JP3674360B2 - Information providing server and information providing method - Google Patents

Description

ここで、この数式（１）に示す関数ｆ（ｘ）は、図６に示すように入力ｘが大きくなるに従って出力が減少する特性を持つ重み関数である。従って、例えばコンテンツｊを前日に利用した場合は、１年前に同じコンテンツｊを利用した場合に比べ、そのコンテンツｊの利用頻度が高い値となる。利用頻度データ作成部１６は、このようにして利用頻度ａｉｊを要素とするＭ行Ｎ列の行列の利用頻度データＡを作成する。そして、この利用頻度データＡが作成されると、サーバ１はステップＳ２２に進む。
【００３３】
（スコアの計算動作）
次に、ステップＳ２２では、図１に示すスコア計算部１７が、情報空間内に各利用者と各コンテンツをその類似性に基づき配置するスコアを計算してステップＳ２３に進む。
【００３４】
具体的には、このスコア計算部１７は、利用頻度データＡに対し、例えば多変量解析の一手法である数量化３類を適用して得られるようになっている。数量化３類は、例えば「数量化」（林 知己夫著、朝倉書店）に詳細に説明されているのでここでは省略するが、これを適用すると、各利用者に対してサンプルスコアＸiq(i＝１〜Ｍ，ｑ＝１〜Ｑ)、各コンテンツに対してカテゴリスコアＹjq(j＝１〜Ｎ、q＝１〜Ｑ)が得られる。定数Ｑは、有効な成分の数であり、Q＜min(M, N)である。サンプルスコアＸiq及びカテゴリスコアＹjqは、利用頻度データＡにおいて利用者とコンテンツの相関を最大にするという条件で算出された数量である。
【００３５】
例えば、３人の利用者i ＝１、２、３がいて、それらのサンプルスコアがＸ1q、Ｘ2q、Ｘ3qである場合、Ｘ1qとＸ2qの差（距離）が小さく、Ｘ1qとＸ3qの差（距離）が大きければ、利用者1 と利用者２はコンテンツに対する嗜好の類似度が高く、利用者１と利用者３は類似度が低いと判断できる。同様なことはカテゴリスコアＹjqについても成立する。
【００３６】
従来方法による利用者間の類似度とサンプルスコアＸiqを比較すると、従来方法では、同一のコンテンツを利用（評価）した人のデータだけを使って類似度を計算している。従って同一のコンテンツを利用（評価）した人数が少ない場合には、小人数のデータを使って類似度の計算を行うことになり、類似度の精度が低下する。一方、本発明では、同一のコンテンツを利用（評価）していない利用者も含めた多人数のデータを使って類似度の計算を行なっているので、このような場合でも精度が低下することはない。
【００３７】
なお、当該実施の形態では、前記スコアの計算に数量化３類を適用することとしたが、これは、同様な結果の得られる他の統計手法を用いるようにしてもよい。
【００３８】
（カテゴリスコアの平均値の計算動作）
次に、ステップＳ２３に進むと、スコア計算部１７が以下の数式（２）に基づいて、利用者iが利用したコンテンツのカテゴリスコアの平均値Ｚiqを算出してステップＳ２４に進む。
【００３９】
【数２】

なお、この数式（２）に示すδijは、利用者iがコンテンツjを利用した場合にはδij＝１、それ以外はδij＝０となる。
【００４０】
（利用者とコンテンツの距離の算出動作）
次に、このようにしてカテゴリスコアの平均値が算出されると、ステップＳ２４において、コンテンツ選択部１８が、以下の数式（３）に基づいて利用者ｉとコンテンツｊの距離Ｄｉｊを算出する。
【００４１】
【数３】

この数式（３）において、Tcは現在日時、Tjはコンテンツjの登録日時を示す。また、ｇ(x)は図７に示すように入力ｘが大きくなるに従って出力が減少する特性を持つ重み関数を示す。従って、他の条件が同じ場合、前日に登録されたコンテンツは１年前に登録されたコンテンツに比べ距離が小さくなる。そして、この距離Ｄｉｊが小さいほど利用者iのコンテンツjの類似度が高く、このコンテンツに対する興味があると考えることができる。
【００４２】
なお、距離Ｄｉｊの計算式としては、この数式（３）を用いることができるが、これに限定されるものではない。
【００４３】
（コンテンツの選択動作）
次に、このようにして利用者とコンテンツの距離が算出されると、ステップＳ２５において、コンテンツ選択部１８が、端末装置２を利用している利用者iに対して、Ｎ個のコンテンツの中からＤijが一定の値より小さいコンテンツ（コンテンツＩＤ）を順に最大Ｐ個選択し、これらコンテンツＩＤの集合Ｒｊを形成してステップＳ２６に進む（ｊ= 1〜Ｋ、Ｋ≦Ｐ、ＰはＮより小さい定数）。なお、ダウンロード型のコンテンツ等で、利用者が２回以上利用しないコンテンツの場合は、利用者が過去に利用したコンテンツを除外して前記コンテンツＩＤの集合Ｒjを求める。
【００４４】
ここでは、利用者iとコンテンツjの距離を使ってコンテンツを選択したが、距離の他に、情報空間内においてＺiqを基準としたＹjqの方向を考慮して選択してもよい。
【００４５】
次に、コンテンツＩＤの集合Ｒjを形成すると、コンテンツ選択部１８はステップＳ２６において、集合Ｒjを形成するコンテンツＩＤの数が一定数以上であるか否かを判別し、一定数以上の場合はステップＳ２７に進み、一定数以下の場合はステップＳ２８に進む。
【００４６】
集合Ｒjを形成するコンテンツＩＤの数が一定数以上であるとしてステップＳ２７に進むと、コンテンツ選択部１８は、各コンテンツＩＤに対応する「タイトル」、「作者」、「ジャンル」等をコンテンツ属性テーブルから取り出してコンテンツメニューを形成し、これを端末装置２側に送信して当該図５に示すフローチャートの全ルーチンを終了する。この逆に、集合Ｒjを形成するコンテンツＩＤの数が一定数以下であるとしてステップＳ２８に進むと、コンテンツ選択部１８は、予め作成しておいた標準的なコンテンツメニューを形成し、これを端末装置２側に送信して当該図５に示すフローチャートの全ルーチンを終了する。この図５に示すフローチャートの全ルーチンが終了すると、当該情報提供システムは、図４に示すフローチャートのステップＳ１４に進むこととなる。
【００４７】
〔利用者によるコンテンツの選択動作〕
次に、図４に示すフローチャートのステップＳ１４において、利用者は、端末装置２を介して受信したコンテンツメニューの中から所望のコンテンツの選択を行う。
【００４８】
すなわち、コンテンツメニューには、各コンテンツのＩＤとタイトルの他に、適宜作者、ジャンル、登録日時等の属性が含まれており、端末装置２のディスプレイには、例えば図８に示すような表示形式でタイトル、作者、ジャンル等が表示される。利用者は、このように表示されたコンテンツメニューの中から所望のコンテンツを選択する。これにより、端末装置２からサーバ１に対して、利用者により選択されたコンテンツに対応するコンテンツＩＤが送信される。
【００４９】
〔サーバによる選択されたコンテンツＩＤの格納動作〕
次に、端末装置２から利用者により選択されたコンテンツに対応するコンテンツＩＤが送信されると、ステップＳ１５において、サーバ１の制御部１９が、この送信されたコンテンツＩＤと共に、利用者ＩＤ及び利用日時を利用履歴格納部１５に格納する。これにより、利用履歴格納部１５には、図９に示すような形式で、コンテンツＩＤ、利用者ＩＤ、利用日時等の属性を含む利用履歴テーブルが形成されることとなる。
【００５０】
〔コンテンツデータの送信動作〕
次に、制御部１９は、このような格納制御と共に、受信したコンテンツＩＤに対応するコンテンツデータの検索を行う。コンテンツ属性格納部１３には、図１０に示すような形式でコンテンツ属性テーブルが形成されており、コンテンツを一意に識別するコンテンツＩＤ毎に、タイトル、作者、ジャンル、登録日時、コンテンツ本体の格納場所等の属性が格納されている。なお、ここでいう作者とは、コンテンツを制作した人にとどまらず、演奏者、編集者、出演者等も含む。また登録日時とは、コンテンツの制作日時あるいはコンテンツがサーバに登録された日時である。
【００５１】
制御部１９は、利用者の端末装置２から送信されたコンテンツＩＤに基づいてコンテンツ属性テーブルからコンテンツデータ本体の格納場所を検索する。コンテンツデータ本体は、コンテンツ格納部１２に格納されており、制御部１９は、前記検索した格納場所から（コンテンツ格納部１２から）コンテンツデータ本体を読み出し、これを端末装置２に送信する。
【００５２】
これにより、利用者は、ステップＳ１６において、サーバ１から送信されたコンテンツデータ（利用者が選択したコンテンツ）に対応する音声出力或いは映像を、端末装置２を介して得ることができる。
【００５３】
以上の説明から明らかなように、当該実施の形態の情報提供システムは、利用者の利用履歴を用いて利用者とコンテンツの類似度を計算するようになっている。このため、従来のように利用者がコンテンツの評価を行うような面倒な作業を省略可能とすることができ、利便性の向上を図ることができる。
【００５４】
また、同一のコンテンツを利用していない他の利用者のデータを含めて利用者とコンテンツの類似度を計算しているため、利用者の嗜好をより的確にとらえることができる。また、利用者が情報を利用した日時を用いて重み係数を変えて利用者とコンテンツの類似度を計算しているため、利用者の最新の嗜好を反映可能とすることができる。
【００５５】
さらに、情報を選択する際に、情報が制作・登録された日時を用いているため、利用者にとって価値の高い新しい情報を容易に提供可能とすることができる。そして、このような個人の嗜好に適合した情報提供が可能であるため、利用者の情報利用の促進化を図ることができる。
【００５６】
最後に、上述の実施の形態の説明は本発明の一例である。このため、本発明は、この実施の形態に限定されることはなく、この実施の形態以外であっても、本発明に係る技術的思想を逸脱しない範囲であれば種々の変更が可能であることは勿論である。
【００５７】
【発明の効果】
請求項１及び請求項５記載の本発明に係る情報提供サーバ及び情報提供方法によれば、特に、利用者個人の嗜好に合わせてコンテンツを選択するにあたって、利用頻度を行列要素とする行列データに対して、行列データにおける行列要素による数値パターンの似たコンテンツ同士ほどカテゴリスコアの差が小さくなる特性を有する多変量解析手法を用い、各コンテンツの情報空間内の座標値であるカテゴリスコアを計算すると共に、一つの利用者が利用したコンテンツのカテゴリスコアの平均値を計算し、一つの利用者における平均値と各コンテンツのカテゴリスコアとの情報空間における距離を計算し、距離が所定の値よりも小さいコンテンツを選択するか、又は、距離が小さい順に所定数のコンテンツを選択しているため、精度よく、各利用者毎の嗜好に適合したコンテンツ選択が可能となり、コンテンツ選択の精度を改善できる。また、従来のように利用者がコンテンツの評価を行うような面倒な作業を省略可能とすることができ、利便性の向上を図ることができる。
【００５８】
また、請求項２及び請求項６記載の本発明に係る情報提供サーバ及び情報提供方法によれば、特に、利用者が情報を利用した日時を用いて重み付けをして利用頻度を計算しているため、上記した請求項１及び請求項５記載の本発明の効果に加えて、利用者の最新の嗜好を反映可能とすることができる。
【００５９】
さらに、請求項３記載の本発明に係る情報提供サーバによれば、特に、情報を選択する際に、情報が制作・登録された日時を用いているため、上記した請求項１記載の本発明の効果、又は、請求項２記載の本発明の効果に加えて、利用者にとって価値の高い新しい情報を容易に提供可能とすることができる。そして、このような個人の嗜好に適合した情報提供が可能であるため、利用者の情報利用の促進化を図ることができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】 本発明に係る情報提供サーバ及び情報提供方法の実施の形態を適用した情報提供システムの全体的な構成を示すブロック図である。
【図２】 図１に示す情報提供システムにおける利用者の登録手順を示すフローチャートである。
【図３】 図１に示す情報提供システムの情報提供サーバ側に設けられている利用者属性格納部のデータ形式を示す図である。
【図４】 図１に示す情報提供システムの情報提供動作を説明するためのフローチャートである。
