WO2009119219A1

WO2009119219A1 - Information providing device, recording medium on which computer program is recorded and information providing method

Info

Publication number: WO2009119219A1
Application number: PCT/JP2009/053171
Authority: WO
Inventors: 武市雅司
Original assignee: ブラザー工業株式会社
Priority date: 2008-03-26
Filing date: 2009-02-23
Publication date: 2009-10-01
Also published as: JP2009237786A

Abstract

This object aims to provide an information providing device, a recording medium on which a computer program is recorded and an information providing method that can shorten response waiting time for communication processing and reduce interruption of dialog so as to provide desired information without giving stress to a user. An information providing device is comprised of an action schedule acquisition means that acquires an action schedule of a user, an information acquisition means that predicts determined retrieval contents in accordance with the action schedule of the user before the user inputs information required for selecting and determining the retrieval contents and acquires information in the predicted scope from the external server device, and an information providing means that, when the information required for selecting and determining the retrieval contents is inputted from the user, retrieves information corresponding to the input information from the information acquired by the information acquisition means and provides the retrieved information to the user.

Description

Information presenting apparatus, recording medium recording computer program, and information presenting method

The present invention relates to an information presenting device for searching for and presenting information desired by a user from an external server device by narrowing search contents interactively based on information input from the user, and a recording medium on which a computer program is recorded And an information presentation method.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, information presentation apparatuses that search and present information desired by a user in an interactive manner using a microphone, a speaker, or the like are known, and are mainly installed in public facilities such as stations and airports.

In addition, with the development of information communication technology in recent years, information presentation devices that can acquire and present information from external server devices via communication paths such as the Internet have also been developed and used in offices and homes. It is being done.

As such an information presentation device, for example, in Patent Document 1, after specifying a content to be searched by repeating a dialogue with a user a plurality of times, an external server device is used via the Internet based on the specified content. An information presentation device that searches for contents to be responded and presents the search result to a user is disclosed. By using such an information presentation device, information on the Internet can be reflected in a dialog with the user, and real-time information can be provided to the user.
JP 2002-163171 A

However, since an enormous amount of information is stored in the external server device, like the information presentation device described in Patent Document 1, the search processing is executed after specifying the content to be searched by dialogue with the user. In such a case, depending on the type of communication path, the degree of congestion of the external server device, etc., the search process may take a long time, and the dialog with the user may be interrupted.

Therefore, the present invention provides an information presentation apparatus and a computer program capable of presenting desired information without stressing the user by shortening the response waiting time for communication processing and reducing interruption of the interaction with the user. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording medium on which information is recorded and an information presentation method.

In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, search contents are narrowed down interactively based on information input from a user, and information desired by the user is searched from an external server device. In the information presentation device to be presented, based on the user's action schedule before the action schedule acquisition means for acquiring the user's action schedule and information necessary for finalizing the search content are input from the user. When the user inputs information necessary for predicting the determined search content and acquiring information of the predicted range from the external server device, and information necessary for finalizing the search content. And information presenting means for retrieving information corresponding to the inputted information from the information acquired in advance by the information acquiring means and presenting the information to the user. It was decided.

With this configuration, it is possible to shorten the response waiting time for communication processing, reduce interruption of dialogue, and present desired information without causing stress to the user.

In addition, the information presentation device may include an action schedule update unit that incorporates the information presented by the information presentation unit into the action schedule in response to a request from the user.

With this configuration, it is possible to save the user from having to incorporate the information of the event that has been reserved into the scheduler.

In the information presenting apparatus, when the information acquisition means inputs information necessary for finalizing the search contents during the process of acquiring information from the external server apparatus, from the user. When the information corresponding to the input information has already been acquired, the processing for acquiring the information may be stopped.

This configuration can prevent unnecessary communication processing from being performed.

In the information presenting device, the information acquisition means may search information that has been narrowed down by the information input from the user before the information necessary for finalizing the search content is input from the user. The search content to be determined may be predicted based on the date or date of the user's scheduled action corresponding to.

This configuration makes it possible to search efficiently.

Further, in the information presentation device, the information acquisition means may be configured to perform a search with priority from information close to the current date and time.

This configuration enables more efficient search. That is, in general, the closer to the current date and time, the higher the probability that the event will be the search target. Therefore, it is possible to reduce unnecessary searches as much as possible by prioritizing the events near the current date and time. can do.

In the information presentation device, the information acquisition unit may search for information within a predetermined period from the current date and time.

