JP2003216651A - Information intermediary system, information intermediary device, client device, information intermediary method, method of providing user with information for connecting user with information source, program therefor, and its recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate finding information that meets user's sense of values which cannot always be put in words explicitly, from among a plurality of information sources such as a message board. <P>SOLUTION: An information intermediary device generates information that expresses correlations between one or a plurality of indicators corresponding to the value of information and the information sources based on the indicators, by collecting information from the plurality of information sources and by analyzing the collected information. A client device receives, from the information intermediary device, data including the one or the plurality of indicators and the information showing the correlation of the information sources based on the indicators, and displays the correlations between the information sources in a format that helps the user to understand those easily. As for the format of the display, a method of disposing the objects that represent the information sources according to the coordinate axis, in three-dimensional space with the one or the plurality of indicators used as coordinates, would be employable. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

The present invention relates to an information mediating system, an information mediating device, a client device, an information mediating method,
The present invention relates to a method for presenting information for connecting a user to an information source to the user, their programs, and their program recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the recent development of communication technology and its penetration into the general public, the number of information sources on the WWW (World Wide Web, hereinafter "Internet") is increasing. An example of the information source is, for example, a multi-person participation type intellectual activity body (a place where a plurality of people exchange information with each other via the Internet, such as an electronic bulletin board (BBS) on the Internet.
Network communities (hereinafter simply referred to as "communities") created on the Internet such as systems and chat systems, and other images, paintings,
The ones handling various contents such as sites handling music have appeared. As the total number of such information sources increases, it becomes more difficult for users to find information sources that match their own values from the huge number of information sources. There is an increasing need for a mechanism for efficiently displaying existing information sources.

As an example of the prior art of a mechanism for displaying information sources efficiently, first, there is a classification display by category.

In this method, the information sources are classified in advance into several categories (for example, "art and humanities", "business and economics", "computer and internet", ...) And the category names are displayed. It is a way to put. The user selects one of the plurality of category names to display the information sources belonging to that category. In many cases, category classification is generally hierarchical. Hierarchical category classification has a repeating structure in which one category contains sub-categories, and one sub-category contains sub-categories. For example, "Entertainment ＞
It has a repeating structure such as movie, video> movie music> ... ”.

Another example of the prior art in which the user searches the information source is a keyword search method. The keyword-based search is such that a database in which information sources and keywords corresponding to the contents thereof are registered is prepared in advance, and the corresponding information sources are displayed when the user inputs a keyword of interest. . At this time, it is general to use the words and phrases appearing in the contents of the information source as the keywords as they are.
For example, "hobbies" and "fishing".

[0006]

The above-described conventional information source searching method has the following problems.

[1. Category-based classification display] First, the above-described category-based classification display does not always allow efficient display of the systematic classification of information sources desired by the user. Because the information source is the purpose of installation, the personality of the creator, the personality of the installer, the propensity of the participants, the type and content of the information handled by the source, the amount of participants, the degree of activity, discussion, and the presentation of questions. The "value of information" it possesses depends on the resolution, voice of opinion, recruitment of friends, sharing of emotions, etc. "Information value"
Is evaluation information given to an information source or individual information included in the information source, and particularly, evaluation information that shows more significantly the characteristics of each information source with respect to the entire target information source. .

Each user has different desired information value depending on his or her own sense of values. For example, a user who generally likes logical thinking will like the logical one, and a user who attaches importance to the sensibility prefers the one who emphasizes the sensibility.

Considering user satisfaction, it is desirable to adopt a method of displaying information sources that can be selected according to the sense of value of each user. However, conventional general category-based display and information value Classifications based on are not necessarily consistent. In addition, it is generally difficult to objectively determine the information value of the information source as described above and assign the category name.

[2. Keyword Retrieval Method] On the other hand, even in the keyword retrieval method, the obtained display result does not always match the user's sense of values. Because the keyword specified by the user (for example,
"Logical") is not always included in the information source that has the desired information value, so even if you search using such keywords, you can output the information source that has the "information value" that the user wants. This is because there are many cases where it cannot be done.
Also, unlike a normal search, a user generally inputs a keyword when searching for information on a specific topic, and instead of entering a keyword that represents "information value" that matches his or her own sense of values as described above. Explicitly verbalizing and inputting is generally difficult except for a user who always performs self-analysis.

[0011]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The contents and purposes handled by information sources on the Internet are diverse, and the information value is also diverse. Especially when it comes to information sources on user-participatory sites, there are a wide variety of issues such as problem solving, information exchange, opinion expression, friend recruitment, emotion sharing, content exchange, and work presentation. In addition, the expression of the content of the content ranges from logical sentences to symbolic character strings expressing emotions, even when it is limited to information sources represented by characters. The variety of contents, purposes, expressions, and expression methods that are exchanged among such a wide variety of information sources on the Internet are reflected by the values of participants involved in the information sources, and the information can be developed in a self-developing manner. We regard it as a characteristic / attribute that has been formed as the axis of the sense of value / thought system of the source, and in the following, we call it "communication value". Communication value is one example of information value.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram for explaining information value. User-specific values based on the user's thinking system and desire for expression will be referred to as "user values". To give examples of user values, for example, "values that emphasize logical discussion" and "do not focus on logical consequences, but emphasize emotion sharing and mood sharing. Values ”and so on. These values cannot always be explicitly verbalized by the user himself.

In the figure, the first layer L1 shows the inside of the user, the second layer L2 shows the information value space, and the third layer L3 shows the space consisting of information sources. The information source may handle character information or may handle non-language information such as image data. Further, it may be created by a plurality of participants like a bulletin board site, or may be created by one creator.

The user 100 can have one or a plurality of values 102 (hereinafter referred to as “user values”) on the psychological inner face 101. For example, while the same user has a value that logical values are emphasized in the company, there is a case where important values are emphasized after returning home.

The second layer L2 is an information value space which is a system of information values. In addition, to derive the information value space,
For example, it is conceivable to use an analysis method described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-155063 “Thought-system analysis method and analysis device”.

