JPWO2006064573A1 - WEB information providing apparatus, method thereof, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

WEB information stored in a device connected to the network is associated with attribute information of a user who has accessed the WEB information and stored in a database. And the search information input via the search screen for inputting the search conditions including designation | designated of attribute information is received from a user terminal via a network. Based on the search condition and attribute information included in the received search information, the database is searched to search for WEB information corresponding to the search information. The search result is transmitted to the user terminal via the network.

Description

  The present invention relates to a WEB information providing apparatus that searches WEB information on a network based on search information received from a user terminal and provides the search result to the user terminal, a control method thereof, and a program.

  Conventionally known robot search engines, directory search engines, and meta search engines are known as search engines for full-text search of a WEB site (WEB page) on the Internet according to a user search instruction.

  When a search keyword related to information to be searched is specified, the robot type search engine periodically collects information on all WWW servers that can be found on the Internet using a WWW search program called a WEB robot or spider. The information is automatically indexed. Since this robot type search engine automatically collects data of WEB sites all over the world by a computer, it has an advantage of a large amount of information.

  In the directory type search engine, the operator categorizes the URL (Universal Resource Locator) of the WEB site in advance, such as art, business, education, etc., and the user designates a search keyword for each field. Search. Since this directory type search engine classifies information by field, the user can use it like an occupational telephone book, and has the advantage that it is convenient when searching after determining a field.

  Such a search engine usually realizes a search by text or a search by a combination of a plurality of types of text, and a basic configuration is to simply search a WEB page including the input text. It is.

  In order to realize a more efficient search under such a background, for example, in Patent Document 1, attribute information (for example, URL, a keyword indicating the feature, etc.) indicating a feature of a WEB page, a WEB page, When a WEB page is presented as a search result, a configuration is proposed in which useful information is provided to the user by presenting corresponding attribute information together.

Moreover, in patent document 2, the website information relevant to a specific theme is memorize | stored, the keyword list relevant to a theme category is shown to a user, and the website information desired using the keyword which the user selected A configuration is proposed that provides
JP 2002-14994 A JP 2000-259382 A

  As described above, conventionally, various contrivances for performing the search more efficiently have been made as a WEB information search technique.

  Under these circumstances, considering the diversification of user preferences in recent years, the user is more interested in WEB information browsed by users who match his / her preferences, WEB information browsed by users in the same social environment as his / her own, etc. There is a demand for a web information search technique specialized for the above.

  However, in the search technique of the above-mentioned patent document 1, as attribute information indicating the characteristics of a WEB page presented as a search result, only data obtained from the WEB information is used, and a user who accesses the WEB information. Search results that take into account these trends are not always obtained.

  In addition, in the search technique of Patent Document 2, a device for efficiently performing a search for each theme has been devised, but when a user's desired theme does not exist, a search for the theme is efficiently realized. I can't. Further, as in Patent Document 1, a search result that takes into account the tendency of users accessing WEB information is not obtained.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and provides a WEB information providing apparatus, a control method thereof, and a program capable of more efficiently searching and providing WEB information intended by a user. With the goal.

In order to achieve the above object, a WEB information providing apparatus according to the present invention comprises the following arrangement. That is,
Based on search information received from a user terminal, search for WEB information on a network, and provide a search result to the user terminal,
Storage means for associating WEB information stored in a device connected to the network with attribute information of a user who has accessed the WEB information in a database;
Receiving means for receiving, from the user terminal, search information input via a search screen for inputting a search condition including designation of the attribute information;
Search means for searching WEB information corresponding to the search information with reference to the database based on search conditions and attribute information included in the search information received by the receiving means;
Transmitting means for transmitting a search result by the search means to the user terminal via the network.

  Preferably, the attribute information is information about a user.

  Preferably, when the content of at least one of the WEB information or the attribute information is updated, the database stores and manages the content cumulatively and in time series.

Preferably, the search means includes an evaluation means for evaluating a user belonging to the attribute information based on a search condition and attribute information included in the search information, and generating statistical information about the user.
The transmission means transmits a search result including the statistical information by the search means to the user terminal via the network.

  Preferably, the search screen has at least an input area for inputting the search condition, a designation area for designating the attribute information, and a designation area for designating a date or time range of WEB information to be searched.

