JP2001053906A - Method for automatically retrieving specified area information on network, center device and terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To retrieve a specified area information without performing the selecting operation of a specified area or input operation of area specification data on the side of a terminal when a specified area information service is requested. SOLUTION: In this automatic retrieving method, when a user selects desired contents out of a contents selection menu displayed on a terminal, the terminal 20 transmits contents selection data and preserved area specification data (postal code, for example), through a public communication line to a center device 10 (P2). The center device extracts a URL out of the content selection data received from the terminal, is connected to a contents holder 5 holding contents desired by the user (P3), acquires specified areas information narrowed by the area specification data (P4) and transmits that information corresponding to the retrieval request of contents (P5).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information retrieval technique in a communication network, and more particularly to a specific area information retrieval technique.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A user (hereinafter, a user) of a network such as the Internet connects to a server or another server via a server computer (hereinafter, a server) from a terminal device, and a database (hereinafter, a user) connects to the server.
Content (conten) held by the content holding device
(t: information described in a predetermined format), and the content can be searched for and displayed, printed out, or downloaded.

[0003] Conventionally, as a method of searching for Internet contents providing regional information from a terminal, a method of stepping in a detailed area from a wide area while repeatedly selecting in a menu format, and area specifying data such as telephone numbers and menu numbers. A method of specifying the search area by inputting the key by the user himself / herself, and a method of specifying the search area by keying the user himself / herself into a systematic number of an address code or an address.

[0004]

When searching for Internet content from a terminal device, when a user searches for information on his / her location, the above-mentioned conventional method uses the following method.
Each time a search operation is performed, a region selection operation or key input is required, which is troublesome. There is also a problem that selection errors and input errors are likely to occur.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems. In a communication network such as the Internet, when a specific area information service is requested, a terminal performs an operation of selecting a specific area and an operation of inputting area specific data. An object of the present invention is to provide a method for automatically searching for specific area information, a center device, and a terminal device in a network capable of searching for specific area information without any problem.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for automatically searching for specific area information in a network, comprising: a center device connected to a communication network; and a plurality of center devices connected to the center device. In the network including the terminal device, the terminal device stores the area specifying data received from the center device, and the center device
Upon receiving the content selection data and the region specifying data stored in the terminal device from the terminal device, searching for the content on the communication network based on the content selection data, and specifying from the searched content by the region specifying data. And transmitting the area information to the terminal device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the method for automatically retrieving specific area information in the network according to the first aspect, the center device determines the local specific data stored in the terminal device according to the type of the content to be searched. And is obtained.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the method for automatically retrieving specific area information in a network according to the first aspect, the center device converts the area specifying data input on the center device side into a terminal corresponding to the area specifying data. The data is transmitted to the device.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the method for automatically searching for specific area information in a network according to the first aspect, the center apparatus transmits the calling ID of the terminal apparatus to the communication terminal apparatus as area specifying data. And

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for automatically retrieving specific area information in a network, comprising: a center device connected to a communication network; and a plurality of terminal devices connected to the center device. The terminal device obtains and saves the calling device ID from the terminal device, and when receiving the content selection data from the terminal device, searches for the content on the communication network based on the content selection data and saves the content from the searched content. Local information specified based on the calling ID is acquired and transmitted to the terminal device.

A center device according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is a center device capable of transmitting and receiving data by connecting to a communication network and transmitting and receiving data by connecting to a plurality of terminal devices via a line. A region specifying data transmitting unit that transmits the region specifying data to the terminal device; and a reception unit that receives the content selection data and the region specifying data transmitted from the terminal device that stores the region specifying data transmitted by the region specifying data transmitting unit. Means, a content search means for searching for a content on a communication network based on the content selection data received by the reception means, and specific area information on the content based on area specification data when the content search means searches for the content. Specific area information obtaining means for obtaining the Transmitting means for transmitting specific area information to the terminal apparatus that has transmitted a content transmission request, and further comprising a.

