Information processing apparatus, information processing method, storage medium, and program

• US 20030140309A1
• Filed: 12/12/2002
• Published: 07/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Saito, Mari, Yamamoto, Noriyuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,289,982 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/500
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/313 Selection or weighting of terms for indexing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/345 Summarisation for human users
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

An information processing apparatus is disclosed that presents related information about existing document information and about specific document information. The apparatus includes: an extracting element for extracting first and second characteristic words from respective existing and specific document information; a weight calculating element for calculating first and second weights of respective first and second characteristic words following the extraction by the extracting element; a weight modifying element for modifying the first weight based on a specific condition following the calculation by the weight calculating element; an acquiring element for acquiring the related information corresponding to the existing document information, based on the first characteristic word extracted by the extracting element and based on the first weight modified by the weight modifying element; a searching element for searching for the existing document information related to the specific document information, based on the second characteristic word; and a display controlling element for controlling display of the related information corresponding to the existing document information searched for by the searching element.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus for presenting related information about existing document information and about specific document information, said information processing apparatus comprising:

extracting means for extracting a first characteristic word from said existing document information and a second characteristic word from said specific document information;

weight calculating means for calculating a first weight of said first characteristic word and a second weight of said second characteristic word following the extraction by said extracting means;

weight modifying means for modifying said first weight based on a specific condition following the calculation by said weight calculating mean;

acquiring means for acquiring said related information corresponding to said existing document information, based on said first characteristic word extracted by said extracting means and based on said first weight modified by said weight modifying means;

searching means for searching for said existing document information related to said specific document information, based on said second characteristic word; and

display controlling means for controlling display of said related information corresponding to said existing document information searched for by said searching means.

2. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said acquiring means selects, from a plurality of said first characteristic words in said existing document information, keywords based on said first weight in order to acquire said related information about said keywords.

3. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said searching means calculates a similarity based on said first and said second weights in order to search for said existing document information corresponding to said specific document information based on said similarity.

4. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising attribute information extracting means for extracting attribute information from said existing document information and said specific document information.

5. An information processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising grouping means for arranging either one or a plurality of pieces of said existing document information into document information groups based on said attribute information extracted by said attribute information extracting means;

wherein said extracting means extracts said first characteristic word from said document information groups;

said weight calculating means calculates said first weight of said first characteristic word;

said acquiring means acquires said related information corresponding to said document information groups based on said first characteristic word and said first weight; and

said searching means searches for any of said document information groups, which corresponds to said specific document information, based on second characteristic word.

6. An information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said weight modifying means modifies said first weight based on said attribute information extracted by said attribute information extracting means.

7. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said weight modifying means modifies said first weight in accordance with a frequency either of transmissions to a specific destination or of receptions from said specific destination.

8. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said weight modifying means modifies said first weight of said first characteristic word extracted from said existing document information created by a user of said information processing apparatus.

9. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said weight modifying means modifies, in the same manner as said first weight, the weight of the same characteristic word as said first characteristic word extracted from said existing document information.

10. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said weight modifying means modifies said first weight based on a type of said first characteristic word.

11. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising database creating means for creating a database using said related information acquired by said acquiring means in relation to said first characteristic word in said existing document information;

wherein said searching means searches said database created by said database creating means for said existing document information related to said specific document information, based on said second characteristic word.

12. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising detecting means for detecting a specific event;

wherein said specific document information corresponds to the detection of said specific event detected by said detecting means.

13. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said existing document information and said specific document information are made up of emails.

14. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising category dictionary creating means for creating a category dictionary, which is made up of groups of words in a specific data structure and, which constitutes a database denoting relations between said words;

wherein said weight modifying means modifies said first weight calculated by said weight calculating means, based on said category dictionary created by said category dictionary creating means.

15. An information processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said category dictionary constitutes a database that has said word groups recorded in categories to which said words belong.

16. An information processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said category dictionary constitutes a database that has said word groups recorded in a hierarchical structure based on said relations between said words.

17. An information processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said category dictionary constitutes a database that has said word groups arranged in a list based on a degree of importance assigned to each of said words.

18. An information processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said category dictionary comprises said word groups and a data structure formed by said word groups that are derived from an existing dictionary database.

19. An information processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said category dictionary comprises said word groups and a data structure formed by said word groups that are derived from specific Web page data.

20. An information processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said category dictionary comprises said word groups and a data structure formed by said word groups that are derived from a list of said second characteristic words used earlier by said searching means.

21. An information processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said weight modifying means modifies said first weight of said first characteristic word corresponding to some of said words comprised in said category dictionary.

