JP2006254014A - Dictionary retrieving system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a dictionary retrieving system through which a retrieving key word is easily and accurately designated through a mobile communication terminal, and a dictionary function can be utilized through a server. <P>SOLUTION: In the dictionary retrieving system, the dictionary server 200 and a mobile communication terminal 100 are connected together through a network 700, the mobile communication terminal is equipped with a transmitting means which transmits image information to the dictionary server through a communication means and a receiving means which receives character information from the dictionary sever, and the dictionary server is equipped with a storage means which stores dictionary contents, a receiving means which receives image information, a character recognition means which recognizes characters from the image information, a retrieving means which retrieves the meanings of characters from the dictionary contents, and a transmission means which transmits the character information containing a retrieval result to the mobile communication terminal. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for performing a dictionary search via a network, and more particularly to a system for transmitting an image including a search keyword from a mobile communication terminal to a server, performing character search by the server, performing a dictionary search, and returning a result. It is.

  In recent years, opportunities to use electronic dictionaries for overseas travel and language learning have increased, and models that support not only English-Japanese / Japanese-English dictionaries but also languages such as French-Japanese / Japanese-French, German-Japanese / Japanese-German, etc. have been released. However, since the configuration of each language is normal, there is a problem that a plurality of electronic dictionaries are required to refer to a plurality of languages when traveling in Europe, for example.

  Meanwhile, mobile phones capable of international roaming are being adopted in Japan, the United States, Canada, China, South Korea, etc., and international roaming will be possible in multiple countries in the near future.

Therefore, a mobile phone that can use a dictionary function corresponding to a plurality of languages without carrying around a PDA or a plurality of electronic dictionaries has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2003-115942 A

  According to the above-described prior art, a user can use a dictionary function corresponding to a plurality of languages with a single mobile phone. However, a user can input a word to be translated via a key operation or a tactile device. Since it is necessary to do it by itself, there is a possibility that an incorrect spelling is input, not necessarily a simple input means. In addition, although means for inputting via a hearing device such as a microphone is considered, there is a possibility that spelling may be erroneously recognized due to ambient noise. Furthermore, although it is possible to use the latest dictionary content on the server, it is not practical to provide the service free of charge because it usually costs a lot to create and maintain the content.

  The present invention has been made in view of the present situation, and it is an object of the present invention to specify a search keyword simply and accurately from a mobile communication terminal so that a dictionary function on a server can be used. The purpose is to charge the user according to the type and usage.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, a dictionary server that stores and manages dictionary content to retrieve and provide information, and a mobile communication terminal that receives the information by making a search request to the dictionary server Are connected via a network, the portable communication terminal includes an image input means for inputting an image, a communication means for communicating with the network, and image information obtained by the image input means via the communication means. Transmitting means for transmitting to the dictionary server, receiving means for receiving character information from the dictionary server via the communication means, input means for receiving operation instructions from a user, and storing means for storing image information Display means for displaying the image information and the character information; image area selection means for designating an image area from the image information obtained by the image input means; Image storage means for storing image information in the storage means; and image search means for searching for image information from the storage means; and the dictionary server communicates with the storage means for storing dictionary content and the network. Communication means, receiving means for receiving image information from the portable communication terminal via the communication means, character recognition means for recognizing characters from the image information received by the receiving means, and character recognition means Search means for searching the meaning of the character from the dictionary content, transmission means for transmitting character information including the search result by the search means to the portable communication terminal via the communication means, user identification information, and User information storage means for storing user information including usage information of dictionary content, and responding to an external connection request using the user information. Authentication means for performing authentication, and charging means for charging a user using the user information, wherein the portable communication terminal receives an image input instruction from the input means, and A step of inputting an image by the input means, a step of designating an image area from image information by the image area selection means, a step of performing authentication processing by connecting to the dictionary server via the communication means, and the dictionary server Receiving the authentication result from step, receiving the dictionary content list information from the dictionary server when authenticated, specifying the desired dictionary content from the dictionary content list, and specifying the dictionary content to the dictionary server Transmitting information and image information; receiving a search result from the dictionary server; Displaying the result by the display means, wherein the dictionary server performs an authentication process by the authentication means upon the connection request from the mobile communication terminal, and transmits the authentication result to the mobile communication terminal A step of transmitting dictionary content list information to the mobile communication terminal when authentication is permitted; a step of receiving the dictionary content designation information and image information from the mobile communication terminal; and A step of recognizing characters, a step of searching the dictionary by the search means from the designated dictionary content, a step of transmitting character information including a result of the search by the search means to the portable communication terminal, and the charging means And charging the user.

  Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, a dictionary content providing system that provides dictionary content is connected via the network, the dictionary content providing system includes an input unit that receives an operation instruction from a user, and a dictionary content Storage means for storing, communication means for communicating with the network, editing means for editing dictionary content stored in the storage means, selection means for selecting dictionary content to be transmitted from the storage means, and Transmitting means for transmitting the dictionary content selected by the selection means to the dictionary server, wherein the receiving means receives the dictionary content from the dictionary content providing system; and the user information storage means Includes identification information and dictionary content information of the dictionary content providing system Means for storing user information; dictionary content management means for managing dictionary content using the user information; and updating means for storing the dictionary content received by the receiving means in the storage means. The dictionary content providing system includes a step of receiving a dictionary content transmission instruction from the input unit, a step of selecting dictionary content to be transmitted by the selection unit, and a connection to the dictionary server via the communication unit. Performing authentication processing; receiving an authentication result from the dictionary server; transmitting the dictionary content to the dictionary server when authenticated; and receiving a registration result from the dictionary server. The dictionary server receives the connection request from the dictionary content providing system. Performing authentication processing by the authentication unit; transmitting an authentication result to the dictionary content providing system; receiving the dictionary content from the dictionary content providing system when authentication is permitted; and the dictionary content management unit The dictionary content is managed by the updating unit, the updating unit stores the dictionary content in the storage unit, and the registration content is transmitted to the dictionary content providing system.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily and accurately specify a search keyword anytime and anywhere, and it is possible to search a dictionary in various categories as well as language. Further, by performing heavy character recognition and dictionary search on the server side, the search service can be used even with a terminal having a low capability such as a built-in CPU or memory capacity.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration, and includes a mobile phone 100, a dictionary server 200, dictionary content providing systems 300 and 400, a base station 500, an exchange station 600, and a network 700 that interconnects them. It is composed of

  The mobile phone 100 is a wireless communication device having a function of transmitting an image including a search keyword to the dictionary server 200 via the base station 500, the switching center 600, and the network 700 and receiving a search result, as shown in FIG. As described above, the antenna 101, the communication means 102, the input means 103, the control means 104, the storage means 105, the sound processing means 106, the image processing means 107, the sound input means 108, and the sound output means 109 The image input unit 110 and the image display unit 111 are provided.

  The communication unit 102 has a function of communicating with the dictionary server 200 via the antenna 101, the base station 500, the switching center 600, and the network 700. The input unit 103 has a function of receiving an input instruction and giving an operation instruction to the control unit 104. The storage unit 105 includes a recording medium such as a flash memory, and records a captured image as image data. The audio processing means 106 has a function of processing input / output of audio signals. The image processing unit 107 has a function of processing input / output of a video signal. The voice input unit 108 has a function of inputting voice such as a microphone. The sound output means 109 has a function of outputting sound such as a speaker. The image input unit 110 has a function of taking an image of a digital camera or the like. The image display unit 111 has a function of displaying an image such as a liquid crystal display.