A plurality of information values 1 are stored in the information value space 103.
04 exists, the above-mentioned user value 102 corresponds to one of the information values 103, and the user 100 is satisfied with the information source having the information value 103 corresponding to his or her user value 102. I shall. However, in general, the user rarely knows what his or her own user values are, and the user values included in the deep psychology of the user may be known by the user himself. Since it is difficult, it is difficult to autonomously discover the information value 104 corresponding to the user's sense of value 102.

The third layer is a space 105 made up of information sources on the net, and the space 105 includes a plurality of information sources 106. The information source 106 includes one or more pieces of information 107. The information source 106 may be one whose content changes momentarily due to addition of new information, deletion of old information, or the like, or one whose content does not change. Further, the information 106 included in the information source 106 may be information provided by a plurality of unspecified participants, may be provided by one or a plurality of specified participants, and the like. The information may be provided by any method.

Information value 104 corresponding to information source 106
Is one of the important factors that determine the characteristics and attributes of the information source. This is because the context of information held by the information source 106 and the direction of thinking appear in the information value 104, and the information value 104 increases the number of new participants and further develops intellectual activities. . However, there is a problem that the display of the information source 106 based on the information value 104 cannot be realized in the conventional technique.

The present invention displays a plurality of information sources 106 existing on the net based on the information value 104 of the information sources. For example, regarding the regularity based on the similarity at the time of display, the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-155
[063] By using the example of the analysis method given in "Analysis method and analysis device of thinking system", objects representing the information source 106 having the information value 104 of the same tendency are arranged close to each other, or the same. Arrange them in a straight line.

Further, according to the present invention, when deriving the similarity of the information value 104 of the information source 106, any person related to the information source, for example, a participant of the community or a person in charge of classifying the search site does not have to do anything. Additional evaluation processes (eg,
"Does this community attach importance to logical consequences?"
It is characterized in that the primary information that the information source 106 has is used as an analysis element of the information value 104, without requiring the questionnaire totalization). “Primary information” refers to information provided to the information source according to the purpose of the information source 106, such as postings on bulletin board sites, images on museum sites, music files on music sites, and the like. .

The present invention has the following features as means for solving the above problems.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of information sources connected to the communication network, an information mediating device connected to the communication network, and a client device connectable to the information mediating device via the communication network. Have. The information mediating apparatus collects information from a plurality of information sources and analyzes the collected information to determine a correlation between one or more indicators corresponding to the information value and the information source based on the indicators. Generate the information shown.

The "information source" refers to all kinds of information sources that can be accessed and viewed by the user, such as an electronic bulletin board server and a website. The source is
Not only the one that handles characters such as a bulletin board, but also the one that handles non-language information such as paintings, images, and images may be used.
When dealing with non-linguistic information such as paintings, if there is a comment attached to it (that is, a natural sentence), that comment may be the analysis target, or the image information may be converted into a painting by using an image analysis program or the like. It is also possible in the present invention to extract information such as the touch, the image of the entire color, and the like and plot it according to the index. For example,
An application is also possible in which image data is plotted using the sharp touch and warm touch indexes (first evaluation axis) and the bright color and dark color indexes (second evaluation axis) as the X axis and the Y axis, respectively. This is possible with the present invention.

The correlation between the information sources may be given as coordinates with one or more indices as coordinate axes.

The client device receives data including one or a plurality of indexes and information indicating the correlation between the information sources based on the indexes from the information mediating apparatus, and the user can easily understand the correlation between the information sources. It is displayed in the form. As a display mode, a method of arranging an object representing an information source according to the coordinate axes in a three-dimensional space having one or a plurality of indices as the coordinate axes can be considered. When determining the indicator,
It is not necessary to analyze all the target information sources, and an index may be derived from the information source that is a subset thereof, and the correlation of all sites may be displayed based on the index. For example, if there are 1 million information sources,
Random sampling of 10,000 out of 0,000
The indicator may be determined based on millions of information sources.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in an information mediating apparatus that provides information for connecting a user to an information source, an information collecting unit that collects information from a plurality of information sources and analyzes the collected information. Accordingly, it has an analysis unit for generating guidepost data. The information intermediary device may be configured to provide information as a server in response to a request from the client device, or may be configured to be implemented in the terminal device on the user side.

The data used by the analysis unit for analysis is the primary information of the information source. For example, when the information source is a bulletin board site, not the index or title such as the title of the bulletin board site, but the written content itself of the bulletin board user is the analysis target. As a result, it is possible to deal with the nature of information sources, information value (communication value), etc., which change from moment to moment.

The signpost data is data for guiding the user to the information source. For example, in the case of an information source using language information such as a bulletin board site, it is a representative word representing the value / trend of the information source or the information value. It may be. Also, the so-called "analysis" is not limited to analysis by statistical methods,
It also includes analysis methods that are not included in the statistical methods (for example, analysis by genetic algorithm).

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in a client device that receives information for connecting a user and an information source, the client device displays an object indicating the information source, and the client device has the object. It is characterized in that it is displayed at a position according to the index and at a position corresponding to the correlation between the information sources.

The client device presents to the user, for example, a user interface simulating the information value space in a three-dimensional outer space, and the user virtually wanders in the three-dimensional outer space to obtain information suitable for the user value. You can find the source.

The invention according to claim 9 is, in an information mediating method for providing information for connecting a user and an information source, a step of collecting information from an information source connected to a communication network, and the collection. A step of determining a predetermined index based on the correlation between the information sources based on the information obtained, and information indicating the correlation between the information sources using the determined index. And a step of determining.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in a method for presenting information for connecting a user and an information source to the user, the information for displaying the information source associated with the index is acquired. According to the step and the acquired information, the object corresponding to the information source is
And a step of displaying a laid state with the index as a reference.

