JP2003058571A - Information retrieval system, program and information storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information retrieval system capable of quickly and accurately providing information desired by a user, a program for making a computer realize the information retrieval system and an information storage medium storing the program. SOLUTION: This information retrieval system includes a taste database formed on the basis of device tastes properties of a plurality of users and with association with each user set therein, an instruction receiving means for performing processing that receives an instruction input about retrieval from a user terminal, an information retrieving means for utilizing the taste database to perform first retrieval processing performed by being associated with a taste of the user of the user terminal with respect to retrieval of information corresponding to the instruction input and providing retrieval results to the user terminal that has made the instruction input, an evaluation receiving means for receiving an evaluation input with respect to the retrieval results, and a taste data updating means for updating the taste database on the basis of the retrieval results and the evaluation input while associating this update with 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 retrieval system for providing a user terminal with retrieved information, a program, and an information storage medium storing the program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, there is known a system in which a user terminal accesses a server having a search engine function to search for information by using the Internet and provides the information to the user terminal.

In this system, a keyword concerning information desired by a user is transmitted to the server,
The server that receives the keyword executes a search engine function to search for information about the keyword and provide the information to the user terminal.

The following methods can be given as examples of the information search method using the search engine.

1. Directory Search Method This search method specifies the home page corresponding to the keyword from the directory information that summarizes the contents of the home page on the network, and provides the user terminal with information about the home page (for example, URL information). Is.

2. Full-text robot search method In this search method, a homepage having a corresponding keyword in its content is searched and specified by referring to the full-text, and the degree of matching with the keyword is sorted to obtain information about the homepage (eg, URL information). Is provided to the user terminal.

[0007]

By the way, the above 1, 2
The search method is often used on the Internet, but in any of the search methods, it is not possible to narrow down the search results by more than the keyword entered by the user.

In the information search using the search engine function as described above, the user browses all or part of the information provided as the search result to select information until he or she reaches the information desired by the user. I have to narrow it down.

This sort of information selection requires a great deal of labor, and particularly when the user has little knowledge about the information desired, the amount of search results is enormous with the explosive spread of the Internet in recent years. Will be.

Therefore, on the server side having each search engine function, a genre (eg, travel, sports, etc.) to be used for information retrieval is set, and based on this genre, the user is provided with a certain direction. Some have been devised to provide information.

However, even with such a device, it is necessary for the user to narrow down the information while browsing the information by himself, and if the way of dividing the genre does not suit the user's taste, the search becomes more complicated. It will bring results.

[0012] A first object of the present invention is to provide an information retrieval system capable of promptly and accurately providing information desired by a user in order to solve the above problems. A second object of the present invention is to provide a program that causes a computer to implement the information search system and an information storage medium that stores the program.

[0013]

(1) A search information search system according to the present invention, wherein a plurality of user terminals are connected via a network, and information corresponding to an instruction input from the user terminals is searched, In an information search system that provides search results to the user terminal, a preference database that is formed based on the preferences of multiple users and that is set to be associated with each user, and an instruction input regarding the search from the user terminal is input. An instruction receiving means for performing a process of receiving and a search for information corresponding to the instruction input,
An information search unit that performs a first search process using the taste database in association with the taste of the user of the user terminal and provides the search result to the user terminal for which an instruction is input, and the search result. An evaluation acceptance unit that performs a process of accepting an evaluation input to the user, and a preference data update unit that updates the preference database based on the search result and the evaluation input in association with the user. And

According to the present invention, when an instruction is input to the instruction receiving means via the user terminal, the information searching means is
A first search process is executed to search for information corresponding to the instruction input from the user terminal. Note that the information referred to here is information provided to the user terminal based on various search processing and advertising information providing processing described later.

Here, the first search process is performed using a preference database formed based on the preference of the user. This preference database stores (registers / registers / stores data regarding preferences (preferences) possessed by a plurality of users who use the information retrieval system.
Stored).

In particular, in the present information search system, the information search means sets the search condition corresponding to the instruction input,
Retrieval condition identification specified using a preference database associated with at least one of the user of the user terminal to which the instruction input has been made and the user of the user terminal having a predetermined relationship with the user terminal to which the instruction input has been made A process and a process of acquiring information corresponding to the instruction input so as to satisfy the search condition by referring to a preference database associated with a plurality of users may be performed as the first search process. preferable.

That is, in the first search process, when there is an instruction input from the user terminal, the preference database associated with the user is referred to, and the search result for the instruction input is associated with the user's preference. , Processing for narrowing down (specifying) the search conditions based on the user's tastes stored in the taste database.

Here, the search condition is information that is conceptually related to the instruction input. In the first search processing, for example, information that is a subordinate concept of the instruction input is used as the search condition for the instruction input. In addition, by performing a search, the purpose is to obtain information closer to the user's wishes as compared with a search only by inputting an instruction.

In the first search processing, the information corresponding to the search condition narrowed down by the information search means based on the user's taste is referred to (utilized) the taste database associated with a plurality of users. Search
The search result is provided to the user terminal for which the instruction input has been made.

In this way, by specifying the search condition that matches the user's taste with respect to the instruction input from the user and performing the search, the user may be a beginner who is unfamiliar with the search of information or knowledge about information. It is possible to provide the search results that are close to the information desired by the user even if the search results are scarce.

In the first search processing,
As described above, first, the search condition that matches the user's taste may be narrowed down based on the instruction input, and then the search may be performed by referring to the taste database for information corresponding to the search condition. On the contrary, first, the information corresponding to the instruction input is searched by referring to the preference database, and then based on the search condition that matches the user's preference from the information obtained by the search. You may narrow down the search results.

Further, in the information search system, the search condition specifying process is performed if the search condition cannot be specified from the preference database associated with the user of the user terminal to which the command is input. It is preferable to identify the user terminal having a predetermined relationship with the established user terminal and utilize the preference database associated with the user of the user terminal having the predetermined relationship.

In this way, by specifying the search condition in association with the preference of the user who has input the instruction and different from the user who has input the instruction, the search in accordance with the input of the instruction is performed only by the preference of the user who has input the instruction. Even if the condition cannot be specified, it can be handled.

Then, the evaluation acceptance means accepts the evaluation input performed on the search result acquired through the first search process. In other words, when an evaluation input as to whether or not the acquired search result matches the user's preference (preference) is made by the evaluation receiving means, the preference database stores the search result and this search result. Updated to reflect user ratings for.

In this way, the taste database accumulates information about the taste of the user through a series of processing from the above-mentioned instruction input to the first search processing, evaluation input, and update of the taste database, and the first search is performed. The search results searched by the processing gradually reflect the user's preference (preference).

Therefore, according to the present invention, information that is troublesome for the user is narrowed down according to the taste of the user, and the search results are fed back, so that the information gradually matching the taste of the user can be promptly obtained. In addition, the information can be accurately provided to the user terminal, and the information provided to the user is not wasted. As a result, the search process can be made efficient.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a search result close to the information desired by the user even if the user is a beginner unfamiliar with the information search or has little knowledge about the information. it can.

The preference database may be constructed on either the user terminal side or the server side, but in the information retrieval system according to the present invention, it should be constructed on the user terminal side. Is preferred. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to obtain the information about the user's taste every time an instruction is input from the user terminal, without managing the information about the taste of each user regarding the search on the server side. Since this is good, the memory usage of the server can be saved, and the load on the server can be reduced to further improve the efficiency of search processing and shorten various processing times.

When inputting the evaluation, the user selects and inputs an evaluation for the search result on the display screen of the user terminal (for example, "like", "dislike" or "Y").
If it is displayed on the screen so that it can be selected from “es” and “No”, etc.), the user can easily input the evaluation and the operability is improved.

Further, in the information search system according to the present invention, the preference database is constructed based on an answer input to a questionnaire for creating a preset initial database, and the information search is further performed. The system includes means for executing additional change processing for adding and / or changing a questionnaire for the initial database creation questionnaire, and the taste data updating means is a questionnaire for which the additional change processing is executed. The preference database may be updated based on the answer input from the user terminal.

If formed in this way, it is possible to utilize the preference database reflecting the user's preference based on the answer result of the questionnaire to some extent at the time of constructing the initial database, and compare the stored information in the database. It is possible to ensure that the search results of a certain quality are provided to the user terminal even when the number is extremely small.

Further, even if a preset questionnaire is required to be changed or added due to, for example, version upgrade, it is possible to easily deal with the questionnaire by the change or addition to the existing user terminal. By just doing it, the same data as the users after the version upgrade can be prepared in the preference database even for the users before the version upgrade, and the bias of the search results among the users can be eliminated.

(2) Further, in the information retrieval system according to the present invention, the information retrieval means uses the preference database based on a predetermined condition without being bound by the instruction input from the user terminal. Means for performing a second search process for searching information by providing a search result based on the second search process to a predetermined user terminal, and the evaluation receiving means performs a search based on the second search process. The taste data updating means includes means for accepting an evaluation input for the result, and the taste data updating means stores the taste database based on the search result by the second search processing and the evaluation input from the user terminal for the search result. Update
It is preferable to include means for performing it in association with the user.

According to this invention, the information search means can execute the second search process in addition to the first search process. Unlike the case of the first search process, the second search process is not restricted by the instruction input from the user terminal, and a predetermined condition (for example, an instruction input from the user terminal cannot be input within a predetermined time). The search result is provided to a predetermined user terminal.

The evaluation accepting means accepts an evaluation input for the search result based on the second search process,
The evaluation result of the search result is reflected in the user's preference database (update of preference database).

The search result obtained by the second search process may or may not be information associated with the taste of the user. This second
If the search process is performed in relation to the user's taste, the user will use the search result with interest, and even if it is not associated, if the user likes the search result, , There is a possibility that it will be used in subsequent searches, and even if you do not like it, you can actively prevent the provision of useless information in subsequent searches, and as a result, the accuracy of the search will be improved in any case. Because it improves.

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to store information on the user's taste in the taste database even if the user does not input a search-related instruction, and subsequently retrieve information based on the user's intention. The search results in will be more accurate with respect to the user's taste, and by providing the user with unexpected information and evaluating it, attracting the user's interest and promoting the use. Can be achieved. Further, it is possible to realize a self-growing information retrieval system that does not rely on retrieval based on the user's intention.

(3) Further, the information search system according to the present invention includes a group database in which a plurality of groups to which the user belongs is set in association with the taste of the user,
Based on the answer input from the user terminal to the question for preset preference determination, determine the group to which the user having a preference similar to the preference of the user belongs, the group according to the determined group Means for registering in a database;
The search process of is performed based on the instruction input from the user terminal, using the preference database and the group database, in association with the preference of the user belonging to the same group as the user of the user terminal. It is preferable to include.

