JP2004348711A - Apparatus and method for information management - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information management apparatus enabling easy search of horizontal services. <P>SOLUTION: An information management apparatus 4 acquires service dependent information which indicates information on a combination of the types of an electronic apparatus 1 necessary for service execution. The information management apparatus 4 stores at least one set of service dependent information obtained by a service dependent information acquisition means. The information management apparatus 4 acquires equipment dependent information which indicates information on the electronic apparatus 1. The electronic apparatus 1 issues a service search request. In response to the search request, the information management apparatus 4 searches for services executable by the electronic apparatus 1, based on the service dependent information and the equipment dependent information. The information management apparatus 4 transmits information indicating a list of the services executable by electronic apparatus 1 obtained from the search result to the electronic apparatus 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an information management apparatus, and more specifically, manages information related to a service in a system under a use environment in which a plurality of electronic devices execute a desired service in cooperation with each other via a network. The present invention relates to an information management device.

Conventionally, as a service realized on the Internet, for example, there has been a service in which a user accesses a host of the service using a personal computer and obtains an application to obtain the application. In such a service, a service provider registers an access destination of a host used for the provided service in a directory-type search service. On the other hand, the person who receives the service accesses the directory type service and searches for an access destination of the host for receiving the desired service. Thereby, the person who receives the service can obtain the access destination of the host for receiving the service. Thereafter, the person receiving the service accesses the host and receives a service such as downloading an application. Such a directory-type service has a standardization technology shown in Non-Patent Document 1.
Tom Bellwood, 5 others, "UDDI Version 3.0", [online], July 19, 2002, [Search April 25, 2003], Internet <URL: http://uddi.org/pubs/ uddi-v3.00-published-20020719.htm>

  In recent years, a number of CE (Consumer Electronics) devices and mobile devices that can be connected to the Internet have been commercialized. These devices communicate with each other via the Internet, thereby realizing various usage methods that did not exist in the past. As such a usage method, for example, by linking a plurality of devices owned by a user, downloading an application to each device, and executing the application in conjunction with each device, one service is provided. What can be realized is considered. Hereinafter, such a service is referred to as a horizontal service. As an example of the horizontal service, there is a service for setting a recording reservation for indoor video using a mobile phone or the like via the Internet, for example.

  Here, the horizontal service has a feature that a plurality of devices are used for one service. Therefore, in order to search for a service that can achieve the purpose, the user has to search for a service that can be used by combining a plurality of devices owned by the user.

  However, in the related art, there has not been a system for performing a search using a combination of devices owned by a user in searching for the horizontal service. Therefore, the user cannot easily search for a horizontal service that can achieve a desired purpose.

  Further, in the horizontal service, it is necessary to install applications required for a plurality of devices used for the service. Therefore, the user has to access the host of the service and download the application for each device. As a result, the number of accesses to the host on the service provider side has increased and the communication load on the network has increased.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a service search system that can easily search for the horizontal service.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a service search system capable of reducing the number of accesses to a server and reducing the communication load on a network.

  The present invention relates to an information management device that manages information about a service in a system under a use environment in which a plurality of electronic devices execute a desired service in cooperation with each other via a network. Specifically, the service-specific information obtaining means obtains service-specific information that is information on a combination of types of electronic devices required to execute a service. The storage means stores at least one or more pieces of service unique information acquired by the service unique information acquisition means. The device-specific information obtaining means obtains device-specific information, which is information on the electronic device. The request receiving means receives a search request from the electronic device. In response to the search request received by the request receiving unit, the search unit determines a service executable by the electronic device based on the service unique information stored in the storage unit and the device unique information acquired by the device unique information acquisition unit. Search. The transmission unit transmits to the electronic device information on a list of services executable by the electronic device, which is a search result by the search unit.

  In addition, the service specific information may further include information on an application that runs on each type of electronic device when the service is executed.

  Further, the update notification means may notify the electronic device when the information on the application indicates that the application has been updated.

  Further, the application acquiring means acquires the updated application when the information on the application indicates that the application has been updated, and the transmitting means acquires the application from the electronic device in response to the notification that the application has been updated. When the download request is issued, the application acquired by the application acquiring means may be transmitted.

  Further, the latest application acquisition means periodically acquires the latest application related to the service specific information stored in the storage means, the application storage means stores the application acquired by the latest application acquisition means, and the transmission means, When the electronic device performs a service, the latest application used by the electronic device in the service may be transmitted in response to a request from the electronic device.

  Further, on the network, there is a server that manages the service unique information, and the device unique information acquiring unit acquires, from the electronic device, device unique information that is information on the electronic device, and the service unique information acquiring unit includes: You may make it acquire service specific information from a server.

  The inquiry means inquires of the server whether or not the service specific information stored in the storage means has been updated, and the notifying means has a query result of the inquiry means in which the service specific information has been updated. In some cases, the electronic device may be notified that the service specific information has been updated.

  The inquiry means may periodically inquire the server.

  Further, the updating means may update the service unique information stored in the storage means when the result of the inquiry by the inquiry means is that the service unique information has been updated.

  Further, the device unique information acquiring means may acquire device unique information which is information on the electronic device from the electronic device, and the service unique information acquiring means may acquire service unique information from the electronic device.

  The information on the combination of the types of the electronic devices included in the service-specific information is information on the combination of the types of the electronic devices, and the specifying unit is stored in the storage unit when the electronic device performs the service. By referring to the service-specific information of the service, the model of the electronic device that is linked to the electronic device in the service is specified, and the transmitting unit attempts to execute the service with the information indicating the electronic device specified by the specifying unit. You may make it transmit to an electronic device.

  Further, the abolition confirming means confirms whether or not the service corresponding to the service specific information stored in the storage means is abolished, and the request means includes the abolished service in the service of the service specific information stored in the storage means. If the abolition confirmation means determines that there is a service that has been aborted, a request to delete the application of the abolished service may be made to the electronic device storing the application of the abolished service. Good.

  In addition, the abolition confirmation unit checks whether the service corresponding to the service unique information stored in the storage unit has been abolished, and the deletion unit includes the abolished service in the service of the service unique information stored in the storage unit. If the abolition check unit determines that there is a service provided, the service specific information of the service may be deleted from the storage unit.

  The device-specific information storage unit stores the device-specific information acquired by the device-specific information acquisition unit, and the information deletion unit is stored in the device-specific information storage unit in response to a request from an electronic device added to the usage environment. May be deleted.

  The information deleting means deletes the device-specific information in response to a request from the electronic device participating in the usage environment, and deletes the deleted device-specific information from the service-specific information related to the service executable by the electronic device. The service-specific information of the service using the electronic device may be deleted.