[0033]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, an information mediating system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. [First Embodiment] The first embodiment is an information source 106.
As an electronic bulletin board system on the Internet (hereinafter referred to as a bulletin board). Here, the "bulletin board" is assumed to be established by the participation of a plurality of participants, and the primary information of the activity contents is added to the information source by the user / user of the information source. It is assumed that the information is a natural sentence written on the electronic bulletin board by the bulletin board user.

[System Configuration Example] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an information mediating system for connecting a user (user) of the information mediating system according to the present embodiment with a bulletin board. In the figure, the information mediating system includes an information mediating server connected to the communication network 201 and a communication network 201.
The bulletin board server 203 is connected to the information mediation server 202 and the client device 204 connectable to the information mediation server 202 and the bulletin board server 203 via the communication network 201. Although only one bulletin board server 203 is shown,
It is assumed that the representative is displayed and there are a plurality of bulletin board servers 203.

[Communication network 201] The communication network 201 is wired or
When a device connected to a wireless line, a leased line or a switched line establishes a session with a target device, it acts to enable transmission / reception of information between them. Each communication network may be realized by combining a plurality of networks via a gateway like the Internet. Also, regarding the connection, even if the connection is not made directly to the backbone line called the so-called backbone, but is temporarily connected by PPP connection or the like, when the session is established, information can be transmitted and received between them. I don't care. The "communication network" includes a communication network that does not use an exchange, such as a fixed line with fixed lines.

[Information Mediation Server 202] The information mediation server 202 is a plurality of bulletin board servers 203 serving as information sources 106.
The correlation between the bulletin board sites provided by the is based on the contents of the bulletin board sites (for example, posted texts posted on the bulletin board), and a predetermined index is determined, and the predetermined index and the bulletin board site are related to each other. Information for causing the client device to display the predetermined index and the bulletin board site is generated and provided.

The information mediating server 202 is an information processing device such as a computer or a workstation, and has an arithmetic processing unit (CPU), a main memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), an input / output device (I / O). ), A device including an external storage device such as a hard disk device. The information mediating server 202 is an information processing device such as the ROM or the hard disk device.
A program for causing the computer to execute the information mediating method is stored, and the program is loaded on the main memory.
When U executes this, the information mediating server 202 is realized, or the information mediating method is executed. Also,
The program does not have to be stored in a storage device in the device, and may be stored in an external device (for example, AS
It may be provided from a P (application service provider) server or the like and placed in the main memory.

[Bulletin board server 203] Bulletin board server 20
A server device 3 for realizing one or a plurality of bulletin board sites receives a post from a client device 204, who is a poster, stores the post, and stores the posted content in response to a request from the client device 204. It has the function of displaying on the device.

[Client Device 204] The client device 204 receives information for displaying the predetermined index and the bulletin board site on the client device from the information mediating server 202, and by displaying this information, the client device 204 and the bulletin board. It has the function of connecting sites.
The client device 204 is an information processing device such as a computer, a workstation, or a mobile terminal that can be connected to the information mediating server 202 via the communication network 201.
For example, a computer equipped with a so-called browser which is a web document browsing software having a web connection function,
Or mobile communication terminal, PDA (Personal Digital A
ssistant) and so on.

[Bulletin Board Client Device 303] The bulletin board client device 303 has a function of posting or browsing the bulletin board site provided by the bulletin board server 203. The bulletin board client device 303 is a computer connectable to the bulletin board server 203 via the communication network 201,
An information processing apparatus such as a workstation or a mobile terminal, for example, a computer equipped with a so-called browser, which is Web document browsing software having a Web connection function, or a mobile communication terminal, a PDA (Personal D
igital Assistant) and so on. The same information processing device may function as the client device 204 and the bulletin board client device 303.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the relationship between the information mediating server 202, the client device 204, and the information source space 301 including a plurality of bulletin boards. Information mediation server 202
Has an information collecting unit 305 that is a means for acquiring the contents of the plurality of bulletin boards 302 included in the information source space 301, and an analyzing unit 306 that analyzes the information value from the contents acquired by the information collecting unit 305. In addition, the client device 20
4 has a display unit 307 for displaying the analysis contents supplied from the information mediation server 202. The information source space 301 includes a plurality of bulletin boards 302, and each bulletin board 302 receives a posting provided by a bulletin board user device 303 from a bulletin board user 304, stores the posting, and posts the posting content by the bulletin board client device 303. Shown to user 304. Note that the bulletin board user 304 and the user 308 of this system may be the same or different.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another system configuration example when the information mediating server 202 is not provided independently as shown in FIG. In this modification, the client device 204 operated by the user 308 may be provided with the information collecting unit 305 and the analyzing unit 306 as the acquisition unit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing still another configuration example of this system. In this configuration example, the information mediation server 2
The case where the information processing apparatus No. 02 also functions as the bulletin board server 203 at the same time is shown. The present embodiment is also valid in this configuration.

Next, the information mediating server 202, the bulletin board server 203, and the client device 2 shown in FIGS.
04, a configuration example of the bulletin board client device 303 will be described.

[Configuration Example of Bulletin Board Server and Bulletin Board Client Device] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the bulletin board server 203 and the bulletin board client device 303. The bulletin board server 203 includes a communication control unit 601, a main controller 602, a display information generation unit 603, a posted content registration processing unit 604, and a posted content database (D
B) 605. The communication control unit 601 has a function of receiving information from the communication network and sending information to the communication network, and is composed of, for example, a protocol stack, a central processing unit that executes a predetermined communication procedure according to the protocol stack, and the like. Front-end communication processing device (Front En
d Communication Processor). The main controller 602 controls the communication control unit 601, the display information generation unit 603, and the bulletin board content registration processing unit 604 to accept postings from the bulletin board client device 303 and to send data indicating the bulletin board contents to the bulletin board client device 3.
03 has the function to provide. Display information generation unit 603
Has a function of reading data from the bulletin board content DB 605 and generating data (for example, HTML document data having posted contents) to be transmitted to the bulletin board client device based on the data. The posted content registration processing unit 604,
It has a function of writing the posted data transmitted from the bulletin board client device 303 in the posted content DB 605. The posting content DB 605 has a function of recording post data in a readable and writable manner.