  The control unit 104 includes a processor, a memory, and the like. (1) Processing for capturing an image with the image input unit 110 according to a shooting request received from the input unit 103, (2) According to a region selection request received from the input unit 103 (3) processing for selecting a specific image area from the photographed image, (3) processing for saving the photographed image in the storage means 105 by adding a file name or the like according to the image saving request received from the input means 103, (4) A process for searching for and selecting an image stored in the storage means 105 according to the image search request received from the input means 103, and (5) a dictionary of images via the communication means 102 according to the image transmission request received from the input means 103 Control of processing to be transmitted to the server 200 and (6) processing to receive the result transmitted from the dictionary server 200 and display it on the image display means 111 are performed. Details of the processes (1) to (6) will be described later with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  The dictionary server 200 performs storage management of dictionary contents transmitted from the dictionary content providing systems 300 and 400 via the network 700, and performs character recognition for images including a search keyword transmitted from the mobile phone 100 to perform dictionary search. As shown in FIG. 3, the communication unit 201, the authentication unit 202, the control unit 203, the character recognition unit 204, the management unit 205, the update unit 206, and the search unit 207, as shown in FIG. A user information storage unit 208 and a dictionary content storage unit 209.

  The communication unit 201 has a function of communicating with the mobile phone 100 and the dictionary content providing systems 300 and 400 via the network 700. The authentication unit 202 has a function of performing external connection authentication processing using user information such as identification IDs and passwords of the user management table 800 and the content management table 900 recorded in the user information storage unit 208. . The character recognizing unit 204 has a function of performing character recognition by performing preprocessing and feature extraction of an image including the input search keyword, collating from the pattern dictionary stored in the dictionary content storage unit 209. The management unit 205 has a function of charging the user according to the type and usage of the dictionary content, and a function of comparing and managing the version of the dictionary content. When charging and version updating, each user information recorded in the user management table 800 and the content management table 900 of the user information storage unit 208 is referred to and updated.

  The update unit 206 has a function of updating the dictionary content stored in the dictionary content storage unit 209 to a new version. The search unit 207 has a function of searching for the meaning of the keyword recognized by the character recognition unit 204. The user information storage means 208 has a recording medium such as a hard disk, and records member information of users who use the dictionary server 200 and dictionary content creators. As shown in FIG. 5, user member information includes member attribute information, identification ID, content usage count, usage amount, and the like, and is recorded in the user management table 800. As shown in FIG. 6, the member information of the dictionary content creator includes member attribute information, identification ID, content management ID, content type, version, etc., and is recorded in the content management table 900.

  The dictionary content storage means 209 has a recording medium such as a hard disk, stores dictionary contents transmitted by the dictionary content providing systems 300 and 400, and has a standard pattern necessary for the collation processing by the character recognition means 204. It stores a pattern dictionary that is a set.

  The control unit 203 includes a processor, a memory, and the like. (1) Processing for receiving a connection request from the mobile phone 100 and performing authentication processing by the authentication unit 202, (2) User recorded in the content management table 900 Processing for transmitting available dictionary content list information with reference to information, (3) processing for receiving an image including content designation information and a search keyword via communication means 201, and (4) character recognition means from the received image. (5) Processing for performing character recognition by 204, (5) Processing for searching the dictionary from the designated dictionary content by the search means 207, and (6) Processing for transmitting the search result. (7) Control of processing for charging user information and updating user information. Details of the processes (1) to (6) will be described later with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  Further, (7) processing for receiving a connection request from the dictionary content providing systems 300 and 400 and performing authentication processing by the authentication unit 202, (8) processing for receiving dictionary content via the communication unit 201, and (9) received The management unit 205 compares the dictionary content and the version of the dictionary content stored in the dictionary content storage unit 209 and updates the user information when it is new, (10) the processing of updating the dictionary content by the update unit 206, Details will be described later with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  The dictionary content providing systems 300 and 400 are systems that create various dictionary contents and provide the contents to the dictionary server 200 via the network 700. As shown in FIG. 4, the communication means 301, the input means 302, A control unit 303, a selection unit 304, an editing unit 305, and a dictionary content storage unit 306 are included. The creator of the dictionary content is determined by type. For example, the dictionary content providing system 300 creates an English-Japanese dictionary content, and the dictionary content providing system 400 creates a Japanese-English dictionary content. In addition to language, dictionary content includes various contents such as engineering, economics, civil engineering, medicine, environment, and law, and is created by service companies. Usage fees are set for the contents. For example, it is conceivable to change the usage fees according to each content, such as setting a high usage fee for a dictionary of technical terms. Various service forms are conceivable, such as a pay-as-you-go system that charges each time the user uses it, a flat-rate system for use for a certain period, and a discount system when a plurality of contents are used.

