JPH10283403A - Information processor and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processor for extracting only information further matched with the request content of a user and providing it to the user at the time of retrieving information necessary for the action request of the user, and providing it to the user. SOLUTION: A personal computer(PC) being a main information processor reads latest information necessary for the request content of a user from each kind of information data base according to an input instruction by the user. An agent device 10 extracts information matched with a condition, such as, information pertinent to a specific kind (a kind specified by an input instructed word), information matched with the taste of the user, or information matched with the schedule of the user from information read with the large classification. Thus, the information further matched with the request content of the user can be provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus capable of searching for information required for the content of an individual's action request and a storage medium for storing a processing program therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as personal computers and personal digital assistants (PDAs) have become widespread, the number of individual users who use these devices for purposes such as information search and schedule management has increased. 2. Description of the Related Art Computer networks such as a LAN, a WAN, and the Internet have been developed, and communication between a plurality of computers has been actively performed.

Accordingly, a personal computer or a PDA having a communication function is connected to a communication network such as the Internet, and various information service centers and the like are accessed through the communication network to provide information and services required by the user. Provision has become easier.

On the other hand, computer communication networks and information service networks constituted by the above-mentioned LANs are becoming more and more hierarchical with the diversification of their network structures, and operating procedures for users to access desired information are required. Due to the complexity, beginners and other users who are unfamiliar with computer operations,
The complexity of the operation procedure is one of the barriers when using a network.

[0005] Therefore, development of access software for enabling an inexperienced user such as a beginner to easily access desired information on a network has been actively developed. In recent years, access software having an agent (agent) function has been developed and put into practical use.

[0006] The access software with the agent function is installed on terminals such as personal computers and PDAs that access the network, and is also installed on a server that provides service information installed in the network. . Then, the terminal-side agent automatically accesses a server in the computer network in response to a simple command input by the user, for example, voice data input, and performs processing in cooperation with the server-side agent. , While reducing the user's operation burden when accessing the network, such as collecting information according to the user's work contents and hobbies, and responding appropriately to the person who accessed on behalf of the user. It aims to perform tasks such as automatic search and information exchange for information that is useful to us.

[0007]

However, in such conventional access software with an agent function, automatic operation of useful information for the user is reduced while reducing the operation burden on the user for accessing the network. The aim is to perform services such as search and information exchange, but the following points are insufficient as functions for realizing the services.

[0008] That is, in the agency work of automatic information retrieval as described above, when trying to read out information required by a user from an information database or the like, the information to be read out is roughly classified and selected by the user. , But without the ability to narrow down and read out the information the user really needed. For this reason, the user has to select the necessary information from the read information, which requires extra time and labor for the user.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to read out information required by a user from various information databases, first of all, read the latest information from the various information databases based on a word input and instructed by the user. From the read information, information matching a specific type (a type specified by a word specified by input), information matching a user's preference, or information matching a user's schedule is met. An object is to realize a terminal device having an agent function capable of extracting information and providing the extracted information to a user.

[0010]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
An information processing apparatus that searches for and provides information necessary for the action request content according to an individual's action request content,
Input means for instructing the action request content, analysis means for analyzing the action request content instructed from the input means, and information suitable for the action request content in a predetermined information database based on the analysis result of the action request content by the analysis means. And reading means for selecting and reading the latest information at the time of reading.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, an information processing apparatus that searches for and provides information necessary for the action request of an individual, that is, a user, provides information suitable for the action request from a predetermined information database. At the time of reading, by extracting and reading the latest information at that time, and outputting the read information to the user, the user can obtain the latest information that suits his or her request. become.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus for searching and providing information necessary for an action request in response to an individual's action request. Analyzing means for analyzing the action request content instructed from the input means; identifying means for identifying the type of information suitable for the action request content based on the analysis result of the action request content by the analyzing means; and identifying by the identifying means. Selecting means for selecting a storage means for storing information corresponding to the type of information selected from a plurality of storage means, and selecting and reading information suitable for the action request from the storage means selected by the selecting means. Reading means.