Further, a terminal device according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is a terminal device which can be connected via a line to a center device connected to a communication network, wherein the terminal device receives region specifying data transmitted from the center device. Receiving means, area specifying data storing means for storing the area specifying data received by the area specifying data receiving means, content information selecting means for selecting content selection information, and a content selected by the content information selecting means And transmitting means for extracting the area specifying data stored in the area specifying data storing means and transmitting the area specifying data to the center device together with content selection data for searching for the selected content.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [Configuration Example of Network System] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of a network system to which an automatic search method for specific area information according to the present invention can be applied. A center device 10 connected to the Internet 2, and terminal devices 20-1 and 20 connected to the center device 10 via the public communication network 3 and connected to the Internet 2 via the center device 10.
.., And server groups 4-1 and 4-2 connected to the Internet 2 and content holding device groups (database groups connected to the Internet) 5-1 and 5-
It is composed of 2, ...

As will be described later, in the embodiment, a facsimile apparatus with a liquid crystal display is used as the terminal device 20. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a telephone with a liquid crystal display, a facsimile without a liquid crystal display, a telephone A fixed communication terminal such as a device, a personal computer (hereinafter, a personal computer) having a communication function, or a word processor may be used.

In the embodiment, the Internet is used as the network. However, the network to which the automatic content search method in the network of the present invention can be applied is not limited to the Internet (as long as it is a communication network connecting content holding devices). .

[Overview of Automatic Search Method for Specific Area Information] 2. Automatic Search Process FIG. 2 is a process chart showing an outline of an automatic search method for specific area information according to the present invention. Process P1: (Selection of Specific Area Information Search Service) In FIG. 2, the user operates the terminal device 20 to operate the terminal device 20.
And the center device 10 via the public communication line 3, and when the user selects the specific area information search service, menu data for content selection is displayed (the menu for content selection from the selection center device 10 after the communication connection). Data or operation guide data may be transmitted to the terminal device 20).

Process P2: (Selection of Content) The user operates a key to operate a desired content (for example, weather forecast of the area, map information of the neighborhood, public facilities of the area) from a content selection menu displayed on the terminal device 20. When a menu (or voice guidance) is selected as selectable content, such as information on amusement facilities or amusement facilities, the terminal device 20 transmits the content selection data and the stored area specifying data (the local identification data) via the public communication line 3. For example, a zip code, a telephone number, or an area code coded for each area is transmitted to the center device 10.

Process P3: (Content Search (1)) The center device 10 extracts the URL corresponding to the content selection data received from the terminal device 20 and holds the content desired by the user via the Internet 2 via the Internet 2. 5 (or the server 4 that manages the content holding device 5), and transmits the area specifying data acquired from the terminal device 20 to the content holding device 5.

Process P4: (Content search (2): Extraction of specific area information) The content holding apparatus 5 selects the area specifying data from the contents desired by the user based on the URL and the area specifying data received from the center apparatus 10. Then, the specific area information narrowed down is extracted and transmitted to the center device 10 via the Internet 2.

Process P5: (Transmission of the acquired area specifying data to the terminal) When the center apparatus 20 receives the area specifying data transmitted from the content holding apparatus 5, it requests a search for the content (that is, the center apparatus 20). The content selection data (and the area specifying data) is transmitted to the terminal device 20 that has transmitted the data.

Process P6: (Display of Specific Area Information) Upon receiving the search result (specific area information) from the center apparatus 10, the terminal device 20 edits the search result and outputs it.

In the process P2, the terminal device 20 transmits the region specifying data to the center device 10 together with the content selection data at the time of the user's content selection operation.
At the time of the content selection operation, only the content selection data is transmitted, and in the process P3, the center device 10
URL corresponding to the content selection data received from
Is taken out and connected to the content holding device 5 (or the server 4 that manages the content holding device 5),
L is searched for, and it is determined whether or not the content requires (or can be narrowed down) specific area information based on the area specifying data. When the narrowing down is possible, the center device 10 issues a transmission request of the region specifying data to the terminal device 20, and when the center device 10 receives the region specifying data from the terminal device 20, transmits the data to the content holding device 5 via the Internet 2, and the process P 4 The content holding apparatus 5 extracts specific area information narrowed down by the area specifying data from the contents desired by the user based on the area specifying data received from the center apparatus 10 and transmits the information to the center apparatus 10 via the Internet 2. You may do so.

