JP2002342206A - Information-providing program, information-providing method and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize an information-providing program and an information- providing method for acquiring and providing information from a network, capable of automatically, continuously, and appropriately acquiring, reproducing, and providing information (text, music, and animation or the like), and allowing a user to acquire one's desired information, while the user is present without always operating or confronting this device, and to provide a recording medium. SOLUTION: This information-providing program allows the device to function as a means for successively extracting elements from a hypertext downloaded, based on an address extracted from a program list where a programs and the address are registered and a means for successively repeating the voice- synthesis and uttering a text included in the successively extracted elements, and the extraction of raw materials at the destination of a link, and the output corresponding to the raw materials an information-providing method and a recording medium are provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information providing program, an information providing method, and a recording medium for acquiring and providing information from a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when synthesizing hypertext information obtained from the Internet and providing it to a user, the user clicks on a hypertext anchor displayed on a browser screen with a mouse or speaks the user's speech. Recognize or change the link destination. For example, in the technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-78952, a hypertext obtained from the Internet is voice-synthesized and read out to a user. The user moves to the link destination of the focused link / keyword by performing an input (key input or voice input) for instructing movement to the link destination.

[0003]

In the above-mentioned conventional technique, unless a user performs an input operation such as voice input or key input, a linked material (moving image, music, etc.) is reproduced or new information is not transmitted. There was a problem that they could not be provided. That is, unless the user performs some operation in front of the device having the browser screen or the like, new information cannot be provided. Therefore, when using the device, the user is always restrained in front of the device, and in the device, the user cannot construct a mechanism that can be used easily and effectively with always-on Internet connection, without having to keep up with the device. There was a problem that it was not possible to enjoy the information of the hypertext without any trouble.

[0004] The present invention solves these problems,
A system that automatically and continuously acquires information (text, music, moving images, etc.) appropriately and reproduces and provides it automatically without requiring the user to constantly operate or watch the device, and to obtain desired information without leaving the user. It is intended to realize.

[0005]

Means for solving the problem will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, an information providing apparatus 1 provides information to a user, and here includes a hypertext processing unit 13, a program list 21, and the like.

The hypertext processing means 13 automatically acquires information based on the program list 21 and provides the information to the user. The program list 21 is for registering programs and their addresses.

Next, the operation will be described. The hypertext processing means 13 sequentially extracts elements from the downloaded hypertext based on the address of the program extracted from the program list 21, synthesizes voice when the extracted element has text, and utters if there is a link. The process of taking out the link destination material and performing output corresponding to the material is sequentially repeated.

At this time, programs frequently used by the user or designated programs are registered in the program list 21. Further, a flag indicating whether or not automatic reproduction is possible is provided in association with each program in the program list 21, and automatic reproduction is performed in accordance with the flag. It plays automatically.

Therefore, information (text, text, etc.) is automatically and continuously obtained without the need for the user to always operate or watch the device.
By appropriately acquiring music, moving images, and the like, and automatically reproducing / providing the information, it is possible for the user to acquire desired information without leaving it.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, embodiments and operations of the present invention will be sequentially described in detail with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 shows a system configuration diagram of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, an information providing apparatus 1 executes various processes according to a program. In this example, the information providing apparatus 1 provides information in hypertext downloaded from the Internet 40 to a user 30.
1, speech recognition processing means 12, hypertext processing means 13, speech synthesis processing means 14, speaker 15, storage information acquisition and holding means 16, storage medium 17, timer 18, network processing means 19, display 20, program list 21, etc. It is composed of

The microphone 11 converts a voice uttered by the user 30 (selection instruction, next program instruction, etc.) into an electric signal. The voice recognition processing means 12 converts the voice of the user 30 into an electric signal by the microphone 11 and then analyzes the electric signal to recognize the voice.