According to this invention, the preference of the user is determined by a preset question for determining the preference of the user, and it is determined which group the user belongs to in association with the preference. The first search process is executed in association with the preferences of other users in the group to which the users belong, in order to provide search results using the group database in which the users having similar preferences are registered as the group. .

In the first search process in such a case, when an instruction is input from the user terminal, the group database is used to narrow down the information suitable for the user's taste. Specifically, it is performed by using the preference database of each user registered in the user group. That is, the tendency of each user in the same group having information regarding the instruction input is determined.

Then, by narrowing down (specifying) the search conditions that match the preference of the user who has input the instruction, the search is executed by referring to the preference database associated with the users in the group, and the search result is obtained. Is provided to the user terminal to which the instruction input has been made.

The search may be narrowed down before the information is acquired from the preference database or after the acquisition.

Therefore, by using a lot of information about users who have similar tastes, it is possible to accumulate more information about the tastes of users in group units, and reflect that information in the search results. And can be used to retrieve desired information.

In the information search system according to the present invention, the search condition specifying process allows another user belonging to the same group as the user of the user terminal for which the instruction is input to be stored in the user terminal having the predetermined relationship. It is preferable to include processing for specifying as a user.

That is, by associating the search condition identification with the user's taste in the group to which the user who has input the instruction belongs, the user's taste is indirectly utilized by using the user's taste that is similar to the taste. It is possible to provide search results that reflect the characteristics.

(4) Further, the information retrieval system according to the present invention is formed for each user, and the preference degree weighted so as to represent the degree of preference degree between the users in the group is set. And a means for updating the preference degree similarity database by weighting the preference degree degree associated with the evaluation input, wherein the first search process is performed by the user. Based on the instruction input from the terminal, using the preference database, the group database and the preference similarity database, reflects the preference similarity with other users of the group to which the user of the user terminal belongs. It is preferable to include the processing performed by.

In the above invention, the similarity degree of preference between users belonging to the same group is provided with, for example, a preference similarity database that stores data weighted by digitization and the likeness of the preference between the users is set. The first search process associated with other users in the group can be performed using the degree of approximation.

In the first search process in such a case, when an instruction is input from the user terminal, the information search means uses the preference similarity database to show the tendency of the preference of users belonging to the same group. to decide. On this occasion,
The group to which the user belongs is determined using the group database, and the user preference data uses the preference database. Here, the preference degree is based on the evaluation input to the search result,
Since the weighting is performed so as to represent the affinity (approximation degree) regarding the user's taste, the preference of the user who has a good affinity for the user who inputs the instruction (high similarity) has a higher priority. Becomes higher.

Then, the information retrieving means executes the first retrieval process involving the narrowing down of information by the preference similarity database and provides the retrieval result to the user terminal.

In order to narrow down the information by using the preference similarity database, for example, the information corresponding to the instruction input is acquired by referring to the preference database of each user in the group to which the user belongs, and the information is weighted. This is done by reflecting the degree of preference for users and totaling them, and narrowing down the information that is popular among the users in the group as search results.

As for the search result, only the information having a good reputation may be provided to the user terminal, or the information having a reputation over a predetermined condition may be provided to the user terminal. Further, the search results can be provided to the user terminal by ranking them in order of popularity.

Therefore, according to the present invention, since the search result is provided by giving priority to the preference of the user who is closer to the preference among the users belonging to the same group, the user can obtain the desired information more quickly and accurately. Will be available.

(5) Further, in the information search system according to the present invention, the first search process is a process of determining whether or not the number of information items of the search result based on the search result has reached a predetermined amount. , And an information collecting process for collecting information insufficiency when the number of information has not reached a predetermined amount, and the information retrieval means has the number of information has reached a predetermined amount. If it is determined that the search result based on the first search process is provided to the user terminal, and if it is determined that the number of information does not reach the predetermined amount, the first search process is performed. It is preferable to provide the user terminal with the search result based on the information and the information based on the information collecting process.

In the above invention, the information retrieval means determines whether or not a preset amount of information is obtained as a retrieval result in the first retrieval process. Then, when the predetermined amount of information is obtained, the search result is provided to the user terminal.

However, if no search result is obtained by the first search process, or if the predetermined amount of search result is not obtained, it is possible that the search result does not contain the information desired by the user. If there is, then the information search means executes an information collecting process for collecting the insufficient information in such a case.

When the insufficient information is obtained by the information collecting process, the information is provided to the user terminal. At this time, both the search result based on the initial first search process and the information based on the information collection process may be provided to the user terminal together when a shortage is obtained by the information collection process, When there is a search result based on the first search process, the information is provided to the user terminal first, and the remaining information is provided to the user terminal when the insufficient information can be collected. You may.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the user can always obtain a certain amount of information, and it is possible to realize an information retrieval system capable of handling rare information. Can be promoted.

(6) In addition, in the information retrieval system according to the present invention, the information collecting process issues a question for information collection requesting information associated with the instruction input, to the user terminal of the question providing destination and the instruction. Reservation processing for storing in the reservation table in association with the input user terminal, question processing for providing the question for information collection to the user terminal of the question providing destination stored in the reservation table, When an answer is input from the user terminal to the question for information collection, an answer process of storing the answer result in the reservation table in association with the question,
It is preferable that the information search means is formed so as to provide the answer result stored in the reservation table to the user terminal to which the instruction input has been made, as information based on the information collection processing.

In such an invention, the information collecting process performed when the information is insufficient by the first search process is performed by collecting information from the user who uses the information search system.

Specifically, in order to collect information, a question is asked to each user, and the answer is used as information. That is, the collection of the information is executed by a series of processes including a reservation process, a question process, and an answer process.

First, in the reservation process, in response to an instruction input related to a search for which search results are insufficient, a user terminal of a question providing destination for providing a question to each user terminal,
It is a process of associating a user terminal for which an instruction is input with a question to be provided with each other and storing them in the reservation table. By this reservation processing, the collection of the insufficient information is started.

Subsequently, in the question process, a question corresponding to the instruction input regarding the search in which the shortage occurred due to the first search process is input to the user terminal of the question providing destination stored in the reservation table by the reservation process. I will provide a. This question may be created separately in association with the instruction input,
The instruction input can be provided as a question as it is.
The question may be provided by transmitting it from the server side to the user terminal, or may be obtained from the user terminal side.

Then, in the answer process, when an answer is input to the question provided to each user terminal by the question process, the answer result corresponding to the question is stored in the reservation table. The answer results are accumulated (stored) at least until the insufficient information is obtained.

In this way, a series of reservation processing, question processing,
Even if sufficient information cannot be obtained by the first search processing through the information collection processing including the answer processing, the insufficient information can be collected.

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize an unprecedented information retrieval system that collects and provides information that is lacking at the time of retrieval by each user.

Note that it is preferable that the answer input is reflected in the update of the preference database in the same manner as the evaluation input for the search results based on various search processes. This allows
The response rate to questions for information collection from each user is improved, and it is possible to perform a search that reflects the taste of the user.

Particularly, in the information retrieval system according to the present invention, the reservation process uses the group database to set the question providing destination user terminal to the group to which the user of the user terminal to which the instruction is input belongs. This is preferably performed by storing it in the reservation table as a user terminal of another user.

By forming in this way, since the information of the shortage is information from persons with similar tastes in the same group, it is possible to provide information more suitable or desired by the user. It will be possible.

(7) Further, in the information search system according to the present invention, the information search means specifies a user for providing the advertisement information to the user terminal in association with the advertisement information together with the advertisement information from the Web server. And means for performing processing for acquiring information, and means for performing advertisement information providing processing for providing the advertisement information to the user terminal by associating the user identification information with the taste of the user based on a predetermined condition. It is preferable.

According to this invention, the user terminal can receive advertisement information from, for example, a Web server that provides information about travel.

In this invention, the information retrieval means is W
User identification information for identifying a user to whom the advertisement information is provided is acquired together with the advertisement information from the eb server. This user identification information is information about what kind of user the Web server side desires to be provided with the advertisement information. For example, age, sex, taste (preference), etc. are set in advance and the user identification information is set. It is for identifying the user who provides the advertising information.

Then, with respect to the user terminal specified by the user specifying information, a predetermined condition (for example,
The advertisement information is provided based on the fact that no instruction is input from the user terminal within a predetermined time period). The provision of the advertising information may be, for example, e-mail delivery including the advertising information from the server side of the system, or, for example, in order to obtain the advertising information from the user terminal side to the server side of the system. You may form so that it may go.

At this time, in the case where the advertisement information is provided to the user terminal by, for example, distribution by electronic mail from the server side, the Web server gives a predetermined condition (for example, The age, sex, taste (preference), etc. are set, and the advertisement information and the user identification information are provided to the host side. The server side of the system performs a process of extracting users corresponding to the user identification information, and delivers an electronic mail including advertisement information to each of the users.

When the advertisement information is to be obtained from the user terminal, for example, an agent or the like that can obtain the information on behalf of the user is used to set the user identification information suitable for the user from the system. Can be configured to get the advertising information.

Therefore, the information provider side can efficiently provide the advertisement information to the user who effectively uses the provided advertisement information, and the user side is provided with the advertisement information which suits his / her taste. As a result, the usage of the user can be promoted.

(8) Further, in the information retrieval system according to the present invention, the evaluation accepting means includes means for performing processing for accepting an evaluation input for the advertising information, and the taste data updating means is for the advertising information and It is preferable to include means for updating the preference database in association with a user based on an evaluation input for the advertisement information.

If formed in this way, the user can update the taste database even by providing information from a third party other than the first and second search processes, so that the user's taste is reflected more. You can get search results.
Further, if the evaluation input is formed so as to be provided to the Web server, the information providing side (Web server) can obtain the user's reaction (evaluation) to the own advertisement information and can effectively carry out the advertisement activity. be able to.

(9) Further, the information retrieval system according to the present invention uses the pet type character to perform a means for displaying the pet type character on the user terminal screen and a process associated with an input from the user terminal. It is preferable that it is formed to include an interactive means and a means for providing the user terminal with the information provided by the information retrieval means to the user terminal by using the pet character.

In such an invention, the pet-type character having an entertaining property which allows the user to input instructions in an interactive manner is provided through the display screen of the user terminal, and the information provided by the information retrieval means to the user terminal, that is, the above Information based on at least one of the first and second search processes and the advertisement information providing process can be provided to the user through the pet character.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the user can enjoy the interaction with the pet type character in addition to the simple search.
It is possible to promote the user's use and promote the spread.

