JP2001306609A - System and method for information source browsing and recording medium with recorded program implementing information source browsing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information source browsing system which is easy for a user to use by making a route check periodically on information sources in an area that the user frequently uses. SOLUTION: This system is provided with a movement track recording means 21 which detects and records the movement track of a client computer 2, an information source detecting means 22 which specifies the area that the user frequently use according to the recorded movement track and generates a list of information sources relating to the area, and a new link detecting means 23 which detects whether or not the information sources in the generated list are updated and whether or not there is a new information source relating to the specified area by accessing a server computer 1 and informs the user of the detection results as newly-arrived information. The newly-arrived information is displayed in a WWW browser 28 so that the user can browse it.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information source browsing system, an information source browsing method, and an information source browsing method which enable a user to browse a data file having a hyperlink structure on a server computer connected via a network on a client computer. The present invention relates to a recording medium on which a program for executing a method is recorded.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is agent software as a technique for automatically observing a file on a network and detecting a change thereof. For example, "Internet Agent" (by Fah-Chun Cheong, translated by Hiroyuki Ohno, Impress Sales, ISBN4-8443-4921-X Chapter 7, "WebWalke
r: Your Web Maintenance Robot] discloses an example of agent software that can detect new hypertext links.

[0003] In addition, as a new link detection agent software, WebCompa has been released since 1995.
ss (U.S.A.QUARTERDECK, Japan: Kubota Co., Ltd.), which uses a detection agent to periodically check the contents, automatically update the database, and check for specific information changes such as price lists and circulars. To perform the operation.

[0004] In addition, Sharp Corporation's “New Arrival Flight” (released March 2000) and AI Soft's Web site
Commercial software such as WhatsNew and JP-A-10-2
Similar technologies are disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 32815, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-222415, and the like.

[0005] As an operation common to these softwares, the agent software includes a URL which is a feature of a page.
(Uniform Resource Locater) has a database that collects hyperlinks for each page, compares it with the previous hyperlink at the next access, and detects when the newly appearing hyperlink or the anchor character string of the hyperlink changes. Present a new or changed hyperlink to the user. Alternatively, a change in the page size is also compared to detect an update.

Further, GPS (Global Positioning System)
m) is for obtaining information on the current position through a satellite, and is often used in car navigation systems and the like. The car navigation system uses position information (latitude, longitude, altitude, moving speed, etc.) obtained from GPS and a CD-RO used for route guidance of an automobile driver.
This is a system that searches for and guides a route to a destination from map information stored in a recording medium such as an M or a DVD-ROM. Some car navigation systems can access the Internet by connecting to a mobile phone. As such a car navigation system, for example, CN-DV2020T manufactured by Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
WD and the like.

[0007] In addition, the miniaturization of the GPS has made it easy to record the movement locus. For example, a Sony GPS handy GPS receiver is 47 mm x 12 mm.
The size is 1 mm x 28 mm and 76 grams, and the recording of the movement locus is possible. Then, the recorded data is stored in dedicated software “Nabin U (registered trademark) 4.0”.
It is possible to play with. By using such a handy GPS receiver, it is possible to easily record the movement trajectory not only when the user is in a car but also when the user moves by train or on foot with the GPS receiver.

[0008] Generally, an electronic map used in a car navigation system or the like has data managed in units of map leaves, and is managed, for example, in a state as shown in FIG. 3 of the present invention. This is a map in which a map is divided into rectangles of a certain size and each is uniquely numbered, and data such as roads, intersections, buildings, link relationships between intersections, and the like are managed on a leaf unit basis. In addition, since the map leaf has information relating to the map number, latitude, and longitude of the map leaf adjacent to the map leaf, the map leaf number including a certain point is easily calculated. You can ask.

[0009] In the map information service "Mapion (registered trademark)" operated by Cyber Map Japan Co., Ltd., clicking on a store or company name on the displayed map allows the user to click on the WWW (World Wide Web). It has the function of displaying information pages. This is based on the "advertising information supply method and registration method" disclosed in JP-A-9-34902 and the "information supply method and information registration method" disclosed in JP-A-9-153125. A link to advertisement information of a store or the like is prepared on a map, and when the link is selected, an information page corresponding to the link is displayed.

However, in the conventional car navigation system, it is possible to acquire information on the WWW relating to the point from a link displayed on the map. However, whether or not the information relating to the point has been updated is determined based on the information. You can't know until you look at the information. For example, there is a problem that even if a private exhibition of a favorite painter is held at a department store on the way to commuting every day, the user cannot know unless the link of the department store is checked every time.

[0011] Accordingly, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-89976 discloses an "information display device and a navigation system".
Regularly access server information related to your location,
A method of always providing the latest information is disclosed.