In order to achieve the above object, a method for controlling a WEB information providing apparatus according to the present invention comprises the following arrangement. That is,
A method for controlling a WEB information providing apparatus that searches WEB information on a network based on search information received from a user terminal and provides the search result to the user terminal.
A storage step of associating WEB information stored in a device connected to the network with attribute information of a user who has accessed the WEB information in a database;
A receiving step of receiving, from the user terminal via the network, search information input via a search screen for inputting a search condition including designation of the attribute information;
A search step of searching the WEB information corresponding to the search information with reference to the database based on the search condition and attribute information included in the search information received in the reception step;
A transmission step of transmitting a search result by the search step to the user terminal via the network.

In order to achieve the above object, a program according to the present invention comprises the following arrangement. That is,
A program for searching for WEB information on a network based on search information received from a user terminal and realizing control of a WEB information providing apparatus for providing the search result to the user terminal,
A program code of a storing step for associating WEB information stored in a device connected to the network and attribute information of a user who has accessed the WEB information in a database;
A program code of a receiving step for receiving the search information input via the search screen for inputting the search condition including the designation of the attribute information from the user terminal via the network;
Based on the search conditions and attribute information included in the search information received in the reception step, the program code of the search step for searching the WEB information corresponding to the search information with reference to the database;
And a program code of a transmission step of transmitting a search result by the search step to the user terminal via the network.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the WEB information provision apparatus which can search and provide the WEB information which a user intends more efficiently, its control method, and a program can be provided.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the WEB information provision system which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the user terminal of Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of the WEB information provision server which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the WEB information search process which the WEB information provision server of Embodiment 1 of this invention performs. It is a figure which shows an example of the search screen of Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the search result of Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the search result of Embodiment 2 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Web information provision server 102 Communication apparatus 103 Control apparatus 104 Main storage apparatus 105 External storage apparatus 106 Input apparatus 107 Output apparatus 114 User terminal 200 Network 202 Data collection part 205 Search part 206 Evaluation part 207 Search result generation part 208 Bookmark database 209 URL Database 210 User database

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  According to the present invention, a user issues a web page search instruction from a user terminal to a web information providing server via the Internet, and the corresponding web information (WEB site data) on the Internet is acquired and presented by the search instruction. In this case, a WEB information providing system that presents WEB information as a search result based on attribute information of a user who accesses the WEB information will be described.

  In particular, in the present invention, when a search condition is input as a search instruction, attribute information (for example, region, age, gender, hobby, etc.) of an access user for WEB information to be searched can be specified. A search for WEB information considering information is realized.

  Thereby, the user can search, for example, WEB information accessed in the past by other users that match a specific region, age group, gender, or hobby based on the specified search condition.

  In other words, since the user can search for WEB information previously accessed by another user who matches his / her intention, purpose, or preference, a search environment that more reflects the user's intention can be realized.

  Further, as an application example, when presenting a search result of WEB information considering the attribute information of the access user, in addition to presenting the attribute information, statistical information obtained by the attribute information (for example, searched WEB information It is also possible to present the number of access, ratio, etc. by region, age, gender, hobby, etc.).

  Such statistical information can be used as marketing information for market research and the like because, for example, it is possible to grasp a tendency of an access user for arbitrary WEB information.

<< Embodiment 1 >>
(Configuration of WEB information provision system)
FIG. 1A is a block diagram showing a configuration of a WEB information providing system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, the WEB information providing system is configured by connecting a WEB information providing server 101 and a plurality of user terminals 114 to each other via a network. The user terminal 114 functions as a WEB client for the WEB information providing server 101, and can issue an acquisition instruction (input of identification information) for acquiring WEB information via, for example, a WEB browser. In addition, communication is performed between the WEB information providing server 101 and the user terminal 114 using a known communication protocol such as TCP / IP.

  The network 200 is typically the Internet, but it may be a public line (analog line, ISDN, etc.), LAN, WAN, wireless LAN, or other data transmission / reception line regardless of wired / wireless. Any configuration is acceptable.

  The WEB information providing server 101 is realized by a computer such as a workstation (WS) or a personal computer (PC).

  The WEB information providing server 101 includes a control device 103 composed of a CPU, graphic board, ROM, etc., a main storage device 104 such as a main memory (RAM), a hard disk (HD), a CD-ROM, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, etc. An external storage device 105 such as a storage device and a drive device for controlling READ / WRITE for each storage medium, a communication device 102 such as an Ethernet (registered trademark) board or a modem, and an output device 107 such as a display device or a printer device And an input device 106 such as a keyboard and a mouse.