In particular, in the information retrieval system according to the present invention, the pet character is used to request the user through the user terminal to perform an evaluation input regarding the information provided by the information retrieval means to the user terminal. It is preferably formed by including means for performing the treatment.

By forming in this way, the evaluation input from the user is not entrusted only to the request from the user side, but is requested from the system side to prompt the user's input, and the search result by various search processes etc. Can be quickly fed back, and the user can input the evaluation while having entertainment in the dialogue with the pet type character, and the usability can be further enhanced.

The pet-type character may be set as a character having a different display mode according to the user's taste (or the group to which the user belongs), or the pet-type character may be set in the taste database (or group database). The behavior pattern may be set in association with each other. Further, when the taste database is updated, the action pattern of the character can be set to be updated.

Further, the pet character is preferably provided to the user terminal as a search agent.

Furthermore, the pet character becomes even more entertaining when displayed on the screen in such a display mode as to bring in an object when the search results and advertising information are provided to the user terminal, and thus the interest of the user. Can be attracted to.

Further, when the information is provided to the user terminal based on the first and second search processing and the advertisement information providing processing, the image data associated with the information can be attached and provided. . By displaying the attached image data on the screen when the information is viewed on the user terminal, it becomes possible to provide a more entertaining information search system, which can further attract the interest of the user. it can.

(10) Further, a program according to the present invention is characterized by causing a computer to function as each unit of the information retrieval system, and the information storage medium according to the present invention is a computer-readable information storage. It is a medium, and stores a program for causing a computer to function as each unit of the information search system. That is, according to the program and the information storage medium of the present invention, it is possible to achieve the same operational effects as those of the above information search system.

[0088]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The embodiments described below do not limit the contents of the present invention described in the claims. Further, not all of the configurations described in the present embodiment are essential as the solving means of the present invention.

1. Description of Outline of Present Embodiment An information search system 10 according to the present embodiment is shown in FIGS.
As shown in, the main configuration is the host server 10.
On the 0 side, the data reception processing unit 120 and the first search processing unit 1
The information search processing unit 110 functioning as 11 is provided, and the user terminal 200 side is provided with a preference database 205, an input acceptance processing unit 212, and a preference data update processing unit 211.

In the information retrieval system 10, when the host server 100 receives the instruction data from the user terminal 200 to the data acceptance processing unit 120, the first retrieval processing unit 111 causes the user acceptance terminal unit 110 to operate. With reference to the preference database 205 provided in, the search keywords that match the preference of the user with respect to the instruction data are narrowed down.

Here, in the preference database 205,
As shown in FIG. 4, preference data representing the preference (preference) unique to the user is stored (stored) for each item.
Has been done.

The user's taste is, for example, what information (for example, Kyushu Tonkotsu Ramen Restaurant A) about the item (for example, ramen restaurant) for which the user inputs instruction data in information retrieval. In the present embodiment, the evaluation data for the search result is used to indicate which information the user likes (positive evaluation) or dislikes (negative evaluation). Preference database 205 in association with each piece of information
It can be used as preference data representing the preference of each user.

That is, the preference database 205 is
For example, as shown in FIG. 4, "information" including instruction data, a key "item" of a database including question data, a past search result used as a search target, answer data to the question data, and the like are stored ( In order to specify the user's taste (specification of the search keyword), the evaluation data for the search result is stored (stored), and the combination of “item”, “information”, and “evaluation” described above allows It functions as a database that stores taste data representing the taste.

When the search keyword is specified so as to match the user's taste based on the instruction data regarding the search, the search keyword is associated with a plurality of users based on the search keyword, and is particularly close to the user's taste. The user who belongs to the group to which the user is registered performs a search while referring to the preference data stored in the preference database 205 provided in each user terminal 200 as a search target, and has a preference for each user who has input the instruction data. It is possible to provide search results that match the sex (preference).

That is, the information retrieval system 10 uses the preference data of the search target as the preference data of the user of the group to which the user close to the preference of the user is registered, thereby obtaining information close to the information desired by the user. Is available as a search result.

Further, the search result is the input acceptance processing unit 2
Along with the evaluation data input to 12, the update processing function of the preference data update processing unit 211 reflects in the preference database 205 for each user, and each user gradually uses the information search system 10 to request the user. You can provide search results that reflect.

In particular, the information search processing unit 110, when there is no input for a fixed time on the user terminal 200,
It functions as the second search processing unit 114 that automatically executes the search without being restricted by the input of the instruction data from the user terminal 200, and the search result based on the second search processing is given to the predetermined user terminal 200. To provide.

The search result of the second search process is also reflected in the preference database 205 together with the evaluation data, like the search result of the first search process, so that the system can grow autonomously. it can.

In the search, there is a case where there is no information corresponding to the search keyword in the preference data to be searched, or there is little information desired by the user. That is, when it is highly probable that the user does not have the desired information in the search results, the first search processing unit 111 collects the search results until reaching a predetermined amount and then provides the search result to the user. It functions as the unit 113 and performs information collection processing.

In this information gathering process, the information corresponding to the search keyword is sent to the users in the user's group according to a series of processes such as a reservation process, a question process and an answer process which will be described in detail later. Collect by sending question data and receiving answer data to the question data.

Therefore, in the information retrieval system 10, the user can always obtain a certain amount of retrieval results for the instruction data input by using the information collecting function.

The information retrieval system 10 described above will be described below.
Specific configuration and functions of each processing unit to realize
The operation will be described.

2. Description of System Configuration FIG. 1 shows an example of the overall configuration of the system of the information search system 10, which includes a host server 100, user terminals 200, and We via the Internet 1000.
b The server 300 is connected.

In this information retrieval system 10, at least the host server 100 and each user terminal 200 need only be connected via the Internet 1000, and the Web server 300 is a constituent element in the case of a modification described later. It should be included.

In the present information retrieval system 10, the host server 100 is a computer that can function as a server such as a workstation, for example, and the first retrieval corresponding to the instruction data transmitted from each user terminal 200. It is possible to execute a process or to automatically execute a second search process without being bound by the instruction input, and to send (provide) search results based on various search processes to a predetermined user terminal 200. It is formed so that it can.

Also, each user terminal 200 (for example, B
, B2, ...) are computers including, for example, PCs (personal computers), mobile phone terminals, various portable information terminals such as PDAs, etc., and are input from the user terminal 200 by the user (for example, user B1). Instruction data (for example, outdoors) is sent to the Internet 100.
0 to the host server 100, and the host server 100 sends to the Internet 10
It is formed so that connection processing for connecting via 00 can be performed and search results based on various search processing results (for example, surfing trip to Hawaii (Y travel)) can be received (acquired) from the host server 100. There is.

3. Description of Functional Blocks FIGS. 2 and 3 show an example of main configurations of the host server 100 and the user terminal 200 that constitute the information search system 10.

First, referring to FIG. 2, the host server 10
The functional block of 0 will be described.

3-1. Functional Block of Host Server 100 The host server 100 includes a control unit 101 and a storage unit 102.
And a communication unit 107.

The control unit 101 mainly comprises a CPU and RO.
The information search processing unit 1 is configured to include M, RAM and the like (not shown), and reads (loads) various programs stored (stored) in the storage unit 102 or ROM.
10, data reception processing unit 120, group registration processing unit 1
30 and so on. However, the various processing units may be realized by loading various programs into general-purpose hardware as described above, or may be realized by forming as dedicated hardware.

The information search processing section 110 comprises a first search processing section 111 and a second search processing section 114.

Further, the first search processing section 111 is composed of a basic search processing section 112 and an information collection processing section 113. Then, the basic search processing unit 112 executes the first search process using the preference database 205 described later in response to the instruction data regarding the search from the user terminal 200, and the information collection processing unit 113 executes the first search process. When a shortage of information amount occurs in the search process, the information collection process including the reservation process, the question process, and the answer process is executed to collect the insufficient information.

Further, the second search processing section 114 executes the second search processing which does not utilize the instruction data in correspondence with the connection of the user terminal 200.

The data reception processing unit 120 receives data from each user terminal 200 and starts various processing. Specifically, a process of receiving instruction data regarding a search and causing the basic search processing unit 112 to start various search processes,
A process of accepting answer data to the question data based on the question process in the information collecting process and causing the information collecting processing unit 113 to start the answer process, and further receiving timeout data regarding the second search process and receiving the second search processing unit 1
14 is executed to start the second search process.

The group registration processing section 130 divides the users having similar preferences into one group based on the answer result to the question for determining the preference of the user provided to the user terminal 200 in advance. The group database 1 which will be described later by determining the corresponding group based on the determined user preference
The user is registered in 03.

Specifically, a determination program including a question for determining the preference and a plurality of types of pattern data is prepared in advance for the user terminal 200, and the user terminal 200 is provided with the determination program through the Internet 1000 or For example, the determination program is provided to the user terminal 200 by an information storage medium such as a CD-ROM. In the user terminal 200, the judgment program is started, the user's taste is judged by comparing the answer result from the user with respect to the taste judgment question with the pattern data, and the answer result host including such judgment result Send it back to the server 100. Then, the group registration processing unit 130 performs a process of registering the user in the corresponding group based on the preference based on the answer result.

As the question for determining the taste, for example, "Do you like XX?", "What is your blood type?", And your date of birth? The pattern data is such data that the person who likes ○○○, has a blood type of ○, and has a birth date of ○○○○○ is group A. .

In particular, as this pattern data, the personality of a person called an egogram is divided into several types of patterns,
A method of determining a group by combining them can be applied.

In this egogram, the pattern of a person's personality is represented by CP (Critical Parent), NP (N
urturing Parent), A (Adul
t), FC (Free Child), AC (Adapt)
Ted Child) is roughly classified into five types, and the preference of a person is determined by the combination of these five types.

For example, CP is a personality that emphasizes rules, NP is a gentle and overprotective personality, A is a logical and calm personality, and FC is a free-spirited and self-centered personality.
C is a person who is well audible and has an obedient personality.

In the group registration processing section 130, processing for grouping the users is performed by using the pattern data using the above-described method such as egogram.

The question can be made to be able to be input by the user in a selection format. For example, if you ask "Yes", "No" or "I like",
It is preferable that the user can input data by the option of "I hate". By thus generating the question for determining the preference, the user can easily input, and the operability is improved.

Various programs and data are stored (stored) in the storage unit 102, and are realized by incorporating the information storage medium into a reading device capable of reading a hard disk and various information storage media. Examples of such information storage media include optical disks (CD, DVD), magneto-optical disks (MO), magnetic disks, magnetic tapes, I
A C card, a memory card, various removable disks, etc. can be adopted.