On the other hand, the bulletin board client device 303 has the following configuration. The bulletin board client device 303 includes a communication control unit 606 and a main controller 6
07, a display unit 608, and an input unit 609. The communication control unit 601 has a function of receiving information from the communication network 201 and sending information to the communication network 201. For example, a protocol stack, a central processing unit that executes a predetermined communication procedure according to the protocol stack, and the like. Front End Commun
ication Processor). The communication control unit 601 may be mounted on the bulletin board client device by an operating system (OS) such as Windows (trademark of Microsoft Corporation).

The main controller 607 has a function of controlling communication, input, and display in the bulletin board client device 303, and is a web browser such as Internet Explorer (trademark of Microsoft Corporation) or Netscape Communicator (trademark of Netscape Corporation). It is software. The display unit 608 is means for displaying information to the user, and is, for example, a liquid crystal display device, a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), or the like.
The input unit 609 is a means for receiving input from the user, and is, for example, a keyboard, a pointing device, or the like.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the information mediating server 202 and the client device 204. The information mediating server 202 is connected to the communication control unit 704, the main controller 705 and the information collecting unit 305 connected to the communication control unit 704, the search unit 707 and the morpheme analyzing unit 706 connected to the main controller 705, and the information collecting unit 305. The analysis unit 306 and the display object database (DB) 708 connected to the main controller 705, the information collection unit 305, and the analysis unit 306 are included.

The communication control unit 704 has a function of receiving information from the communication network 201 and transmitting information to the communication network 201. For example, a protocol stack, a central unit for executing a predetermined communication procedure according to the protocol stack. Front end communication processing unit (Front End
Communication Processor). The main controller 705 has a function of controlling each component of the information intermediary server 202. The morphological analysis unit 706 has a function of analyzing a search sentence (natural sentence) and extracting a word that matches a predetermined condition from the natural sentence. The predetermined condition is the designation of the part of speech included in the analysis result, the form of the entry word (appearance form,
The stem). The search unit 707 has a function of receiving a search expression and returning an information source extracted as a search result that matches the search expression. For example, the search unit 707 searches the information source including the word extracted by the morpheme analysis unit 706, and identifies the information source extracted as the search result.
Operates to return (Uniform Resource Indicator).

The information collecting unit 305 functions to check whether or not a predetermined information source has been added, modified, or updated, and if there is such addition or the like, obtain the content thereof. Note that the information collecting unit 305 provides information to the information source 1 like a patrol robot.
06 information may be collected, or information supplied as PUSH type information from the information source 106 may be acquired.

The display object DB 708 has a function of storing data for displaying each information source in association with a pluralistic information value. In FIG. 8, the display object D
An example of the data structure of B708 is shown. FIG. 8 shows the structure of a record relating to one bulletin board. The display object DB 708 has such a record for each information source 107 (= bulletin board) to be displayed.

The analysis unit 306 uses the display object DB 7
The content stored in 08 and / or the content collected by the information collecting unit 305 is analyzed by a statistical method to derive a pluralistic information value 104 and the information value 10
4 and the information source 106 are associated with each other. Note that the analysis unit 306 functions when changing the overall axis of the space in which each object representing the information source 106 is displayed, and may be, for example, operating once every several months. In addition,
Each component of the information mediating server 202 described above does not necessarily need to be physically provided in one device, and is distributed and arranged in a plurality of devices connected to each other by a communication line, for example. May be.

Next, a configuration example of the analysis unit 306 will be described. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the analysis unit 306. In the example shown in the figure, the analysis unit 306 includes a morpheme analysis unit 901 and a multivariate analysis unit 90 connected thereto.
2, a guidepost data creation unit 903 connected to the multivariate analysis unit 902, a guide data creation unit 904, each base word coordinate value creation unit 905, and a database (DB) registration controller 906 connected to each creation unit. have.

The morpheme analysis unit 901 has an information collection unit 305.
Has a function of analyzing a natural sentence or the like collected by and extracting a word that matches a predetermined condition from the natural sentence. The predetermined condition is the designation of the part of speech included in the analysis result and the form of the entry word (appearance form, stem, etc.). The multivariate analysis unit 902
Information about each bulletin board (display object DB 305
Stored data and the data collected by the information collecting unit 305) are analyzed by a statistical method to obtain the correlation between bulletin boards. As one of the methods for realizing the multivariate analysis unit 902, the technology described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-155063 “Thought type analysis method and analysis apparatus” can be considered.

The signpost data creation unit 903 has a function of creating object data for expressing the information value of each bulletin board based on the analysis result of the multivariate analysis unit 902. The guide data creation unit 904 is a multivariate analysis unit 902.
Data for displaying a "tube" described later is created based on the analysis result of. The guide data is data for visually displaying the regularity related to the arrangement of the information sources to the user. Each base word coordinate value creation unit 905
A "base word" that functions as an index that forms the information value space
It has a function to generate position coordinates of. The DB registration controller 906 functions as a DBMS (database management system) that writes or reads the data created by each creating unit into the display object DB 708. It should be noted that each of the constituent elements 901 to 906 of the above-described analysis unit 306 does not necessarily need to be physically provided in one device, and for example, a plurality of devices (client device) mutually connected by a communication line. (Including 204).

[Operation Example of Information Mediation Server] The information mediation server 202 responds to a request from the client device 204.
Information for connecting the user to the information source (the bulletin board in this embodiment) is displayed in the display object DB 708.
It is created based on the data stored in, and is transmitted to the client device 204. Information for connecting the user to the information source is provided to the user as a display user interface at the client device 204. The information mediation server 202 also performs the following regular monitoring processing.