This configuration enables more efficient search. In other words, generally, the closer to the current date and time, the higher the probability that the event will be the search target, and the lower the probability that the event outside the predetermined period will be the search target. By making it a target, it is possible to reduce unnecessary searches as much as possible.

In the information presentation device, the information acquisition unit may acquire information excluding information included in the action schedule of the user acquired by the action schedule acquisition unit from the external server device.

Further, in the information presenting device, the information acquisition unit determines that an action schedule straddling a plurality of days of the user's action schedule acquired by the action schedule acquisition means is a schedule indicating a business trip, and You may make it the structure which estimates the information of a required accommodation facility as the said search content decided.

This configuration makes it possible to present information more in line with the user's will.

In the information presenting device, the information acquisition means may search information that has been narrowed down by the information input from the user before the information necessary for finalizing the search content is input from the user. Further, the search content to be confirmed may be predicted by further narrowing down based on the user's action schedule and the past search content for which the narrowing has been confirmed.

With this configuration, even when there is a shortage of information for performing a primary search, the primary search can be performed with high accuracy by complementing the shortage of information from the past event history.

Further, the present invention provides a recording medium in which a computer program for causing a computer to execute each means of the information presentation device is recorded in a computer-readable manner.

In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, search contents are narrowed down interactively based on information input from a user, and information desired by the user is searched from an external server device. In the method of presenting information, the step of acquiring the user's action schedule and the information necessary for confirming the refinement of the search content have been input by the user before the input by the user. The search content narrowed down by information is further narrowed down based on the user's action schedule, thereby predicting the determined search content, acquiring the information of the predicted range from the external server device, and storing it in the storage means And information corresponding to the input information when the user inputs information necessary for finalizing the search content. And presenting to the user and searches the information stored in the storage means, and an information presentation method having.

According to the present invention, based on the user's action schedule, the search content to be confirmed is predicted before information necessary for finalizing the search content is input from the user, and the information of the predicted range Is acquired from the external server device, and when information necessary for finalizing the search content is input by the user, information corresponding to the input information is searched from information acquired in advance by the information acquisition means Therefore, the response waiting time for communication processing can be shortened, the interruption of dialogue can be reduced, and desired information can be presented without causing stress to the user.

It is the schematic of the information presentation apparatus concerning this embodiment. It is a block diagram of the information presentation apparatus in this embodiment. It is a basic processing sequence figure of the information presentation apparatus concerning this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the conversation scenario management table memorize | stored in the hard disk apparatus of the information presentation apparatus concerning this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the user management table memorize | stored in the hard disk apparatus of the information presentation apparatus concerning this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the event scenario corresponding | compatible table memorize | stored in the hard disk apparatus of the information presentation apparatus concerning this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the search keyword management table memorize | stored in the hard disk apparatus of the information presentation apparatus concerning this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the primary search result management table memorize | stored in the hard disk apparatus of the information presentation apparatus concerning this embodiment. It is a sequence diagram which shows an example of the process performed along the conversation scenario of "hotel reservation" in this embodiment. It is a sequence diagram which shows an example of the process performed along the conversation scenario of "hotel reservation" in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the user's action schedule registered into the scheduler in this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Information presentation apparatus 10 Display 11 Microphone 12 Speaker 17 Hard disk apparatus 18 Control part

[1. Overview of information presentation device]
Hereinafter, an information presentation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an information presentation apparatus according to the present embodiment.

The information presentation device according to the present embodiment searches for information desired by the user from the external server device by narrowing down search contents in an interactive manner based on the user's voice input signal as information input from the user. It is to be presented.

That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the information presentation apparatus 1 narrows down search contents while allowing a user to interact with a character displayed on the display 10 via a dedicated microphone 11. Even a user who does not have a search technique or a user who is not good at operating a computer is easily familiar and can easily obtain desired information.

The information presentation apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment stores a plurality of scenario data for performing a dialogue with a user, selects scenario data according to the user's utterance content, and creates a conversation scenario based on the selected scenario data. Along with this, we are going to promote dialogue with users.

For example, when the user utters “Please reserve a conference room” toward the microphone 11, the information presentation device 1 generates scenario data for conference room reservation from a plurality of scenario data based on the content of the utterance. select. Then, the information presentation device 1 utters a voice such as “Tell me the date and time of the meeting” or “Tell me the usage time” from the speaker 12 in accordance with the scenario of the scenario data for the conference room reservation. Narrow down the search contents while outputting and interacting with the user.