In the above description, the content selection menu data transmitted from the center device 10 is displayed on the terminal side (process P2), and the search result transmitted from the center device 20 is edited and displayed on the terminal device 10. However, the terminal device 10 may output a content selection menu or a selection result by voice (or by sound output).

2. Recording of the area specifying data on the terminal device In the process P2 of FIG. 2, the terminal device 20 transmits the stored area specifying data to the center device 10, but the area specifying data is transmitted from the center device 10 to the terminal device. It is sent to the device 20 for storage. As a method of storing and storing in the terminal device 20, for example, a postal code described in an application for a specific information search service, a subscription telephone number, or
The operator inputs the area code coded with the address described in the application form to the center device 10 on the operator side, and the center device 10 transmits the input postal code to the terminal device 20 to store and store the postal code. it can.

As one of the set-up operations of the specific information search service, the user operates the input key of the terminal device 20 based on the operation guide sent from the center apparatus operator in response to the application for the specific information search service. Region specific data (eg, postal code, phone number, region code)
May be registered in the terminal device 20, or the calling ID of the terminal device may be stored and stored in the terminal device (that is, acquired by the center device 10 by using the caller ID notification service of the public communication network 3). The telephone number of the terminal device may be transmitted to the terminal device and stored.

Further, as described above, the area specifying data is not limited to the postal code, telephone number, or address of the location of the user or the terminal device (or the place name or area code derived from the address). That is, data of a specific area specified in the search service application form to obtain information of a specific area desired by the user can be used as area specifying data.

For example, in order to obtain a weather forecast for a region including the region where red beans are produced, a trading company needs to predict a crop pattern of red beans, and designates (or registers) the region to obtain a weather forecast. = Search service provider) can key-in specific area data for specifying the area specified by the user, transmit it to the terminal device, and save it (the trading company can use the terminal device as a center Just access the device and select the content of the weather forecast, you can know the weather forecast of a specific region).

Also, for example, when a user who has been assigned to the United States wants to know Japanese news, he / she can apply (or register) by designating Japan as a specific area.
The user can know Japanese news simply by selecting "news" as the content.

[Example of Configuration of Main Part of Center Device] FIG.
2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a main part of the center apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1. The center apparatus 10 includes a modem unit 11, an Internet communication unit 12, a memory 13, a communication control unit 14, and a control unit 15.

The modem unit 11 includes a modem for transmitting and receiving data to and from the terminal device 20 via the public communication network 3.

The Internet communication unit 12 acquires the address of the content holding device 5 (or the server 4 managing the content holding device 5) connected to the Internet 2 based on the content selection information transmitted from the terminal device 20. . Also, the acquired address (URL)
Specific content information obtained by connecting the content holding device 5 to the content holding device 5 based on the content selection device 5 and giving the content selection data and the region specifying data to the user of the terminal device 20 to search for the desired content and to narrow down the region. Take in.

The memory unit 13 temporarily stores the specific area information captured by the Internet communication unit 12. In addition, the memory unit 13 temporarily stores the area specifying data of the user of the terminal device, which is input by a key operator of the center device 10 or the like.

The communication control unit 14 is provided with a plurality of terminal devices 2.
0-1, 20-2,... And a terminal communication control means (program module) for controlling data exchange performed via the public communication network 3.

The control unit 15 controls the center device 10 as a whole, executes each program module of the Internet communication unit 12 and the communication control unit 14, searches for specific area information based on the present invention, and executes a terminal device side operation. The temporary storage of the area specific data and the transmission timing to the terminal device are controlled.

