Information search system, information processing apparatus and method, and informaltion search apparatus and method

• US 20050165739A1
• Filed: 03/27/2003
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2002
• 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 7,725,467 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/335 Filtering based on additional data, e.g. user or group profiles filtering in web context G06F16/9535, G06F16/9536
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/78 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/466 Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies services using the results of monitoring in broadcast systems H04H60/61
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4668 for recommending content, e.g. movies
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8405 represented by keywords
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction

Abstract

The present invention relates to an information search system, an information processing apparatus and method, and information search apparatus and method. A PC extracts, from the mail document transmitted/received by a user, words corresponding to the user'"'"'s interests and records the interest data. In steps S121 and S122, upon logged in by the user, an HDD recorder requests the acquisition of interest data. On the basis of this request, the PC sends the interest data corresponding to the login user. In steps S123 and S124, the HDD recorder sends the received interest data to a server. In step S131, the server searches for the program information that matches the received interest data. In step S125, on the basis of the program information contained in the search result, the HDD recorder sets the timer-recording of a program. The present invention is applicable to programs which are installed in personal computers.

Claims

1. An information search system having an information processing apparatus and an information search apparatus which is accessed by said information processing apparatus via a network,

said information processing apparatus comprising:

extraction means for analyzing predetermined information to extract an interest word for obtaining program information about a program;

search request means for sending said interest word extracted by said extraction means to said information search apparatus to request a search for said program information corresponding to said interest word; and

reception means for receiving said program information from said information search apparatus on the basis of said search request means;

said information search apparatus comprising;

accumulation means for accumulating said program information;

search means for searching said accumulation means for said program information associated with said interest word contained in said search request on the basis of said search request sent from said information processing apparatus; and

transmission means for sending said program information retrieved by said search means to said information processing apparatus.

2. The information search system according to claim 1, wherein said extraction means of said information processing apparatus includes morphological analysis means for performing morphological analysis on said predetermined information to resolve said predetermined information into said interest word.

3. The information search system according to claim 1, wherein said information processing apparatus further comprising database construction means for generating a database of said interest word extracted by said extraction means.

4. The information search system according to claim 1, wherein said information processing apparatus further comprising recording control means for controlling the recording of said program on the basis of said program information received by said reception means.

5. The information search system according to claim 1, wherein said information processing apparatus further comprising display control means for controlling the display of said program information received by said reception means.

6. The information search system according to claim 1, wherein said accumulation means of said information search apparatus includes database construction means for making a database by relating said program information with said program.

7. The information search system according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined information includes at least one of document information, preference information associated with said program, and a viewing log of said program.

8. The information search system according to claim 7, wherein said document information is electronic mail.

9. The information search system according to claim 1, wherein said program information includes recording start time, recording end time, and channel information for recording said program.

10. The information search system according to claim 1, wherein said information processing apparatus acquires said predetermined information from another information processing apparatus.

11. An information processing apparatus comprising:

extraction means for analyzing predetermined information to extract an interest word for obtaining program information associated with a program;

search request means for sending said interest word extracted by said extraction means to an information search apparatus to request the search of said program information corresponding to said interest word; and

reception means for receiving said program information from said information search apparatus on the basis of said search request means.

12. The Information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said extraction means includes morphological analysis means for performing morphological analysis on said predetermined information to resolve said predetermined information into said interest word.

13. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising database construction means for generating a database of said interest word extracted by said extraction means.

14. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising recording control means for controlling the recording of said program on the basis of said program information received by said reception means.

15. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising display control means for controlling the display of said program information received by said reception means.

16. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said predetermined information includes at least one of document information, preference information associated with said program, and a viewing log of said program.

17. The information processing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said document information is electronic mail.

18. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said program information includes recording start time, recording end time, and channel information for recording said program.

19. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said predetermined information is obtained from another information processing apparatus.

20. An information processing method for an information processing apparatus having recording control means for controlling the recording of a program comprising:

an extraction step of analyzing predetermined information to extract an interest word for obtaining program information associated with a program;

a search request step of sending said interest word extracted by said extraction step to an information search apparatus to request the search of said program information corresponding to said interest word; and

a reception control step of controlling reception of said program information from said information search apparatus on the basis of said search request step.

21. A recording medium recording a computer-readable software program for controlling an information processing apparatus having recording control means for controlling the recording of a program, said computer-readable software program comprising:

an extraction step of analyzing predetermined information to extract an interest word for obtaining program information associated with a program;

a search request step of sending said interest word extracted by said extraction step to an information search apparatus to request the search of said program information corresponding to said interest word; and

a reception control step of controlling reception of said program information from said information search apparatus on the basis of said search request step.