According to the third aspect of the invention, an individual,
That is, an information processing apparatus that searches for and provides information necessary for the user's action request content, an input unit that specifies the user's action request content, and an analysis unit that analyzes the action request content specified by the input unit. Based on an analysis result of the action request content by the analysis means, a specifying means for specifying a type of information suitable for the action request content, and a storage means for storing information corresponding to the information type specified by the specifying means. By selecting and reading information that matches the content of the action request, when the information processing device reads information suitable for the content of the user's action from an information database or the like according to the input instruction of the user, information that matches the content of the user's request Can be extracted and read.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus for retrieving and providing information necessary for an action request in response to an individual's action request, and an input means for designating the action request. And analyzing means for analyzing the action request content instructed from the input means, and when collecting information suitable for the action request content based on the analysis result of the action request content by the analyzing means, first connect at that time. Information is collected from the information processing device that has been connected to the external information processing device having a storage unit suitable for information collection. Is collected.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus which searches for and provides information necessary for an action request in response to the action request of an individual, and specifies the action request. Input means, and analysis means for analyzing the action request content instructed from the input means, based on the analysis result of the action request content by the analysis means, when collecting information suitable for the action request content, first, Information collection is performed on the information processing device connected at the time, and further, an automatic communication connection with an external information processing device having a storage unit suitable for the information collection is performed, and the external information processing device is connected to the external information processing device. When the information processing apparatus attempts to collect information suitable for the content of the user's action request in accordance with the input instruction of the individual, that is, the user, the connected information processing Not only the information stored in the database of the external device but also the information stored in the database of the external information processing device is automatically collected. It is possible to collect more information that meets the requirements. In addition, since it is possible to output information collected from these external devices, it is possible to provide information that is more consistent with the contents requested by the user, throughout the publicity.

[0018] The invention according to claim 8 is an information processing apparatus for searching and providing information necessary for the action request content in accordance with the action request content of an individual, and an input means for designating the action request content. Analyzing the action request content specified by the input means, and specifying from the analysis result the type of information suitable for the action request content, and storing information corresponding to the information type specified by the specifying means. A selecting unit for selecting the storing unit from a plurality of storing units; and a reading unit for reading information matching the content of the action request from the storing unit selected by the selecting unit, wherein the reading unit is selected by the selecting unit. When reading information that conforms to the action request from the storage means, read the information about the personal schedule and read the information about the read personal schedule. Compatible, and further comprising output means for outputting the extracted real-time information, characterized by.

According to this invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus for searching and providing information necessary for an action request in response to the action request of an individual, and instructing the action request. Input means for performing the analysis, analyzing the action request contents instructed from the input means, and specifying the type of information suitable for the action request content from the analysis result; and information corresponding to the information type specified by the specifying means. Selecting means for selecting from among a plurality of storage means, and reading means for reading information matching the action request content from the storage means selected by the selecting means, wherein the reading means comprises: When reading the information that matches the action request content from the selected storage means, read the information on the personal schedule and add it to the read personal schedule. The information processing apparatus reads information suitable for the user's action request from an information database or the like in accordance with a user's input instruction by providing output means adapted to extract the latest information at the time and adapted to the information to be performed At this time, only the latest information that matches the user's schedule can be extracted and read,
Also, by outputting the read latest information, it is possible to provide the information to the user.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The details of an embodiment of an information processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] First, the configuration of the present embodiment will be described.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are diagrams showing an information processing system according to a first embodiment to which an information processing apparatus and a storage medium according to the present invention are applied.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of the information processing system according to the first embodiment.

In the information processing system shown in FIG. 1, an information processing apparatus 1 for performing main processing and an agent apparatus 10 are connected via a data line L.
Personal Computer (PC)
2, a display device 3, a storage device 4, a storage medium 5, an input device 6, a communication interface 7, a communication network 8, an information service center 9, and the like.

The personal computer 2 has a storage device 4
The application program designated from the system program and various application programs corresponding to the system is stored in a program storage area in a built-in RAM (Random Access Mem-ory) (not shown). Various instructions or data to be performed are stored in the built-in RAM, and various processes are executed in accordance with the input instructions and the input data according to the application program stored in the built-in RAM, and the processing results are input from the input device 3. The information is stored in the storage destination in the storage device 6 and displayed on the display device 3.

Further, the personal computer 2 requests to start an application program for information retrieval input from the agent device 10 via the data line L, requests to transfer extraction condition items, and answers the number of extraction conditions by a specific word. In response to a request, a narrowing command based on user preference data or schedule data, a display instruction of detailed information of a selection candidate, and the like, various information search processes are performed on the information database stored in the storage device 4,
The search processing result is transferred to the agent device 10.

Further, the personal computer 2 accesses various information service centers 9 connected to the communication network 8 via a communication network 8 such as a public line network by a communication interface 7 and obtains information of the information service center 9. Reads the information requested for retrieval from the database. At this time, the personal computer 2 requests the information processing device or the like of the information service center 9 to perform an information search process according to various requests for information search input from the agent device 10 via the data line L. It has a function of receiving the result and transferring it to the agent device 10.