[Periodic Monitoring Process] In general, when the information source 104 has the property of participation and development, its information value and these information value spaces change with the passage of time. In the present invention, by periodically acquiring the contents from the information source, it is possible to reflect this change and display the new state of the information source, its information value, and the information value space to the user. Figure 1 shows the algorithm for this periodic monitoring process.
0, shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is an algorithm for updating the attributes (activity etc.) of each information source, and FIG. 11 is an algorithm for updating with the analysis of the information value space. Since the former process is lighter than the latter process, the convenience of the user can be improved by increasing the update frequency and constantly updating the latest information. In FIG. 10, the information mediating server 2
02 first resets a timer (not shown) (step 1001). Next, it is checked whether or not a predetermined period has elapsed after the timer reset (step 10).
02). If the predetermined period has not elapsed, step 100
Returning to step 2, when the time has elapsed, the information collecting unit 305 is activated, the bulletin boards are patrolled, and updated information is collected (step 1003). Then, step 10 again
Returning to 01, the same processing is repeatedly executed. As a result, it becomes possible to collect updated information on the bulletin board on a regular basis, and it becomes possible to provide information for connecting the user and the information source based on the updated information.

FIG. 11 shows the flow of the update process accompanying the analysis of the information value space by the information mediation server 202. First, the information mediating server 202 resets a timer (not shown) (step 1101). Next, it is checked whether or not a predetermined period has elapsed after the timer reset (step 1102). If the predetermined period has not elapsed, the process returns to step 1102. If the predetermined period has elapsed, the information collecting unit 305 is activated to collect updated information from each information source (step 1103). Based on the collected update information and the already recorded information, the analysis unit 306 analyzes the correlation of each information source (bulletin board in this embodiment) and the like (step 1104). Then, in the display object DB 708, coordinate values in the information value space of the object indicating the information source (hereinafter referred to as “information source display object”) generated based on the analysis result, guidepost data, guide data, and base word coordinate values are stored. Write (step 1105). Thereafter, step 1101 again
Then, the same process is repeated.

[Example of Display Method of Information Value Space in Client Device 204] A large number of target information in order to derive the information value of the information source 104 (bulletin board in this embodiment) and the correlation between the information sources. Consider the information value space formed by the information value system of the entire source. In order to derive the information value space, it is conceivable to use the primary information included in the information source, and when a bulletin board is used as the information source 104,
It is conceivable to use the utterance content of the target bulletin board as an analysis element and use the analysis method described in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-155063 "Thought-system analysis method and analysis apparatus". Further, according to the method described in the above patent publication, the correlation of the information value of each information source display object (for example, one bulletin board is displayed as one object) in the obtained information value space It can be placed at a position according to the relationship. In the information source display objects laid in this way, objects having similar or approximate information values are laid and displayed in the vicinity.

By this display method, the user browses a certain information source (bulletin board) or the like, and thereby the information value of the information source corresponding to another information source display object arranged in the vicinity of the information source display object. Can be analogized.

In addition, this display method displays the signpost data representing the information value corresponding to the nearby information source display object so that the user can display the information source indicated by the information source display object near the signpost data. You can easily know the information value of. This makes it possible to assist the user in finding an information source having an information value desired by the user and accompanying heuristic search.

Further, by displaying the guide data visually showing the regularity of arrangement of the information source display object to the user together with the information source display object, the user can intuitively grasp the regularity. To do.

As described above, the information mediating server 202 obtains the information for connecting the user with the information source and provides the information to the client device 204. Client device 2
04, the provided information is processed by the main controller 702 and displayed on the display unit 307 so that the user can recognize it. The method of displaying information for connecting the user to the information source and the graphical user interface realized by the method will be described below.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the information value space displayed in this embodiment. In this example, the information value space is displayed imitating a three-dimensional space (outer space). A plurality of information sources (bulletin board in this example) exist in the three-dimensional outer space 1201, and each information source is displayed as an information source display object 1202 imitating a galaxy or a star. Information source display object 1202
Have attributes such as shape, size, rotation speed, and color, and these attributes are the information source display object 1.
It represents the characteristics of the information source corresponding to 202.
For example, the shape represents the freshness of the information source, the size represents the number of members of the information source, the rotation speed represents the activity of the information source (such as the number of posts in a predetermined period), and so on. It is preferable to use an expression method that is intuitive and easy to understand. Also, in the three-dimensional outer space 1201, the user viewpoint can be freely changed,
The user displays the information source display object 1202 arranged in the three-dimensional outer space 1201 from the position and direction he / she prefers.
Can be observed. For example, the information source display object 1202 included in the space can be freely observed by freely moving in any direction and changing the line-of-sight direction.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a display example of an information value space including guide data. In the same figure, an information source display object 1202 is arranged in an information value space 1301, and a tube 1 which is guide data.
303 and a base word label 1302 representing the signpost data are arranged.

For example, according to the method described in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-155063 “Thinking system analysis method and analysis apparatus”, the information source display objects having the same information value are on one straight line. It is possible to place them side by side. In this case, by displaying the tube 1303 as guide data indicating the straight line, the information value space 1
Information source display object 1202 laid in 301
It is possible to provide a display method in which the direction of each tendency is easy to understand. For example, the user has the same tube 1
By selecting the information source display object 1202 around 303, it is possible to easily find a plurality of information sources having a common information value. In addition, the user can easily find an information source having an information value that matches his or her user values by selecting the information source display object 1202 in an area where many guideposts 1302 that match his or her user values can be found. It becomes possible.

Further, as described above, the state of the corresponding information source (for example, activity or freshness) is determined by using the non-verbal attributes such as the color, shape, texture and rotation speed of each information source display object 1202. It is possible to allow the user to intuitively grasp the state of the information source by visually displaying the message to the user.

FIG. 14 shows a screen example when a certain information source display object 1202 in the display example of FIG. 13 is activated by a predetermined operation of the user (for example, clicking with a pointing device). In the same figure, when the object 1202 is clicked, a bulletin board display window 1401 is generated and the contents of the bulletin board are displayed on the display unit 307 of the client device 204.