[0012]

However, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-89976 discloses an "information display device and a navigation system" that periodically accesses an information server associated with a current location to thereby provide novel information. Although it is provided to the user, there is a problem that it is not possible to specify the information source because the region that the user frequently uses is not specified, and the user is inconvenient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has as its object to periodically check the information sources in the area frequently used by the user and periodically check the user for new information. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information source browsing system, an information source browsing method, and a recording medium storing a program for executing the information source browsing method, which are easy to use for a user.

[0014]

Means for Solving the Problems The present inventors have conducted intensive studies in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and as a result, when a client computer can acquire information on a position by a position detecting means such as a GPS, a moving trajectory is obtained. Is recorded, and by analyzing the movement trajectory thereof, the “frequently used area” is specified, and the information source (WWW document) related to the “frequently used area” on the server computer is specified. An information source browsing system that can provide the latest information related to a customized location for each user by monitoring information sources, organizing the changes when they match, and providing the information to users has been found. .

Therefore, the information source browsing system of the present invention
In an information source browsing system in which a user can browse an information source comprising a data file having a hyperlink structure on a server computer connected via a network on a client computer, a moving locus of the client computer is detected, and the detected moving locus is detected. Trajectory recording means for recording the trajectory, area specifying means for specifying an area frequently used by the user based on the recorded trajectory of the client computer, and URL and position information of a data file on the server computer. From the associated database, an information source that is a reference source of the URL of the data file included in the area specified by the area specifying means is searched, and a list of information sources corresponding to the area frequently used by the user is created. List creation means and the server computer Data to detect whether the information source in the created list has been updated and whether there is a new information source related to the specified area, and notify the user of the detection result as new information. Means.

According to the above arrangement, the area frequently used by the user is specified, the updated state of the information source related to the specified area and the new information source (new link) are detected, and the detection result is obtained. Is notified to the user, the usability of the user can be improved.

In general, different users use different areas frequently. Even in such a case, a list of information sources can be created for each user, so that customized regional information can be provided for each user.

Further, when the present information source browsing system is applied to a car navigation system, a user can easily obtain road construction information, traffic congestion information, traffic regulation information, and the like in an area frequently used by the user. .

As the moving trajectory recording means, for example, GP
The position information of the client computer is obtained by using position information detecting means such as S (Global Positioning System), the position information is accumulated, and the user using the client computer is operated based on the accumulated movement trajectory. What is necessary is just to specify a frequently used area.

Further, the movement trajectory recording means may record the movement trajectory only when the client computer has moved from the current position.

In this case, the storage capacity for recording the movement trajectory can be minimized. For example, the information source browsing system of the present invention is suitably applied to a device having no large storage capacity such as a mobile device. be able to.

Further, the moving trajectory recording means may record the moving trajectory at regular time intervals.

In this case, it is possible to find an information source centering on a place where the user is present for a long time. For example, in the case of a person who does not drop off on a train commute, it is possible to obtain mainly information related to the area where the user stays for a long time, such as near the workplace and near his own house Becomes

[0024] This eliminates the need to acquire information related to an area that is not of interest to the user, for example, an area where the user is only on the way to work, and can obtain the obtained information only for the area of interest to the user. It is easy to use.

Further, the movement trajectory recording means may change a time interval for recording a movement trajectory according to a moving speed of the client computer.

In this case, by applying the present information source browsing system to a navigation system that can be used in a situation where the moving speed of a car or on a foot or a bicycle is significantly different, the moving speed of the client computer, that is, the moving speed of the user can be adjusted. Appropriate information can be obtained.

For example, assuming that the moving speed of the client computer is the moving speed of the car, and the time interval for recording the moving trajectory is set, this system is used in a situation where the moving speed such as walking is much slower than that of the car. In this case, a large error occurs in specifying an area frequently used by the user, and there is a problem that an accurate area cannot be specified.

Therefore, by changing the time interval for recording the trajectory according to the moving speed of the client computer as described above, for example, when the moving speed is high, the time interval for recording the trajectory is reduced, and the moving speed is reduced. When is small, by increasing the time interval for recording the movement trajectory, it is possible to accurately specify the area frequently used by the user. Here, if the GPS is used to detect the movement trajectory of the client computer, the movement speed of the client computer can be easily detected.

Further, when the map is managed in units of figures and leaves of an arbitrary size, the area specifying means calculates the locus of movement of the client computer in a past fixed period based on the frequency included in each of the above figures. A region frequently used by the user may be specified.

In this case, since the area frequently used by the user can be specified on a map basis, the calculation amount can be reduced as compared with the case where the area frequently used by the user is specified from the entire map.

In the case where the map is managed in units of figures and leaves of an arbitrary size, the above-mentioned area specifying means includes a map containing at least a certain number of movement trajectories of the client computer for a certain period in the past, and maps in the vicinity thereof Some of the leaves may be specified as areas frequently used by the user.