In particular, when narrowing down the search content, the information presentation device 1 according to the present embodiment predicts the search content based on the user's action schedule, and determines the information in the predicted range to narrow down the search content. Reduce the response waiting time of communication processing that occurs when performing a narrow search by acquiring in advance from an external server device via a communication path such as the Internet before the information necessary for the user is input It is characterized by making it possible.

Here, the information presentation apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment uses a schedule management software provided for managing a user's schedule or an Internet service for schedule management (hereinafter referred to as a “scheduler”) as a user's action schedule. .)

That is, when the information presentation apparatus 1 selects scenario data based on the user's utterance content, the event of the type corresponding to the selected scenario data (user's action schedule) from the user's action schedule written in the scheduler. To extract. Then, the information presentation device 1 predicts the search content to be confirmed based on the information included in the extracted event as a primary search before the information necessary for narrowing down the search content is input from the user. Then, information of the predicted range is acquired from the external server device.

For example, when scenario data for conference room reservation is selected based on the user's utterance content, the information presentation device 1 extracts an event related to “conference” from the user's action schedule written in the scheduler. . For example, if a meeting is scheduled at “15 to 17:00 on March 12,” “10 to 11:00 on March 20,” and “13:00 to 20:00 on April 5,” information will be displayed. Before asking the user about the date and time of the meeting, the presentation device 1 starts a primary search using these dates and times as keywords, and acquires the search results from the external server device.

When the user replies to the question from the information presentation apparatus 1 that the meeting is “15 to 17:00 on March 12,” the information presentation apparatus 1 acquires the primary search result that has been acquired. Information on a vacant conference room is acquired from 15:00 to 17:00 on March 12, and the acquired information is displayed on the display screen and presented to the user.

As described above, the information presentation device 1 according to the present embodiment narrows down the search contents from the primary search results acquired in advance based on the user's action schedule. In comparison, the response waiting time for communication processing can be shortened. As a result, since the interruption of the dialogue is reduced, it is possible to present desired information without giving stress to the user.

Note that a general server device can be applied to the external server device connected to the information presentation device 1 according to the present embodiment via a communication path.

Hereinafter, a more specific example of the configuration and operation of the information presentation apparatus 1 described above will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

[2. Specific configuration of information presentation device]
(About the configuration of the information presentation device)
First, the configuration of the information presentation apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the information presentation apparatus in the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 2, the information presentation apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a display 10 configured by a transmissive liquid crystal panel, a microphone 11 that collects user's voice, and a speaker 12 that outputs voice, sound effects, and the like. A keyboard 13 and a mouse 14 capable of inputting predetermined information by a user operation, an interface 15 for communicating with an external server device via a communication path, and an authentication card for authenticating the user The reader 16 is configured to include a hard disk device 17 as a storage unit for storing various data and the like, and a control unit 18 for controlling the entire information presentation device 1. These various elements are connected via a system bus 19. Connected to each other.

The interface 15 is a USB interface that can communicate with an external server device or the like, and is used by the control unit 18 when acquiring search result information from the external server device or communicating with other computer devices. It is done. The interface 15 may be a wireless or wired LAN interface instead of the USB interface.

The authentication card reader 16 is a device for identifying a user based on an authentication card possessed by each user. When the user performs personal authentication with the authentication card reader 16 and logs into the information presentation device 1. The information presentation device 1 reads the scheduler of the user and makes the information presentation device 1 usable by the user. The authentication card reader 16 may be either a contact type or a non-contact type. Further, in place of the personal authentication by the authentication card reader 16, personal authentication by biometric authentication such as a fingerprint authentication device may be used, or personal authentication by inputting a user name and password using a keyboard may be used. Good.

The hard disk device 17 includes a conversation scenario storage area 20 for storing a conversation scenario management table for managing conversation scenarios, a user information storage area 21 for storing user management tables for managing user information, and types of events registered in the scheduler. Event scenario storage area 22 for storing an event scenario correspondence table for managing the correspondence relationship between a conversation scenario and a search scenario, a search keyword storage area 23 for storing a search keyword management table for managing a search keyword for each conversation scenario, and a result of a primary search. It has a primary search result storage area 24 for storing a primary search result management table to be managed.

The hard disk device 17 stores various application programs including schedule management software and data files created by the application programs. In addition to the application program, an information presentation program as a processing program for the information presentation apparatus 1 is stored.