That is, information for identifying the information source corresponding to each of the displayed information source display objects 1202 (for example, URI (Universal Resource I
dentifier)) is associated and the user selects and executes the information source display object by using a mouse click or the like, and jumps to the corresponding information source and the content is displayed on the display unit 307 of the client device 204. . This allows the user to more easily select an information source, browse its contents, and participate.

[Configuration Example of Graphical User Interface] Next, the display unit 307 of the client device 204.
A configuration example of a graphical user interface (hereinafter, referred to as GUI) provided by will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 to 18. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a GUI for causing the client device 204 to display information provided by the information mediation server 202 for connecting a user with an information source, and FIG.
Is a conceptual diagram for explaining the information value space display area 1502 and the entire display area 1503, FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the information source fixed point observation region, and FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the viewpoint clipping region. is there. In the configuration example shown in FIG. 15, a GUI for displaying information for connecting a user to an information source is generated in the window 1501, and the GUI includes an information value space display area 1502, an entire display area 1503, View field operation area 1504, search input area 1505, information source fixed point observation area 1506
, Attribute display area 1507, and viewpoint clipping area 1
Has 508.

The information value space display area 1502 has a function of displaying the information value space in the visual field designated by the user. The information value space display area 1502 displays the information source display object 1202, the guidepost data 1302, and the guide data 1303 included in the visual field according to their respective positional relationships, and displays a three-dimensional virtual space as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, for example. indicate. In addition, guidepost data 1
The 302 and the guide data 1303 do not necessarily have to be displayed, and the display / non-display may be switched according to the user's selection.

The information source display object 1202 is designed so that its appearance represents the attributes / characteristics of the corresponding information source. For example, the shape of the information source display object 1202 may be a triangular pyramid, a cube, or a polyhedron according to the freshness of the information source. Further, the rotation of the information source display object 1202 may be changed or stopped depending on the activity level of the information source. Further, as an example, the information source display object 1202 indicating the information source that has been browsed by the user may be colored in a predetermined color (for example, red). Further, as another example, the information source display object 1202 indicating the information source hit in the search from the search input area 1505 may have a higher brightness than the brightness of the other information source display objects 1202. The appearance of the information source display object 1202 indicating the attributes / characteristics of the information source is not limited to the above-described appearance elements, and any appearance element that can be expressed by the client device 204 may be used. For example, the color / brightness /
Luminance, pattern / texture attached to information source display object 1202, blinking speed of information source display object 1202, rhythm of its pulsation, information source display object 1
It is conceivable to indicate the attributes and characteristics of the information source using various appearance elements such as the rotation direction of 202.

The entire display area 1503 has a function of displaying the entire information value space, and the information value space display area 150
It is an area for showing the relationship between the area displayed by 2 and the entire information value space. Entire display area 1503
The display of the symbol allows the user to know at which position in the information value space and in which direction the user is facing. The field of view operation 1504 has a tool for arbitrarily changing the user's viewpoint in the information value space. For example, the field-of-view operation area 1504 includes a cross key for rotating the field of view up and down, left and right, and a plus key and a minus key for moving in the front-back direction (vertical direction toward the paper surface). Have. The user can change the field of view in the information value space by operating these, and accordingly, the contents displayed in the information value space display area 1502 are changed in conjunction with each other.

The change of the field of view and the relationship between the information value space display area 1502 and the entire display area 1503 will be described with reference to FIG. First, the user is the information value space 1
Within position 301, field of view 16011
The information value space 1301 is overlooked. At this time, the field of view 16011 includes two information source display objects 12021 and 12022. There are two information source display objects 120 in the information value space display area 1502.
21, 12022 will be displayed.

Next, the user performs a rotating operation using the field-of-view operation 1504 so that the field of view 16012 is obtained. Another two information source display objects 12023 and 12024 are included in the field of view 16012. The content displayed in the information value space display area 1502 is changed according to the change of the field of view, and the content displayed in the information value space display area 1502 is 2
The two information source display objects 12023 and 12024 are displayed, and the information source display objects 12021 and 12022 outside the field of view 16012 are not displayed in the information value space display area 1502.

Next, the user operates the field of view operation 1504.
From viewpoint position 16021 to viewpoint position 160
Change to 22. Then, from the view 16012 to the view 16
Instead of 013, the information value space display area 1502 further includes three other information source display objects 12025, 12
026 and 12027 are displayed.

In this way, the user can see any area in the information value space by appropriately changing the viewpoint position and the direction of the visual field.

On the other hand, the entire display area 1503 has a viewpoint position 160 overlooking the entire information value space 1301.
The information value space 1301 viewed from 3 is displayed. Further, the current viewpoint position of the user may be displayed in the information value space 1301. As a result, the user can immediately know where in the information value space 1301 the user is currently located, and can be used as a guide for which one to move to next.

Next, the search input area 1505 will be described. The search input area 1505 is an area for receiving a search word from a user. The received search word is passed to the search unit 707 of the information mediating server 202, and the search unit 707 identifies the information source including the search word and notifies the client device 204 of this. The client device 204 displays the information source display object 1202 corresponding to the notified information source to the user by a predetermined method. As a predetermined method, it is possible to change the object to a specific color or blink the object.

Next, the fixed point observation area 1506 will be described. The fixed point observation area 1506 has a function of recording the information source display object 1202 that the user wants to continuously observe. FIG. 17 shows a configuration example of the fixed point observation area 1506. The fixed point observation area 1506 has one or a plurality of recording areas 1701, and the information source display object 120
2 with a pointing device, either recording area 17
By performing an operation such as dragging to 01, a display object in a display form with a copy of the information source display object 1202 or more detailed information is displayed in the area 15
It is generated and stored in 06. This fixed point observation area 15
The information source display object 1202 displayed in 06 is
The information is displayed according to the latest information of the information mediation server 202, and the state according to the change of the corresponding information source is shown. As a result, the user operates the operation area 1504.
Fixed point observation area 1 without moving the information value space using
By referring to 506, the information source display object 1202 can be observed or accessed at any time. Further, detailed information can be known by looking at the display form accompanied by detailed information. Here, as an example of a display form accompanied by more detailed information, there is a conversion into a rotation speed at a finer stage than that of the information source display object 1202 and display.