  When the electronic device is newly added to the usage environment, the device-specific information obtaining unit obtains information about the user of the electronic device together with the device-specific information from the electronic device, and the user information management unit obtains information about the user. The user authentication unit manages the device-specific information acquired by the user information management unit using the information on the user managed by the user information management unit and the information on the user acquired by the device-specific information acquisition unit. If it is determined whether or not the device unique information storage unit determines that the user authentication unit registers the device unique information, the device unique information storage unit may store the device unique information acquired by the device unique information acquisition unit.

  The device-specific information storage unit stores device-specific information that is information about the electronic device transmitted from the electronic device, and the device determination unit corresponds to the electronic device included in the service-specific information retrieved by the search unit. It may be determined whether the device-specific information to be stored is stored in the device-specific information storage means.

  Insufficient electronic device notifying means, when the device determining unit determines that the device specific information corresponding to the type of electronic device included in the service specific information searched by the searching unit is not stored in the device specific information storing unit, The type of the electronic device corresponding to the device unique information that is not stored may be notified to the electronic device that made the search request.

  The storage means, when the device determination means determines that the device-specific information corresponding to the type of electronic device included in the service-specific information searched by the search means is not stored in the device-specific information storage means, May not store the retrieved service specific information.

  The present invention is directed not only to an information management apparatus but also to an information management method and an information management program performed in the information management apparatus.

  According to the present invention, the list of services executable by the user's electronic device is transmitted to the electronic device, so that the user can easily search for executable horizontal services.

  When the information on the application indicates that the application has been updated, the electronic device is notified of the update, so that the electronic device can recognize the update of the application.

  Further, the information management device holds the updated application and transmits the application to the electronic device as needed, so that the electronic device can automatically acquire the latest application. Become. As a result, there is no case where the user cannot receive the service because the application stored in the electronic device has not been updated.

  Further, the user has acquired the latest application when executing the service. As a result, when the service is executed, the operation failure due to the old version of the application does not occur.

  In addition, since the information management apparatus periodically inquires of the server whether there is update information for each service, the user can collectively check the update information for each electronic device. Further, since the user does not need to access the server for each device and check the update information, the load on the server and the load on the communication line are reduced.

  Further, since the inquiry is made periodically, the user can periodically acquire the update information.

  In addition, the existence of the updating means makes it possible to always keep the service specific information in the information management device in the latest state. As a result, the user can always obtain the latest information of the service that the electronic device can receive from the information management device.

  Further, since information on the electronic device of the other party is transmitted to the electronic device of the user when the service is executed, the user can know the electronic device of the other party of the electronic device being operated.

  When the service is abolished, an application deletion request is issued to the electronic device, so that unnecessary information is automatically deleted in the electronic device.

  Further, when the service is abolished, the service-specific information corresponding to the service is deleted, so that unnecessary information is automatically deleted in the information management device.

  Further, the device-specific information is deleted in response to a request from the electronic device, so that unnecessary information is prevented from being accumulated in the information management device.

  Further, when the device unique information is deleted, the service unique information related to the device unique information is deleted, so that unnecessary information is prevented from being accumulated in the information management device.

  Also, since user authentication is performed at the time of registration, unauthorized access by the electronic device is prevented.

  Further, the type of the electronic device that is insufficient for executing the service is notified to the electronic device operated by the user, so that the user can recognize the type of the electronic device required for the service. Further, the service provider can promote the spread of electronic devices.

  If the service cannot be executed due to a shortage of electronic devices, the storage means does not store the service-specific information of the service. Therefore, unnecessary information is stored in the information management apparatus. Accumulation is prevented.

(Embodiment 1)
Hereinafter, a service execution system according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of an overall configuration of a service search system according to the present embodiment.

The service search system, the electronic device 1 ₁ ~ _m, the electronic device 2 ₁ ~ _n, a server which manages a portal site (hereinafter, referred to as portals) 3, the information management apparatus 4, a router 5, the Internet network 6 and a mobile phone A network 7 is provided. The service search system electronics 1 ₁ ~ _m (for example, a mobile phone) and the electronic device 2 ₁ ~ _n (e.g., video) and is interlocked achieve a predetermined object (e.g., setting of recording reservation of video) In such a service, the system searches for a service that can be received by the electronic device owned by the user, and notifies the electronic device owned by the user of the search result. Furthermore, the service search system is a system in which each electronic device downloads software necessary for each electronic device from the portal site in executing the service obtained from the search result.

First, the electronic device ₁ 1 ~ _m are realized by, for example, as a mobile phone or a PDA. The electronic device 1 ₁ ~ _m, download the software from the portal site 3, to do this, have the ability to manipulate the electronic device 2 ₁ ~ _n. Therefore, the inside of the electronic device 1 ₁ ~ _m, the communication unit for downloading software, a storage unit for storing the software, the control unit for executing a software, a user for inputting an instruction It includes an input unit and a display unit for presenting information to a user. In FIG. 1, these components are omitted.

Next, the electronic equipment 2 ₁ ~ _n is, for example, digital still camera (DSC), digital video camera (DVC), digital television (DTV), the home server, a set-top box (STB) or Safe-deposit Box, such as electronic equipment The software is downloaded from the portal site 3 and executed, thereby realizing a predetermined service in conjunction with the electronic devices ₁₁ to _m . Incidentally, the electronic apparatus 2 ₁ ~ _n, like the electronic device 1 ₁ ~ _m, the communication unit for downloading software, a storage unit for storing the software, the control unit for executing a software, It includes an input unit for the user to input instructions and a display unit for presenting information to the user. However, these components are omitted in FIG.

Further, the electronic device 1 ₁ ~ _m and the electronic apparatus 2 ₁ ~ _n is the device-specific information which is information on own apparatus shown in FIG. 2, are stored in the storage unit. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of device-specific information. Device identifier is a one assigned to each of the electronic devices 1 ₁ ~ _m and the electronic apparatus 2 ₁ ~ _n by the information management apparatus 4 in the present system, the electronic device 1 registered in the information management apparatus 4 and the information management apparatus 4 a valid identifier between ₁ ~ _m and the electronic apparatus 2 ₁ ~ _n. The device type indicates the type of the electronic device. The type of the electronic device may indicate, for example, a model of the electronic device or a function of the electronic device. The device position information indicates position information (address information) for accessing the electronic device from another electronic device.

The portal site 3 is a service site that provides services realized using various electronic devices on the Internet, and is managed and operated by, for example, a service provider that provides the services. Specifically, the portal site 3 manages service-specific information indicating the type of electronic device required for providing the service for the service that can be provided. Moreover, the portal site 3 may store applications that run on the electronic device when performing the service, in response to a request from the electronic device 1 ₁ ~ _m or electronic device 2 ₁ ~ _n, the application and transmits to the electronic device ₁ 1 ~ _m or electronic device 2 ₁ ~ _n. Therefore, the portal site 3 includes a communication unit for transmitting the application or the like, a storage unit for storing applications and service-specific information, the requested application from the electronic device 1 ₁ ~ _m or electronic device 2 ₁ ~ _n Includes control to search. However, these components are omitted in FIG.

