JP2002312384A - Information providing device, its method, information providing program, and storage medium storing it - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information providing device making a view directory matching usage and a condition of an information user available to the information user. SOLUTION: This information providing device using a directory is provided with a view directory information management part 101, which manages view definition information, directory connection information, and view providing condition information, and a view directory retrieval part 102 obtaining information necessary for view directory retrieval from the view directory information management part 101, converting a retrieval request to the view directory into that to a directory server, and performing retrieval to the directory server.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information providing apparatus, an information providing method, and an information providing program using a directory, and a recording medium on which the program is recorded. The present invention relates to an information providing apparatus for providing a directory, an information providing method, an information providing program, and a recording medium on which the program is recorded.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A directory system is known as a system capable of managing and searching information on objects in the real world. In the directory system, information about objects is managed as entries arranged in a tree-like hierarchical structure, and each entry has a distinguished name (DN: Distinguished N).
ame). The directory system is used for the management of people and organizations, the management of devices and users on a network, and the like, and a system for hierarchically classifying and managing information, for example, a regional hierarchy (prefectures-municipalities- street - _...) by traced to and classification hierarchy is applicable to the information providing system that can acquire information of the facilities in a specific area.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-313953 describes an invention in which a virtual directory including a subset of information stored in a directory system is provided as a view directory, and a search process can be performed on the view directory. According to the present invention, the information provider can prepare a plurality of view directories according to the purpose. On the other hand, the information user can select one from a plurality of prepared view directories according to the intended use, which is easier than searching the information stored in the directory directly. It is possible to reach desired information. For example, an information provider can prepare a view directory that is obtained by cutting out a part corresponding to only a specific region from an address directory that manages a wide-area address hierarchy. If you want to get
It is efficient to use the view directory of the specific area prepared by the information provider.

[0004]

However, in the view directory search processing system described in Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-313953, there is no means for the information user to know what view directories are managed by the system. Therefore, it is difficult to switch the view directory to be searched according to the purpose.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides an information providing apparatus and method, an information providing program, and an information providing program that enable an information user to use a view directory suitable for the intended use and situation. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recorded recording medium.

[0006]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information providing apparatus using a directory, the view directory managing view definition information, directory connection information, and view providing condition information. Information management means, and view directory search means for acquiring information necessary for a view directory search from the view directory information management means, converting a search request for the view directory into a search request for the directory server, and executing a search for the directory server. Wherein the view provision condition information indicates under what conditions the view directory can be effectively used, or under what conditions the view directory can be used only. This is information for determination.

The present invention also relates to the information providing apparatus, wherein information on a space area and a time area in which a view directory is valid is managed as view providing condition information managed by the view directory information managing means. It is characterized by the following.

Further, the present invention is the information providing apparatus, further comprising receiving position information or position information and time information from a client, searching the view directory information management means, and providing the information corresponding to the position and time. Get information about view directories that meet the conditions,
A view information providing means for returning the obtained information to the client is provided, and the information user can select a view directory.

Further, the present invention is the information providing apparatus, wherein the view information providing means, when there are a plurality of view directories meeting the providing conditions corresponding to the position and the time, selects one of the plurality of view directories. It is characterized in that only the information related to the selected view directory is returned, and the search of the previously selected view directory is enabled.

The present invention is also an information providing method using a directory, comprising: a processing step of receiving a request for view directory information together with position information or position information and time information; A processing step of searching for directory information, a processing step of presenting the searched view directory information to prompt an information user to select, a processing step of receiving a search request for the specified view directory, and a view directory definition information. A processing step of obtaining, a processing step of obtaining connection information of a directory server in which information of a view directory is stored, a processing step of converting a search request for a view directory into a search request for a directory server, Inspection A processing step of the execution, and having a processing step of returning search results view directory.

