JP2002015005A - Method and system for providing information - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and a system that shares information of resources by associating each resources regardless of the resource location on a network and creators and the like. SOLUTION: The system generates the link information that links the resources on the network by a user terminal 1 or a server 2 and stores the link information in a link information DB 6. A Proxy server 5 gets contents of a Web page of URL 1 from a WWW server 4 when the user terminal 1 accesses the page of URL 1, for example, and other resource addresses that links to URL 1 from the server 2. The system displays concurrently the Web page and the resource addresses being linked to the page by a Web browser. The Web browser gets the contents of the resource if a user clicks the resource address being linked to the Web page and the browser displays the contents.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique for referring to or providing information on a network. In the present invention, a resource is information including text data, image data, a program, a moving image, and other objects. For example, the content may be web content indicated by a URI, a file created by a word processor, a part of a file, or the like, and the data format is not limited.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a form of sharing information using a network, such as notifying a comment on a web page to another user, or sending another mail or a chat message to another user based on the contents of a mail, has been developed. Evolving. As a method of generating additional information (comment) related to a certain resource on a network and associating the information with each other, for example, the following method is provided.

As a first mode, FIG. 14A shows an example in which a comment is added to the text in an application having an editor function such as a word processor. In this case, although a third party other than the creator of the text can create a comment, the text and the comment are in the same file, and it is not possible to separate and create only the comment. Therefore, a plurality of users cannot share the text and the comment at the same time.

As a second embodiment, FIG. 14B shows a reference example of a comment on a web page. The author of the web page can create a comment linked to the web page by writing the link information into the web page. Moreover, the comments made can be shared by anyone accessing the web page. But,
Only the author of the web page can comment.

[0005] As a third embodiment, FIG. 14C shows an example in which a button for adding a comment is added in a web page. However, in order to associate the created comment with a web page and notify others, it is necessary to previously install a specific program activated by the button or to create a web page in which the button is embedded. For example, consider a case in which information in a web page referred to during web surfing is notified to other users. In this case, usually, a comment is notified together with the location (URL or the like) of the web page using an e-mail or a chat program activated by a button.

[0006]

The above-described embodiments have the following problems. In the first embodiment, since it is impossible to separately create a comment alone, a plurality of users cannot share the text and the comment at the same time. In the second mode, a third party who does not have the right to edit the web page cannot write a link to the comment on the web page without permission. Therefore, comments cannot be linked to the text.

[0007] In the third embodiment, only the person who sent the mail or the chat message cannot refer to the comment associated with the web page. Therefore, it is difficult for a person other than the creator of the web page to associate a comment to be viewed by an unspecified number of people with the web page. Also, the comment creator cannot specify which part of the referenced web page is the comment. Furthermore, when a comment on a certain web page is transmitted by e-mail or chat, the cooperation may gradually become unclear unless the cooperation between the comment and the text is clearly described. Such a problem,
The same can occur for resources other than web pages.

FIG. 15 shows an example of a system provided to avoid the above problem. This system provides a dedicated server for sharing the association between resources, and provides a user registered with this server with another resource linked to a certain resource on the server. However, in this system, an unregistered user cannot add or refer to resources such as comments. Furthermore, this system does not solve the problem that it is not possible to specify which part of the referenced information has a comment.

An object of the present invention is to provide a technology that allows a user to associate resources regardless of the location or creator of the resources on a network and to easily share the information between users. .

[0010]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a first invention of the present application is a method for providing users with resources distributed on a network. provide. A: accepting designation of first and second resources having different authors and / or locations from a first user; B; independently producing cooperation information for associating the specified first and second resources; C; D: collectively store and manage the generated coordination information in one or a plurality of locations; D; when the first resource is requested by a second user, the first coordination information is stored in the managed coordination information group as a first resource. Searching for a second resource to work with; E; information identifying the searched second resource,
Provide to the second user with resources.

The resources include HTML format and XML.
Format, text format files. In addition, a part of the file, not the entire file, can be designated as a resource. For example, in an XML format file, it is possible to specify a tag name included in the file or a specific paragraph of an HTML format file.

The link information includes at least an address of a resource, for example, a URL. In addition, information as needed, such as the creator of the resource and the date of update, may be provided as link information. The generated cooperation information is stored in, for example, a database accessible by the server device,
Be managed. The link information is stored in one or a plurality of places, and is collectively stored and managed in each place.

