JP2003316782A - Content aggregation server and aggregation method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To provide a content aggregation server capable of reducing a search operation by a user. SOLUTION: Search key information is periodically acquired from a key table 313. Create a server request using the search key information and send the server request for each site server. When a server response including a search result of the content is received from the site server, the search result is extracted and passed to the cache writing unit 312. The cache writing unit 312 writes the search result to the cache table 317. When a client request is received from a client, a search key is extracted and passed to the cache search unit 310. The cache search unit 310 searches the cache table 317 using the search key, and passes the search result to the client communication unit 309. A client response including the search result is transmitted to the client.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a content aggregation server and its aggregation method, and more particularly, to a content aggregation server for performing aggregation of content stored in at least one server connected to a network, and Regarding the aggregation method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art IT (Information Tec)
The business method using the (hology) is still evolving, and electronic commerce represented by auctions and virtual malls on the network is actively carried out.

In conventionally known electronic commerce, a user obtains information about one product from a plurality of auction sites. Alternatively, information on one product is acquired from a plurality of shopping sites. In this case, the user transmits the keyword from the client and acquires information (hereinafter, referred to as “content” as necessary) regarding the specific service from at least one server. In obtaining information in this way, the user typically implements one of the following methods.

(1) goo (service name) and Yahoo
Use a search server such as (service name). In this case, the search server is all Ws on the Internet.
The content is searched for by using the eb server or all the Web servers whose key information is registered on the search server as a search target.

(2) The server is accessed many times for each server that is predicted to have the desired keyword in the Web page.

[0006]

However, when searching for content using a search server, the user has to enter a search key for each search server to execute the search process.

[0007] When a search server is used to search for content, a large number of unspecified information items are displayed as search results on the display of the client. Therefore, in order to obtain information about the desired service,
There is a problem that the user has to select the obtained information one by one.

Further, in the case of the method of accessing each server in which it is predicted that the desired keyword is present from the client, there is a problem that the user needs to know all the addresses of such servers. Further, it is necessary to perform the operation for searching for specific information by the number of servers predicted by the user. In the case of the method in which the user accesses each server, the information of each site is displayed according to the format corresponding to each content as shown in FIG. However, in such a display form,
It is difficult to display content provided by many sites on one window. Therefore, there is a problem that it is difficult to simultaneously compare, for example, the prices of products and the remaining time of bidding for auctions of specific products that are being executed at a plurality of sites.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a content aggregation server and an aggregation method thereof, which can reduce a search operation by a user. .

Another object of the present invention is to provide a content aggregation server and an aggregation method thereof that can facilitate browsing and comparison of content of the same category provided by a plurality of sites.

[0011]

In order to achieve such an object, the invention as set forth in claim 1 of the present invention, at least one of searching contents on a network in response to a request from a client. In an aggregation server that obtains a search result of the content from a search server, a storage unit that stores a server address table configured by at least one server address for specifying the search server; and a storage unit that is stored in the storage unit. A server address acquisition unit that acquires the server address from a server address table, and a request including a search key for causing the search server to search the content are transmitted to the server address acquired by the server address acquisition unit. Transmitting means and the obtained server address From the search server corresponding to, characterized in that a response receiving means for receiving a response including the search result using the search key that has been transmitted by the transmitting means.

The invention described in claim 2 is the same as claim 1.
In the aggregation server according to [1], the storage unit further stores a server request conversion table configured from a request format indicating the format of the request, and acquires the request format from the server request conversion table stored in the storage unit. It further comprises: a request format acquisition unit for performing the request, and a creation unit for creating the request according to the request format acquired by the request format acquisition unit.

The invention described in claim 3 is the same as claim 1
Alternatively, in the aggregation server according to the item 2, the storage unit further stores a server response conversion table configured from a response format indicating a format of the response, and the response format is stored from the server response conversion table stored in the storage unit. Further comprising: a response format acquisition unit that acquires the search result, and an extraction unit that extracts the search result from the response received by the response reception unit based on the response format acquired by the response format acquisition unit. To do.

The invention according to claim 4 is the same as claim 1.
The aggregation server according to any one of items 1 to 3, further comprising a cache storage unit that stores the search result received by the response receiving unit.