The display device 3 is a CRT (Cathode Ray Tub).
e) A display or liquid crystal display, etc., which displays display data input from the personal computer 2 and requests and searches transferred in each process corresponding to the information search request executed by the personal computer 2. Display information etc.

The storage device 4 has a storage medium 5 in which programs, data and the like are stored in advance, and this storage medium 5 is formed of a magnetic or optical recording medium or a semiconductor memory. The storage medium 5 is fixedly provided in the storage device 4 or is detachably mounted. The storage medium 5 includes the system program, various application programs corresponding to the system, a communication processing program, and information. A search processing program and data processed by each processing program are stored.

The program, data, and the like stored in the storage medium 5 may be configured to be received from another device connected via a communication network 8 such as a public line network by a communication interface 7 and stored. Further, a storage device having the above storage medium is provided on the other device side connected via the communication network 8, and a program and data stored in the storage medium 5 are used via a communication line. You may.

The input device 6 is a device for selecting a menu or inputting various data by operating keys.
It is composed of various keys such as a mode key, a numeric keypad, and a function key, and outputs a press signal of the pressed key to the personal computer 2.

The communication interface 7 is connected to an information service center 9 that provides various types of information via a communication network 8 such as a public line in response to a communication request input from the personal computer 2. It exchanges information with the processing device and transfers the received information to the personal computer 2.

The communication network 8 is a network for communicating with an external information processing apparatus that provides information. Depending on the information to be searched or the form to which the information is provided, a small network such as an indoor LAN may be used. There is a variety of things, from large to large-scale ones that are connected via public lines.

The information service center 9 retrieves and extracts relevant information from the personal computer (PC) 2 which is a user's terminal device via the communication network 8 and retrieves and outputs the relevant information to the terminal device. Send The information service center 9 includes an information processing apparatus having a communication interface, a database of various information, and the like.

Next, the configuration of the agent device 10 shown in FIG. 1 will be described.

FIG. 2 shows the agent device 10 shown in FIG.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of the constituent device of FIG.

The internal configuration of the agent device 10 shown in FIG. 2 is roughly divided into an input / output interface computer block (IC) 15 and an agent computer block 16. An audio output device 11, an audio input device 12, a display device 13, and a storage device 14 are connected to the input / output interface computer block (IC) 15, and a storage device 17, a storage medium 18, and a PC interface are connected to the agent computer block 16. 1
9 is connected.

The input / output interface computer block 15 converts the input user's voice instruction into voice instruction data by the voice input device 12 and inputs it to the input / output interface computer block 15.
The content of the voice instruction data is recognized by the voice recognition program stored in the storage device 4, and the classification of the request content related to the information search process and the semantic content are stored in the storage device 14 from the recognized voice instruction data. The analysis is performed by the semantic analysis program, and the analysis result is output to the agent computer block 16.

The input / output interface computer block 15 receives the candidate information retrieved by the information retrieval process executed in the agent computer block 16 according to the classification and meaning of the request content output to the agent computer block 16. Then, the candidate information is converted into voice data by a voice conversion program stored in the storage device 14 and output as voice by the voice output device 11.

The audio output device 11 has a function of performing D / A conversion processing on audio data as a digital signal input from the input / output interface computer block 15 and outputting it as audio from a built-in speaker.

The voice input device 12 has a function of performing A / D conversion processing on a user's voice instruction input to a built-in microphone and outputting the digital voice signal to the input / output interface computer block 15.

The display device 13 is a CRT (Cathode Ray Tu)
be) A display, a liquid crystal display, or the like, which displays display data input from the input / output interface computer block 15 and is input at the time of each processing executed by the agent computer block 16 in response to the information search request. Display voice instructions and search information.

The storage device 14 stores a speech recognition processing program, a semantic analysis processing program, a speech conversion processing program, various dictionary data used in the semantic analysis processing, and the like, which are executed by the input / output interface computer block 15. .

Agent computer block 16
Performs a search process for various types of action request content information based on the agent basic program stored in the storage device 17. Specifically, the user performs a search process on the speech recognition character data input from the input / output interface computer block 15. Perform semantic content and classification related to the action request,
When a start request of the information search application program related to the action request is transmitted to the personal computer 2 and an extraction condition item set in the search target information database is received from the started application, the extraction condition item is The corresponding word, or
The information type based on the preference data of the owner in the owner information file stored in the storage device 17 is extracted from the voice recognition character data, and an information extraction condition command based on the word is transferred to the personal computer 2 and the information type is extracted. Request an answer for the search process.

