JP2002183197A - Method and system for retrieving information using meaning information network, method and system for providing information, transmission terminal and reception terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To manage information retrieval service by using a network without the aid of an agent. SOLUTION: The terminals 31 to 33 of information providers in which filters constituted of the type of an event and an acquirement condition are set for transmitting data as the event and selectively receiving data transmitted as the event are connected through a meaning information network 10. Metadata of provided information are set in the terminals 31 to 33 of the information provides as the filters. An information retrieval person transmits the desired retrieval condition of information by a terminal 40 as a retrieval request event. The terminals 32 and 33 where metadata matched with the retrieval condition are set as the filters receive the retrieval request events. Introduction information is transmitted to the terminal 40 from the terminals 32 and 33 of the information providers 2 and 3 receiving the retrieval request event. The information retrieval person selects the information provider 3 and accesses the information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to semantic information for specifying content that meets the interests of end users from content distributed on a network, or for specifying the optimal consumer to which a content provider should distribute content. The present invention relates to an information search method and an operation system using a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 36 shows the structure of an information search service realized by a conventional information search system.
In this conventional information search system, terminals 101 to 103 of information providers 1 to 3, an intermediary server 200, and an information searcher terminal 300 are connected via a communication network such as the Internet 500.

[0003] In this conventional information search service, an intermediary searches information such as Web pages, document files, images, videos, music, and programs provided by information providers 1 to 3 by an information searcher. This is realized by presenting information meeting the conditions to the information searcher. Specific examples of the intermediary include a broker, a portal site, a directory server, and the like.

[0004] This conventional information retrieval method will be described with reference to FIG. The numbers in parentheses in FIG. 36 are assigned to the information to be transmitted in the order of occurrence.

[0005] (1) The information provider has terminals 101 to 103
The information provided by the user (for example, a web page, a document file, an image,
The metadata about the contents of the video, music, program, etc.) and the introduction information of the information are provided to the server 200 of the intermediary. Here, the metadata refers to information on the characteristics and attributes of the information, and is, for example, information indicating a keyword expressing the content of the information, a category field name to which the information belongs, and the like. The introduction information is information that introduces information provided by the information provider. For example, the information provided by the information provider includes a title, an abstract, a description, an advertising phrase, and a URL or the like. Information on how to access the information.

[0006] The intermediary provided with the metadata and the introduction information from the information provider stores the provided metadata and the introduction information in a database or the like held using an intermediary application. Alternatively, the mediator
By using a search robot, metadata and introduction information of information provided by an unspecified number of information providers are automatically collected. Here, a search robot is a software that can sequentially connect to Web pages and the like of an unspecified number of information providers and automatically collect metadata and introduction information of information provided by each information provider. (Agent).

[0007] (2) The information searcher uses the information search application of the terminal 300 to set search conditions relating to the information (search target) desired by himself / herself in the server 20 of the mediator.
Present for 0.

(3) The intermediary receiving the search condition from the information searcher compares the unspecified large number of metadata stored or collected in a database or the like owned by the information searcher with the search condition from the information searcher. (Matchmaking)
The introduction information corresponding to the metadata that has been matched is presented to the information searcher as a search result.

(4) The information searcher presented with the search result by the mediator selects appropriate information from the search results presented by the mediator and, based on the access method included in the introduction information, etc. Access to the information provided by the information provider.

[0010]

In the above-mentioned conventional information retrieval system, the information provided by the information provider is searched for information that matches the search condition indicated by the information retriever, and the information is retrieved by the information retriever. When trying to present it, there is the following problem since an intermediary is required. (1) Whenever the information provider newly creates new information or deletes or updates existing information, the information provider notifies the intermediary each time, and the meta data stored in the intermediary server is stored. You must request updates to your data and referral information. Further, even when the intermediary uses the search robot, the information provided by the information provider is changed during the interval (for example, several days) in which the search robot traverses the web page or the like of the information provider. In this case, the intermediary cannot grasp the change, and the metadata and the introduction information stored in the intermediary server do not reflect the contents of the latest real-time information. (2) An intermediary fee is generated, or an advertisement is provided by an intermediary. (3) With the increase in information providers and information searchers who use the information search service, the load on the server operated by the mediator concentrates, and the real-time property of the notification of the inquiry result in response to the inquiry request from the information searcher further decreases. In addition, an expensive large-scale server machine is required. (4) The information searcher and the information provider need to know the existence of an intermediary and connect to a download server or an FTP server operated by the intermediary to register or search for information, but the information is distributed over a network. The number of contents is increasing with the spread of the Internet, and it is difficult and time-consuming to find an optimal information search service for oneself. If the desired information cannot be found from a specific mediator, the information searcher must successively request another mediator to search until the desired information is found.

(5) Confidential information related to the privacy of the information provider and the information searcher is centrally managed by an intermediary, and no danger distribution is performed when an intrusion is made to a server used by the intermediary. . In addition, when the reliability of the confidential information management of the mediator is low, there is concern about disclosing the privacy information to the mediator itself.

(6) The information provider operates the information retrieval service prescribed by the mediator with respect to the method of accessing the mediator, the format of metadata and introduction information, and the like.
(Policy).

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the conventional technology, and has been made by making it possible to operate an information search service using a network without going through an intermediary. Solving each problem, especially enabling real-time reflection of metadata, enabling information providers and information searchers to transmit information according to policies, and improving the security of information searchers and information providers regarding confidential information It is an object of the present invention to realize an information search method and a support system that can perform the information search.

[0014]

In order to achieve the above object, an information retrieval method according to the present invention comprises a transmitting terminal for transmitting data as an event, and a terminal for selectively receiving the data transmitted as an event. Using a semantic information network consisting of a receiving terminal in which a filter consisting of an event type and an acquisition condition is set, matches the search condition indicated by the information searcher among the information provided by the information provider A method for presenting information to a searcher using a semantic information network, wherein the transmitting terminal of the information searcher uses search condition information for searching for desired information as the event. Transmitting to a network, and a receiving end of the information provider, wherein metadata relating to information being provided is set as the filter. Receiving the information of the search condition transmitted as an event from the semantic information network, the receiving terminal of the information provider receiving the event, the transmitting terminal of the information searcher that transmitted the event A step of transmitting introduction information, which is information for introducing information provided by the information provider, and a transmission terminal of an information searcher who has received the introduction information is provided by the information provider using the introduction information. Accessing the existing information.

According to the present invention, it is possible to operate an information search service using a network without an intermediary, thereby real-time reflection of metadata, information based on an information provider and an information searcher's policy. Can be provided and searched, and the privacy of information providers and information searchers and the security of confidential information can be improved. In addition, the absence of an intermediary distributes the load and eliminates intermediaries.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information retrieval method using a semantic information network, comprising: a transmitting terminal for transmitting data as an event; and an event receiving device for selectively receiving the data transmitted as an event. Using a semantic information network consisting of a receiving terminal in which a filter consisting of the type of information and an acquisition condition is set, information that matches the search condition indicated by the information searcher among the information provided by the information provider Is presented to the searcher, the information search method using a semantic information network, wherein the transmitting terminal of the information provider, the introduction information is information that introduces metadata and information to be provided information about the provided information Transmitting the event as the event to the semantic information network; and information of a search condition for searching for desired information. Receiving the introduction information transmitted as an event from the semantic information network, wherein the receiving terminal of the information searcher receiving the introduction information comprises: Accessing the information provided by the information provider using the information.

According to the present invention, similarly to the above invention, it is possible to operate an information search service using a network without an intermediary, thereby real-time reflection of metadata, an information provider, and an information provider. It is possible to provide and search for information based on the policy of the searcher, and in addition to improving the security of the privacy and confidential information of the information provider and the information searcher, the information searcher can set the filter once Of the information provided by the information provider, only desired information can be continuously known.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Before describing the present invention, a distributed network system which is a prerequisite of the present invention and has enhanced message characteristics of information to be transmitted will be described.