The hypertext processing means 13 uses the Internet 4 based on the address of the program in the program list 21.
Acquisition of the corresponding hypertext from 0, extraction of the hypertext element and vocalization, download of the material of the link destination and output according to the material (video playback, audio output, etc.) (Described later in order with reference to FIGS. 2 to 10).

The voice synthesizing means 14 receives the character string and synthesizes it into a voice signal recognizable by the user 30. The speaker 15 emits a voice based on the synthesized signal.

The storage information obtaining and holding means 16 obtains information and programs which need to be stored and stores them in the storage medium 17. The storage medium 17 is a medium for storing various data and programs.

The timer 18 counts various times.
The network processing means 19 connects to the Internet 40, accesses a server at the designated address, and downloads hypertext or the like.

The display 20 displays the contents of the program (the contents of the hypertext). The program list 21 automatically selects and registers frequently used programs based on the usage history of the user 30 for each type, registers a user-specified program, or selects a program list If there is, it is downloaded and registered. In the program list 21, in addition to the program, an address and a flag indicating whether or not automatic reproduction is possible are set, and an automatic reproduction is instructed.

The user 30 receives the information obtained according to the program list 21. Internet 4
Reference numeral 0 denotes an example of a network. In this example, a network for connecting a plurality of sites (servers) that provide programs and providing the information to the information providing apparatus 1 is provided.

The dedicated site 41 is a site used by the user 30. Here, a program list for each type is registered. The user 30 selects an appropriate program list in the dedicated site 41, if any, and selects the program list 21.
Register with.

Next, the operation in the case where a program is provided to the user (user) 30 based on the program list in the configuration of FIG. 1 will be described in detail according to the order of the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, S1 selects a program list. For example, one program list for which information is to be provided is selected from a plurality of types of program lists shown in FIG.

In step S2, a program list is obtained. this is,
In S1, the program list 21 selected by the user 30 to be viewed is acquired, for example, as shown in FIG.

In step S3, a variable I is initialized to I = 1. This is, for example, the program list 21 of FIG.
In order to take out a program in order from the beginning of the program and obtain the information and provide it to the user 30, the variable I = 1 ((b) in FIG. 3)
At the beginning of the program list).

In step S4, it is determined whether or not there is Auto. This is because the flag of the entry of the program selected here at S3 (the next and subsequent specified) is set.
Alternatively, it is determined whether or not a character string indicating the availability of Auto is described in the address. In the case of YES, it is determined that there is an instruction for automatic reproduction, and the process proceeds to S5. In the case of NO, it is determined that there is no instruction for automatic reproduction, so that the program skips to step S7 without performing automatic reproduction, increments by 1, and repeats step S4 for the next program.

In S5, since the program extracted in YES in S4 is determined to be the automatic reproduction, it is determined whether or not to acquire the program.
In the case of YES, the process proceeds to S6. In the case of NO, it is determined that there is no program to be acquired, and the process ends.

In step S6, the hypertext is downloaded from the corresponding server from the Internet 40 based on the address of the program, and in accordance with S12 to S18 in FIG. And so on. When the reproduction is completed, the process proceeds to S7,
Step S4 and subsequent steps are repeated for the next program.

As described above, the user 30 enters the program list 2
By simply selecting 1, it is automatically determined whether or not an automatic reproduction instruction is possible from the first program in the program list 21, and if so, the hypertext is downloaded from the address to extract the voice synthesis and the link destination material ( The user 30 simply selects a program list and can automatically reproduce a desired program without doing anything. The details will be sequentially described below.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a program list according to the present invention. FIG. 3A shows an example of a program list. Here, the types of the program list include, for example, the following types shown in the figure.

News: ・ Music: ・ Sports: ・ Others: These program lists are described in the dedicated site 41 of FIG.
And may be displayed on a browser as shown in the figure, and the user 30 may select one, or may be registered in advance in the program list 21 of FIG. 1 and display the list as shown in the figure. , One of them may be selected.
In the latter case, each program list is extracted from frequently used programs of the user 30 to automatically create a program list, as described in FIGS. The program may be automatically created by further including a designated program.