[Configuration Example of Terminal Device] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing some configuration examples of the terminal device shown in FIG. FIG. 4A shows an example in which a facsimile device with a liquid crystal display function is used as the terminal device 20. The facsimile device with a liquid crystal display function 20 includes a modem unit 21, a liquid crystal display unit 22, a facsimile output unit 24, a communication control unit. 25, a key input unit 26, a storage memory 27, and a control unit 28. The facsimile terminal 20 has a buffer memory of about several kilobytes, not shown.

In FIG. 4A, the modem unit 21 is the center device 1
0 and a modem for transmitting and receiving data via the public communication network 3.

The liquid crystal display unit 22 has a character generator for generating a character image from text data (character string) and a display buffer memory.
When the data format of the search result (specific area information) received from the center device 10 is text data for display output, a character image generated from the received text data is developed in a display buffer memory and displayed on a liquid crystal display.
If the received search result is reduced image data (image data), the search result is directly expanded in a display buffer memory and displayed on a liquid crystal display.

The facsimile output unit 24 outputs the received facsimile data when the control unit 28 determines that the search result received from the center device 10 is data for display output.

The communication control unit 25 has communication control means (program module) for controlling data exchange performed between the center device 10 and the public communication network 3 and transmits and receives a content search request packet (hereinafter, content search request). It performs assembly and transmission control to the center device 10, reception control of the search result data packet sent from the center device 10, packet disassembly (data extraction), and the like. The content search request includes content selection data of the content selected by the user and the storage memory 1.
The area for storing the area specifying data stored in the area 3 is secured.

The key input unit 26 includes key input means such as a numeric keypad or a push button (or dial). The user operates a key corresponding to a selection menu displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 22 to select a service. And content can be selected.

The storage memory 27 is a rewritable storage memory such as an EEPROM, and stores communication service selection menu data and area specifying data received from the center device 10. When the terminal device 20 is configured to input the area specifying data, the key inputting area specifying data is stored.

The control unit 28 controls the entire facsimile apparatus 20 with the liquid crystal display function, stores the area specifying information received from the center apparatus 10 in the storage memory 27, and stores the content selection data and the area selected by the user. Control of transmission timing of specific data, execution control of editing of search results (area specific information) received from the center device 20, and the like are performed.

FIG. 4B shows an example in which a facsimile apparatus (telephone facsimile apparatus with a liquid crystal display function) in which an acoustic output unit 23 is added to the configuration of the facsimile apparatus with a liquid crystal display function shown in FIG. In this case, a sound receiver (not shown) of the handset corresponds to the sound output unit 23. That is, voice (or music) from the center device 10
When data (binary data) is received as a search result, the control unit 28 passes the sound (sound) data to the sound output unit 23. As a result, even when voice data and music data are included in the searched area specifying information, it can be heard by a commercially available telephone facsimile apparatus with a liquid crystal display function. In addition, even when the item selection is repeated, the user can perform the input operation of the request information (selection input code) by listening to the operation guide message and the selection information.

FIG. 4C shows an example in which a facsimile apparatus (telephone facsimile apparatus) in which a sound output unit 23 is added to the configuration of a facsimile apparatus without a liquid crystal display function is used as a terminal apparatus. Also in this case, similarly to FIG.
When a voice (or music) data is received from the center device 10 as a search result, the control unit 28 outputs the voice (sound) data to the sound output unit 23. , The user can select an item based on the request operation.

FIG. 4D shows an example in which a telephone having a liquid crystal display function is used as a terminal device.
The request operation is performed based on the selection information displayed in (1) (in this case, the search result is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 22).

Note that a request operation based on voice guidance may be performed in the configuration shown in FIG. 4D (in this case, voice data is output from the sound output unit (that is, the receiver and / or the built-in speaker) 23). Is done).

FIG. 4E shows an example in which a telephone without a liquid crystal display function is used as a terminal device, and the user can perform a request operation based on voice guidance. Note that this example can be used when the search result is finally audio data (a voice message or music), that is, when the search result is a voice message or a music message.