As a distributed type network system, a system using Napster is known, and as a network system with enhanced dispersibility, Gnut is used.
One using lla is known.

First, a network system using Napster will be described. The Napster user sends a search request to the Napster server that stores the information of the file published by each Napster user, and the Napster server sends information such as the IP address of the Napster user who owns the searched file. Reply. The actual exchange of files is performed by the user who has obtained the IP address directly accessing the Napster user who owns the target file without going through a Napster server.

In the case of a network system using Gnutella, the terminal of the Gnutella user is:
The state of the connected partner terminal is periodically checked, and messages and file search requests are relayed. The search results are returned to the person who made the search request, and the subsequent file transfer is performed directly between the users, similar to Napster. As a result, a network is constructed without using a server.

In each of these network systems,
The system using Napster does not achieve the object of the present invention because it requires a server corresponding to an intermediary which is a problem of the present invention.

In a network system using Gnutella, a message or file search request is made without using a server, but the information to be transmitted is simply a file search request, and a user who confirms this response transfers the file. Is performed between users, and is not suitable for a form that requires one-to-many exchange such as an auction or a reverse auction.

There is a semantic information network system described below as a distributed network system in which the message characteristics of transmitted information are enhanced, and the present invention is based on the premise that such a semantic information network system is used.

First, a semantic information network (Semantic I
An outline of an nformation-Oriented Network (hereinafter, referred to as a SION) will be described. The SION is a network that can deliver an event to a destination based on semantic information. FIG. 1 shows a conceptual model of the SION. In FIG. 1, each terminal 2 has semantic information (Semantic
Information: SI) is registered for ION1.
On the other hand, the terminal 2 that transmits the event sends an event composed of semantic information (Semantic information) and data (Data) shown in FIG. Here,
The semantic information describes characteristics of data included in the event, and is positioned as meta information of the data. For example, the semantic information is as follows:-Deliver the data to "Tokyo residents". -Deliver the data to "People interested in classics". -Deliver the data to "people who have a communication environment of 1 Mbps or more".・ Deliver the data to "people who are traveling on Mejiro Street". Deliver the data to "content providers with content that matches the keyword (eg, travel)". Is used.

The SION dynamically determines an object (terminal, person, software, etc.) to which data is to be delivered based on the semantic information as described above, and delivers the data to the specified target person. It is an autonomous decentralized meta-network that can make notifications. By using this SION, it is possible to directly propose own information only to users who are appropriate for the information provider to provide without using a broker. In this case, a business model that enables peer-to-peer information proposals with a broker-independent type (non-broker model) is called a patronage model (or a patronage-type information proposal model or non-broker model). Call. Similarly, a real-time information search that allows a user to directly search for desired information without using a search service (broker) is also possible. In addition, it is possible to apply to the following services and the like as a request-by-order information proposal service. (1) Manufacturing company: I want to send product information mainly to customers who are likely to be interested in their products. (2) Advertiser: I want to send a personalized advertisement for each customer. (3) Barter: I want to buy and sell or exchange products based on agreement between users.

Note that what information is set in the data portion of the event depends on the service. For example, various usage forms such as an entity of information, a reference to information (URL, distributed object identifier, etc.), a proxy (Jini proxy, etc.), and a mobile agent are possible.

Next, the details of the SION will be described.

<SION Architecture> First, SIO
N network architecture will be described. FIG. 3 shows a network model of the SION. Here, for convenience of explanation, the terminal 2 is replaced with the transmitting terminal 21 of the event sender.
And the receiving terminal 22 of the event receiver. The event receiver uses the reception terminal 22 to receive the semantic information (the type of the received event and the acquisition condition) of the event desired to be received by the SIO as metadata.
Register with N1. This is called a filter. On the other hand, the event sender uses the transmission terminal 21 to
By sending an event to 1, the SION is incentived. This event is composed of semantic information and data describing characteristics of the event, as shown in FIG. FIG. 4 shows the definition of the semantic information. The semantic information is event metadata and is an instance of a semantic information type (event type).

The SION 1 is an autonomous decentralized collation network for collating (filtering) an event sent by an event sender with a filter registered by an event recipient. As a result of matching, the filter that passed the event (reacted to the event)
n) Then, the receiving terminal 22 of the corresponding event receiver autonomously starts. With this mechanism, it becomes possible to search and find the target terminal 2 in a scalable and real-time manner from an unspecified number of terminals 2.

Next, the event type will be described.
FIG. 5 shows an example of defining an event type that is a template of an event. As shown in FIG. 5, the event type includes an event type name (Event type name) and a condition name (in FIG. 5, “Service” and “CPU power” correspond to each other), and a data type for each condition name ( St
A conditional expression (corresponding to == or> =) is defined. The event type name is a name for uniquely identifying the event type.

The parent type of the event type can be inherited.

As shown in FIG. 6, an event is created according to the data structure of the event type. An event is composed of an event type name, a combination of condition name and condition value, and
It consists of a data section. If the condition name, condition expression, and condition value defined in the event do not match the event type, an error will occur. However, the condition names used in the event may be a subset of the event type.

FIG. 7 shows a definition example of the filter. The filter accepts the event type name (Event type nam
e), attribute name (in FIG. 7, "CPU power" or "Ag
e ") and an attribute value (equivalent to 200 and 25 in FIG. 7). Only events belonging to the event type defined by the event type name to be accepted are subjected to filtering. Can have multiple event type names defined,
By specifying a wild card (*. *), It is possible to target all events. If the attribute name defined by the filter does not exist in the condition name of the event type defined by the event type name to be accepted, an error occurs. However, a subset of the event type may be used.

Next, the configuration of the SION 1 will be described. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a SION1. As shown in FIG. 8, SION1 is a semantic information switch (Semantic Informa).
Option-Switch, shown as SI-SW in the drawing, Semantic Information -Router, shown as SI-R in the drawing, Semantic Information Gateway (Semant
ic Information-Gateway, which is shown as SI-GW in the drawing).

The semantic information switch (SI-SW) collates the semantic information registered as a filter with the semantic information given to the event, and as a result, activates a switching mechanism for activating the terminal 2 of the event receiver that fired. provide. The semantic information switch (SI-SW) and each terminal 2 are connected in a star configuration.

The semantic information router (SI-R) selects an event path between the semantic information switches,
And transfers the event sent from the to the semantic information switch to another semantic information switch. This is achieved by dynamic event routing based on semantic information.

The semantic information gateway (SI-GW)
Transfer events between event places. Here, the event place is a minimum unit (ontology domain) that guarantees a common semantic information space. In the event place, the uniqueness of the ontology system such as the name, concept, vocabulary, meaning, and association of the event type is guaranteed, and the semantic information is described based on the common ontology. Basically, the event sent from the terminal 2 of the event sender is distributed only in the event place, but the semantic information gateway (SI-
Through the GW), it is possible to exchange events between event places having different ontology systems. At this time, the semantic information gateway (SI-G
W) performs the ontology conversion of the event, and then transfers the event to a different event place.

<Operation mechanism and interface specification>
As an example of a method of implementing the SION1, an implementation method using a distributed object technology will be described. Here, SI-SWsS
The IR and the SI-GW are implemented as distributed objects called an event place object (EPO), a shared link object (SLO), and a federation agent (FA), respectively. The operation mechanism and control interface of the ION 1 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. In addition, SION-MT (Managem)
ENT Tool) or the ION interface, the ION1 network interface can be used. Also, using MT, EPO
Withdrawal, increase / decrease, dynamic change of physical link information, PO migration (dynamic change of EPO to which PO is bound),
It is easy to collect the firing rate, collect statistical information on popular coastal information and popular information.

Startup and Initialization of Event Place Factory (FIG. 9 (1)) First, the SION operator starts an event place factory (EPF) on an arbitrary host, and then starts the EPF.
Is initialized. At this time, a host name capable of generating an event place (EP) and a storage location of an executable file of the EP are given to the EPF. These are called EP generation information.