In this case, by adding, as an information source, the vicinity of the area frequently used by the user, it is possible to provide information on an area near the user's well-known area but not yet well-known by the user. As a result, the action range of the user can be increased.

Further, the area specifying means specifies an area within a certain distance from each position of the movement locus of the client computer recorded by the movement locus recording means as an area frequently used by the user. Is also good.

In this case, an area near the user's travel route can be strictly specified as an area frequently used by the user.

The URL of an information source related to an area frequently used by the user may be used as the information source of the user.

In this case, it is possible to extract and obtain the latest information related to the area frequently used by the user from a huge amount of information on the WWW. It is effective as support for information acquisition.

[0037] The notifying means may be constituted by a display means for sorting and displaying the new arrival information in the order from the current location.

In this case, since the new arrival information is displayed on the display means in the order of proximity to the current position of the user, the user does not need to scroll the screen when browsing the new arrival information while moving, thereby improving usability.

Further, the notification means may be constituted by display means for displaying new arrival information sorted by region.

In this case, by displaying the new arrival information for each region on the display means, the new arrival information can be seen at a glance in each region, which is convenient for the user.

Further, the notification means may be constituted by a display means for sorting and displaying the new arrival information in the order of the frequency of use of the user.

In this case, when browsing the new arrival information when the user is indoors and is not moving, the user can browse the information in the order of the area frequently used by the user, and the user can easily remember the place. be able to.

Another information source browsing system of the present invention is an information source browsing system in which a user can browse an information source composed of a data file having a hyperlink structure on a server computer connected via a network on a client computer. From the area specifying means for specifying the area desired by the user and the database in which the URL of the data file on the server computer is associated with the position information, the URL of the data file included in the area specified by the user by the area specifying means is obtained. A list creation means for searching for an information source that is a reference source and creating a list of information sources corresponding to a region frequently used by the user; and accessing the server computer to access information sources in the created list. Updates and new sources relevant to identified areas Detecting the presence or absence, it is characterized in that it comprises a notifying means for informing the user of the detection result as new information.

In this case, regardless of the movement locus of the user,
Since the information source related to the area desired by the user is specified, this is effective when acquiring information related to an area not frequently used by the user, that is, an area where the movement trajectory is not accumulated. For example, there may be a case where the user is interested in a certain area and is considering moving.

An information source browsing method according to the present invention provides an information source browsing method in which a user can browse an information source composed of a data file having a hyperlink structure on a server computer connected to a network on a client computer. The user frequently identifies an area frequently used, creates a list of information sources related to the identified area, accesses the server computer, and determines whether or not the information source in the created list is updated. It is characterized in that the presence or absence of a new information source related to the selected area is detected, and the detection result is notified to the user as new information.

According to the above configuration, the area frequently used by the user is specified, the updated state of the information source related to the specified area and the new information source (new link) are detected, and the detection result is obtained. Is notified to the user, the usability of the user can be improved.

In general, different users use different areas frequently. Even in such a case, a list of information sources can be created for each user, so that customized regional information can be provided for each user.

Further, when the information source browsing system is applied to a car navigation system, a user can easily obtain road construction information, traffic congestion information, traffic regulation information, and the like in an area frequently used by the user. .

The information source browsing method may be recorded on a recording medium in a computer-readable form.

[0050]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, as a computer network system to which an information source browsing system is applied, a GPS (global) is used as a position detecting means for detecting a position of a user.
A navigation system equipped with a positioning system will be described as an example.

As shown in FIG. 2, the navigation system according to the present embodiment is roughly composed of a server computer 1 which is a server computer for providing information and a client computer 2 which is a client computer used by a user. Have been.

The client computer 2 is connected to the server computer 1 via a network 3 such as the Internet, and obtains various information from the server computer 1 to provide information to a user.

The client computer 2 has an artificial satellite 4
, A GPS receiver 11 for detecting the current position of the client computer 2 (current position of the user), and a storage medium (recording medium) 1 on which information such as map data is recorded.
2, a storage medium reproducing device 13 for reproducing the information 2, a magnetic storage device 14 for storing various information such as movement trajectory information described later,
A communication device 15 for connecting to the network 3, a memory 16 for temporarily storing information, a display device 17 including a liquid crystal display panel for displaying information, and an operation device 18 including an operation panel as a user interface are provided. Each device is connected to a control processing device 19 having a CPU (not shown).

An electronic map used in a car navigation system or the like, which is one of the navigation systems, generally manages data in units of maps as shown in FIG. In this figure, the map is divided into rectangles of a certain size and each is uniquely numbered, and data such as roads, intersections, buildings, link relationships between intersections, and the like are managed in units of the above-mentioned figures. It has become. In addition, since the map leaf has information on the map number adjacent to the map leaf and information on the range managed by the own map leaf by latitude and longitude, the map leaf number including a certain point is obtained by a simple calculation. be able to.