  Here, the service specific information will be described with reference to the drawings. The service-specific information includes at least information on a combination of types of electronic devices required to execute the service. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the service specific information. The service unique information shown in FIG. 3 includes a service identifier, a service corresponding device type, application information, and meta information.

  The service identifier is an identifier for specifying the service itself. When the service identifier is described using a namespace which is a character string for specifying a service, the service identifier may be expressed as “pana.com/service_x” or may be uniquely specified in a global space. It may be a possible identifier. For example, a content ID specified by a content ID forum may be used.

  The service form is information indicating the number of electronic devices required to realize the service. Specifically, the service form shown in FIG. 3 indicates that the service X can be executed if there is one electronic device belonging to group1 and one electronic device belonging to group2.

  The service-compatible device type indicates the type of electronic device corresponding to the role of the electronic device constituting the service. Specifically, in FIG. 3, the DVD recorder types A and B correspond to the device types of the electronic device having the role of group1, and the mobile phones A and B correspond to the device types of the electronic device having the role of group2. You will be doing.

  The application information is information on an application that runs on each electronic device when executing a service, and includes a device type, an application identifier, application location information, a cache address, and version information.

  In the device type, the electronic devices listed in the service compatible device type are registered. The application identifier is information for specifying an application used in the electronic device registered in the device type. Note that the application range of the application identifier may be globally unique, and the application identifier may be represented by a URL (eg, pana.com/service_x/ap101.jar). The application location information is information indicating a download destination of the application. The cache address indicates an address when the information management device 4 caches an application operating on each electronic device. When the information management device 4 caches an application, access information to the cache may be described in the cache address. The version information is information on the version of the application running on the electronic device.

  The service specific information may have a data structure in which information (pointer) for accessing the application information is provided. Further, the application itself that operates on the electronic device used to realize the desired service may be included in the service specific information.

  The meta information includes keyword information for specifying the content of the service.

Here, the description returns to FIG. The information management apparatus 4, the electronic device ₁ 1 ~ _m and the electronic apparatus 2 ₁ VPN containing ~ _n (Virtual Private Network) electronic device ₁ 1 connected to the virtual network with the use of technology ~ _m and the electronic apparatus 2 ₁ Register and manage information about ~ _n . Specifically, the information management apparatus 4 manages apparatus-specific information of the electronic device 1 ₁ ~ _m and the electronic apparatus 2 ₁ ~ _n, shown in Figure 2. Furthermore, the information management apparatus 4 manages the executable service specific information using the registered electronic device 1 ₁ ~ _m and the electronic apparatus 2 ₁ ~ _n. Then, the information management apparatus 4 searches in response to a request from the electronic device 1 ₁ ~ _m, based on the device unique information and the service-specific information, the electronic device 1 ₁ ~ _m to the requesting is a viable service Then, a service list as a search result is notified to the electronic devices ₁₁ to _m . The service specific information is shown in FIG. The information management apparatus 4 is implemented by a so-called home server, a storage unit for storing the information described above, the electronic device the electronic device 1 ₁ ~ _m and the electronic apparatus 2 ₁ ~ _n or portal site 3 a communication unit for communicating And a control unit for performing the above-described information search and the like. However, these components are omitted in FIG. Further, the information management apparatus 4 may be embedded into any of the electronic device 1 ₁ ~ _m and the electronic apparatus 2 ₁ ~ _m. The information management device 4 may be incorporated in, for example, a digital still camera (DSC), a digital television (DTV), a home server, a set-top box, a mobile phone, or a PDA.

Router 5, the information transmitted by the input from the Internet network 6, based on the routing table ship's, and outputs to the electronic device 2 ₁ ~ _n or the information management apparatus 4, the electronic device 2 ₁ ~ _n or information The information output from the management device 4 is transmitted to the Internet network 6 based on the routing table.

The Internet network 6 connects the portal site 3, the router 5, and the mobile phone network 7, and is a network network for enabling the exchange of information between them. The mobile phone network 7 is a network including mobile phones, and is connected to the electronic devices ₁₁ to _m and the Internet network 6.

  The operation of the service search system according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described below. The processes described in the present embodiment can be realized by software using a computer, or can be realized by using a dedicated hardware circuit that performs the processes.

Here, for simplification of description, a block diagram shown in FIG. 4 is used instead of FIG. 1 as a block diagram of the entire configuration of the present system. FIG. 4 is a simplified block diagram of the configuration of the system of FIG. Specifically, the electronic device 1 indicates the electronic devices ₁₁ to _m in FIG. 1, and here is, for example, a mobile phone. The electronic device 2 shows an electronic device 2 ₁ ~ _n, here, for example, a DVD recorder. The portal site 3 indicates the portal site 3 of FIG. The information management device 4 corresponds to the information management device 4 in FIG. In FIG. 4, the router 5, the Internet network 6, and the mobile phone network 7 are omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when several electronic devices are connected to the information management device 4, services can be provided to the user by operating the applications in cooperation on different electronic devices.

  Here, in this embodiment, assuming that the electronic device 1 is a mobile phone, the electronic device 2 is a recording device such as a DVD recorder, and the information management device 4 is a home server, the two electronic devices of the electronic devices 1 and 2 are assumed. As an example of realizing a service between homes, it is conceivable that a service of making a recording reservation from a mobile phone outside the home to a DVD recorder in the home can be realized.

  In this case, the electronic device 1 needs an application (software) for obtaining information (for example, program information) required for recording reservation and transmitting information for reservation to the electronic device 2. The electronic device 2 needs an application for receiving the transmitted reservation information and executing recording in accordance with the reservation information. The above services can be provided only when these applications operate in cooperation with each electronic device.

  However, when each electronic device is purchased, the combination with which other electronic device to realize the service varies depending on the usage environment of the user. When mounted on a device, not only does the electronic device require a large amount of memory, but also an application in combination with an unnecessary electronic device needs to be stored in the memory of the electronic device itself, which is not practical.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the information management device 4 that manages the electronic device accesses the portal site 3 that stores information for providing various services by operating the applications in cooperation with different electronic devices. are doing. Then, information related to the service required by the user is downloaded from the portal site 3 as necessary and registered in the information management device 4, and after the registration, the service in the portal site 3 is registered. Is updated, and the information registered in the information management device 4 is updated as necessary. Now, an operation performed by the service search system according to the present embodiment will be described below.