Request for generation of event place (FIG. 9)
(2)) Next, the EP operator requests the EPF to generate an EP. At this time, an EP name and an EP attribute are given.
Here, the EP attribute indicates whether the generated EP is used for a purpose-built model or an inquiry model, and indicates the direction of the flow of the event.

Generation of Event Place (FIG. 9 (3)) Next, the EPF that has received the EP generation request generates an EP. Specifically, at this time, an event place management object (EPMO) for managing the EP is generated. That is, the processing request to the EP is EPMO
This is the same as the processing request to. The EPF returns the identifier of the generated EP (that is, EPMO) to the generation request source. The EPMO is generated for a dynamically determined host from among the hosts capable of generating an EP specified in (1) of FIG. As a method of determining the host to which EPMO is to be started, the destination to be started is determined cyclically.
It is possible to select a method such as deciding according to the traffic or explicitly specifying the boot destination host.

An event place initialization request (FIG. 9)
(4)) Next, the EP operator requests EPMO to initialize the EP. At this time, a single event place object or a multiple event place object is designated. When a multiple event place object is specified, it is necessary to provide physical link information (topology) of the event place object (EPO) together. Here, the physical link information of the EPO expresses which other EPO knows which other EPO exists.

For example, as shown in FIG.
32 is EPO1 • 31, EPO3 • 33, EPO4 •
Knows the existence of EPO3, but EPO33
・ It expresses that only 32 existences are known. As described above, the multiple EPO aims at improving the scalability by distributing the load of the event matching process in the EP.

The EPMO is used to select an EPO from the host list capable of generating an EP specified in (1) of FIG.
Is dynamically determined, and EPO is generated there. At this time, each EPO has one filter factory (FF) and one statistical information collection object (S
O) are always generated accompanying them, and these correspond to SI-SW. Further, a shared link object (SLO) is generated accompanying each EPO according to the number of physical links. For example, three S for EPO2 · 32
LO is generated (SLO2,1, SLO2,3, SLO in the figure)
These correspond to SI-R. E
The method of determining the activation destination of the PO is the same as that of the EPMO, but it is also possible to fix the EPO to be used for each event type. The EPMO generates an event type factory (ETF) in the EP. Within the EP, a unified event type namespace is guaranteed by the ETF.

Request for Session Establishment for Event Transmission to Event Place (FIG. 9 (5)) Next, a request is made to the EP to establish a session. EPMO
Is a proxy object (PO) for each session request
Generate The session identifier, which is the identifier of the PO, is returned to the request source.

It should be noted that the EPMO uses the PO
Is instructed which EPO to use (to bind with which EPO). This instruction is for multiple EPO
However, the method of determining the EPO to be bound is the same as that of the EPMO. When a session establishment request is made to the EP, it is necessary to specify whether the session is a session for event transmission or a session for event reception. In this example, a session for event transmission is specified.

Registration of Event Type (FIG. 9 (6)) Next, the PO is requested to register the event type. At this time, the PO requests the ETF to generate an event type object (ETO). Further, the event type is stored in the generated ETO. On the other hand, an event type registration can be requested from the EP. At this time,
EPMO requests the ETF to generate an ETO, and stores the event type in the generated ETO. Generally, an event sender registers an event type via a PO. On the other hand, the EP operator registers an event type in the EP. Note that registering an event type with the same name will result in an error.

Request for Establishing a Session for Receiving Events for Event Place (FIG. 9 (7)) Next, a request is made to the EP to establish a session for receiving events. At this time, the requester of the session establishment (event receiving object) sets the identifier of the event receiving object, which is the event notification destination, and the event notification method (firing type, look-in type) as parameters. Give as.

Subsequently, the EPMO generates a PO for each session request. The session identifier is returned to the request source. The EPMO instructs the PO to use the EPO when the PO is generated. This instruction is required in multiple EPO, but the method of determining the EPO to be bound is the same as that of EPMO.

Request for generation of filter object (FIG. 9)
(8)) Next, request the PO to generate a filter object (FO). At this time, the PO requests the FF to generate the FO. At this time, the FF attached to the EPO bound to the PO is used. The identifier of the generated FO is returned to the FO generation request source via the PO.

Setting of filter value (FIG. 9 (9)) Next, the PO is requested to set a filter value in the FO using the FO identifier as a parameter. Note that the event type name stored in the filter object (that is, the event type name to be filtered)
It is possible to selectively request the ETO to check whether the data structure (filter value) of the FO is correct, using the key as a key. If not, an error occurs. However, when a wild card is specified, this check processing is not performed at all.

Filter Registration (FIG. 9 (10)) Next, after setting a filter value in the FO, the filter registration is requested to the PO using the filter identifier of F as a parameter. At this time, the filter identifier is returned to the registration request source. With this as a trigger, it becomes possible to receive events. Note that a plurality of filters can be registered through one PO. (For this, a plurality of different FOs are registered as filters through one PO, or the same FO is registered as a filter a plurality of times. However, all filters registered for one PO have an “OR relationship”.

Event Transmission (FIG. 9A) Next, the event sender transmits an event to the PO. At this time, the PO can selectively request the ETO to check whether the data structure of the event is correct, using the event type name stored in the event as a key. When this check process is selected, if it is correct, the process proceeds to the next process (FIG. 9B), and if it is not correct, an error occurs.

Event collation request (FIG. 9B) Next, the PO transfers the event to the EPO. At this time,
EPO creates a thread. Note that a thread is generated for each event, and each thread performs multiplex processing of the event.

Collation with Filter (FIG. 9C) Next, the thread (EPO) performs a filtering process by collating the event with the filter. These include exact, partial, and weighted matches,
Can be specified when setting the filter value.

Starting of a proxy object (FIG. 9)
(D)) Next, as a result of matching with the filter, when the event passes the filter, the corresponding PO is activated and receives this event. At this time, the PO can selectively register the received event type, value, event ID, and the like in the SO. From this information, the SO can measure the firing rate of the event (for each event type and each event) and the highly reputed events that are prevalent in the EP.

Activation of event receiving object (FIG. 9)
(E) Next, the PO activates the event receiving object and passes the event to the event receiving object. This corresponds to the firing type (interrupt type) event notification.

Look-in type event notification (FIG. 9)
(F) On the other hand, instead of the PO activating the event receiving object, the event receiving object itself can also take out the event spooled in the PO corresponding to the event receiving object. This corresponds to a look-in type event notification. There are various triggers for activating the event receiving object depending on the service form. As a typical example, a case in which an end user makes a content proposal request to the event receiving object is considered.

<Filter Management Method> Next, a filter management method in each EPO will be described.

First, a session for receiving an event is established. At this time, one PO is generated for each session request, and this PO is bound to any one EPO. Each EPO is accompanied by one FF. As a result, the EPO used by the PO is uniquely determined, and all subsequent processing is performed via the PO (event receiving session).

Next, an FO is generated, and a filter value (a type of an event to be received and an acquisition condition thereof) is set for the FO. Subsequently, a filter is registered using the FO identifier as a parameter. At this time, the FO identifier is stored in each filter. Each EPO manages the filters registered via the PO based on the following rules.

First, using the FO identifier stored in the filter, the “type of event to be received” set in the FO is referred to. Subsequently, the filters are classified for each type of event to be received, and the filters classified for each event type are further classified and managed for each PO.

Referring to FIG. 11 regarding this management rule,
A case where a filter is registered via PO1 will be described. Here, it is assumed that “event type X” is set as the type of the event to be received in the FO specified at the time of filter registration. At this time, EPO
Corresponds to the filter 1 in FIG. 11, and similarly, the filter registered via the PO2 corresponds to the filter 2. In each PO, a plurality of filters can be registered. However, the registered filters have an “OR relationship”.

First, the event of the event type X is EP
When it arrives at O, matching with filter 1 is performed. As a result, when the filter 1 fires, the PO1 is activated.
Next, matching with filter 2 is performed, and as a result, when filter 2 fires, PO2 is activated. At this time, since the filters 2 and 3 have an “OR relationship”, the matching with the filter 3 is not performed. By using such a filter management method, each E for one event
The number of times of the collation processing at the PO can be basically made equal to or less than the number of POs (the number of reception sessions).

<Event Routing Method> Next, an event routing method will be described.

The EPO (SI-SW) accommodates event senders and receivers (entities such as terminals) in a star format via a session. Furthermore, EPO (SI-SW)
Matches the filter registered by the event receiver (event receiving object) with the event sent by the event sender, and as a result, notifies the event only to the event receiver corresponding to the fired filter (matching event reception (Delivery of the event only to the person).

For this reason, when the number of event senders (the number of events) and the number of event receivers (the number of filters) increase, the processing capability of the EPO becomes saturated in proportion thereto. Therefore, the SION architecture provides a multiple EPO as a means for realizing an EP with high scalability. Multiple EPO refers to the number of EPOs
The purpose of the present invention is to achieve a high scalability of EP from the following two viewpoints.

The first point is load distribution and autonomous distribution. This is to distribute the load of event filtering processing by distributing event senders and receivers to a plurality of EPOs, so as to prevent a bottleneck factor accompanying processing concentration. . Further, each EPO achieves distributed coordination by a mechanism that can operate autonomously without being affected by other EPOs.

The second point is reduction of network traffic and optimization of the filtering process. This is EP
This is to minimize the amount of communication by not transferring unnecessary events between Os, and to reduce unnecessary filtering processing.

In FIG. 10, for EPO3 • 33,
It is assumed that a filter of event type X is registered as a type of an event to be received. Here, when an event of event type X is sent to EPO4, it is necessary to transfer this event to EPO3 via EPO2. At this time, the event must not be transferred to EPO1 in which the filter of the event type X is not registered. What controls such event routing between EPOs is a shared link object (SLO), which corresponds to the SI-R described above.

Hereinafter, the SI-R will be described in detail.

First, at the time of EP initialization, an SLO is generated accompanying each EPO based on physical link information (EPO topology). For example, in FIG.
, Three SLOs are generated. These correspond to SLO2,1, SLO2,3, SLO2,4 in the figure. This S
LOi, j establishes a shared link (SLi, j) for transferring events from EPOj to EPOj. That is, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 12, SLOi, j is ELOi, j.
By establishing an event receiving session with POj, and establishing an event transmitting session with EPOi, a shared link SLi, j, which is a logical link for event transfer, is established. , Means the establishment of a session by SLO at the time of initialization of the EP, and does not include the filter registration processing).

After the initialization of the EP, the event receiver sets the E
It is possible to establish a session to P and register a filter via the session. At this time, an event path is set according to the established shared link. For example, in FIG. 12, an event receiver (Event
When the receiver 3 registers a filter for performing event type X event reception in the EPO 3 via the PO 3, the PO 3 registers the event type X filter in the EPO 3 and notifies the SLO 3, j ( Here, SLO3,2) is notified, and SLO3,2 is SL3,2.
Is used to register a filter of event type X for EPO2. This is performed via the PO of the receiving session assigned to SLO3,2, as described above. Similarly, this PO indicates to that effect that SLO2,3
Is notified to other SLO2, j except for. SLO2, j
(J ≠ 3) registers the filter in EPO using SL2, j. The process is repeated in the same manner until all EPOs are set to the path for the event X.

A series of paths established for the event type X is called an event path. this is,
The filter registration via PO3 is a trigger, and the event path setting request for each event type sequentially and autonomously propagates to all EPOs. That is,
Each EPO needs to recognize only the adjacent EPO.
For this reason, it is possible to establish the event path with a simple and unified autonomous logic as compared with the event path setting / management method by centralized management and broadcast of the event path.

FIG. 13 shows the registration status of the filter in the EPO 1 at this time. As a result of the event receiver 3 registering the filter via PO3, filter 1 becomes EPO1.
Will be registered. Setting an event path refers to registering a filter for event transfer in a series of EPOs based on shared link information. Also,
In the filter registered by the SLO, only the event type name to be received is set, and the acquisition condition is not set.
Filter only the event type name.

In this situation, the event receiver 2 receives the P
Via O2, filter the event type X to EPO
When the event path is registered in EPO2, the setting of the new event path spreads to all EPOs as described above. As a result, the filter 2 is registered in EPO1, and the filter is registered every time an event path setting request is made. Will be done.

At this time, when an event of the event type X is transmitted to the EPO1, the filter 1 fires and the SLO
2,1 is activated. SLO2,1 reports this event as EPO
SLO3,2 is activated by sending to SLO2. Further, the event is transferred to EPO3 via SLO3,2. To prevent infinite transfer of events between SL2,3 and SL3,2, the event is
As one of the control information, a maximum of two identifiers of the passed EPO are stored in the latest order.

As described above, since the filter 1 and the filter 2 have an OR relationship, when the filter 1 fires, the filter 2 and the filter 2 are not collated. Therefore, even though the filter 1 exists, it is possible to prevent the redundant overhead of the filtering process caused by newly registering the filter 2 from occurring at all. This means that when an event path is set, there is no need to rebuild all event paths including the existing event path, and a simple and unified event path autonomous setting becomes possible. .

If there is a session established by the event receiver in EPO1 and a filter registration via the session (corresponding to the filter 3 of POn), after all the filtering processes corresponding to SLO are completed, Is performed. That is, the event transfer processing to another EPO is performed with priority, and then,
The collation processing in own EPO is started.

A further effect of the event routing method described above is that it is not necessary to reconstruct an event path when canceling filter registration. For example, when the event receiver 3 cancels the registration of the registered filter via the PO 3, the cancellation request sequentially and autonomously spreads, similarly to the case of the registration. As a result, in EPO1,
Only the registration of the filter 1 will be cancelled, but the filter 2 survives (hereinafter, the filter 2 forwards the event instead of the filter 1). Event path consistency is guaranteed.

By using such an autonomous distributed routing control method, it is possible to easily realize interconnection and distributed coordination of EPO. Accordingly, a transition from a small network to a large network, a transition from a local network to a global network, and the like can be smoothly performed. Also,
Global networking with a bottom-up approach can be easily achieved with common logic.

FIGS. 14 to 17 are diagrams for explaining the SI-R in the physical link having the ring type coupling.

For example, as shown in FIG. 15, in a physical link having a ring-type connection, EPO2 includes EPO1,
It expresses that you know the existence of EPO3. As described above, the multiple EPO aims at improving the scalability by distributing the load of the event matching process in the EP.

The EPMO is used to select an EP from the host list capable of generating an EP specified in (1) of FIG.
The host that generates O is dynamically determined, and EPO is generated there. At this time, each EPO is always accompanied by one filter factory (FF) and one statistical information collection object (SO), and these are generated by the SI-S
W. Further, one shared link object (SLO) is generated for each EPO according to the physical link. For example, SLO2 and SLO3 in the figure are generated for EPO2. This corresponds to SI-R. The method of determining the activation destination of EPO is the same as that of EPMO, but it is also possible to fix the EPO used for each event type. Note that the EPMO generates an event type factory (ETF) in the EP. E
Within P, a unified event type namespace is guaranteed by the ETF.

Hereinafter, the SI-R will be described in detail.

First, at the time of EP initialization, an SLO is generated accompanying each EPO based on physical link information (EPO topology). For example, in FIG.
SLO2,3 is generated for O2. This SLOi, j
Establishes a shared link (SLi, j) for transferring events from EPOj to EPOi. That is, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 16 and FIG. 16, SLOi, j establishes an event reception session with EPOj, while
By establishing an event transmission session for i, a shared link SLi, j, which is a logical link for event transfer, is established.
This means that the session is established by the SLO when the EP is initialized, and does not include the filter registration process.) As a result, a unidirectional ring-shaped shared link SLi, j is established.

After the initialization of the EP, the event receiver sets the E
It is possible to establish a session to P and register a filter via the session. At this time, an event path is set according to the established shared link. For example, in FIG. 16, the event receiver (Event
It is assumed that the Receiver 3 registers a filter for receiving an event of the event type X via the PO 3 in the EPO 3. At this time, the PO3 registers the event type X filter in the EPO3 and notifies the SLO to that effect.
Notify 3,1. At this time, SLO3,1 is given as a parameter that the source of the filter registration request is EPO3. SLO3,1 uses SL3,1 to register an event type X filter for EPO1. This is performed via the PO of the receiving session assigned to SLO3,1, as described above. Similarly,
This PO notifies the SLOs 1 and 2 of that fact.
SLO1,2 registers a filter in EPO2 using SL1,2. The process is repeated in the same manner until all EPOs are set to the path for the event X. Note that this processing is performed by a filter registration request source (here, EP
This is repeated until immediately before O3). That is, SLO2,3
Does not register the filter in EPO3.

FIG. 17 shows the filter registration status in EPO1 at this time. As a result of the event receiver 3 registering the filter via PO3, filter 1 becomes EPO1.
Will be registered. Setting an event path refers to registering a filter for event transfer in a series of EPOs based on shared link information. In addition,
In the filter registered by the SLO, only the event type name to be received is set, and the acquisition condition is not set.
Filter only the event type name.

In this situation, the event receiver 2 receives the P
Via O2, filter the event type X to EPO
When the event path is registered in EPO2, the setting of the new event path spreads to all EPOs as described above. As a result, the filter 2 is registered in EPO1, and the filter is registered every time an event path setting request is made. Will be done.

At this time, when an event of the event type X is sent to the EPO1, the filter 1 fires and the SLO
3,1 is activated. SLO3,1 reports the event as EPO
SLO2,3 is activated by sending to SLO3. Further, the event is transferred to EPO2 via SLO2,3. In order to prevent the event from going infinitely, the event is one of the control information.
The identifier of the EPO in which the event has occurred is held, and when the event circulates and returns to the event-originating EPO (SLO), the event is discarded.

Next, an event routing method different from the above-described event routing method will be described. This routing method uses shared links (logical links).
Are established in the same manner as in the method described above.
This event routing method differs from the method described above in that no event path is established, and SLOi, j
At the same time as establishing the shared link SLi, j. At this time, a wild card is specified as a type of an event to be received in the registered filter. As a result, all events are set as transfer targets, and an event path for each event type is not established.

By specifying a wild card in the semantic information as described above, ring-shaped shared link SL
Since the event circulates in i and j, the event can be delivered to all EPOs.

<Federation Method> Next, the federation method will be described with reference to FIG. The federation agent (FA) is an agent that establishes a federation between event places, and corresponds to the above-described SI-GW. For example, an event place (Event Place) A is an event place (Event Place)
Place) A case where a federation is established for B is considered. First, an FA belonging to event place A registers a filter for event place B. At this time, the event sender belonging to the event place B sends an event, and as a result, when this filter fires, the FA autonomously starts. This can regard the FA as one event recipient belonging to event place B. Next, the FA retransmits the acquired event to the event place A to which the FA belongs. this is,
FA can be considered as one event sender belonging to event place A.

As described above, the Federation between event places can be easily realized by using the FA having both roles. That is, it is possible to realize the federation between the event places with the same control logic as that of the single event place. Using this mechanism,
By interconnecting the event places, which are one basic configuration unit, a global collation network can be constructed by a bottom-up approach, and sharing of events across event places can be realized. Note that event place A and event place B
Have different ontologies, the FA belonging to the event place A converts the event acquired from the event place B into the ontology of the event place A, and then sends the event to the event place A.

When event transfer is performed across different ontology systems, ontology conversion is required.
As a conventional technique for performing this conversion, when a standard ontology is defined and an event is transferred to another event place, a method of transferring the event after temporarily converting the event to a format conforming to the standard ontology, and a method of transferring the event There are methods such as preparing an ontology conversion table for the number of combinations in advance.

However, the conventional method lacks flexibility to cope with dynamic federation of event places (dynamic start and release of federation). Therefore, in the present invention, as shown in FIG.
Holds only the difference (conversion information) from the ontology information of the adjacent event place in the ontology conversion table. In other words, this is a method in which each FA stores the conversion information in a distributed manner, and assures the consistency of the ontology system as a whole. This makes it possible to easily cope with dynamic federation between event places, but on the other hand, every time an event crosses an event place, an ontology conversion process occurs. It has the feature that processing overhead increases.

<Community and Evolved Network> Next, a community service, which is one of the killer services of SION1, will be described. An entity in a community service is an autonomous decentralized operation entity that can dynamically determine an activity mode by repeating learning, evolution, degeneration, and disappearance based on its own policy. Communities provide an efficient forum for such entities to communicate. In other words, entities in the community dynamically search for and identify entities that should communicate with themselves or that affect their behavior.
It is possible to discover / specify and interact with the specified entity.

This community can handle entities with the following characteristics in particular.

(1) An extremely large number of entities are present in a community with an extremely small granularity (an unspecified number of entities).

(2) The attribute of the entity changes in real time. Typical entity attributes include location information, time, and the like.

(3) The behavior of entities in a community is not regular, and it is difficult to predict the behavior.

(4) Participation in the community, departure from the community, disappearance, duplication, etc. occur frequently and irregularly.

(5) The entities in the community are:
It is necessary to meet each other in real time based on policies, attributes, scenarios, and the like.

It is not easy in terms of performance to manage entities having such characteristics by a server or a mediator (broker) and to search and discover each other in real time. S
The ION1 EP is positioned as an execution environment of a community having such characteristics. That is, the community is a meta execution environment of the EP, and provides a place of communication with a higher level of abstraction than directly using the EP. By using the EP in the execution environment of the community, all the entities in the community can directly find the entity to communicate with without going through the broker. This is because communication of entities in the community is implemented as sending and receiving events in the EP.

FIG. 19 shows a conceptual model of a community. A user agent (UA) and an information and service providing agent (ISA) correspond to entities in a community. The UA is an agent that behaves autonomously as a user's agent.
It dynamically determines its own behavior according to location information, situation, tendency, etc., and interacts with ISAs and other U
Search for A and interact with them. An ISA is an agent that acts autonomously as an agent of an information provider or a service provider.
Search for UAs and other ISAs to interact with.
That is, a user suitable for providing his / her information is searched for and specified.

On the other hand, the community agent (Com
A) is an agent that manages the community. The EP operator sets the SION-
Controls and operates the SION via MT. Therefore, C
The omA can be considered as an agent of the EP operator. Basically, the operational policy of the community is defined by ComA. For example, UA, ISA
Authorization, such as joining, leaving, extinction, duplication, etc. to the community for such entities, understanding and controlling the information distributed within the community (such as deleting unsuitable events), statistical information within the community (trend information, reputable information Etc.) based on their own management policies.

Further, in order to achieve the guarantee of high scalability and reliability of the community, SION control such as increase / decrease, withdrawal, and migration of EPs and EPOs is executed according to the load status and the failure status. That is, by combining ION1 and ComA, ION1 learns from the autonomous decentralized network,
It evolves into an evolutionary network that can grow and evolve.
In this way, the ComA controls the behavior of the entities in the community and plays a role in self-organizing SION1. Further, the collaboration between the communities enables the sharing of information between the communities. For example, among the information distributed in the community A, only the top 10 most popular can be distributed to the community B. The processing flow is shown below.

First, the ComA of the community B instructs the FA of the event place B to “distribute only the top 10 most popular information among the information distributed in the community A to the community B”. I do.

Next, the FA inquires of the event place A about the top ten event types. In response to this, the event place A inquires the subordinate statistical information collection object (SO) and sends the result to the FA.
Return to.

Next, the FA creates an ontology conversion table based on the acquired event type, and sets a filter for the event place A. Hereafter, F
A can receive the event from the event place A.

Next, the FA converts the event acquired from the event place A into an ontology based on the ontology conversion table, and sends the event to the event place B.

According to the embodiment described above, the following two effects can be obtained.

First, the SIO is placed on the distributed object environment.
N network environments can be easily constructed.

Second, by allowing the service application to participate in the community as an entity,
It is possible to easily send out an event or to pick up a necessary event, so that mutual communication can be achieved.

As described above, the following effects can be obtained with the SION.

An event distributed only in another event place can be taken into its own event place by a federation mechanism between event places via the FA. Conversely, by sending an event to another event place, it is possible to advertise the event distributed in the own event place. in this way,
Events can be shared between different event places, and interoperability between event places taking into account the ontology makes it possible to construct a global autonomous decentralized collation network based on a bottom-up approach.

The multiple EPO mechanism makes it possible to distribute the load of the filtering process to a plurality of EPOs, and the autonomously operating event routing mechanism between the EPOs makes it possible to minimize network traffic. Become. This results in E
The total throughput of P can be scalably improved.

It becomes possible to directly search for and find an entity suitable for itself without going through a broker. For example, an information provider can specify a user who is suitable for the information provided by himself without knowing the existence of the user. Similarly, the user can search for and find an information provider suitable for his / her taste without knowing the existence of the information provider. That is, the user and the information provider are equivalent to each other. As a result, information can be transmitted in real time according to the own policy without relying on a specific broker. Further, when the number of entities to be searched is enormous or when the entities frequently enter and leave the search target domain, the search technique based on the non-broker model is particularly effective.

In the SION, the end point of the semantic information is a network. On the other hand, in a method of performing a peer-to-peer connection between terminals, the terminal of the semantic information is the terminal, so that the contents of the terminal are disclosed to the outside. Therefore, SION can realize higher security and privacy protection than the latter method.

Next, an embodiment of the present invention using a semantic information network system having the above contents will be described.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 20 is a system diagram for explaining an information search service provided by the information search system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. This service is a Web service provided by information providers 1-3.
This is realized by presenting, to the information searcher, information that matches the search condition indicated by the information searcher among information such as pages, document files, images, videos, music, and programs.
Further, the information providing method according to the present embodiment is performed only by a process of receiving an event from the information searcher via the semantic information network and transmitting introduction information to the information searcher, which is performed by the information provider. Be composed. Also,
In the present embodiment, the semantic information network 10 in FIG. 20 is realized using the above-described event place, but the method of realizing the semantic information network 10 is not limited to this.

In the information search system of this embodiment, the terminals 31 to 33 of the information providers 1 to 3 and the terminals 4 of the information searcher
0 are connected via the semantic information network 10.

[0124] The terminal 40 of the information searcher functions as a transmitting terminal for transmitting an event. In addition, the information provider terminals 31 to 33 function as receiving terminals in which a filter including an event type and an acquisition condition is set in order to selectively receive the transmitted event.

Each of the information providers 1 to 3 and the information searcher send the CORB to terminals 31 to 33 and 40, such as PCs, respectively.
A middleware such as an ORB compliant with A and the event place factory generating mechanism described above are installed to generate an event place in its own terminal, or an event place on another network node is accessed to establish a session. , Is connected to the semantic information network 10. It is also assumed that event types as shown in FIGS. 21 and 22 are registered in the semantic information network 10 as an example.

In the event type shown in FIG. 21, “Web page” is defined as an event domain name, and “entertainment” is defined as an event type name.
As the event property name, information on the details of the contents and information on the information searcher of the information request source are defined. Here, the event properties for information about the details of the content include "Music", "Movie", "TV",
"Radio", ..., etc. are defined, and "Age", "Event"
It is assumed that “price condition”, “date”, and “region” are defined. These event properties also include
"Short type", "long"
Type, long type, string type, etc. are defined respectively.

In the event type shown in FIG. 22, “Web page” is defined as the event domain name, “sports” is defined as the event type name, information on the details of the content is defined as the event property name, and Information about the information searcher is defined. Here, “baseball”, “soccer”, “golf”, “other ball games”,..., Etc. are defined as the event properties of the information relating to the details of the contents, As "age",
It is assumed that “price condition” and “region” are defined. In addition, these event properties include “short type”, “long type”, “strin”
g-type ”etc. are defined respectively.

The event type shown in FIG. 21 is an example of an event type defined when an information search service for searching for an entertainment-related Web page is realized. The event type shown in FIG. 22 is an example of an event type defined when an information search service for searching for a sports-related Web page is realized.

Next, the information search method of the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The numbers in parentheses in FIG. 20 are assigned to the information to be transmitted in the order of occurrence, and the operation of the present embodiment will be described in the order of the numbers.

(1) An information provider providing a Web page inputs metadata relating to the contents of the Web page provided by the information provider via terminals 31 to 33 using an information provider application. The metadata is set in the semantic information network 10 as a filter. An example of the information provider application screen at this time and an example of a filter set in the semantic information network 10 are shown below.
These are shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, respectively.

In FIG. 24, since the information provider application provides the fortune-telling Web page as information, the condition for the event domain name is “Web page”, the condition for the event type name is “entertainment”, Fortune-telling = “*” or fortune-telling ==
The condition "18 years or older" is set as the condition for the event property of "animal fortune-telling" and "age", and the condition "10 yen or more" is set as the condition for the event property of "price condition". The setting of “divination == '*'” as the event property of “divination” is to receive an event from a searcher who is interested in any content in the divination, and “divination ==” animal divination "" Is set to receive events from searchers who are particularly interested in animal fortune-telling. Those for which the condition such as a region is not specified are not particularly set in the filter.

(2) An information searcher who searches for a Web page uses the information searcher application of the terminal 40 to input search conditions for a desired Web page, for example, as shown in FIG. The information searcher application to which the search condition is input generates an information search request event as shown in FIG. 26 based on the input search condition, and transmits the event to the semantic information network 10. Here, “*” indicates that any content may be used as long as it is fortune-telling.

In FIG. 25, since the information searcher application is for searching for an entertainment Web page, entertainment is set in the event type name. In addition, since the keyword is optional, “*” indicating that the content may be any fortune-telling is set as an event property value. Unnecessary properties do not have to be set in the event. For example, if the user is not interested in “music”, an event that does not include the property may be transmitted.

FIG. 27 shows an example of an event for requesting sports-related information.

(3) Then, the semantic information network 10
Thus, the search condition of the information search request event transmitted from the information searcher and the terminals 31 to 31 of the information providers 1 to 3
The information providing application 33 performs matching with the metadata condition set as a filter. If it is determined that the search condition of the information search request event matches the condition of the metadata set as a filter, the information search request event is received at the terminal.

Here, the procedure of the event and filter collation processing is shown in the flowchart of FIG.

First, in the semantic information network 10, an event and a filter are compared for an event domain name (step 81). If it is determined in step 81 that the event domain names of the event and the filter do not match, it is determined that the event and the filter do not match (step 86).

If it is determined in step 81 that they match, the semantic information network 10 compares the event type name set in the filter with the condition value corresponding to the event type name of the search request event (step S81). Step 82). If it is determined in step 82 that there is no match, it is determined that the event and the filter do not match (step 86).

When it is determined in step 82 that they match, the semantic information network 10 determines whether or not the property set in the filter exists in the event (step 83). If it is determined in step 83 that the user is absent, it is determined that the event and the filter do not match (step 86).

If it is determined in step 83 that the property exists, it is determined whether the property value satisfies the filter condition (step 84). If it is determined in step 84 that the condition is not satisfied, it is determined that the event and the filter do not match (step 8).
6).

If it is determined in step 84 that the condition is satisfied, it is determined that the event and the filter match (step 85).

The information providing application that has received the event from the semantic information network 10 by performing the above-described event and filter collation processing provides the information searcher, which is the source of the event, with the Web search service provided by itself.
Send introduction information about page b. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the title of the Web page provided by the information provider as the introduction information, a simple description, and the URL for accessing the Web page are sent.

The application for the information provider is as follows.
The gender, age,
The introduction information can be changed based on personal information such as an address. For example, when the event of FIG. 26 is received, it is possible to return to the information searcher introduction information specialized for persons in their 20s based on the age of 25 years. In this manner, an example of the effect of the present invention that information can be introduced by the policy of the information provider is shown.

(4) The information searcher application that has received the introduction information from the information provider presents the received introduction information to the information searcher. FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen for presenting a plurality of pieces of introductory information to an information searcher using an information searcher application. The information searcher presented with the introduction information selects appropriate information from the plurality of introduction information presented by the information searcher application, and accesses the Web page using the corresponding URL.

According to the information search method of this embodiment, an information searcher can find an information provider that provides desired information from an unspecified number of information providers without requiring an intermediary. Can be. Therefore, no intermediary charges are generated, and no load is concentrated on the intermediary, so that the load is distributed. Neither the information provider nor the information searcher needs to notify the mediator of their own information and there is no mediator server, so the privacy of the information provider and the information searcher and the security of the confidential information are reduced. improves. Further, when the information provider attempts to change the metadata, the change can be realized only by changing the set filter conditions, so that the metadata can be reflected in real time. Further, since there is no need to search for and provide information according to the policy of the mediator, it is possible to provide and search for information based on the policy of the information provider and the information searcher.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the case where AND and OR expressions are specified in the search conditions in this embodiment.
0 and FIG.

As shown in FIG. 30, by combining keywords using “|” as the property value of the event, it is possible to express an AND. Can also be expressed. FIG. 31 shows an example of a filter corresponding to the AND combination in the property value of the event. The number of keywords the information searcher specified as property values,
By comparing the number of matching keywords,
It can be determined whether the property value satisfies the condition.

(Second Embodiment) Next, an information search method according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In the present embodiment, the use of a plurality of EPOs (event place objects) achieves efficient search. According to the present embodiment, it is possible to obtain an effect that load distribution can be realized by distributing and managing filters among a plurality of EPOs and dispersing collation. Further, by a mechanism for performing event routing based on the event type, it is possible to reduce event traffic.

The mechanism for realizing the information search service using a plurality of EPOs will be described below with reference to FIGS. 32 and 33. FIG. 32 is a system diagram for explaining the information search service of the present embodiment, and FIG.
It is a figure for explaining the routing between O.

(1) The information provider uses the information provider application to filter metadata relating to the information provided by the information provider as a filter 71 in the EP in the event place.
Set to O52. An example of the filter 71 set at this time is shown in FIG.

(2) The EPO 52 uses the SLO (Share)
d Link Object) 60 is notified of the event type information of the filter 71 set in the above (1).

(3) The SLO 60 is a filter 72 having only the event type notified in (2) above.
Is set for the EPO 51. An example of the filter 72 set in the EPO 51 at this time is shown in FIG.
“NU” set as a condition for the event property name / event property value in the filter 72
LL "indicates that there is no detailed filtering.

(4) The information searcher uses the information searcher application to set the search condition relating to the desired information as an event in the EPO 51 in the event place.
Send to

(5) If the event type of the event matches the metadata set in the filter 72,
The SLO 60 receives the event and transfers the event to the EPO 52.

According to the present embodiment, the above (1) to (5)
By the processing up to (5), event delivery for each event type can be performed, so that useless event traffic can be eliminated. For example, an event in which entertainment is specified in the event type is delivered only to an EPO in which a filter in which entertainment is specified in the event type is registered. Therefore, there is a filter in which entertainment is specified in the event type. It is possible to eliminate unnecessary traffic and collation processing caused by delivering the event to the EPO.

(Third Embodiment) Next, an information search method according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the first and second embodiments, metadata of information provided by an information provider is set as a filter, and an information searcher transmits a search condition for searching for desired information as an information search request event. Met. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, an information searcher sets a search condition for desired information as a filter, and the information provider transmits metadata and introduction information as an event.

The information retrieval system according to the present embodiment is similar to the one shown in FIG.
As shown in, terminals 41-43 of information searchers 1-3,
It comprises terminals 31 to 33 of information providers 1 to 3 and a semantic information network 10.

(1) The information searchers 1 to 3 are terminals 41 to 4
A search condition relating to desired information is input using the information search application 3 and the information search application sets the search condition as a filter in the semantic information network 10.

(2) The information providers 1 to 3 input the metadata about the contents of the information provided by themselves and the introduction information about the information using the information provider application in the terminals 31 to 33, and The application sends the metadata and introduction information to the semantic information network 10 as an event.

(3) The information searcher who has received the event from the semantic information network 10 matches the matching of the event and the filter, selects appropriate information from the received event, and sets the information as the introduction information of the event. Access the desired information using the included introduction information. FIG.
Shows a case where only the information searchers 2 and 3 receive an event from the information provider 2 and the information searcher 3 accesses information provided by the information provider 2.

In this embodiment, too, filter setting,
Event generation, filter and event matching, etc.
This is performed in the same manner as described in the first embodiment.

According to the present embodiment, once a filter is set, an information searcher can continuously know only desired information among information provided by an information provider. That is, in the first and second embodiments, when information is to be obtained continuously, the information search request event must be continuously transmitted. However, according to the present embodiment, the filter is set only once. To obtain the desired information.

[0164]

As described above, the present invention has the following effects. (1) An information search service can be used without an intermediary. (2) Metadata can be reflected in real time. (3) Searching and providing information based on the policy of the information provider and the information searcher can be performed. (4) The privacy of information providers and information searchers and the security of confidential information are improved. (5) The load is distributed due to the absence of an intermediary. (6) No brokerage fee is charged.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an event.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a model of a semantic information network.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the definition of semantic information.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a definition example of an event type.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an event.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a definition example of a filter.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of a semantic information network.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation mechanism and a control interface of the semantic information network.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a physical link.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a filter management method.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing an event routing method.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a registration status of a filter.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation mechanism and a control interface of the semantic information network.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing physical links.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing an event routing method.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing a registration state of a filter.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing a federation method.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing a community model.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an information search system according to the first embodiment of this invention.

21 is a semantic information network 10 shown in FIG.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of an event type registered in the case of providing and searching for entertainment-related information.

22 is a semantic information network 10 shown in FIG.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing another example of an event type registered in the case (providing and searching for sports-related information).

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of an information provider application screen displayed on terminals 31 to 33 when information providers 1 to 3 set metadata as a filter.

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating an example of a filter condition set in a semantic information network for an information provider to receive a search request event from an information searcher.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing an example of an information searcher application screen displayed on the terminal 40 when the information searcher attempts to send a search request event.

FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating an example of an event generated by the information searcher application to request entertainment-related information.

FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating an example of an event for requesting sports-related information generated by an information searcher application.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of an event and filter matching process;

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing an example of a screen for presenting a plurality of pieces of introductory information to an information searcher by an information searcher application.

FIG. 30 is a diagram for describing an example of a case where AND and OR expressions are specified in a search condition.

FIG. 31 is a diagram illustrating an example of a filter for receiving the event in FIG. 30 in order to explain an example of a case where AND and OR expressions are specified in a search condition.

FIG. 32 is a system diagram illustrating an information search service according to the second embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 33 is a diagram for explaining routing between EPOs.

FIG. 34 shows an example of a filter 71 (FIG. 34).
FIG. 34A shows an example of the filter 72 (FIG. 34).
(B)).

FIG. 35 is a diagram illustrating an information search system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 36 is a diagram for explaining an information search service by a conventional information search system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 semantic information network (SION) 2 terminal 10 semantic information network 21 transmitting terminal 22 receiving terminal 31-33 information provider terminal 40-43 information searcher terminal 51, 52 EPO 60 SLO 71, 72 filter 81-86 step 100 -102 Information provider terminal 200 Intermediary server 300 Information searcher terminal 500 Internet 601-610 Step SI-SW Semantic information switch SI-R Semantic information router SI-GW Semantic information gateway EPO Event place object SLO Shared link object FA Federation Agent

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Takanari Hoshiai 2-3-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Within Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Keiichi Koyanagi 2-3-3, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo No. 1 Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation F-term (reference) 5B075 KK07

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A transmitting terminal for transmitting data as an event, and a receiving terminal in which a filter including an event type and an acquisition condition is set in order to selectively receive the data transmitted as an event. The information retrieval method using the semantic information network, which presents to the searcher information that matches the search condition indicated by the information retriever among the information provided by the information provider, using the semantic information network provided. Transmitting the information on search conditions for searching for desired information to the semantic information network as the event by the transmitting terminal of the information searcher; and setting metadata related to the provided information as the filter. The receiving terminal of the information provider, which has been set, retrieves the information of the search condition transmitted as an event into the semantic information network. Receiving information from the information provider, and the receiving terminal of the information provider receiving the event introduces information provided by the information provider to the transmitting terminal of the information searcher that transmitted the event. Transmitting the information, and the transmitting terminal of the information searcher receiving the introduction information accesses the information provided by the information provider using the introduction information, the semantic information network comprising: Information retrieval method using. 2. A transmitting terminal for transmitting data as an event, and a receiving terminal on which a filter including an event type and an acquisition condition is set to selectively receive the data transmitted as an event. The information retrieval method using the semantic information network, which presents to the searcher information that matches the search condition indicated by the information retriever among the information provided by the information provider, using the semantic information network provided. Transmitting, by the transmitting terminal of the information searcher, information on search conditions for searching for desired information to the semantic information network as the event; and setting metadata related to the provided information as the filter. The search condition information transmitted as an event and received from the semantic information network. The transmitting terminal of the information searcher receiving the introduction information transmitted by the receiving terminal of the provider and introducing the information provided by the information provider, and the information search receiving the introduction information A transmitting terminal of the user using the introduction information to access information provided by an information provider. 3. A transmitting terminal for transmitting data as an event, and a receiving terminal for setting a filter including an event type and an acquisition condition in order to selectively receive the data transmitted as an event. A method of providing information using a semantic information network, wherein the information provided by the information provider that matches the search condition indicated by the information searcher is presented to the searcher using the semantic information network provided. The receiving terminal of the information provider, in which the metadata about the information being provided is set as the filter, transmits the information of the search condition for searching for the desired information transmitted as the event to the semantic information. Receiving the event from the network; and receiving the event by the receiving terminal of the information provider. Information providing method using the semantic information network and a step of transmitting the introduction information is information for introducing the information provided by the information provider to the transmitting terminal user. 4. A transmitting terminal for transmitting data as an event, and a receiving terminal for setting a filter including an event type and an acquisition condition for selectively receiving the data transmitted as an event. The information retrieval method using the semantic information network, which presents to the searcher information that matches the search condition indicated by the information retriever among the information provided by the information provider, using the semantic information network provided. Transmitting, by the transmitting terminal of the information provider, introduction information, which is information introducing the metadata to be provided and information to be provided, to the semantic information network as the event; and searching for desired information. The receiving terminal of the information searcher whose search condition information is set as the filter is set as an event. Receiving the transmitted introduction information from the semantic information network; and receiving a terminal of an information searcher who has received the introduction information accesses information provided by an information provider using the introduction information. Performing an information retrieval method using a semantic information network. 5. A transmitting terminal for transmitting data as an event, and a receiving terminal in which a filter including an event type and an acquisition condition is set to selectively receive the data transmitted as an event. A method of providing information using a semantic information network, wherein the information provided by the information provider that matches the search condition indicated by the information searcher is presented to the searcher using the semantic information network provided. Wherein the transmitting terminal of the information provider transmits, to the semantic information network, the introduction information, which is information relating to the information being provided and information for introducing the provided information, as the event to the semantic information network. The information provision method used. 6. A transmitting terminal for transmitting data as an event, and a receiving terminal in which a filter including an event type and an acquisition condition is set to selectively receive the data transmitted as an event. The information retrieval method using the semantic information network, which presents to the searcher information that matches the search condition indicated by the information retriever among the information provided by the information provider, using the semantic information network provided. The receiving terminal of the information searcher, in which information of search conditions for searching for desired information is set as the filter, transmits the metadata transmitted as an event and the information to be provided and the information to be provided. Receiving introduction information, which is information to be introduced, from the semantic information network; and retrieving information having received the introduction information. Reception terminal, and performing a access to information provided by the information provider using the introductory information, information retrieval method using the semantic information network. 7. A transmitting terminal for transmitting data as an event, and a receiving terminal for setting a filter including an event type and an acquisition condition in order to selectively receive the data transmitted as an event. An information retrieval system using a semantic information network that presents to a searcher information that matches the search condition indicated by the information retriever among information provided by the information provider, using the semantic information network that is provided. Transmitting information on search conditions for searching for desired information to the semantic information network as the event, and introducing information provided by the information provider transmitted by a receiving terminal of the information provider. Receiving the introductory information, and accessing the information provided by the information provider using the introductory information. A transmission terminal of the serial information searcher, and metadata about the information provided has been set as the filter, receiving the transmitted information on the said retrieval condition from said semantic information network as an event,
An information retrieval system using a semantic information network, comprising: a reception terminal of the information provider that transmits the introduction information to a transmission terminal of the information searcher that has transmitted the event. 8. Transmitting data as an event to a semantic information network having a receiving terminal in which a filter including an event type and an acquisition condition is set to selectively receive the data transmitted as an event. A transmitting terminal that transmits information of a search condition for searching for desired information to the semantic information network as the event, and the information provided by the information provider transmitted by the receiving terminal of the information provider. A transmission terminal that receives introduction information, which is information for introducing the information, and accesses information provided by an information provider using the introduction information. 9. A receiving terminal in which a filter including an event type and an acquisition condition is set in order to selectively receive data transmitted as an event from a transmitting terminal via a semantic information network. Metadata relating to the information that is being set is set as the filter, and information on search conditions for searching for desired information transmitted from the transmitting terminal as the event is received from the semantic information network, and the event is transmitted. A receiving terminal for transmitting introduction information, which is information for introducing information provided by an information provider to a transmitting terminal of the information searcher who has performed the search. 10. A transmitting terminal that transmits data as an event, and a receiving terminal in which a filter including an event type and an acquisition condition is set to selectively receive the data transmitted as an event. An information retrieval system using a semantic information network that presents to a searcher information that matches the search condition indicated by the information retriever among information provided by the information provider, using the semantic information network that is provided. A transmitting terminal of the information provider for transmitting, as the event, introduction information, which is information about information to be provided and information about the information to be provided, to the semantic information network; and Search condition information is set as the filter, and the introduction information transmitted as an event Received from the information network, the information retrieval system using said information and a searcher of the receiving terminal, semantic information network for access to information provided by the information provider using the introduction information received. 11. Transmitting data as an event to a semantic information network having a receiving terminal in which a filter including an event type and an acquisition condition is set to selectively receive the data transmitted as an event. A transmitting terminal for transmitting, to the semantic information network, metadata as to the provided information and introduction information, which is information for introducing the provided information, as the event. 12. A receiving terminal in which a filter including an event type and an acquisition condition is set for selectively receiving data transmitted as an event from a transmitting terminal via a semantic information network, The information of the search condition for searching for the information to be searched is set as the filter, and the meta-data relating to the information to be provided and the introduction information, which is information for introducing the information to be provided, transmitted as an event are referred to as the semantic information. A receiving terminal that receives from a network and accesses information provided by an information provider using the introduction information.