As described above, the client computer 2
Has various devices as shown in FIG. 2, and these various devices constitute various means which are the features of the present invention.

That is, the client computer 2 has a moving trajectory recording means 21 for performing a moving trajectory recording process, an information source detecting means (region specifying means, list creating means) 22 for performing an information source detecting process, and a new trajectory for performing a new link detecting process. Link detecting means (notifying means) 23 is provided.

First, each of the above means will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

The movement trajectory recording means 21 magnetically stores the movement trajectory 24 of the user based on the position information (user position information) of the client computer 2 obtained by the GPS receiver 11 and the control processor 19 shown in FIG. The information is recorded on the device 14.

The information source detecting means 22 performs statistical processing or geometric calculation processing on the movement trajectory 24 stored in the magnetic storage device 14 to specify an area frequently used by the user, and also stores a location / information site as a database. By searching the DB 25, an information source related to the specified area is specified (detected). The information source detected by the information source detecting means 22 is stored as an information source list 26 in, for example, the magnetic storage device 14.

The location / information site DB 25 is a database in which the URL of the data file on the server computer 1 is associated with the location information, and the information source list 26
Is a list of results of searching for an information source that is a reference source of the URL of the data file included in the area specified from the position / information site DB 25.

The new link detecting means 23 checks the information source list 26 as to whether a new link has appeared or has been changed. If a new link and a change have been found, the new link and the change are detected. HTM
This is a means for generating an L (Hyper Text Markup Language) output 27. This HTML output 27 is output to the display device 17, and the WWW browser 28 displayed on the display device 17 is displayed.
Is converted to a state that can be browsed by the user.

As the WWW browser 28, HTM
There is no particular limitation as long as the L output 27 can be displayed.
tscape Communicator (registered trademark) or Microsoft
Products such as Internet Explorer (registered trademark) are used.

Next, details of the processing by each of the above means will be described.

The flow of the moving trajectory recording process by the moving trajectory recording means 21 will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, in step S1, the GP shown in FIG.
The position information of the current location of the client computer 2 is acquired by the S receiving device 11.

Next, in step S2, it is determined whether or not there has been a movement of a predetermined distance or more since the last time the position information of the current location was obtained. If there is a movement of a certain distance or more, the process proceeds to step S3, where the position information of the current position is held and stored as the movement locus 24 in the magnetic storage device 14.

On the other hand, if there is no movement beyond a certain distance in step S2, the flow shifts to step S4, waits for a certain time, obtains the position information of the current position again in step S1, and then moves in step S2. Is determined.

In the above step S3, the stored position information of the current position is used as the movement locus 24 as the magnetic storage device 14.
Then, the process proceeds to step S4, waits for a predetermined time, and then returns to step S1.

In the step S2, the prescribed period of time may be changed dynamically. This is because the moving speed is greatly different between the case where the navigation system is mounted on the car and the case where the user walks with the navigation system. That is, the movement path recording unit 21 changes the time interval for recording the movement path according to the movement speed of the client computer 2.

The data accumulated in the magnetic storage device 14 by the movement locus recording processing in the movement locus recording means 21 is recorded as a log of the movement locus 24 as shown in FIG. For example, the first line in FIG.
At 1:28 on January 31, 2000, 135 ° 45: 55 E55
Second, latitude 33 degrees 25 minutes 47 seconds, altitude 7 meters)
Indicates that the leaf with the leaf number of 5 is included.

The following two methods are conceivable for specifying the area frequently used by the user and specifying (detecting) an information source related to the area by the information source detecting means 22.

First, the processing flow of the first method will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, in step S11, statistical processing of the moving trajectory 24 accumulated by the above-described moving trajectory recording means 21 is performed. The result of this statistical processing is shown in a table showing the relationship between the leaf number and the appearance frequency, for example, as shown in FIG.

Next, in step S12, the above statistical results are sorted, and based on the sorted results, step S12 is performed.
In FIG. 13, the figure whose appearance frequency satisfies 3 or more and the appearance frequency rank satisfies the top 5 is referred to as “region frequently used by users”.
The information site included in this figure is extracted from the position / information site DB 25, the information source is specified, and the specified information source is registered in the information source list 26.

The position / information site DB 25 has, as shown in FIG. 8, for example, a figure number and an address of an information site included in the figure number. For example, in the leaf (Map 1) of leaf number 1 in FIG. 8, URL (http://www.cycle.com/) as address information of a cycle shop page is used as cycle shop information.
And the location information of the cycle shop (133 deg.
(Minute 22 seconds, latitude 30 degrees 12 minutes 21 seconds, altitude 3 meters)
Is included.