【図５】 図１に示す情報提供システムのコンテンツメニューの形成動作を説明するためのフローチャートである。
【図６】 現在日時と利用日時との差による重み係数を決める関数ｆ(x) を説明するための図である。
【図７】 現在日時と登録日時との差による重み係数を決める関数ｇ(x) を説明するための図である。
【図８】 図１に示す情報提供システムの端末装置側に表示されるコンテンツメニューの表示例を示す図である。
【図９】 図１に示す情報提供システムのサーバ側に設けられている利用履歴格納部のデータ形式を示す図である。
【図１０】 図１に示す情報提供システムのサーバ側に設けられている提供情報格納部のデータ形式を示す図である。
【符号の説明】
１…情報提供サーバ、２…端末装置、３…ネットワーク、１１…送受信部、
１２…コンテンツ格納部、１３…コンテンツ属性格納部、１４…利用者属性格納部、
１５…利用者履歴格納部、１６…利用者頻度データ作成部、１７…スコア計算部、
１８…コンテンツ選択部、１９…制御部。 [0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  The present invention is applied to a network information providing system in the Internet, personal computer communication, etc.PreferredInformation provisionserverAnd information provision methods that can provide information that matches the interests and preferences of users.serverAnd an information providing method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, with the spread of the Internet and personal computer communication (personal computer communication), services that provide information to a large number of users via a network, such as an information providing service using the WWW (World Wide Web) of the Internet, have become widespread. It is done. However, the amount of information available to network users is increasing, and it has become difficult to search for necessary information from a large amount of information. Therefore, it is required to select and present only appropriate information that suits the user's preference from a lot of information.
[0003]
On the other hand, conventionally, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-190443, a large number of users who use information evaluate each information, and the degree of similarity between users based on the evaluation information. An information search method has been proposed that preferentially provides information that is highly evaluated by users who have high similarity to the searcher. In this information retrieval method, it is also possible to perform fine control by designating the age, gender, and occupation of the user used for similarity calculation.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in order for the above-described conventional information retrieval method to operate effectively, it is necessary for the user to evaluate each piece of information in advance and store them in the “user evaluation information storage unit”. That is, each time the user uses the information, the user needs to perform stepwise evaluation such as evaluating the information in five steps. For this reason, there is a problem that this evaluation work becomes a burden on the user. In addition, since the correlation coefficient between two users is used to obtain the similarity between users, if there are few people who evaluated the same information as the information evaluated by the searcher, There was a problem that the accuracy of the degree was lowered and an effective search could not be performed.
[0005]
In addition, the user's preference changes with time, but the conventional information retrieval method does not use the time information of when the user performed the evaluation. It was difficult to provide relevant information.
[0006]
Furthermore, when providing information on books, music, movies, etc., it is required to provide the latest information as soon as possible. In the conventional information retrieval method, the user explicitly specifies the latest information as a search condition. Unless specified in the above, it was difficult to provide the latest information to the user with priority.
[0007]
  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and allows the user to accurately grasp the user's preference without performing an evaluation operation on the information. The latest according to the current user's preference. Provision of information that enables the provision of informationserverAnd the provision of information provision methods.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  Provision of information according to the present invention according to claim 1serverIsIn order to solve the above-described problem, a user who is connected to a plurality of terminals via a network and uses the terminal is desired toProvide contentFeelingReportingOn the server,
  CoContent identification information that identifies the contentWhen,Content attribute informationWhenTheAssociateContent attribute storage means for storing;
  User attribute storage means for storing at least each user identification information corresponding to each user using each terminal;
  Content identification information indicating the content used by the userWhen,User identification information of the user who used the contentWhenTheAssociateUsage history storage means for storing;
  Stored in the usage history storage meansStored dataBased on the usage frequency for each user's contentMatrix data that is calculated as a value greater than or equal to 0 and uses the frequency of use as a matrix elementUsage frequency information forming means for forming,
  Using a multivariate analysis method on the matrix data, a category score that is a coordinate value in the information space of each content is calculated, and an average value of the category scores of the content used by the one user is calculated. A score calculation means, and as the multivariate analysis method, a multivariate analysis method having a characteristic that the difference in the category score becomes smaller between contents having similar numerical patterns by matrix elements in the matrix dataA score calculation means,