  First, when a new electronic device 1 newly joins the environment in which a service is executed, such as purchasing a mobile phone, a service is provided between electronic devices (in this example, between electronic devices registered in the information management device 4). In order to participate in the environment (virtual network) in which is executed, it is necessary to first register a mobile phone in the information management device 4. Therefore, an operation performed by the service search system according to the present embodiment when a new electronic device 1 is registered in the information management device 4 will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing operations performed by the electronic device 1, the information management device 4, and the portal site 3 at this time.

  First, the electronic device 1 obtains address information indicating the position where the information management device 4 is located, and then accesses the information management device 4 and, together with a registration request for the own device (electronic device 1), acquires the device-specific information shown in FIG. Information (device identifier, device type, device position information) is transmitted (step S1). In response, the information management device 4 acquires the device-specific information.

The information management device 4 having acquired the device unique information newly registers the device unique information shown in FIG. 3 transmitted from the electronic device 1 (step S11). Thereafter, the information management device 4 notifies the electronic device 1 that the registration of the device-specific information is completed (Step S12). In response, electronic device 1 receives the notification (step S2). The electronic device 1 that has received the notification displays information about the registration completion on a display screen (not shown) of the electronic device 1 itself. Thereby, the user of the electronic device 1 can confirm that the registration of the device-specific information of the electronic device 1 has been completed. If user authentication is performed at the time of registering the device-specific information, it is possible to prevent registration from a user other than the user, and the security at the time of registration is increased. In particular,
The information management device 4 manages information about the user. Then, the information management device 4 acquires information on the user of the electronic device 1 from the electronic device 1 together with the device-specific information. Next, the information management device 4 performs user authentication using the information about the user of the own device and the information about the user acquired from the electronic device 1. Finally, when the information management device 4 determines that the user is a registered user by user authentication, the information management device 4 stores the acquired device-specific information.

  After the registration of the device-specific information is completed, the information management device 4 sends a request to the portal site 3 to search for a service executable by using the electronic device 1 in cooperation with another electronic device. (Step S13). Specifically, the information management device 4 transmits to the portal site 3 information on the device type among the device-specific information of the electronic device 1 acquired in step S11. In response, portal site 3 receives the search request.

  The portal site 3 that has received the search request searches for a service that can be executed by using the other electronic device and the electronic device 1 (step S21). Specifically, the portal site 3 refers to the service-specific device type column of the service-specific information shown in FIG. 3 stored in the storage unit of its own device, and displays the service-specific information including the device type of the electronic device 1. Is listed. After that, the portal site 3 transmits the search result (that is, the listed service specific information) to the information management device 4. In response, the information management device 4 acquires the service specific information that is the search result.

  The information management device 4 that has received the service-specific information as the search result registers this in the internal storage unit (hard disk, memory, etc .: not shown) (step S14). The information management device 4 checks the device type of the service-specific information (or the service-compatible device type) against the device type of the registered device-specific information, and uses a plurality of electronic devices already registered in the device itself. Confirmation processing for whether there is a service to be established is also performed. If there is a service established at this time, the information management apparatus 4 checks whether or not the service using the newly registered electronic device 1 and the service using the other electronic device 2 is actually operable. May be performed together. This allows the user to more reliably receive the service when he actually wants to receive the service.

  In addition, for the combination of the device-specific information registered in the information management device 4, the device type of the missing electronic device and its service-specific information are notified to the electronic device 1 operated by the user (step S15). . At this time, the information management device 4 may present the user with information of a service that can be introduced when a new electronic device is introduced. In response, electronic device 1 displays the notified information (step S3). As an example of the operation shown in steps S15 and S3, when only a mobile phone and a home server are present, the home server, when purchasing a DVD recorder with respect to the service specific information in FIG. The mobile phone displays that the service of making a recording reservation can be implemented on the DVD recorder in the house. Thus, the information becomes sales promotion information of the electronic device to the user.

  Next, an operation performed by the information management device 4 and the portal site 3 when the service management information is updated in the information management device 4 will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing operations performed by the portal site 3 and the information management device 4 at this time.

  First, the information management device 4 transmits a request for update information to the portal site 3 to check whether information in the service unique information has been updated (step S101). In response, the portal site 3 receives the request. Upon receiving the request, the portal site 3 checks whether there is any updated information included in the service-specific information (step S201). Thereafter, the portal site 3 transmits the update information to the information management device 4 (Step S202). In response, the information management device 4 receives the transmitted update information (Step S102). Specifically, in step S101, the information management device 4 transmits the service identifier of the held service unique information. In step S201, the portal site 3 acquires the updated information of the service form, the service-compatible device type, the application information, and the meta information included in the service identifier from its storage unit. In step S202, the portal site 3 acquires the information. Send.

  In step S201, the information management device 4 checks whether the information has been updated by checking the content of the version information and checking the creation date and time of the application information, and further checks the updated difference in step S202. May be transmitted.

  In step S102, the information management device 4 that has received the update information updates information in the service-specific information corresponding to the update information (step S103). Next, the information management device 4 determines whether or not the information in the updated service-specific information relates to an application that runs on an electronic device required to execute the service (Step S104). Here, if it is related to the application, the process proceeds to step S105. On the other hand, if it is not related to the application, the process returns to step S101.

  When the information is related to the application, the information management device 4 transmits update information for notifying that the application has been updated to the electronic device 1 or 2 corresponding to the application (step S105). In response, the corresponding electronic device 1 or 2 receives the update information and downloads the latest application based on the update information. On the other hand, the process returns to step S101. The operation shown in FIG. 6 may be performed at regular time intervals if the information management device 4 and the portal site 3 can always communicate with each other. It may be performed every time.

  Here, when the electronic device 1 or the electronic device 2 that has received the update information downloads the latest application based on the update information transmitted in step S105, this is performed by the system according to the present embodiment. The operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Here, for simplification of description, it is assumed that the electronic device that has received the update information is the electronic device 1.

  First, the process is started when the electronic device 1 receives update information from the information management device 4 (step S301).

  Next, the electronic device 1 prompts the user to confirm by displaying on a display screen or the like whether or not the application corresponding to the update information needs to be updated. In response, the user uses the input unit of electronic device 1 to input whether the latest download is required. The electronic device 1 determines whether it is necessary to download the latest application according to the input from the user (Step S302). If the download is necessary, the process proceeds to step S303. On the other hand, if there is no need to download, this processing ends.

  If the download is necessary, the electronic device 1 transmits a request for downloading the corresponding latest application to the portal site 3 (step S303). In response, portal site 3 receives the download request (step S401). Then, the portal site 3 reads out the corresponding latest application from the storage unit of the own device and transmits it to the electronic device 1 (step S402). In response, electronic device 1 receives the latest application (step S304). Thus, the electronic device 1 can acquire the latest application.