  The communication unit 301 has a function of communicating with the dictionary server 200 via the network 700. The input unit 302 has a function of receiving an input instruction and giving an operation instruction to the control unit 303. The selection unit 304 has a function of selecting content to be transmitted from the created dictionary content. The editing unit 305 has a function of editing dictionary content. The dictionary content storage unit 306 has a recording medium such as a hard disk and records various dictionary contents.

  The control unit 303 includes a processor, a memory, and the like. (1) Processing for editing dictionary content by the editing unit 305 in accordance with a dictionary content editing request received from the input unit 302; (2) Dictionary received from the input unit 302 In accordance with the content transmission request, the selection unit 304 controls dictionary content selection and transmission to the dictionary server 200 via the communication unit 301. Details of the process (2) will be described later with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. A user or a dictionary content creator who intends to use the system performs membership registration in the user management table 800 and the content management table 900 of the dictionary server 200 in advance.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation between the mobile phone 100 and the dictionary server 200. When using the dictionary function, the user first sets the mobile phone 100 to the dictionary mode (step S101). Next, it is selected whether to newly capture an image including the search keyword or use an existing image (step S102). When an image is captured (step S102: YES), the image is input by the image input unit 110 (step S103), and an image area is designated in order to delete an unnecessary area from the captured image (step S104). When the image is not stored (step S105: NO), the communication unit 201 logs in the dictionary server 200 via the network 700 (step S106). If the image is to be stored (step S105: YES), the image is stored in the storage means 105 (step S108) and logged into the dictionary server 200 (step S106). By saving the image, the search keyword can be selected without taking the image again. When an image is not taken (step S102: NO), an image is selected from the storage means 105 (step S107) and logged in to the dictionary server 200 (step S106). The dictionary server 200 performs an authentication process using the registered ID, password, etc. (step S201), and notifies the authentication result (step S202). When the mobile phone 100 receives the authentication result and is not permitted (step S109: NO), the mobile phone 100 prompts whether to log in again (step S110). When logging in (step S110: YES), login is performed (step S106), and when not logging in (step S110: NO), the process is terminated. If the authentication is not permitted (step S203: NO), the dictionary server 200 ends. If the authentication is permitted (step S203: YES), the dictionary server 200 transmits available dictionary content list information to the mobile phone 100 (step S204). When the cellular phone 100 is permitted (step S109: YES), the dictionary content list information is received and displayed (step S111).

  The user selects a desired dictionary content from the dictionary content list information (step S112), and transmits an image including content designation information and a search keyword (step S113). The dictionary server 200 receives the content designation information and the image (step S205) and performs character recognition by the character recognition unit 204 (step S206). As a result of character recognition, a dictionary search is performed by the search means 207 from the specified dictionary content (step S207), and the result is transmitted (step S208). If the corresponding item is not found as a result of the search, an error is notified. After the result notification, the accounting process is performed by the management unit 205 and recorded in the user management table 800 (step S209). In the user management table 800, the number of uses, the accumulated use amount, etc. are recorded for each content. The mobile phone 100 receives the result from the dictionary server 200 (step S114) and logs out (step S115). The received result is displayed (step S116) and the process ends.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation between the dictionary content providing systems 300 and 400 and the dictionary server 200. The dictionary content creator transmits the latest dictionary content to the dictionary server 200 as appropriate. When the dictionary content is edited (step S301: YES), the content is edited (step S302). After editing, or when the dictionary content is not edited (step S301: NO), whether to transmit the content is selected (step S303). If not transmitted (step S303: NO), the process ends.