The information presentation program may be downloaded from an external server device connected to the communication path to the hard disk device 17 of the control unit 18 via the interface 15, or may be a CD-ROM or the like. After being recorded on the recording medium, it may be read into the hard disk device 17 of the control unit 18 via a recording medium drive (not shown).

The control unit 18 incorporates a CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), etc., and the CPU reads and executes an information presentation program stored in the hard disk device 17. Thus, the information presentation device 1 is caused to function as an action schedule acquisition unit, an information acquisition unit, an information presentation unit, an action schedule update unit, and the like.

Hereinafter, the various tables and means described above will be described along the flow of basic processing. FIG. 3 is a basic processing sequence diagram of the information presentation apparatus according to the present embodiment. 4 to 8 are diagrams showing examples of various management tables stored in the hard disk device of the information presentation apparatus according to the present embodiment, FIG. 4 is an example of a conversation scenario management table, and FIG. 5 is a user management table. FIG. 6 shows an example of an event scenario correspondence table, FIG. 7 shows an example of a search keyword management table, and FIG. 8 shows an example of a primary search result management table. Note that the processing sequence diagram of FIG. 3 explains processing after personal authentication by the authentication card reader 16.

As shown in FIG. 3, when a user utters a predetermined utterance such as “Please make a reservation for a conference room” (step S <b> 10), the control unit 18 of the information presentation device 1 transmits the user via the microphone 11. And the content of the utterance is identified from the speech, and a conversation scenario corresponding to the identified utterance content is selected (step S11). This process is performed by the control unit 18 with reference to the conversation scenario management table shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, the conversation scenario management table stores a keyword included in the user's utterance contents, a scenario name of the conversation scenario, and scenario data of the conversation scenario in association with the scenario ID.

For example, when the control unit 18 determines from the user's voice input signal received via the microphone 11 that the user's utterance content is included, the conversation scenario management table The conference room reservation scenario is selected with reference to the above, and scenario data for conference room reservation corresponding to the scenario is read. With this process, the dialogue with the user is advanced in accordance with the conference room reservation scenario.

Next, the control unit 18 starts a dialog with the user based on the read scenario data (step S12) and starts a primary search process (step S13).

First, in step S12, the control unit 18 outputs a predetermined question sentence from the speaker 12 (utterance) in order to obtain a keyword for performing a secondary search for further narrowing down the result obtained by the primary search process in step S13. ) Specifically, when the dialogue is a conference room reservation scenario, the date and time of the conference is asked.

In the primary search process in step S13, the control unit 18 acquires information necessary for accessing the scheduler of the user who has performed personal authentication (step S14). This process is performed by the control unit 18 with reference to the user information management table shown in FIG.

That is, in the user information management table, as shown in FIG. 5, the user's name, the software name or URL of the scheduler used by the user, the ID and password for accessing the scheduler are associated with the user ID. It is remembered.

When the user performs personal authentication using the authentication card reader 16, the control unit 18 acquires the user ID of the user, and refers to the user information management table and associates the user ID with the user ID. An ID and a password for accessing the user's scheduler are acquired.

Next, the control unit 18 accesses the user's scheduler using the acquired ID and password, and extracts a type of event related to the conversation scenario identified in step S11 (step S15). This processing is performed by the control unit 18 with reference to the event scenario correspondence management table shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 6, the event scenario correspondence table stores the event type of the user's action schedule written in the scheduler in association with the scenario ID. Here, the event type indicates a type of user's action schedule such as “business trip”, “going out”, and “meeting”. Further, the user's action schedule (event) is classified and written in one of the event types in the user's scheduler.

That is, for example, when the conversation scenario selected in step S11 is “conference room reservation”, the control unit 18 refers to the event scenario correspondence management table and sets “conference” as the event type corresponding to the conversation scenario. select. Then, the control unit 18 extracts events belonging to the “conference” type from the user's scheduler.

Thus, the control unit 18 functions as an action schedule acquisition unit that acquires an action schedule of the user.

Next, the control unit 18 performs a primary search using the information registered in the extracted event as a keyword (step S16). This processing is performed by the control unit 18 with reference to the search keyword management table shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 7, the search keyword management table stores a plurality of search keywords set for each conversation scenario in association with the scenario ID.

That is, for example, when the conversation scenario selected in Step S11 is “Conference Room Reservation”, the control unit 18 refers to the search keyword management table as an event classified as “Conference” extracted in Step S15. Information on “start date / time”, “end date / time”, and “number of people” is extracted from the registered information, and a primary search is performed on the external server device using these as search keywords.