  In the WEB information providing server 101, temporary data for creating WEB site data, a search result screen, and the like, which will be described later, is stored in the main memory as the main storage device 104.

  The WEB information providing program executed by the WEB information providing server 101 is a file in an installable format or an executable format, and is provided on a storage medium such as a CD-ROM or a floppy disk (FD). The WEB information providing program is loaded on the main storage device 104 upon activation in the WEB information providing server 101.

  Further, the WEB information providing program may be stored in an external device on the network 200 and downloaded from the external device to the WEB information providing server 101 via the network 200.

  The WEB information providing program functions as a unique application that can be implemented as a plug-in of a WEB browser that operates on the user terminal 114, for example.

  On the other hand, each of the plurality of user terminals 114 is realized by a normal computer such as a PC or WS that can be connected to the network 200, but in addition, a mobile phone, PHS, or personal digital assistant (PDA) that can be connected to the network 200. It is also possible to use a portable terminal such as.

(User terminal configuration)
Next, the structure of the user terminal 114 of Embodiment 1 is demonstrated using FIG. 1B.

  FIG. 1B is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a user terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1B, reference numeral 1200 denotes a CPU, which executes an application program, an operating system (OS), a control program, and the like stored in a hard disk device (hereinafter referred to as HD) 1205, which will be described later, and is necessary for the RAM 1202 to execute the program. Control to temporarily store information, files, etc.

  A ROM 1201 stores programs such as a basic I / O program, various data such as font data and template data used for document processing. A RAM 1202 temporarily stores various data, and functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like of the CPU 1200.

  Reference numeral 1203 denotes an external storage drive for realizing access to a recording medium, and a program or the like stored in a medium (recording medium) 1204 can be loaded into the computer system. The medium 1204 is arbitrary, for example, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a CD-RW, a PC card, a DVD, an IC memory card, an MO, a memory stick, and the like.

  Reference numeral 1205 denotes an external storage device. In the first embodiment, an HD that functions as a large-capacity memory is used. The HD 1205 stores application programs, OS, control programs, related programs, and the like.

  An instruction input device 1206 corresponds to a keyboard, a pointing device (such as a mouse), a touch panel, or the like. Using the instruction input device 1206, the user instructs the user terminal 114 to input a command or the like for controlling the device.

  A display 1207 displays a command input from the instruction input device 1206, a response output of the client 101 in response thereto, and the like.

  A system bus 1209 controls the flow of data in the information processing apparatus. Reference numeral 1208 denotes an interface (hereinafter referred to as I / F), which exchanges data with an external device via the I / F 1208.

  In addition, it can also be comprised as an alternative of a hardware apparatus with the software which implement | achieves a function equivalent to the above each apparatus.

  In the first embodiment, an example is shown in which the program and related data according to the first embodiment are directly loaded from the medium 1204 to the RAM 1202 and executed. However, every time the program according to the first embodiment is operated, the program is already executed. May be loaded into the RAM 1202 from the HD 1205 in which is installed. It is also possible to record the program according to the first embodiment in the ROM 1201, configure it as a part of the memory map, and execute it directly by the CPU 1200.

(Functional configuration of WEB information providing server)
Next, the software configuration (functional configuration) of the WEB information providing server 101 will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the WEB information providing server according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  Each component shown in FIG. 2 is generated on the main storage device 104 by executing the WEB information providing program for realizing the first embodiment on the WEB information providing server 101.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the WEB information providing server 101 mainly includes a data collection unit 202, a search unit 205, an evaluation unit 206, a search result generation unit 207, and various databases 208 to 210. In FIG. 2, the arrow lines indicate the flow of various data between these components.

  In the first embodiment, each component is configured to exist in one WEB information providing server 101. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The data collection unit 202, the search unit 205, and other components It is also possible to adopt a hardware configuration in which elements are distributed on separate computers.

  The data collection unit 202 accesses the WEB site searched by the search unit 205 and collects the full text data (full text WEB site data) of the WEB site. The collected full text WEB site data is stored in the external storage device 105.

  The search unit 205 receives a search instruction for WEB information based on search information (keywords or identification information (for example, URL or IP address)) of the WEB information from the user terminal 114 via the network 200, and receives the received instruction Based on the search information, a WEB site corresponding to the search information is searched and acquired from various WEB servers on the network 200.

  The evaluation unit 206 acquires information (for example, the last update date / time, the last link down (link down) date / time, the author, the affiliation domain, etc.) regarding the WEB information (WEB site data) searched by the search unit 205.