As described above, a plurality of types of program lists are prepared (downloaded from the dedicated site 41 or prepared and prepared automatically based on the use frequency and designation of own viewing). 1 list of programs you want to watch
By selecting one, the user 30 can easily select a list of programs that the user wants to view.

FIG. 3B schematically shows an example of a program list. Here, the following information shown in the figure is registered in association with each other. -NO (sequential number):-Program name:-URL (address):-Availability flag:-Others: Here, the program name is the name of the program to be viewed, and is arranged in descending order of the frequency of use by the user 30. , A program specified by the user 30 is inserted at an arbitrary position. The URL is an address on the Internet 40 for downloading the hypertext of the program. The availability flag is a flag for setting whether or not to execute automatic reproduction of a program. It should be noted that a specific character string indicating whether or not automatic reproduction can be set is set in the URL to determine whether or not automatic reproduction can be performed, or whether or not automatic reproduction can be determined based on whether or not a specific character string has been set in the hypertext downloaded from the URL. In this case, the availability flag may not be provided.

As described above, the programs are set in the program list 21 in the order of use frequency or in the order including the designation of the user 30, and only the programs which are taken out from the head and determined to have the automatic reproduction are automatically continuously executed. And play it back.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the present invention. This is a detailed operation explanation flowchart of S6 in FIG. 3 described above. In FIG. 4, S11 starts providing information.

In step S12, an element based on the hypertext tag is extracted. This is the U of the program in the program list 21.
Hypertext downloaded from the Internet based on the RL (address), for example, FIG.
The element is extracted from the HTML text of FIG. 5A based on the tag, for example, the element of the portion between the tags <P> and </ P> is extracted, and the extraction result of FIG. The setting as shown in the entry of (No. 1) in the list is repeated for all the HTML texts, and FIG.
The extraction result list shown in FIG.

In step S13, J = 1 is initially set. S14
Extracts the J-th extracted element. This is done by extracting the element of the first entry of J = 1 in the extraction result list of, for example, FIG. If there is an element, the process proceeds to S15. If there is no element, the process ends.

In step S15, the presence or absence of a text is determined. If yes, in step S16, the existing text is voice-synthesized and uttered from the speaker, and the process proceeds to step S17. On the other hand, in the case of NO, the process proceeds to S17.

In step S17, the presence or absence of a link is determined. In this case, it is determined that there is no entry in the entry of the extraction result list in FIG. If yes, it is determined that there is a link, so S1
Proceeding to step 8, the reproduction of the linked material is performed. On the other hand, when there is no link, it is determined that there is no link, and in step S19, +
Then, the reproduction is repeated in the same manner for the next entry.

In S18, since it is determined that there is a link in S17, reproduction is performed based on the type of the material. This means that the material of the linked URL is taken out (or downloaded from the server of the corresponding URL on the Internet 40) and played by a player that matches the material (for example, in the case of music, it is played by a music player, in the case of a moving image, Plays on the video player). Then, when the reproduction is completed, the process proceeds to S19, where +1 is added, and S14 and subsequent steps are similarly repeated for the next entry.

According to the above procedure, elements are extracted from the hypertext downloaded from the URL, for example, based on the tag from the HTML text shown in FIG. 5A, and the text is converted as shown in FIG. 5B. In addition to the display, the text and the link destination are sequentially registered in association with each other as shown in the extraction result list of FIG. 5C. If there is a link, the linked material is taken out (or downloaded) and repeatedly played by the player that matches the material. Can be automatically reproduced sequentially by the player.

FIG. 5 shows an example of HTML text element extraction according to the present invention. FIG. 5A shows an example of an HTML text. From the figure, tags (for example, P,
A, etc.), and an example in which a link destination (explained) is described as necessary, and corresponding to (b) and (c) in FIG.

FIG. 5B shows the HTML of FIG. 5A.
Here is a display example of text. FIG. 5C shows a state in which elements are extracted from the HTML text of FIG. 5A based on tags and set. And there is no link.

