Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and storage medium

• US 6,754,665 B1
• Filed: 06/13/2000
• Issued: 06/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Nagano, Motohiko, Kawamura, Hirofumi, Kawamoto, Youji, Futagami, Motomasa
• Primary Examiner(s): AMSBURY, WAYNE P
• Application Number:
  US09/592,977
• Time in Patent Office: 1,470 Days
• Field of Search: 707/102
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/273 Asynchronous replication or reconciliation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6245 Protecting personal data, e.g. for financial or medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A technique is disclosed which makes it possible to easily control access to personal information of a user. A management server stores personal information such as a name, telephone number, address, and electronic mail address of each user. For example, if a user of a computer transmits a request command to the management server to transmit personal information of a user of a portable telephone device, the management server determines, in accordance with access restriction information, whether or not providing of the personal information of the user of the portable telephone is restricted. If the providing of the personal information requested by the user of the computer is restricted, the management server inquires of the user of the portable telephone device, who is the owner of the personal information, whether to give permission to provide the personal information. If permission is given, the management server provides the personal information to the user of the computer.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus for acquiring personal information of any of a plurality of owners of personal information from an information providing apparatus for providing said personal information, the personal information of each owner including a plurality of items, said information processing apparatus comprising:

personal information storage means for storing personal information of a plurality of owners;

registration means for registering said personal information of said owners into said personal information storage means;

retrieval requesting means for transmitting a retrieval request command together with a keyword corresponding to an item of said personal information of any one of said plurality of owners;

retrieval history means for storing a retrieval history of retrieval performed in response to the retrieval request, wherein the retrieval history includes at least an identifier of said information processing apparatus requesting said retrieval request and an identifier of said information providing apparatus; and

checking means for checking said retrieval history and whether said personal information of said information providing apparatus has been updated or not.

2. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said personal information receiving means receives personal information that has been permitted by the owner of the personal information.

3. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

inquiry requesting means for performing inquiry in such a manner that when said personal information requesting means requests said information providing apparatus to provide said personal information, if the providing of said personal information is not permitted or is restricted, said inquiry requesting means requests said information providing means to inquire of the owner of said personal information whether or not to give permission as to the providing of said personal information.

4. An information processing method for acquiring personal information of any of a plurality of owners of personal information from an information providing apparatus for providing said personal information, the personal information of each owner including a plurality of items, said information processing method comprising the steps of:

storing personal information of a plurality of owners in a personal information storage means;

registering said personal information of said owners into said personal information storage means;

transmitting a retrieval request command together with a keyword corresponding to an item of said personal information of any one of said plurality of owners;

storing a retrieval history of retrieval performed in response to the retrieval request, wherein the retrieval history includes at least an identifier of said information processing apparatus requesting said retrieval request and an identifier of said information providing apparatus; and

checking said retrieval history and whether said personal information of said information providing apparatus has been updated or not.

5. A storage medium on which a program for performing an information process to acquire personal information of any of a plurality of owners of personal information from an information providing apparatus for providing said personal information, the personal information of each owner including a plurality of items, said program comprising the steps of:

storing personal information of a plurality of owners in a personal information storage means;

registering said personal information of said owners into said personal information storage means;

transmitting a retrieval request command together with a keyword corresponding to an item of said personal information of any one of said plurality of owners;

storing a retrieval history of retrieval performed in response to the retrieval request, wherein the retrieval history includes at least an identifier of said information processing apparatus requesting said retrieval request and an identifier of said information providing apparatus; and

checking said retrieval history and whether said personal information of said information providing apparatus has been updated or not.

6. An information processing apparatus for providing personal information of any of a plurality of owners of personal information, the personal information including a plurality of items, in response to a request from a client terminal, said information processing apparatus comprising:

keyword receiving means for receiving, from said client terminal, a keyword which is used in retrieval of an item of said personal information of any of said plurality of owners;

retrieval means for retrieving personal information which matches said keyword, from a personal information database which stores said personal information; and

updated personal information providing means for, when personal information is stored in said personal information database is updated, providing information as to updating of personal information to a client terminal which has requested retrieval of said personal information referring to a retrieval history database which stores an identifier of said client terminal requesting retrieval and an identifier of said information providing apparatus.