In the position / information site DB 25 shown in FIG. 8, the information source list 26 in which the information sites included in the leaf numbers 5 and 6 are specified as the information sources is, for example, as shown in FIG. And a URL (http://www.shoes.com/ or the like) corresponding to this information source are stored in the magnetic storage device 14 or the like.

Next, the flow of the processing of the second method will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, in step S21, a trajectory to be the I-th trajectory 24 is obtained from the trajectory 24 stored by the trajectory recording means 21. Here, the initial value of the variable I is 0.

Next, in step S22, the J-th information site is obtained from the position / information site DB 25. Here, the initial value of the variable J is 0.

Then, in Step S23, Step S
It is determined whether the distance between the trajectory acquired at 21 and the information site acquired at step S22 is equal to or less than a certain value. Here, for each of the trajectories indicating the data of the movement trajectory 24, the distance to the location of each URL in the position / information site DB 25 that associates the information site with the position is calculated from the values of longitude, latitude, and altitude. It is determined whether or not this distance is a predetermined fixed distance “area frequently used by the user”.

If it is determined in step S23 that the distance between the trajectory and the information site is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the process proceeds to step S24, and the information site is held. Here, this information site is determined to be in an area frequently used by the user, and the URL corresponding to this information site is registered in the information source list 26 as the information source of the user.

As shown in FIG. 10, for example, the information source list 26 includes, as an information source, a URL located in an area (an area frequently used by the user) surrounded by an edge having a fixed radius centered on the trajectory of the user. This shows a registered state.

Subsequently, in step S25, it is determined whether or not the information site acquired in step S22 is the last. Here, if it is determined that it is not the last, step S2
6 and after updating the information site (J ← J + 1),
The same processing is performed for the updated information site in step S22.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S25 that the information site registered as the information source list 26 is the last, the process proceeds to step S27, and it is determined whether the locus acquired in step S21 is the last. . here,
If it is determined that the trajectory is the last, the process ends. On the other hand, if the trajectory is not the last, step S28
Then, after the locus is updated (I ← I + 1), the process proceeds to step S21 to perform the same processing on the updated locus.

The information source list 26 is, for example, as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, information sources (eg, a shoe store page) and URLs (such as http://www.shoes.com/) corresponding to the information sources are stored in a list in the magnetic storage device 14 or the like. Is done.

Next, the flow of the new link detection process by the new link detection means 23 will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, in step S 31, a list of information sources (information source URL list) registered in the information source list 26 is loaded into the memory 16. Here, the information source URL list is a list of URLs of sites that are the starting points of the detection of a new link based on the information source specified by the information source detection unit 22.

In the next steps S32 to S36, the file change of the information source URL page is checked for all the information source URL lists loaded in the memory 16.

First, in step S32, the I-th UR
The file of L pages is acquired from the server computer 1, and in step S33, it is checked whether or not the size of the acquired file has changed. The initial value of the variable I is 0.

Subsequently, in step S34, it is checked whether or not the tag information of the information source URL list whose file size detected in step S23 has changed has changed. What is done is registered in the new difference information database 30. The URL database 29 is used for checking the change of the tag information.

In the URL database 29, HTTP header information (last update time, content size, etc.) of the information source URL created when a new link is detected by the new link detecting means 23 in the past is described. ) And anchor information.

In step S35, the tag information change checked in step S34 is stored in the URL database 29. That is, the URL database 29
Is updated each time a change in tag information is checked in step S34. From this, among the anchors of the information source URL page, those not included in the anchor of the URL database 29 are new arrival links.

In step S36, the process proceeds to step S32 until the variable I is updated and the updated result becomes a value corresponding to all the information source URL lists, and the information source URL is updated.
When all the lists have been checked, the process moves to step S37.

In step S 37, based on the new difference information from the new difference information database 30, the newly arrived link is converted to HTML and output-shaped so that it can be displayed by the WWW browser 28, and the HTML output 27 is obtained.

When the new arrival information (new arrival link) generated by the new link detecting means 23 is browsed by the WWW browser 28, it becomes as shown in FIG.

Before the new arrival information is displayed by the WWW browser 28, the information that the user wants to see can be visually assisted by sorting in the order of the area frequently used by the user or simply in the order of the area.

For example, FIG. 14 shows an example in which newly arrived information is displayed on the WWW browser 28 in the order of the area frequently used by the user. In this case, the user can obtain the pet shop information which is the information of the most frequently used area without operating the scroll bar 31 on the WWW browser 28.
On the other hand, FIG. 15 shows an example in which new arrival information is displayed on the WWW browser 28 without being sorted. From this, FIG.
In FIG. 4, the information included in FIG. 6 (from FIG. 7), which is an area frequently used by the user, is sorted and the WWW browser 2 is sorted.
Since it is displayed at the top of 8, the operation of operating the scroll bar 31 can be reduced as compared with FIG.