Next, the attribute display area 1507 will be described. The attribute display area 1507 has a function of displaying detailed information of the information source display object 1202 designated by the user. Examples of detailed information include a title, a site name, a top category, a last updated date, and a total number of messages. The designation of the information source display object 1202 by the user is performed by a pointer over operation, click, or the like.

Next, the viewpoint clipping area 1508 will be described. The viewpoint clipping area 1508 is a visual field (viewpoint position and visual field direction) designated by the user.
And the content of the information value space in the field of view recorded in response to a request from the user is displayed in the information value space display area 150.
2 has the function of displaying. FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the viewpoint clipping area 1508. In this configuration example, the viewpoint clipping area 1508 has a viewpoint clipping display area 1801, a registration button 1805, and a delete button 1806. The viewpoint clipping display area 1801 has a function of displaying one record for each recorded viewpoint information. Each record includes a coordinate position 1802 indicating the viewpoint position, a line-of-sight direction 18 indicating the direction of the field of view.
03, information 1804 on voting data located in the vicinity of the fixed point. In the example shown in FIG.
3 fields of view 16011, 16012, 1601 shown in FIG.
Records R1801 and R180 corresponding to each of 3
2, R1803 is recorded. The user designates one of these records by clicking or pressing the enter key to display the view corresponding to the record in the information value space display area 1502.

Also, the user can record new viewpoint information by activating by clicking the register button 1805 or pressing the enter key. When new viewpoint information is recorded, the viewpoint clipping display area 1801
A new record is displayed in. In addition, the user designates one of the records of fixed point information and deletes the button 1806.
If you activate it by clicking or pressing the Enter key, you can delete the record of the viewpoint information.

Note that the above-described user interface configuration example is merely an example, and the present invention and the present invention are not limited to this user interface configuration.

[Modification of this Embodiment] This embodiment can also be used as a system for displaying / reproducing pictures, images, images, moving images, and audio files as information sources to the user in accordance with user values. . In addition, if information that visually displays the contents such as paintings, images, images, and videos is used as the information source display object, the information source display object itself can function as the landmark data, so that it is possible for the user to use the information without displaying the landmark data separately. It is possible to support a heuristic search.

[Others] The information source that can be handled by the present invention is not limited to the information site such as the electronic bulletin board system, but may be other information. In addition, as the information analyzed by the information mediation server 202,
"Natural sentences" such as posted sentences on the bulletin board are conceivable, but instead of or together with natural sentences, images, paintings, videos (using cuts and scenes as analysis elements), music (artists, lyrics, etc. are analyzed. It can also be applied to communities that use non-verbal elements such as (to make elements) as a means of communication, or to non-verbal elements themselves.

A modification of the present invention using non-linguistic elements will be described below. (1) Virtual Museum Site FIG. 19 shows a display example of a GUI (information value space display area) according to the present invention when the information source is a virtual museum site. In the figure, in the information value space display area 1901, thumbnails 1902 of images are arranged and displayed as information source display objects. The thumbnail 1902 is a thumbnail of an image stored in the virtual museum site. The user can heuristically search for an image based on his or her preference while looking at the thumbnail. When the user finds an image he / she likes, he / she can jump to the virtual museum site by clicking on the thumbnail 1902 of the image, and the user can further browse the images stored in the virtual museum site.

(2) Pet Photo FIG. 20 is a display example of the GUI according to the present invention when a thumbnail of an image is used as an information source display object, and the image is of a pet selected by a participant. It is a photograph. In the figure, the information value space display area 2
At 001, an image thumbnail 2002 is arranged as an information source display object. The thumbnail is a picture of the pet selected by the participant. It is considered that what kind of pet picture is selected reflects the individuality and lifestyle of the participant, and the user walks by looking at the thumbnails 2002 arranged in the information value space, and thus the user's own value. It is possible to find not only pets that match or are similar to the view, but also participants who have similar or similar personalities and lifestyles.

(3) Music Site FIG. 20 is a display example of the GUI according to the present invention when an object that reproduces all or a part of the music (for example, the beginning portion) is used as the information source display object. Thus, the source display objects are all represented by small spherical objects. In the figure,
In the information value space display area 2101, a small spherical object 2102 is arranged as an information source display object. The spherical object is adapted to play all or part of the music when activated by the user. The user can search the information value space while reproducing all or a part of music, and can find a music that he / she likes.

As described above, the present invention can be realized by using non-linguistic elements.

[Advantages of this Embodiment] As described above, according to the present invention, the heuristic search of the user is enabled by displaying the information sources on the net in the arrangement based on the information value thereof. , And efficient source search, observation,
Can provide means of participation. Although it is difficult for the user to express his or her sense of value explicitly, according to the present embodiment, information sources having similar information values are arranged close to each other. If the user can find one information source or signpost that suits his or her sense of values by using the signpost that represents the information value as a landmark or by actually browsing the contents of the information source, the user will be placed around it. Similarly, it is possible to expect that information sources that match the values are also highly valued, so that it is possible to find them efficiently.

Further, according to the present embodiment, guide data (for example, tube) suggesting the similarity of information value.
By displaying, there is an advantage that the user can easily grasp the tendency of the information source.

Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, since only the primary information in the information source is used for the analysis of the information value, additional evaluation is given to the participants or operators of the information source. It is possible to proceed with the analysis without the need for time and effort.

Further, by selecting the displayed information source display object by clicking the mouse or the like, the presented contents of the corresponding information source are displayed, and the user can more easily select the information source and participate. .

Further, by periodically acquiring the activity contents from the information source, it is possible to always display the latest state of the information value space to the user.

