as a satellite communication and a terrestrial radio communication may be used.

The carrier is an electromagnetic wave or light for modulating a data communication signal. However, the carrier may be a DC signal. In this case, the data communication signal has a baseband waveform without a carrier. Therefore, the data communication signal embodied in the carrier wave comprises a modulated broadband signal and an unmodulated baseband signal (voltage 0).
(Corresponding to the case where the DC signal is a carrier wave).

<< Other >> This embodiment discloses the following invention.

(Supplementary Note 1) A storage unit for storing information and a control unit are provided. The control unit searches for instruction information indicating the location of data, and the data indicated by the instruction information is classified into a predetermined type. An information processing device that determines whether or not the data is included, and when the data is determined to be included in a predetermined type, stores the instruction information and collects the instruction information indicating the location of the data .

(Supplementary Note 2) A communication unit for accessing a network or a communication connection unit for connecting the communication unit may be further provided, and the control unit may store the instruction information stored in another information processing apparatus on the network. The information processing device according to Supplementary Note 1 for searching for.

(Supplementary Note 3) The communication unit receives a selection criterion for selecting the data, the control unit determines whether the data satisfies the selection criterion, and satisfies the selection criterion. An information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the information processing apparatus collects instruction information for the data.

(Supplementary Note 4) An input unit is further provided, wherein the input unit receives a selection criterion for selecting the data, and the control unit determines whether the data satisfies the selection criterion, 3. The information processing apparatus according to Supplementary Note 1 or 2, wherein instruction information for data corresponding to the selection criterion is collected.

(Supplementary note 5) The supplementary note 2, wherein the communication unit receives a request to collect the instruction information from a terminal device connected to a network, and the control unit displays the collected instruction information on the terminal device. Information processing device.

(Supplementary Note 6) A display unit for displaying information or a first connection unit to which the display unit is connected is further provided, and the control unit is configured to display the collected instruction information on the display unit. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

(Supplementary note 7) The information processing apparatus according to supplementary note 5 or 6, wherein the control unit searches for character information related to the data, and displays the character information in combination with the instruction information.

(Supplementary Note 8) The information processing apparatus according to Supplementary Note 1 or 2, wherein the type of the data is image data, sound data, moving image data, text data, or a combination thereof.

(Supplementary Note 9) An input unit, a display unit for displaying information or a first connection unit for connecting the display unit, and a sound output unit for outputting sound or a second connection for connecting the sound output unit. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input unit is instructed to output the data, and the control unit causes the display unit or the sound output unit to output the content described by the data. .

(Supplementary note 10) The information processing apparatus according to supplementary note 9, wherein the control unit continuously outputs a plurality of contents specified by the collected plurality of pieces of instruction information.

(Supplementary Note 11) A communication unit for accessing a network or a communication connection unit for connecting the communication unit,
A control unit, wherein the control unit collects such instruction information, which is instruction information indicating the location of data, wherein the data indicated by the instruction information is included in a predetermined type. And a terminal device for requesting the user to collect the instruction information.

(Supplementary Note 12) The display unit according to supplementary note 11, further comprising a display unit for displaying information or a first connection unit connected to the display unit, wherein the control unit displays the collected instruction information on the display unit. Terminal device.

(Supplementary Note 13) An input unit, a display unit for displaying information or a first connection unit for connecting the display unit, and a sound output unit for outputting sound or a second connection for connecting the sound output unit. And the input unit is instructed to output the data, and the control unit causes the display unit or the sound output unit to output the content described by the data to the display unit or the sound output unit.
1. The terminal device according to 1.

(Supplementary note 14) The terminal device according to supplementary note 13, wherein the control unit causes the plurality of contents specified by the collected plurality of instruction information to be continuously output.

(Supplementary Note 15) A search unit that searches for content data that satisfies predetermined conditions, an order determination unit that determines the playback order of each searched content data, and controls playback of the content data based on the playback order And a playback control unit that performs the playback.

(Supplementary Note 16) The content data is
16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the apparatus is held by another apparatus accessible via a network.

(Supplementary note 17) The apparatus according to supplementary note 15, wherein the condition is specified by a user.

(Supplementary note 18) The apparatus according to supplementary note 15, wherein the condition specifies a specific genre of the content.

(Supplementary note 19) The apparatus according to supplementary note 15, wherein the condition specifies a specific data type of the content.

(Supplementary note 20) The apparatus according to supplementary note 15, wherein the content data is stream data.

(Supplementary Note 21) A step of searching for instruction information indicating the location of the data, a step of determining whether the data is included in a predetermined type, and a step of determining that the data is included in a predetermined type Sometimes storing the instruction information, and collecting the instruction information indicating the location of the data.