In the examples shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4D (examples having a liquid crystal display function), the area specifying information displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 23 is scrolled up and down or left and right. A screen scroll function may be provided.
Accordingly, sufficient information (for example, selection items) can be displayed even if the screen size is small and the number of characters that can be displayed is limited due to the size limitation of the terminal device.

In addition, in the examples of FIGS. 4B to 4E (examples having an acoustic output function), the input unit 26 may be a voice input device (for example, corresponds to a transmission unit of a handset). . In addition, in the examples of FIGS. 4A and 4C, the user can perform a content selection operation while viewing facsimile output.

In each of the above embodiments, the terminal device is a communication terminal such as a telephone or a facsimile device.
The terminal device is not limited to these, and a computer device such as a personal computer having a communication control function or an information terminal having a communication control function or a word processor can be used as the terminal device.

[Example of Operation of Center Device] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of operation of the center device 10 shown in FIG. Step S0: (Transmission of area specifying data) The center apparatus 10 inputs the postal code written in the content search service application form from the terminal user as area specifying information to the offline input dedicated machine or the center apparatus via a line. A key is input from the terminal and stored in the memory 13, and the address of the user is stored in the terminal device of the user at a predetermined timing (for example, a desired date for starting the content search service of the user or a day after a predetermined number of days has passed since the application for the content search service). The postal code is transmitted and stored in the terminal device.

In the embodiment, the postal code is used, but the telephone number (all digits or a specific number of digits (for example, upper 6 digits)) described in the content search service application is stored as area specifying data in the memory. 13 may be temporarily stored and transmitted to the terminal device. In addition, an area code coded with the address described in the content search service application or an area name (for example, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, Saitama, ...) may be used as the area specifying data. It is not limited to these. That is, any data can be used as long as the data can be linked to the content held in the content holding device.

Also, in this step, the area identification data is not inputted on the side of the center apparatus 10 and the caller ID notification service of the public communication network is used when the terminal user starts the first content search service, so that the caller ID information ( It is also possible to obtain the subscriber's telephone number of the terminal device, transmit it to the terminal device as area specifying data, and store and store it.

Step S1: (Content Search Request and Reception of Region Specific Data) When the communication between the center device 10 and the terminal device 20 is started via the public communication network 3, the control unit 15 is sent from the terminal device. Terminal device 2 waits for the incoming communication service request.
In the case where the request is a content search request, the content selection data and the area specifying data are extracted from the content search request and the memory 1 is retrieved.
3, and the process goes to S2.

Step S2: (Acquisition of URL based on content search request) Internet connection unit 12 acquires the URL of the content specified by the content selection data (for example, selection of map information search request) (for example, refer to the database). Then, the URL associated with the map information selection data is extracted), and the process proceeds to S3.

Step S3: (Search and Import of Content (Homepage)) The Internet communication unit 12 starts connection with the content holding device 5 connected to the Internet 2 based on the URL obtained in step S1, and The user searches for Internet content desired by the user (in this case, a home page of map information).

Step S4: (Attachment of region specific data) The control unit 15 takes out the received specific region data (postal code in the embodiment) and retrieves the HTM retrieved in step S2.
It is written in a local data column (in this case, a postal code input column) in an input tag shown in L-type Internet content (a homepage for map search in this example). As a result, the content holding device 5 extracts (narrows down) the local information (a map near the location of the user (terminal device)) corresponding to the local data from the detailed information of the content, and transmits the extracted local information to the center device 10. I do.

Step S 5: (Acquisition of Content (Specific Area Information)) The control unit 15 temporarily stores the area identification information received (acquired) from the content holding device 5 via the Internet communication unit 12 in the memory 13.

Step S6: (Transmission of search result (area specifying information)) The control unit 15 sends the search result (specific area) to the terminal device 20 via the communication control unit 14 (and the modem unit 11 and the public communication network 3). Information data) and returns to S1.