  Next, in the service search system according to the present embodiment, when the electronic device 1 and the electronic device 2 execute a service in cooperation with each other, the electronic device 1, the electronic device 2, the information management device 4, and the portal site 3 perform the service. The operation will be described with reference to the drawings. 8 to 10 are flowcharts illustrating operations performed by the electronic device 1, the electronic device 2, the information management device 4, and the portal site 3 when the service is executed in the present embodiment. Here, as an example of the above service, in a case where the electronic device 1 is a mobile phone and the electronic device 2 is a DVD recorder, the user uses the electronic device 1 (mobile phone) to read the electronic device 2 (DVD). Recorder).

  First, a user specifies a device identifier of the electronic device 2 using the electronic device 1 and transmits a search request for service-specific information corresponding to the specified electronic device 2 to the information management device 4 (step S1). S501). In response, the information management device 4 receives the search request. The request is, for example, that the user transmits a keyword to the information management device 4 using the electronic device 1 and causes the information management device 4 to search for service-specific information based on the meta information shown in FIG. There may be.

  The information management device 4 that has received the search request refers to the device identifier of the electronic device 2 included in the search request and the device-specific information of the electronic device 2 registered in the information management device 4 and refers to the electronic device 2. The service-specific information including the device type of the device 2 is searched (step S601). Then, the information management device 4 transmits the service-specific information, which is one or more search results, to the electronic device 1 (Step S602). In response, electronic device 1 acquires service-specific information.

  If the user requests a keyword search without specifying the device identifier, the service provided by the information management device 4 is provided using an electronic device registered in the information management device 4. All of the service-specific information corresponding to the service that can be performed (established service) may be transmitted.

  The electronic device 1 that has acquired the service unique information displays the acquired service unique information on its display screen (step S502). Thereby, the electronic device 1 prompts the user to select a service to be executed. In response, the user uses the input unit of electronic device 1 to select a service to be executed (the service is referred to as service X). Thereby, the electronic device 1 specifies the service X to be executed (Step S503).

  Next, the electronic device 1 searches for an application (application A) necessary for receiving the service X among the applications owned by the electronic device 1 (S504). Here, when the application A exists, the processing proceeds to step S505. On the other hand, if the application A does not exist, the process proceeds to step S506.

  If the application A exists, the electronic device 1 inquires of the information management device 4 whether or not there is update information of the application A (step S505). If the update information of the application A exists, the process proceeds to step S506. On the other hand, if the update information of the application A does not exist, the process proceeds to step S508.

  In step S506, the electronic device 1 requests the portal site 3 to download the application A (step S506). In response, the portal site 3 receives the download request (step S701).

  Upon receiving the download request, the portal site 3 reads out the requested application A from its own storage unit and transmits it to the electronic device 1 (step S702). In response, the electronic device 1 receives the application A (step S507). Thereafter, the processing proceeds to step S508.

  In the above step S508, the electronic device 1 specifies the service identifier of the service X to be executed, and instructs the information management device 4 to search for the device unique information of the partner electronic device corresponding to the service identifier of the service X. Request (step S508). In response, the information management device 4 receives the request.

  The information management device 4 that has received the request refers to the service-specific information having the service identifier of the service X shown in FIG. 3 and, from among the service-compatible device types registered in the service-compatible device type, sets the registration in its own device. Identify the electronic device for which has been completed. Then, the information management device 4 acquires device-specific information regarding the specified electronic device (Step S603). Next, the information management device 4 transmits the acquired device-specific information to the electronic device 1 (Step S604). In response, the electronic device 1 receives the device-specific information as a search result (step S509). If the user does not specify a service identifier in the electronic device 1 in step S508, all the device-specific information held by the information management device 4 may be transmitted.

  The electronic device 1 that has received the device-specific information displays a list of partner electronic devices in the service X on its display unit (not shown) based on the obtained device-specific information (step S510). Thus, the user of the electronic device 1 registered in the information management device 4 can obtain information on the electronic device necessary for receiving a service among other electronic devices registered in the information management device 4. .

  Next, while viewing the display unit of the electronic device 1, the user uses the input unit (not shown) to select a partner electronic device to be used. In this case, the electronic device of the other party is the electronic device 2 (DVD recorder). With this operation, the electronic device 2 of the other party is selected in the electronic device 1 (step S511).

  When the partner electronic device 2 is selected, the electronic device 1 transmits a service X execution request to the electronic device 2 (step S512). After that, the electronic device 1 activates and executes the application A (step S513).

  On the other hand, the electronic device 2 that has received the service execution request determines whether an application (referred to as application B) required to execute the service X is stored in its own storage unit (not shown). (Step S802). If the application B exists, the process proceeds to step S803. On the other hand, if the application B does not exist in step S802, the processing proceeds to step S804.

  If the application B exists, the electronic device 2 queries the information management device 4 to determine whether there is update information of the application B (step S803). If there is update information, the process proceeds to step S804. On the other hand, if there is no update information, the process proceeds to step S806.

  In step S804, the electronic device 2 requests the portal site 3 to download the application B (step S804). In response, portal site 3 receives the download request (step S703).

  Next, the portal site 3 acquires the application B requested by the download request from its own storage unit (not shown), and transmits the acquired application B to the electronic device 2 (step S704). In response, electronic device 2 receives application B (step S805). Thereafter, the processing proceeds to step S806.

  In step S806, the electronic device 2 activates and executes the application B. As a result, the electronic device 1 and the electronic device 2 can execute the service requested by the user in conjunction with each other.

  As described above, according to the service search system according to the present embodiment, it is possible to easily search for a so-called horizontal service.

  Further, according to the service search system according to the present embodiment, the number of accesses to the server can be reduced, and the communication load on the network can be reduced.

  Further, according to the service search system according to the present embodiment, the information management device can register an electronic device, manage a service that can be executed using the registered electronic device, and transmit update information to the electronic device as appropriate. Accordingly, the user can appropriately update the application operating on the electronic device used for executing the service.

  Instead of prompting the user to confirm in step S302 in FIG. 7, when the update information is received, it may be automatically downloaded. This eliminates the need for a user's confirmation work, and saves the user's trouble.

  In addition, in step S1 in FIG. 5, if the application is installed (preinstalled) on the electronic device (mobile phone) in advance, the processes in steps S13, S21, and S22 are unnecessary. Specifically, the preinstalled application is created assuming cooperation with another electronic device in advance, and service-specific information relating to this is stored in a storage unit (not shown) of the electronic device. In this case, the electronic device transmits the service-specific information together with the transmission of the device-specific information. In response, the information management device registers the electronic device and registers the transmitted service-specific information. This makes it possible to omit the processing (steps S13, S21 and S22) between the information management device and the portal site, and to connect the information management device and the portal site when the portal site is connected by a paid communication line. You will be able to reduce fees.