The invention described in claim 5 is the same as claim 4
In the aggregation server according to the item 1, the search key receiving means for receiving the search key from the client is further provided, and the transmitting means transmits the search key received by the search key receiving means.

The invention according to claim 6 is the same as claim 5
In the aggregation server described in the above item 3, the communication server further includes a client communication unit that transmits the search result received by the response receiving unit to the client.

The invention according to claim 7 is the same as claim 6
In the aggregation server according to the item 1, there is further provided search means for searching the search result stored in the cache storage means using the search key received by the search key receiving means.

The invention described in claim 8 is the same as claim 1.
8. In the aggregation server according to any one of 7 to 7, the storage means further stores a key table composed of at least one search key, and the transmission means performs the search from the key table stored in the storage means. The feature is that the key is periodically acquired and transmitted.

Further, the invention according to claim 9 is an aggregation method in an aggregation server, which obtains the search result of the content from at least one search server which searches the content on the network in response to the request from the client. In order to acquire the server address from a server address table configured from at least one server address for specifying the search server, and to cause the acquired server address to execute the search of the content. Is transmitted, and a response including a search result using the transmitted search key is received from the search server corresponding to the acquired server address.

As described above, in the present invention, the aggregation server receives the information of the specific service only by accessing the specific at least one server on behalf of the client. As a result, the terminal only notifies the aggregation server of the search key information, and simultaneously displays them on a single window without paying attention to the search to multiple servers, and simultaneously compares them by price or remaining time. Is possible.

Further, the aggregation server actively writes the search result, which is searched from the specific server based on the key table, in the cache,
The search key in the cache can shorten the response time of the search result to the client.

[0022]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the content aggregation method according to the embodiment of the present invention. The system shown in the figure comprises a client 202, an aggregation server 203, a search server (site server) 204 for searching contents existing on the computer network 201, and a computer network 201 connecting these.

In the figure, the client request 205 issued from the client 202 is transmitted to the aggregation server 203 via the computer network 201. This client request 20
The client response 206 issued from the aggregation server 203 in response to
Reply to 2. The aggregation server 203 transmits a server request 207 to the site server 204 that stores a plurality of contents, and receives a server response 208 which is a response to this request.

Here, the computer network 201
The contents existing above may include, for example, information on the product to be auctioned or sold (auction title, current price of the target product, number of bids, remaining time of bidding, etc.). It is not limited to this.

FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the aggregation server according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The aggregation server 203 shown in FIG.
Is a client communication unit 309 and a cache search unit 31.
0, server communication unit 311, cache writing unit 312,
A key table 313, a server address table 314,
It is composed of a request conversion table 315, a response conversion table 316, and a cache table 317.

The key table 313 is used by the site server 20.
At 4, including at least one search key used to search for content stored on that server. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the key table 313 includes a search key ID, search key information, and a search priority. Here, the search priority is determined, for example, in the order of the popular category, the order in which the number of bids is large, the order in which the remaining time is short, or a combination thereof. The information stored in the key table 313 can be changed as appropriate by input from the user or by periodical reception of search key information or the like from the site server 204.

The server address table 314 includes at least one server address for identifying the site server 204. Specifically, the server address table 3
As shown in FIG. 5, 14 is composed of server ID information and server address information.

The request conversion table 315 is a table defining the format of the request transmitted to the site server 204. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the request conversion table 315 is composed of server ID information, input information (server address of the site server 204, a keyword used for content search), and request conversion information. . Here, the request conversion information is used to convert the server address and keyword defined in the input information into a request to be transmitted to the site server 204.

The response conversion table 316 describes a method of converting a server response (search result) received from each server into a unified data format. As shown in FIG. 7, the received server response is shown. It is composed of an input (for example, an HTML file) and output information indicating data to be extracted from the input. In the example shown in the figure, a method of converting the server response into the exhibition details URL, the title, the current price, the number of bids, and the remaining time is described.