The present invention is also an information providing method using a directory, comprising: a processing step of receiving a request for view directory information together with position information or position information and time information; A processing step of searching for directory information, a processing step of selecting one of the plurality of view directory information that satisfies the position and time conditions, and a step of selecting one of the plurality of view directory information to the client. A process step to return, a process step to receive a search request for the specified view directory, a process step to acquire the definition information of the view directory, and a process to acquire the connection information of the directory server storing the view directory information Step and viewdirect A processing step of converting the search request into search request to the directory server for,
It has a processing step of executing a search for a directory server and a processing step of returning a search result of a view directory.

The information providing program according to the present invention further comprises a processing procedure for receiving a request for view directory information together with position information or position information and time information, a processing procedure for searching for view directory information that satisfies position and time conditions, A procedure for presenting the searched view directory information to prompt the user to select information, a procedure for receiving a search request for the specified view directory, a procedure for acquiring view directory definition information, and view directory information are stored. To retrieve the connection information of the directory server, to convert the search request to the view directory to the search request to the directory server, to perform the search to the directory server, and to return the search result of the view directory Processing hand It is for causing a computer to execute the.

The information providing program according to the present invention further comprises a processing procedure for receiving a request for view directory information together with position information or position information and time information, a processing procedure for searching for view directory information that satisfies position and time conditions, If a plurality of view directory information matching the position and time conditions are found, a procedure for selecting one of the plurality of view directory information, a procedure for returning the selected view directory information to the client, a designated view directory For receiving a search request to the server, processing for obtaining the definition information of the view directory, processing for obtaining the connection information of the directory server in which the information of the view directory is stored, and the search request for the view directory to the directory server To convert to Procedure, the procedure to perform a search against the directory server, is intended for executing the processing procedure to return the search results view directory on the computer.

Further, the recording medium of the present invention has a processing procedure for receiving a request for view directory information together with position information or position information and time information, a processing procedure for searching for view directory information that satisfies the position and time conditions,
A procedure for presenting the searched view directory information to prompt the user to select information, a procedure for receiving a search request for the specified view directory, a procedure for acquiring view directory definition information, and view directory information are stored. To retrieve the connection information of the directory server, to convert the search request to the view directory to the search request to the directory server, to perform the search to the directory server, and to return the search result of the view directory This is a recording of an information providing program for causing a computer to execute a processing procedure to be performed.

Further, the recording medium of the present invention has a processing procedure for receiving a request for view directory information together with position information or position information and time information, a processing procedure for searching for view directory information that meets position and time conditions,
If a plurality of view directory information matching the position and time conditions are found, a procedure for selecting one of the plurality of view directory information, a procedure for returning the selected view directory information to the client, a designated view directory For receiving a search request to the server, processing for obtaining the definition information of the view directory, processing for obtaining the connection information of the directory server in which the information of the view directory is stored, and the search request for the view directory to the directory server , An information providing program for causing a computer to execute a procedure for performing a search on a directory server, and a procedure for returning a search result of a view directory.

[0016]

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

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the basic configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. Information providing server 1, a plurality of clients 2a, 2b, a plurality of directory servers 3a, 3
b and 3c are connected by a network N such as the Internet. The information providing server 1 includes a client 2
a, 2b, receives a search request for a view directory, searches the directory servers 3a, 3b, 3c in which data is stored, and sends the search result to the client 2.
Return to a, 2b.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the relationship between a directory and a view directory. Reference numeral 21 denotes a directory consisting of a directory information tree which is actually stored and managed in a directory server. This is a view directory that projects under the control of Kanagawa Prefecture from a directory information tree of a view directory that is a virtual directory to be created. When the client requests the information providing server to search the view directory 22, the information providing server:
The search request for the view directory is converted into a search request for the directory 21 where the data actually exists, and the search is executed.

The information providing server 1 includes a view directory information management unit 101, a view directory search unit 102,
View information providing unit 103, view directory control unit 1
04.

The view directory information management unit 101 manages view definition information, directory connection information, and view provision condition information. Such information is stored in a database management system or LDAP (Lightweight D).
Entry Access Protocol)
It is managed by a directory server or the like that conforms to.
FIG. 3 shows an example of view directory information management using a directory, in which the information is managed by a directory server conforming to LDAP. In FIG. 3, the individual directory connection information and the individual view definition information respectively correspond to directory entries 31 and 32, and the view provision condition information is stored as an attribute of the entry 32 corresponding to the view definition information. I have. As the directory connection information, a directory name, a host name and a port number of a directory server, a login user name, a login password, and the like for identifying the directory connection are managed. As the view definition information, a view name for distinguishing the view from others, a name of a directory to be viewed, a DN of an entry serving as a base point of the view directory, search filter information, view provision conditions, and the like are managed. As the view providing conditions, a range of latitude and longitude and a range of time are stored to indicate a space area and a time area in which the view is valid.

The view directory search unit 102 acquires necessary information from the view directory information management unit 101, and issues a search request for the view directory to the directory servers 3a, 3b, 3 that actually store data.
c into a search request for directory server 3
The search for a, 3b, and 3c is executed.

The view information providing unit 103 receives position information or position information and time information from the clients 2a and 2b, searches the view directory information management unit 101, and obtains information on a view directory that matches the position and time. Output.

The view directory control unit 104 receives a search request for a view directory and a search request for view directory information from the clients 2a and 2b, and controls operations of the view directory search unit 102 and the view information providing unit 103. Return the retrieved search results to the client.

[0024]

[Embodiment 1] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of Embodiment 1 based on the above-described basic configuration of the present invention. View information management directory server 4 of information providing server 1
1 manages view definition information, directory connection information, and view provision condition information, and makes it possible to search for the managed information. The view directory search program 42 of the information providing server 1 is started by the WWW server 44, acquires necessary information from the view information management directory server 41, and issues a search request for the view directory to directory servers 3a to 3c that actually store data.
Is converted into a search request for
Perform a search for 3c. The view information providing program 43 of the information providing server 1 searches the view information management directory server 41 to obtain information on the view directory that matches the position and time, and presents the obtained information to the information user.

A process until the clients 2a and 2b obtain the view directory search result suitable for the position and time will be described below.

Prior to the view directory search, the clients 2a and 2b request the WWW server 44 to execute the view information providing program using the position information or the position information and the time information as parameters. The location information transmitted here is GPS (Global Posi).
Tioning System), PHS (Persono)
nal Handyphone System) or latitude and longitude information obtained by a user selecting a point or address on a map with a client application. The time information transmitted from the clients 2a and 2b is the current time acquired by the client terminal and the time specified by the user in the client application. The view information providing program 43 is started by the WWW server 44.

The processing procedure in the view information providing program 43 will be described below with reference to FIG.

First, the view information providing program 43
The position information and the time information passed from the clients 2a and 2b via the WWW server 44 are acquired, and these are stored as search position information and time information (S502).
If time information is not set as a parameter, the current time acquired by the server device is set as time information for search (S503, S504). Next, it connects to the view information management directory server 41 to search for information on the view directory (S505). When connected to the view information management directory server 41, a search condition is generated from the latitude, longitude, and time information, and the view definition information is searched to obtain view directory information suitable for the position and time (S506). In the case of the example of FIG. 2, “South boundary latitude ≦ the relevant latitude”, “North boundary latitude ≧ the relevant latitude”, “West boundary longitude ≦ the relevant longitude”, “East boundary latitude ≧ the relevant latitude”, “start time ≦ the relevant time” , View definition information that satisfies all of “end time ≧ the time”. After the search, the view information management directory server 4
Then, the connection with No. 1 is disconnected (S507). Next, the search results are output in a format that can be displayed on the clients 2a and 2b (S508). For example, an HTML file that displays information of a view directory in a list format and prompts an information user to make a selection.
Output the document. With the above, the view information providing program 4
The process of 3 is completed. The HTML document output by the view information providing program 43 is transmitted to the WWW browsers of the clients 2a and 2b via the WWW server 44 and displayed.

The user inputs the view information providing program 43
When one is selected from the list of view directory information presented by the user, the view directory search program 42 is activated via the WWW server 44. The parameters passed from the clients 2a and 2b at the time of the execution request of the view directory search program 42 include the name of the view directory to be searched and the element of the LDAP search request. The LDAP search request is R
FC1777 (“Lightweight Direc
As described in “Tory Access Protocol”), the information includes information such as a DN of a base entry to be searched, a scope to be searched, a search filter, and an attribute name to be obtained.

Hereinafter, a procedure of a view directory search in the view directory search program 42 will be described.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the view directory search program 42 sends the WWW server 44 from the clients 2a and 2b.
The search request passed via the server is acquired and stored (S602). In the following, a description will be given assuming that the search request shown in FIG. The search request in FIG. 7 is view_k
This is a search request for the view directory 22 named “anakawa_address” to obtain information on entries existing under the entry where the DN is “city name = Yokosuka City, prefecture name = Kanagawa Prefecture”.

Next, the view directory search program 42 connects to the view information management directory server 41 to search for information necessary for the view search (S6).
03). When connected to the view information management directory server 41, view definition information is searched using the view directory name as a search key to obtain view definition information (S
604). FIG. 8 shows an example of the view definition information obtained by the search of the view definition information. According to the obtained information, the directory in which the data is actually stored is ni.
It can be known that it is managed under the name of ppon_directory. Subsequently, the directory information is searched for the view information management directory server 41 using the directory name as a search key,
The information necessary for connecting to the directory storing the data of the view directory is obtained (S60).
5). FIG. 9 is an example of directory connection information obtained by searching the directory connection information. Since the information necessary for executing the information search has been obtained as described above, the connection with the view information management directory server 41 is disconnected (S606).

Next is the phase of actually performing information retrieval. First, based on the information obtained in the processing step S605, a connection is made to a directory server in which the data of the view directory is stored (S607). Next, the search request for the view directory received at the start of the process is converted into a search request for the directory in which data is actually stored (hereinafter, the real directory) (S608). FIG. 10 shows an example in which the search request for the view directory shown in FIG. The search base DN of the search request to the real directory is determined from the search base DN in the view directory search request and the base entry DN in the view definition information. Also, the filter of the search request to the real directory is determined from the filter in the view directory search request and the filter in the view definition information. Next, the directory is searched based on the search request converted in the preprocessing step, and a search result is obtained (S609). Since the information has been searched as described above, the connection with the directory servers 3a to 3c is disconnected (S610).

Next, the DN included in the search result obtained in the processing step S609 is converted into a DN on the view directory (S611). For example, the search results of the real directory include "Area name = Hikari no oka, Municipality name = Yokosuka city,
If there is a DN "prefecture name = Kanagawa prefecture, country name = Japan", this is converted into a DN on the view directory such as "area name = Hikarinooka, municipal name = Yokosuka city, prefecture name = Kanagawa prefecture". Finally, S6 acquired in S609
The search result processed in step 11 is output as an HTML document that can be displayed on the client (S612).

With the above procedure, the search of the view directory by the view directory search program 42 is completed. The HTML document output by the view directory search program 42 is transmitted to and displayed on the WWW browsers of the clients 2a and 2b via the WWW server 44.

As described above, the information user can obtain the search result of the view directory suitable for the position and the time.

[Second Embodiment] The second embodiment of the present invention has the same system configuration as the first embodiment, but differs in the operation of the view information providing program 43. FIG. 11 illustrates a processing procedure in the view information providing program 43 according to the second embodiment.

In the processing step S1102, the position information, time information, and directory type transferred from the clients 2a and 2b via the WWW server 44 are acquired and stored. The directory type is information for classifying a view directory according to a use or the like, and is information indicating a classification such as an address directory, a facility classification directory, and an information classification directory. In response to this, the view information management directory server 41 differs from the first embodiment in that the view definition information manages the directory type in addition to the items shown in FIG. Processing steps S1103, S1104, S1105, S110
No. 7 is processing steps S503, S504, and S of the first embodiment.
505 and S507. Processing Step 1106
In, a search condition is generated from the information of the latitude, longitude, time, and directory type, and the view definition information is searched to obtain the information of the view directory suitable for the position and the time.
If the number of view directories meeting the condition obtained in the processing step S1106 is plural, the degree of conformity is calculated for each view directory, and one having a high degree of conformity is selected (S1108, S1109, S1109). S11
10). The fitness is determined by the position given by the client,
The degree of conformity between the time and the view provision condition set in the view directory is evaluated as a numerical value. Is determined. In the processing step S1111, an instruction to redirect the URL for executing the view directory search program 42 is output so that the view directory obtained in the processing step S1106 or the processing step S1110 is searched. If the number of searches is not one or more in the processing step S1108, an error is output (S1113). Thus, the processing of the view information providing program 43 is completed. When the clients 2a and 2b receive the processing result of the view information providing program 43,
Subsequently, the view directory search program 42 is called in accordance with the redirect instruction output by the view information providing program 43, and the view information providing program 4
The search of the view directory specified by 3 is executed.

The operation of the view directory search program 42 is the same as in the first embodiment.

As described above, the information user can obtain the search result of the view directory suitable for the position and the time without specifying the view directory.

[Other Embodiments] In the first and second embodiments, the conditions regarding the position and the time are used as the conditions for providing the view directory. However, the conditions for providing the view directory are not limited thereto. For example, by extending the information user's age so that it can be set and managed as a view directory provision condition, it is possible to use the view directory for adults and the view directory for minors according to the age of the information user. It is.
In order to implement this, the age condition is set and managed as view provision condition information managed by the view information management directory server 41, and the age is set as a parameter when the view information providing program 43 is started from the clients 2a and 2b. Send information and view information providing program 4
In step 3, view directory information that matches the search condition based on the age information is searched.

The information providing method in each of the above embodiments is specifically executed by a computer such as a personal computer based on a predetermined information providing program.

That is, the information providing program according to the present invention provides a processing procedure for receiving a request for view directory information together with position information or position information and time information, and a processing procedure for searching for view directory information that satisfies the position and time conditions. The procedure for presenting the searched view directory information to prompt the information user to select, the procedure for receiving a search request for the specified view directory, the procedure for acquiring the definition information of the view directory, and the view directory information A procedure for acquiring the stored directory server connection information, a procedure for converting a search request for the view directory into a search request for the directory server, a procedure for performing a search for the directory server, and a view directory search result. return To perform a physical procedure on the computer.

Further, the information providing program according to the present invention provides a processing procedure for receiving a request for view directory information together with position information or position information and time information, and a processing procedure for searching for view directory information that satisfies the position and time conditions. If a plurality of view directory information matching the conditions of position and time are searched, a processing procedure of selecting one of the plurality of view directory information, a processing procedure of returning the selected view directory information to the client, a designated view A procedure for receiving a search request for a directory,
Procedure for acquiring the definition information of the view directory, procedure for acquiring the connection information of the directory server in which the information of the view directory is stored, procedure for converting the search request for the view directory into the search request for the directory server, directory server Causes the computer to execute a processing procedure for performing a search on the server and a processing procedure for returning a search result of the view directory.

The information providing program can be recorded on a predetermined computer-readable recording medium.

[0046]

As described above, according to the present invention, in the information providing system using the directory, the information provider can determine the spatial position and time of the information user, the personal attribute of the information user, and the like. , It is possible to provide a view directory that meets those conditions.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a directory and a view directory according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of view directory information management using a directory according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration explanatory view showing Embodiments 1 and 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a view information providing program according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing of a view directory search program in the first and second embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a search request to a view directory according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of view definition information according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of directory connection information according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a search request to a converted directory according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a view information providing program according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 information providing server 2a, 2b client 3a, 3b, 3c directory server 21 directory 22 view directory 31 entry 32 entry 41 view information management directory server 42 view directory search program 43 view information providing program 44 WWW server 101 view directory information management unit 102 View directory search unit 103 View information providing unit 104 View directory control unit

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Takashi Hoshi 2-3-1, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo F-term in Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (reference) 5B075 KK07 NK02 NK43 PP13 PP22 QP10

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An information providing apparatus using a directory, comprising: view directory information management means for managing view definition information, directory connection information, and view provision condition information; and view directory search from the view directory information management means. An information providing apparatus comprising: a view directory search unit that obtains information necessary for a search directory, converts a search request for a view directory into a search request for a directory server, and executes a search for the directory server. 2. The information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein information on a space area and a time area in which a view directory is valid is managed as view provision condition information managed by the view directory information management means. An information providing device, comprising: 3. The information providing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
Further, position information or position information and time information are received from the client, and the view directory information management means is searched to obtain information about the view directory that meets the provision conditions corresponding to the position and time. An information providing apparatus, comprising: a view information providing unit for returning to a client. 4. The information providing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the view information providing unit is configured to select one from a plurality of view directories when there are a plurality of view directories that meet a providing condition corresponding to a position and a time. And returning only information on the selected view directory. 5. An information providing method using a directory, comprising: a processing step of receiving a request for view directory information together with position information or position information and time information; and a view directory information meeting a position and time condition. Processing step for searching, processing step for presenting searched view directory information to prompt information user selection, processing step for receiving search request for specified view directory, and processing for obtaining view directory definition information Steps, a processing step of obtaining connection information of a directory server in which information of a view directory is stored, a processing step of converting a search request for a view directory into a search request for a directory server, and executing a search for the directory server That the process steps and, information providing method characterized in that it comprises a process step for returning the search results view directory. 6. An information providing method using a directory, comprising: a processing step of receiving a request for view directory information together with position information or position information and time information; and a view directory information meeting a position and time condition. A search step, a process step of selecting one of the plurality of view directory information that satisfies the position and time conditions, and a step of returning the selected view directory information to the client. A step of receiving a search request for the specified view directory, a step of obtaining definition information of the view directory, and a step of obtaining connection information of a directory server in which information of the view directory is stored; For the view directory A processing step of converting the search request to the search request to the directory server, the information providing method characterized in that it comprises a processing step of performing a search the directory server, and a processing step of returning search results view directory. 7. A processing procedure for receiving a request for view directory information together with position information or position information and time information, a processing procedure for searching for view directory information that meets conditions of position and time, Procedure for presenting and prompting the information user for selection, procedure for receiving a search request for the specified view directory, procedure for acquiring view directory definition information, connection to the directory server that stores view directory information Executes a computer procedure to obtain information, to convert a view directory search request into a directory server search request, to execute a search to the directory server, and to return a view directory search result to the computer. Let Because of the information providing program. 8. A processing procedure for receiving a request for view directory information together with location information or location information and time information, a processing procedure for searching for view directory information that meets location and time conditions, and conforming to location and time conditions. When multiple view directory information to be searched is found, a procedure for selecting one of the multiple view directory information, a procedure for returning the selected view directory information to the client, and a procedure for receiving a search request for the specified view directory A procedure for acquiring view directory definition information, a procedure for acquiring connection information of a directory server in which view directory information is stored, a procedure for converting a search request for a view directory into a search request for a directory server, and a directory. On the server And processing procedure to perform a search, the information providing program for executing the processing procedure to return the search results view directory on the computer. 9. A processing procedure for receiving a request for view directory information together with position information or position information and time information, a processing procedure for searching for view directory information that satisfies position and time conditions, Procedure for presenting and prompting the information user for selection, procedure for receiving a search request for the specified view directory, procedure for acquiring view directory definition information, connection to the directory server that stores view directory information Executes a computer procedure to obtain information, to convert a view directory search request into a directory server search request, to execute a search to the directory server, and to return a view directory search result to the computer. Let Recording medium recording the eyes of the information providing program. 10. A processing procedure for receiving a request for view directory information together with position information or position information and time information, a processing procedure for searching for view directory information that meets position and time conditions, and conforming to position and time conditions. When multiple view directory information to be searched is found, a procedure for selecting one of the multiple view directory information, a procedure for returning the selected view directory information to the client, and a procedure for receiving a search request for the specified view directory A procedure for acquiring view directory definition information, a procedure for acquiring connection information of a directory server in which view directory information is stored, a procedure for converting a search request for a view directory into a search request for a directory server, and a directory. server Procedure, recording medium storing the information providing program for executing the processing procedure to return the search results view directory on the computer to perform a search against.