As described above, the URL (address) of the program
Based on the HTML text tag shown in FIG. 5A, which is a hypertext downloaded from Microsoft, it is displayed on the screen as shown in FIG. 5B, and is displayed on the screen as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, an extraction result list is created, the text is synthesized by voice and uttered according to S13 to S19 in FIG.
L) and can be automatically played back by the corresponding player.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the present invention (program list creation). This is a procedure for automatically creating a program list based on the frequency of use of programs by the user 30.

In FIG. 6, S21 obtains the current time. This obtains the current time from the timer 18 of FIG. 1 described above. In step S22, a use history is acquired. this is,
The use history of the program of the user 30 shown in FIG.

In step S23, a variable K = 1 is initialized. Further, the total number MAX_K of the usage history is set. S24
Calculates the evaluation value of the information element K. This is, as the evaluation value of element K, evaluation value = (coefficient 1) x (frequency of applicable day) + (coefficient 2) (frequency of applicable time) The evaluation value is calculated based on (Equation 1), and the evaluation value is calculated and set as shown in FIG. 7B before use (evaluation).

A step S25 decides whether or not K <MAX_K. This determines whether the variable K is smaller than the maximum number of terms MAX_K. In the case of YES, there are still elements left, so S
The value is incremented by one at 28 and the process returns to S24 to repeat the calculation of the evaluation value for the next element.

In step S26, a program list is generated based on the evaluation value at the current time. This is from S23 to S25, S28
For example, evaluation values are calculated and set for all elements before use (not evaluated) of FIG. 7A described later, and set as shown in FIG. 7B. A program list is created based on the program list. For example, a predetermined number of programs having a larger evaluation value are registered and generated in the program list. The recalculation of the evaluation value dynamically at each current time may be repeated, and the programs having the maximum evaluation values may be sequentially set in the program list and reproduced, except for those already reproduced. In this case, in the evaluation expression of (Equation 1), since the evaluation value is calculated based on the frequency of the day of the week and the frequency of the time, the evaluation value changes as the current time elapses. Therefore, the evaluation value is always recalculated at the current time. Then, the largest one of the calculated evaluation values (excluding the already reproduced) is set in the program list and reproduced. Further, the evaluation formula is not limited to (Expression 1), and may be calculated based on the frequency of other types of information.

In step S27, according to the flowchart shown in FIG.
The program is reproduced based on the program, address, availability flag, etc. set in the program list generated in S26. As mentioned above,
An evaluation value is calculated according to the evaluation formula based on the frequency of use of the program of the user 30, and a predetermined number is set in the program list in descending order of the evaluation value, or the recalculation of the evaluation value is dynamically repeated at the current time to obtain the maximum value. By setting the evaluation value (excluding the already reproduced) in the program list, it is possible to automatically select and reproduce the program based on the usage frequency history of the program of the user 30.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the use frequency of the user of the present invention. FIG. 7A shows an example before use (unevaluated).
This stores the following history, such as the frequency at which the user 30 viewed the program.

Program name: Last update time: Year: Month: Day: Day of the week: Frequency of use (number of times): Evaluation value (evaluation value calculated by (Formula 1) etc.): Other: FIG. 7B shows an example before use (evaluation). this is,
The evaluation value is calculated and set based on (Equation 1) described above for each program before use (not evaluated) in FIG. 7A. In this case, the program of the entry has the highest evaluation value and is to be reproduced (one reproduction target, and a plurality of reproduction targets is the first reproduction target).

FIG. 7C shows an example after use (not evaluated). This is an unevaluated program after the frequency of the program of the entry shown in FIG. 7B is increased by +1. As described above, the history of the frequency of use of the program of the user 30 is accumulated, the evaluation value is calculated by taking in the current time, and the one with the larger evaluation value is set in the program list and reproduced, whereby the user It is possible to automatically select the optimum program based on the 30 usage histories and automatically reproduce the program.