7. An information processing apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising retrieval history storage means for storing the retrieval history database of the history of retrieval of personal information performed in accordance with a keyword sent from said client terminal, wherein said updated personal information providing means detects, on the basis of said retrieval history, a client terminal which has issued a request for retrieval of said personal information in the past before said personal information was updated, and said updated personal information providing means provides information as to updating of said personal information to the detected client terminal.

8. An information processing method for providing personal information of any of a plurality of owners of personal information, the personal information including a plurality of items, in response to a request from a client terminal, said information processing method comprising the steps of:

receiving, from said client terminal, a keyword which is used in retrieval of an item of said personal information of any one of said plurality of owners;

retrieving personal information which matches said keyword, from a personal information database which stores said personal information; and

when personal information stored in said personal information database is updated, providing information as to updating of personal information to a client terminal which has requested retrieval of said personal information referring to a retrieval history database which stores an identifier of said client terminal requesting retrieval and an identifier of said information providing apparatus.

9. A storage medium on which a program for performing an information process to provide personal information of any of a plurality of owners of personal information, the personal information including a plurality of items, in response to a request from a client terminal, said program comprising the steps of:

receiving, from said client terminal, a keyword which is used in retrieval of an item of said personal information of any one of said plurality of owners;

retrieving personal information which matches said keyword, from a personal information database which stores said personal information; and

when personal information stored in said personal information database is updated, providing information as to updating of personal information to a client terminal which has requested retrieval of said personal information referring to a retrieval history database which stores an identifier of said client terminal requesting retrieval and an identifier of said information providing apparatus.

10. An information processing apparatus comprising:

an information providing apparatus for providing personal information of any of a plurality of owners of personal information, the personal information comprising a plurality of items; and

a client terminal for requesting said information providing apparatus to provide said personal information,

said client terminal comprising;

personal information storage means for storing personal information of a plurality of owners;

registration means for registering said personal information of said owners into said personal information storage means;

retrieval requesting means for transmitting a retrieval request command together with a keyword corresponding to an item of said personal information of any one of said plurality of owners;

retrieval history means for storing a retrieval history of retrieval performed in response to the retrieval request, wherein the retrieval history includes at least an identifier of said information processing apparatus requesting said retrieval request and an identifier of said information providing apparatus; and

checking means for checking said retrieval history and whether said personal information of said information providing apparatus has been updated or not,

said information providing apparatus comprising;

keyword receiving means for receiving, from said client terminal, the keyword which is used in retrieval of said personal information;

retrieval means for retrieving personal information which matches said keyword, from a personal information database which stores said personal information; and

when personal information stored in said personal information database is updated, providing information as to updating of personal information to a client terminal which has requested retrieval of said personal information referring to a retrieval history database which stores an identifier of said client terminal requesting retrieval and an identifier of said information providing apparatus.

11. An information processing apparatus for providing personal information of any of a plurality of owners of personal information, the personal information including a plurality of items, in response to a request from a client terminal, said information processing apparatus comprising:

request receiving means for receiving a request for an item of said personal information of any one of said plurality of owners from said client terminal;

determination means for determining whether providing personal information requested from said client terminal is permitted or restricted, on the basis of permission/restriction information representing whether providing said personal information is permitted or restricted;

inquiry means for performing inquiry in such a manner that when said client terminal issues a request for personal information, if the providing of said personal information is not permitted or is restricted, said inquiry means inquires of the owner of said personal information whether or not to give permission as to the providing of said personal information;

personal information providing means for providing personal information to said client terminal when the owner of said personal information gives permission to provide said personal information;

update request receiving means for receiving an update request for determining whether said personal information has been updated;

checking means for determining whether said personal information has been updated referring to a retrieval history database which stores an identifier of said client terminal from which the request was received and an identifier of said information providing apparatus; and

update providing means for providing updated personal information when it is determined that the personal information has been updated.

12. An information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein when providing of personal information requested by said client terminal is restricted or not permitted, if said client terminal issues a request for inquiring of the owner of said personal information whether providing of said personal information is permitted, said inquiry means performs said inquiry.

13. An information processing apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising changing means for changing permission/restriction information in such a manner that when the owner of said personal information gives permission as to the providing of said personal information, said changing means changes the permission/restriction information associated with said personal information in accordance with said permission.

14. An information processing apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising changing means for changing said permission/restriction information in response to a request issued by the owner of said personal information.

15. An information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein in said permission/restriction information, a user who is permitted or not permitted to acquire personal information is specified for each of said personal information.

16. An information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein in said permission/restriction information, personal information which is permitted or not permitted to be approved is specified for each user.

17. An information processing method for providing personal information of any of a plurality of owners of personal information, the personal information including a plurality of items, in response to a request from a client terminal, said information processing method comprising the steps of:

receiving a request for an item of said personal information of any one of said plurality of owners from said client terminal;

determining whether providing personal information requested from said client terminal is permitted or restricted, on the basis of permission/restriction information representing whether providing said personal information is permitted or restricted;

when said client terminal issues a request for personal information, if the providing of said personal information is not permitted or is restricted, inquiring of the owner of said personal information whether or not to give permission as to the providing of said personal information;

providing personal information to said client terminal when the owner of said personal information gives permission to provide said personal information;

receiving an update request for determining whether said personal information has been updated;

determining whether said personal information has been updated referring to a retrieval history database which stores an identifier of said client terminal from which the request was received and an identifier of said information providing apparatus; and

providing updated personal information when it is determined that the personal information has been updated.

18. A storage medium having a program for performing an information process to provide personal information of any of a plurality of owners of personal information, the personal information including a plurality of items, in response to a request from a client terminal, said program comprising the steps of:

receiving a request for an item of said personal information of any one of said plurality of owners from said client terminal;

determining whether providing personal information requested from said client terminal is permitted or restricted, on the basis of permission/restriction information representing whether providing said personal information is permitted or restricted;

when said client terminal issues a request for personal information, if the providing of said personal information is not permitted or is restricted, inquiring of the owner of said personal information whether or not to give permission as to the providing of said personal information;

providing personal information to said client terminal when the owner of said personal information gives permission to provide said personal information;

receiving an update request for determining whether said personal information has been updated;

determining whether said personal information has been updated referring to a retrieval history database which stores an identifier of said client terminal from which the request was received and an identifier of said information providing apparatus; and

providing updated personal information when it is determined that the personal information has been updated.

19. An information processing apparatus for acquiring personal information from an information providing apparatus for providing personal information of any of a plurality of owners of the personal information, the personal information including a plurality of items, said information processing apparatus comprising:

personal information storage means for storing personal information of a plurality of owners;

registration means for registering said personal information of said owners into said personal information storage means;

retrieval requesting means for transmitting a retrieval request command together with a keyword corresponding to an item of said personal information of any one of said plurality of owners;

retrieval history means for storing a retrieval history of retrieval performed in response to the retrieval request, wherein the retrieval history includes at least an identifier of said information processing apparatus requesting said retrieval request and an identifier of said information providing apparatus;

checking means for checking said retrieval history and whether said personal information of said information providing apparatus has been updated or not; and

inquiry requesting means for performing inquiry in such a manner that when said personal information requesting means requests said information providing apparatus to provide said personal information, if the providing of said personal information is not permitted or is restricted, said inquiry requesting means requests said information providing means to inquire of the owner of said personal information whether or not to give permission as to the providing of said personal information,

wherein if said personal information has been updated, said registration means updates personal information stored in said personal information storage means, with the updated personal information provided from said information providing apparatus.