When an access occurs to the first resource for which the link information is created, a second resource linking with the first resource is generated.
A resource is provided to the user with the first resource. As a form of providing the second resource, providing the content of the second resource itself or information for specifying the second resource, for example, a URL, a title, an author name, a company name, or the like can be given. In particular, when there are a plurality of resources that cooperate with the first resource, it is preferable to provide information specifying the resources such as URLs and titles in a list format.

[0014] The second invention of the present application is an information providing apparatus for providing a user with resources distributed on a network,
There is provided an information providing apparatus including a managing unit, a searching unit, and a providing unit. The management means stores link information for linking the first and second resources specified by the first user,
Collectively store and manage in one or more locations. When a second user requests the first resource, the search unit searches the managed cooperative information group for a second resource that cooperates with the first resource. The providing means provides the information identifying the searched second resource to the second user together with the first resource.

An apparatus according to the present invention corresponds to the server in a system that implements the information providing method using a server, a user terminal, and a proxy server. The third invention of the present application provides a relay device that relays requests and acquisitions of resources distributed on a network between a user terminal and a resource providing device. When the first resource is requested from the user terminal, the device obtains the content of the first resource from the first resource providing device, and provides the second resource specifying information cooperating with the first resource to the second resource providing device. The information obtained from the device is provided to the user terminal together with the obtained information.

An apparatus according to the present invention corresponds to the proxy server in a system that implements the information providing method using a server, a user terminal, and a proxy server. A plurality of proxy servers may be connected to the server, and each proxy server may manage cooperation information. A fourth invention of the present application provides a computer-readable recording medium on which an information providing program for providing a user with resources distributed on a network is recorded. This program has the following A ~
Perform step C.

A: receiving designation of the first and second resources from the first user terminal; B: generating and storing cooperation information indicating cooperation between the first and second resources independently of the resources. C: when the first resource is requested by a second user, retrieves link information on the first resource, extracts a second resource linked to the first resource, and sends the second resource to the second user terminal. Stage to offer.

Here, examples of the recording medium include a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, a semiconductor memory, a CD-ROM, a DVD, a magneto-optical disk (MO), and the like, which can be read and written by a computer. Fifth application
The present invention provides a comment assignment and reference method for arbitrarily assigning and referring to comments on information distributed on a network. The method includes the following steps AC.

A: Cooperation information in which information specified by a user is associated with comment information added to the information is generated by a user's instruction. B: The generated coordination information is stored on a network. Or, collectively store the information in a plurality of places. C; When a request for referring to the information is received from the user, comment information attached to the requested information is obtained from the predetermined place, and To the user terminal together with the received information.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Outline of the Invention> In an information providing system according to the present invention, a user designates a plurality of resources and associates them with each other irrespective of whether or not the resources are self-created resources. be able to. The resource may be the entire file or a part of the file. A link information file for linking a plurality of resources to each other is managed by a server. vice versa,
When the user accesses a certain resource, the link destination linked to the resource is displayed to the user together with the accessed resource.

<First Embodiment> Next, the information providing system of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to a first embodiment. (1) Overall Configuration FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration example of an information providing system according to the first embodiment. This information providing system includes a user terminal 1
And an information providing server 2 (hereinafter simply referred to as server 2) are connected via the Internet 3. There is a WWW server 4 on the Internet 3, and the user terminal 1
The browser acquires the content of the web page from the WWW server 4 via the proxy 5.

The user terminal 1 generates a link information file for associating a plurality of resources specified by the user, and transmits the link information file to the server 2. When the resource is created and stored by the user, the user terminal 1 transmits the resource (hereinafter simply referred to as a comment file) to the server 2 together with the cooperation information file. The server 2 has a coordination information DB 6 and manages a plurality of coordination information files received from the user terminal. Also, the server 2
A comment DB 7 is provided, and a copy of the comment file is created and stored here.

The proxy 5 has a proxy access unit. The proxy access unit acquires, from the server 2, a second resource that cooperates with the first resource requested by the user terminal 1 to access, and provides the user terminal 1 with the content of the first resource. Here, acquisition of the second resource may be acquisition of the content of the second resource or acquisition of information specifying the second resource. Information for specifying the second resource includes a resource address such as a URL, a title, a creator, an update date, and the like.