22. An information processing method for use with an information processing apparatus for presenting related information about existing document information and about specific document information, said information processing method comprising the steps of:

extracting a first characteristic word from said existing document information and a second characteristic word from said specific document information;

calculating a first weight of said first characteristic word and a second weight of said second characteristic word following the extraction in said extracting step;

modifying said first weight based on a specific condition following the calculation in said weight calculating step;

controlling acquisition of said related information corresponding to said existing document information, based on said first characteristic word extracted in said extracting step and based on said first weight modified in said weight modifying step;

searching for said existing document information related to said specific document information, based on said second characteristic word; and

controlling display of said related information corresponding to said existing document information searched for in said searching step.

23. An information processing method according to claim 22, wherein said acquisition controlling step comprises selecting, from a plurality of said first characteristic words in said existing document information, keywords based on said first weight in order to acquire said related information about said keywords.

24. An information processing method according to claim 22, wherein said searching step comprises calculating a similarity based on said first and said second weights in order to search for said existing document information corresponding to said specific document information based on said similarity.

25. An information processing method according to claim 22, further comprising the step of extracting attribute information from said existing document information and said specific document information;

wherein said weight modifying step comprises modifying said first weight based on said attribute information extracted in said attribute information extracting step.

26. An information processing method according to claim 22, further comprising the step of arranging either one or a plurality of pieces of said existing document information into document information groups based on said attribute information extracted in said attribute information extracting step.

27. An information processing method according to claim 22, wherein said weight modifying step comprises modifying said first weight in accordance with a frequency either of transmissions to a specific destination or of receptions from said specific destination.

28. An information processing method according to claim 22, wherein said weight modifying step comprises modifying said first weight based on a type of said first characteristic word.

29. An information processing method according to claim 22, further comprising the step of creating a database using said related information that is controlled acquiring in said acquisition controlling step in relation to said first characteristic word in said existing document information.

30. An information processing method according to claim 22, further comprising the step of creating a category dictionary, which is made up of groups of words in a specific data structure and, which constitutes a database denoting relations between said words;

wherein said weight modifying step comprises modifying said first weight calculated in said weight calculating step, based on said category dictionary created in said category dictionary creating step.

31. An information processing method according to claim 30, wherein said category dictionary constitutes a database that has said word groups recorded in categories to which said words belong.

32. An information processing method according to claim 30, wherein said category dictionary constitutes a database that has said word groups recorded in a hierarchical structure based on said relations between said words.

33. An information processing method according to claim 30, wherein said category dictionary constitutes a database that has said word groups arranged in a list based on a degree of importance assigned to each of said words.

34. An information processing method according to claim 30, wherein said category dictionary comprises said word groups and a data structure formed by said word groups that are derived from an existing dictionary database.

35. An information processing method according to claim 30, wherein said category dictionary comprises said word groups and a data structure formed by said word groups that are derived from specific Web page data.

36. An information processing method according to claim 30, wherein said category dictionary comprises said word groups and a data structure formed by said word groups that are derived from a list of said second characteristic words used earlier in said searching step.

37. An information processing method according to claim 30, wherein said weight modifying step comprises modifying said first weight of said first characteristic word corresponding to some of said words comprised in said category dictionary.

38. A storage medium that stores a computer-readable program for controlling an information processing apparatus for presenting related information about existing document information and about specific document information, the program comprising the steps of:

extracting a first characteristic word from said existing document information and a second characteristic word from said specific document information;

calculating a first weight of said first characteristic word and a second weight of said second characteristic word following the extraction in said extracting step;

modifying said first weight based on a specific condition following the calculation in said weight calculating step;

controlling acquisition of said related information corresponding to said existing document information, based on said first characteristic word extracted in said extracting step and based on said first weight modified in said weight modifying step;

searching for said existing document information related to said specific document information, based on said second characteristic word; and

controlling display of said related information corresponding to said existing document information searched for in said searching step.

39. A storage medium according to claim 38, wherein said acquisition controlling step comprises selecting, from a plurality of said first characteristic words in said existing document information, keywords based on said first weight in order to acquire said related information about said keywords.

40. A storage medium according to claim 38, wherein said searching step comprises calculating a similarity based on said first and said second weights in order to search for said existing document information corresponding to said specific document information based on said similarity.

41. A storage medium according to claim 38, further comprising the step of extracting attribute information from said existing document information and said specific document information;

wherein said weight modifying step comprises modifying said first weight based on said attribute information extracted in said attribute information extracting step.

42. A storage medium according to claim 38, further comprising the step of arranging either one or a plurality of pieces of said existing document information into document information groups based on said attribute information extracted in said attribute information extracting step.

43. A storage medium according to claim 38, wherein said weight modifying step comprises modifying said first weight in accordance with a frequency either of transmissions to a specific destination or of receptions from said specific destination.