  When transmitting (step S303: YES), the dictionary content to be transmitted is selected (step S304), and the communication unit 301 logs in to the dictionary server 200 via the network 700 (step S305). The dictionary server 200 performs an authentication process using the registered ID, password, etc. (step S401), and notifies the authentication result (step S402). When the dictionary content providing system receives the authentication result and is not permitted (step S306: NO), the dictionary content providing system prompts whether to log in again (step S307). When logging in (step S307: YES), login is performed (step S305), and when not logging in (step S307: NO), the process ends. When the dictionary content providing system is permitted (step S306: YES), the dictionary content and version information are transmitted (step S308). If the authentication is not permitted (step S403: NO), the dictionary server 200 ends. If it is permitted (step S403: YES), the dictionary server 200 receives the dictionary contents and version information (step S404), and performs version comparison by the management means 205 (step S404). Step S405).

  If the received dictionary content is the latest as a result of the comparison (step S406: YES), the content is updated by the updating means 206 (step S408), and a registration end notification is sent (step S409). If the received dictionary content is not up-to-date (step S406: NO), a registered notification is given (step S407) and the process ends. The dictionary content providing system receives the result from the dictionary server 200 (step S309) and logs out (step S310). The received result is displayed (step S311) and the process ends.

  The dictionary search system according to the present invention is useful as a search system using image recognition, and can also be applied to a system that searches a dictionary using images such as pictures and animals and plants as search keys.

The block diagram which shows the structure of one embodiment of this invention FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the mobile phone illustrated in FIG. The block diagram which shows the structural example of the dictionary server shown in FIG. The block diagram which shows the structural example of the dictionary content provision system shown in FIG. The figure which shows the structural example of the user management table stored in the user information storage means of the dictionary server shown in FIG. The figure which shows the structural example of the content management table stored in the user information storage means of the dictionary server shown in FIG. Flowchart for receiving a search request from a cellular phone to a dictionary server Flowchart for transmitting and storing dictionary content from dictionary content providing system to dictionary server

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Mobile phone 101 Antenna 102 Communication means 103 Input means 104 Control means 105 Storage means 106 Audio processing means 107 Image processing means 108 Audio input means 109 Audio output means 110 Image input means 111 Image display means 200 Dictionary server 201 Communication means 202 Authentication means 203 control means 204 character recognition means 205 management means 206 update means 207 search means 208 user information storage means 209 dictionary content storage means 300 dictionary content providing system 301 communication means 302 input means 303 control means 304 selection means 305 editing means 306 dictionary content Storage means 400 Dictionary content providing system 500 Base station 600 Switching office 700 Network 800 User management table 900 Content management table

Claims (9)