Then, the agent computer 16
Receives a response (searched information) to the answer request from the personal computer 2, creates a candidate list from the response, transfers the candidate list to the input / output interface computer block 15, causes the display device 13 to display the list, and displays the audio output device. 11, a search item to be narrowed down by a voice message is selected, and when the search item is input by a voice instruction of the owner from the voice input device 12, the meaning is analyzed to determine whether there is another list request to be searched,
Alternatively, the presence / absence of the candidate selection is determined, and the display processing of the candidate list and the detailed display processing of the selection candidate in the input / output interface computer block 15 in accordance with the presence / absence of other list requests and the presence / absence of the candidate selection are controlled.

The storage device 17 has a storage medium 18 in which programs, data and the like are stored in advance, and this storage medium 18 is constituted by a magnetic or optical recording medium or a semiconductor memory. The storage medium 18 is fixedly provided in the storage device 17 or is detachably mounted. The storage medium 18 corresponds to the agent basic program executed by the agent computer block 16 and the basic program. As various programs, request contents, word analysis processing program,
It stores an owner information file that stores owner preference information and schedule information, a preference item database that stores data on various preference items, and the like.

The program, data, and the like stored in the storage medium 18 may be configured to be received from another device connected via the communication network 8 such as a public line network by the PC interface 19 and stored. And
A storage device having the above storage medium is provided on another device connected via the communication network 8.
The program and data stored in the program may be used via a communication line.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

FIG. 3 shows an information retrieval process for retrieving information necessary for an individual's action request content executed by the agent computer block 16 of the agent apparatus 10.
This will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

FIGS. 3 to 5 are flowcharts of the information retrieval process executed by the agent computer block 16.

First, in step S1, the agent computer block 16 determines whether or not voice recognition character data has been input based on a voice instruction from the input / output interface computer block (IC) 15. That is, the user's voice instruction input from the voice input device 12 is recognized by the input / output interface computer block 15 and converted into voice recognition character data, and the converted voice recognition character data is input to the agent computer block 16. It is determined whether or not there is an input, and the process proceeds to step S2, and if there is no input, step S1 is performed again.

In step S2, the speech recognition character data as a character string input from the input / output interface computer block 15 is divided into words constituting a sentence, and the meaning of the words represented by each word is analyzed. Move to step S3.

In step S3, the request contents are analyzed from each word analyzed in step S2, and the flow advances to step S4.

In step S4, the type of information requested by the voice instruction input from the analysis result is specified, and the flow advances to step S5.

In step S5, the type of the database to be accessed which is suitable for the type of information to be searched specified in step S4 is determined, and the process proceeds to step S6.

In step S6, a search is made to see if there is a corresponding type of database in the personal computer (PC) 2, and the process proceeds to step S7.

In step S7, it is determined whether or not the corresponding database exists in the personal computer 2, and
If there is, the process proceeds to step S8, and if not, the process proceeds to step S9.

In step S8, if there is a corresponding database in the personal computer 2, the corresponding database is specified, and the process proceeds to step S9.

In step S9, a communication line is connected to the external information service center 9 via the communication network 8, and the flow advances to step S10.

In step S10, if there is a database of the type corresponding to the connected external information service center 9, the process proceeds to step S11, and if not, the process proceeds to step S12.

In step S11, the corresponding database is downloaded to the personal computer (PC) 2 via the communication network 8, and the process proceeds to step S12.

In step S12, an instruction to save the downloaded data to the personal computer (PC) 2 is issued, and the flow advances to step S13.

In step S13, a search is made as to whether there is another information service center 9 having a database of the corresponding type. If so, the flow proceeds to step S14, and if not, the flow proceeds to step S15.

In step S14, a communication line is connected to the information service center 9 having the database of the corresponding type, and the process proceeds to step S10.
Step S13 is performed again.

In step S15, if there is no other information service center 9 having a database of the corresponding type, the data extraction condition is specified by the word specified by the user.

In step S16, an instruction is issued to the personal computer (PC) 2 to extract data from the stored database in accordance with the extraction conditions specified in step S15, and the flow advances to step S17.

In step S17, a data item is specified from the word specified by the user, and the flow advances to step S18.

In step S18, the user preference data is specified, and the flow advances to step S19.

In step S19, it is determined whether or not there is a response from the personal computer (PC) 2 indicating that the data extraction has been completed.
Then, if not, step S19 is performed again.

In step S20, the personal computer (PC) 2 further narrows down the data extracted by the personal computer (PC) 2 based on the specified preference data.
C) Instruct 2 and shift to step S21.

In step S21, it is determined whether or not there is an answer that the data extracted from the personal computer (PC) 2 has been further narrowed down. If there is an answer, the process proceeds to step S22. Step S
Perform step 20 again.