FIG. 8 shows an example of the use history of the user of the present invention. This is a graph in which the frequency of use for each day of the week and for each time before use (not evaluated) shown in FIG. The black graph shown in the figure represents the maximum frequency, and it is found that the program is viewed most frequently (the frequency of use is high) on the day and time zone shown in the figure. Current time (including day of the week)
, The program having the highest evaluation value is set in the program list, and the program can be automatically reproduced according to the flowchart of FIG.

In the figure, “new addition” is obtained by adding the frequency as a history when a new program is used. FIG. 9 shows a reproduction flowchart of the present invention.

In FIG. 9, in S31, it is determined whether the received text is text. This is to determine whether the element to be reproduced extracted from the hypertext is text. In the case of YES, the voice is synthesized in S32 to produce a voice, and the process proceeds to S33. On the other hand, in the case of NO, the process skips to S3
Proceed to 3.

In step S33, the extension is analyzed. This analyzes the extension (file extension) of the element to be reproduced, extracted from the hypertext. S34 is S
Since the extension is found to be "WAV" (music data) in the analysis of 33, the music is uttered by the WAV PLAYER (music reproducing player) in S35.

In step S36, the extension "MP
G ”(moving image data).
A moving image is reproduced on the display by a PG PLAYER (a player for reproducing a moving image).

In S38, the extension is found to be "other" (other data) in the analysis of S33.
To play on the applicable PLAYER (applicable player). In S40, since it is determined that there is no extension, the process ends.

According to the above-described procedure, when an element extracted from a hypertext based on a tag is a text, it is generated by speech synthesis, and when a file of the element has an identifier, reproduced by a player corresponding to the identifier. By doing so, it is possible to automatically reproduce the elements (materials) extracted based on the hypertext tags.

FIG. 10 shows an example of limiting the number of links according to the present invention. This is because the text and the link destination are extracted from the hypertext of the program described above and are set in the extraction result list of FIG. 5C. However, the hypertext of the link destination further has a link destination, and the nesting of the link gradually increases. In order to avoid going deep and going all the way, the nesting of the links is such that when it reaches 2, the link nesting is stopped and the process proceeds to the next processing.

FIG. 10A shows an example of the first HTML text. FIG. 10B shows an example of a hypertext linked from FIG. 10A with the number of links = 1.

FIG. 10 (c) shows an example of a hypertext in which the number of links = 2, which is further linked from FIG. 10 (b). FIG. 10D shows an example of a hypertext in which the number of links = 3 further linked from FIG. 1C.

In the case where there is a link as described above, since the limit is set to the number of links = 2, the number of links from the link from FIG. 10C to the link from FIG. Sometimes, the process is stopped, and the process proceeds to the next process. In this case, the information of the link destination is acquired and generated unnecessarily, and a situation in which the user easily returns and loses the information is prevented.

(Supplementary Note 1) In an information providing program for acquiring and providing information from a network, a program list for registering a program and its address is provided, and an element is extracted from a hypertext downloaded based on the address extracted from the program list. Means for sequentially extracting, and when the sequentially extracted elements have text, voice synthesis and utterance, and, if there is a link, means for sequentially extracting the linked material and outputting it in accordance with the material. Information providing program to function as a.

(Supplementary note 2) The information providing program according to supplementary note 1, wherein a program frequently used by the user or a designated program is registered in the program list.

(Supplementary Note 3) A flag indicating whether or not automatic reproduction is possible is provided in association with each program in the program list, and a character string indicating whether or not automatic reproduction is possible is included in the address information of each program in accordance with the flag. 3. The information providing program according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the information providing program is provided to perform the automatic reproduction in accordance with the character string.

(Supplementary Note 4) The information providing program according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 3, wherein a plurality of types of program lists are provided as the program list and the program list is selected by a user. .