Further, new arrival information is W
If displayed on the WW browser 28, the trouble of operating the scroll bar can be similarly reduced. For example,
It is dangerous to operate the scroll bar while driving a car or the like, and the function of displaying new arrival information in order of proximity to the current location is particularly effective when the navigation system is mounted on a car or the like.

In the above example, the method of specifying the information source related to the area frequently used by the user has been described. The user is not frequently used by using this method of specifying the information source. May identify sources relevant to the desired area. For example, it is preferably used when the user is interested in a certain area and is considering moving.

More specifically, the operation device 18 is used as an area designating means for designating an area desired by the user, and is a position / information database which associates URLs of data files on the server computer 1 with position information. Site DB
From 25, the information source which is the reference source of the URL of the data file included in the area specified by the user by the operation device 18 is searched, and a list of information sources corresponding to the area frequently used by the user is created. The client computer 2 is accessed to detect whether the information source in the created list has been updated and whether there is a new information source related to the specified area, and notify the user of the detection result as new information. What should I do?

The navigation system described above is realized by a program for causing the trajectory recording processing by the trajectory recording means 21, the information source detection processing by the information source detection means 22, and the new link detection processing by the new link detection means 23 to function. Is done.

This program is stored in a computer-readable recording medium. For example, as shown in FIG.
A recording medium 100 in which a file 102 of a movement trajectory recording program, a file 103 of an information source detection program, and a file 104 of a new link detection program may be considered.

The above file allocation table 10
1 stores the addresses in the recording medium 100 of the file 102 of the movement trajectory recording program, the file 103 of the information source detection program, and the file 104 of the new link detection program. Therefore, the storage medium reproducing device 13 firstly sets the file allocation table 1
The respective program files are read out with reference to 01. The read program is temporarily stored in the memory 16 and executed in the control processing device 19 as needed.

Here, the recording medium is a recording medium in which the program medium is configured to be separable from the main body, and includes a tape system such as a magnetic tape and a cassette tape, a magnetic disk such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk and a hard disk, and the like. Disk system of optical disk such as CD-ROM / MO / MD / DVD, card system such as IC card (including memory card) / optical card, or mask ROM, EPRO
A medium that fixedly holds a program, including a semiconductor memory such as an M, an EEPROM, or a flash ROM, may be used.

Further, in the present invention, since the system configuration can be connected to a communication network including the Internet, the medium may carry a program in a fluid manner so as to download the program from the communication network. When the program is downloaded from the communication network as described above, the download program may be stored in the main device in advance, or may be installed from another recording medium.

The content stored in the recording medium is not limited to a program, but may be data.

As described above, according to the navigation system having the above structure, the WW associated with the frequently used area
By using the W site as an information source and providing the results traversed by the new link detection means 23, the existing WWW
It is possible to provide customized regional information to each user instead of the uniform one as in the above information.

Further, when the navigation system is mounted on an automobile as in the present embodiment, that is, when the present invention is applied to a car navigation system, the user can easily obtain construction information, traffic congestion information, traffic regulation information, and the like. Can be. Conversely, as an advantage of the information provider, there is no need to specify the user to whom information is to be transmitted.

In the present embodiment, the means for detecting the position information of the client computer 2 is a GPS
Has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and any system that can acquire the position information of the moving client computer 2 may be used.

For example, when the user mainly acts on foot or by bicycle, the PHS (Personal Han
The position detection function by the dyphone system may be used as a position detection unit of the client computer 2 in the information source browsing system.

As another means, a mobile phone or the like may be used. In this case, the moving speed can be made higher than in the case of the PHS, so that it can be used when moving on a relatively high-speed vehicle such as an automobile or a train.

[0112]

As described above, the information source browsing system of the present invention provides information that allows a user to browse an information source consisting of a data file having a hyperlink structure on a server computer connected to a network on a client computer. In the source browsing system, a movement trajectory recording unit that detects the movement trajectory of the client computer and records the detected movement trajectory, and specifies an area frequently used by the user based on the recorded movement trajectory of the client computer. The information source which is the reference source of the URL of the data file included in the area specified by the area specifying means is searched from a database in which the area specifying means and the URL of the data file on the server computer are associated with the position information. Information corresponding to the area where the above users frequently use A list creating means for creating a list of sources, and accessing the server computer to detect whether an information source in the created list has been updated and whether a new information source related to the specified area exists. And a notifying unit for notifying the user of the detection result as new arrival information.

Therefore, the area frequently used by the user is specified, the updated state of the information source related to the specified area and the new information source (new link) are detected, and the detection result is notified to the user. This can improve the usability of the user.

Generally, different users use different areas frequently. Even in such a case, a list of information sources can be created for each user, so that customized regional information can be provided for each user.

Further, when the information source browsing system is applied to a car navigation system, a user can easily obtain road construction information, traffic congestion information, traffic regulation information, and the like in an area frequently used by the user. This has the effect.

As described above, another information source browsing system according to the present invention has a configuration in which the movement trajectory recording means records the movement trajectory only when the client computer has moved from the current position.

Therefore, it is possible to minimize the storage capacity for recording the movement trajectory. For example, the information source browsing system of the present invention is suitably applied to a device having no large storage capacity such as a mobile device. It has the effect of being able to do so.

As described above, still another information source browsing system according to the present invention has a configuration in which the trajectory recording means records the trajectory at regular intervals.

Therefore, it is possible to find an information source centered on a place where the user is present for a long time. For example, in the case of a person who does not drop off on a train commute, it is possible to obtain mainly information related to the area where the user stays for a long time, such as near the workplace and near his own house Becomes

As a result, it is not necessary to obtain information related to an area that is not of interest to the user, for example, only an area where the user is on the way to work, and the obtained information can be obtained only for the area of interest to the user. This has the effect that the usability can be improved.

As described above, still another information source browsing system according to the present invention has a configuration in which the trajectory recording means changes the time interval for recording the trajectory according to the moving speed of the client computer.

Therefore, by applying the present information source browsing system to a navigation system that can be used in a situation where the moving speed of a car is different from that of a foot or a bicycle, the moving speed of the client computer, that is, the moving speed of the user can be changed. In addition, it is possible to obtain appropriate information.

As described above, according to another information source browsing system of the present invention, when the area specifying means manages a map in units of a map having an arbitrary size, the movement locus of the client computer in the past fixed period is determined as described above. In this configuration, the area frequently used by the user is specified based on the frequency included in each of the figures.

Therefore, since the area frequently used by the user can be specified on a map basis, it is possible to reduce the amount of calculation as compared with the case where the area frequently used by the user is specified from the entire map.

According to still another information source browsing system of the present invention, as described above, when the area specifying means manages a map in units of a leaf of an arbitrary size, there is a movement locus of a client computer in a past fixed period. This is a configuration in which a certain number of figures included in a certain number or more and some of the neighboring figures are specified as areas frequently used by the user.

Therefore, it is possible to provide information on an area near a user's well-known area, but not yet well-known by adding a periphery of an area frequently used by the user as an information source. As a result, there is an effect that the action range of the user can be enlarged.

According to still another information source browsing system of the present invention, as described above, the area specifying means determines an area within a certain distance from each position of the movement locus of the client computer recorded by the movement locus recording means. , Which is specified as an area frequently used by the user.

Therefore, there is an effect that an area near the user's travel route can be strictly specified as an area frequently used by the user.

As described above, still another information source browsing system according to the present invention has a configuration in which a URL of an information source related to an area frequently used by a user is used as the information source of the user.

Therefore, it becomes possible to extract and obtain the latest information related to the area frequently used by the user from a vast information source on the WWW, and the amount of information is only necessary for the user. It can be used effectively as a support for the information acquisition.

As described above, still another information source browsing system according to the present invention has a configuration in which the notifying means includes the displaying means for sorting and displaying newly arrived information in order from the current position.

Therefore, the new information is displayed on the display means in the order of proximity to the current position of the user, so that when browsing the new information while moving, the user does not need to scroll the screen, thus improving the usability. Play.

As described above, still another information source browsing system according to the present invention is configured such that the notifying means is constituted by the display means for displaying newly arrived information sorted by region.

[0134] Therefore, the display of the new arrival information for each region on the display means makes it possible to see the new arrival information at a glance in each region, which is advantageous for the user.

As described above, still another information source browsing system according to the present invention is configured such that the notifying means is constituted by the displaying means for sorting and displaying the newly arrived information in the order of the frequency of use by the user.

Therefore, when browsing new arrival information when the user is indoors and is not moving, the user can browse information in the order of the area frequently used by the user, and the user can easily recall the place. It has the effect that it can be done.

As described above, another information source browsing system according to the present invention provides an information source consisting of a data file having a hyperlink structure on a server computer connected to a network. In the source browsing system, the area specified by the user by the area specifying means is included in the area specifying means for specifying the area desired by the user and the database in which the URL of the data file on the server computer is associated with the positional information. A list creation means for searching for an information source which is a reference source of the URL of the data file and creating a list of information sources corresponding to an area frequently used by the user; and a list created by accessing the server computer. Updates to sources in the country and any new Detecting the presence or absence of information sources, a configuration in which a notification means for notifying the user of the detection result as new information.

Therefore, regardless of the movement locus of the user,
Since the information source related to the area desired by the user is specified, the information source can be effectively used when information related to the area not frequently used by the user, that is, the area where the movement trajectory is not accumulated is acquired. This has the effect.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an information source browsing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a navigation system equipped with the information source browsing system shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a map used in the information source browsing system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of a moving trajectory recording process by a moving trajectory recording unit of the information source browsing system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a moving trajectory obtained by the moving trajectory recording processing.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of an information source detecting process by an information source detecting means of the information source browsing system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a leaf number obtained by the information source detection process and an appearance frequency.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a position / information site DB.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a flow of another information source detecting process by the information source detecting means of the information source browsing system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a movement trajectory obtained by the information source detection process and an area serving as an information source.

11 is an explanatory diagram showing an information source list created by an information source detecting means of the information source browsing system shown in FIG. 1;

12 is a flowchart showing a flow of a newly arrived link detection process by a new link detection unit of the information source browsing system shown in FIG.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing new arrival information obtained by the new link detection process.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of display of new arrival information.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the display of new arrival information.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing a recording medium on which a program for executing the information source browsing method of the present invention is recorded.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 server computer (server computer) 2 client computer (client computer) 3 network 11 GPS receiver 12 storage medium (recording medium) 13 storage medium reproducing device 14 magnetic storage device 15 communication device 16 memory 17 display device 18 operation device (region designation) Means 21 moving track recording means 22 information source detecting means (area specifying means, list creating means) 23 new link detecting means (notifying means) 24 moving track 25 position / information site DB 26 information source list 27 HTML output 28 WWW browser ( Display means) 29 URL database 30 new difference information database

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (reference) G06F 13/00 510 G06F 13/00 510G 540 540C

Claims (14)

[Claims] An information source browsing system which allows a user to browse an information source comprising a data file having a hyperlink structure on a server computer connected to a network on a client computer, wherein a movement trajectory of the client computer is detected. Moving path recording means for recording the detected moving path; area specifying means for specifying an area frequently used by the user based on the recorded moving path of the client computer; and URL of a data file on the server computer From the database in which the location information is associated with the information source that is the reference source of the URL of the data file included in the area specified by the area specifying means, and the information source corresponding to the area frequently used by the user is searched. List creation means for creating a list of Accesses the server computer to detect whether the information source in the created list has been updated and whether there is a new information source related to the specified area, and notifies the user of the detection result as new information. An information source browsing system comprising: a notifying unit. 2. The information source browsing system according to claim 1, wherein said movement trajectory recording means records the movement trajectory only when said client computer has moved from a current position. 3. The information source browsing system according to claim 1, wherein said movement trajectory recording means records the movement trajectory at predetermined time intervals. 4. The information source browsing system according to claim 1, wherein said moving trajectory recording means changes a time interval for recording a moving trajectory according to a moving speed of said client computer. 5. The area specifying means, when a map is managed in units of plots of an arbitrary size, based on a frequency at which a movement locus of a client computer in a past fixed period is included in each of the plots. The information source browsing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a region frequently used by the user is specified. 6. When the map is managed in units of plots of an arbitrary size, the area specifying means includes a plot containing a certain number or more of the locus of movement of the client computer in a past fixed period and a plot of a plot near the plot. The information source browsing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein some of the leaves are specified as an area frequently used by the user. 7. The area specifying means specifies an area within a certain distance from each position of the movement locus of the client computer recorded by the movement locus recording means as an area frequently used by the user. The information source browsing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein 8. The information source browsing system according to claim 1, wherein a URL of an information source related to an area frequently used by the user is used as the information source of the user. 9. The information source browsing system according to claim 1, wherein said notification means comprises display means for sorting and displaying newly arrived information in order from a position closest to the current location. 10. The information source browsing system according to claim 1, wherein said notification means comprises display means for displaying newly arrived information sorted by region. 11. The information source browsing system according to claim 1, wherein said notification means comprises display means for sorting and displaying newly arrived information in an area in which a user frequently uses the information. . 12. An information source browsing system which allows a user to browse an information source comprising a data file having a hyperlink structure on a server computer connected to a network on a client computer, wherein an area for designating an area desired by the user is provided. The information source which is the reference source of the URL of the data file included in the area specified by the user by the area specifying means is searched from a database in which the specifying means and the URL of the data file on the server computer are associated with the position information. A list creating means for creating a list of information sources corresponding to areas frequently used by the user; and accessing the server computer to determine whether or not the information sources in the created list have been updated, and to determine a specified area. The presence or absence of new information sources related to Source viewing system characterized in that it comprises a notifying means for informing the user as Chakujoho. 13. A method for browsing an information source comprising a data file having a hyperlink structure on a server computer connected to a network by a user on a client computer, based on a movement locus of the client computer. ,
Identify the areas that the user frequently uses, create a list of information sources related to the identified areas, access the server computer, and check whether the information sources in the created list have been updated. An information source browsing method characterized by detecting the presence or absence of a new information source related to an area, and notifying a user of the detection result as new information. 14. A recording medium characterized in that the information source browsing method according to claim 13 is recorded in a computer-readable form.