The cache table 317 is a table for storing the search result converted by using the response conversion table 316 as described above. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, the response conversion table 316 identifies content ID information for identifying the content, product keyword information indicating a keyword assigned to the product, and the site server 204 where the auction is executed. Server ID information, product details URL information indicating the URL describing the details of the product, title information indicating the title of the auction, current price information, bid number information, and remaining time information indicating the remaining time of the bid. It

The client communication unit 309 receives the client request 2 including the search key from the client 202.
When 05 is received, the search key is extracted from the client request, and the search key is passed to the cache search unit 310.

When the response from the cache search unit 310 is “success”, that is, when the search result corresponding to the search key exists in the cache search unit 310, the client response 206 including the response (search result) is created. , Client 202.

On the other hand, when the response from the cache search unit 310 is “failure”, that is, when the search result corresponding to the search key does not exist in the cache search unit 310, the search key is passed to the server communication unit 311. Then, when the search result is received from the server communication unit 311, a client response 206 including the search result is created, and the client 20
Send to 2.

Upon receiving the search key from the client communication unit 309, the cache search unit 310 uses the search key to search the search result stored in the cache table 317. The search result is the client communication unit 309.
Is passed to.

The server communication unit 311 uses the key table 31.
The search key information having a high search priority is periodically acquired from 3.

When the server communication unit 311 acquires the search key information from the client communication unit 309, it acquires at least one server address information from the server address table 314. Then, according to the request conversion table 315, the server request 207 is created using the search key information and the server address information, and the server request 207 is transmitted for each site server.

When the server response 208 is received, the search result is extracted from the server response 208 according to the response conversion table 316. The extracted search result is passed to the cache writing unit 312 and stored in association with the search key.

If the used search key is obtained from the client communication unit 309, the search result is passed to the client communication unit 309.

Upon receiving the search result from the server communication unit 311, the cache writing unit 312 writes it in the cache table 317. At this time, if you have the same search key,
Update search results (current price, number of bids, time left). If there is no same search key, the cache writing unit 31
2 adds the received search result to the cache table 317.

Next, the operation of the aggregation server 203 configured as above will be described. Note that the following operation is performed by the CPU of the aggregation server 203
Is achieved by reading and executing a computer program stored in the storage device.

FIG. 9 is a sequence chart of the content aggregation method according to the embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the aggregation method according to the present embodiment will be described, taking as an example the case where each site server searches for content related to a bid.

In step S101, the server communication unit 311 periodically acquires the search key information having a high search priority from the key table 313. The search priority is determined by, for example, a popular category order, a high bid number order, a short remaining time order, or a combination thereof.

When the server communication unit 311 acquires the search key information in step S102, it acquires at least one server address from the server address table 314. Then, according to the request conversion table 315, the server request 207 is created using the search key and the server address, and the server request 207 is transmitted for each server 204.

Each site server 204 searches for contents in response to the server request 204, and returns a server response 208 including the result to the aggregation server 203.

In step S103, the server 204
When the server response 208 is received from the server response 208, the search result is extracted from the server response 208 according to the response conversion table 316. The search result is passed to the cache writing unit 312.

In step S 104, the cache writing unit 312 writes the search result received from the server communication unit 311 in the cache table 317. At this time, if the same search key is found in the cache table, the search results (current price, number of bids, remaining time) associated with this search key are updated. If the same search key does not exist, the search result is added to the cache table 317.

In step S105, when the client communication unit 309 receives the client request 205 from the client 202, the client communication unit 309 extracts a search key from the client request, and the cache search unit 310.
Hand over to.

In step S106, upon receiving the search key from the client communication unit 309, the cache search unit 310 searches the cache table 317 for the corresponding search result using the search key.

In step S107, when the response (search result) from the cache search unit 310 is “success”, the client communication unit 309 extracts the corresponding search result and transfers it to the client communication unit 309. , And proceeds to step S108. On the other hand, if the response from the cache search unit 310 is “failure”, step S
Go to 109.

In step S108, when the client communication unit 309 receives the search result, it creates a client response 206 including the search result and sends it to the client 202.

In step S109, step S10
1, S102, and S103 are sequentially operated, and then the process proceeds to step S108. At this time, the server communication unit 311 transmits the search key received by the client communication unit 309.