  The search result generation unit 207 displays the searched WEB site data itself, text information about the WEB site data (for example, a character string of an index file, a subject, etc.), or screen data thereof (acquired screen data (full-screen data or thumbnail). Image)) is generated as a search result and transmitted to the user terminal 114.

  In the evaluation process by the evaluation unit 206, bookmark data of the WEB site stored in the hard disk mounted on the user terminal 114 is acquired in advance, and the bookmark data is further used. At this time, by managing the bookmark data for each user, an evaluation process specialized for each user can be realized.

  In order to realize the evaluation process with such a configuration, the external storage device 105 of the WEB information search server 101 is not illustrated in addition to, for example, the bookmark database 208, the URL database 209, and the user database 210. , Manage the setting database and the full-text search database.

  Hereinafter, each database will be briefly described.

  The bookmark database 208 registers bookmark data indicating the usage status of the user's bookmarks as one record. Each bookmark data is stored in the user's bookmark directory (configured in the hard disk of the user terminal 114) by the WEB information search server 101. It is generated by collecting bookmarks from and analyzing them.

  The bookmark data is bookmark information related to the bookmark, and is mainly based on the bookmark ID, the bookmark name, the relation to the URL database, the last reference date, the bookmark creation date and edit date, the user IP address, the reference count, and the like. Composed.

  Here, “bookmark ID” is a unique identifier for all the collected bookmarks. “Bookmark name” is the file name of the bookmark stored in the bookmark directory. “User ID” is the ID of the user who owns the bookmark, and is registered in the user database. “URL ID” is a URL of a WEB site accessed when a bookmark is designated. “Reference count” is the reference count of the user with respect to the WEB site indicated by the URL.

  Among these data, “bookmark name”, “URL”, “last reference date”, “creation date”, “edit date”, and “reference count” data are obtained from the bookmark in the corresponding bookmark directory. The information is copied to the external storage device 105 of the information search server 101 as it is. Further, the user ID is generated by referring to the user database from the owner of the bookmark directory and acquiring the user ID. The “bookmark ID” is automatically generated and assigned when bookmark data is registered by the WEB information search server 101.

  The URL database 209 registers URL data including URL information of a WEB site and access information for the WEB site as one record, and each URL data collects a bookmark from a user's bookmark directory by the WEB information search server 101. Generated by analysis. In addition, at least an index file of each WEB site corresponding to the URL information is stored.

  The URL data is URL information related to the URL, and is mainly composed of a creation date / time, a last edit date / time, a URL, a title, the number of times of reference, and the like, and the URL and URL ID are keys.

  Among these data, the data of “URL”, “Last Edit Date / Time”, and “Reference Count” are directly copied from the corresponding bookmark directory to the external storage device 105 of the WEB information search server 101. The “user ID” is generated from the name of the user directory where the bookmark directory exists.

  The user database 210 manages users who use the WEB information search server 101, and is registered in advance as user-specific data for each user as one record.

  The user-specific data is user information (attribute information) related to the user. The user ID, password (encrypted data), last access date, nationality, date of birth (date of birth), gender, name are mainly used to identify the user. , Address, residence area, E-mail address, homepage URL (WEB site data accessed in the past and WEB site data registered in online bookmarks), telephone number, Internet history, occupation (eg, system engineer, sales, Company managers, research positions, students, freeters, unemployed, etc.), hobbies, educational background (for example, while studying, liberal arts / science, university graduate / high school graduate, etc.), marriage history (married / unmarried), annual income, address form (detached) / Condominium / rental), presence / absence of car ownership, hobbies, etc., and the user ID is the key.

  In the present invention, user information related to the user is cumulatively stored. Therefore, when the contents are changed, the contents are sequentially updated or added for each corresponding item. For example, when a user is a student at a certain point in time and then graduates and finds a job, initially, the content of the item of “occupation” is a student, and then the occupation type of the place of employment. In addition, the item of “educational background” is changed from being enrolled to the final educational background (university graduate, high school graduate, etc.).

  The setting database registers various settings on the display screen of the WEB browser of each user for each user as setting data.

  This setting data can be changed by user designation. The setting data is setting information related to various settings of the display screen of the WEB browser, and mainly includes a user ID, a skin (wallpaper) setting, an owner, a height, a width, a font, and the like. May be included.