In FIG. 1, the server 2 is composed of one computer, but the server 2 may be composed of a plurality of computers according to the capability and needs of the computer. Further, the proxy 5 and the server 2 may be configured by one computer. (2) Configuration of User Terminal and Server FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed functional configuration of the user terminal 1 and the server 2.

(2-1) User Terminal The user terminal 1 has the following functions in addition to the browser 10 for displaying a web page. 1) Comment Creation Unit The comment creation unit 12 is a function for a user to create a comment file. Instead of the comment creating unit 12, an existing editor or drawing creation application can be used.

2) Cooperation Information Creation Unit The cooperation information creation unit 11 receives designation of a plurality of resources, and generates a cooperation information file for linking the specified resources to each other. Examples of resources include web pages and XML files on the Internet, and comment files created by users. The cooperation information file includes at least a resource address and position information for indicating the location of the resource.

3) Storage Unit The storage unit 13 stores a comment file and a link information file generated by the user terminal 1. However, since the cooperation information file is stored in the cooperation information DB 6 of the server 2, it is not always necessary to store the cooperation information file on the user terminal. 4) Registration Unit The registration unit 14 transmits the cooperation information file and the comment file generated by the user terminal 1 to the server 2 and registers them.

5) Comment Integration Unit The comment integration unit 15 has a function of combining a plurality of comment files into one comment file when a plurality of comment files associated with the same first resource exist in the storage unit 13. This function is not necessarily required for the user terminal 1 because the server 2 has the function. However, if it is expected that the load on the server 2 can be reduced by performing this processing on the user terminal side, the user terminal 1 may be provided with this function.

6) Coordination Information Integration Unit The coordination information integration unit 16 constructs a cooperative relationship centered on the common resources when a plurality of coordination information files existing in the storage unit 13 include a common resource. And 1
It has a function to combine them into one linkage information file. Like the comment integration unit 15, this function is included in the server 2 and is not necessarily required for the user terminal 1. However, if it is expected that the load on the server 2 can be reduced by performing this processing on the user terminal side, the user terminal 1 may be provided with this function.

7) Cooperation Information Acquisition Unit The cooperation information acquisition unit 17 acquires the cooperation information file from the server at a predetermined timing, and attempts to match the cooperation information file stored in the storage unit. For example, when the URL in the link information file of the server 2 changes due to the movement of the web page, the link information file between the server 2 and the user terminal 1 does not match. In order to prevent this, download the latest cooperation information file from server 2,
Aim for consistency between the two.

(2-2) Server The server 2 has the following functions. 1) Matching Unit The matching unit 21 has a function of searching all the second resources linked to the first resource that the user terminal 1 is trying to access from a plurality of pieces of link information.

2) Comment Integrator The comment integrator 22 performs the same function as the comment integrator 15 in the user terminal 1. However, the comment file to be integrated is a comment file stored in the comment DB 7. 3) Cooperation Information Integration Unit The cooperation information integration unit 23 performs the same function as the cooperation information integration unit 16 in the user terminal 1. However, the cooperation information file to be integrated is a storage information file stored in the cooperation information DB 6.

4) Cooperation information distribution unit The cooperation information distribution unit 24 distributes the cooperation information file stored in the cooperation information DB 6 to another server such as the proxy 5 or the user terminal 1 at a predetermined timing. It is. By distributing the contents of the cooperative information DB 6 that is managed in a comprehensive manner, it is not necessary to request the cooperative information file 2 from the server 2 every time a resource is accessed, and the load on the network 3 can be reduced.

5) Search Unit The search unit 25 is a function for requesting the first resource and searching for a copy of the comment when the second resource associated with the first resource cannot be obtained in an attempt to obtain it. (3) Process Flow Next, a process flow performed in the information providing system having the above configuration will be described. This system is mainly
Four processings are performed: cooperation information creation processing, reference processing, cooperation information coordination processing, and cooperation information distribution processing. Hereinafter, these four processes will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

(3-1) Cooperation Information Creation Processing (3-1-1) Overall Flow of Cooperation Information Creation Processing FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a flow of cooperation information creation processing performed by the information providing system. First, the user terminal 1 uses the cooperation information creating unit 11 to output a web page, an XML file,
The first resource and the second resource, such as a comment file, are specified. In this example, a case where a web page is specified as a first resource and a comment file created by a user is specified as a second resource is taken as an example.