In step S22, the personal computer (PC) 2 instructs the personal computer (PC) 2 to read the narrowed data, and transmits all the narrowed data to the agent device 10.
Then, the program is read and stored in the storage unit in the program, and the process proceeds to step S23.

In step S23, the data read into the storage unit is assembled to create a document, and the flow advances to step S24.

In step S24, the input / output interface computer block (IC) 15 is instructed to output the prepared text as a voice message, and the voice output device 11 outputs a voice message.

With the above, the flow of the control processing performed by the agent device 10 ends.

Here, the above-mentioned flow will be described with reference to a specific example. For example, as a voice instruction from the owner, that is, the user, "Where should I go to Shinshu this summer? Please provide information." If the input is made from the voice input device 12, the voice input is converted into voice recognition character data in the input / output interface computer block 15, and the converted voice recognition character data is input to the agent computer block 16 (step S1). ). Then, in the agent computer block 16, words included in the converted voice character string data, for example, "this summer", "Shinshu area",
Focusing on "if you go", "where", "provide information", etc., by analyzing each word, "information" is requested. Analysis of the request contents such as that "information" is required and that the information is related to "travel", the time is "this summer", and the place is "Shinshu area" (step S2, step S2) S3). Then, the information item to be searched is specified from the analyzed request contents, and the type of database to be accessed is determined (steps S4 and S5). In this case, the information type is related to travel information, and the database to be accessed is a “database related to travel information”, particularly a “database related to latest travel information”.
Is determined. Then, it is searched whether or not the determined “database regarding the latest travel information” is stored in the personal computer (PC) 2 currently connected (actually, in the storage device 4) ( (Step S6) If there is, the database is specified (Steps S7 and S8).

Thereafter, a communication line is connected to an external information service center 9 via the communication network 8 (step S9), and a database corresponding to the connected information service center 9 (a database relating to the latest travel information) is provided. In this case (step S10), the database is downloaded via a communication line and stored as a database of the personal computer 2 (steps S11 and S12).

Then, it is determined whether or not there is another information service center 9 connected to the communication network 8 irrespective of whether or not there is a database of the type corresponding to the accessed information service center 9. Makes a communication line connection with another information service center 9 (step S14), and repeatedly downloads the corresponding database and saves it in the personal computer 2 as described above (steps S10 to S12).

After the download of the search information from all the information service centers 9 is completed (this also applies to the case where a database is already stored in the PC 2), the user is selected from the "latest travel information database" that is the collected and stored database. When extracting information that meets the request of the user, an information extraction condition based on the word in the input instruction from the previous user is specified (step S15). In the case of this example, from the user's input instruction, "this summer"
And the word "Shinshu area", the extraction condition "Travel time" is "July or August"
Thus, the "travel area" can be specified as "Shinshu (Nagano)".

Next, the PC 2 is instructed to extract data from the database (or from a plurality of databases if there is more than one) in accordance with the above extraction conditions (step S16). Here, PC2 follows this instruction,
Perform data extraction. During the data extraction operation in the PC 2, the agent device 10 specifies a favorite event from the word previously specified by the user (step S17). The favorite events include, for example, various travel events such as “travel”, “news”, “hobby”, “sports”, and “TV”. In this example, the word specified by the user is “Shinshu area”. From "go", the favorite event can be specified as "travel". Then, the preference data of the owner, that is, the user, stored in the owner information file is read out, and the preference data for the travel event, which is the above-identified event, is identified (step S18), and data is extracted from the PC2. If there is an answer of completion (step S19), the PC 2 is instructed to further narrow down the work based on the specified preference data from the various extracted data as the answer result (step S2).
0) If there is an answer that the data has been narrowed down (step S21), the PC 2 is instructed to read the data of the narrowed result, and all the narrowed data is read into the storage unit in the main body of the agent device 10. It is stored (step S22).

Then, message data is created based on the various data read and stored (step S2).
3) The IC 15 outputs the message by voice.
(Step S24). For example, "What about Kamikochi because of my preference for forest bathing? This Kamikochi holds the Plateau Music Festival from August 3 to 5. The hot air balloon tournament near Norikura Kogen on August 6th. There is also a lakeside at Lake Suwa on August 15. Other night resorts such as #
#, ###, etc. There are some events in early August. "To provide the user with audio information via the audio output device 11.

Next, various data processing performed by the personal computer (PC) 2 during the information search processing will be described.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of data processing performed by the personal computer (PC) 2 during the information search processing.

First, in step T1, it is determined whether or not there is an execution command from the agent device 10. If there is an execution command, the process proceeds to step T2. If not, step T1 is performed again.