22. A software program for making a computer for controlling an information processing apparatus having recording control means for controlling the recording of a program execute:

an extraction step of analyzing predetermined information to extract an interest word for obtaining program information associated with a program;

a search request step of sending said interest word extracted by said extraction step to an information search apparatus to request the search of said program information corresponding to said interest word; and

a reception control step of controlling reception of said program information from said information search apparatus on the basis of said search request step.

23. An information search apparatus comprising:

accumulation means for accumulating program information associated with a program;

reception means for receiving an interest word for obtaining said program information, said interest word being sent from an information processing apparatus;

search means for searching said accumulation means for said program information associated with said interest word received by said reception means; and

transmission means for sending said program information retrieved by said search means to said information processing apparatus.

24. The information search apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said interest word is a word obtained by performing morphological analysis on predetermined information on said information processing apparatus.

25. The information search apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said program information contains recording start time, recording end time, and channel information for recording said program.

26. The information search apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising:

analysis means for analyzing said program information;

dictionary generation means for generating dictionary data for relating a genre of said program information with a keyword on the basis of a result of the analysis by said analysis means; and

database generation means for assigning a genre to said program information on the basis of said dictionary data generated by said dictionary generation means and storing said program information with said genre.

27. The information search apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising keyword search means for extracting a keyword from said interest word, acquires a genre corresponding to said keyword by searching said dictionary data on the basis of said keyword, and searching for said program information on the basis of said genre.

28. The information search apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said dictionary generation means has keyword detection means for detecting a word which is high in cooccurrence in metadata of a particular genre among words included in said metadata, as a keyword of said genre.

29. The information search apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said dictionary generation means generates said dictionary data by storing, with said keyword, a frequency at which said keyword is detected.

30. The information search apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said database generation means complements a component which is not included in said program information on the basis of a component contained in said program information.

31. An information search method for an information search apparatus for searching for information comprising:

an accumulation control step of controlling accumulation of program information associated with a program;

a reception control step of controlling reception of an interest word for obtaining said program information, said interest word being sent from an information processing apparatus;

a search step of searching for said program information associated with said interest word received by said reception control step; and

a sending control step of controlling sending of said program information retrieved by said search step to said information processing apparatus.

32. A recording medium recording a computer-readable software program for controlling an information search apparatus for searching for information comprising:

an accumulation control step of controlling accumulation of program information associated with a program;

a reception control step of controlling reception of an interest word for obtaining said program information, said interest word being sent from an information processing apparatus;

a search step of searching for said program information associated with said interest word received by said reception control step; and

a sending control step of controlling sending of said program information retrieved by said search step to said information processing apparatus.

33. A software program for making a computer for controlling an information search apparatus for searching for information execute:

an accumulation control step of controlling accumulation of program information associated with a program;

a reception control step of controlling reception of an interest word for obtaining said program information, said interest word being sent from an information processing apparatus;

a search step of searching for said program information associated with said interest word received by said reception control step; and

a sending control step of controlling sending of said program information retrieved by said search step to said information processing apparatus.

34. An information search system having a mobile terminal apparatus, an information processing apparatus connected to said mobile terminal apparatus via a network, and an information search apparatus which is accessed by said information processing apparatus via said network,

said mobile terminal apparatus comprising:

generation means for generating timer-recording information for timer-recording a program; and

first transmission means for sending said timer-recording information generated by said generation means to said information processing apparatus;

said information processing apparatus comprising;

extraction means for analyzing said timer-recording information sent from said mobile terminal apparatus to extract an interest word for obtaining program information associated with said program;

search request means for sending said interest word extracted by said extraction means to said information search apparatus to request for the search for said program information corresponding to said interest word; and

reception means for receiving said program information from said information search apparatus on the basis of said search request means;

said information search apparatus comprising;

accumulation means for accumulating said program information;

search means for searching said accumulation means for said program information associated with said interest word contained in said search request on the basis of said search request sent from said information processing apparatus; and

second transmission means for sending said program information retrieved by said search means to said information processing apparatus.

35. The information search system according to claim 34, wherein said extraction means includes morphological analysis means for performing morphological analysis on said predetermined information to resolve said predetermined information into said interest word.

36. The information search system according to claim 34, wherein said information processing apparatus further comprising recording control means for controlling the recording of said program on the basis of said program information received by said reception means.

37. The information search system according to claim 34, wherein said accumulation means of said information search apparatus includes database construction means for generating a database by relating said program information with said program.

38. The information search system according to claim 34, wherein said timer-recording information includes at least one of program name, genre name, and cast name.

39. The information search system according to claim 34, wherein said timer-recording information is electronic mail.

40. The information search system according to claim 34, wherein said program information contains recording start time, recording end time, and channel information for recording said program.