(Supplementary note 22) The method according to supplementary note 21, further comprising a step of accessing a network, wherein the data is stored in an information processing device on the network.

(Supplementary Note 23) The method further includes a step of receiving a selection criterion for selecting the data, and a step of determining whether the data satisfies the selection criterion,
23. The method according to Supplementary Note 22, wherein instruction information for data corresponding to the selection criteria is collected.

(Supplementary Note 24) The method further includes a step of receiving designation of a selection criterion for selecting the data, and a step of determining whether or not the data satisfies the selection criterion. 23. The method according to Supplementary Note 21 or 22, wherein information for instructing the user is collected.

(Supplementary note 25) The method according to supplementary note 21 or 22, further comprising a step of generating display information for displaying the collected instruction information.

(Supplementary note 26) The method according to supplementary note 21 or 22, further comprising a step of displaying the collected instruction information.

(Supplementary note 27) The method according to Supplementary note 25 or 26, further comprising a step of searching for character information related to the data, wherein the instruction information and the character information are displayed in combination.

(Supplementary note 28) The method according to Supplementary note 21 or 22, wherein the type of the data is image data, sound data, moving image data, text data, or a combination thereof.

(Supplementary note 29) The supplementary note 21 or the supplementary note 21, further comprising a step of selecting data indicated by the instruction information, a step of instructing output of the data, and a step of outputting a content described by the data. 2
2. The method according to 2.

(Supplementary Note 30) A step of requesting a server on a network to collect such instruction information, which is instruction information indicating the location of the data, and the data indicated by the instruction information is included in a predetermined type. And receiving the instruction information. A method for collecting instruction information indicating the location of data.

(Supplementary note 31) The method according to supplementary note 30, further comprising a step of displaying the instruction information.

(Supplementary Note 32) The supplementary note 30, further comprising a step of selecting data indicated by the instruction information, a step of receiving an instruction to output the data, and a step of outputting a content described by the data. the method of.

(Supplementary Note 33) The retrieval step for retrieving the data indicated by the instruction information, the output step of outputting the content described by the data, and the retrieval step and the output step are performed by the plurality of collected instructions. Appendix 2 further comprising the step of repeating the information.
31. The method according to 1, 22, or 30.

(Supplementary Note 34) A step of searching for content data satisfying a predetermined condition, a step of determining a playback order of each searched content data, and a step of controlling playback of the content data based on the playback order. And a method comprising:

(Supplementary Note 35) A step of causing a computer to search for instruction information indicating the location of data, a step of determining whether or not the data is included in a predetermined type,
When it is determined that the data is included in the predetermined type,
A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for collecting instruction information indicating the location of data;

(Supplementary Note 36) The step of accessing the network is further executed, and the data is stored in an information processing device on the network.
A computer-readable recording medium on which the program described above is recorded.

(Supplementary Note 37) A step of receiving a selection criterion for selecting the data and a step of determining whether the data satisfies the selection criterion are further executed. 36. A computer-readable recording medium recording a program according to Supplementary Note 36, which collects the instruction information.

(Supplementary Note 38) A step of designating a selection criterion for selecting the data and a step of determining whether the data satisfies the selection criterion are further executed. 36. A computer-readable recording medium recording a program according to Supplementary Note 35 or 36 for collecting instruction information for a computer.

(Supplementary note 39) A computer-readable recording medium recording the program according to supplementary note 35 or 36, further causing a step of generating display information for displaying the collected instruction information.

(Supplementary note 40) Supplementary note 35 or 3 further causing a step of displaying the collected instruction information to be executed
A computer-readable recording medium recording the program according to 6.

(Supplementary Note 41) The step of retrieving character information related to the data is further executed, and the instruction information and the character information are displayed in combination.
A computer-readable recording medium on which the program described in Item 0 is recorded.

(Supplementary Note 42) A computer-readable recording medium recording a program according to Supplementary Note 35 or 36, wherein the type of the data is image data, sound data, moving image data, text data, or a combination thereof.

(Supplementary Note 43) Supplementary note 35 further causing a step of selecting data indicated by the indication information, a step of receiving an instruction to output the data, and a step of outputting a content described by the data. Or a computer-readable recording medium recording the program according to 36.

(Supplementary Note 44) The computer collects such instruction information, which is instruction information indicating the location of data and which is included in a predetermined type and which is indicated by the instruction information, to a server on the network. Requesting, and executing the step of receiving the instruction information,
A computer-readable recording medium recording a program for collecting instruction information indicating the location of data.

(Supplementary note 45) A computer-readable recording medium recording the program according to supplementary note 44, further causing the step of displaying the instruction information to be executed.