[0096]

According to the present invention, the user and the information source are linked to each other, which enables the user to easily find the information source having the information value that matches his or her own values (user values). It becomes possible to provide the information of.

According to the present invention, even if the user does not explicitly recognize his own values (user values),
It is possible to easily find an information source having an information value that matches one's own values (user values).

Further, according to the present invention, since the information display objects having approximate information value are arranged in the vicinity of the information display objects which are of interest to the user, he / she may notice them by visiting them. It is possible to discover the user's sense of user values (for example, preferences and preferences) that did not exist.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram for explaining information value.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an information mediating system that connects a user (user) and a bulletin board.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a relationship with an information mediating server, a client device, and a community space including a plurality of bulletin boards.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another system configuration example in the case where an information mediating server is not independently provided.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing still another configuration example of the information mediation system.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a bulletin board server and a bulletin board client device.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an information mediating server and a client device.

FIG. 8 shows a data configuration example of a display object DB.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an analysis unit.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an algorithm for updating attributes (activity and the like) of each community.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an algorithm of updating accompanying analysis of an information value space.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of an information value space.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a display example of an information value space including a guide.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a screen when an object is activated by a predetermined operation of a user.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a graphical user interface.

FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining an information value space display area and an entire display area.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a fixed point observation area.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a viewpoint clipping region.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing another configuration example of a graphical user interface.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing another configuration example of a graphical user interface.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing another configuration example of a graphical user interface.

[Explanation of symbols]

201 ... Communication network 202 ... Information mediation server 203… Bulletin board server (information source) 204 ... Client device 303 ... Bulletin board client device 305 ... Information collection (engine) section 306 ... Analysis unit 307 ... Display unit 704 ... Communication control unit 705 ... Main controller 706 ... Morphological analysis unit 707 ... Search unit 708 ... Display object DB 1202 ... Information source display object 1501 ... Window (GUI) 1502 ... Information value space display area 1503 ... Whole display area 1504 ... Field of view operation 1505 ... Search input area 1506 ... Fixed point observation area 1507 ... Attribute display area 1508 ... View clipping area

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Megumi Nozu             6-735 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Soni             -Inside the corporation (72) Inventor Hiroki Kato             6-735 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Soni             -Inside the corporation (72) Inventor Hirotoshi Maekawa             6-735 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Soni             -Inside the corporation F term (reference) 5B075 NS10 PQ02 PQ13 QM08    (54) [Title of Invention] Information mediation system, information mediation device, client device, information mediation method, linking user and information source                     Method for presenting information to a user, their programs, and their program descriptions                     Recording medium

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. An information mediating system for providing information for connecting a user and an information source; a plurality of information sources connected to a communication network; an information mediating device connected to the communication network; and a communication network. A client device connectable to the information intermediary device, the information intermediary device including an information collection unit that collects information from a plurality of information sources, and one or more indicators by analyzing the collected information. An analysis unit that generates information indicating a correlation between information sources based on the index, and the client device displays the correlation between the information sources from the information mediating device based on a predetermined index. An information mediating system characterized by receiving data and displaying information for connecting a user and an information source based on the data. 2. An information mediating apparatus that provides information for connecting a user and an information source, and an information collecting unit that collects information from a plurality of information sources, and by analyzing the collected information, An information mediating device, comprising: an analysis unit that generates an index representing a correlation. 3. The information intermediation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the analysis unit further generates at least one of guide data and guidepost data. 4. The information mediating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the analysis unit obtains the index for determining the positions of the information source, the guidepost data, and the guide data by analysis, and has the first meaning of the information source. Information mediating device characterized by using only specific expression information. 5. The information mediating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the information collecting unit collects information from the information source regularly or intermittently. 6. A client device, which receives information for connecting a user to an information source, the client device displays an object indicating the information source, and the client device displays the object at an arrangement position according to an index. A client device, wherein the client device is displayed at a position corresponding to the correlation of all target information. 7. The client device according to claim 6, wherein the index follows regularity based on similarity of information sources. 8. The client device according to claim 6, wherein the object displays the attribute of the corresponding information source as a non-linguistic attribute. 9. An information mediating method for providing information for connecting a user and an information source, the step of collecting information from an information source connected to a communication network, and the information source based on the collected information. And a step of determining a predetermined index based on the primary information of the information source, and a step of determining information indicating the correlation of the information source using the determined index. An information mediating method characterized by the above. 10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the method further comprises information for displaying an information source associated with the index based on information indicating a correlation between the index and the information source. An information mediating method, further comprising a step of: 11. The information mediating method according to claim 10, wherein the information for displaying is a display that reflects the image of the user. 12. A method for presenting information for associating a user with an information source to a user, the step of obtaining information for displaying a information source associated with the index, and the obtained information. And displaying the state in which the object corresponding to the information source is laid on the basis of the index according to the method for presenting information for connecting the user and the information source to the user. . 13. A program for causing a computer to function as an information intermediary device that provides information for connecting a user to an information source, the computer comprising: an information collecting unit that collects information from a plurality of information sources. A program characterized by causing it to function as an analysis unit for generating guidepost data by analyzing the collected information. 14. In a program for causing a computer to function as a client device for receiving information for connecting a user and an information source, the computer: a display unit for displaying an object indicating the information source, the object being a certain index. A program according to claim 1, which functions as a display unit for displaying at a position according to the correlation between information sources. 15. A program for causing a computer to execute a method for providing information for connecting a user and an information source, collecting information from an information source connected to a communication network, and collecting the information. A step of determining a predetermined index based on the correlation of the information sources based on the primary information of the information source, and a step of determining information indicating the correlation of the information sources using the determined index And a program that causes a computer to execute. 16. A program for causing a computer to execute a method for presenting information for associating a user and an information source to a user, obtaining information for causing a display relating to the information source associated with the index. And a step of displaying a state in which an object corresponding to an information source is laid on the basis of the index according to the acquired information, the program being executed. 17. A computer-readable program recording medium, which stores the program according to any one of claims 13 to 16.