When a plurality of resources are specified, the cooperation information creation unit 11 generates a cooperation information file. The generated cooperation information file is stored in the storage unit 13 (#
1). Prior to storage, if necessary, integration of comment files and integration information files is performed. Further, the generated cooperation information file is stored in the server 2 by the registration unit 14.
(# 2). At this time, it is preferable that the comment file in the storage unit 13 is transmitted together with the cooperation information file.

The server 2 stores each file received via the proxy 5 in the link information DB 6 and the comment D
It is stored in B7 (# 3). Before storing, the server 2
If necessary, integrate comments, link information, and duplicate comment files. FIG. 4 is a conceptual explanatory diagram of the cooperation information file stored in the server 2. The link information file stores an ID, a resource address, position information, and an origin.

"ID" is information for uniquely identifying each resource in the cooperation information file. In this example, a serial number is used. "Resource address"
Describes the address of a resource or a file containing the resource. In this example, a URL is used. In the “location information”, information indicating a location in the file when the resource is a part of the file is described. When the position information is described, the true position of the resource to be cooperated is specified by both the address of the resource file and the position information. For example, in FIG.
The resource with ID “1” is http://www.aaa.com/index.h
10 is the tenth paragraph in the file specified by tml.

A resource whose “origin” is not blank indicates that it is a copy. The number described in the “origin” indicates the ID of the original resource. For example, in this example, the resource specified by ID “3” is ID “3”.
This is a copy of “4”. Conversely, it is also possible to provide information for specifying the copy destination in the entry of the copy source resource. If the resource has a copy, either the original or the copy is provided to the user.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the cooperation information file stored in the server 2, but the cooperation information file stored in the user terminal 1 also includes the same information. (3-1-2) Integration Processing of Cooperation Information FIGS. 5 and 6 show an example of integration processing of cooperation information performed by the user terminal 1 and the server 2. As described above, it is preferable that the generated cooperation information file be integrated if possible. For example, the server 2 that has received the cooperation information file from the user terminal 1 may integrate the cooperation information file as illustrated. 5 and 6, the server 2 has a copy of the comment file.

The link information 1 in FIG. 5A and the link information 2 in FIG. 5B are common to all resources except one resource. Here, the original and duplicate of the resource are 1
Think of it as a resource. Specifically, the ID of the cooperation information 1
“1” and ID “2” are the same as ID “1” and ID “2” of the cooperation information 2. These two cooperation information files are integrated into one cooperation information file 3 shown in FIG.

In FIG. 6, ID “1” and ID “2”
Are the common resources. Following the common resource, resources that are not common are described.
Further, when the link information is integrated, the number indicating the origin of the resource is also changed along with the change of the ID number. By integrating the link information files in this manner, the burden of processing for searching for another resource linked to a certain resource is reduced.

(3-1-3) Comment Integration Processing FIG. 7 shows a processing example in which comments are integrated on a user terminal or a server. The user terminal 1 may integrate the comment file created on the user terminal 1 based on the cooperation information file in the storage unit 13. The server 2 may integrate the comment files in the comment DB 7 based on the cooperation information files accumulated in the cooperation information DB 6.

FIG. 7A shows processing for integrating a plurality of resources, for example, a comment file into one comment file. That is, when there are different comment files associated with a common resource, those comment files are integrated into one comment file. This figure is
This indicates that the comment files 1 and 2 linked to the same resource are integrated into one comment file 3.

FIG. 7B shows the cooperation information after comment integration. The resources indicated by ID “1” and ID “2” are resources in which comment 1 and comment 2 cooperate together. The resource indicated by ID “3” is a resource added by integration, and is an integrated comment file including comments 1 and 2. “4” indicating comment 1 and comment 2 as the origin
Is described.

(3-2) Reference Processing (3-2-1) Overall Flow of Reference Processing FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a flow of reference processing performed by the present system. In this process, when any of the first resources on the network is requested by the user, a second resource cooperating with the requested first resource is provided to the user. As before, the first resource is a web page, the second
An example in which the resource is a comment file and a copy is generated in the server 2 will be described.

First, the user terminal 1 requests the WWW server 4 via the proxy 5 to refer to the web page specified by the URL 1 (# 11). The proxy 5 acquires the requested resource URL1 from the WWW server 4 (# 12, # 13). Further, the proxy 5 notifies the server 2 of the URL 1 by the proxy access unit, and requests another resource cooperating with the URL 1 (# 14).