(Supplementary Note 5) When the number of nests to be linked exceeds a predetermined number, the extraction of the linked material is stopped.
The information providing program according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 4, wherein the information providing program proceeds to a next process.

(Supplementary Note 6) According to a specific character string instructing whether or not the automatic reproduction is possible in the downloaded hypertext, the above-mentioned automatic reproduction of the hypertext or the corresponding element in the hypertext is executed or not executed. 6. The information providing program according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 5, characterized by proceeding to the processing of (1).

(Supplementary Note 7) A program list for registering programs and their addresses is provided, and means for sequentially extracting elements from the downloaded hypertext based on the addresses extracted from the program list, and A computer-readable recording medium that records a program that functions as a unit that sequentially repeats, when there is text, speech synthesis and utterance, and when there is a link, takes out the linked material and performs output corresponding to the material in order.

(Supplementary Note 8) In an information providing method for acquiring and providing information from a network, a program list for registering a program and its address is provided, and an element is extracted from a hypertext downloaded based on the address extracted from the program list. And sequentially repeating the steps of, if there is text in the sequentially extracted elements, synthesize and utter voice, and if there is a link, take out the linked material and output corresponding to the material. An information providing method comprising:

[0071]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Elements are sequentially extracted from the downloaded hypertext based on the address extracted from the program list, and if the extracted elements have text, voice synthesis is performed, and if there is a link, the linked material is extracted and reproduced. With the configuration, information (text, text, etc.) is automatically and continuously obtained without the user constantly operating or operating the device.
Music, moving images, etc.) can be appropriately obtained and automatically reproduced / provided, so that the user can obtain desired information without leaving it. Further, the user does not need to perform any special operation unless there is a request to change the program.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an example of a program list according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an example of HTML text element extraction according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the present invention (program creation).
It is.

FIG. 7 is an example of a usage history of a user of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an example of a usage history of a user of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a reproduction flowchart of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an example of limiting the number of links according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Information providing apparatus 11: Microphone 12: Voice recognition processing means 13: Hypertext processing means 14: Voice synthesis processing means 15: Speaker 16: Storage information acquisition and holding means 17: Storage medium 18: Timer 19: Network processing means 20: Display 21: Program list 30: User 40: Internet 41: Dedicated site

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G10L 13/00 G10L 3/00 551A 15/00 Q 15/28 551P E (72) Inventor Akio Ito Kanagawa 4-1-1 Kamiodanaka, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki-shi F-term in Fujitsu Limited (reference) 5B075 ND03 ND36 PQ04 PQ42 PR04 5D015 KK02 5D045 AB26

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An information providing program for acquiring and providing information from a network, comprising: a program list for registering a program and its address; and sequentially selecting elements from hypertext downloaded based on the address extracted from the program list. A means for extracting, and a means for sequentially repeating, when there is text in the sequentially extracted elements, voice synthesis and utterance, and, if there is a link, extracting the linked material and outputting corresponding to the material. Information providing program to let you. 2. The information providing program according to claim 1, wherein a program frequently used by the user or a designated program is registered in the program list. 3. A flag for enabling or disabling automatic reproduction is provided in association with each program in the program list, and a character string for enabling or disabling automatic reproduction is provided according to the flag. 3. The information providing program according to claim 1, wherein the automatic reproduction is performed in accordance with the character string. 4. A program list for registering a program and its address, means for sequentially extracting elements from the downloaded hypertext based on the address extracted from the program list; A computer-readable recording medium that stores a program that functions as a means for sequentially repeating the process of synthesizing voices once, uttering voices when there is a link, and sequentially outputting the material corresponding to the link if there is a link. 5. An information providing method for acquiring and providing information from a network, wherein a program list for registering a program and its address is provided, and elements are sequentially determined from hypertext downloaded based on the address extracted from the program list. Extracting, and, if there is a text in the sequentially extracted elements, voice-synthesizing and uttering, and if there is a link, taking out the material of the link destination and sequentially outputting the corresponding material. Information provision method to have.