(Supplementary Note 46) Supplementary note 44 for further executing a step of selecting data indicated by the instruction information, a step of receiving an instruction to output the data, and a step of outputting a content described by the data. A computer-readable recording medium on which the program described above is recorded.

(Supplementary Note 47) The retrieval step of retrieving the data indicated by the instruction information, the output step of outputting the content described by the data, and the retrieval step and the output step are executed by the plurality of collected instructions. 45. A computer-readable recording medium recording the program according to Supplementary Note 35, 36, or 44, further causing the step of repeating information to be executed.

(Supplementary Note 48) A step of causing a computer to search for content data satisfying a predetermined condition, a step of determining a reproduction order of each searched content data, and controlling reproduction of the content data based on the reproduction order And a computer-readable recording medium on which a program for executing the program is recorded.

[0188]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A large number of contents on a network can be used simply and passively.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system schematic diagram of an information search system according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of a PC 1;

FIG. 3 is a hardware configuration diagram of a management server 11;

FIG. 4 is an example of an EPG creation request screen

FIG. 5 shows an example of an EPG display screen on PC1.

FIG. 6 shows a data example of the directivity database 21.

FIG. 7 is a data example of a content determination table

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating processing of an EPG creation program according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing details of a URL search process;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing content automatic reproduction processing based on relative time.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing content automatic playback processing synchronized with actual time.

FIG. 12 is a system schematic diagram of an information search system according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating processing of an EPG creation program according to the second embodiment;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 personal computer 2, 12 CPU 3, 13 memory 4, 14 hard disk 4a, 8a, 14a, 18a input / output interface 5, 15 display device 5a, 15a display interface 6, 16 keyboard 6a, 7a, 16a, 17a input interface 7, 17 Pointing device 8, 18 Communication unit 9a Output interface 9b Sound output unit 9c Speaker 11 Management server 21 Directivity database 22 Advertising server 31 EPG creation request screen 32 EPG display screen

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Claims (13)

[Claims] An information processing apparatus comprising: a storage unit for storing information; and a control unit, wherein the control unit searches for instruction information indicating the location of data,
It is determined whether the data indicated by the instruction information is included in a predetermined type, and the storage unit stores the instruction information when it is determined that the data is included in the predetermined type, An information processing device that collects instruction information indicating the location of data. 2. A communication unit for accessing a network, or a communication connection unit connected to the communication unit, wherein the control unit searches for the instruction information held in another information processing device on the network. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein 3. The communication unit according to claim 2, wherein the communication unit receives a request to collect the instruction information from a terminal device connected to a network, and the control unit causes the terminal device to display the collected instruction information. Information processing device. 4. An input unit, a display unit for displaying information or a first connection unit connected to the display unit, and a sound output unit for outputting sound or a second connection unit connected to the sound output unit. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: the input unit being instructed to output the data; and the control unit causing the display unit or the sound output unit to output the content described by the data. 5. A communication unit for accessing a network or a communication connection unit connected to the communication unit, and a control unit, wherein the control unit is instruction information indicating a location of data,
A terminal device for requesting a server on a network to collect such instruction information, wherein the data indicated by the instruction information is included in a predetermined type, and collecting the instruction information. 6. A search unit for searching for content data satisfying a predetermined condition; an order determination unit for determining a playback order of each searched content data; and a playback unit for controlling playback of the content data based on the playback order. A control unit. 7. A step of searching for instruction information indicating a location of data; a step of determining whether the data is included in a predetermined type; and a step of determining whether the data is included in a predetermined type. ,
Storing the instruction information, and collecting instruction information indicating the location of the data. 8. A step of searching for content data corresponding to a predetermined condition, a step of determining a playback order of each searched content data, and a step of controlling playback of the content data based on the playback order. How to have. 9. A computer for searching for instruction information indicating the location of data; determining whether the data is included in a predetermined type; determining that the data is included in a predetermined type. When you do
A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for collecting instruction information indicating the location of data; 10. A computer, wherein a step of searching for content data corresponding to a predetermined condition, a step of determining a reproduction order of each searched content data, and a step of controlling reproduction of the content data based on the reproduction order. And a computer-readable recording medium on which a program for executing the program is recorded. 11. Retrieving instruction information indicating the location of data in a computer; determining whether the data is included in a predetermined type; determining that the data is included in a predetermined type When you do
A program for collecting the instruction information indicating the location of the data. 12. Requesting a server on a network to collect instruction data indicating the location of data, the data indicated by the instruction information being included in a predetermined type, to a computer. And a step of executing the step of receiving the instruction information and collecting instruction information indicating the location of data. 13. A computer for searching for content data that satisfies a predetermined condition; determining a playback order of each searched content data; and controlling playback of the content data based on the playback order. And a program to execute.