  Based on the calculation result of the score calculation means,A distance in the information space between the average value of the one user and the category score of each content is calculated, and a content with the distance smaller than a predetermined value is selected, or predetermined in ascending order of the distance. NumberContent selection means for selecting content;
  Content identification information and content attribute information corresponding to the content selected by the content selection meansAt least one ofIs read from the content attribute storage meansThe one user usesendThe end of theWith transmission means to send,
Have
[0009]
  Further, provision of information according to the present invention described in claim 2serverIn order to solve the above-mentioned problem,In an information providing server that is connected to a plurality of terminals via a network and provides desired content to one user who uses the terminals,
  Content attribute storage means for storing content identification information for identifying content and content attribute information in association with each other;
  User attribute storage means for storing at least each user identification information corresponding to each user using each terminal;
  Usage history storage means for storing content identification information indicating content used by a user, user identification information of a user who used the content, and usage date and time when the content was used;
  Based on the stored data stored in the usage history storage means, the usage frequency for each user's content is weighted more as the time difference between the current date and time and the usage date is smaller, and is set to a value of 0 or more. Use frequency information forming means for calculating and forming matrix data having the use frequency as a matrix element;
  Using a multivariate analysis method on the matrix data, a category score that is a coordinate value in the information space of each content is calculated, and an average value of the category scores of the content used by the one user is calculated. Score calculation means, and as the multivariate analysis technique, a score calculation means using a multivariate analysis technique having a characteristic that the difference between the category scores is smaller between contents having similar numerical patterns by matrix elements in the matrix data;
  Based on the calculation result of the score calculation means, calculates a distance in the information space between the average value of the one user and the category score of each content, and selects content whose distance is smaller than a predetermined value Or content selection means for selecting a predetermined number of contents in ascending order of the distance;
  Transmitting means for reading at least one of content identification information and content attribute information corresponding to the content selected by the content selection means from the content attribute storage means and transmitting it to the terminal used by the one user; ,
HaveThe
[0010]
  Further, provision of information according to the present invention according to claim 3serverIn order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the content attribute storage means sets the production date / time when the content was produced or the registration date / time when the content was registered in the server.In association with the content identification informationStore and
  The content selection means isResident in JapanThe time difference between the time and the production date, orThe abovePresentResident in JapanTime difference between the time and the registration dateThe smaller the distance, the smaller the distance is corrected..
  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the information providing server according to the present invention, wherein, in order to solve the above-described problem, the content selection unit is configured to determine the content of the one user based on a calculation result of the score calculation unit. Calculating the distance in the information space between the average value and the category score of each content, and selecting the content with the distance smaller than a predetermined value from the content not used by the one user, Alternatively, a predetermined number of contents are selected in ascending order of the distance from contents not used by the one user.
[0011]
  Next, in order to solve the above-described problem, an information providing method according to the present invention described in claim 5 is connected to a plurality of terminals via a network, and to one user who uses the terminals. In the information providing method in the information providing server that provides the desired content,
  The information providing server includes content attribute storage means, user attribute storage means, usage history storage means, usage frequency information formation means, score calculation means, content selection means, and transmission means,
The information providing server is
  A storage step of associating content identification information for identifying content with attribute information of the content in the content attribute storage means;