In this way, the control unit 18 functions as an information acquisition unit, so that the information that has been input by the user so far is input before the information necessary for finalizing the search content is input from the user. The search content to be confirmed is predicted based on the date or date of the user's action schedule corresponding to the content. With this configuration, an efficient search can be performed.

Next, the control unit 18 stores the search result obtained by the primary search performed in Step 16 in the primary search result management table together with the search keyword (Step S17).

Next, the control unit 18 determines whether or not a primary search has been performed for all the events extracted in step S15 (step S18). In this process, when the primary search is not performed for all the events extracted in step S15 (step S18: No), the control unit 18 shifts the process to step S16. On the other hand, if it determines with the primary search having been performed with respect to all the events extracted in step S15 (step S18: Yes), the control part 18 will complete | finish a primary search process.

In the primary search result management table, as shown in FIG. 8, the primary search result for each event is stored in association with the scenario execution ID. Here, the scenario execution ID is an ID issued when the execution of the conversation scenario is started.

As described above, the control unit 18 predicts the search content to be confirmed based on the user's action schedule before the information necessary for finalizing the search content is input from the user, It functions as information acquisition means for acquiring information from an external server device.

On the other hand, when the user replies to the question sentence uttered in step S12 (step S19), the control unit 18 acquires a keyword for secondary search included in the utterance content of the user (step S20).

Next, the control unit 18 acquires the primary search result stored in the primary search result management table in step S18 based on the scenario execution ID (step S21), and acquires in step S20 from the acquired primary search results. The secondary search is performed based on the secondary search keyword (step S22).

Next, the control unit 18 determines whether or not all the search keywords set for each conversation scenario stored in the search keyword management table (see FIG. 7) have been acquired (step S23). In this process, when all the keywords for secondary search have not been acquired (step S23: No), the control unit 18 proceeds to step S12 and determines that all keywords for secondary search have been acquired. (Step S23: Yes), the process proceeds to step S24.

In step S24, the control unit 18 displays the results of the secondary search one by one on the display 10, and utters a sentence for prompting the user's confirmation through the speaker 12.

When the user responds to the secondary search result (step S25), the control unit 18 receives the user's utterance (step S26), and whether the content of the utterance indicates completion of the search. It is determined whether or not (step S27).

That is, when the conversation scenario is a conference room reservation and there are vacant spaces in the “402 conference room”, “404 conference room”, and “503 conference room” as a secondary search result, the control unit 18 first sets “402 conference room”. Information related to “room” (location, vacant time zone, fee, facilities, etc.) is displayed on the display 10 and a confirmation sentence such as “How about the 402 meeting room?” Is uttered via the speaker 12. If the user's response is negative, such as “Is there anything else?”, The control unit 18 determines that the search is not completed (step S27: No), and the process proceeds to step S24. Then, the same processing (processing from steps S24 to S27) is performed on the next search result.

On the other hand, when the user's response is a positive utterance content such as “please reserve it”, the control unit 18 determines that the search is completed (step S27: Yes), and the corresponding search result. Is reserved (step S28), and all the processes are terminated.

As described above, when information necessary for finalizing the search content is input from the user, the control unit 18 searches the information corresponding to the input information from the previously acquired information and prompts the user. It functions as an information presentation means to present.

As described above, the information presentation device 1 according to the present embodiment is based on the user's action schedule, and the search content that is determined before the information necessary for finalizing the search content is input from the user. And obtaining information of the predicted range from the external server device, and when information necessary for finalizing the search content is input from the user, information corresponding to the input information is obtained as information acquisition means Because it was decided to search from information acquired in advance, communication response waiting time can be shortened, dialogue interruption can be reduced, and desired information can be presented without stressing the user it can.

Here, the control unit 18 is input when information necessary for finalizing the search contents is input from the user during the process of acquiring information from the external server device (primary search). When the information corresponding to the information has already been acquired, the information acquisition process is stopped.

That is, when the keyword for the secondary search is acquired by the user's utterance, the control unit 18 refers to the primary search result management table and determines whether or not the search based on the keyword is finished. And the control part 18 is supposed to cancel a primary search, when the search based on the said keyword is complete | finished. With such a configuration, unnecessary communication processing can be prevented.

In addition, when executing the primary search, the control unit 18 preferentially performs information that is close to the current date and time.