  Also, the electronic device registers the service specific information related to the preinstalled application and then registers it separately. If the application has been cached before, the electronic device registers the service specific information of the cached service X. May be.

  The device type included in the service specific information shown in FIG. 3 is information on all electronic devices that can be used for the service. In step S14, the information management device registers the service unique information itself without any modification, but the content of the information registered by the information management device is not limited to the service unique information itself. For example, the information management device may select and register only the part corresponding to the device type of the electronic device registered in the information management device for the service-compatible device type and the application information in the service unique information. However, in this case, when registering the device-specific information as described above, the information management device, among the services that can be provided using the electronic device registered on the portal site, the service (service It is necessary to check whether it can be registered as an electronic device used for the unique information), and if there is any that can be registered, it is necessary to additionally register it in the corresponding service unique information.

  Further, in the example of FIG. 3, the application information is information having the device type, the application identifier, the application location information, and the cache address. Since the application information having the address is stored, the information management device may hold information on the position where the above information is stored, such as a URL storing the above information. This has the effect of reducing the amount of data to be stored on the information management device side.

  Further, in the update information transmitted in step S202, the portal site receives, from among the service unique information registered in the information management apparatus, that the service unique information (service identifier) has been deleted, the service is changed to a new one. It may be determined that the service has been abolished, and the service unique information corresponding to the service identifier registered in the information management device may be deleted.

  In addition, when the service-specific information is updated or new registration or abolition occurs, the portal site notifies the registered user's electronic device or information management device of the content, and the information management device Alternatively, the desired deletion may be performed after the confirmation input from the user.

  In this embodiment, the information management apparatus automatically registers the update information of the service-specific information obtained from the portal site in step S103, but the operation is not limited to this. When the information management device confirms that there is update information of service specific information from the portal site, the purpose is to notify the electronic device registered in the information management device that the update has been made, and to the electronic device used for this service You may be notified that there has been an update.

  In addition, the notification at this time may be made by preferentially selecting an electronic device (for example, a mobile phone or the like) which is highly likely to be constantly used by the user among the electronic devices used for the service. . The user who received the notification, if necessary to update, instructs the information management device to download and update the information on the portal site and performs the update. If there is any information to be updated on the electronic device side, Alternatively, required information (updated application related to the service or partial data thereof) may be transmitted from the portal site to the electronic device via the information management device.

  In the present embodiment, in FIGS. 8 to 10, the two electronic devices download the applications A and B from the portal site, but the method of acquiring the applications A and B is not limited to this. Specifically, the information management device downloads and acquires the applications A and B together with the update information. Then, the information management device notifies the electronic device that the application has been updated. The electronic device may download the applications A and B from the information management device instead of the portal site in response to the notification. Note that the information management device may further periodically acquire the latest application from the portal site. In this case, the information management device needs to have a storage unit that stores the acquired latest application.

  Also, in the present embodiment, in FIGS. 8 to 10, the electronic device specifies the partner electronic device at the time of executing the service and causes the information management device to search for the service. The method is not limited to this. Specifically, the electronic device may cause the information management device to search for a service including the device type of the electronic device. In this case, the electronic device needs to transmit its own device-specific information to the information management device at the time of or before the service search request.

  When the latest application for executing the service X is cached or pre-installed in the electronic device, it is not necessary to download the application. In this case, the electronic device 2 may execute the application B of the service X after preparing for the execution of the service.

  Further, as an example of the service X as described above, there is a service in which the recording reservation service is executed on the electronic device 1 side and the recording reservation transmitted from the electronic device 1 is set on the electronic device 2 side.

  Also, in step S602, the information management device selects and transmits service specific information that can be established between the electronic device and another electronic device registered in the device from among the service specific information to be searched. You may. In this case, step S501, step S502, step S603, and step S604 become unnecessary, and in step S503, the user can efficiently select a service.

  The download in steps S606 and S804 does not necessarily need to be performed if the update information is a minor update within a range in which the applications A and B can operate normally in cooperation with each other.

  Further, in the present embodiment, after the service unique information using the electronic device is searched, the electronic device registered in the information management device among the electronic devices included in the service unique information is searched again. , These search actions need not necessarily be in this order. For example, after an electronic device registered in the information management device is searched, executable service-specific information is searched between the electronic device and the electronic device selected by the search, and a desired service is selected. You may do so.

  Further, a function of deleting an electronic device registered from the electronic device side may be additionally provided. In this case, the electronic device requests the information management device to delete the device-specific information by designating the device identifier. In response, the information management device deletes the device unique information corresponding to the specified device identifier. If the information management device performs user authentication when deleting device-specific information, it is possible to prevent deletion from anything other than the user, thereby increasing the security at the time of deletion.

  When the device-specific information is deleted, the related device-type-dependent data is deleted from the service-compatible device type data for the service-specific information of the service provided using the electronic device. Is done. As a result, when no other electronic device is registered in the information management device (that is, when there is no data of the service-compatible device type in the service-specific information for the electronic device registered in the information management device 4). Since it is not necessary to store in the information management device the service specific information using the electronic device targeted for deletion, the service unique information itself using the electronic device targeted for deletion is also deleted. It may be.

  In addition to the above-described configuration, a function of deleting the service unique information registered from the electronic device side may be additionally provided.

  Further, for example, when a service that has been used conventionally is abolished for some reason, it may be preferable to delete information related to the service from the information management device. In this case, the electronic device 1 (or the electronic device 2) requests the information management device to delete the service unique information by designating the service identifier. In response, the information management device deletes the specified service specific information.

  In addition, if necessary, an application related to only this service and an application operating on the electronic device 1 and the electronic device 2 may be deleted. Since no important information remains, the storage medium can be used more effectively.

  In addition, if the information management device performs user authentication when deleting service-specific information, it is possible to prevent deletion from anything other than the user, and the security at the time of deletion is increased. .

  In addition, in FIG. 5, when there is a shortage of electronic devices for executing the service, the information management apparatus notifies the electronic device of the type of the missing electronic device. Is not limited to this. Specifically, when there is a shortage of electronic devices to execute the service, the information management device stores the service-specific information that cannot be executed due to the shortage of the electronic devices among the service-specific information acquired in step S14. It may not be done. If the information management device stores service-specific information that cannot be executed due to a shortage of electronic devices, the information management device may delete the service-specific information.

(Second embodiment)
As an example of an information management method and a service execution method for an electronic device when realizing a service among three electronic devices of the electronic devices 1, 2, and 3, a home server as an information management device 4, an MPEG2 for executing streaming The following describes a cooperation service Y between a streaming server (server A) that supports MPEG-4, a streaming player (mobile phone) that supports MPEG4, and a streaming server (server B) with a converter function that performs format conversion between them.