  Storing each user identification information corresponding to each user using each terminal in a user attribute storage means;
  A storage step of associating the content identification information indicating the content used by the user with the user identification information of the user who used the content in the usage history storage means;
  Based on the stored data stored in the usage history storage means, the usage frequency for each content of each user is calculated as a value of 0 or more, and the matrix data having the usage frequency as a matrix element is calculated by the usage frequency information forming means. Forming step;
  A multivariate analysis method is used for the matrix data, a category score that is a coordinate value in the information space of each content is calculated by the score calculation means, and the average of the category scores of the content used by the one user A calculation step of calculating a value by a score calculation means, and as the multivariate analysis method, a multivariate analysis method having a characteristic that a difference in the category score becomes smaller between contents having similar numerical patterns by matrix elements in the matrix data A calculation step using
  Based on the calculation result in the calculation step, a distance in the information space between the average value of the one user and the category score of each content is calculated by the content selection means, and the distance is determined by the content selection means. A selection step of selecting content smaller than the value of the selected content or selecting a predetermined number of content in ascending order of the distance;
  Transmission for reading at least one of content identification information and content attribute information corresponding to the content selected in the selection step from the content attribute storage unit and transmitting to the terminal used by the one user by the transmission unit Steps,
RunTo do.
  Furthermore, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the information providing method according to the present invention described in claim 6 is connected to a plurality of terminals via a network, and for one user who uses the terminals. In the information providing method in the information providing server that provides the desired content,
  The information providing server includes content attribute storage means, user attribute storage means, usage history storage means, usage frequency information formation means, score calculation means, content selection means, and transmission means,
The information providing server is
  A storage step of associating content identification information for identifying content with attribute information of the content in the content attribute storage means;
  Storing each user identification information corresponding to each user using each terminal in a user attribute storage means;
  A storage step of associating the content identification information indicating the content used by the user, the user identification information of the user who used the content, and the usage date and time when the content was used, in the usage history storage means; ,
  Based on the stored data stored in the usage history storage means, the usage frequency for each user's content is weighted more as the time difference between the current date and time and the usage date is smaller, and is set to a value of 0 or more. Calculating matrix data having the usage frequency as a matrix element by using frequency information forming means;
  A multivariate analysis method is used for the matrix data, a category score that is a coordinate value in the information space of each content is calculated by the score calculation means, and the average of the category scores of the content used by the one user A calculation step of calculating a value by a score calculation means, and as the multivariate analysis method, a multivariate analysis method having a characteristic that a difference in the category score becomes smaller between contents having similar numerical patterns by matrix elements in the matrix data A calculation step using
  Based on the calculation result in the calculation step, a distance in the information space between the average value of the one user and the category score of each content is calculated by the content selection means, and the distance is determined by the content selection means. A selection step of selecting content smaller than the value of the selected content or selecting a predetermined number of content in ascending order of the distance;
  Transmission for reading at least one of content identification information and content attribute information corresponding to the content selected in the selection step from the content attribute storage unit and transmitting to the terminal used by the one user by the transmission unit Steps,
RunTo do.
[0012]
  Providing such informationserverThe information providing method calculates the degree of similarity between the user and the content using the user's usage history. For this reason, it is possible to omit the troublesome work for the user to evaluate the content as in the conventional case, and the convenience can be improved.
[0013]
Moreover, since the similarity between the user and the content is calculated including the data of other users who are not using the same content, the user's preference can be grasped more accurately. In addition, since the similarity between the user and the content is calculated by changing the weighting coefficient using the date and time when the user uses the information, the latest preference of the user can be reflected.
[0014]
Furthermore, since the date and time when the information was produced / registered is used when selecting the information, it is possible to easily provide new information with high value for the user.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
  Less than,Applicable to network information provision system (hereinafter referred to as information provision system) in the Internet and personal computer communicationsProvision of information according to the present inventionserverA preferred embodiment of the information providing method will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention can be applied to an information providing system as shown in FIG.
[0016]
[Configuration of the embodiment]
FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of an information providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As can be seen from FIG. 1, the information providing system includes a server 1 that provides content and a user's The terminal device 2 is configured by being connected via a network 3 such as a LAN, a telephone network, and a dedicated line.
[0017]
The server 1 includes a transmission / reception unit 11 that controls the network 3, a content storage unit 12 that stores content in a data format such as text, audio, still image, and video, a content ID that identifies each content, a title, A content attribute storage unit 13 for storing attribute data such as registration date, a user attribute storage unit 14 for storing a user ID and password of a user, a content ID of the used content, and a use using the content ID A usage history storage unit that records and stores the user ID of the user.
[0018]
The server 1 also includes a usage frequency data creation unit 16 that creates data representing the usage frequency of each user's content based on the data in the usage history storage unit 15, and each usage frequency data in the information space. A score calculation unit 17 that calculates a score for arranging the user and each content based on the similarity thereof, and a content selection unit 18 that selects a content having a small difference from the score of the user who uses the terminal device 2 And a control unit 19 that controls the entire server 1 having a timekeeping function.
[0019]
In FIG. 1, the units 11 to 19 of the server 1 are illustrated as hardware. However, the units 11 to 19 may be implemented as software as the built-in program processing. As a result, the server 1 can be realized by a personal computer, a workstation, or another computer.
[0020]
The terminal device 2 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, a network control circuit, an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse, and a display device such as a display, and performs a processing operation using a built-in program. As the terminal device 2, a general personal computer can be used.
[0021]
[Operation of the embodiment]
Next, the operation of the information providing system according to the embodiment having such a configuration will be described.
[0022]
[User registration operation]
In order to receive the information providing service in the information providing system of this embodiment, the user performs user registration on the server 1 side. This user registration is performed according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 2, and when performing user registration, the user operates the terminal device 2 in step S1, for example, the name and sex of the user. Enter user attributes such as address and date of birth. The user attribute information indicating the user attribute input by the user is transmitted to the server 1 side via the network 3.
[0023]
The server 1 receives the user attribute information transmitted from the user via the transmission / reception unit 11 under the control of the control unit 19, and supplies this to the user attribute storage unit 14. The user attribute storage unit 14 has a user attribute table including attributes such as a user ID, a password, and a name input by the user in a format as shown in FIG. Is provided. In step S2, after confirming that the user attribute information transmitted from the user is not already stored in the user attribute table, the control unit 19 creates an unused user ID and a corresponding password. To do. In step S3, a new entry is assigned to the user attribute storage unit 14, and the formed user ID and password are stored in the user attribute table together with the received user attribute information. Moreover, the control part 19 transmits the formed user ID and password to the terminal device 2 side via the transmission / reception part 11 with such storage control.
[0024]
The user obtains the user ID and password transmitted from the server 1 via the terminal device 2, and thereafter receives the information providing service in the information providing system using the user ID and password. .
[0025]
[Information provision operation]
Next, when the user attribute is registered on the server 1 side in this way and the user acquires the user ID and password, the information providing service in the information providing system can be received. This information providing service is performed according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 4. When receiving the information providing service, in step S11, the user operates the terminal device 2 to obtain the acquired user ID and password. Make input. The terminal device 2 transmits the user ID and password input by the user to the server 1.
[0026]
The control unit 19 of the server 1 receives the user ID and password via the transmission / reception unit 11 and compares them with the user ID and password registered in the user attribute table of the user attribute storage unit 14 in step S12. To do. The information providing service described below is performed only when a match between the two is detected. If the two do not match, an error code is returned to the terminal device 2 side. As a result, the user notices an input error of the user ID or password, and inputs the correct user ID or password again.
[0027]
Next, the control unit 19 of the server 1 detects a match between the user ID and password transmitted from the user and the user ID and password registered in the user attribute table of the user attribute storage unit 14. Then, in step S13, a content menu is individually created for the user and transmitted to the user side.
[0028]
[Content menu creation operation]
Specifically, this content menu is created according to the flowchart shown in FIG. This flowchart starts when the control unit 19 detects the coincidence of both in step S13, and proceeds to step S21.
[0029]
(Use frequency data creation operation)
In step S21, the usage frequency data creating unit 16 shown in FIG. 1 creates the matrix-type usage frequency data A as described below. Hereinafter, it is assumed that the number of users stored in the usage history storage unit 15 is M and the number of contents is N.
[0030]
That is, the usage frequency data creation unit 16 sets the user ID of the user i (i = 1 to M) as Ui, the content ID of the content j (j = 1 to N) as Cj, and the table of the usage history storage unit 15. The number of times the user i has used the content j is detected by counting the number of records having the user ID Ui and the content ID Cj.
[0031]
More specifically, assuming that the user i has used the content j L times, the usage date / time is Tk (k = 1 to L), and the current date / time is Tc, the usage frequency data creation unit 16 The use frequency aij (i = 1 to M, j = 1 to N) is calculated using the following formula (1).
[0032]
[Expression 1]

Here, the function f (x) shown in the equation (1) is a weighting function having a characteristic that the output decreases as the input x increases as shown in FIG. Therefore, for example, when the content j is used on the previous day, the use frequency of the content j is higher than when the same content j is used one year ago. In this way, the usage frequency data creation unit 16 creates the usage frequency data A of a matrix of M rows and N columns having the usage frequency aij as an element. When the usage frequency data A is created, the server 1 proceeds to step S22.
[0033]
(Score calculation operation)
Next, in step S22, the score calculation unit 17 shown in FIG. 1 calculates a score for arranging each user and each content in the information space based on the similarity, and proceeds to step S23.
[0034]
Specifically, the score calculation unit 17 is obtained by applying, for example, quantification type 3, which is one method of multivariate analysis, to the usage frequency data A. The quantification type 3, for example, is described in detail in “Quantification” (Tomoo Hayashi, Asakura Shoten), and is omitted here. However, if this is applied, the sample score Xiq (i = 1 to M, q = 1 to Q), and category scores Yjq (j = 1 to N, q = 1 to Q) are obtained for each content. The constant Q is the number of effective components, and Q <min (M, N). The sample score Xiq and the category score Yjq are quantities calculated on the condition that the correlation between the user and the content is maximized in the usage frequency data A.
[0035]
  For example, there are 3 users i = 1, 2, 3sampleWhen the score is X1q, X2q, and X3q, if the difference (distance) between X1q and X2q is small and the difference (distance) between X1q and X3q is large, user 1 and user 2 have a high preference similarity to content It can be determined that the user 1 and the user 3 have low similarity. The same is true for the category score Yjq.
[0036]
Comparing the similarity between users according to the conventional method and the sample score Xiq, the conventional method calculates the similarity using only data of people who use (evaluate) the same content. Accordingly, when the number of people who use (evaluate) the same content is small, the similarity is calculated using the data of a small number of people, and the accuracy of the similarity is lowered. On the other hand, in the present invention, since the similarity is calculated using data of a large number of people including users who do not use (evaluate) the same content, the accuracy is reduced even in such a case. Absent.
[0037]
In this embodiment, the quantification type 3 is applied to the score calculation. However, other statistical methods that can obtain the same result may be used.
[0038]
(Category score average calculation operation)
Next, when proceeding to step S23, the score calculation unit 17 calculates the average value Ziq of the category scores of the content used by the user i based on the following formula (2), and proceeds to step S24.
[0039]
[Expression 2]

Note that δij shown in Equation (2) is δij = 1 when the user i uses the content j, and δij = 0 otherwise.
[0040]
(Calculation of distance between user and content)
Next, when the average value of the category scores is calculated in this way, in step S24, the content selection unit 18 calculates the distance Dij between the user i and the content j based on the following formula (3).
[0041]
[Equation 3]

In Equation (3), Tc represents the current date and time, and Tj represents the registration date and time of content j. Further, g (x) represents a weighting function having a characteristic that the output decreases as the input x increases as shown in FIG. Therefore, when other conditions are the same, the content registered on the previous day has a smaller distance than the content registered one year ago. The smaller the distance Dij, the higher the similarity of the content i of the user i, and it can be considered that the user is interested in the content.
[0042]
Note that the formula (3) can be used as a formula for calculating the distance Dij, but is not limited thereto.
[0043]
(Content selection operation)
Next, when the distance between the user and the content is calculated in this way, in step S25, the content selection unit 18 gives the user i who is using the terminal device 2 a medium of N content. To Dij, which are smaller than a certain value (content ID) in order, select a maximum of P in order, form a set Rj of these content IDs, and proceed to step S26 (j = 1 to K, K ≦ P, P is from N Small constant). In the case of download-type content or the like that is not used by the user more than once, the content ID set Rj is obtained by excluding the content that the user has used in the past.
[0044]
Here, the content is selected using the distance between the user i and the content j. However, in addition to the distance, the content may be selected in consideration of the direction of Yjq with respect to Ziq in the information space.
[0045]
Next, when the content ID set Rj is formed, the content selection unit 18 determines whether or not the number of content IDs forming the set Rj is a certain number or more in step S26. Proceed to S27, and if it is less than a certain number, proceed to Step S28.
[0046]
When the processing proceeds to step S27 assuming that the number of content IDs forming the set Rj is a certain number or more, the content selection unit 18 displays “title”, “author”, “genre”, etc. corresponding to each content ID in the content attribute table. The content menu is formed and is transmitted to the terminal device 2 side, and all the routines in the flowchart shown in FIG. On the contrary, if the number of content IDs forming the set Rj is equal to or less than a certain number and the process proceeds to step S28, the content selection unit 18 forms a standard content menu created in advance and displays it on the terminal All of the routines in the flowchart shown in FIG. When all the routines in the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 are completed, the information providing system proceeds to step S14 in the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0047]
[Content selection by user]
Next, in step S <b> 14 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 4, the user selects a desired content from the content menu received via the terminal device 2.
[0048]
That is, the content menu includes attributes such as the author, genre, and registration date as well as the ID and title of each content, and the display of the terminal device 2 has a display format as shown in FIG. The title, author, genre, etc. are displayed. The user selects a desired content from the content menu displayed in this way. As a result, the content ID corresponding to the content selected by the user is transmitted from the terminal device 2 to the server 1.
[0049]
[Storage operation of selected content ID by server]
Next, when the content ID corresponding to the content selected by the user is transmitted from the terminal device 2, in step S15, the control unit 19 of the server 1 together with the transmitted content ID, the user ID and the usage. The date and time are stored in the usage history storage unit 15. As a result, a usage history table including attributes such as a content ID, a user ID, and a usage date is formed in the usage history storage unit 15 in the format shown in FIG.
[0050]
[Content data transmission operation]
Next, the control unit 19 searches for content data corresponding to the received content ID together with such storage control. In the content attribute storage unit 13, a content attribute table is formed in a format as shown in FIG. 10, and for each content ID that uniquely identifies the content, a title, an author, a genre, a registration date, and a storage location of the content body Etc. are stored. Note that the term “author” here includes not only the person who created the content but also a performer, editor, performer, and the like. The registration date / time is the date / time when the content was created or the date / time when the content was registered on the server.
[0051]
The control unit 19 searches the storage location of the content data body from the content attribute table based on the content ID transmitted from the user terminal device 2. The content data body is stored in the content storage unit 12, and the control unit 19 reads the content data body from the searched storage location (from the content storage unit 12) and transmits it to the terminal device 2.
[0052]
Thereby, the user can obtain the audio output or the video corresponding to the content data (content selected by the user) transmitted from the server 1 via the terminal device 2 in step S16.
[0053]
As is clear from the above description, the information providing system of the embodiment calculates the similarity between the user and the content using the user's usage history. For this reason, it is possible to omit the troublesome work for the user to evaluate the content as in the conventional case, and the convenience can be improved.
[0054]
Moreover, since the similarity between the user and the content is calculated including the data of other users who are not using the same content, the user's preference can be grasped more accurately. In addition, since the similarity between the user and the content is calculated by changing the weighting coefficient using the date and time when the user uses the information, the latest preference of the user can be reflected.
[0055]
Furthermore, since the date and time when the information was produced / registered is used when selecting the information, it is possible to easily provide new information with high value for the user. And since information provision suitable for such personal preferences is possible, it is possible to promote the use of information by users.
[0056]
Finally, the description of the above embodiment is an example of the present invention. For this reason, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the technical idea according to the present invention, even if other than this embodiment. Of course.
[0057]
【The invention's effect】
  Claim 1as well asClaim5Provision of information according to the present invention describedserverAnd information provision methodAccording to,In particular, when selecting content according to individual user's preference, the difference in category scores is smaller for content with similar numerical patterns due to matrix elements in matrix data, with respect to matrix data whose usage frequency is matrix elements. Using a multivariate analysis method with characteristics, calculate the category score, which is the coordinate value in the information space of each content, and calculate the average value of the category scores of the content used by one user. Since the distance in the information space between the average value in each and the category score of each content is calculated and the content whose distance is smaller than the predetermined value is selected, or the predetermined number of contents are selected in the order of the smaller distance, Content selection that matches each user's preferences with high accuracy is possible, improving content selection accuracy Kill. Also,It is possible to eliminate the troublesome work for the user to evaluate the content as in the past, and the convenience can be improved..
[0058]
  Claim 2And claim 6Provision of information according to the present invention describedAccording to the server and the information providing method, in particular,Weight using the date and time the user used the informationUse frequencyBecauseIn addition to the effects of the present invention described in claims 1 and 5 above,The latest preference of the user can be reflected.
[0059]
  Further, the provision of information according to the present invention according to claim 3According to the server, in particularWhen selecting information, the date and time when the information was created and registered is used.In addition to the effect of the present invention described in claim 1 or the effect of the present invention described in claim 2,It is possible to easily provide new information with high value for the user. And since information provision suitable for such personal preferences is possible, it is possible to promote the use of information by users.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 Information provision according to the present inventionserverAnd information provision methodofEmbodimentAppliedIt is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of an information provision system.
[Figure 2]As shown in FIG.It is a flowchart which shows the registration procedure of the user in an information provision system.
[Fig. 3]As shown in FIG.Information provision systemInformation provisionIt is a figure which shows the data format of the user attribute storage part provided in the server side.
[Fig. 4]As shown in FIG.It is a flowchart for demonstrating the information provision operation | movement of an information provision system.
[Figure 5]As shown in FIG.It is a flowchart for demonstrating the formation operation of the content menu of an information provision system.
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a function f (x) for determining a weighting coefficient based on a difference between a current date and time and a use date and time.
FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a function g (x) for determining a weighting coefficient based on a difference between a current date and time and a registration date and time.
[Fig. 8]The information providing system shown in FIG.It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the content menu displayed on the terminal device side.
FIG. 9As shown in FIG.It is a figure which shows the data format of the utilization log | history storage part provided in the server side of the information provision system.
FIG. 10As shown in FIG.It is a figure which shows the data format of the provision information storage part provided in the server side of the information provision system.
[Explanation of symbols]
  1 ...Information provisionServer 2 terminal device 3 network 11 transmission / reception unit
  12 ... Content storage unit, 13 ... Content attribute storage unit, 14 ... User attribute storage unit,
  15 ... User history storage unit, 16 ... User frequency data creation unit, 17 ... Score calculation unit,
  18 ... content selection unit, 19 ... control unit.

Claims (6)

Are connected via a plurality of terminals and networks, and, in one information providing server that provides desired content to the user of utilizing the terminal,
Content identification information identifying the content, and content attribute storage means for storing in association with the attribute information of the content,
User attribute storage means for storing at least each user identification information corresponding to each user using each terminal;
Content identification information indicating the content that is utilized by the user, and use history storing means for storing in association with user identification information of the user who utilizes the content,
Usage frequency information formation for calculating the usage frequency for each user's content as a value of 0 or more based on the stored data stored in the usage history storage means and forming matrix data with the usage frequency as a matrix element Means,
Using a multivariate analysis method for the matrix data, a category score that is a coordinate value in the information space of each content is calculated, and an average value of the category scores of the content used by the one user is calculated. a score calculating unit, wherein the multivariate analysis method, a score calculating means for Ru using multivariate analysis methods have a difference smaller characteristic of the category scores higher among contents having similar numerical pattern by matrix elements in the matrix data ,
Based on the calculation result of the score calculation means, calculates a distance in the information space between the average value of the one user and the category score of each content, and selects content whose distance is smaller than a predetermined value Or content selection means for selecting a predetermined number of contents in ascending order of the distance ;
Transmitting means for transmitting to said end the end of use of the user of the one of at least one reading from the content attribute storing unit of the attribute information of the content identification information and content corresponding to the content selected by the content selection device and,
An information providing server characterized by comprising: In an information providing server that is connected to a plurality of terminals via a network and provides desired content to one user who uses the terminals,
Content attribute storage means for storing content identification information for identifying content and content attribute information in association with each other;
User attribute storage means for storing at least each user identification information corresponding to each user using each terminal;
Usage history storage means for storing content identification information indicating content used by a user, user identification information of a user who used the content, and usage date and time when the content was used;
Based on the stored data stored in the usage history storage means, the usage frequency for each user's content is weighted more as the time difference between the current date and time and the usage date is smaller, and is set to a value of 0 or more. Use frequency information forming means for calculating and forming matrix data having the use frequency as a matrix element;
Using a multivariate analysis method on the matrix data, a category score that is a coordinate value in the information space of each content is calculated, and an average value of the category scores of the content used by the one user is calculated. Score calculation means, and as the multivariate analysis technique, a score calculation means using a multivariate analysis technique having a characteristic that the difference between the category scores is smaller between contents having similar numerical patterns by matrix elements in the matrix data;
Based on the calculation result of the score calculation means, calculates a distance in the information space between the average value of the one user and the category score of each content, and selects content whose distance is smaller than a predetermined value Or content selection means for selecting a predetermined number of contents in ascending order of the distance;
Transmitting means for reading at least one of content identification information and content attribute information corresponding to the content selected by the content selection means from the content attribute storage means and transmitting it to the terminal used by the one user; ,
Information providing server that characterized the Rukoto to have a. The content attribute storage means stores the production date and time when the content was produced or the registration date and time when the content was registered in the server in association with the content identification information ,
Claim wherein the content selection means, the time difference between the production date and the current date and time, or, which is characterized in that the current date-time and the said distance as a time difference between the registration date is small decreases the correction The information providing server according to claim 1 or 2. The content selection unit calculates a distance in the information space between the average value of the one user and the category score of each content based on a calculation result of the score calculation unit, and the one user The content whose distance is smaller than a predetermined value is selected from the contents that are not used by the user, or the predetermined number of contents are selected from the contents not used by the one user in ascending order of the distance. the information providing server according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the selecting. In an information providing method in an information providing server that is connected to a plurality of terminals via a network and provides desired content to one user who uses the terminals,
The information providing server includes content attribute storage means, user attribute storage means, usage history storage means, usage frequency information formation means, score calculation means, content selection means, and transmission means,
The information providing server is
A storage step of associating content identification information for identifying content with attribute information of the content in the content attribute storage means;
Storing each user identification information corresponding to each user using each terminal in a user attribute storage means;
A storage step of associating the content identification information indicating the content used by the user with the user identification information of the user who used the content in the usage history storage means;
Based on the stored data stored in the usage history storage means, the usage frequency for each content of each user is calculated as a value of 0 or more, and the matrix data having the usage frequency as a matrix element is calculated by the usage frequency information forming means. Forming step;
A multivariate analysis method is used for the matrix data, a category score that is a coordinate value in the information space of each content is calculated by the score calculation means, and the average of the category scores of the content used by the one user A calculation step of calculating a value by a score calculation means, and as the multivariate analysis method, a multivariate analysis method having a characteristic that a difference in the category score becomes smaller between contents having similar numerical patterns by matrix elements in the matrix data A calculation step using
Based on the calculation result in the calculation step, a distance in the information space between the average value of the one user and the category score of each content is calculated by the content selection means, and the distance is determined by the content selection means. A selection step of selecting content smaller than the value of the selected content or selecting a predetermined number of content in ascending order of the distance;
Transmission for reading at least one of content identification information and content attribute information corresponding to the content selected in the selection step from the content attribute storage unit and transmitting to the terminal used by the one user by the transmission unit Steps,
Information providing method, characterized by the execution. In an information providing method in an information providing server that is connected to a plurality of terminals via a network and provides desired content to one user who uses the terminals,
The information providing server includes content attribute storage means, user attribute storage means, usage history storage means, usage frequency information formation means, score calculation means, content selection means, and transmission means,
The information providing server is
A storage step of associating content identification information for identifying content with attribute information of the content in the content attribute storage means;
Storing each user identification information corresponding to each user using each terminal in a user attribute storage means;
A storage step of associating the content identification information indicating the content used by the user, the user identification information of the user who used the content, and the usage date and time when the content was used, in the usage history storage means; ,
Based on the stored data stored in the usage history storage means, the usage frequency for each user's content is weighted more as the time difference between the current date and time and the usage date is smaller, and is set to a value of 0 or more. Calculating matrix data having the usage frequency as a matrix element by using frequency information forming means;
A multivariate analysis method is used for the matrix data, a category score that is a coordinate value in the information space of each content is calculated by the score calculation means, and the average of the category scores of the content used by the one user A calculation step of calculating a value by a score calculation means, and as the multivariate analysis method, a multivariate analysis method having a characteristic that a difference in the category score becomes smaller between contents having similar numerical patterns by matrix elements in the matrix data A calculation step using
Based on the calculation result in the calculation step, a distance in the information space between the average value of the one user and the category score of each content is calculated by the content selection means, and the distance is determined by the content selection means. A selection step of selecting content smaller than the value of the selected content or selecting a predetermined number of content in ascending order of the distance;
Transmission for reading at least one of content identification information and content attribute information corresponding to the content selected in the selection step from the content attribute storage unit and transmitting to the terminal used by the one user by the transmission unit Steps,
Information providing method, characterized by the execution.

Images