In step T2, the agent device 10
A branching process is performed according to the content of the execution instruction from the server.
The process proceeds to one of the process of saving the downloaded data in step T4, the process of extracting the data in step T5, and the process of reading the extracted data in step T6.

In step T3, a database specifying process for specifying a database to be searched is performed, and the process returns to step T1.

At step T4, a process of storing the data downloaded from the external information processing device in the storage device 4 is performed, and the process returns to step T1.

At step T5, specific conditions (for example, personal preferences) are determined from the data stored in the storage device.
An extraction process is performed to extract only data that satisfies the condition, and the process returns to step T1. At this time, when the data extraction is completed, a response to the effect that the extraction has been completed is sent to the agent device 10.

In step T6, the data extracted in the data extraction process is read out to the agent device 10, and the process returns to step T6.

The above-described processing is performed by the agent device 10
It is performed in correspondence with each process on the side.

As described above, in the first embodiment, the personal computer (PC) 2, which is the main information processing device, inputs the latest information required for the user's action request by the user. According to the instruction, the information is read out from various information databases, and from the information read out by the large item classification, the agent device 10 determines whether the information corresponding to the specific type (the type specified by the input and instructed word), Information that matches your preferences,
By extracting information according to conditions such as the above and providing the information to the user, it becomes possible to realize an information processing apparatus having an agent function capable of providing information that matches the content requested by the user.

[Second Embodiment] In the first embodiment, the agent computer 16 in the agent device 10 specifies a word related to the action request from the voice instruction content from the user, and based on the word, Instructing the personal computer 2 to search for information and downloading information from an external device, etc., extracted information matching the taste specified by the word specified by the user. In the embodiment, when information is extracted, information according to the schedule information of the user in the owner information file stored in the storage device 17 of the agent device 10 is extracted.

The configurations of the personal computer 2 and the agent device 10 constituting the information processing apparatus according to the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, and the illustration and description of the configuration are omitted. .

When extracting information according to the schedule information of the user in the owner information file from the information database collected and stored in the storage device 4 of the personal computer (PC) 2, the information retrieval process performed by the agent device 10 is as follows. The information retrieval process performed by the agent device 10 shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 can be realized by replacing the flow from step SS17 onward with the flow of steps S'17 to S'23 shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the information retrieval process performed by the agent device 10 when extracting only information matching the user's schedule information in the owner information file from the collected and stored information to narrow down the information. It is the figure which described S'17-step S'23.

Here, steps S1 to S1 of the flow relating to the information search process performed by the agent device 10
Up to 6, the flow described in FIGS. 3 to 5 is applied as it is, and description thereof is omitted.

First, in step S'17, the user's schedule file stored in the owner information file in the storage device 17 is opened, and step S'1 is executed.
Move to 8.

In step S'18, a schedule with a vacant schedule is specified from the opened user's schedule file, the information is transmitted to the personal computer (PC) 2, and the flow advances to step S'19.
At this time, the personal computer (PC) 2 further narrows down the data based on the received information.

In step S'19, it is determined whether or not there is a response indicating that the data extracted from the personal computer (PC) 2 has been further refined. If there is a response, the process proceeds to step S'20. If not, step S'19 is performed again.

In step S'20, the personal computer (PC) 2 instructs the personal computer (PC) 2 to read the narrowed data, and transmits all the narrowed data to the agent device 1.
0 is read and stored in the storage device 17 in step S′2.
Move to 1.

In step S'21, data to be output is selected based on the schedule specified in step S'18, and the flow advances to step S'22.

In step S'22, the read data is assembled to create a document, and the flow advances to step S'23.

In step S'23, the input / output interface computer block (IC) 15 is instructed to output the created text as a voice message, and the voice output device 11 outputs a voice message.

With the above, the personal computer (PC)
2 extracts only information that matches the schedule information of the user in the owner information file from the information collected and stored, and narrows down the information.
Terminates the flow of the information search process performed by.

Here, the above flow will be described with a specific example. However, the description of the portions (steps S1 to S16) that overlap with the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 will be omitted.

During the data extraction work on the PC 2, the agent device 10 opens the schedule information file in the owner information file (step S'17), and sets the "travel time" of the previous extraction condition to "July or August". In the month, a schedule is specified that allows the user to take a rest on the user's schedule for that period (for example, the user's schedule is not filled up and the company is taking a rest) (step S'18). However, in this case, a plurality of schedules may be specified.