A dictionary server that stores and manages dictionary content to retrieve and provide information;
A mobile communication terminal that makes a search request to the dictionary server and receives information is connected via a network,
The mobile communication terminal is
An image input means for inputting an image;
Communication means for communicating with the network;
Transmitting means for transmitting image information obtained by the image input means to the dictionary server via the communication means;
Receiving means for receiving character information from the dictionary server via the communication means,
The dictionary server
Storage means for storing dictionary content;
Communication means for communicating with the network;
Receiving means for receiving image information from the portable communication terminal via the communication means;
Character recognition means for recognizing characters from the image information received by the receiving means;
Search means for searching the meaning of the character recognized by the character recognition means from the dictionary content;
A dictionary retrieval system comprising: transmission means for transmitting character information including a result of retrieval by the retrieval means to the portable communication terminal via the communication means. The dictionary server
A plurality of dictionary contents by category are stored in the storage means,
The dictionary search system according to claim 1, wherein the search means searches from specified dictionary content. The dictionary server
User information storage means for storing user information including user identification information and dictionary content usage information;
Authentication means for authenticating a connection request from the outside using the user information;
The dictionary search system according to claim 1, further comprising a billing unit that charges the user using the user information. The mobile communication terminal is
Input means for receiving operation instructions from the user;
Storage means for storing image information;
Display means for displaying the image information and the character information;
Image area selection means for designating an image area from the image information obtained by the image input means;
Image storage means for storing the image information in the storage means;
4. The dictionary search system according to claim 3, further comprising image search means for searching image information from the storage means. The mobile communication terminal is
Receiving an image input instruction from the input means;
Inputting an image by the image input means;
Designating an image area from image information by the image area selection means;
Performing authentication processing by connecting to the dictionary server via the communication means;
Receiving an authentication result from the dictionary server;
Receiving the dictionary content list information from the dictionary server when authenticated;
Designating desired dictionary content from the dictionary content list;
Transmitting dictionary content designation information and image information to the dictionary server;
Receiving search results from the dictionary server;
Displaying the result by the display means,
The dictionary server
Performing authentication processing by the authentication means at the time of the connection request from the mobile communication terminal;
Transmitting an authentication result to the mobile communication terminal;
Transmitting authentication content list information to the mobile communication terminal when authentication is permitted;
Receiving the dictionary content designation information and image information from the mobile communication terminal;
Recognizing characters from image information by the character recognition means;
Searching the dictionary by the search means from the specified dictionary content;
Transmitting character information including a result of the search by the search means to the mobile communication terminal;
5. The dictionary search system according to claim 4, further comprising a step of charging the user by the charging means. A dictionary content providing system for providing dictionary content is connected via the network,
The dictionary content providing system includes:
Storage means for storing dictionary content;
Communication means for communicating with the network;
Transmission means for transmitting the dictionary content to the dictionary server via the communication means,
The dictionary server
Means for receiving the dictionary content from the dictionary content providing system via the communication means;
6. The dictionary search system according to claim 1, further comprising an updating unit that stores the dictionary content received by the receiving unit in the storage unit. A dictionary content providing system for providing dictionary content is connected via the network,
The dictionary content providing system includes:
Input means for receiving operation instructions from the user;
Storage means for storing dictionary content;
Communication means for communicating with the network;
Editing means for editing dictionary content stored in the storage means;
Selection means for selecting dictionary content to be transmitted from the storage means;
Transmission means for transmitting the dictionary content selected by the selection means to the dictionary server,
The dictionary server
Means for receiving the dictionary content from the dictionary content providing system;
Means for storing user information including identification information and dictionary content information of the dictionary content providing system;
Dictionary content management means for managing dictionary content using the user information;
6. The dictionary search system according to claim 3, further comprising an updating unit that stores the dictionary content received by the receiving unit in the storage unit. The dictionary content providing system includes:
Means for storing a plurality of dictionary contents for each category by the storage means;
8. The dictionary search system according to claim 7, wherein the selecting means comprises means for selecting dictionary contents to be transmitted from the plurality of dictionary contents. The dictionary content providing system includes:
Receiving a dictionary content transmission instruction from the input means;
Selecting dictionary content to be transmitted by the selection means;
Performing authentication processing by connecting to the dictionary server via the communication means;
Receiving an authentication result from the dictionary server;
Transmitting the dictionary content to the dictionary server when authenticated;
Receiving a registration result from the dictionary server,
The dictionary server
Performing authentication processing by the authentication means at the time of the connection request from the dictionary content providing system;
Transmitting an authentication result to the dictionary content providing system;
Receiving the dictionary content from the dictionary content providing system when authentication is permitted;
Managing the dictionary content by the dictionary content management means;
Storing the dictionary content in the storage means by the updating means;
The dictionary search system according to claim 7, further comprising a step of transmitting a registration result to the dictionary content providing system.

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