The server 2 searches the cooperation information DB 6 and
From all the link information files including RL1, URL1
The address of the resource other than and the position information of the resource, if any, are read. If the resource has a copy and an original, the address of the copy is read. Server 2
Creates a table of contents of the resource based on the resource address and the like and provides it to the proxy 5 (# 15). The table of contents includes at least the URL of the resource file and, if there is, the location information. In addition, information such as the resource title, author, and update date can be included. In many cases, such information can be obtained from resources, and can also be stored in the cooperation information file in advance. If the load on the server 2 is heavy, the proxy 5 may have a function of creating a table of contents.

The proxy 5 stores the table of contents of the resource as U
Provide to the user terminal 1 together with the content of the RL1 (#
16). The user can view the content of the cooperative resource by selecting one from the table of contents displayed by the browser. (3-2-2) Matching Process FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of the matching process performed by the server 2 in the reference process. In FIG. 9, both the link information 1 and the link information 2 include a common resource specified by http://www.bbb.com/patent.xml and “Chapter 3”.
When an access request to this resource is issued, the server 2 extracts a link information file using the URL and the position information as keys. Further, all resources other than the resource requested to be accessed are extracted from the hit cooperative information file. The resource address and the like extracted in this way are transmitted to the proxy 5. In this figure,
The IDs “1” and “3” of the link information 1 and the ID “2” of the link information 2 are extracted.

(3-2-3) Update of Copy The server 2 may compare the address of the copy resource associated with the requested web page with the original resource before providing it to the proxy 5. For example, the update date of the two is compared, and if the original resource is newer, the address of the original resource is provided. Further, it is preferable to update the content of the duplicate resource stored in the comment DB 7.

(3-2-4) Proper Use of Duplicate Resource and Original Resource The server 2 may notify the proxy 5 of the address of the original resource and the like, instead of the duplicate resource linked to the requested web page. In providing the address of the original resource, it is also possible to confirm whether or not access is possible.

When the address of the original resource is accessible, the proxy 5 is provided with the address of the original resource. Otherwise, comment D
Provide the duplicate address stored in B7. For example, there may be a case where the original resource is on the user terminal and the user terminal is not running. (3-2-5) Search Process The server 2 may check whether there is any content of the duplicate resource before providing the address of the duplicate resource associated with the requested web page to the proxy 5.
If there is no content, the search unit 25 confirms the existence of the content of the original resource, and if there is, provides the address of the original resource to the proxy 5.

(3-3) Coordination Information Matching Process FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a flow of the coordination information matching process performed between the user terminal 1 or the proxy 5 and the server 2. In this process, the user terminal 1
7 to request the server 2 for the coordination information file at regular intervals (# 21). The server 2 transmits the cooperation information file to the user terminal 1 in response to the request (# 22). However, the cooperation information file transmitted and received is a cooperation information file stored in the user terminal 1.

In order to perform this processing, it is necessary to previously store identification information for specifying the cooperation information file in the user terminal 1 and the cooperation information DB 6 together with the cooperation file. By performing this processing, the coordination information files existing in both the server 2 and the user terminal 1 can be made consistent. For example, if the resource address in the cooperation information DB 6 is changed due to the movement of the web page, there is a possibility that the consistency between the two may not be obtained.

In this example, the cooperation information is transmitted at regular intervals, but the transmission timing is not limited to this. For example, the link information DB 6 may be updated on the server 2 or may be transmitted at a predetermined time. (3-4) Cooperation Information Distribution Processing FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a flow of the cooperation information distribution processing performed by the server 2. The server 2 can distribute the cooperation information file to the user terminal 1, the proxy 5, and the like at a predetermined timing by the cooperation information distribution unit 24. For example,
By distributing the cooperation information file to the proxy 5, even if the server 2 goes down, the service provided by the system can be provided to the user. If the user terminal 1 is provided with the coordination information, the service provided by the present system can be enjoyed even when the user terminal 1 cannot be connected to the proxy 5.

