JP2001005709A - Information service device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To update information on the information service device in a short time. SOLUTION: The field of information that a user requests is specified from an input device 12 of a communication information terminal 1. The information field and last update time are generated as information updated data, which are transmitted to an information center 2. The information center 2 generates the latest information data only with updated information among information data that a database 23 holds and transmits them to the communication terminal 1. The communication terminal 1 once receiving the latest information data updates the information data of the database 13 with the latest information data and displays the latest information on a display device 14.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information service apparatus, and more particularly to an information service apparatus for providing information from an information center to a user of a communication information terminal via a public communication network or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional technique for shortening the data transmission time from an information center to a communication information terminal when updating information in an information service apparatus is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-26991.
No. 0 is known. In the above conventional information service apparatus, the information data update time is first received from the information center, and only the updated data is selected and received, so that the information once received is not received again.

[0003]

However, when the information is divided into the information field and the information data belonging to the information field at that time, if the information field is determined based on the update time of the information field, only a part of the information data in the information field is updated. If so, all data in the information field must be received. Further, if the determination is made based on the update time of the information data belonging to the information field, it takes time to receive each update time and perform the update determination process. Therefore, the conventional technology has a problem that it is not possible to sufficiently reduce the information update time in the future diversification of information needs and in promptly changing information that changes every moment.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to update information in a short time in an information service apparatus.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the present invention, a communication information terminal device is provided with an input device for inputting a user's instruction and an information center using a public communication network. A communication device for transmitting and receiving data to and from the information center, a database device for storing information data received from the information center, a display device for displaying information data of the database device, a control device for controlling each device, and a database device. Means for attaching a data category ID for uniquely identifying the information field to the information data to be stored; means for attaching a time stamp indicating the time at which the data of the information field was updated to the data category ID; Means for assigning a data ID for uniquely identifying the information data to the information data, and a time stamp indicating the time at which the information data was updated at the information center. And the configuration and means for subjecting the flop to the data ID.

[0006] Further, an input device for inputting information for providing an information center to a communication information terminal, a communication device for transmitting and receiving data to and from the communication information terminal using a public communication network, and an information input by the input device A database device that stores data, an information server that provides information to a communication information terminal, and a unit that attaches a data category ID for uniquely identifying an information field to information data stored in the database;
Means for attaching a time stamp indicating the time at which the data of the information field was updated to the data category ID; means for attaching a data ID for uniquely identifying individual information data belonging to the information field to the information data; And a means for attaching a time stamp indicating the time of the data ID to the data ID.

[0007] With this configuration, it is possible to provide information with minimal data transmission from the information center to the communication information terminal.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
An input device for inputting a user's instruction, a communication device for transmitting and receiving data to and from an information center using a public communication network, a database device for storing information data received from the information center, and the database A display device for displaying information data of a device, a control device for controlling each device, and a data category ID for uniquely identifying an information field in the information data stored in the database device
Means for attaching to the data category ID a time stamp indicating the time at which the data in the information field was updated, and a data ID for uniquely identifying individual information data belonging to the information field. A communication information terminal device comprising: means for attaching data to the data ID; and means for attaching a time stamp indicating the time at which the information data was updated at the information center to the data ID. This has the effect of updating the database of the storage device of the information terminal and displaying the latest information on the display unit.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an input device for inputting information to be provided to a communication information terminal, a communication device for transmitting and receiving data to and from the communication information terminal using a public communication network, A database device for storing information data input by the input device, an information server for providing information to the communication information terminal, and a data category ID for uniquely identifying an information field in the information data stored in the database. Means, means for attaching a time stamp indicating the time at which the data of the information field was updated, to the data category ID, and means for attaching, to the information data, a data ID for uniquely identifying individual information data belonging to the information field An information center comprising: a means for attaching a time stamp indicating a time at which the information data was updated to the data ID; It has the effect of facilitating determination of the information to be provided to the communication information terminal from the broadcast center.

The third aspect of the present invention is the first aspect of the present invention.
Means for creating information provision request data with a data category ID designating an information field in order to request the information center for update data of data already possessed, Means for attaching a time stamp indicating the previous information update time to the data category ID, and means for transmitting the information provision request data to the information center. It has the effect of requesting only data.

The fourth aspect of the present invention is the first aspect of the present invention.
In the communication information terminal device described above, means for creating information provision request data with a data category ID designating the information field in order to make an information provision request to the information center with respect to the information field of use; Means for attaching a time stamp set to "0" to the data category ID;
Means for transmitting the information provision request data to the information center, wherein the information terminal has a function of requesting all information data in the information field specified by the information center.