  Note that the processing performed in the present embodiment is almost the same as the processing content of the first embodiment, but the content of the service specific information and the service execution procedure are different. Hereinafter, these differences will be specifically described.

  First, the service specific information of the service Y will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of the service unique information according to the present embodiment. The service specific information includes a service identifier, a service mode, a service-compatible device type, application information, and meta information, as in the first embodiment.

  When the service identifier is described using a namespace, the service identifier may be expressed using a namespace such as “pana.com/service_y”, or may be an identifier that can be uniquely specified in a global space. Good. Further, a content ID defined by a content ID forum may be used.

  The service form indicates the number of electronic devices required for the roles (group1, group2, and group3) of the electronic devices that constitute the service. One electronic device belongs to group1 and one electronic device belongs to group2. The service Y can be executed if there is one electronic device belonging to group3.

  The service-compatible device type indicates the type of electronic device corresponding to the role of the electronic device constituting the service. As the electronic device having the role of group1, the DVD recorder type A corresponds, and the electronic device having the role of group2. The device corresponds to the home server type A, and the electronic devices having the role of group3 correspond to the mobile phones A and B.

  In the application information, information on an application executed in each electronic device when executing a service is described for each device type of device-specific information (in FIG. 4, a DVD recorder type A, a home server type A, a mobile phone, and the like). A and B), for each device type, the application location information describes the download destination (address information) of the application, and the application identifier describes information that can uniquely identify the application. ing.

  In FIG. 11, the application identifier is unique in the service Y. The scope of the application identifier may be globally unique, and the application identifier may be represented by a URI (eg, pana.com/service_y/apl01.jar). As for the cache address, when the home server caches the application, access information to the cache may be described in this entry.

  Next, the procedure of service execution will be described. The mobile phone acquires the service unique information from the home server, and also acquires the device unique information of the servers A and B constituting the service. Then, the mobile phone transmits an execution request for service Y to server A, and further provides service specific information of service Y and device specific information of server B. Further, the mobile phone transmits an execution request for service Y to server B, and further provides service specific information of service Y and device specific information of server A.

  The server A determines whether or not the service Y is executable, and notifies the mobile phone of the determination result. At this time, if the application of the service Y does not exist in the server A, the application may be downloaded from a portal site or a home server. On the other hand, if the service Y application is cached or preinstalled, no download occurs. When the service version on the mobile phone side is old, the server A may request the mobile phone side to upgrade the service. As described above, the server A prepares for the execution of the service Y and executes the service.

  Similarly, the server B determines whether or not the service Y is executable, and notifies the mobile phone of the determination result. At this time, if the service Y application does not exist in the server B, the mobile phone may be downloaded from a portal site or a home server. If the service Y application is cached or pre-installed, no download occurs. If the service version of the mobile phone is old, the server B may request the mobile phone to upgrade the service. In this way, the server B prepares for execution of the service Y and executes the service.

  As another procedure, the mobile phone transmits the service unique information of the service Y and the device unique information of the mobile phone and the server B together with the execution request to the server A, and executes the service Y from the server A to the server B. The service Y may be started by transmitting the device-specific information of the mobile phone together with the request.

(Third embodiment)
As an example of an information management method for electronic devices and services when realizing a P2P service among n electronic devices of electronic devices 1 to N, the electronic devices 1 to N are mobile phones 1 to N and the information management device is a home device. A case where the chat service Z is realized as a server will be described.

  Here, the difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment is the service specific information and the service execution procedure. Hereinafter, these differences will be specifically described.

  First, the service specific information of the service Z will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of service specific information according to the present embodiment. The service specific information includes a service identifier, a service mode, a service-compatible device type, application information, and meta information, as in the first embodiment.

  First, when the service identifier is described using a namespace, the service identifier may be one using a namespace such as “pana.com/service_z”, or may be uniquely specified in a global space. It may be an identifier. The service identifier may be, for example, a content ID defined by a content ID forum.

  The service form indicates the number of electronic devices required for the role (group1) of the electronic devices constituting the service, and indicates that the service Y can be executed if there is one electronic device belonging to group1. The service-compatible device type indicates the type of electronic device corresponding to the role of the electronic device constituting the service, and indicates that the mobile phones A and B correspond to the electronic device having the role of group1. .

  In the application information, information on an application for executing a service is described for each device type of device-specific information (in FIG. 12, mobile phones A and B are described). Describes the download destination (address information) of the application, and the application identifier describes information that can uniquely identify the application. In the example of FIG. 12, the application identifier is unique within the service Z. The scope of the application identifier may be globally unique, and the application identifier may be represented by a URI (eg, pana.com/service_z/apl01.jar). As for the cache address, when the home server caches the application, access information to the cache may be described in this entry.

  Next, the execution procedure will be described. First, the mobile phone 1 holds a chat. At this time, the mobile phone 1 acquires the service specific information of the service Z from the information management device or the portal site, downloads the application, and executes the service. At this time, if the application is cached, the service may be executed without downloading. Next, the mobile phone 2 executes the application of the service Z as in the case of the mobile phone 1, and participates in the chat held by the mobile phone 1. In this way, n mobile phones can execute the chat service. Here, in a participatory service such as chat, transmission of a service activation request from one electronic device to another electronic device does not occur. The process of network connection to another electronic device takes a unique method for each service application, and therefore does not appear as a processing procedure of the service execution method of the service search system of the present invention.

  The information management device according to the present invention has an effect that it is possible to easily search for a horizontal service, and a system under a use environment in which a plurality of electronic devices cooperate to execute a desired service via a network. Is useful as a device for managing information on services.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a service search system according to the present invention. Diagram showing an example of device-specific information The figure which showed an example of the service specific information which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. Simplified diagram of a service search system according to the first embodiment of the present invention 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation performed by the service search system when newly registering an electronic device in the first embodiment of the present invention. In the first embodiment of the present invention, a flowchart showing an operation performed by the service search system when the information management device makes an inquiry about update of service specific information. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation performed by the service search system when the electronic device downloads an updated application according to the first embodiment of this invention. In the first embodiment of the present invention, a flowchart showing an operation performed by the service search system when the service X is executed. In the first embodiment of the present invention, a flowchart showing an operation performed by the service search system when the service X is executed. In the first embodiment of the present invention, a flowchart showing an operation performed by the service search system when the service X is executed. The figure which showed an example of the service specific information which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The figure which showed an example of the service specific information concerning the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of reference numerals

1, 2 Electronic equipment 3 Portal site 4 Information management device 5 Router 6 Internet network 7 Mobile phone network

Claims (21)

An information management device that manages information related to a service in a system under a use environment in which a plurality of electronic devices execute a desired service in cooperation with each other via a network,
Service-specific information obtaining means for obtaining service-specific information, which is information on a combination of types of electronic devices required to execute the service,
Storage means for storing at least one or more service unique information acquired by the service unique information acquisition means;
Device-specific information acquisition means for acquiring device-specific information that is information about the electronic device,
Request receiving means for receiving a search request from the electronic device,
In response to the search request accepted by the request accepting unit, the service executable by the electronic device is converted into the service unique information stored in the storage unit and the device unique information acquired by the device unique information acquiring unit. Search means for searching based on
An information management apparatus comprising: a transmission unit configured to transmit, to the electronic device, information on a list of services executable by the electronic device, which is a search result obtained by the search unit.   The information management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the service specific information further includes information on an application that runs on each type of electronic device when the service is executed.   3. The information management apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an update notification unit that notifies the electronic device of the fact that the application has been updated when the information on the application indicates that the application has been updated. When the information about the application indicates that the application has been updated, the information processing apparatus further includes an application acquisition unit that acquires the updated application,
The transmission unit transmits the application acquired by the application acquisition unit when there is a download request for the application from the electronic device in response to a notification that the application has been updated. Item 4. The information management device according to Item 3. Latest application acquisition means for periodically acquiring the latest application related to the service specific information stored in the storage means,
Application storage means for storing the application acquired by the latest application acquisition means,
The method according to claim 2, wherein the transmitting unit transmits the latest application used by the electronic device in the service in response to a request from the electronic device when the electronic device performs a service. Information management device as described. A server that manages the service specific information exists on the network,
The device-specific information obtaining means obtains, from the electronic device, device-specific information that is information on the electronic device,
The information management device according to claim 1, wherein the service unique information acquiring unit acquires the service unique information from the server. Inquiring means for inquiring the server whether the service specific information stored in the storing means has been updated,
7. The electronic device according to claim 6, further comprising: a notifying unit that notifies the electronic device that the service unique information has been updated, when the inquiry result of the inquiry unit is that the service unique information has been updated. Information management device as described.   The information management apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the inquiry unit periodically inquires the server.   If the result of the inquiry by the inquiry means is that the service specific information has been updated, further comprising an update means for updating the service specific information stored in the storage means. 8. The information management device according to 7. The device-specific information acquisition unit acquires device-specific information that is information about the electronic device from the electronic device,
The information management device according to claim 1, wherein the service unique information acquiring unit acquires the service unique information from the electronic device. The information on the combination of the types of electronic devices included in the service-specific information is information on the combination of the types of the electronic devices,
When the electronic device executes a service, by referring to service-specific information of the service stored in the storage unit, a specifying unit that specifies a model of the electronic device that works with the electronic device in the service,
The information management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting unit transmits information indicating the electronic device specified by the specifying unit to the electronic device that is about to execute a service. Abolition confirmation means for confirming whether or not the service corresponding to the service specific information stored in the storage means is abolished,
In the service of the service-specific information stored in the storage means, if the abolition confirmation means determines that there is an abolished service, the electronic device storing the application of the abolished service The information management apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a request unit that makes a request for deleting the application of the discontinued service. Abolition confirmation means for confirming whether or not the service corresponding to the service specific information stored in the storage means is abolished,
Deletion means for deleting the service specific information of the service from the storage means when the abolition confirmation means determines that the service of the service specific information stored in the storage means includes an abolished service. The information management device according to claim 2, further comprising: Device-specific information storage means for storing the device-specific information acquired by the device-specific information acquisition means,
2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an information deletion unit configured to delete device specific information stored in the device specific information storage unit in response to a request from an electronic device added to a use environment. Information management device.   The information deleting means deletes the device-specific information in response to a request from the electronic device participating in the use environment, and deletes the deleted device-specific information from service-specific information related to a service executable by the electronic device. 15. The information management apparatus according to claim 14, wherein service-specific information of a service using the information electronic device is deleted. The device-specific information acquiring means, when an electronic device is newly added to the use environment, acquires information on a user of the electronic device from the electronic device together with the device-specific information,
User information management means for managing information about the user;
Using the information on the user managed by the user information management unit and the information on the user acquired by the device unique information acquisition unit, determine whether to register the device unique information acquired by the user information management unit. User authentication means;
2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising: a device unique information storage unit configured to store the device unique information acquired by the device unique information acquisition unit when the user authentication unit determines to register the device unique information. 3. Information management device. Device-specific information storage means for storing device-specific information, which is information about the electronic device transmitted from the electronic device,
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a device determination unit configured to determine whether or not device unique information corresponding to an electronic device included in the service unique information searched by the search unit is stored in the device unique information storage unit. 3. Information management device as described.   If the device determination unit determines that device-specific information corresponding to the type of electronic device included in the service-specific information searched by the search unit is not stored in the device-specific information storage unit, it is not stored. 18. The information management device according to claim 17, further comprising a shortage electronic device notifying unit that notifies the type of the electronic device corresponding to the device-specific information to the electronic device that has made the search request.   The storage unit, when the device determination unit determines that device-specific information corresponding to the type of electronic device included in the service-specific information searched by the search unit is not stored in the device-specific information storage unit; 18. The information management device according to claim 17, wherein the service specific information searched by the search unit is not stored. An information management method for managing information related to a service in a system under a usage environment in which a plurality of electronic devices execute a desired service in cooperation with each other via a network,
A service-specific information obtaining step of obtaining service-specific information that is information on a combination of types of electronic devices required to execute the service,
A storage step of storing the service unique information acquired in the service unique information acquisition step in a storage unit,
Device-specific information obtaining step of obtaining device-specific information that is information on the electronic device,
A request receiving step of receiving a search request from the electronic device,
In response to the search request received in the request receiving step, the service executable by the electronic device is converted into the service unique information stored in the storage unit and the device unique information acquired in the device unique information acquiring step. A search step to search based on;
A transmitting step of transmitting, to the electronic device, information of a list of services executable by the electronic device as a search result in the searching step. In a system under a use environment in which a plurality of electronic devices execute a desired service in cooperation with each other via a network, a program for causing an information management device to manage information about the service,
A service-specific information acquisition program step of acquiring service-specific information, which is information on a combination of types of electronic devices required to execute the service,
A storage program step of storing the service unique information acquired in the service unique information acquisition step in a storage unit,
Device-specific information acquisition program step of acquiring device-specific information that is information about the electronic device,
Request receiving program step for receiving a search request from the electronic device,
In response to the search request received in the request receiving program step, a service executable by the electronic device, the service specific information stored in the storage unit and the device specific information acquired in the device specific information acquisition program step A search program step for searching based on
A transmission program step of transmitting, to the electronic device, information of a list of services executable by the electronic device as a search result in the search program step.

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