FIG. 10 shows an example of a screen displayed on the display of the client 202 as a result of the execution of the aggregation method as described above. As shown in the figure, the search result of the content using the key information is arranged and displayed by the title, the current price, the bid information and the remaining time. So even if many sites have content in the same category,
The client can easily compare those contents.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be implemented in various other forms. For example, the items defined in the key table, the server address table, the request conversion table, and the response table stored in the aggregation server are merely examples, and the present invention is limited by the items described in FIGS. 4 to 8. is not. Further, the size of the search result displayed on the client, the display form of the display item, and the like are not limited to the contents described in FIG. 10.

[0056]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the aggregation server, instead of the client, acquires information from a plurality of site servers, the user does not need to know a plurality of server addresses having specific service information.

Further, it is possible to obtain specific information on a specific service, such as bid information such as a bid price and a bid deadline for an auction item, from a plurality of servers. This makes it possible to easily browse the contents of the same category searched by different site servers on one window and simultaneously compare them.

Also, a search key for popular products is written in the key table, and information about popular products (bid price,
It is possible to periodically inquire of a plurality of search servers about a bid deadline, etc., and cache the inquiry result. Therefore, you can keep the latest information in the cache,
The response time of the user can be shortened. Further, it becomes possible to prevent the concentration of access from the majority of clients to the server.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a screen image of a conventional content aggregation method.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a content aggregation method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an aggregation server according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a search key table according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a server address table in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a request conversion table in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a response conversion table in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a cache table in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a sequence chart showing a procedure of an aggregation method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen image provided by the content aggregation server according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

201 computer network 202 clients 203 Aggregation server 204 site server 205 Client request (request) 206 Client Response (Response) 207 Server request (request) 208 Server response 309 Client communication unit 310 cache search unit 311 Server Communication Department 312 cache writing unit 313 key table 314 server address table 315 Request conversion table 316 Response conversion table 317 cash table

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Mitsuhiro Yubito             2-3-1, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo             Inside Telegraph and Telephone Corporation F term (reference) 5B075 KK02 NK02 PP22 PQ02 PQ05

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An aggregation server that obtains a search result of the content from at least one search server that searches content on a network in response to a request from a client, and at least 1 for specifying the search server. Storage means for storing a server address table composed of three server addresses, server address acquisition means for acquiring the server address from the server address table stored in the storage means, and server acquired by the server address acquisition means Sending means for sending to the address a request including a search key for causing the search server to search for the content; and a search key sent by the sending means from the search server corresponding to the acquired server address. Search using Aggregation server being characterized in that a response receiving means for receiving a response including the result. 2. The aggregation server according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit further stores a server request conversion table configured from a request format indicating a format of the request, and the server request stored in the storage unit. An aggregation server, further comprising: a request format acquisition unit that acquires the request format from a conversion table; and a creation unit that creates the request according to the request format acquired by the request format acquisition unit. 3. The aggregation server according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit further stores a server response conversion table formed of a response format indicating the format of the response, and the server response conversion table is stored in the storage unit. Response format acquisition means for acquiring the response format from the server response conversion table; and extraction means for extracting the search result from the response received by the response reception means based on the response format acquired by the response format acquisition means. An aggregation server, further comprising: 4. The aggregation server according to claim 1, further comprising cache storage means for storing the search result received by the response receiving means. 5. The aggregation server according to claim 4, further comprising search key receiving means for receiving the search key from the client, wherein the transmitting means transmits the search key received by the search key receiving means. An aggregation server that is characterized by: 6. The aggregation server according to claim 5, further comprising a client communication unit that transmits the search result received by the response receiving unit to the client. 7. The aggregation server according to claim 6, further comprising search means for searching the search result stored in the cache storage means using the search key received by the search key receiving means. A distinctive aggregation server. 8. The aggregation server according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit further stores a key table composed of at least one of the search keys, and the transmission unit is stored in the storage unit. An aggregation server, characterized in that the search key is periodically acquired from a stored key table and transmitted. 9. An aggregation method in an aggregation server that obtains a search result of the content from at least one search server that searches content on a network in response to a request from a client, for identifying the search server. A server address table configured from at least one server address of the server, and transmitting a request including a search key for causing the search server to search the content to the acquired server address. An aggregation method comprising receiving a response including a search result using the transmitted search key from a search server corresponding to the acquired server address.