The fifth aspect of the present invention is the second aspect of the present invention.
The information center described above extracts information data updated after the time stamp of the received data category ID in the information field specified by the data category ID of the information provision request data received from the communication information terminal. A means for transmitting the latest information data to the communication information terminal is provided, and the information center has an effect of extracting only the latest information data and transmitting the information.

The invention according to claim 6 of the present invention is the invention according to claim 2.
In the information center described in the information field specified by the data category ID of the information provision request data received from the communication information terminal, there is information data updated after the time stamp of the data category ID of the received data. If not, a means for transmitting the information data which has not been updated to the communication information terminal as the latest information data is provided, and the information center notifies the communication information terminal that there is no updated information data. Having.

The invention according to claim 7 of the present invention is the invention according to claim 2.
Means for transmitting, to the communication information terminal, updated information data belonging to the information item specified by the information provision request data as the latest information data, and updating the updated information data as logical discard data. Means for transmitting the empty data as the latest information data to the communication information terminal using only the data category ID and the data ID, and the information center stores the information data of the communication information terminal. Has the effect of notifying the user of the deletion instruction.

The invention according to claim 8 of the present invention is the invention according to claim 2.
A data category I specified in the information provision request data received from the communication information terminal.
When D does not exist in the database device, means for transmitting the latest information data having only the data category ID and other information items empty to the communication information terminal is provided, and the information center stores the data of the communication information terminal. This has the effect of notifying a category deletion instruction.

The ninth aspect of the present invention is the first aspect of the present invention.
Means for determining that the information field of the data category ID has been discarded when the latest information data received from the information center is only the data category ID and other information items are empty; Means for deleting all information data belonging to the data category ID stored in the database device in accordance with the determination. If the information item is an empty category, the information item is determined to be discarded data. This has the effect of deleting category data from the database.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the communication information terminal device according to the first aspect, the latest information data received from the information center is only a data category ID and a data ID and other information items are empty. If the data I
A means for determining that the data corresponding to D has been discarded; and a means for deleting the data corresponding to the data ID stored in the database device in accordance with the discard determination. Is empty data, it is determined as discarded data, and the data of the corresponding data ID is deleted from the database.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the communication information terminal device according to the first aspect, means for storing the latest information data received from the information center in the database device; Means for adding the latest information data if the ID does not exist in the database device, and a time stamp of the data ID and a time stamp of the corresponding data ID in the database device when the data ID exists. Means for comparing the received information with the latest information data when the time stamp of the received data is newer than the time stamp of the data stored in the database device. Is the timestamp of the latest information data received. At the same time or new and between are those provided with a means that is not the update processing has the effect that performs only updating the new data in the received data.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the information center according to the second aspect, the time stamp of the data category ID of the information provision request data received from the communication information terminal is past a certain period or more. And means for determining that the information data of the communication information terminal needs to be refreshed and updated, and has the effect of determining the timing of refreshing the database of the communication information terminal.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the information terminal device of the first aspect, when storing the latest information data received from the information center, the data of the information provision request data transmitted to the information center is stored. A means for determining whether or not the latest information data is refresh update data for updating all records based on the time stamp of the category ID is provided. It has the effect of making a decision.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the information center according to the second aspect, means for transmitting data category update information together with the latest information data to the communication information terminal when a data category is changed. Which has the effect of notifying the terminal of the category change.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the communication information terminal device according to the first aspect, means for detecting at start-up that communication with the information center has not been performed for a certain period of time or more is provided. Means for performing a data category update process by performing data communication with the information center, and has an operation of performing the data category update process at least at regular intervals.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

(Embodiment) According to an embodiment of the present invention, when an information field of information requested by a user is specified in a communication information terminal, an information update request having this information field and the last update time of the information field is specified. In accordance with the received data, the information center creates the latest information data with only the updated information from among the stored information data, transmits the data to the communication information terminal, and transmits the data to the communication information terminal. The information terminal is an information service device that, when receiving the latest information data, updates information data in a database with the latest information data and displays the latest information on a display device.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic internal configuration of communication information terminal device 1 and information center 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the communication information terminal device 1 of FIG.
The communication device 11 is a device that is communicatively connected to another communication terminal, a database, or the like via a public communication network. The input device 12
This is a device for requesting display of information desired by the user. The database 13 is a device that stores information data that has been requested and displayed by the user so far. Display device 14
Is a device that displays various information data on a screen. The control device 15 is a device that controls the entire communication information terminal device.

In the information center 2 shown in FIG.
Is a device that is communicatively connected to the communication information terminal device 1 via a public communication network. The data input device 22 is a device for inputting information to be provided to the communication information terminal device 1. The database 23 is a device that stores information input by the data input device 22. The information server 24 is a device that controls the center device in order to provide the information of the information center to the communication information terminal device 1.

The operation of communication information terminal apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the control device 15 in the information update request process of the communication information terminal device 1. The outline of the information update request process shown in FIG. 2 is as follows. An information update instruction including a data category ID indicating an information field is input to the input device 12 to request information update. According to the data category ID for which the information update is requested,
13, the data category ID
In the control device, information update request data for prompting the information center to provide information is created with the time stamp of the data category of the information data corresponding to. The created data is transmitted by the communication processing of the communication device 11.

Referring to FIG. 2, the information update request processing of the communication information terminal device 1 will be described. The control device 15 determines whether or not an input operation of a data category ID for requesting information update to the communication information terminal device 1 by the input device 12 has been performed (step SS201). If no input operation has been performed, the process ends. If the input operation of the data category ID is performed by the input device 12, the data category I
It is determined whether or not the information data corresponding to D is in the database 13 (Step SS202). Database 13
If there is information data corresponding to the data category ID, a time stamp item of the data category of the information data is obtained (step SS203). If there is no information data, step SS203 is skipped.

In step SS204, data category I
When D and the time stamp item can be obtained, information update request data for requesting information provision is created based on the time stamp. In step SS205, the communication device 11 executes information transmission processing for transmitting the information update request data to the information center, and ends the information update request processing operation in the information update request data information transmission processing.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the control device 15 in the information updating process of the communication information terminal device 1. The update information providing process shown in FIG. 3 is to create update information data from the latest information data stored in the database 23 in accordance with the information update request data received from the communication information terminal device 1, Is the process of transmitting the update information data to the server.

Referring to FIG. 3, the information updating process of communication information terminal device 1 will be described. The information server 24 determines whether the communication device 21 has received information update request data from the communication information terminal device 1 (step SS301). If not received, the process ends.

If the information update request data reception by the communication device 21 is completed, it is determined whether or not the information data corresponding to the data category ID specified by the received information update request data is stored in the database 23. (Step SS302). It is determined whether the time stamp of the received request data is past a certain period or more (step SS303).

When it is determined in step SS303 that the time stamp of the request data is not past a certain period or more, the information data having the data ID corresponding to the data category ID of the received information request data is stored in the database 23. If there is, the time stamp of this information data is obtained (step SS304). Timestamp of data category of received information update request data and database
The new and old times are determined based on the time stamps of the 23 data, and the presence or absence of information update is determined (step SS305).

At step SS303, it is determined that the time stamp of the request data is not past a certain period or more, or at step SS305, the database 2
If it is determined that the information data of No. 3 has been updated, it is determined whether the information data is discarded data (step SS306).

In step SS306, database 2
If it is determined that the information data of No. 3 is not discarded data, an update information creation process is executed using the information data of the database 23 having the data ID corresponding to the data category ID of the information update request data as the update information data. At this time, the time stamp item of the data of the database 23 is used as the time stamp item (step SS30).
7).

In step SS306, database 2
If it is determined that the information data of No. 3 is discarded data, the information data of the database 23 having the data ID corresponding to the data category ID of the information update request data is regarded as discarded data, and only the data category ID and the data ID are used. Then, the update information discard data creation processing in which the information item is empty is executed. At this time, the time stamp item is
The time stamp item of the 23 data is used (step SS308).

Data category I specified in request data
When the information data belonging to D disappears, step SS
If there is no update information data created in step 307 or step SS308 (step SS309), other information items are provided with only the data category ID for notifying the communication information terminal device 1 that there is no update information data. Executes update information creation processing for creating empty dummy data (step SS310).

Data category I specified in request data
If the update information creation processing of D is completed, data category update data creation is executed (step SS31).
1) The communication device 21 executes an information transmission process for transmitting the update information data to the communication information terminal device 1 (step SS312). When the information transmission processing of the update information data ends, the update information providing processing operation ends.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the information server 24 in the information provision processing of the information center 2. The information update process shown in FIG. 4 is a process of creating the latest information data from the update information data received from the information center 2 and the information data already stored in the database 13 and displaying it on the display device 14.

In FIG. 4, the control device 15 is a communication device 11
It is determined whether or not the update information data reception processing from the information center 2 has been completed (step SS401). If the update information receiving process by the communication device 11 has been completed, it is determined whether or not the information data corresponding to the data category ID of the received update information data is stored in the database 13 (step SS402).

If there is information data corresponding to the data category ID in the database 13, it is further determined whether or not the data ID of the received update information data is stored in the database 13 (step SS403).

In step SS403, database 1
In 3, the data category ID of the received update information data
If it is determined that the information data corresponding to is not stored, an information update process for adding the received update information data is executed (step SS407).

It is determined whether the time stamp in the database 13 corresponding to the data category ID of the request data is past a certain period or more (step SS40).
Four).

In step SS404, if the time stamp of the request data is past a certain period or more, an information update process for adding the received update information data is executed (step SS407).

If there is information data corresponding to the data ID in the database 13, a time stamp of this information data is obtained (step SS405). Based on the time stamp of the received update information data and the time stamp of the database 13, it is determined whether the information data is new or old (step S
S406).

If it is determined in step SS406 that the update information data is new data, an information data update process for updating the information data in the database 13 with the update information data corresponding to the data ID is executed (step S406).
S407).

In step SS406, if the update information data is not determined to be new data, the information update process is not performed with the update information data received from the information center, and the information data in the database 13 is determined to be the latest data.

If it is determined in step SS406 that the information data corresponding to the data ID of the received update information data is not stored in this database,
An information update process for adding the received update information data is performed (step SS407).

In step SS408, the latest information data is obtained from the database 13 and displayed on the display device.
At 14, the latest information data display process is executed.

After the latest information is displayed, the data category is updated (step SS409), and the information update operation ends.

As described above, in the embodiment of the present invention,
The information service device specifies the field of information requested by the user at the communication information terminal, creates information update request data with the last update time of this information field, and transmits the data to the information center. The latest information data is created with only the updated information and transmitted to the communication information terminal, and the communication information terminal updates and displays the database with the received latest information data, so the information is updated in a short time. be able to.

[0052]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, a communication information terminal device is provided with an input device for inputting a user's instruction and a data communication with an information center using a public communication network. A communication device that performs transmission and reception, a database device that stores information data received from the information center, a display device that displays information data of the database device, a control device that controls each device, and information data that is stored in the database device A data category ID for uniquely identifying the information field, a means for attaching a time stamp indicating the time at which the data of the information field was updated to the data category ID, and a means for uniquely identifying each information data belonging to the information field. Means for attaching a data ID for identifying to the information data;
Means for attaching a time stamp indicating the time at which the information data was updated at the information center to the data ID, the information center comprising: an input device for inputting information to be provided to the communication information terminal; and a public communication network or the like. A communication device that transmits and receives data to and from the communication information terminal, a database device that stores the information data input by the input device, an information server that provides information to the communication information terminal, and an information data that is stored in the database. A means for attaching a data category ID for uniquely identifying the information field, a means for attaching a time stamp indicating the time at which the data of the information field was updated to the data category ID, and a means for uniquely identifying each information data belonging to the information field A means for attaching a data ID for identification to the information data, and a time stamp indicating a time at which the information data was updated is attached to the data ID. Since the configuration and means, there is an advantage that it is providing information with a minimum of data transmission from the information center to the communication information terminal.

In the information field specified by the data category ID of the information provision request data received from the communication information terminal, the information data updated after the time stamp of the received data category ID is extracted and updated. The information center transmits only the latest information data of the information data corresponding to the information data received from the communication information terminal because the means for transmitting the data to the communication information terminal is provided. The effect that it can be obtained is obtained.

Further, the communication information terminal receives only the latest information data in the requested information field, so that the time required for displaying the information can be reduced by reducing the data capacity, and the communication cost can be reduced by shortening the communication time. As a result, the amount of data rewriting of the database can be minimized, and the effect of shortening the data update time can be obtained.

Further, when the latest information data of the requested information field does not exist in the information center, the communication information terminal receives the dummy data from the information center so that the information provision request is not transmitted and the next time. It is possible to shift to the processing of.

In the case where the information update request is not made for a certain period of time and there is a possibility that the information in the database is significantly different from the latest information, the communication information terminal requests the information data of the information field requested by the information center. Receiving and updating all cases allows the database to be up to date.