44. A storage medium according to claim 38, wherein said weight modifying step comprises modifying said first weight based on a type of said first characteristic word.

45. A storage medium according to claim 38, further comprising the step of creating a database using said related information that is controlled acquiring in said acquisition controlling step in relation to said first characteristic word in said existing document information.

46. A storage medium according to claim 38, further comprising the step of creating a category dictionary, which is made up of groups of words in a specific data structure and, which constitutes a database denoting relations between said words;

wherein said weight modifying step comprises modifying said first weight calculated in said weight calculating step, based on said category dictionary created in said category dictionary creating step.

47. A storage medium according to claim 46, wherein said category dictionary constitutes a database that has said word groups recorded in categories to which said words belong.

48. A storage medium according to claim 46, wherein said category dictionary constitutes a database that has said word groups recorded in a hierarchical structure based on said relations between said words.

49. A storage medium according to claim 46, wherein said category dictionary constitutes a database that has said word groups arranged in a list based on a degree of importance assigned to each of said words.

50. A storage medium according to claim 46, wherein said category dictionary comprises said word groups and a data structure formed by said word groups that are derived from an existing dictionary database.

51. A storage medium according to claim 46, wherein said category dictionary comprises said word groups and a data structure formed by said word groups that are derived from specific Web page data.

52. A storage medium according to claim 46, wherein said category dictionary comprises said word groups and a data structure formed by said word groups that are derived from a list of said second characteristic words used earlier in said searching step.

53. A storage medium according to claim 46, wherein said weight modifying step comprises modifying said first weight of said first characteristic word corresponding to some of said words comprised in said category dictionary.

54. A program for use with a computer that controls an information processing apparatus for presenting related information about existing document information and about specific document information, said program causing said computer to execute the steps of:

extracting a first characteristic word from said existing document information and a second characteristic word from said specific document information;

calculating a first weight of said first characteristic word and a second weight of said second characteristic word following the extraction in said extracting step;

modifying said first weight based on a specific condition following the calculation in said weight calculating step;

controlling acquisition of said related information corresponding to said existing document information, based on said first characteristic word extracted in said extracting step and based on said first weight modified in said weight modifying step;

searching for said existing document information related to said specific document information, based on said second characteristic word; and

controlling display of said related information corresponding to said existing document information searched for in said searching step.

55. A program according to claim 54, wherein said acquisition controlling step comprises selecting, from a plurality of said first characteristic words in said existing document information, keywords based on said first weight in order to acquire said related information about said keywords.

56. A program according to claim 54, wherein said searching step comprises calculating a similarity based on said first and said second weights in order to search for said existing document information corresponding to said specific document information based on said similarity.

57. A program according to claim 54, further comprising the step of extracting attribute information from said existing document information and said specific document information;

wherein said weight modifying step comprises modifying said first weight based on said attribute information extracted in said attribute information extracting step.

58. A program according to claim 54, further comprising the step of arranging either one or a plurality of pieces of said existing document information into document information groups based on said attribute information extracted in said attribute information extracting step.

59. A program according to claim 54, wherein said weight modifying step comprises modifying said first weight in accordance with a frequency either of transmissions to a specific destination or of receptions from said specific destination.

60. A program according to claim 54, wherein said weight modifying step comprises modifying said first weight based on a type of said first characteristic word.

61. A program according to claim 54, further comprising the step of creating a database using said related information that is controlled acquiring in said acquisition controlling step in relation to said first characteristic word in said existing document information.

62. A program according to claim 54, further comprising the step of creating a category dictionary, which is made up of groups of words in a specific data structure and, which constitutes a database denoting relations between said words;

wherein said weight modifying step comprises modifying said first weight calculated in said weight calculating step, based on said category dictionary created in said category dictionary creating step.

63. A program according to claim 62, wherein said category dictionary constitutes a database that has said word groups recorded in categories to which said words belong.

64. A program according to claim 62, wherein said category dictionary constitutes a database that has said word groups recorded in a hierarchical structure based on said relations between said words.

65. A program according to claim 62, wherein said category dictionary constitutes a database that has said word groups arranged in a list based on a degree of importance assigned to each of said words.

66. A program according to claim 62, wherein said category dictionary comprises said word groups and a data structure formed by said word groups that are derived from an existing dictionary database.

67. A program according to claim 62, wherein said category dictionary comprises said word groups and a data structure formed by said word groups that are derived from specific Web page data.

68. A program according to claim 62, wherein said category dictionary comprises said word groups and a data structure formed by said word groups that are derived from a list of said second characteristic words used earlier in said searching step.

69. A program according to claim 62, wherein said weight modifying step comprises modifying said first weight of said first characteristic word corresponding to some of said words comprised in said category dictionary.