That is, when the date and time of the event extracted in step S15 is “March 10”, “March 17”, or “March 24”, the control unit 18 sets “March 10” as information close to the current date and time. The primary search is executed in order from the “day” event. With such a configuration, a more efficient search can be performed. In other words, generally, the closer to the current date and time, the higher the probability that the event will be the search target, so it is possible to reduce unnecessary searches as much as possible by prioritizing the events near the current date and time. can do.

In addition, the control unit 18 searches for information within a predetermined period from the current date and time.

That is, when the search execution date is “March 2”, only the events within the range of 3 months from the search execution date are subjected to the primary search. With such a configuration, a more efficient search can be performed. In other words, generally, the closer to the current date and time, the higher the probability that the event will be the search target, and the lower the probability that the event outside the predetermined period will be the search target. By making it a target, it is possible to reduce unnecessary searches as much as possible.

Also, the control unit 18 obtains information from the external server device excluding information included in the user's action schedule obtained from the user's scheduler.

That is, when the event related to the conversation scenario is extracted from the scheduler (see step S15), when the information to be presented is already registered as an action schedule in the scheduler, the control unit 18 selects the event as a search target event. And search only other events. With such a configuration, unnecessary communication processing can be prevented.

In addition, the control unit 18 determines that the action schedule that spans multiple days among the user's action schedules acquired from the scheduler is a schedule indicating a business trip, and the search content in which the information on the accommodation facility necessary for the business trip is determined. To predict.

In other words, for example, when an event extending from March 9 to March 10 is registered in the scheduler, the control unit 18 determines that the event belongs to the type of “business trip” and sets it as a conversation scenario. When “hotel reservation” or “route search” is selected, the event is selected as an event to be searched. By adopting such a configuration, it becomes possible to present information more in line with the user's will.

In addition, the control unit 18 can further narrow down the search content narrowed down by the information input by the user before the information necessary for finalizing the search content is input from the user, and further narrow down the user's action schedule and the search content. The search content to be determined is predicted by narrowing down based on the determined past search content.

That is, for example, when “hotel reservation” is selected as the conversation scenario, if there is no information about the business trip destination in the event information registered in the scheduler, the control unit 18 stores the past information stored in the scheduler. The business trip destination with a large number of business trips is identified with reference to the event, and the primary search is performed using the business trip destination as a search keyword. By adopting such a configuration, even when there is a shortage of information for performing the primary search, the primary search can be performed with high accuracy by complementing the insufficient information from the past event history.

Also, the control unit 18 functions as an action schedule update unit, so that the presented information can be incorporated into the action schedule in response to a request from the user.

That is, after completing the reservation process in step S28, the control unit 18 utters a question sentence as to whether or not to reflect the information on the event that has been reserved in the scheduler. When the user makes an utterance response indicating that the information should be reflected in the scheduler, the control unit 18 incorporates the information into the scheduler. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to save the user from having to incorporate information on the event for which the reservation has been completed into the scheduler.

[3. Specific operation of information presentation apparatus]
Next, a specific example of the operation until the user acquires desired information using the information presentation apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described by taking the case where the user makes a hotel reservation as an example. 9 and 10 are sequence diagrams showing an example of processing executed in accordance with the “hotel reservation” conversation scenario in the present embodiment, and FIG. 11 is a user action schedule registered in the scheduler in the present embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example.

As shown in FIG. 9, when the user utters “Please make a hotel reservation” (step S40), the control unit 18 of the information presentation apparatus 1 receives the user's voice via the microphone 11, and It is specified from the voice that the keywords “hotel” and “reservation” are included in the user's utterance content (step S41). Then, the control unit 18 refers to the conversation scenario management table and selects the “hotel reservation” scenario as the conversation scenario corresponding to the specified utterance content (step S42).

Next, the control unit 18 utters “Tell me the date to go out” to the user based on the read “hotel reservation” conversation scenario (step S43), and starts the primary search process. (Step S44). This primary search process is a process from steps S70 to S82 shown in FIG. 10, and will be described later.

On the other hand, when the user utters “December 5th” as a response to the question sentence uttered in step S43 (step S45), the control unit 18 determines that the stay date is “12 from the utterance content of the user. "Month 5th" is specified (step S46). At this time, if the primary search has not ended, the control unit 18 stops searching for dates other than “December 5th” (step S47).

Next, the control unit 18 utters a question sentence “Where are you going?” Via the speaker 12 (step S48). When the user utters “Kyoto University” as a response to the question (step S49), the control unit 18 specifies that the business trip destination is “Kyoto University” from the utterance content of the user. (Step S50). At this time, if the primary search has not ended, the control unit 18 stops searching for a business trip destination other than “Kyoto University” (step S51).