If the communication information terminal does not make a request for information update for a certain period of time and the information in the database is likely to be significantly different from the latest information, the information center sends the information in the requested information field. By transmitting all the data, the comparison processing with the update time can be reduced, and the processing time of the information server can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a communication information terminal and an information center according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an information update request processing operation of the communication information terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an information providing processing operation of the information center according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an information update processing operation of the communication information terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Communication information terminal device 2 Information center 11 Communication device 12 Input device 13 Database 14 Display device 15 Control device 21 Communication device 22 Data input device 23 Database 24 Information server

Claims (15)

[Claims] An input device for inputting a user's instruction, a communication device for transmitting and receiving data to and from an information center using a public communication network, and a database for storing information data received from the information center A device, a display device for displaying information data of the database device, a control device for controlling each device, and a data category ID for uniquely identifying an information field to the information data stored in the database device. Means, means for attaching a time stamp indicating the time at which the data in the information field was updated to the data category ID, and a data ID for uniquely identifying individual information data belonging to the information field in the information data. And a time stamp indicating the time at which the information data was updated at the information center.
D. A communication information terminal device comprising: 2. An input device for inputting information to be provided to a communication information terminal, a communication device for transmitting and receiving data to and from the communication information terminal using a public communication network, and information data input by the input device. A database device for storing,
An information server that provides information to the communication information terminal; a unit that attaches a data category ID to the information data stored in the database to uniquely identify an information field; and a time when the data of the information field is updated. Means for attaching a time stamp to the data category ID, and data I for uniquely identifying individual information data belonging to the information field.
An information center, comprising: means for attaching D to the information data; and means for attaching a time stamp indicating the time at which the information data was updated to the data ID. 3. A means for creating information provision request data attached with a data category ID designating an information field in order to request update data of data already possessed from the information center, 2. The communication information terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising: means for attaching a time stamp indicating an information update time to the data category ID; and means for transmitting the information provision request data to the information center. 4. A means for creating information provision request data with a data category ID designating an information field in order to make an information provision request to said information center for an information field of use, and to set all digits to "0". 2. The communication information terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising: means for attaching the time stamp to the data category ID; and means for transmitting the information provision request data to the information center. 5. In the information field specified by the data category ID of the information provision request data received from the communication information terminal, information information updated after the time stamp of the received data category ID is extracted and updated. 3. An information center according to claim 2, further comprising means for transmitting information data to said communication information terminal. 6. The information field specified by the data category ID of the information provision request data received from the communication information terminal does not include information data updated after the time stamp of the data category ID of the received data. 3. The information center according to claim 2, further comprising means for transmitting information data which has not been updated to the communication information terminal as the latest information data. 7. A means for transmitting updated information data belonging to the information item specified by the information provision request data to the communication information terminal as the latest information data, and updating the updated information data as logical discard data. 3. The information center according to claim 2, further comprising: means for transmitting empty data as the latest information data to the communication information terminal using only the data category ID and the data ID when the information is present. 8. If the data category ID specified in the information provision request data received from the communication information terminal does not exist in the database device, the data category ID
3. The information center according to claim 2, further comprising means for transmitting the latest information data having only the other information item empty to the communication information terminal. 9. A means for judging that the information field of the data category ID has been discarded when the latest information data received from the information center is only the data category ID and other information items are empty, and 2. A communication information terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising means for deleting all information data belonging to said data category ID stored in said database device. 10. A means for judging that data corresponding to the data ID has been discarded when the latest information data received from the information center is only a data category ID and a data ID and other information items are empty. The data ID stored in the database device according to the discard determination
2. A communication information terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising means for deleting data corresponding to the communication information terminal. 11. A means for storing the latest information data received from said information center in said database device, and when the data ID of said latest information data does not exist in said database device, performs the processing of adding said latest information data. Means for comparing the time stamp of the data ID with the time stamp of the corresponding data ID in the database device when the data ID exists, and storing the time stamp of the received data in the database device. Performing a change process with the latest information data when the time stamp is newer than the data time stamp,
2. The communication information according to claim 1, further comprising means for not performing update processing when the time stamp of the data stored in the database device is the same as or newer than the time stamp of the latest information data received. Terminal device. 12. The information data of the communication information terminal needs to be refreshed and updated based on the fact that the time stamp of the data category ID of the information provision request data received from the communication information terminal is past a certain period or more. 3. A means for judging the fact is provided.
Information center described. 13. When storing the latest information data received from the information center, the latest information data is updated based on the time stamp of the data category ID of the information provision request data transmitted to the information center. 2. The information terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising means for determining whether the data is refresh update data. 14. The information center according to claim 2, further comprising means for transmitting data category update information to said communication information terminal together with the latest information data when a data category is changed. 15. A means for detecting at start-up that communication with the information center has not been performed for a certain period of time or more, and means for performing data category update processing by performing data communication with the information center according to a detection result. The communication information terminal device according to claim 1, wherein: