JP2002334098A - Method, device, server, and client device for selecting information, program for functioning computer as information selection device and recording medium recording the program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a user interface effective for selecting information padded in streaming data such as sound and moving pictures, i.e., flowing multimedia data. SOLUTION: In the case of presenting flowing multimedia data by an information presenting device 14, an information storage part 13 describing information being presented at present and its related state is previously prepared and time elapsed from the start of presentation is counted by a timer 125 simultaneously with the start of presentation. At the time of receiving a selection instruction from a user, a user instruction device 15 collates time generating the selection instruction with the related state of information, and when a part in which information is padded is presented at the time generating the user's instruction, a control part 12 judges that the information is information required by the user.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information selection method for selecting information associated with an information source from an information source to be presented, an information selection device, a program for operating a computer as an information selection device, and a program therefor. It relates to a recorded recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, as a means for selecting one piece of information from a plurality of pieces of information, a method of displaying candidates on a screen and visually selecting one of them is generally used. This method is inconvenient or dangerous when driving or walking outside because of the need to move the line of sight. For this reason, information presentation technology using voice has attracted attention.

Further, with the development of multimedia, techniques for embedding information in audio data, video data, image data, and the like have been developed, and access means to such embedded information is required.

As an interface for selecting desired information using sound, a method of presenting information one by one and pressing a button when desired information is presented, and a method of selecting each information as a sound image by a user. A method of selecting information by pressing a button when the desired information is reproduced the largest is described in Reference 1 (Azusa Umemoto, Tadahide Shibao, Mitsuru Mizuguchi, Naoki Urano (Sharp Corporation) ) "Proposal of voice presentation interface"(DICOMO'99)
It is described in.

[0005] Here, as a first technique, while simultaneously reproducing sounds associated with information, each is presented as a sound image around the user, and is rotated on a virtual circle in front of the user to obtain a desired image. Is introduced, in which the user can obtain desired information by pressing a button when the information is heard closest to the user, that is, when the volume is heard the loudest.

On the other hand, as a second method, the sound associated with the information is sequentially or automatically switched and reproduced, and the user presses the enter button while the desired information is being reproduced, thereby pressing the enter button. What can be obtained is introduced.

A method of selecting text by reading a text written on a home page on the World Wide Web and pressing a button while reading a text having link information is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. -78952).

[0008]

[0005] However, Document 1
So, each item is independent, such as a list of items, like text, video, music,
There is no way to access information embedded in continuous data.

[0009] Further, in Document 2, only text data in HTML format is targeted, and no means for accessing information embedded in other continuous data is provided.

[0010] In addition, a button must be pressed while reading the text enclosed in the tag of the link,
Processing can only be performed on a tag basis. Therefore, if only the link of "here" of "detailed information is here" is attached, it is necessary to press the button for a short time while reading "here", which is difficult to use It is.

[0011] The present invention has been made based on the above-mentioned problems, and is an information selection method and information selection apparatus that, when selecting one piece of information from a plurality of pieces of information, provide an effective user interface based on an information source related thereto. And a recording medium.

[0012]

The "information source" in the present invention means provisional information which can be obtained to obtain target information. For example, GUI (Graphical User I
The icons in the nterface) are associated with applications and files, and the user operates the icons to extract the files. Sources are closer to the concept of this icon.

The "selection instruction" means that the user presses a button for instructing selection set in the controller (user instruction device). The "operation instruction" means that the presentation information source is sent or returned. It indicates that an instruction to change the presentation state of the presentation information source, such as a temporary stop, is given.

According to the present invention, an information selection method for selecting desired related information from a plurality of information sources, each having related information, comprises the steps of: presenting a plurality of information sources in time sequence; During presentation, an information source selection step in which the user selects a desired information source; and if there is information related to the information source presented at the time of the user's selection, the information is associated with the selected information source. Related information selecting step of selecting information to be performed.

When a user selects a desired information source,
If there is information related to the information source presented at that time, the information related to the selected information source is selected, so that the user can easily specify desired related information.

As a result, it is possible to provide an information selection method which becomes an effective user interface based on an information source associated with selecting one piece of information from a plurality of pieces of information.

Preferably, the step of presenting a plurality of information sources in time sequence includes a step of previously grasping a lapse of time from the start of information presentation of each information source when presenting the plurality of information sources in time sequence, and Counting the time elapsed from the start of the information presentation of the source, and selecting the information source includes selecting the information source from the timing result in the timing step.

Since the user's desired information can be selected only by grasping the passage of time, the user's desired information can be selected with a simple configuration.

More preferably, the step of presenting the plurality of information sources in time sequence includes a step of requesting a re-presentation of the information sources, and the step of presenting, when the re-presentation is requested, any of the information sources to be presented. Start presentation from the part.
Since the information can be re-presented from any place, the user can quickly select desired data and can realize a more intuitive operation.

In the information selection step, there is a margin before and after a certain part of the presentation information source associated with the information, and by allowing a precedence or a delay, it is possible to reduce a failure in operation.

Therefore, if the present invention is applied to multimedia data flowing like voice or moving image, it is possible to select information embedded in multimedia data flowing like voice or moving image. In addition, by arbitrarily providing a part for receiving the user's instruction before and after the part having the embedded information, it is possible to reduce individual differences for each user such as that the instruction is too early or the instruction is delayed. A compliant user interface can be provided.

In another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for selecting desired related information from a plurality of information sources, each having related information, comprises: means for presenting a plurality of information sources in time sequence; In the presentation of the information source by the means, the user selects the time management means for grasping the presentation elapsed time, the storage means for storing a specific part of the presentation information source in association with the related information, and the presented information source. Selection instructing means for giving an instruction, and in response to the selection instructing means,
And a related information selecting means for selecting related information associated with the presentation information source presented when the selection instruction is issued, with reference to the elapsed time grasped by the time management means.

When the user selects a desired information source,
If there is information related to the information source presented at that time, the information related to the selected information source is selected, so that the user can easily specify desired related information.

As a result, it is possible to provide an information selecting device which becomes an effective user interface based on an information source associated with selecting one piece of information from a plurality of pieces of information.

Preferably, there is provided information input means for externally inputting the information source. Since the information source can input an information source from the outside, the same operation can be used to access information that is not present in the apparatus main body.

The external input may be an input via a network. In still another aspect of the present invention, the information processing apparatus is connected to a client device used by a user, presents a plurality of information sources to a user, selects desired information related to the information source from the information sources, and provides the user with desired information. Means for storing an information source and associated information, transmitting means for sending the information source to the client device and receiving a selection result from the client device, and information associated with a specific portion of the information source. An information management means for grasping a relation state between the information source and a related information selecting means for selecting related information associated with the information source in response to a selection result from a user.

[0027] In still another aspect of the present invention, a client device connected to a server device for providing desired information related to an information source to a user includes a plurality of information sources provided to the user in time sequence. Presenting means, selection instructing means for receiving a user's selection instruction from the presented information, receiving means for receiving an information source from the server, and transmitting an instruction result by the selection instructing means to the server; The means for pre-storing the lapse of time from the start of information presentation of the information source when sequentially presenting, the timekeeping means for measuring the lapse of time from the start of information presentation of each information source, and the selection instructing means are performed by the timekeeping means. The information source is selected based on the time measurement result and the stored elapsed time.

The load on the client device can be distributed and the load can be shared with the server device. That is,
You can view the server as if it were your own storage device and access the information.

Further, by configuring a server client device using the server and the client device, it is possible to access data distributed through a network in the same manner.

Further, the present invention may include a program for causing a computer to function as information selection means and a computer-readable recording medium on which the program is recorded.

[0031]

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

(1) First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing a first embodiment for realizing the present invention.

This system comprises a main controller 121, an information source controller 122, a media converter 123, an information controller 12
4. The control unit 12 including the timer 125, the presentation information source storage unit 131, the information storage unit 13 including the information related state storage unit 132, the information presentation device 14 such as a display device, a speaker, and headphones, a mouse and a keyboard. And a user instruction device 15 such as a joystick.

The apparatus according to the first embodiment may operate independently, or may be connected to the network 17 via the information transmitting / receiving unit 16 via a cable or radio. Further, in FIG. 1, each part is connected using a cable, but the present invention is not limited to this mode, and the parts are connected to each other by a cable, a network, or wireless communication (radio waves or infrared rays). May be.

The main controller 121 controls the flow of the entire system. The information source control unit 122 functions to read an information source to be presented into the presentation information source storage unit 131 in the information storage unit 13. The media conversion unit 123 functions to convert the information source to be presented to image information or audio information when the information source to be presented is a medium that is difficult to present in the present system, such as a text information source.

The presentation control section 124 receives a user's selection instruction or presentation operation instruction, and inquires of the information-related state storage section 132 whether there is related information when a button is pressed, or moves the presentation information forward or backward. do.

The timer 125 measures the time at which the user's instruction has been issued and how much time has passed since the presentation of the information source started. The user 11 controls the control unit 1
Through the user instruction device 15, the user can view or listen to the presentation information source provided by the user 2 through the information presentation device 14, and perform a selection operation for giving an instruction to select information, an operation instruction for presentation information such as fast forward and rewind through the user instruction device 15. 12 and information storage unit 1
Tell 3 The operation instruction is not limited to fast forward or rewind, but may be an instruction such as slow reproduction or frame advance. When this device is connected to a network, the control unit 12 reads necessary information from the network 17 to the information storage unit 13 via the information transmission / reception unit 16. This operation is unnecessary if the device is to be operated as a stand-alone device without connecting to a network.

Here, FIG. 2 shows a flow of processing when presenting an information source. Referring to FIG. 2, when the system is activated (S201), first, an information source to be presented (presentation information source)
Is read (S202). After the reading, the presentation of the presentation information source is started (S203), and a user selection instruction is accepted. If there is a user selection instruction (S204), it is checked whether or not the time at which the user selection instruction is generated is included in the presentation time zone of the portion having the related information (S205).
If it is included, it is considered that the relevant information at that time has been selected (S206). If there is no user selection instruction, this check (S205) is skipped. This behavior is
The process continues until the presentation information source being presented is completely presented (S207). When the presentation information source being presented is completely presented, it is checked whether there is any next presentation information source to be presented (S208). If there is, the presentation operation of the presentation information source to be presented next is shifted. If not, the process ends (S209).

A method of managing the information-related state for checking the user-specified time (S205) in FIG. 2 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a time lapse of information presentation.

In a piece of news, suppose there was a part that said, "Today the Diet has been devastated. Details will be announced at around 6:50 am."

It is assumed that the part "detailed contents is about 6:50 later" is associated with the actual news at 6:50. This "Details will be around 6:50 am"
It is assumed that the first time at which the part starts to be presented is Ts, and the last time is Te at the end (FIG. 3A).

The management table (FIG. 3B) stores the opening time T
s, the end time Te, and the related destination: news at 6:50. The management table may be automatically created during recording of the program, or may be created by the user using some management table editing application.

In the management step, the time T at which the user selection instruction occurs is changed from Ts to Te with reference to the management table.
It is determined that "is selected" if it falls between "" and "not selected" if it does not. In the case of FIG.
If a user selection instruction is issued at b, Tb is between Ts and Te, so it is determined that “Tb” has been selected, and the related destination: news at 6:50 can be selected. If a user selection instruction is issued at time To, To is not between Ts and Te,
In this case, nothing is selected.

If a user selection instruction must always be included between the start time and the end time, it is not possible to cope with a case where the user presses too late or presses too quickly by mistake. Therefore, this problem can be avoided by increasing the number of user instruction steps that can have a width before and after. For example, assuming that p has a width of p before and b has a width behind, it can be determined that the user selection instruction is selected if the instruction is performed during the time from Ts-p to Te + b. Minute news can be selected.

Further, a process capable of temporally returning or sending the presentation state of the presentation information source will be described with reference to FIG. As in the flowchart shown in FIG. 2, when the system is started (S401), the presentation information source is read (S402), and the presentation of the presentation information source is started (S401).
403). When a presentation operation instruction is given by the user while presenting the presentation information source (S404), the presentation is moved forward or backward by the amount designated by the user (S405). If not, skip this step. This operation is continued until the end of the presented information source being presented (S406). After completing the process, it is checked whether there is an information source to be presented next (S407). If there is, the next information is read, and if not, the process ends (S408). Receiving the selection instruction shown in FIG.
The presentation operation instruction reception shown in FIG. 4 is performed in parallel.

Referring to FIG. 3, a description will be given of a method of an operation instruction for temporally returning or sending the presentation state by the user in FIG. Hereinafter, an instruction by the user to change the presentation status of the presentation information source other than the selection instruction (forward, return, pause, etc.) is referred to as an operation instruction.

[0047] In a piece of news, there was a part that said, "Today, the Diet has been devastated. Details will be announced from around 6:50."
It is assumed that the part “detailed contents will be around 6:50 am” is associated with the actual 6:50 news.
The first time at which the "detailed contents will be presented at about 6:50" time is Ts, the end is Te (FIG. 3 (a)), and the management table (FIG. 3 (b)) It is assumed that the management is performed in a state of a start time Ts, an end time Te, and a related destination: news at 6:50. In this case, it is assumed that the user gives an operation instruction at time To. At this time, it is assumed that the user has issued an instruction to “rewind by time Tt” (Ts <To−Tt <Te).
Can be rewound to the time Tb in the presentation information source. Since Tb is included between Ts and Te, if a selection operation is performed at this time, it is possible to select the related destination: news at 6:50.

As a method of the operation instruction of “rewind by Tt”, the user moves the slider bar displayed on the visual display to the left or right as specified by the existing moving image reproduction software to specify the reproduction position. Or a method of inputting a numerical value for the rewinding time, or a method of creating a dial on the controller and turning the dial to specify a reproduction position. Of course, it is not limited to this method.

(2) Second Embodiment In the second embodiment, the control unit 12 and the information storage unit 13 shown in FIG. 1 constitute a server / client device in which the server and the client are distributed. . FIG. 5 shows the configuration in this case. Referring to FIG. 5, server device 52
A control unit 521 including a main control unit 5211, an information source control unit 5212, a media conversion unit 5213, and a presentation control unit 5214; an information storage unit 522 including a presentation information source storage unit 5221 and an information related storage unit 5222; Information transmitting / receiving unit 52
3 The client device 53 includes a main control unit 5311, a presentation control unit 5312, a timer 5313
531 having a display, an information presenting device 532 having a display and headphones, a user pointing device 533 having a mouse and a keyboard, and an information transmitting / receiving unit 534.
It consists of.

The user 51 uses the client device 53 to perform information communication with the server 52 to obtain desired information.

The main control unit 5211 in the server device 52
The flow of the entire server device 52 is controlled. Information source control unit 5
212 functions to read the information source to be presented into the presentation information source storage unit 5221 in the information storage unit 522. The media conversion unit 5213 functions to convert the information source to be presented into image information or audio information when the information source to be presented is a medium such as text information which is difficult to present in the present system. The presentation control unit 5214 receives a user's selection instruction or presentation operation instruction from the client, and inquires of the information-related state storage unit 5222 whether there is related information when a button is pressed, or has a function of moving the presentation information forward or backward. I do. Further, it also gives a presentation instruction to the client device 53 via the information transmitting / receiving unit 523.

Main controller 531 in client device 53
1 controls the flow of the entire client device 53. The presentation control unit 5312 receives an instruction from the server and actually presents the information to the information presenting device 532. Timer 5313
Measures the time at which the user's instruction occurred and how much time has passed since the presentation started. The user 51 sees and listens to the presentation information source provided by the presentation control unit through the information presentation device 532, and transmits a selection operation and an operation instruction of a presentation state to the control unit 531 through the user instruction device 533. The instruction issued by the user 51 is transmitted to the server device 52 through the information transmitting / receiving unit 534 together with the time at which the instruction measured by the timer 5313 is issued.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for presenting an information source in the server device. Referring to FIG. 6, when the system is started (S601), first, a presentation information source is read (S602). After the reading, the presentation start instruction of the presentation information source and the information source are sent to the client (S60).
3). Then, a user selection instruction from the client device is received. If there is a user selection instruction (S604),
It is checked whether the time at which the user selection instruction is generated is included in the presentation time zone of the portion having the related information (S6).
05). If it is included, it is considered that the relevant information at that time has been selected (S606).

On the other hand, if there is no user selection instruction in S604, it is next checked whether or not a user's presentation operation instruction has been received (S607). If it has, the presentation operation instruction from the user is followed (S608). This behavior is
The process is continued until a notification that the presently presented presentation information source has been presented is received from the client (S609).

When the presentation information sources have been completely presented (when a presentation end notification is received from the client), it is checked whether there is any next presentation information source to be presented (S610). If there is, the process proceeds to the presentation operation of the next presentation information source. If not, the process ends (S611).

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for presenting an information source in the client device. Referring to FIG. 7, when the presentation instruction and the information source arrive at the client device from the server, presentation of the information source is started (S702), and time measurement is started using a timer. When an instruction is given by the user (S704) and the instruction is a user selection instruction, a result of measuring the occurrence of the operation instruction and the occurrence time is sent to the server (S706).

If the instruction from the user is a user-supplied operation instruction, the generation of the operation instruction and the time at which the instruction was generated are sent to the server (S707). At the same time, the timer in the client device is also moved according to the instruction (S708).
Here, the user's instruction is of two types, selection and operation. However, when an operation such as slow reproduction is performed, a judgment item and a process at that time are added to this step.
On the other hand, if there is no user's instruction in S703, it is checked whether the information source for which the presentation instruction from the server has been presented to the end (S705). If not, the presentation is continued, and the process returns to the user instruction wait until the end. If present,
The server notifies the server of the end of the information source presentation (S709), and ends (S710).

(3) Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment will be described using a music program broadcast including music distribution as an example. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a processing procedure according to the third embodiment. (A) is a diagram showing a tune and a presentation time, (B) is a diagram showing a tune, and (C) is a diagram showing a tune and its presentation time.

In the music list 801 in this program, "m
"c" indicates an announcement such as an introduction of a song by a presenter in a program. It is assumed that the user can purchase a song by pressing the select instruction button when he listens to the program and wants a song that is playing. As shown in the song list 801, Change The World, mc1, Blue EyesBlu
A series of lists following e, mc2, Layla, etc. is managed together with the playback time of the music. It is assumed that each corresponds to the music file 802.

In a client apparatus or a stand-alone apparatus (the apparatus shown in FIG. 1) connected to the network as shown in FIG. 1, the music list 801 is set before starting the system.
And the song file 802 is via network or CD-R
It is passed to the device using a medium such as OM. FIG.
Starts playback according to the song list. When the user issues a selection instruction during the reproduction of a song, it is determined that the song being reproduced is selected. For example, each piece of music is assigned information of "song purchase request", so a purchase request is made for the selected song.

When applied to the server-client model as shown in FIG. 5, the main body of the music and the music list are placed on the server, and only the sound is passed to the client. When a song list playback instruction is started, the client starts playing each song and simultaneously operates a clock to start measuring time. When the user issues a selection instruction, the time at which the instruction occurred is transmitted to the server. From that time, the server determines which song has been selected. For example,
If a selection instruction occurs 12 minutes after the start of the reproduction of the music list, the number "12 minutes" is sent to the server. The server composes a reproduction program 803 for each music from the music list 801 and, after 12 minutes from the start of reproduction, La
You can see that yla is being regenerated. It is determined that “the user has selected Layla”. If the user instructs "rewind by 2 minutes" using the presentation instructing device at "12 minutes", the user instructs the server device to reproduce the presentation information source two minutes ago and the clock in the client device. Is also rewound for 2 minutes. That is, the clock of the client device at this point indicates “10 minutes”, and if a selection instruction is issued at this point, the user's selection is “Blue Eyes Blue”.

In this embodiment, the selection instruction is assumed to be "purchase application for song". However, the selection instruction includes various information such as "check singer information" and "get song information" depending on purpose and application. Combined.

(4) Fourth Embodiment Next, a method of performing Web page browsing by combining the present invention with Web page reading aloud will be described. FIG. 9 is a view for explaining a fourth embodiment according to the present invention. (A) is a diagram showing the contents of the homepage, (B) its HTML format, and (C) is a diagram showing the reading start time and end time for each term and the link destination at that time.

As a preparation stage, display on the homepage 90
Suppose there is one. It is assumed that the file is described as an HTML file 902. Media conversion unit (123 in FIG. 1,
5213) of the HTML file is read out and recorded, and when a part with a link tag (<A HREF=>), that is, a word to which a link is attached is read out, the word is read and measured. Table 90 describing the relationship of
3 at the same time.

When browsing the home page, the recorded voice is presented to the user. In a client model or a client model (hereinafter, the apparatus of FIG. 1) connected to the network as shown in FIG. 1, the correspondence table 903 and a voice file in which a reading is recorded are passed to the client apparatus before the sheath is started. The apparatus of FIG. 1 reproduces a recorded audio file. When the user issues a selection instruction during the reproduction of the voice, the time at which the selection instruction is performed is compared with the correspondence table 903 to determine whether or not the word to which the link is attached is being read aloud. If it is determined that a selection instruction has been issued while reading the link tag, it is determined that the link has been selected, and the link jumps to the link destination. When applied to the server-client model as shown in FIG. 5, the main body of the audio file and the correspondence table 903 are placed on the server, and only the sound is passed to the client. When an instruction to reproduce a sound file is started, the clock is activated at the same time as the reproduction of the sound is started on the client side, and the time starts to be measured. When the user issues a selection instruction, the time at which the instruction occurred is transmitted to the server. The server determines which link has been selected from that time. The procedure of the device and the server client model of FIG. 1 is the same as that of the third embodiment.

It should be noted that, depending on the user, there are some users who want to issue a selection instruction, who are late to issue the instruction, or who issue the instruction early, and have to consider individual differences. For this reason, a margin can be given before and after the time for reproducing the sound associated with the information. For example, the associated portion is measured from 20 seconds after the start of the entire reproduction, and starts 25 seconds later.
It is assumed that the time is up to two seconds later, and that there is a margin of two seconds before and after. If a selection instruction is issued between 18 seconds and 27 seconds after the start of reproduction, it can be determined that the portion has been selected. Also, it is not always necessary to have the same width before and after. 2 seconds before,
It may be set to 5 seconds behind. If a setting such as "until two seconds before the next associated portion is reproduced" can be made, it becomes easier for the user to use.

The above setting is a method of giving a range to the selection time by a user's instruction. For example, when a user's selection instruction is issued at a time when nothing is associated,
For example, a method of selecting the associated information immediately before the time may be used.

When the reproduction speed is adjusted, the reproduction start time and the reproduction end time of the related information described in the correspondence table are calculated and the description is rewritten to cope with the change in the reproduction time. it can.

The method of the present invention has been described above.
Next, an apparatus for realizing the present invention will be described. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of such an apparatus. FIG.
, The entire apparatus is composed of a server apparatus 101 and a client apparatus 102. The server device 101
It includes a hard disk 1011, a CPU 1012, and a memory 1013.

The client device 102 includes a hard disk 1021, a CPU 1022, a display 1023,
Memory 1024, speaker (headphone) 1025,
And a controller 1026.

In the server / client model, data is supplied from the hard disk 1011 via the program network or in the form of a program medium in the server apparatus 101 and stored in the memory 1013. The CPU 1012 reads the program on the memory 1013 and sends it to the client device 102. In the client device 102, audio and moving images are stored in the hard disk 1021 or the memory 1024 via the network. The CPU 1022 supplies the sound stored in the hard disk 1021 or the memory 1024 to the display device 1023 and the speaker (headphone) 1025.

The CPU 1012 simultaneously measures time during supply, and measures elapsed time from the start of supply and time at which an input from a user is received.

Upon receiving an instruction from the controller 1026, the CPU 1022 calculates the time when the controller 1026 was pressed from the start of supply, and sends the result to the server device 101. The server apparatus 101 processes the received time in the CPU 1012, and
Reference is made to the related status of the programs and information stored in 3 to determine what the user's desired information was.

In the client model or the stand-alone model, a program is supplied from the hard disk 102 via a network or in the form of a program medium.
The data is supplied to the memory 1024.

The CPU 1022 reads the program in the memory 1024 and supplies the information to the display device 1023 to the speaker (headphone) 1025. Also, CP
U1022 simultaneously measures time, and measures elapsed time from the start of supply and time at which input from the user is received.

When an instruction is given from the controller 1026, C
The PU 1022 calculates the time when the controller 1026 is pressed from the start of supply, compares the result with the related status of the programs and information stored in the memory 1024, and determines whether the information desired by the user is Determine what it was.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. The present invention may be a computer-readable recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to function by a control device is recorded. For example, any type of recording medium such as a magnetic tape, a CD-ROM, an IC card, and a RAM card It may be.

Also, it includes the program itself. It should be noted that the present invention selects information embedded during reproduction in a flowing memory such as music or a moving image, in addition to application to a music distribution application and a Web reading application described in this specification. Can be used as an effective interface.

Further, in the above embodiment, an example of connecting to an external device via a network has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and information is connected to an external device without passing through a network. A configuration may be used.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an apparatus that realizes a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an image diagram of an information-related situation of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an image diagram of information handled in a music distribution application according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an image diagram of information handled in a Web reading application according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration diagram of an apparatus for realizing the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 server device, 102 client device, 10
11 hard disk, 1012 CPU, 1013
Memory, 1021 hard disk, 1022 CPU,
1023 display, 1024 memory, 1025
Speaker (headphone), 1026 controller.

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A method for selecting desired related information from a plurality of information sources, each having related information, the method comprising: presenting the plurality of information sources in time sequence; and presenting the information sources. In the information source selection step in which the user selects a desired information source, and when there is information related to the information source presented when the user's selection has occurred, the selected information source A related information selecting step of selecting related information. 2. The step of presenting the plurality of information sources in a time-sequential manner includes a step of previously grasping a lapse of time from the start of information presentation of each information source when the plurality of information sources are presented in a time-sequential manner. 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: measuring a lapse of time from the start of information presentation of each of the information sources; and the step of selecting an information source includes the step of selecting the information source from a result of the time measurement in the timekeeping step. Information selection method. 3. The step of presenting the plurality of information sources in time sequence includes a step of requesting a re-presentation of the information source, and the presenting step includes, when the re-presentation is requested, an information source to be presented. 3. The information selection method according to claim 1, wherein presentation is started from an arbitrary part. 4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the step of selecting an information source from the timing result selects the information source only when the information source, which is grasped in advance, is within a time period in which the information source is presented. Information selection method described. 5. An apparatus for selecting desired related information from a plurality of information sources, each having related information, comprising: means for presenting a plurality of information sources in a time-sequential manner; In the presentation, a time management means for grasping the presentation elapsed time; a storage means for storing a specific part of the presentation information source in association with the related information; and a user instructing selection of the presented information source. Selection instructing means for performing, in response to the selection instructing means, referring to the elapsed time grasped by the time management means, to the presentation information source that was presented when the selection instruction occurred And a related information selecting means for selecting related related information. 6. The information selection device according to claim 5, further comprising information input means for externally inputting said information source. 7. A system connected to a client device used by a user, for presenting a plurality of information sources to the user, selecting desired information related to the information source from the plurality of information sources, and providing the selected information to the user. A server device for storing the information source and related information; and sending the information source to the client device;
A transmission unit that receives the selection result from the client device; an information management unit that grasps an association state between a certain part of the information source and the related information; and a response to the selection result from the user. And a related information selecting means for selecting related information associated with the information source. 8. A client device connected to a server device for providing desired information related to an information source to a user, a means for presenting a plurality of information sources to the user in time sequence, Selection instructing means for receiving the user's selection instruction from the presented information; transmitting means for receiving the information source from the server and transmitting an instruction result by the selection instructing means to the server; Means for preliminarily storing the time lapse from the information presentation start of the information source when sequentially presenting, time measuring means for measuring the time lapse from the information presentation start of each information source, and the selection instruction means, An information selection client device for selecting the information source based on a result of the clocking by the clocking unit and a lapse of time stored. 9. A server client system comprising the server device according to claim 7 and the client device according to claim 8. 10. A program for causing a computer to function as the information selection device, the information selection server device, and the information selection client device according to claim 5, 6, 7, or 8. 11. A computer-readable recording medium storing the program according to claim 10. 12. A means for presenting a plurality of pieces of first information for specifying related second information in time sequence, and a means for selecting a desired part from the plurality of pieces of first information while presenting the plurality of pieces of first information. Means for judging whether or not the portion of the first information selected by the selecting means is a part related to the second information; and when the judging means judges that the part is related to the second information. Means for selecting the second information. 13. The information selecting apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said judging means selects the second information related to the first information existing in a portion closest to the selected time point. 14. The information selection device according to claim 12, further comprising means for instructing repetition of presentation of said first information.