(4) Example of Screen Next, an example of a screen provided to the user by the present system will be specifically described. (4-1) Cooperation Information Creation Screen FIG. 12 is an example of a creation window for creating cooperation information on the user terminal. By selecting a resource file or a part of the resource file and dragging and dropping it into the creation window, the user can specify that the selected resources be linked to each other. In FIG.
A link between the third paragraph of the web page specified by URL1 and the comment file specified by URL2 is created. When the “OK” button is pressed on the creation window, a cooperation information file is created, stored in the user terminal 1 and transmitted to the server 2.

(4-2) Display Screen of Cooperative Resource FIG. 13 is a display example of the cooperative resource based on the cooperative information. Now, consider a case where a web page specified by URL 1 is accessed. Assume that comment files 1 to 4 are other resources that cooperate with URL1.
The browser uses the list frame 131 and the target frame 13
2 and the cooperation information frame 133 are displayed. The accessed web page is displayed in the target frame 132.
In the list window 131, a list of contents of the comments 1 to 4 is displayed. In this example, the file name is displayed as a table of contents. When the comment 2 is selected from the table of contents, the content of the comment 2 is displayed in the cooperation information window 132.

In the list window 131, in addition to the file name, at least one of the beginning of the content of the resource, the address of the resource, the author, the creation date, and the like, or a combination thereof can be displayed. <Other Embodiments> (A) In the first embodiment, the cooperation information is generated by the user terminal 1, but it is also possible to generate this by the information providing server 2. In this case, the link information integration unit is not provided in the user terminal, but is provided only in the server 2. Further, the comment integration unit may not be provided in the user terminal, but may be provided only in the server 2.

(B) In the first embodiment, the user who can associate the resources does not need to be registered in the server 2. However, for example, a user registered in the server 2 can generate cooperative information, and other users cannot generate cooperative information, but can refer to cooperating resources based on the generated cooperative information. Is also good.

(C) A recording medium on which a program for executing the above-described method of the present invention is recorded is included in the present invention. Here, as a recording medium, a computer readable / writable floppy disk, hard disk, semiconductor memory,
CD-ROM, DVD, magneto-optical disk (MO), and others. <Supplementary Note> (Supplementary Note 1) An information providing method for providing a user with resources distributed on a network, the method including receiving, from a first user, designation of first and second resources having different authors and / or locations. Independently generates link information for linking the first and second resources, collectively stores and manages the plurality of link information generated in one or a plurality of locations, and stores the first resource in a second user. , A second resource associated with the first resource is searched for from the managed cooperation information group, and information specifying the searched second resource is provided to the second user together with the first resource. How to provide information.

(Supplementary note 2) The information providing method according to supplementary note 1, wherein the cooperation information includes at least addresses of the first and second resources. The resource address is, for example, a URL of the web page when the resource is the entire web page, or a combination of the URL and information specifying the paragraph when the resource is a certain paragraph in the web page.

(Supplementary note 3) The information providing method according to supplementary note 1, wherein a list of information specifying the second resource is created and provided together with the first resource. Examples of the second resource specifying information include an address such as a URL, a resource title, an author name, and an update date.

(Supplementary Note 4) When the request for the first resource occurs, all the second resources that cooperate with the first resource are extracted based on the managed coordination information group, and the extracted second resource is extracted. The information providing method according to Supplementary Note 1, wherein information specifying the information is provided together with the first resource.

For example, the first link information includes URL1 and URL
2 is described, and URL1 and URL3 are described in the second linkage information.
Is described. When an access request is made to URL1, it can be seen from the first and second link information that all resources linked to URL1 are URL2 and URL3. Therefore, for example, URL2 and URL3 are displayed together with the content of URL1. Further, when any of the displayed URLs is selected, the content is displayed.

(Supplementary Note 5) When there is a second resource and a third resource that cooperate with the first resource, a fourth resource including the second resource and the third resource is generated, and the first resource and the fourth resource are generated. The information providing method according to supplementary note 1, which newly generates cooperation information for linking with a resource.

Different resources cooperating with the same resource are integrated into one file. Cooperation information newly generated with the integration of resources may be stored and used as it is. (Supplementary Note 6) When the second resource associated with the first resource has been created by the user, a copy of the second resource is created, and the copy of the second resource is collectively stored in a location independent of the original of the second resource. Management, generating cooperation information for linking the first resource, the second resource, and the copy of the second resource, and when the first resource is requested by a user, information for specifying the copy of the second resource, The information providing method according to supplementary note 1, provided to the user together with the first resource.