Further, in the storage unit 102, at least a group database 103 in which users having similar tastes are grouped and registered, and a reservation process is executed when a shortage occurs in the first search process. A reservation table 104 used for the above is constructed.

In the group database 103, as shown in FIG. 6, users are divided into groups based on their tastes, and people with similar tastes are registered according to the groups determined by the group registration processing section 130.
For example, group A has A1, A2, A3, A4 ...
., Group B has B1, B2, B3, B4 ..., B
As shown in FIG. 10, users with similar tastes are registered in each group, and are used to specify a group of users in various processes.

The reservation table 104 is used in the reservation process performed when the amount of search results does not reach the predetermined amount in the first search process.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, a question (for example, marine sports) created with respect to instruction data (for example, marine sports) input by the user (for example, B6) for the first search process is input. As a key, a user (for example, B6) who has input an instruction and each user (for example, B1, B2, etc.) in a group (for example, group B) to which the user (for example, B6) belongs are stored in association with each other. ing. Then, each user terminal 200 (for example, the terminal of B1 and the terminal of B2) is designated as the question providing destination.

In the reservation table 104, the question transmission status (for example, B1, B2, etc.) to each user (for example, B1, B2, etc.) and each user (for example, B1, B2, etc.) based on the answer processing are displayed. ) Response status (for example, unanswered) and response data (for example, “In Bali”) are stored.

The reservation table 104 may be formed for each group based on the group database 103 or may be integrally formed regardless of the group.

The user terminal 200 of the question providing destination is not necessarily the user terminal 200 of the user in the group to which the user belongs as described above.

The communication section 107 is connected to the Internet 1000 through the data communication line 108 and is capable of transmitting / receiving various kinds of data (data communication). For example, the communication section 107 includes a modem, a terminal adapter and a router. . Examples of the data communication line 108 include a wired public network such as a telephone line and an ISDN line, a wireless public network such as a mobile phone line and a PHS line, and further a CATV.
Various communication lines such as dedicated lines such as (cable TV) lines can be used.

Next, referring to FIG. 3, the user terminal 200
The functional blocks of will be described.

3-2. Functional Block of User Terminal 200 The user terminal 200 includes a control unit 201, a storage unit 202,
The display unit 203, the input unit 204, and the communication unit 207 are included.

The control unit 201 mainly comprises a CPU and RO.
M, RAM and the like (not shown) are configured to read (load) various programs stored (stored) in the storage unit 102 or the ROM, the preference data update processing unit 211, the input reception processing unit. 212, connection processing unit 21
3 and so on. However, the various processing units may be realized by loading various programs into general-purpose hardware as described above, or may be realized by forming as dedicated hardware.

The taste data update processing unit 211 updates the taste database 205 built in the storage unit 202. The process of updating the taste database 205 is performed so as to represent the taste of the user based on the search result acquired (received) from the host server 100 and the evaluation data input to the input reception processing unit 212 described below. Be seen.

The input acceptance processing unit 212 accepts the input of instruction data relating to the search and the input of evaluation data for the search result acquired (received) from the host server 100. Based on this evaluation input, the taste data update processing by the taste data update processing unit 211 is started.

The storage unit 202 stores (stores) various programs and data, and is realized by incorporating the information storage medium into a reading device capable of reading a hard disk and various information storage media. As the information storage medium, for example, an optical disk (CD, DVD), a magneto-optical disk (MO), a magnetic disk, a magnetic tape, an IC card, a memory card, various removable disks, etc. can be adopted.

Further, in the storage section 202, a taste database 205 storing the taste data relating to the user's taste is constructed.

Here, the taste data is data mainly formed by the data input of each user and includes the evaluation of the information. For example, the URL of the homepage, address, telephone number, experience story (impression),
User terminal 20 for various image data and video data
If the data can be captured as data on the 0 side, the taste data can be used.

Specifically, referring to the taste database 205 shown in FIG. 4, the item "Ramen shop" will be changed to "Kyushu Tonkotsu Ramen Shop A (TE).
Information about the phone number of the store "L: ~)" is "I like it"
It is stored as preference data with a positive evaluation that it is, and for the same item "Ramen shop", information about the address of the shop "Sapporo Miso Ramen Shop B (Tokyo-Station)" It is stored as preference data together with a negative evaluation of "dislike".

In the present embodiment, the evaluation data is alternative data of positive evaluation (for example, "like") or negative evaluation (for example, "dislike"), but it is not limited to this. Instead of data, for example, data based on a numerical score (for example, 85 out of 100) may be used.

Instead of providing the taste database 205 in each user terminal 200 as in the present embodiment, the host server 100 as the taste master database 105 storing the taste of each user as shown in FIG. Although the preference data may be provided so that it can be used for various processes, it is preferable that the preference data is formed in each user terminal 200. With such a configuration, if the host server 100 side does not manage the information such as the taste of each user regarding the search, if the user's taste data is acquired every time the instruction data is input from the user terminal 200. Therefore, the memory usage of the host server 100 can be saved, and the processing load of the host server 100 can be reduced to further improve the efficiency of search processing and shorten various processing times.

When the preference master database 105 is constructed in the host server 100, the data acceptance processing unit 120 is caused to perform the processing of accepting the evaluation data for the search result from each user terminal 200, and the control unit. It is desirable to make 101 function as the preference data update processing unit 211. Preference database 20
5 is updated based on the evaluation input with respect to the search result, and thus the processing unit that receives the preference database, the evaluation data, and the preference data update processing unit need to function in the same device.

The display unit 203 can display and output various data to the user. For example, the display unit 203 is formed by using various displays using a cathode ray tube, liquid crystal, etc., and is used for input for various input by the user. It can function as a screen or an information browsing screen for browsing various information such as search results.

The input section 204 is used by the user to make various inputs, and is formed by using, for example, various key input devices such as a keyboard, a touch panel and various operation buttons, or various pointing devices such as a mouse and a trackball. To be done.

4. Description of Various Processing Flows Below, various processing flows in the information search system 10 will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 9 to 17.

4-1. Processing on Host Server Side FIG. 9 shows an overall flow of processing in the host server 100.

First, when there is a connection from the user terminal 200 (step S10), it is determined whether the connection from the user terminal is related to the first search processing or the second search processing. (Step S1
1).

When it is determined that the connection from the user terminal 200 is related to the first search process (1 in step S11), the first search process is executed (step S12). On the other hand, when it is determined that the connection is related to the second search process (2 in step S12), the second search process is executed (step S1).
3).

Each search process and the like will be specifically described below.

4-1-1. First Search Process FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of the first search process.

First, the first search processing is performed by the data receiving unit 1.
20 is started by receiving (acquiring) instruction data (for example, outdoor) from the user terminal 200 (for example, B1 terminal) (step S20).

Then, the basic search processing unit 112 executes the basic search processing for searching the information corresponding to the instruction data (for example, outdoor) (step S21).

Here, it is determined whether or not the number of pieces of information of the search result based on the basic search processing has reached a predetermined amount N (for example, 10) (step S22).

When it is determined that the number of pieces of information in the search result has reached the predetermined amount N (for example, 10) (YES in step S22), the search result (for example, "surfing in Hawaii ~", "Hawaii"). Is transmitted to the user terminal 200 (step S23).

However, there are cases where such a search result cannot be obtained by the predetermined amount N. This is when there is no information corresponding to the instruction data, or when the information has been obtained but the predetermined amount N
There is a possibility that it is unlikely that the information desired by the user is included in the search result because it has not reached.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the search result is insufficient by the predetermined amount N (NO in step S22), and when the reservation process has not been performed (NO in step S24), the reservation process is performed. (Step S25), question process (Step S26), answer process (Step S27)
By performing a series of information collection processing such as the above, it is possible to collect the insufficient information and always provide (send) the search result of a certain amount of information to the user terminal.

Further, with respect to the instruction data for which the reservation process (step S25) has been performed once, the reservation process is not performed (YES in step S24), and the question process (step S2).
6) and at least one of the response process (step S27) is waited for connection (data reception) from each user terminal 200, and the information collection process is performed until the search result reaches the predetermined amount N.

The first search process is executed in the above-described flow. The various processes included in the first search process will be described in more detail below.

(Basic Search Process) FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the flow of the basic search process.

In the basic search process, in the first search process, the information corresponding to the instruction data is added to each user terminal 200.
The basic search processing unit 1 is a process for searching with reference to the preference database 205 provided in
12 is executed.

In the basic search process, first, the user (eg, the user) who has transmitted the instruction data (eg, the outdoor)
It is started by specifying the user B1) (step S30).

Then, the preference data (for example, see FIG. 4) of the specified user (for example, the user B1) is acquired from the preference database 205 provided in the user terminal 200 (step S31). When acquiring such preference data, the user terminal 20
0 is connected to the Internet 1000,
The preference data stored in the preference database 205 from the host server 100 may be set in advance to be usable.

When the taste data is acquired, if the taste master database 105 storing taste data of each user is provided on the host server 100 side, the taste data can be acquired from the taste master database 105.

When the taste data is acquired in this way, the search keywords are narrowed down (specified) based on the instruction data (for example, outdoors) (step S32).

The search keywords are narrowed down so that the information corresponding to the instruction data is associated with the preference data. That is, what kind of information the user wants from the instruction data is determined based on the user's taste, and the information is narrowed down as a keyword for searching.

The search keywords are narrowed down by, for example, collecting a keyword term called a thesaurus and systematizing it based on the relations of synonymous concepts, superordinate / subordinate concepts, synonymous concepts (not shown). ) Is set in the storage unit 102 in advance and, for example, “beach”
By associating and setting a higher-level concept such as “sea” with respect to the keyword, for example, by associating and setting synonymous concepts such as “mountain” and “sea” with respect to the keyword “outdoor” Can be realized.

Further, as the search keyword, the instruction data (for example, "Hawaii") input in the past search can be narrowed down. In such a case, for example, the instruction data related to the search result used by the thesaurus may be used as the search keyword.

In the present embodiment, the keyword associated with the instruction data is retrieved from the user's taste data by using the past retrieval result and the evaluation data thereof, for example, based on the above-mentioned thesaurus. By narrowing down the keywords for use, it is possible to provide a search result that is close to the information that the user who entered the instruction data would desire.

Specifically, for example, assuming that the user B1 inputs the instruction data "outdoor", the taste database 20 of the user B1 shown in FIG. 4 is assumed.
In No. 5, there is a search result about "Hawaii", and especially "Introduction of Hawaii beaches (http: /// ~)" is positively evaluated as "like".