According to the above operation, the center device receives the content search request from the terminal device and obtains information on the area to which the user belongs among the contents desired by the user (specific area information).
Is transmitted to the terminal device, so that the user of the terminal device browses the desired specific region information simply by selecting the content by a simple key operation without inputting data for narrowing down the region as in the related art. be able to.

In the above embodiment, the area specifying data is transmitted from the center device 10 to the terminal device in step S0, and is stored and stored in the terminal device. A zip code, a telephone number, an area code, or an area name is keyed in based on the transmitted operation manual and registered in the storage memory 27 (storage storage).
You may make it.

In the above embodiment, the center device 10 receives the content search request including the content selection data and the region specifying data from the terminal device in step S1, but in step S1, the center device 10 receives the content search request (without the region specifying data). ) Is received, and the content searched based on the content search request in step S3 is determined in step S4 as to whether the content can be narrowed down by the area specifying data (for example, the HT searched in step S3).
A check is made for whether or not there is a local data column in the input tag shown in the ML-format Internet content (in this example, a home page), and only when the content can be narrowed down, the center device 10 requests the terminal device 20 to transmit the local specific data. After receiving the area specifying data from the terminal device 20, the process proceeds to S5 by writing the area specifying data in the area data column in the input tag, and the content other than the above is not narrowed down (that is, the area is not narrowed down). (As information that is not specified) may be shifted to S5.
Alternatively, when a content search request (without area specifying data) is received in step S1, the content searched for based on the content search request in step S3 is displayed in step S4 in the area data field of the HTML input tag nationwide (or area). Then, the process goes to S5 to write data meaning "No specification". For a content search request including the area specifying data, S4 writes the area specifying data in the area data field of the HTML input tag.
The transition to 5 may be made. In this manner, a specific area information search and an information search request that does not specify an area (= national level) can be performed by a single operation when a content search request operation is performed from the terminal device.

In the above-described embodiment and the above-described modified example, the terminal device side stores and stores the area specifying data in step S0. However, in step S0, when the terminal user starts the first content search service, the center device side operates. The calling ID information (subscriber telephone number of the terminal device) of the terminal device is acquired and stored in the memory 13 of the center device 10 as area specifying data, and the controller 15 stores the telephone number stored in the memory 13 in step S4. From the number (calling ID), the telephone number of the terminal device 20 that has made the content transmission request is extracted, and the regional data field (in the input tag shown in the HTML-format Internet content (the home page in this example) searched in step S3) ( In this case, it may be written in the telephone number input field).

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing an operation example of the terminal device at the time of a content search request. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the terminal device at the time of a content search request. Is described as an example of a terminal device.

Step T0: (Communication Connection with Center Device) When the user performs a connection operation (for example, dial-in) with the center device 10 using the key input unit 26 of the facsimile machine 20, the communication control unit 25 sets the public communication line. The communication is started after the establishment of a communication protocol with the center device 10 via the network 3. Although not shown, the storage memory 27 stores the area specifying code transmitted from the terminal device 20 at a predetermined timing (in the embodiment, at the time of the first content search request to the center device 10).

Step T1: (Liquid Crystal Display of Communication Service Selection Menu) The control unit 28 displays the communication service selection menu stored in the storage memory 27 on the liquid crystal display unit 22, and prompts the user to make a selection operation by key input. .

Step T2: (Transmission of Content Transmission Request (Including Region Specific Data)) The control unit 28 checks the status signal from the key input unit 26, and saves when a key corresponding to the content search request is operated. Retrieving the specific area data from the storage memory 27,
The content selection data is provided to the communication control unit 25 and is selected by a user from a content selection menu provided as a search service target such as a weather forecast of the area, map information of the neighborhood, information of a public facility or an amusement facility in the area. A content search request including the specified menu data and specific area data is generated and transmitted to the center device 10 via the public communication network 3.

Step T3: (Reception of search result and display of output format selection menu) When the control unit 28 receives the search result (specific area information) from the center device 10 via the public communication line 3, it temporarily stores it in the buffer memory. Then, a message or an icon is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 22 for prompting a selection operation of “liquid crystal display”, “facsimile output” or “output end”.