If there is a response from the PC 2 indicating that the data extraction has been completed (step S'19), various extracted data as the response result are read (step S'20). From among the read various extracted data, extracted data having an event is selected on a schedule that overlaps with the specified schedule (step S'21), and message data is created based on the selected data (step S'21). In step S'22), the IC 15 is instructed to output the message by voice (step S'23). For example, "Kamikochi has a plateau music festival from August 3 to 5. There is a hot air balloon tournament near Norikura Kogen on August 6th. Overnight on Kamikochi on August 4th, If you stay one night in Norikura the next day, you can travel for two nights. In addition, there are ##, ##, etc. as one night resorts, and there are several events in early August. " Audio information is provided to the user via the audio output device 11.

As described above, in the second embodiment, the personal computer (PC) 2, which is the main information processing device, inputs the latest information required for the user's action request by the user. According to the instruction, the information is read out from various information databases, and from the information read out by the large item classification, the agent device 10 determines that the information corresponding to a specific type (the type specified by the input and instructed word) and the schedule of the user By extracting information according to conditions such as the information that matches the information and providing the information to the user, it becomes possible to realize an information processing apparatus having an agent function capable of providing information that matches the content requested by the user.

[0107]

According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, the user can obtain the latest information that meets his or her request.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the information processing apparatus reads information suitable for the user's action request in accordance with the user's input instruction, it extracts and reads only information that matches the user's request. Will be able to

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the information processing apparatus attempts to collect information suitable for the user's action request in accordance with the user's input instruction, more information that satisfies the user's request is collected. Becomes possible. In addition, it is possible to provide information that is more consistent with the contents requested by the user, throughout the publicity.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the information processing apparatus attempts to collect information suitable for the user's action request content in accordance with the input instruction of the individual, that is, the user, there is no special operation other than the input instruction by the user. Thus, it is possible to collect more information that satisfies the user's requirements.
In addition, it is possible to provide information that is more consistent with the contents requested by the user, throughout the publicity.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, when reading out information suitable for the user's action request from a predetermined information database, it is possible to read out and store the latest information that meets the user's preference conditions.

According to the seventh aspect of the invention, when trying to extract information suitable for the contents requested by the user from the information collected in accordance with the user's input instructions, the user's input instructions are analyzed and the items related to the instruction contents are analyzed. Is specified, and information matching the user's preference that matches the specified event can be extracted.

According to the invention described in claim 8, when the information processing apparatus reads information suitable for the user's action request from an information database or the like in accordance with the user's input instruction, only the latest information that matches the user's schedule is used. Can be extracted and read, and the read latest information can be output and provided to the user.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide the user with more accurate information narrowed down to the range of schedules having free schedules.

According to the storage medium of the present invention, when the information necessary for the user's action request is selected from a predetermined database and read by the input instruction of the user, the latest information at that time is selected. The application program to be read can be executed by the computer.

According to the storage medium of the present invention, when the information processing apparatus reads information suitable for the user's action request from an information database or the like in accordance with the user's input instruction, the information matched to the user's request is better. An application program that extracts and reads only the program can be executed by the computer.

According to the storage medium of the twelfth aspect, when the information processing apparatus tries to collect information suitable for the user's action request content in accordance with the input instruction of the individual, that is, the user, the connected information processing apparatus Not only the information stored in the database of the external information processing apparatus, but also the application program that automatically collects the information stored in the database of the external information processing apparatus. An application program for outputting information collected from the processing device can be executed by a computer.

According to the storage medium of the thirteenth aspect, when the information processing apparatus reads information suitable for the user's action request from an information database or the like in accordance with a user's input instruction, the latest information more consistent with the user's schedule content. The computer can execute an application program that extracts and reads only the information described above and outputs the read latest information.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an information processing system according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of a constituent device of the agent device 10.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an information search process executed by an agent computer block 16;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an information search process executed by an agent computer block 16;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an information search process executed by an agent computer block 16;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of data processing performed by a personal computer (PC) 2 during information search processing.

FIG. 7 is a step S ′ of a flow relating to an information search process performed by the agent device 10 when extracting only information matching the user's schedule information in the owner information file from the collected and stored information to narrow down the information;
It is the figure which described 17-step S'23.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Information processing device 2 Personal computer (PC) 3 Display device 4 Storage device 5 Storage medium 6 Input device 7 Communication interface 8 Communication network 9 Information service center 10 Agent device 11 Voice output device 12 Voice input device 13 Display device 14 Storage device 15 Input / output interface computer block (IC) 16 agent computer block 17 storage device 18 storage medium 19 PC interface L data line