Therefore, the basic search processing unit 112 uses the thesaurus as a synonym for "outdoors" from the instruction data "outdoors" and also "beach".
Narrow down the search keyword "sea", which is a superordinate concept of. In addition, “Introduction to Hawaii beaches (http: ///
The instruction data "Hawaii", which is a superordinate concept of information "~)", is specified as a search keyword.

Then, in the basic search processing, the following processing is performed based on the three search keywords "outdoor", "Hawaii", and "sea".

That is, when such a search keyword (for example, "outdoor", "Hawaii", "sea") is narrowed down, the preference database 205 is referred to perform the search. Specifically, first, the belonging group (for example, group B) of the user (for example, user B1) who has input the instruction data (for example, outdoor) is specified (step S33).

In this way, when the user is a beginner unfamiliar with information retrieval or has little knowledge of information by performing retrieval by specifying the retrieval keyword that matches the user's interest in the instruction data. Even then, it is possible to provide a search result close to the information desired by the user.

In the present embodiment, the users are divided into groups and registered in the group database 103 in order to provide information more suited to the taste of the user. B) the preference database 20 provided in each user terminal 200 (for example, B2 terminal, B3 terminal)
5, a search is performed for a search keyword (for example, "outdoor", "Hawaii", "sea") (step S34), and search results (for example, "surfing in Hawaii ~", "in Hawaii") Trolling ~ ") is acquired (step S35).

That is, the information corresponding to the instruction data is acquired from the preference data of each user in the group to which the user belongs. In such a case, it may be set so that the preference data can be used when the user terminals 200 in the group are connected to the Internet 1000. If the host server 100 is provided with a preference master database 105 that collectively collects preference data of each user, the database is referred to.

As described above, by searching the users by grouping them, a large amount of information about users who have similar tastes can be used to accumulate more information about the tastes of users in group units. You can
The information can be reflected in the search result and used to search for desired information.

The user terminal 200 is provided with the preference database 205 and the host server 10
If the preference master database 105 is provided in 0, the preference data and the search result can be acquired from the preference master database 105 in the basic search process.

The search keywords are narrowed down as follows:
The user of the user terminal 200 having a predetermined relationship with the user terminal 200 to which the instruction data is input is specified, and the preference database 20 associated with the user is specified.
It is also possible to form the search result, which is performed by using No. 5, and is associated with the taste of the other user, to be provided to the user terminal 200 to which the instruction is input.

The search condition associated with the preference data of the user of the user terminal having such a predetermined relationship may be added to or replaced with the search condition associated with the preference data of the user who inputs the instruction data. It can be used for basic search processing.

When the search condition cannot be associated with the preference data of the user who inputs the instruction data, for example, the preference database 205 associated with the user who inputs the instruction data is stored in the preference database 205 described above. If there is no keyword corresponding to a synonym, synonym, superordinate / subordinate concept or the like preset by the thesaurus, the search keywords are narrowed down by the user preference database 205 of the user terminal having a predetermined relationship.
Can be done using.

As described above, by narrowing down the search keywords by associating them with the taste of the user different from the user who input the instruction data, it is possible to specify the instruction input only by the taste of the user who inputs the instruction. It is possible to deal with the case where the search condition according to is not specified.

Further, by narrowing down the search keywords to the user's preference in the group to which the user who input the instruction data belongs, the user's preference can be utilized. It is possible to indirectly provide search results that reflect the user's taste.

Further, in the present embodiment, in order to associate the search result based on the first search processing with the user's preference, it is realized by the method of narrowing down the search keywords before the search. , It is not limited to this method. For example, first obtain information based on the instruction data, narrow down the search keywords after the search, and specify the search results to match the user's taste. It can also be realized by.

The basic search processing is completed as described above, and the description of the first search processing will be continued again with reference to FIG.

When the search result obtained by the basic search process does not reach the predetermined amount N (NO in step S22), information collection is performed in order to collect the insufficient information and provide the information to the user terminal 200. The processing unit 113 executes information collection processing including reservation processing, question processing, and answer processing (steps S25 to S27).

In this information collecting process, question data corresponding to the instruction data is created and stored in the reservation table 104 shown in FIG. 7, and the question data is provided to each user terminal 200. Then, by collecting the answer data to the question data transmitted from each user terminal 200, the insufficient information is collected.

In the reservation table 104 shown in FIG. 7, for example, the instructing user for the question data "marine sports" is the user B6. The question data is stored in the reservation table 104 by each user (B1, B2, B3, ...) Of the group B to which the user B6 belongs and is transmitted to the user terminal 200 of each user. .

In the reservation table 104, for the user (for example, the user B2) to whom the reply data is transmitted, the reply data (for example, “In Bali”) input by the user is stored. Further, regarding the user (for example, the user B1) for whom the answer data to the question data is not transmitted, the fact that the answer is “unanswered” is stored,
In addition, regarding the user to whom the question data has not been transmitted (for example, the user B3), the fact that “not transmitted” is stored.

Thereafter, when a predetermined amount of information N is obtained, the search result including the answer data is transmitted to the user terminal 200 of the instructing user.

Each processing in the information collecting processing will be described below with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

(Reservation Processing) FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the flow of reservation processing.

In the reservation process, first, question data for the information collection process is generated using the instruction data and stored in the reservation table 104 (step S40). The question data may be the instruction data directly as the question data,
The search keyword narrowed down according to the taste of the user in the basic search process may be used as the question data.
For example, "○
Tell us about ○○? May be generated as question data in a text format such as.

In the present embodiment, the host server 10
Although 0 is generated so that question data is generated, the question data may be generated by the user and acquired (received) from the user terminal 200.

Next, the search result for which the predetermined amount N of information has not been obtained is stored (saved) in the reservation table 104 (step S41). That is, in the information collecting process, the search result with the insufficient number of information is temporarily stored in the reservation table 104, and the answer result described later is added to the search result to provide the information of the predetermined amount N or more.

Then, the user who has input the instruction data (the user has been specified in the basic search process) is stored in the reservation table 104 using the question data generated in step S40 as a key (step S42).

Subsequently, the group to which the instructing user belongs is identified by referring to the group database 103 (step S43), and each user in the belonging group is stored in the reservation table 104 as a question providing user (step). S44).

Finally, the user terminal 20 of the instructing user
Reservation wait data for notifying that reservation processing has been performed due to insufficient search results to 0 (step S4)
5) Then, the reservation process ends (end).

(Question Processing) FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the flow of question processing.

The question processing is performed by the user terminal 2 of the question providing destination.
00, the process of transmitting the question data generated in the reservation process is performed when there is a connection from the user terminal 200 for which the question data has not been transmitted.

Specifically, first, when there is a connection from the user terminal 200 (YES in step S50),
The connected user is specified (step S51).

Then, the reservation table 104 is referred to (step S52), and it is judged whether or not the connected user has untransmitted (waiting for transmission) question data (step S).
53).

If there is untransmitted question data (YES in step S53), the question data is transmitted (provided) to the user terminal 200 of the connected user (step S54). If there is no untransmitted question data (step S54), the process ends (end).

(Reply Process) FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the flow of the reply process.

The answer process is a process of accepting answer data for the question data provided in the question process and storing the answer data in the reservation table 104. By accumulating the answer data stored in the reservation table in the reservation table 104 as the search result based on the basic search process, the search result is provided to the instructing user terminal 200 when the information amount of the predetermined amount N can be collected. (Sent).

As the concrete contents of the processing, first, when there is a connection from the user terminal 200 (step S
(YES of 60), it is determined whether or not the answer data corresponding to the question data is received from the user terminal (step S6).
1).

If the answer data is received (YES in step S61), the question data to which the answer data corresponds is specified (step S62), and the user who inputs the answer (hereinafter, answer user). Say)
Specify. The answer data provided (transmitted) from the user terminal 200 preferably includes target question data and data for identifying the answer user.

Then, when the target question and the answer user are specified for the received answer data, the answer data is stored (saved) in the reservation table 104, and the answer process ends (end).

It is preferable that the response data is reflected in the preference database 205, as is the evaluation data for the search results based on various search processes. Since the answer data is input based on the user's taste, the taste database 205 may be updated by a positive evaluation such as "like", for example.

As described above, by updating the preference database 205 for the response data as well, the response rate to the question for collecting information from each user is improved, and the search that reflects the preference of the user is improved. It will be possible.

By the series of information collection processing of the reservation processing, the question processing, and the answer processing described above, the user can always obtain a certain amount of information, and the information that can handle rare information. The search system 10 can be realized and the use of the user can be promoted. Further, it is possible to realize an epoch-making information search system that collects and provides the information that is lacking during the search by providing information from each user.

[0213] Further, since the above-mentioned lacking information is information from persons having similar tastes in the same group, it is possible to provide information more suitable or desired by the user.

4-1-2. Second Search Process FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the flow of the second search process.

In the second search processing, the user terminal 200
If there is a connection from (YES of step S70
S), it is determined whether or not the timeout data is received (step S71).

As will be described later in detail, the time-out data is data generated when no input is made for a certain period of time after the activation of various input programs in the user terminal 200.

When such timeout data is received (YES in step S71), the search process is automatically started without being restricted by the user's instruction input,
First, the connected user is specified (step S72), and the taste data is acquired from the user terminal 200 of the connected user (step S73).

Subsequently, the keyword for retrieval is extracted by using the acquired taste data (step S74). Extraction of this search keyword, based on a predetermined condition,
Alternatively, at random, keywords related to information that the user may desire are extracted from the preference data of the connected user.

The search keyword extracted in the second search process may or may not be associated with the taste of the connected user as described above. . If this second search process is performed in association with the user's taste, the user will be interested in using the search result, and even if it is not associated, the user will like the search result. If so, there is a possibility that it will be used in subsequent searches, and even if you do not like it, it is possible to actively prevent the provision of useless information in subsequent searches, and as a result, in any case This is because the accuracy of is improved.

Then, the second search processing section refers to the preference database 205 in the user terminal 200 to search for information related to the search keyword (step S7).
5) The search result is acquired (step S76).

Since the second search process is performed without the user's instruction input, the information collection process is not performed unlike the first search process. Connected users are
By the search processing of, even if the user does not input the instruction regarding the search, the information regarding the user's preference can be stored in the preference database, and the search result in the subsequent information search based on the user's intention will be It becomes more accurate with respect to the taste of the user, and it is possible to attract the user's interest and promote the use by providing the user with unexpected information and evaluating it. Further, it is possible to realize a self-growing information retrieval system that does not rely on retrieval based on the user's intention.

4-2. Processing on User Terminal 200 Side FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a flow of operations in the user terminal 200.

In the user terminal 200, step S80
~ Search mode shown in step S82 and step S83
~ Various processes are executed along the two data input flows of the update mode shown in step S85.

In the search mode, data is transmitted and received by the connection process from the input of instruction data. In the update mode, evaluation data is input for the search result received in the connection process and answer data is input for the question data.

Details will be described below with reference to the flowchart.

First, the user selects and inputs the input mode. Specifically, the user uses the input unit 204 to select a search mode for inputting information for searching or an update mode for inputting update processing, which will be described later (step S80). The selection of such an input mode may be formed so that the control unit 201 generates a random number or the like and automatically selects one of the modes based on a predetermined condition.

If the search mode is selected (YES in step S80), the display unit 203 displays an instruction data input acceptance screen for the first search processing, and the user inputs an instruction (step S80). S81 YE
S), the connection processing unit 213 performs connection processing (step S82), and transmits the instruction data by data communication with the host server 100 and a first instruction corresponding to the instruction data.
The search result is received by the search process of. If the search result does not reach the predetermined amount N, the host server 100
Receives reservation pending data from.

[0228] Here, to explain in relation to Fig. 10, the instruction data input to the user terminal 200 is transmitted by the connection processing, and the host server 100 receives the instruction data (YES in step S20) and performs a basic search. The process (step S21) is executed.

The search result of the basic search processing is provided on condition that the number of pieces of information is a predetermined amount N or more (step S2).
2), it is transmitted to the user terminal 200 (step S23). At this time, since the user terminal 200 is in the process of connection (step S83), the user terminal 200 receives the search result.

If the number of pieces of information in the search result does not reach the predetermined amount N (NO in step S22), the host server 100 executes the reservation process (step S25),
As shown in FIG. 12, reservation waiting data is transmitted to the user terminal 200. Even in such a case, since the user terminal 200 is in the process of connection, the user terminal 200 receives the reservation waiting data.

In the connection process, if there is reservation waiting data received from the host server 100, it is necessary that the number of search result information items related to the reservation waiting data has reached a predetermined amount N or more. The retrieval result is also acquired (received).

Furthermore, if the question data generated when the reservation process is performed for another user is the question providing destination for the user who is performing the connection process, as shown in FIG. This user terminal 20
0 transmits the question data to the user terminal 200
Receives the question data.

Further, in the connection process, a process of transmitting unanswered reply data input in the update process described later to the host server 100 is also performed. For the evaluation data, the preference database 1
It may be formed so as to be transmitted when 05 is constructed.

If the search mode is not selected (NO in step S80), that is, if the update mode is selected, it is determined whether or not unanswered question data is stored in the storage unit 202 (step S80). S83), if the question data is stored (YES in step S83), the update process is performed (step S85).

If unanswered question data is not stored (NO in step S83), then it is determined whether or not there is any un-evaluated retrieval result (received) (step S83). S84).

Then, if there is an unevaluated search result (YES in step S84), the update process is performed (step S85), while if there is no unevaluated search result (NO in step S84), Switch to search mode.

In this way, the update process is started when there is unanswered question data and unevaluated search results. The update process will be described in detail below.

FIG. 17 is a flow chart showing the flow of update processing.

In the update processing, if there is unanswered question data, answer data is input (YE in step S90).
Based on S), the preference database 205 is updated (step S92), and if there is an unevaluated search result, the preference database 205 is updated based on input of evaluation data (YES in step S91) (step S92). Step S92).

A specific example will be described below with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. Here, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show an example of the preference database 205, FIG. 4 shows before update, and FIG. 5 shows after update.

For example, in FIG. 4, the user inputs the answer data "surf shop (Kanagawa prefecture-)" to the question data "marine sports". The reply data is stored in the preference database 205 along with the fact that it is waiting for transmission until it is transmitted to the host server 100.

After that, when the response data is transmitted by the connection process, this user is interested in the information "surf shop (Kanagawa prefecture-)" for "marine sports". As shown in, the fact that "I like" is stored in the evaluation column, and the taste of the user is reflected in the taste database 205.

In addition, for example, in FIG. 4, "Hawaii"
As a search result for the instruction data, "Dolphin Watching Tour in Hawaii (X Travel, TEL:
~) ”Is stored, but this search result has not been evaluated as shown in the evaluation column data. Here, in the update mode, the user receives
Enter the evaluation data indicating that you like it.

[0244] Then, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, the preference column 2 indicates that the user likes the item so that the evaluation input is reflected as the user's preference in the evaluation column data.
05 is stored and updated.

Thus, from the input of the instruction data, the first search processing in the host server 100, the user terminal 2
Input of evaluation data in 00, preference database 2
By the series of processing of updating 05, the taste database 205 accumulates information about the taste of the user, and the search result searched by the first search processing is:
It gradually reflects the taste (preference) of the user.

Therefore, narrowing down the information that is troublesome for the user is executed according to the user's taste,
Further, by feeding back the search result to the preference database 205, it becomes possible to gradually and accurately provide the information suitable for the preference of the user to the user terminal 200, and the information provided to the user. Therefore, the search process can be made efficient as a result.

When inputting the evaluation data, the user selects and inputs an evaluation for the search result on the display screen of the user terminal 200 (for example, "like",
If the screen is displayed so that "dislike", "Yes", "No" alternatives, etc.), the user can easily input the evaluation and the operability is improved.

Here, returning to FIG. 16 again, the flow of processing of the user terminal 200 will be described.

When the end declaration is made through the input unit 204 in the above-mentioned search mode and update mode (step S86), the program ends (end).

However, if the program has been started without ending (NO in step S86), the control unit 201 of the user terminal 200 counts the elapsed time Ti from the latest input operation, and this elapsed time Ti Is the set time Ts
When it exceeds (YES in step S87), it is determined that the input has not been performed for a certain period of time, and in such a case, timeout data is generated to execute the second search process (step S88).

This timeout data is at least information for recognizing the user (for example, user ID).
It is the data for executing the second search process including.
As described above, the host server 100 executes the second search process by receiving the time-out data.

When the timeout data is generated, the connection processing unit 213 connects to the host server 100 even if the instruction data is not input (step S82). That is, the timeout data is transmitted to the host server 100, and the search result based on the second search process is received from the host server 100.

If the elapsed time Ti does not exceed the set time Ts (NO in step S87), the process returns to step S80, and if the search mode is already selected, the input of the instruction data is waited for. If the update process is completed, the process waits for mode selection input.

The display output on the user terminal 200 side of the search result based on the above-described various search processes may be immediately displayed on the display unit 203 when the search result is received in the connection process, or the received search may be performed. The result is temporarily stored in the storage unit 202
In the display unit 203 according to the user's discretion.
You may be able to browse at.

5. Modified Example Hereinafter, a modified example of the information search system according to the present embodiment will be described.

(Modification 1) In Modification 1, the basic structure is the same as that of the above-described embodiment, but as shown in FIG. 3, the preference degree database 206 is stored in the storage unit 202 of the user terminal 200. It is built and the control unit 201
Is configured to function as a weighting processing unit 214 that reads a predetermined program from the storage unit 202 or the ROM and performs a weighting process to update the preference degree similarity database 206. As shown in FIG. 2, the preference similarity database 206 is used as the preference similarity master database 106 as the host server 10.
It may be provided on the 0 side. In such a case, the control unit 101 on the host server 100 side may be formed so as to function as a weighting processing unit by reading a predetermined program from the storage unit 102 or the like. However, the various processing units may be realized by causing the control unit to read various programs as described above, or may be realized by forming as dedicated hardware.

FIG. 8A shows the case of the user B1 as an example of the contents of the preference similarity database 206.

[0258] Such a preference similarity database 206
Is a user (B
2, B3, ...) and the degree of similarity (compatibility) with the taste of oneself
Is quantified as point data (approximate degree of preference), and the point data is used in the first search process to provide information from a user having a closer preference.

In the first modification, the point data is formed so as to start from 10 points and be updated between 0 and 100 points by the weighting process described later, but the present invention is not limited to this. Such point data can be arbitrarily set as needed.

The first search process using point data in the preference similarity database 206 is performed as follows.

For example, assume that the user B1 inputs the instruction data "Italy" to perform the first search process.

First, the data reception processing unit 120 of the host server 100 receives the instruction data "Italy" from the user terminal 200 of B1 and starts the first search processing.

Then, the first search processing section 112 acquires the preference data from the preference database 205 of the user B1 and narrows down the search keywords based on the preference data of the user B1. Here, it is assumed that there is a lot of positive evaluation (for example, “like”) in the travel information in the taste data of the user B1, and “Italy travel” is narrowed down as the search keyword.

The search keywords may not be narrowed down in association with the preference data of the user B1, and each user (B2, B3, B4, ...) In the belonging group (group B). ) May be performed in association with the preference data.

Then, when the search keywords are narrowed down, the search keywords are referred to by referring to the preference database 205 of the user terminal 200 of each user (B2, B3, ...) Of the group (group B) to which the user B1 belongs. Get information about "Italy trip", user B1
The search result related to the user terminal 200 is provided (transmitted).

In the first search process, when the search result is less than the predetermined amount N (for example, 10), the information collection process is performed, and the information is provided through the reservation process, the question process, and the answer process. Be seen.

In this modification 1, since the point data is not connected or there is no preference data in the preference database 205, as shown in FIG. 8B, when collecting the point data, If there is a user (for example, B8) for whom data has not been obtained, the point data of such user is not used.

FIG. 8B shows the result of totaling the information obtained from the taste data of each user.

In the user terminal 200, the acquired information is expanded in the work area such as the RAM of the control unit 201 to narrow down the information.

[0270] Such narrowing down of information is performed by obtaining information obtained from the taste data of each user (for example, information about Milan (h
ttp: ///)) for each user (B2, B3, ...
Each information is aggregated by associating it with the point data of (), and information having a high total point data (for example, Roman inn (http: ///)) is narrowed down.

Thus, in the modified example 1, the user B1 is provided with the "Roma's lodging (http: ///
~) ”Is provided as information that best suits the taste.

Subsequently, when the search result is provided to the user, the control unit 201 of the user terminal 200 functions as the weighting processing unit 214, and the preference degree similarity database 2
The update of 05 is executed by the weighting process.

The weighting process will be described in detail below.

First, the user inputs evaluation data for the provided information "Roma no Yado (http: /// ~)" by the first search process using the above-mentioned preference similarity database 205. Be started.

By inputting the evaluation data, the taste database 205 is first updated. If the evaluation data is positive (for example, "like"), point data is added as weighting processing. Is performed, and a positive evaluation (for example,
Information received from "I like""A hotel in Rome (http: //
The point data of the users (B3, B4, B5, B9) who provided () are added up from 10 to be 11.

In such a case, other information such as "information on Milan (http: /// ~)" and "Rome Tourism Bureau (TEL:
~) ”Users (B2, B6, B7, B1)
Similarly for 0), positive evaluation (for example, “like”)
If it is done, the point data is added, but in the first modification, a case where a negative evaluation (for example, “dislike”) is performed will be described.

As shown in FIG. 8C, the point data of the users (B2, B6, B7, B10) who have provided the information that has received the negative evaluation (for example, "dislike") is subtracted by the weighting process. , Point data changes from 10 to 9.

Further, in the first modification, the weighting process is not performed on the point data because there is no evaluation data for the user who could not acquire the taste data.

[0279] In this way, the point data of users having similar tastes are added, and the taste data of such users is preferentially reflected in the search result provided to the user.

As described above, in the modified example 1, since the search result can be provided by giving priority to the user's preference, which is closer to the preference among the users belonging to the same group, the user can obtain more desired information. Get it quickly and accurately.

In the case of a search utilizing such point data (degree of preference), the information provided to the user terminal 200 may be formed so as to provide only the information with the highest total point data. In such a case, the weighting process is performed so that if the provided information receives a positive evaluation, the points of the user who provided such information are added, and the points of the user who provided other information are subtracted. However, when a negative evaluation is received, the points of the user who provided the information may be subtracted, and the points of the other users may be added, on the contrary.

(Modification 2) In Modification 2, the configuration in which the Web server 300 is connected via the Internet 1000 in FIG.
Performs advertisement information providing processing for providing advertisement information to the user terminal 200 via the host server 100. Further, in order to execute the advertising information providing process, the control unit 101 of the host server 100 reads a predetermined program and functions as the advertising information providing processing unit 115. However, the various processing units may be realized by causing the control unit to read various programs as described above, or may be realized by forming as dedicated hardware.

The advertisement information providing process will be described below.

[0284] First, the advertisement information providing processing unit 115 determines that
The user identification information for identifying the user who provides the advertisement information is acquired together with the advertisement information from the server 300.

[0285] Here, the advertising information is, for example, information for introducing a tourist site or a travel plan in a travel agency, and in a manufacturer, information such as new product information is desired to be provided to users as part of advertising activities. Information to be provided.

The advertisement information may be, for example, text-format document data or JPEG (Joint Photo).
topographic Experts Group) format and GIF (Graphics Interchange)
The image data may be in the e Format) format. In addition, HTML (HyperText MarkupLa)
ngage) format and XML (eXtensible)
Document file data in the Markup Language format or the like may be used.

[0287] Further, the user identification information is information about what kind of user the Web server 300, which is the provider of the advertisement information, desires to be provided with the advertisement information. , The preference (preference) or the like is set in advance to specify the user who provides the advertisement information. This user identification information includes at least information that identifies the user of the provision destination in association with the taste of the user.

[0288] For example, a Web server 30 of a travel agency that intends to provide advertisement information related to Hawaii travel tours.
0 provides the host server 100 with, as user identification information, information including at least the user's taste of “a woman in her twenties who is interested in overseas travel”.

Then, in the host server 100, the advertisement information providing processing unit 115 causes the user identification information (for example,
Based on "Women in their 20s interested in traveling abroad")
When there is a connection from the user terminal 200, the user who corresponds to the user identification information is assigned a preference database 205 provided in the user terminal 200 of the user.
Refer to to specify.

[0290] In this way, when the user to whom the advertisement information is provided is specified, the advertisement information (for example, "introduction of shopping trip tour in Hawaii") is provided (transmitted) to the user terminal 200 of the user. The advertisement information may be provided by e-mail.

When acquiring advertising information from user identification using such user identification information, the agent refers to the preference data and user identification information using a program that functions as an agent on the user terminal 200 side. Then, the advertisement information suitable for the user may be acquired by the user terminal 200.

As described above, by using the information search system provided with the advertisement information providing function, the information provider side can efficiently provide the advertisement information to the user who effectively uses the provided advertisement information. Since the user can be provided with the advertising information that suits his / her taste, as a result, the user's use can be promoted.

[0293] Further, with respect to such advertisement information, the user is made to input evaluation data in the same manner as the above-described search result, and the input reception processing unit 211 of the user terminal 200 receives the evaluation data and the taste data. It is preferable that the update processing unit 212 update the preference database 205 so as to reflect the evaluation data.

If formed in this way, the user can update the preference database even by providing information from a third party other than the above-mentioned first and second search processes.
You will be able to obtain search results that better reflect your taste.

Further, if the evaluation input is formed so as to be provided to the Web server, the information providing side (Web server) can obtain the user's reaction (evaluation) to the self-promotion information and the effective advertisement. Can carry out activities.

(Modification 3) In modification 3, the user terminal 200 causes the control unit 201 to read a predetermined program to function as the image generation processing unit 215 and the dialogue processing unit 216, and the image generation processing unit 215 causes the pet type It is formed such that image data of the character 400 is generated and displayed on the display unit 203 on the screen, and various inputs from the user can be performed by the dialogue processing unit 216 in a dialogue (conversation) form with the pet character 400. ing. However, the various processing units may be realized by causing the control unit to read various programs as described above, or may be realized by forming as dedicated hardware.

In other words, the user can enjoy a dialogue with the pet character other than just searching.
It is possible to improve user satisfaction, promote user usage, and promote widespread use.

[0298] Then, the display unit 2 is configured to convey various information such as search results to the pet character 400.
It can be displayed on screen 03 and provided to the user.

18 to 22 show display screens of the display unit 203 of the user terminal 200.

For example, FIG. 18 shows a case where the user inputs "flower" as instruction data regarding a search for a pet character. The instruction data input by the user is displayed in the comment box 410. When the user inputs the instruction data as "flower", the comment box 41
At 0, a screen display is performed to instruct the pet character to "Bring flowers".

Then, the dialogue processing unit 216 causes the pet character 400 to reply to the instruction input, and "OK!" Is displayed in the comment box 410. Then, the pet character 400 functions as an agent that transmits the instruction data “flower” to the host server 100 and acquires the search result.

Here, as shown in FIG. 19, the search result for the instruction data "flower" is "hyacinth".
When the information about the information is obtained and the information image data 440 is received together with the search result from the host server 100, the image generation processing unit 215 displays the information image data 440 on the display unit 203, and the information The content is displayed in the comment box 410. Even in such a case, when the content of the information is displayed, the dialog processing unit 216 provides the user with the information in the dialog format of "It is hyacinth."

Further, when providing search results and advertisement information based on various search processes, it is preferable to display the pet character so that the pet character can carry it, as shown in FIG. As described above, when information is acquired together with the information image data from the host server 100, the information image data is displayed, and even if there is no such information image data, a preset letter or box is brought in, for example. Such a display enhances the degree of appeal of information to the user and makes it even more entertaining, which can attract the interest of the user.

21 and 22 show display screens when inputting evaluation data for search results and advertisement information.

At the time of inputting such evaluation data, an evaluation input box 420 and a cursor 430 are further displayed on the screen. Then, the user selects and inputs a positive evaluation (for example, “praise”) or a negative evaluation (for example, “yes”) with the input unit 204.

If such an evaluation is positive, then FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, comment data (for example, “well done”) indicating that the provided information is satisfied is displayed in the comment box 410. The comment box 41 is also used for the response data to the evaluation from the pet character 400 (for example, “Nyahaha!”).
Displayed at 0.

If the evaluation is negative, comment data indicating that the provided information is unpleasant is displayed in the comment box 410 as shown in FIG. 22 (for example, "I don't need cosmetics! ") Is displayed, and the comment data of the response data from the pet character 400 (for example," Shun ... ") is displayed in the comment box 4.
It is displayed on 10.

[0308] The input of the evaluation data is performed by displaying comment data (for example, "Do you like XX?") Requesting the user to evaluate the pet character.
It is preferable to form so that the update of

By forming in this way, not only entrusting the evaluation input from the user to the request from the user, but prompting the user to input the evaluation by the system side, the retrieval result of various retrieval processing and the like can be displayed. Feedback can be promptly performed, and the evaluation input can be performed by the user while having entertainment in the dialogue with the pet character, and the usability can be further enhanced.

The pet type character may be set as a character (for example, a dog, a cat, a monkey, a robot, etc.) having a different display mode depending on the taste of the user (or the group to which the user belongs).

Also, an action pattern (for example, an A character is a carefree personality, and a B character is associated with the taste database (or group database)).
Naughty personality). Further, when the taste database is updated, the action pattern of the character can be set to be updated.

[0312] It is preferable that the pet character is formed to act autonomously based on the action pattern, for example, when the user does not input instruction data or the like.

When information is provided to the user terminal based on the first and second search processes and the advertisement information providing process, image data associated with the information can be attached. . By displaying the attached image data on the screen when the information is viewed on the user terminal, it becomes possible to provide a more entertaining information search system, which can further attract the interest of the user. it can.

The embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above embodiments and modifications, but various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of an information search system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a host server according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a user terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram (1) for explaining a preference database according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram (2) for explaining the preference database according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a group database according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a reservation table according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a preference similarity database and weighting processing according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining an overall process of the host server according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a first search process according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a basic search process according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a reservation process according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart for explaining question processing according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart for explaining a reply process in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining a second search process according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining the overall processing of the user terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining an update process according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a diagram (1) illustrating a display screen of a user terminal.

FIG. 19 is a diagram (2) illustrating the display screen of the user terminal.

FIG. 20 is a diagram (3) illustrating the display screen of the user terminal.

FIG. 21 is a diagram (4) illustrating the display screen of the user terminal.

FIG. 22 is a diagram (5) illustrating the display screen of the user terminal.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Information retrieval system 100 host server 103 group database 104 reservation table 105 Preference Master Database 106 Preference similarity master database 111 First Search Processing Unit 112 Basic Search Processing Section 113 Information collection processing unit 114 second search processing unit 115 Advertising information provision processing unit 120 Data reception processing unit 130 Group registration processing unit 200 user terminals 203 display 204 Input section 205 Preference database 206 Preference similarity database 211 Input reception processing unit 212 Preference data update processing unit 213 Connection processing unit 214 Weighting processing unit 215 Image generation processing unit 216 Dialog processing unit 300 Web server 400 pet characters 410 Interactive display box 420 Evaluation input box 430 cursor 440 Information image data 1000 Internet

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Tadashi Yamashita             2-8-5 Tamagawa, Ota-ku, Tokyo Stocks             Inside the company Namco F-term (reference) 5B075 KK07 QP01 QR05

Claims (30)

[Claims] 1. An information retrieval system in which a plurality of user terminals are connected via a network, information corresponding to an instruction input from the user terminals is searched, and search results are provided to the user terminals, a plurality of users are provided. The preference database that is formed based on the preference of each user and the association with each user is set, the instruction accepting unit that performs the process of accepting the instruction input regarding the search from the user terminal, and the information corresponding to the instruction input. An information search means for performing a first search process in which the search is performed in association with the taste of the user of the user terminal using the taste database, and providing the search result to the user terminal for which an instruction input has been made; Evaluation accepting means for accepting an evaluation input for the search result, and based on the search result and the evaluation input Information retrieval system, characterized in that it comprises the updating of the interest of the database, and the preference of the data updating means for performing association with the user, the. 2. The information search means according to claim 1, wherein the search condition corresponding to the instruction input is associated with a user of the user terminal having the instruction input and a predetermined relationship with the user terminal having the instruction input. Search condition specifying processing for specifying using a preference database associated with at least one of users of a certain user terminal, and information corresponding to the instruction input, refer to a preference database associated with a plurality of users The information retrieval system is characterized in that the first retrieval process and a process for obtaining the retrieval condition so as to satisfy the retrieval condition are performed. 3. The search condition specifying process according to claim 2, wherein the search condition is specified when the search condition cannot be specified from a preference database associated with a user of the user terminal to which the command is input. The information retrieval system is characterized in that the user terminal having a predetermined relationship with the user terminal is specified and the user's preference database associated with the user of the user terminal having the predetermined relationship is used. 4. The information retrieval unit according to claim 1, wherein the information retrieval unit retrieves information based on a predetermined condition by using the preference database without being bound by the instruction input from the user terminal. Including a means to perform the search process of
The search result based on the second search process is provided to a predetermined user terminal, and the evaluation accepting unit includes a unit that performs a process of accepting an evaluation input for the search result based on the second search process. The data updating means includes means for updating the taste database based on a search result by the second search process and an evaluation input from the user terminal for the search result in association with the user. Information retrieval system. 5. The group database according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of groups to which a user belongs is set in association with a user's taste, and a user terminal for a preset question for determining the taste. Means for determining a group to which a user having a preference similar to the preference of the user belongs, and registering the user in the group database according to the determined group, The search processing is performed based on the instruction input from the user terminal, using the preference database and the group database, in association with the preference of a user who belongs to the same group as the user of the user terminal. And information retrieval system. 6. The method according to claim 5, which depends on claims 2 and 3, wherein the search condition specifying process associates another user belonging to the same group as the user of the user terminal for which the instruction is input with the predetermined relationship. An information retrieval system including a process of identifying a user of a certain user terminal. 7. The preference as set forth in claim 5, wherein preference degrees that are formed for each user and are weighted so as to represent the degree of similarity of the preferences between the users in the group are set. A similarity approximation database, and a means for updating the preference similarity database by weighting the preference similarity associated with the evaluation input, wherein the first search process is performed from a user terminal. Based on the instruction input of, the preference database, the group database and the preference similarity database are used to reflect the preference similarity with other users of the group to which the user of the user terminal belongs. An information retrieval system characterized in that it includes a process. 8. The process according to claim 1, wherein the first search process determines whether or not the number of pieces of search result information based on the search process has reached a predetermined amount, When the number of information has not reached the predetermined amount, the information collection processing for collecting the insufficient information is performed, and the information search means determines that the number of information has reached the predetermined amount. If it is determined that the search result based on the first search process is provided to the user terminal, and if it is determined that the number of information does not reach the predetermined amount, the search based on the first search process is performed. An information retrieval system, which provides a result and information based on the information collection process to a user terminal. 9. The information collection process according to claim 8, wherein the information collection question requesting information associated with the instruction input is a question-providing user terminal and the user terminal to which the instruction input is made. Processing for storing in the reservation table in association with the question, question processing for providing the question for information collection to the user terminal of the question providing destination stored in the reservation table, and for the question for information collection An answer process of storing an answer result in the reservation table in association with the question when an answer is input from the user terminal, wherein the information search unit is configured to obtain the answer result stored in the reservation table. An information retrieval system, which provides the user terminal to which the instruction input has been made, as information based on the information collection processing. 10. The claim according to claim 8, which depends on any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the reservation process uses the group database to set the user terminal of the question providing destination to the user terminal. An information search system characterized by being stored in the reservation table as a user terminal of another user of a group to which the user of the user terminal to which an instruction is input belongs. 11. The information retrieving means according to claim 1, wherein the information retrieving means obtains user identification information from a Web server together with the advertisement information to provide the advertisement information to the user terminal in association with the taste of the user. And a means for performing an advertisement information providing process of providing the advertisement information to a user terminal by associating the user identification information with the user's preference based on a predetermined condition. And information retrieval system. 12. The evaluation receiving means according to claim 11, further comprising means for receiving an evaluation input for the advertisement information, and the taste data updating means for inputting an evaluation input for the advertisement information and the advertisement information. Based on the above, the information retrieval system includes means for updating the taste database in association with the user. 13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the pet character is displayed on a user terminal on a screen, and a process associated with an input from the user terminal is interactively performed by using the pet character. And a means for providing the user terminal with the information provided by the information search means to the user terminal, using the pet character. 14. The unit according to claim 13, wherein the pet character is used to perform a process of requesting a user via the user terminal for an evaluation input regarding information provided by the information search unit to the user terminal. An information retrieval system comprising: 15. Instruction receiving means for performing processing for receiving an instruction input relating to a search from a user terminal; and a search for information corresponding to the instruction input, which is formed based on the tastes of a plurality of users, and Using the preference database in which the association of the user is set, the preference database is associated with the preference of the user of each user terminal.
Information search means for performing a search process for providing a search result to a user terminal, an evaluation accepting means for performing a process for accepting an evaluation input for the search result, and the taste based on the search result and the evaluation input. A program characterized by causing a computer to function as a preference data updating means for updating a sex database in association with a user. 16. The information retrieval means according to claim 15, wherein the retrieval condition corresponding to the instruction input is associated with a user of the user terminal to which the instruction input has been made and a predetermined relationship with the user terminal to which the instruction input has been made. Search condition specifying processing for specifying using a preference database associated with at least one of users of a certain user terminal, and information corresponding to the instruction input, refer to a preference database associated with a plurality of users And a process for obtaining the search condition so as to satisfy the search condition, and causing the computer to function as the first search process. 17. The search condition specifying process according to claim 16, wherein when the search condition cannot be specified from a preference database associated with a user of the user terminal for which the instruction input is made, the search condition is inputted. And a user terminal having a predetermined relationship with the user terminal, the program being performed by using a preference database associated with a user of the user terminal having the predetermined relationship. 18. The information retrieval means according to claim 15, wherein the information retrieval means retrieves information based on a predetermined condition by using the preference database without being bound by the instruction input from the user terminal. A computer functioning as a means for performing a search processing of the computer, causing the evaluation accepting means to function as a computer performing a processing of accepting an evaluation input for a search result based on the second search processing, and the taste data updating means. The computer is caused to function as a means for associating with the user the update of the preference database based on the search result by the second search process and the evaluation input from the user terminal for the search result. program. 19. The first search process according to claim 15, wherein the first search process is based on the instruction input from a user terminal and is associated with the preference database and the preference of the user. A program including a process performed in association with a preference of a user who belongs to the same group as the user of the user terminal by using the group database in which the group is set. 20. Claim 1 subordinate to claims 16 and 17.
9, the search condition specifying process includes a process of specifying another user who belongs to the same group as the user of the user terminal to which the instruction is input as a user of the user terminal having the predetermined relationship. Program to do. 21. The preference according to any one of claims 18 to 20, in which preference degrees that are formed for each user and that are weighted so as to represent the degree of preference degree between each user in the group are set. The computer to function as a means for performing a weighting process of the preference similarity degree associated with the evaluation input to update the sex similarity database, and the first search process is based on the instruction input from the user terminal. And including the processing performed by using the preference database, the group database, and the preference similarity database, and reflecting the preference similarity with other users of the group to which the user of the user terminal belongs. And the program. 22. The first search process according to any one of claims 15 to 21. A process of determining whether or not the number of pieces of information of the search result based on the search process has reached a predetermined amount, and information collection for collecting the insufficient information when the number of information has not reached the predetermined amount. Processing, and the information search means, when it is determined that the number of information has reached a predetermined amount, provides a search result based on the first search process to the user terminal, When it is determined that the number of pieces of information has not reached a predetermined amount, the computer is caused to function as means for providing the user terminal with the search result based on the first search processing and the information based on the information collection processing. A program characterized by. 23. The information collection process according to claim 22, wherein the information collection question requesting information associated with the instruction input includes a question-provided user terminal and the user terminal to which the instruction input is made. Processing for storing in the reservation table in association with the question, question processing for providing the question for information collection to the user terminal of the question providing destination stored in the reservation table, and for the question for information collection An answer process of storing an answer result in the reservation table in association with the question when an answer is input from the user terminal, the information search unit is configured to display the answer result stored in the reservation table. , Causing a computer to function as means for providing the user terminal to which the instruction input has been made, as information based on the information collection processing Program to be. 24. The method according to claim 23, which depends on any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein the reservation process uses the group database to set the user terminal of the question providing destination to the user terminal. A program stored by being stored in the reservation table as a user terminal of another user of a group to which the user of the user terminal to which an instruction is input belongs. 25. In any one of claims 15 to 24, the information retrieving means obtains user identification information for providing the advertisement information to a user terminal by associating it with advertisement information together with advertisement information from a Web server. And a function of the computer as means for performing an advertisement information providing process of providing the advertisement information to the user terminal by associating the user identification information with the user's taste based on a predetermined condition. Characteristic program. 26. The computer system according to claim 25, wherein the evaluation accepting means causes a computer to function as a means for accepting an evaluation input for the advertising information, and the taste data updating means controls the advertising information and the advertising information. A program that causes a computer to function as means for updating the taste database based on an evaluation input to the user. 27. In any one of claims 15 to 26, a means for displaying a pet type character on a user terminal on a screen and a process associated with an input from the user terminal are interactive using the pet type character. And a computer functioning as means for providing the user terminal with the information provided by the information retrieval means to the user terminal by using the pet character. 28. The computer according to claim 27, wherein the pet-type character is used to request the user via the user terminal to perform an evaluation input regarding information provided by the information search means to the user terminal. A program characterized by making it function. 29. The program according to claim 27, which causes a computer to function as means for providing the pet character to the user terminal as a search agent. 30. A computer-readable information storage medium, which stores the program according to any one of claims 15 to 29.