  The full-text search database records information for a search engine, and search data collected from the WEB site on the Internet by the data collection unit 202 is registered.

  The search data is search information related to the search, and mainly includes an ID, a search keyword input by the user, an attribute, a data acquisition time, a data acquisition URL, a URL title, a full text data (Description), and the like.

  Here, “ID” is identification information of each search data, and is automatically generated and assigned by the data collection unit 202 when the search data is registered. The collected data is stored in “full text data”.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, by managing the bookmark database 208, the URL database 209, and the user database 210 in association with each other, for example, in addition to a normal text-based search condition, user attributes A search using information as a search option can be realized.

  In particular, in the first embodiment, since the relationship between the bookmark registered by each user, its URL, and its attribute information can be managed, for example, among the plurality of users, for example, the location is “Tokyo” ”, It becomes possible to search for WEB information that matches the search condition among the WEB information accessed by the user whose age group is“ 20-30 generations ”.

  In the first embodiment, the contents managed in the bookmark database 208, the URL database 209, and the user database 210 are sequentially and cumulatively generated every time an event that requires the contents to be updated in the user terminal 114 occurs. And the management contents are updated in time series.

  For example, when a bookmark configuration is changed at a certain user terminal 114, the configuration after the change is managed in addition to the existing configuration. Further, for example, the input search conditions are also cumulatively managed each time. Similarly, information that is appropriately generated in relation to searches of WEB information and the like searched in the past and changes in user attribute information are cumulatively managed.

  That is, in the first embodiment, operation history related to user search and user attribute information are accumulated and managed as appropriate. As a result, in addition to the above-described search, for example, it is possible to search for WEB information that existed in the past date and time range, or search for WEB information that cannot be browsed because the link is currently broken. It becomes.

  Here, the broken link (link down) is a case where the identification information (URL) of the WEB site data is changed and the target WEB site data cannot be accessed by the original identification information, or the target WEB site data itself. Disappears and the WEB site data cannot be accessed.

(WEB information search processing)
Next, WEB information search processing executed by the WEB information providing server 101 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing WEB information search processing executed by the WEB information providing server according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  This WEB information search process is realized by executing the above WEB information providing program.

  First, in step S <b> 101, the search unit 205 receives search information for acquiring WEB information from the user terminal 114.

  This search information is generated on the search screen presented on the user terminal 114 based on a user operation, and when a search instruction is issued from the user terminal 114, information including various information set on the search screen is searched information. Is transmitted to the WEB information providing server 101.

  Here, an example of the search screen will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a search screen according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 4 shows a search screen 400 displayed on the WEB browser on the display 1207 of the user terminal 114.

  In the search screen 400, 401 is a search condition input field, which is a field for displaying the search condition received from the user terminal 114 or accepting an input of a new search condition from the user terminal 114.

  Reference numeral 402 denotes a search option specification area, which includes various specification fields 402 a to 402 h for specifying a search range for a search condition based on user attribute information obtained from the user database 210.

  In the case of the example of FIG. 4, in the search option designation area 402, designation fields 402 a to 402 g for designating the residence area, occupation, age, gender, hobby, final educational background, date and time are displayed as user attribute information. A designation field 402h to be designated is configured.

  The designation fields 402a to 402g are configured by pull-down menu controls, and the designation field 402h is configured by radio button controls. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and attribute information is designated by other controls such as a text input control and a check box control. It is good also as composition to do.

  Various specification items constituting the specification field may be set based on various items of user information managed in the user database 210. Further, it goes without saying that the configuration of the item can be arbitrarily designed and changed according to the use and purpose.

  Reference numeral 403 denotes a search execution button. When this search execution button 403 is pressed, the search condition input in the search condition input field 401 or various attribute information specified in the search condition and search option specification area 402 In order to execute a search based on the above, a search instruction (including a search condition or a search condition and various attribute information) is transmitted to the WEB information providing server 101.

  Upon receiving this search instruction, the WEB information providing server 101 searches the WEB site data specified by the search instruction from various WEB servers on the network 200 or its own external storage device 105, and obtains the search results obtained by the user. Transmit to terminal 114. As a result, the search result corresponding to the search instruction is displayed on the user terminal 114.

  As a display method of this search result, in addition to displaying a normal text-based search result, for example, thumbnail images corresponding to the searched WEB information can be displayed as a search result list. By performing such display, it is possible to provide a search result that allows the user to intuitively view the search result and its contents.

  Returning to the description of FIG.

  In step S102, the search unit 205 determines whether the received search information has a search option (attribute information). If there is no search option (NO in step S102), the process proceeds to step S104. On the other hand, if there is a search option (YES in step S102), the process proceeds to step S103.

  In step S103, the evaluation unit 206 performs an evaluation process on the attribute information included in the search information while appropriately referring to various databases such as the bookmark database 208, the URL database, and the user database 210, and the search included in the search information. A search condition with an attribute is generated based on the condition and its attribute information.

  The attribute-added search condition generated here is, for example, the attribute range of the access user who has previously accessed the WEB site data to be searched, such as region designation, age group designation, gender designation, etc. Search conditions.

  If the attribute information is not included in the search information in step S104, the WEB site data corresponding to the search information is searched from the network 200 or the external storage device 105 and acquired. The acquired WEB site data is temporarily stored in the external storage device 105.

  On the other hand, if the search information includes attribute information, the web site data corresponding to the attribute search condition generated in step S103 is retrieved from the network 200 or the external storage device 105 and acquired. . The acquired WEB site data is temporarily stored in the external storage device 105.

  In step S105, the search result generation unit 207 generates search result information (text information, WEB site data itself, thumbnail images, etc.) for transmitting the acquired WEB site data as a search result, and the generated acquisition screen Is stored in the external storage device 105 and transmitted to the user terminal 114. Accordingly, search result information corresponding to the search information transmitted by the user terminal 114 is displayed on the WEB browser of the user terminal 114.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, when searching for WEB information, user attribute information can be specified as a search option of the search condition, so that WEB information can be searched in consideration of the attribute information. Can be realized.

  Thereby, the user can search, for example, WEB information accessed by other users in the past that matches a specific region, age group, gender, hobby, date and time based on the specified search condition.

  In other words, since the user can search for WEB information previously accessed by another user who matches his / her intention, purpose, or preference, a search environment that more reflects the user's intention can be realized.

<< Embodiment 2 >>
In the first embodiment, the WEB information providing server 101 performs the search within the range of the specified attribute, particularly when the search based on the search condition with attribute is executed based on the search information received from the user terminal 114. The WEB site data corresponding to the information is searched and presented. Thereby, the user can efficiently search the WEB site data accessed by other users that match his intention, purpose, and preference. That is, the user can more efficiently search the WEB site data intended by the user.

  On the other hand, in the second embodiment, as an application example of the use of this attribute information, statistical processing is performed on the attribute information of the access user for the WEB site data that is the search result, and the search result including the statistical processing result is presented. The configuration will be described.

  In particular, by presenting search results including such statistical processing results, it is possible to grasp the tendency of users accessing WEB site data, and it is easy to obtain useful marketing information such as market research and product trend analysis. Can be obtained.

  This statistical processing is executed by the evaluation unit 206 referring to various databases such as the bookmark database 208, the URL database, and the user database 210 as appropriate. In addition, for example, when a search option is specified in step S102 of FIG. 3, whether or not the statistical process is executed is executed based on attribute information defined by the specified search option. Or it is good also as a structure which always performs a statistical process based on predetermined | prescribed attribute information (for example, according to area and age) irrespective of the presence or absence of designation | designated of a search option.

  When presenting the search result, the search result including the statistical processing result is presented. An example of the search result will be described with reference to FIGS.

  5 and 6 are diagrams showing examples of search results according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  The search results shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 show an example in the case where statistical processing based on predetermined attribute information is executed.

  In the search result screen of FIG. 5, thumbnail images of WEB information corresponding to the search condition “ABC” are displayed vertically on the right end based on the degree of matching with the search condition. Further, on the left side of each thumbnail image, in addition to the main text information of the WEB information, as statistical processing results obtained by the statistical processing of the evaluation unit 206, statistical data 501, average age / gender ratio data 502, and occupation Data 503 and the like are displayed.

  The statistical data 501 expresses statistical data including various numerical information obtained based on the degree of coincidence with an input search condition and the priority and importance of WEB information in a horizontal bar graph. In FIG. 5, in particular, as statistical data, the total point (total) for the WEB information, the URL rank (url rank), the number of bookmarks (bm) in which the WEB information is registered as bookmarks, and the number of clicks for the WEB information ( clicks).

  The average age / sex ratio data 502 represents the average age / sex ratio of users accessing WEB information. FIG. 5 shows an example in which the average age of the access user (Average page) is displayed as text information and the gender ratio (□: male, ■: female) is displayed as a pie chart. In addition to these pieces of information, local information (lives around (Tokyo / Kanagawa / Chiba / Saitama / Aichi / Shioka ...)) where the access user is located is displayed.

  The occupation data 503 represents the occupation of the user who is paying attention to the WEB information. FIG. 5 shows an example in which the occupation of the user is displayed as text information.

  In FIG. 5, the search results are arranged and displayed based on the degree of match with the search condition, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, only the search result with the highest degree of match may be displayed. A display example in this case is shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 6, in addition to the statistical data 501 of FIG. 5, occupation data 601 and regional attribute data 602, which are detailed display of occupation data 503, are displayed.

  The occupation data 601 shows an example in which the occupation type of the accessing user of the WEB information is displayed as text information and the gender ratio is displayed as a pie chart.

  The region attribute data 602 shows an example in which for each region where the access user is located, the region, average age, job type, etc. are displayed as text information, and the gender ratio is displayed as a pie chart.

  The search result display examples in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are only examples, and the display format of the statistical processing result (for example, a vertical bar graph, horizontal bar graph, line graph, pie graph, 3D / 2) according to the use and purpose. Needless to say, dimension display, icon display, blink display, and the like can be appropriately configured.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, in addition to the effects described in the first embodiment, when presenting a search result of WEB information considering the access user's attribute information, the attribute information is presented. In addition, the statistical information obtained from the attribute information (for example, the number of access and ratio by region, age, sex, hobby, etc. for the searched WEB information) is presented.

  Such statistical information, for example, can grasp a tendency of an access user with respect to arbitrary WEB information, so that it is possible to realize effective information provision that can be used as marketing information such as market research.

  Further, by specifying a past date and time range as a search option, it is possible to present statistical information not only at the present time but also at a certain point in the past. Further, it may be applied to a configuration in which statistical information in the past and the present is compared and presented.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, in order to make the scope of the present invention public, the following claims are attached.

Claims (7)

Based on search information received from a user terminal, search for WEB information on a network, and provide a search result to the user terminal,
Storage means for associating WEB information stored in a device connected to the network with attribute information of a user who has accessed the WEB information in a database;
Receiving means for receiving, from the user terminal, search information input via a search screen for inputting a search condition including designation of the attribute information;
Search means for searching WEB information corresponding to the search information with reference to the database based on search conditions and attribute information included in the search information received by the receiving means;
A web information providing apparatus comprising: a transmission unit configured to transmit a search result by the search unit to the user terminal via the network. The WEB information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attribute information is information related to a user. 2. The WEB information provision according to claim 1, wherein when at least one content of the WEB information or the attribute information is updated, the database stores and manages the content in a cumulative and time-series manner. apparatus. The search means includes an evaluation means for evaluating a user belonging to the attribute information based on a search condition and attribute information included in the search information, and generating statistical information about the user,
The WEB information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit transmits a search result including the statistical information by the search unit to the user terminal via the network. The search screen includes at least an input area for inputting the search condition, a designation area for designating the attribute information, and a designation area for designating a date or time range of WEB information to be searched. WEB information providing apparatus according to the above. A method for controlling a WEB information providing apparatus that searches WEB information on a network based on search information received from a user terminal and provides the search result to the user terminal.
A storage step of associating WEB information stored in a device connected to the network with attribute information of a user who has accessed the WEB information in a database;
A receiving step of receiving, from the user terminal via the network, search information input via a search screen for inputting a search condition including designation of the attribute information;
A search step of searching the WEB information corresponding to the search information with reference to the database based on the search condition and attribute information included in the search information received in the reception step;
A method for controlling a WEB information providing apparatus, comprising: a transmission step of transmitting a search result in the search step to the user terminal via the network. A program for searching for WEB information on a network based on search information received from a user terminal and realizing control of a WEB information providing apparatus for providing the search result to the user terminal,
A program code of a storing step for associating WEB information stored in a device connected to the network and attribute information of a user who has accessed the WEB information in a database;
A program code of a receiving step for receiving the search information input via the search screen for inputting the search condition including the designation of the attribute information from the user terminal via the network;
Based on the search conditions and attribute information included in the search information received in the reception step, the program code of the search step for searching the WEB information corresponding to the search information with reference to the database;
A program code comprising: a transmission process program code for transmitting a search result of the search process to the user terminal via the network.

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