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus for searching for and providing information necessary for an action request content according to an individual's action request content, comprising: input means for designating the action request content; Analysis means for analyzing the action request content instructed from, based on the analysis result of the action request content by the analysis means,
An information processing apparatus, comprising: reading means for selecting and reading the latest information at the time of reading information suitable for the action request content from a predetermined information database. 2. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising output means for outputting the latest information read by said reading means. 3. An information processing apparatus for searching and providing information necessary for an action request according to an individual's action request, comprising: input means for designating the action request; Analysis means for analyzing the action request content instructed from, based on the analysis result of the action request content by the analysis means,
Specifying means for specifying the type of information suitable for the action request content; selecting means for selecting, from a plurality of storage means, storage means for storing information corresponding to the type of information specified by the specifying means; An information processing apparatus, comprising: reading means for selecting and reading information matching the action request content from the storage means selected by the selecting means. 4. The storage means is stored in the information processing apparatus or an external device connected to the information processing apparatus via a communication line, and corresponds to a type of information specified by the specifying means. The selection of the storage unit for storing information by the selection unit is performed by accessing the external device via a communication line, and selects information suitable for the action request from the storage unit selected by the selection unit. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the information is read and the read information is output. 5. An information processing apparatus for searching and providing information necessary for an action request in accordance with an individual's action request, comprising: input means for designating the action request; Analyzing means for analyzing the action request content instructed from, based on the analysis result of the action request content by the analysis means,
When collecting information suitable for the content of the action request, first, information collection is performed on the information processing device connected at that time, and thereafter, an external information processing device having a storage unit suitable for the information collection is further provided. An information processing apparatus, which automatically establishes a communication connection with the information processing apparatus and collects information from an external information processing apparatus. 6. When reading information suitable for the contents of an individual's action by accessing a predetermined database of an internal or external information processing device, read information relating to the individual's preferences, and read the information relating to the read individual's preferences. 6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the information is adapted and the latest information is extracted, read out and stored at that time. 7. An identifying means for identifying an item of the action request content from an analysis result of the action request content of the individual designated by the input means by the analyzing means, and an individual corresponding to the event specified by the identifying means. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: a selection unit that selects the preference information. 8. An information processing apparatus for searching for and providing information necessary for the action request contents in accordance with the individual action request contents, an input means for designating the action request contents, and the input means A means for analyzing the action request content instructed from and specifying a type of information suitable for the action request content from the analysis result, and a storage means for storing information corresponding to the type of information specified by the specifying means. Selecting means for selecting from a plurality of storage means; and reading means for reading information matching the action request content from the storage means selected by the selecting means, wherein the reading means is selected by the selecting means. When reading information corresponding to the action request from the storage means, read the information on the personal schedule and read the information on the read personal schedule. It adapted to the information, and further comprising output means for outputting the extracted real-time information, the information processing apparatus according to claim. 9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said reading means extracts the latest information within a schedule that has a vacancy in the personal schedule when extracting the latest information at that time that matches the personal schedule. Item 10. The information processing device according to Item 8. 10. A storage medium having a computer-executable program code, wherein the computer-executable program code for inputting an individual's action request content and an input-instructed action request content are analyzed. When reading information suitable for the action request content from a predetermined information database based on the program code executable by the computer and the analysis result of the action request content,
A storage medium storing a program including a computer-executable program code for selecting and reading the latest information at that time. 11. A storage medium having a computer-executable program code, wherein the computer-executable program code for inputting an individual's action request content and the input instruction request content are analyzed. Computer-executable program code, and computer-executable program code for identifying the type of information suitable for the action request based on the analysis result of the action request, and the type of information identified A computer code for selecting a storage means for storing information to be stored from a plurality of storage means, and a computer for selecting and reading information matching the action request from the selected storage means Stores executable program code and a program containing Storage medium characterized by. 12. A storage medium having a computer-executable program code, wherein the computer-executable program code for inputting an individual's action request content and an input-instructed action request content are analyzed. When collecting information suitable for the content of the action request based on the program code executable by the computer and the analysis result of the content of the action request, first, information is collected for the information processing device connected at that time. A computer-executable program for automatically performing communication connection with an external information processing apparatus having storage means suitable for the information collection, and also collecting information from the external information processing apparatus. A storage medium storing a code and a program including: 13. A storage medium having a computer-executable program code, wherein the computer-executable program code for inputting an individual's action request content and the input-instructed action request content are analyzed. Computer-executable program code, and computer-executable program code for identifying the type of information suitable for the action request based on the analysis result of the action request, and the type of information identified Computer-executable program code for selecting from a plurality of storage means storing information to be stored, and a computer-executable program for reading information corresponding to the action request from the selected storage means. From the program code and the storage means selected by the selection means When reading the information that conforms to the contents of the request, the computer-executable program code for reading the information about the personal schedule and the latest information that matches the read information about the personal schedule and that time are used. A computer-readable program code for extracting and outputting, and a storage medium storing a program including: