Network information searching apparatus and network information searching method

• US 6,163,804 A
• Filed: 07/02/1998
• Issued: 12/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Matsui, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Assistant Examiner(s): WINDER, PATRICE L
• Application Number:
  US09/110,027
• Time in Patent Office: 901 Days
• Field of Search: 707/5, 709/201, 709/202, 709/203, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 709/213
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9538 Presentation of query results

Abstract

A collecting process of data which is managed by each server on a network is first started by information collection means. Data collected by the information collection means is stored in an information holding means. Subsequently, the data which is needed by a user is extracted by extraction means. Then, the extracted data is outputted to an output destination. In one embodiment, data under a point serving as the root is collected while repeating processes. Such that data at the point serving as a certain root is collected on the basis of access setting information; a link destination is extracted from the collected data and data on the extracted link is further collected. In another embodiment, the data type held in the information holding means is analyzed, then is compared with the data type required by the user by the extraction means. Thus, the data is extracted by extraction means in accordance with the result of the comparison.

Claims

1. A network information searching apparatus which is connected through a network to a plurality of information processing apparatus on the network and is used to search information required by the user from information stored in each memory means in each of said information processing apparatuses, comprising:

information collection means for collecting the information stored in each of said memory means through said network by preferentially collecting information which is concerned with the information required by said user at a predetermined probability;

information holding means for holding the information collected by said information collection means;

extraction means for extracting information corresponding to the information required by said user from the information held in said information holding means; and

output means for outputting the information extracted by said extraction means and corresponding to the information required by said user.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising timer start means for starting said information collection means at a start time set by said user.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said information collection means has detection means for detecting an address of the information processing apparatus in which a connection is permitted for said user among said information processing apparatuses and an information management system of said address.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said memory means is controlled by an information management program.

5. A network apparatus according to claim 4, wherein information management program is a World Wide Web server program for a file server program for a file server system.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the information required by said user is image data, said extraction means extracts image data from the information held in said information holding means, extracts characteristics of said extracted image data, compares said extracted image data with characteristics of the image data required by said user, and extracts image data corresponding to the image data required by said user in accordance with a result of said comparison.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said extraction means analyzes a data type of the information held in said information holding means, compares a result of said analysis with a data type of the information required by said user, and extracts information corresponding to the information required by said user in accordance with a result of said comparison.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said extraction means analyzes a data type of the information held in said information holding means, compares a result of said analysis with a data type of the information required by said user, and extracts information including information of a data type corresponding to the data type of the information required by said user in accordance with a result of said comparison.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said extraction means analyzes an attribute of the information held in said information holding means, compares a result of said analysis with an attribute of the information required by said user, and extracts information corresponding to the information required by said user in accordance with a result of said comparison.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said extraction means performs a search to the information held in said information holding means on the basis of a keyword included in a text portion of said information and a synonym or an analogue of said keyword and extracts information corresponding to the information required by said user by said search.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said extraction means extracts information corresponding to the information required by said user and forms an index of information concerned in an extracting step of said extracted information, and said output means outputs said index formed together with the information extracted by said extraction means.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said output means outputs said extracted information to an apparatus which can output said extracted information in a desired output form of said user in accordance with a selection of said user.

13. A network information searching method of a network information apparatus which is connected through a network to a plurality of information processing apparatuses on the network and is used to search information required by the user from information stored in each memory means in each of said information processing apparatuses, comprising:

an information collecting step of collecting the information stored in each of said memory means through said network by preferentially collecting information which is concerned with the information required by said user at a predetermined probability;

an information holding step of holding said collected information into information holding means;

an extracting step of extracting information corresponding to the information required by said user from the information held in said information holding means; and

an output step of outputting said extracted information corresponding to the information required by said user.

14. A method according to claim 13, further comprising a step of instructing so as to start the collection of the information stored in each of said memory means at a start time set by said user.

15. A method according to claim 13, wherein each of said memory means is controlled by an information management program.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein said information management program is a World Wide Web server program or a file server program for a file server system.

17. A method according to claim 13, wherein in said extracting step, when the information required by said user is image data, image data is extracted from the information held in said information holding means, characteristics of said extracted image data are extracted, said extracted image data is compared with characteristics of the image data required by said user, and image data corresponding to the image data required by said user is extracted in accordance with a result of said comparison.

18. A method according to claim 13, wherein in said extracting step, a data type of the information held in said information holding means is analyzed, a result of said analysis is compared with a data type of the information required by said user, and information corresponding to the information required by said user is extracted in accordance with a result of said comparison.

19. A method according to claim 13, wherein in said extracting step, a data type of the information held in said information holding means is analyzed, a result of said analysis is compared with a data type of the information required by said user, and information including information of a data type corresponding to the data type of the information required by said user is extracted in accordance with a result of said comparison.

20. A method according to claim 13, wherein in said extracting step, an attribute of the information held in said information holding means is analyzed, a result of said analysis is compared with an attribute of the information required by said user, and information corresponding to the information required by said user is extracted in accordance with a result of said comparison.