Step T4: (Determination of output format) The control unit 28 checks the status signal from the key input unit 26, and if the user performs a key operation (selection operation) meaning "liquid crystal display", the control unit 28 proceeds to T5. The process proceeds to T6 when a key operation indicating “facsimile output” is performed, and ends when the operation indicating “end of output” is performed.

Step T5: (Display of region specifying information) The control unit 28 retrieves the search result (region specifying information) temporarily stored in the reception buffer memory, edits it according to the data type, and displays the liquid crystal display unit 22 with the liquid crystal. indicate. That is, when the received data is text data, the text data stored in the reception buffer memory is taken out, converted into a character image, developed on the VRAM of the liquid crystal display unit 22, displayed on the liquid crystal, and then returned to T3. If the received data is image data, the image data (image data) stored in the buffer memory is taken out, developed in the VRAM, displayed on the liquid crystal, and the process returns to T3. When the number of characters to be displayed on the liquid crystal is larger than the number of characters that can be displayed on the liquid crystal screen, the user can scroll left and right (or up and down) to see.

Step T6: (Facsimile output) The control unit 28 retrieves the search result (area specifying information) temporarily stored in the buffer memory, edits it according to its data type, and outputs it from the facsimile output unit 24 by facsimile. That is, when the received data is text data, the facsimile output unit 24 outputs the facsimile data stored in the buffer memory as it is under the control of the control unit 28, and ends the content search request processing when the output is completed.

With the above configuration, the terminal device 20 selects and specifies the content to be searched from the menu (selection key input).
By simply browsing the content, the user can view information on the area where the user (terminal device) is located (for example, information on a specific area such as a weather forecast in the area, map information in the vicinity, and information on public facilities and amusement facilities in the area). (There is no need to perform an area specifying operation to narrow the area as in the past).

In the above description, the terminal device 20 is a facsimile device with a liquid crystal display device. However, when the terminal device 20 is a facsimile device with a liquid crystal display device and a sound output unit (FIG. 4B), the above steps are performed. The service menu may be output as a voice at T1. Further, the determination of the sound output is added to the above-described step T4, and a process of outputting the sound is added as step S6 ′. If the search result is sound, the sound output is output. It may be performed.

If the terminal device 20 is a facsimile device with an audio output unit without a liquid crystal display device (FIG. 4C), a service menu is output in step S1 and an output format selection menu is output in step T3. To prompt the user to perform a selection operation.

When the terminal device 20 is a terminal device having a liquid crystal display device and a voice output unit (FIG. 4D), the service menu is output as voice in step T1, and the facsimile is output in step T4. The sound output is determined in place of the output determination, and the sound output is performed in step T6.

When the terminal device 20 is a terminal device with an audio output unit (FIG. 4E), the above-described step T1 is performed.
To output the service menu by voice, and omit step T4 to output sound in step T6.

When the center device 10 is configured to store the calling ID of the terminal device 20 as described above, the region specifying data is stored in the content request when the content search request is generated in step T2. It is not necessary.
That is, a content search request without area specifying data is transmitted to the center device 10.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made.

[0079]

As described above, according to the method for searching for specific area information in the network according to the first to fifth aspects of the present invention, a user can obtain a desired content (for example,
When one of the contents that can be provided by the canceled search service, such as weather forecast, map information, information on public facilities and amusement facilities, is selected), the center device searches for the content on behalf of the terminal device and selects from among the contents. Information related to the location area of the user (terminal device) or the area desired by the user (such as weather forecast of the area to which the location of the user (terminal device belongs), nearby map information, information on public facilities and amusement facilities in the area, etc. Since the area information is narrowed down and transmitted to the terminal device, the user does not have to input the area information.

Further, the center device of the sixth invention retrieves information on the area to which the user belongs (specific area information) among the contents desired by the user by accessing from the terminal device and transmits the information to the terminal device. The user of the terminal device can browse desired specific area information only by selecting content by a simple key operation without inputting data for narrowing down the area as in the related art.

Further, in the terminal device of the seventh invention, the user only needs to select and specify (selection key input) the content to be searched from the menu, and the user (terminal device) in the content.
Can be browsed, and a search operation on the terminal device side is not required, thereby simplifying the configuration on the terminal side. That is, since the search is performed by the center device, it is not necessary to provide a search means (for example, a WWW browser) on the terminal side, and it is possible to reduce the load on the terminal side.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of one embodiment of a network system to which an automatic search method for specific area information of the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a process chart showing an outline of a method for automatically searching for specific area information according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a main part of a center device.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating some configuration examples of a terminal device.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the center device.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the terminal device.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 Internet (network) 3 Public communication line network (communication line) 10 Center device 12 Internet communication unit (content search means, specific area information acquisition means) 14 Communication control unit (area specific data transmission means, reception means, transmission means) 15 Control unit (transmission means, content search means) 20, 20 ', 20 ", 30, 30' terminal device 22 liquid crystal display unit (liquid crystal display device) 23 sound output unit (sound output device) 25 communication control unit (reception unit, (Transmission means) 26 input unit (selection means) 27 storage memory (region specific data storage means) 28 control unit (transmission means)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06F 15/403 310Z F-term (Reference) 5B075 KK07 PP11 QP05 5B089 GA01 GA21 JA33 JA36 JB22 KA03 KA04 KB06 KC44 KC59 5K015 AB01 AE05 AF07 5K051 AA08 FF06 FF07 HH17 5K101 KK16 MM07 NN03 NN18 NN21

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. In a network including a center device connected to a communication network and a plurality of terminal devices connected to the center device via a communication line, the terminal device includes: a region identification data received from the center device; When the center device receives the content selection data and the area specifying data stored in the terminal device from the terminal device, the center device searches for the content on the communication network based on the content selection data. Acquiring area information specified by the area specifying data from the specified content and transmitting the obtained area information to the terminal device. 2. The automatic search for specific area information in a network according to claim 1, wherein the center apparatus acquires area specific data stored in the terminal apparatus in accordance with a type of content to be searched. Method. 3. The automatic transmission of specific area information in a network according to claim 1, wherein the center apparatus transmits the area specifying data input on the side of the center apparatus to a terminal device corresponding to the area specifying data. retrieval method. 4. The center device transmits a call to the terminal device.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein D is transmitted to the communication terminal device as area specifying data. 5. In a network comprising a center device connected to a communication network and a plurality of terminal devices connected to the center device, the center device acquires a calling ID of the terminal device from the terminal device and stores it. Upon receiving the content selection data from the terminal device, searching for the content on the communication network based on the content selection data, and retrieving the regional information specified from the searched content based on the saved calling ID. Acquiring the information and transmitting the acquired information to the terminal device. 6. A center device capable of transmitting and receiving data by connecting to a communication network and transmitting and receiving data by connecting to a plurality of terminal devices via a line, wherein the center device transmits area specifying data to the terminal device. Means for transmitting area specifying data to be transmitted; means for receiving content selection data and area specifying data transmitted from a terminal device storing the area specifying data transmitted by the area specifying data transmitting means; Content search means for searching for content on the communication network based on the selected content selection data; and a specific area for obtaining specific area information on the content based on the area specifying data when searching for content by the content search means. Information acquisition means and a specific area acquired by the specific area information acquisition means Center apparatus characterized by comprising: a transmitting means for transmitting the multi-address to the transmitted terminal apparatus the content transmission request, the. 7. A terminal device connectable via a line to a center device connected to a communication network, comprising: a region specifying data receiving means for receiving region specifying data transmitted from the center device; Area specifying data storing means for storing the area specifying data received by the receiving means; content information selecting means for selecting content selection information; and when the content is selected by the content information selecting means, the area specifying data storing means And transmitting means for extracting the area specifying data stored in the center apparatus and transmitting the selected area specific data to the center apparatus together with content selection data for searching for the selected content.