As described above, in the information presentation apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, information necessary for finalizing the search content is input from the user during the process of obtaining information from the external server apparatus (primary search). When the information corresponding to the input information has already been acquired, the process for acquiring the information is stopped, so that unnecessary communication processing can be prevented.

Next, the control unit 18 acquires the primary search result stored in the primary search result management table based on the scenario execution ID. From the acquired primary search results, “December 5”, “Kyoto University” A secondary search is performed based on the keywords (step S52).

Next, the control unit 18 determines whether there is a corresponding search result (step S53). In this process, when there is no corresponding search result (step S53: No), the control unit 18 utters "There is no hotel open on that day" via the speaker 12, and the search corresponding to the user. The fact that there is no result is reported (step S54).

On the other hand, if it is determined that there is a corresponding search result (step S53: Yes), the control unit 18 extracts one detailed hotel information from the results of the secondary search and displays it on the display 10 (step S55). A question message as to whether or not to reserve the hotel displayed on the display 10 is uttered through the speaker 12 (step S56).

Next, when the user utters “please reserve it” in response to the question (step S57), the control unit 18 confirms that the content of the utterance is an instruction for reservation. The hotel is specified (step S58), and the hotel reservation displayed on the display 10 is executed (step S59).

When the user utters a negative utterance such as “Is there anything else” as a response in step S57, the control unit 18 specifies the content of the utterance and moves the process to step S55.

When the process of step S59 is completed, the control unit 18 ends all the processes.

Next, the primary search process in step S44 will be specifically described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 10, when the primary search process is started, the control unit 18 first acquires an ID and a password as information necessary for accessing the scheduler of the user who has performed personal authentication (step S70). This process is performed by the control unit 18 with reference to the user information management table shown in FIG.

Next, the control unit 18 uses the acquired ID and password to access the user's scheduler and refers to the event scenario correspondence management table to extract a type of event related to the “hotel reservation” conversation scenario. To do. Specifically, the control unit 18 extracts a “business trip” event that spans multiple days (step S71). At this time, the control unit 18 excludes the accommodation destinations that have already been registered from the extraction target, and only the events that are within one month from the search date are extracted.

As described above, the information presentation device 1 according to the present embodiment acquires information from the external server device excluding information included in the user's action schedule acquired from the user's scheduler, and within a predetermined period from the current date and time. Therefore, it is possible to prevent unnecessary communication processing from being performed.

Here, as shown in FIG. 11, the scheduler of the user includes a meeting scheduled to be held at 10 to 11:00 on December 3, a meeting scheduled to be held at 14:00 to 16:00 on December 4, and 12 Business trip from 8:00 on December 5th to 18:00 on December 6th, conference scheduled to be held in the 401 meeting room on 10th to 11th on December 7th, scheduled to be held at 17-18: 30 It is assumed that a meeting and a drinking party scheduled to be held from 19:00 to 20:00 are registered. That is, in the process of step S71, the control unit 18 extracts an event of “business trip from 8:00 on December 5 to 18:00 on December 6”.

Next, the control unit 18 determines whether or not the information on the business trip destination is registered in the extracted event (step S72). In this process, when it is determined that the business trip destination information is registered in the extracted event (step S72: Yes), the control unit 18 acquires the business trip destination information from the extracted event (step S73), and the business trip destination. A search for the nearest station of “Kyoto University” is executed (step S74). Then, based on the acquired information on the nearest station, a search for hotels in the vicinity of the nearest station and vacant hotels on the day of the event is executed (step S75).

Next, the control unit 18 stores the search result of the hotel obtained in step S75 together with the search keyword in the primary search result management table (step S76).

On the other hand, when the information on the business trip destination is not registered in the extracted event in step S72 (step S72: No), the control unit 18 searches for an event whose event type is “business trip” from the past half year schedule, Information on the business trip destination registered in the event is acquired (step S77). Then, the obtained business trip information is ranked in descending order of the number of business trips (step S78).

Next, the control unit 18 searches for the nearest station for each acquired business trip destination (step S79). Then, based on the acquired information on the nearest station, a search for hotels in the vicinity of the nearest station and vacant hotels on the day of occurrence of the event is executed (step S80).

Next, the control unit 18 stores the search result of the hotel obtained in step S75 together with the search keyword in the primary search result management table (step S81).

Next, the control unit 18 determines whether or not the processes in steps S79 to S81 have been performed for the top five business trip destinations ranked in step S78 (step S82). In this process, when the processes of steps S78 and S79 are not performed for the top five business trip destinations (step S82: No), the control unit 18 shifts the process to step S79.

When the process of step S76 is completed, or when it is determined in step S82 that the processes of steps S79 to S81 have been performed for the top five business trip destinations (step S82: Yes), the control unit 18 extracts in step S71. It is determined whether or not a primary search has been performed for all events (step S83). In this process, when the primary search is not performed for all the events extracted in step S71 (step S83: No), the control unit 18 shifts the process to step S72. On the other hand, if it is determined that the primary search has been performed on all the events extracted in step S71 (step S83: Yes), the control unit 18 ends the primary search process.

As described above, the information presenting apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, before the information necessary for confirming the narrowing of the search content is input from the user, the search content narrowed down by the information input by the user so far, Furthermore, because the search content to be confirmed is predicted by narrowing down based on the user's action schedule and the past search content that has been narrowed down, the information for performing the primary search is insufficient. However, it is possible to complement the missing information from the past search history and execute the primary search with high accuracy.

When the process of step S82 is completed, the control unit 18 ends the primary search process.

As mentioned above, some of the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, these are merely examples, and the present invention is variously modified and improved based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art. It is possible to carry out the invention.

For example, in the present embodiment, the dialogue is performed based on the voice input signal of the user as the information input from the user. Instead, the dialogue is performed based on the information input by the keyboard 13 and the mouse 14. It is good also as performing. In such a case, the microphone 11 and the speaker 12 are unnecessary in the configuration of the information presentation apparatus 1 shown in FIG.

Claims

In the information presentation device that narrows down the search contents in an interactive manner based on information input from the user, searches the external server device for information desired by the user, and presents the information.
Action schedule acquisition means for acquiring the user's action schedule;
Before the information necessary for confirming the refinement of the search content is input from the user, the search content to be confirmed is predicted based on the user's action schedule, and the information of the predicted range is stored in the external server. Information acquisition means for acquiring from the device;
When information necessary for finalizing the search content is input from the user, information corresponding to the input information is searched from information acquired in advance by the information acquisition means and presented to the user An information presentation device comprising: an information presentation unit that performs the following steps:
The information presentation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an action schedule update unit that incorporates information presented by the information presentation unit into the action schedule in response to a request from the user.
The information acquisition means corresponds to the input information when information necessary for finalizing the search content is input from the user during the process of acquiring information from the external server device. The information presenting apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein when the information to be acquired has already been acquired, the process of acquiring the information is stopped.
The information acquisition means is configured such that the user's action schedule corresponding to the search content that has been narrowed down by the information input by the user before the information necessary for finalizing the search content is input from the user. The information presenting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the determined search content is predicted based on a date or a date.
The information presentation apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the information acquisition unit performs a search by prioritizing information close to a current date and time.
6. The information presentation apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the information acquisition unit searches for information within a predetermined period from a current date and time.
7. The information acquisition unit according to claim 1, wherein the information acquisition unit acquires information from the external server device excluding information included in the user's action schedule acquired by the action schedule acquisition unit. The information presentation apparatus described in 1.
The information acquisition means determines that the action schedule straddling a plurality of days of the user's action schedule acquired by the action schedule acquisition means is a schedule indicating a business trip, and provides information on accommodation facilities necessary for the business trip. The information presenting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the information is predicted as a determined search content.
The information acquisition means further includes a search content that has been narrowed down by the information input from the user before the information necessary for finalizing the search content is input from the user, and further the action schedule of the user 9. The information presenting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determined search content is predicted by narrowing down based on the past search content for which the narrowing has been determined.
10. A recording medium on which a computer program for causing a computer to execute each means of the information presentation device according to claim 1 is recorded in a computer-readable manner.
In an information presentation method for narrowing down search contents interactively based on information input from a user, and searching for and presenting information desired by the user from an external server device,
Obtaining an action schedule of the user;
Before the information necessary for confirming the refinement of the search content is input from the user, the search content that has been narrowed down by the information input from the user so far is further narrowed down based on the action schedule of the user, Predicting the determined search content, acquiring the predicted range information from the external server device, and storing the information in a storage unit;
A step of searching for information corresponding to the input information from the information stored in the storage means and presenting the information to the user when information necessary for finalizing the search content is input from the user; And a method of presenting information.