21. A method according to claim 13, wherein in said extracting step, a search is executed to the information held in said information holding means on the basis of a keyword included in a text portion of said information and a synonym or an analogue of said keyword and information corresponding to the information required by said user by said search is extracted.

22. A method according to claim 13, wherein in said extracting step, information corresponding to the information required by said user is extracted and an index of information concerned in an extracting step of said extracted information is formed, and in said output step, said formed index is outputted together with the information extracted by said extracting step.

23. A method according to claim 13, wherein in said output step, said extracted information is outputted to an apparatus which can output said extracted information in a desired output form of said user in accordance with a selection of said user.

24. A storage medium which is connected through a network to a plurality of information processing apparatuses on the network and in which a network information searching program to search information required by the user from information stored in each memory means in each of said information processing apparatuses has been stored,

wherein said network information searching program comprises:

an information collection module for collecting the information stored in each of said memory means through said network by preferentially collecting information which is concerned with the information required by said user at a predetermined probability;

information holding module for holding said collected information collection holding means;

an extracting module for extracting information corresponding to the information required by said user from the information held in said information holding means; and

an output module for outputting said extracted information corresponding to the information required by said user.

25. A network information searching system constructed by a plurality of information processing apparatuses and a network information searching apparatus which are mutually connected through a network,

wherein said network information searching apparatus comprises:

information collection means for collecting information stored in each memory means in each of said information processing apparatuses through said network by preferentially collecting information which is concerned with the information required by a user at a predetermined probability;

information holding means for holding the information collected by said information collection means;

extraction means for extracting information corresponding to the information required by said user from the information held in said information holding means; and

output means for outputting the information extraction by said extraction means and corresponding to the information required by said user.

26. A network information searching apparatus which is connected a network to a plurality of information processing apparatuses on the network and is used to search information required by the user from information stored in each memory means in each of said information processing apparatuses, comprising:

information collection means for collecting the information stored in each of said memory means through said network;

information holding means for holding the information collected by said information collection means;

extraction means for extracting information corresponding to the information required by said user from the information held in said information holding means; and

output means for outputting the information extracted by said extraction means and corresponding to the information required by said user,

wherein when the information required by said user is image data, said extraction means extracts image data from the information held in said information holding means, extracts characteristics of said extracted image data, compares said extracted image data with characteristics of the image data required by said extracts image date corresponding to the image data required by said user in accordance with a result of said comparison.

27. A network information searching apparatus which is connected through a network to a plurality of information processing apparatuses on the network and is used to search information required by the user from information stored in each memory means in each of said information processing apparatuses, comprising:

information collection means for collecting the information stored in each of said memory means through said network;

information holding means for holding the information collected by said information collection means;

extraction means for extracting information corresponding to the information required by said user from the information held in said information holding means; and

output means for outputting the information extracted by said extraction means and corresponding to the information required by said user,

wherein said extraction means analyzes a data type of the information held in said information holding means, compares a result of said analysis with a data type of the information required by said user, and extracts information corresponding to the information required by said user in accordance with a result of said comparison.

28. A network information searching apparatus which is connected through a network to a plurality of information processing apparatuses on the network and is used to search information required by the user from information stored in each memory means in each of said information processing apparatuses, comprising:

information collection means for collecting the information stored in each of said memory means through said network;

information holding means for holding the information collected by said information collection means;

extraction means for extracting information corresponding to the information required by said user from the information held in said information holding means; and

output means for outputting the information extracted by said extraction means and corresponding to the information required by said user,

wherein said extraction means analyzes a data type of the information held in said information holding means, compares a result of said analysis with a data type of the information required by said user, and extracts information including information of a date type corresponding to the data type of the information required by said user in accordance with a result of said comparison.

29. A network information searching method of a network information searching apparatus which is connected through a network to a plurality of information processing apparatuses on the network and is used to search information required by the user from information stored in each memory means in each of said information processing apparatuses, comprising:

an information collecting step of collecting the information stored in each of said memory means through said network;

an information holding step of holding said collected information into information holding means;

an extracting step of extracting information corresponding to the information required by said user from the information held in said information holding means; and

an output step of outputting said extracted information corresponding to the information required by said user,

wherein in said extracting step, when the information required by said user is image data, image data is extracted from the information held in said information holding means, characteristics of said extracted image data are extracted said extracted image data compared with characteristics of the image data required by said user, and image data corresponding to the image data required by said user is extracted in accordance with a result of said comparison.

30. A network information searching method of a network information searching apparatus which is connected through a network to a plurality of information processing apparatuses on the network and is used to search information required by the user from information stored in each memory means in each of said information processing apparatuses, comprising:

an information collecting step of collecting the information stored in each of said memory means through said network;

an information holding step of holding said collected information into information holding means;

an extracting step of extracting information corresponding to the information required by said user from the information held in said information holding means; and

an output step of outputting said extracted information corresponding to the information required by said user,

wherein in said extracting step, a data type of the information held in said information holding means is analyzed, a result of said analysis is compared with a data type of the information required by said user, and information corresponding to the information required by said user is extracted in accordance with a result of said comparison.