41. An information processing apparatus comprising:

extraction means for analyzing timer-recording information sent from a mobile terminal apparatus to extract an interest word for obtaining program information associated with a program;

search request means for sending said interest word extracted by said extraction means to an information search apparatus to request for the search for said program information corresponding to said interest word; and

reception means for receiving said program information from said information search apparatus on the basis of said search request means.

42. The information processing apparatus according to claim 41, wherein said extraction means includes a morphological analysis means for performing morphological analysis on said predetermined information to resolve said predetermined information into said interest word.

43. The information processing apparatus according to claim 41, further comprising recording control means for controlling the recording of said program on the basis of said program information received by said reception means.

44. The information processing apparatus according to claim 41, wherein said timer-recording information includes at least one of program name, genre name, and cast name.

45. The information processing apparatus according to claim 41, wherein said timer-recording information is electronic mail.

46. The information processing apparatus according to claim 41, wherein said program information contains recording start time, recording end time, and channel information for recording said program.

47. An information processing method for an information processing apparatus having recording control means for controlling the recording of a program comprising:

an extraction step of analyzing timer-recording information sent from a mobile terminal apparatus to extract an interest word for obtaining program information associated with a program;

a search request step of sending said interest word extracted by said extraction step to an information search apparatus to request for the search for said program information corresponding to said interest word; and

a reception control step of controlling reception of said program information from said information search apparatus on the basis of said search request step.

48. A recording medium recording a computer-readable software program for controlling an information processing apparatus having recording control means for controlling the recording of a program comprising:

an extraction step of analyzing timer-recording information sent from a mobile terminal apparatus to extract an interest word for obtaining program information associated with a program;

a search request step of sending said interest word extracted by said extraction step to an information search apparatus to request for the search for said program information corresponding to said interest word; and

a reception control step of controlling reception of said program information from said information search apparatus on the basis of said search request step.

49. A software program for making a computer for controlling an information processing apparatus having recording control means for controlling the recording of a program execute:

an extraction step of analyzing timer-recording information sent from a mobile terminal apparatus to extract an interest word for obtaining program information associated with a program;

a search request step of sending said interest word extracted by said extraction step to an information search apparatus to request for the search for said program information corresponding to said interest word; and

a reception control step of controlling reception of said program information from said information search apparatus on the basis of said search request step.

50. An information search system having an information processing apparatus and an information search apparatus which is accessed by said information processing apparatus via a network,

said information processing apparatus comprising:

extraction means for analyzing electronic mail to extract an interest word for obtaining program information associated with a program;

search request means for sending said interest word extracted by said extraction means to said information search apparatus to request for the search for said program information corresponding to said interest word; and

reception means for receiving said program information from said information search apparatus on the basis of said search request by said search request means,

said information search apparatus comprising;

accumulation means for accumulating said program information;

search means for searching said accumulation means for said program information associated with said interest word contained in said search request on the basis of said search request sent from said information processing apparatus; and

transmission means for sending said program information retrieved by said search means to said information processing apparatus.

51. An information processing apparatus comprising:

extraction means for analyzing electronic mail to extract an interest word for obtaining program information associated with a program;

search request means for sending said interest word extracted by said extraction means to an information search apparatus to request for the search for said program information corresponding to said interest word; and

reception means for receiving said program information from said information search apparatus on the basis of said search request by said search request means.

52. An information processing method for an information processing apparatus having recording control means for controlling the recording of a program comprising:

an extraction step of analyzing electronic mail to extract an interest word for obtaining program information associated with a program;

a search request step of sending said interest word extracted by said extraction step to an information search apparatus to request for the search for said program information corresponding to said interest word; and

a reception control step of controlling reception of said program information from said information search apparatus on the basis of said search request by said search request step.

53. A recording medium recording a computer-readable software program for controlling an information processing apparatus having recording control means for controlling the recording of a program comprising:

an extraction step of analyzing electronic mail to extract an interest word for obtaining program information associated with a program;

a search request step of sending said interest word extracted by said extraction step to an information search apparatus to request for the search for said program information corresponding to said interest word; and

a reception control step of controlling reception of said program information from said information search apparatus on the basis of said search request by said search request step.

54. A software program for making a computer for controlling an information processing apparatus having recording control means for controlling the recording of a program execute:

an extraction step of analyzing electronic mail to extract an interest word for obtaining program information associated with a program;

a search request step of sending said interest word extracted by said extraction step to an information search apparatus to request for the search for said program information corresponding to said interest word; and

a reception control step of controlling reception of said program information from said information search apparatus on the basis of said search request by said search request step.