JP2002140350A - Device and method for managing history of input data and information storage medium with the managing method stored therein - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To lighten the burden of data input operation on user when data of the same classification are inputted by a plurality of different terminals or applications. SOLUTION: A user information database operation part 7 stores data that a user inputs by using a user operation terminal 1 in a user information database 8 while making them correspond to ID information on the user and classification information on the input data. When the user inputs the data, a request to obtain a candidate for the input data is received, and the input data candidate for the user is extracted from the user information database 8 according to the ID information on the user and the classification information and sent to the user operation terminal 1. The user selects one of input data candidates displayed on the user operation terminal 1 or inputs the data by using character input keys. In any terminal connected to a network 3 and multiple applications, the data can be inputted by using this data input system.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system in which a terminal and a server are connected to a network, and more particularly to a system for managing an input history of data input by a user using the terminal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various methods for simplifying character data input operations of a computer terminal have been considered. For example, Internet Explorer
In a conventional method such as r), a history of input data is retained for each data input field, and data input in the past is presented as input data candidates at the time of data input. Thus, data can be input simply by selecting from candidates without using character input means such as a keyboard, and the load of input operation is reduced.

In data input for performing kana-kanji conversion, as a method for efficiently performing conversion, a history of input data is managed together with input data classification information, and a kanji conversion candidate is searched using this history information. Is proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-11430.

[0004]

As for the input data, if the data classification is the same, there is a high probability that the same data is used. For example, train transfer information and restaurant search services on the Internet often require you to enter the station name,
There is a high probability that the station name entered in the train transfer guide and the station name entered in the restaurant search service are the same. However, in the above-described conventional method, since the history of the input data is managed for each input field, the input data history regarding the station name cannot be shared in the field for inputting the train transfer guidance and the station name of the restaurant search service. .

In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 10-11430, the history is managed together with the data classification. However, it is assumed that the history is used only in the apparatus, and the history cannot be used from other terminals. Not applicable to network applications. In addition, in this method, the history is not referred to unless some characters are input. However, in a terminal such as a mobile phone, where a character input operation is difficult, it is desirable that this input operation is also omitted.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and when inputting data of the same classification into a plurality of different terminals or applications, the unified history information is used to input data. An object of the present invention is to reduce the load on the user when inputting data by presenting candidates.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, an input data history management device according to the present invention provides an input data history management apparatus which performs a data input operation when a user performs data input using a communication terminal connected to a network. Receiving means for receiving the input data together with the identification information of the user and the classification information of the input data from the communication terminal via the network; and inputting the input data of the user received by the first receiving means into the input data. As history information, user input information storage means for storing for each user in association with the identification information of the user and the classification information of the input data, and when the user performs data input using the communication terminal, An acquisition request for acquiring the input data history information as a candidate is sent to the communication terminal together with the identification information of the user and the classification information of the input data. The second receiving means, in response to the acquisition request of the input data record received by said second receiving means, said user input information storage means for receiving from,
History information extraction means for extracting the input data history information of the user based on the identification information of the user and the classification information, and the input data history information extracted by the history information extraction means, Transmission means for transmitting to the communication terminal.

Further, the user input information storage means stores the input data history information in association with the identification information of the user, the classification information of the input data, and the type of service handling the input data, and stores the history information. The extracting means extracts the input data history information based on the identification information, the classification information, and the type of the service.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a system to which the present invention is applied. The user operation terminal 1, the Web server 4, and the user information management server 6 are connected via the network 3. A user information database 8 is connected to the user information management server 6. Web browser 2 for user operation terminal 1 and HT for Web server 4
The ML generation unit 5 and the user information management server 6 are provided with a user information database operation unit 7, respectively.

The user information database 8 manages information on user input data. 2 and 3 show examples of the information management method. FIG. 2 is an input data management table for managing user input data, and is created for each user. This input data management table manages the data input by the user by attaching an ID, and also manages the number of times each data is input and the last (latest) date of input. FIG. 3 is a history management table for managing input histories of all users, and includes user IDs, classifications, and history information (1 to 5).
Items. This history management table shows the history of the input data for the set of the user ID and the classification of the input data.
Is managed using the data ID. In FIG. 3, up to five input histories are managed, but any number of data may be managed.

Hereinafter, the flow of processing for presenting input data candidates and inputting data will be described.

The user uses the Web browser 2 to display a service start page. FIG. 4 shows an example of the service start page. In FIG. 4, when the user ID is entered in the data input field 11 and the OK button is pressed, the user ID is entered.
D is transmitted to a specific Web server 4 on the network 3 and input to the HTML generation unit 5 of the Web server 4.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a flow of processing at the time of data acquisition. The HTML generation unit 5 acquires user input data history information using the user information database operation unit 7 based on the user ID transmitted from the Web browser 2. For example, when a service page as shown in FIG. 6 is generated, the user information database operation unit 7 is requested to acquire user input data history information relating to a station and a cooking genre (step S1). User information database operation unit 7
Receives the input data history information acquisition request (step S2), extracts the corresponding information from the information managed in the user information database 8 (step S3),
It is passed to the ML generator 5 (step S4). For example, FIG.
In the user management information of FIG. 3, if the history information is related to the station of the user whose user ID is 1, “Shibuya, Shinjuku,
The information "Ikebukuro" is extracted.

Upon receiving the user's input data history information from the user information database operation unit 7 (step S5), the HTML generation unit 5 generates HTML of a service page that presents the history information as input data candidates (step S6). ). The generated HTML includes information on the user ID and information on the classification of the data input to each data input component. For example, FIG.
In the page No., classification information “station” is added to the input component for inputting the nearest station, and classification information “cooking genre” is added to the input component for inputting the cooking genre. When the HTML generated by the HTML generation unit 5 is transmitted to the Web browser 2, the Web browser 2 displays a service page as shown in FIG. You can choose.

Data input is performed by selecting one of the presented candidates or directly using the character input means of the user operation terminal 1. In the example of FIG. 6, when data is input to the item of the nearest station and the cooking genre, and the OK button is pressed, the input data of each item, the classification information of each input data added to HTML, and the user ID information are displayed. HTML
It is transmitted to the generation unit 5.

The HTML generation unit 5 updates the user's input data history information using the user information database operation unit 7 separately from the restaurant search processing. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a flow at the time of data registration. The HTML generation unit 5 requests the user information database operation unit 7 to update the history information by passing the user ID, the input data, and the classification information of the input data (step S11). When receiving the input data information of the user (step S12), the user information database operation unit 7 updates the history information of the user information database 8 (step S13). FIG. 9 shows step S13.
It is a figure which shows the flow of the process at the time of data update. HTML
The generation unit 5 checks whether or not the received input data information exists in the input data management table (FIG. 2) of the user (step S21). If there is, the number of times of the corresponding data is increased by 1, and the last access date is changed to the current date (step S22). If the data does not exist, it is newly registered in the table (step S23). At this time, if an upper limit of the number of data that can be managed in the input data management table is set, it is checked whether the number of data exceeds the upper limit by registering new data.
If the number exceeds the upper limit, for example, delete the data with the oldest last access date and the number of times of access,
Register the data. Next, it is checked whether or not the ID of the updated or newly registered data is included in the history of the pair of the corresponding user ID and the data classification in the history management table (FIG. 3). If it is included, the data ID is stored in the column of the history 1, and the other history data is sequentially moved. If not, the data ID is stored in the column of the history 1, and the other history data is sequentially moved (step S24). At this time, if the managed history data already has the maximum number (5 in FIG. 3), the last history data (data of history 5 in FIG. 3) is deleted.
For example, when "Shinjuku" is input in the data classification "station" on 2000/07/15, the tables of FIGS. 2 and 3 are updated as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, respectively.

By managing and referring to the user's input data history as described above, when inputting data of the same classification on a plurality of different terminals and applications, the unified history information is used to input the data. Candidates can be presented, and the user's load during data entry can be reduced. A program for executing the processing of the user information database operation unit 7 shown in FIGS. 5, 8, and 9 is stored in an information storage medium (not shown) provided in the user information management server 6, for example. HTM
A program for executing the processing of the L generation unit 5 is stored in, for example, an information storage medium (not shown) provided in the Web server 4.

Next, a data input method according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the system according to the second embodiment.

In this system, a user operation terminal 9 and a user information management server 6 are connected via a network 3. A user information database 8 is connected to the user information management server 6. The function of the user information database 8 is the same as that of the system configuration example shown in FIG. The user operation terminal 9 is provided with a user interface application 10, and the user information management server 6 is provided with a user information database operation unit 7. User interface application 10
May be installed in the user operation terminal 9 in advance, or may be downloaded from a server on the network at the time of use.

Hereinafter, the flow of processing for presenting input data candidates and inputting data in the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a flow of processing according to the second embodiment.

First, the user interface application 10 acquires a user ID (step S3).
1). This may be a method in which the user inputs a user ID at the time of starting the application as shown in FIG. 4 or a method in which the user ID registered in the user operation terminal 9 or the like is read in advance. After acquiring the user ID, the user interface application 10 displays, for example, a service screen as shown in FIG. 6 (step S32). When displaying the service screen or when the data input field becomes ready for data input, the user interface application 10 acquires the input data history information of the user using the user information database operation unit 7. This process is similar to the process described with reference to FIG.

That is, the user interface application 10 passes the classification information and the user ID of the data input by the user to the user information database operation unit 7, and the user information database operation unit 7 uses the information to convert the corresponding history information into the user information. It is extracted from the database 8 and passed to the user interface application 10 (steps S33 to S37).

User interface application 1
No. 0 presents the received history information to the user as an input data candidate (step S38). As a result, the user can select input data from data candidates of the same classification that the user has input in the past.

Data input is performed by selecting from the presented candidates or by directly using the character input means of the user operation terminal 1. In the example of FIG. 6, when data is input in the items of the nearest station and the cooking genre, and the OK button is pressed, the user interface application 10
However, the user input data history information is updated using the user information database operation unit 7 separately from the restaurant search processing. User interface application 10
Sends the user ID, the input data, and the classification information of the input data to the user information database operation unit 7 and requests the user information database operation unit 7 to update the history information. The flow of the history information updating process is the same as in the above-described embodiment shown in FIGS.

By managing and referring to the user's input data history as described above, when inputting data of the same classification on a plurality of different terminals and applications, the unified history information is used to input the data. Candidates can be presented, and the user's load during data entry can be reduced. Also, by referring to the history when inputting data, it is possible to always present the latest history information to the user. For example, if there are a plurality of fields for inputting data of the same classification in the same screen, one Data input in one field can be immediately used as history information in another field.

In the above embodiment, the history information is managed by the classification of the input data in the user information database 8. However, depending on the data, not only the classification but also other information can be used to extract more appropriate data. For example, a station name that is frequently input may be different between a restaurant search and a weather forecast check. In addition, there is a possibility that data input has characteristics depending on time and position. Therefore, the history information is managed in consideration of information other than the classification of the input data.

FIG. 14 shows an example of the history management table in the case where the type of service is considered in addition to the classification of the input data. In FIG. 3, the history of the input data is managed using the user ID and the classification of the input data as a set. However, in FIG. 14, the history of the input data is shown in FIG.
Is managed using the data ID of the input data management table. When considering time and location, the history may be managed in the same manner. Further, the information may be managed in combination, such as a set of three pieces of information of the input data classification, the type of service, and the time. In this way, by managing the history information based on various viewpoints, it becomes possible to present more appropriate input data candidates to the user.

FIG. 15 shows a system configuration example according to the third embodiment. In addition to the system of FIG. 1, an insertion information database 12 is connected to the user information management server 6.
The insertion information database 12 manages data used as input candidate data to be presented to the user. FIG. 16 shows an example of the information management method.

In the flow of the input data candidate presentation processing of the above-described embodiment, the user information database operation unit 7
When extracting data from the user information database 8, in the present embodiment, information of the same data classification is also extracted from the insertion information database 12. Then, when returning the extraction result to the HTML generation unit 5, the insertion information is inserted into the history information. The position where the insertion information is inserted and the number of pieces of insertion information are arbitrarily determined. Examples of the insertion information include information that can provide an advertising effect and data that is used by many other users. As a result, data other than the user's history information can be presented to the user as input data candidates, and information can be provided to the user in a new form.

In the system shown in FIG. 12, the same effect can be obtained by connecting the insertion information database 12 to the user information management server 6 in the same manner.

In the system shown in FIG. 12, when the user operation terminal 9 has a data storage area, the user operation terminal 9 may have the same functions as the user information database 8 and the user information database operation unit 7. . In this case, the user interface application 10 presents the input data candidates to the user using the user information database operation unit on the user operation terminal 9 and the user information database. However, the user information database on the user operation terminal 9 and the data in the user information database 8 are appropriately synchronized.

As described above, by providing the user operation terminal 9 with the function of history information management, it is not necessary to obtain input data candidates via the network each time, and the communication cost can be reduced.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the load of the user's input operation when inputting data of the same classification into a plurality of different terminals and applications.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a first example of an input data management table for managing user input data.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a first example of a history management table for managing input histories of all users.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a service start page.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a flow of processing at the time of data acquisition.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a service page.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a service page.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a flow at the time of data registration.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a flow of processing at the time of updating data.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a second example of an input data management table for managing user input data.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a second example of a history management table for managing input histories of all users.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a system according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a flow of a process according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 14 is an example of a history management table created corresponding to the classification of input data and the type of service.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a system according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an insertion data management table.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 9 user operation terminal 2 Web browser 3 Network 4 Web server 5 HTML generation unit
6 user information management server 7 user information database operation unit 8 user information database 10 user interface application 11 input field 12 insertion information database

Claims (13)

[Claims] When a user performs data input using a communication terminal connected to a network, the data input by the user is transmitted from the communication terminal to the network together with identification information of the user and classification information of the input data. A first receiving means for receiving the user's input data received by the first receiving means as input data history information, in association with the identification information of the user and the classification information of the input data, for each user. User input information storage means to be stored in, When the user performs data input using the communication terminal,
Receiving a request for obtaining the input data history information as a candidate for input data from the communication terminal together with the identification information of the user and the classification information of the input data;
Receiving means for receiving the input data history received by the second receiving means, the input data history information of the user from the user input information storage means, the identification information of the user and the classification information History information extracting means for extracting the input data history information extracted by the history information extracting means to the communication terminal via the network. History management device for input data. 2. The user input information storage means stores the input data history information in association with identification information of the user, classification information of the input data, and a type of service handling the input data. 2. The history management device according to claim 1, wherein the information extraction unit extracts the input data history information based on the identification information, the classification information, and the type of the service. 3. The user input information storage means stores the input data history information in association with the identification information of the user, the classification information of the input data, and the data input time of the user, and extracts the history information. 2. The history management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means extracts the input data history information based on the identification information, the classification information, and the data input time. 4. The communication terminal further includes insertion information storage means for storing insertion data for presenting to the user as input candidate data together with the input data history information,
2. The history management device according to claim 1, wherein the insertion data is inserted at an arbitrary position in the extracted history information when the history information is extracted by the history information extraction unit. 5. The communication terminal further comprises: own terminal user input information storage means for storing input data history information of a user of the own terminal, wherein the user input information storage means and the own terminal user input information storage means 2. The history management apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a synchronization unit for performing synchronization. 6. When a user performs data input using a communication terminal connected via a network, the data input by the user is transmitted from the communication terminal together with the identification information of the user and the classification information of the input data. A first receiving step of receiving, and input data of the user received in the first receiving step as input data history information, in association with the identification information of the user and the classification information of the input data, for each user. Storing in a storage means, when the user performs data input using the communication terminal,
Receiving a request for obtaining the input data history information as a candidate for input data from the communication terminal together with the identification information of the user and the classification information of the input data;
Receiving the history information, and extracting the input data history information from the storage unit based on the identification information and the classification information of the user in response to the history information acquisition request. Transmitting the input data history information to the communication terminal via the network. 7. The step of storing the input data history information, wherein the input data history information is stored based on identification information of the user, classification information of the input data, and a type of service that handles the input data, 7. The information storage medium according to claim 6, wherein extracting the history information includes extracting the input data history information based on the identification information, the classification information, and the type of the service. 8. The step of storing the input data history information, storing the input data history information in association with the identification information of the user, the classification information of the input data, and the data input time of the user, 7. The information storage medium according to claim 6, wherein extracting history information includes extracting the input data history information based on the identification information, the classification information, and the data input time. 9. The communication terminal further comprising a step of storing insertion data to be presented to a user as input candidate data together with the input data history information at the communication terminal, wherein the insertion data is a step of extracting the history information. 7. The information storage medium according to claim 6, wherein at the time of extraction, the information is inserted at an arbitrary position in the extracted history information. 10. When a user performs data input using a communication terminal connected via a network, data input by the user is transmitted from the communication terminal together with identification information of the user and classification information of the input data. A first receiving step of receiving, and storing the input data of the user received in the first receiving step as input data history information in the storage unit in association with the identification information of the user and the classification information of the input data. Managing the input data history information for each user, and when the user performs data input using the communication terminal,
Receiving a request for obtaining the input data history information as a candidate for input data from the communication terminal together with the identification information of the user and the classification information of the input data;
Receiving the history information, and extracting the input data history information from the storage unit based on the user identification information and the classification information in response to the history information acquisition request. Transmitting the input data history information to the communication terminal via the network. 11. The step of managing the input data history information includes storing the input data history information in association with the identification information of the user, the classification information of the input data, and the type of service that handles the input data. 11. The history management method according to claim 10, wherein extracting the history information includes extracting the input data history information based on the identification information, the classification information, and the type of the service. 12. The step of managing the input data history information includes storing the input data history information in association with identification information of the user, classification information of the input data, and data input time of the user. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein extracting history information includes extracting the input data history information based on the identification information, the classification information, and the data input time.
0. History management method. 13. The communication terminal further comprising a step of storing insertion data for presenting to the user as input candidate data together with the input data history information at the communication terminal, wherein the insertion data is a history information of a step of extracting the history information. 11. The history management method according to claim 10, wherein at the time of extraction, the history information is inserted at an arbitrary position in the extracted history information.