31. A network information searching method of a network information searching apparatus which is connected through a network to a plurality of processing apparatuses on the network and is used to search information required by the user from information stored in each memory means in each of said information processing apparatuses, comprising:

an information collecting step of collecting the information stored in each of said memory means through said network;

an information holding step of holding said collected information into information holding means;

an extracting step of extracting information corresponding to the information required by said user from the information held in said information holding means; and

an output step of outputting said extracted information corresponding to the information required by said user,

wherein in said extracting step, a data type of the information held in said information holding means is analyzed, a result of said analysis is compared with a data type of the information required by said user, and information including information of a data type corresponding to the data type of the information required by said user is extracted in accordance with a result of said comparison.

32. A storage medium which is connected through a network to a plurality of information processing apparatuses on the network and in which a network information searching program to search information required by the user from information stored in each memory means in each of said information processing apparatuses has been stored,

wherein said network information searching program comprises:

an information collecting module for collecting the information stored in each of said memory means through said network;

an information holding module for holding said collected information into information holding means;

an extracting module for extracting information corresponding to the information required by said user from the information held in said information holding means; and

an output module for outputting said extracted information corresponding to the information required by said user,

wherein when the information required by said user is image data, said extraction module extracts image data from the information held in said information holding means, extracts characteristics of said extracted image date, compares said extracted image data with characteristics of the image data required by said user, and extracts image data corresponding to the image data required by said user in accordance with a result of said comparison.

33. A storage medium which is connected through a network to a plurality of information processing apparatuses on the network and in which a network information searching program to search information required by the user from information stored in each memory means in each of said information processing apparatuses has been stored,

wherein said network information searching program comprises:

an information collecting module for collecting the information stored in each of said memory means through said network;

an information holding module for holding said collected information into information holding means;

an extracting module for extracting information corresponding to the information required by said user from the information held in said information holding means; and

an output module for outputting said extracted information corresponding to the information required by said user,

wherein said extraction module analyzes a data type of the information held in said information holding means, compares a result of said analysis with a data type of the information required by said user, and extracts information corresponding to the information required by said user in accordance with a result of said comparison.

34. A storage medium which is connected through a network to a plurality of information processing apparatuses on the network and in which a network information searching program to search information required by the user from information stored in each memory means in each of said information processing apparatuses has been stored,

wherein said network information searching program comprises:

an information collecting module for collecting the information stored in each of said memory means through said network;

an information holding module for holding said collected information into information holding means;

an extracting module for extracting information corresponding to the information required by said user from the information held in said information holding means; and

an output module for outputting said extracted information corresponding to the information required by said user,

wherein said extraction module analyzes a data type of the information held in said information holding means, compares a result of said analysis with a data type of the information required by said user, and extracts information including information of a data type corresponding to the data type of the information required by said user in accordance with a result of said comparison.

35. A network information searching system constructed by a plurality of information processing apparatuses and a network information searching apparatus which are mutually connected through a network,

wherein said network information searching apparatus comprises:

information collection means for collecting information stored in each memory means in each of said information processing apparatuses through said network;

information holding means for holding the information collected by said information collection means;

extraction means for extracting information corresponding to the information required by said user from the information held in said information holding means; and

output means for outputting the information extracted by said extraction means and corresponding to the information required by said user,

wherein when the information required by said user is image data, said extraction means extracts image data from the information held in said information holding means, extracts characteristics of said extracted image data, compares said extracted image data with characteristics of the image data required by said user, and extracts image data corresponding to the image data required by said user in accordance with a result of said comparison.

36. A network information searching system constructed by a plurality of information processing apparatuses and a network information searching apparatus which are mutually connected through a network,

wherein said network information searching apparatus comprises:

information collection means for collecting information stored in each memory means in each of said information processing apparatuses through said network;

information holding means for holding the information collected by said information collection means;

extraction means for extracting information corresponding to the information required by a user from the information held in said information holding means; and

output means for outputting the information extracted by said extraction means and corresponding to the information required by said user,

wherein said extraction means analyzes a data type of the information held in said information holding means, compares a result of said analysis with a data type of the information required by said user, and extracts information corresponding to the information required by said user in accordance with a result of said comparison.

37. A network information searching system constructed by a plurality of information processing apparatuses and a network information searching apparatus which are mutually connected through a network,

wherein said network information searching apparatus comprises:

information collection means for collecting information stored in each memory means in each of said information processing apparatuses through said network;

information holding means for holding the information collected by said information collection means;

extraction means for extracting information corresponding to the information required by a user from the information held in said information holding means; and

output means for outputting the information extracted by said extraction means and corresponding to the information required by said user,

wherein said extraction means analyzes a data type of the information held in said information holding means, compares a result of said analysis with a data type of the information required by said user, and extracts information including information of a data type corresponding to the data type of the information required by said user in accordance with a result of said comparison.