20. An information processing method for acquiring personal information from an information providing apparatus for providing personal information of any of a plurality of owners of the personal information, the personal information including a plurality of items, said information processing method comprising the steps of:

storing personal information of a plurality of owners in a personal information storage means;

registering said personal information of said owners into said personal information storage means;

transmitting a retrieval request command together with a keyword corresponding to an item of said personal information of any one of said plurality of owners;

storing a retrieval history of retrieval performed in response to the retrieval request, wherein the retrieval history includes at least an identifier of said information processing apparatus requesting said retrieval request and an identifier of said information providing apparatus;

checking said retrieval history and whether said personal information of said information providing apparatus has been updated or not;

updating personal information stored in said personal information storage means, with the updated personal information provided from said information providing apparatus, responsive to said personal information having been updated; and

performing inquiry in such a manner that when a request is issued to said information providing apparatus to provide said personal information, if the providing of said personal information is not permitted or is restricted, a request is issued to said information providing means to inquire of the owner of said personal information whether or not to give permission as to the providing of said personal information.

21. A storage medium on which a program for performing an information process to acquire personal information from an information providing apparatus for providing personal information of any of a plurality of owners of personal information, the personal information including a plurality of items, said program comprising the steps of:

storing personal information of a plurality of owners in a personal information storage means;

registering said personal information of said owners into said personal information storage means;

transmitting a retrieval request command together with a keyword corresponding to an item of said personal information of any one of said plurality of owners;

storing a retrieval history of retrieval performed in response to the retrieval request, wherein the retrieval history includes at least an identifier of said information processing apparatus requesting said retrieval request and an identifier of said information providing apparatus;

checking said retrieval history and whether said personal information of said information providing apparatus has been updated or not; and

updating personal information stored in said personal information storage means, with the updated personal information provided from said information providing apparatus, responsive to said personal information having been updated; and

performing inquiry in such a manner that when a request is issued to said information providing apparatus to provide said personal information, if the providing of said personal information is not permitted or is restricted, a request is issued to said information providing means to inquire of the owner of said personal information whether or not to give permission as to the providing of said personal information.

22. An information processing apparatus comprising:

an information providing apparatus for providing personal information of any of a plurality of owners of personal information, the personal information including a plurality of items; and

a client terminal for requesting said information providing apparatus to provide an item of said personal information of any one of said plurality of owners,

said information providing apparatus comprising;

request receiving means for receiving a request for said personal information from said client terminal;

determination means for determining whether providing personal information requested from said client terminal is permitted or restricted, on the basis of permission/restriction information representing whether providing said personal information is permitted or restricted;

inquiry means for performing inquiry in such a manner that when said client terminal issues a request for personal information, if the providing of said personal information is not permitted or restricted, said inquiry means inquires of the owner of said personal information whether or not to give permission as to the providing of said personal information; and

personal information providing means for providing personal information to said client terminal when the owner of said personal information gives permission to provide said personal information,

said client terminal comprising;

personal information storage means for storing personal information of a plurality of owners;

registration means for registering said personal information of said owners into said personal information storage means;

retrieval requesting means for transmitting a retrieval request command together with a keyword corresponding to an item of said personal information of any one of said plurality of owners;

retrieval history means for storing a retrieval history of retrieval performed in response to the retrieval request, wherein the retrieval history includes at least an identifier of said information processing apparatus requesting said retrieval request and an identifier of said information providing apparatus; and

checking means for checking said retrieval history and whether said personal information of said information providing apparatus has been updated or not.

23. An information processing apparatus for acquiring personal information from an information providing apparatus for providing personal information of any of a plurality of owners of personal information, the personal information including a plurality of items, said information processing apparatus comprising:

personal information storage means for storing personal information of a plurality of owners;

registration means for registering said personal information of said owners into said personal information storage means;

retrieval requesting means for transmitting a retrieval request command together with a keyword corresponding to an item of said personal information of any one of said plurality of owners;

retrieval history means for storing a retrieval history of retrieval performed in response to the retrieval request, wherein the retrieval history includes at least an identifier of said information processing apparatus requesting said retrieval request and an identifier of said information providing apparatus; and

checking means for checking said retrieval history and whether said personal information of said information providing apparatus has been updated or not;

wherein when the personal information has been updated, said registration means updates personal information corresponding to said update.