For example, when a web page and a user file are linked, a copy of the user file is created and stored in a database of the server. When the web page is accessed, a copy of the user file in the database of the server is provided to the access source instead of obtaining the original user file from the user terminal. Resources stored in the user terminal may not be acquired due to reasons such as the user erasing or the user terminal not being activated. Therefore, a backup is also made on the server, and the backup is provided to the user. The backup may be distributed and stored at a plurality of locations instead of at one location.

(Supplementary Note 7) When the second resource associated with the first resource has been created by the user, a copy of the second resource is created, and the copy of the second resource is integrated in a location independent of the original of the second resource. In the case where the first resource is requested by the user and the second resource can be acquired, the link information is generated by storing and managing the first resource, the second resource, and the copy of the second resource. Is the second
Information for specifying a resource, and information for specifying a copy of the second resource when the second resource cannot be obtained;
The information providing method according to claim 1, provided together with the first resource.

For example, when a web page and a user file are linked, a copy of the user file is created and stored in a database of the server. When the web page is accessed, the original is provided if the original user file can be obtained from the user terminal, and a copy of the user file in the server database is provided to the access source when the user terminal is not running. I do.

(Supplementary Note 8) When the second resource associated with the first resource has been created by the user, a copy of the second resource is created, and the copy of the second resource is made in a place independent of the original of the second resource. And generates and manages link information for linking the first resource, the second resource, and the copy of the second resource. When a user requests the first resource, the link information of the second resource linked to the first resource is generated. The information providing method according to claim 1, wherein the original is compared with the copy, and if the original is newer than the copy, information for specifying the original is provided to the user.

For example, when a web page and a user file are linked, a copy of the user file is created and stored in the database of the server. When the web page is accessed, the original user file is compared with the copy, and if the original is new, it is provided to the user. Furthermore, it is preferable to update the copy.
This is because the user may update only the original file without changing the link information. Whether the copy of the user file is automatically updated with the update of the original file may be set in advance in the system, or may be set by the user.

(Supplementary Note 9) The coordination information generated by the user is managed in one or a plurality of places, and the coordination information is held and managed by the user independently of the coordination information to be managed. 3. The information providing method according to claim 1, wherein the coordination information and the coordination information held by the user are matched at a predetermined timing.

The user also holds the link information generated by the terminal. In this case, it is preferable that the cooperative information managed in a comprehensive manner be transmitted to the user at a predetermined timing to ensure consistency between the two. Examples of the predetermined timing include a predetermined time, a predetermined time interval, and when the managed cooperation information is updated. (Supplementary Note 10) An information providing system for providing a user with resources distributed on a network, comprising: a receiving unit that receives designation of first and second resources having different authors and / or locations from a first user; Generating means for generating cooperation information for linking the first and second resources, management means for storing and managing a plurality of pieces of generated cooperation information in one or a plurality of locations, and When requested by a second user, a search unit that searches for a second resource that cooperates with the first resource from the managed cooperative information group, and information specifying the searched second resource together with the first resource Providing means for providing to the second user.

(Supplementary Note 11) An information providing apparatus for providing a user with resources distributed on a network, comprising:
A management unit that collectively stores and manages link information for linking the first and second resources specified by the user in one or a plurality of locations; and when the first resource is requested by a second user, Searching means for searching for a second resource cooperating with the first resource from the managed cooperation information group, and information for specifying the searched second resource;
Providing means for providing to the second user together with a first resource.

An apparatus according to the present invention corresponds to the server in a system that implements the information providing method using a server, a user terminal, and a proxy server. (Supplementary Note 12) An information display device that acquires and displays resources distributed on a network, wherein a receiving unit that receives designation of first and second resources having different authors and / or locations from the user; Generating means for generating cooperation information for linking the first and second resources, and second resource specifying information for specifying a second resource to be linked to the first resource when requesting the first resource; An information display device comprising: a display unit that displays the content together with the content of one resource.

(Supplementary Note 13) A relay device for relaying a request and acquisition of resources distributed on a network between a user terminal and a resource providing device, wherein when a first resource is requested from the user terminal, A relay device that acquires a first resource from a first resource providing device, acquires second resource specifying information that cooperates with the first resource from a second resource providing device, and provides the acquired information together to the user terminal.

(Supplementary Note 14) A computer-readable recording medium recording an information providing program for providing a user with resources distributed on a network, and accepts designation of first and second resources from a first user terminal. A step of generating and storing cooperation information indicating the cooperation between the first and second resources independently of the resource; and a step of, when requested by the second user, requesting the first resource for the first resource. A computer-readable recording medium that records a program for executing a step of searching for link information, extracting a second resource linked to the first resource, and providing the second resource to the second user terminal.

Here, as the recording medium, a floppy disk, hard disk,
Semiconductor memory, CD-ROM, DVD, magneto-optical disk (M
O) and others. (Supplementary Note 15) A method of arbitrarily assigning and referencing a comment to information distributed on a network, in which information specified by a user is associated with comment information added to the information Information is generated according to a user's instruction, and the generated cooperation information is
Or, collectively save in a plurality of places, when a reference request for the information is received from the user, comment information attached to the requested information is obtained from the predetermined place, and the requested information is obtained. And a comment providing and referencing method provided to the user terminal together with the comment.

[0079]

According to the present invention, regardless of the location of a resource on a network and the creator of the resource, the user can associate the resource in association with each other, and can share the information among the users. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an information providing system according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a user terminal and a server in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a flow of a cooperation information creation process.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual explanatory diagram of a cooperation information file to be stored.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual explanatory diagram of a cooperation information file before being integrated.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual explanatory diagram of an integrated cooperation information file.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of comment integration processing.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a flow of a reference process.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a matching process.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a coordination information matching process.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of cooperative information distribution processing.

FIG. 12 is a display example of a cooperation information creation window.

FIG. 13 is a display example of cooperating resources.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional method for generating a comment on a resource. (A) Method using an editor. (B) A method of embedding a link in a web page. (C) A method of adding a comment creation button to a web page.

FIG. 15 shows a conventional system for sharing the association of resources.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1; user terminal 2; information providing server 3; Internet 4; WWW server 5; proxy 6; cooperation information DB 7;

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Sadao Yashiro 4-1-1, Kamikodanaka, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Fujitsu Limited (72) Inventor Takahide Muramoto 4-chome, Kamiodanaka, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa No. 1 Fujitsu Limited (72) Inventor Masatomo Goto 4-1-1 Kamikodanaka, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa F-term within Fujitsu Limited (reference) 5B045 BB19 BB28 BB47 DD16 DD18 GG06 5B075 PP13 PQ02

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An information providing method for providing a user with resources distributed on a network, comprising: receiving a designation of first and second resources having different authors and / or locations from a first user; Independently generating linkage information for linking the first and second resources, collectively storing and managing the generated linkage information in one or a plurality of locations, and requesting the first resource from a second user In this case, a second resource that cooperates with a first resource is searched from the managed cooperative information group, and information specifying the searched second resource is provided to the second user together with the first resource. Method. 2. An information providing apparatus for providing a user with resources distributed on a network, wherein the link information for linking the first and second resources specified by the first user is integrated in one or a plurality of locations. Management means for storing and managing the first resource; and when the first resource is requested by a second user, search means for searching for a second resource cooperating with the first resource from the managed cooperative information group; Providing means for providing, to the second user, information specifying the searched second resource together with the first resource. 3. A relay device for relaying a request and acquisition of resources distributed on a network between a user terminal and a resource providing device, wherein when the first resource is requested from the user terminal, the first device transmits the first resource. A resource is obtained from a first resource providing device, and second resource specifying information associated with the first resource is stored in a second resource providing device.
A relay device that acquires from a resource providing device and provides the acquired information to the user terminal together. 4. A computer-readable recording medium recording an information providing program for providing a user with resources distributed on a network, the computer-readable recording medium receiving a designation of a first and a second resource from a first user terminal. Generating and storing cooperation information indicating the cooperation between the first and second resources independently of the resources; and when the first resource is requested by a second user, cooperation information on the first resources. To extract a second resource associated with the first resource,
A computer-readable recording medium on which a program for executing a step of providing the program to a user terminal is recorded. 5. A method for arbitrarily assigning and referencing a comment to information distributed on a network, wherein information specified by a user is associated with comment information added to the information. The coordination information is generated in accordance with a user's instruction, and the generated coordination information is collectively stored in one or more locations on a network. A comment assignment and reference method, wherein the assigned comment information is acquired from the predetermined location and provided to the user terminal together with the requested information.