Found-item information management server, found-item information management program, and found-item information management method

• US 7,318,069 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2003
• Issued: 01/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Takahashi, Junji, Tadano, Tooru, Munekata, Eri
• Primary Examiner(s): ALAM, SHAHID AL
• Application Number:
  US10/379,559
• Publication Number:
  US 20040002998A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,769 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1, 707/3, 707/2, 707/6, 707/10, 707/101, 707/102, 707/104.1, 707/200, 705/1, 705/14, 709/206, 709/216, 709/219, 235/383, 235/385, 340/572.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24573 using data annotations, e.g. user-defined metadata
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2462 Approximate or statistical queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/284 Relational databases
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

A found-item information management server is able to hand a lost item over to the owner early with a high probability. When the finder of a found item sends found-item information to the found-item information management server using a first terminal, a found-item reporting unit registers the found-item information, partly as secret particular information, in a found-item information database. Thereafter, the owner of the found item sends a request to refer to the found-item information registered in the found-item information database using a second terminal. An information disclosing unit sends the found-item information registered in the found-item information database, except for the particular information, to the second terminal. When the owner sends lost-item information to the found-item information management server using the second terminal, a match determining unit determines a match between the lost-item information and the particular information stored in the found-item information database, and sends a determined result to the second terminal.

Claims

1. A found-item information management server for managing information about lost items, comprising:

found-item reporting means for accepting found-item information about a found item which is entered from a first terminal via a network, and registering the found-item information, partly as secret particular information, in a found-item information database;

information disclosing means for sending the found-item information registered in said found-item information database, except for said particular information, to a second terminal in response to a request, which is entered from said second terminal via said network, to refer to said found-item information;

match determining means for accepting lost-item information about a lost item which is entered from said second terminal via said network, determining a match between said lost-item information and said particular information stored in said found-item information database, and sending a determined result to said second terminal;

lost-item reporting means for accepting lost-item information about a lost item which is entered from said second terminal via said network, and registering the lost-item information, partly as secret particular information, in a lost-item information database;

said match determining means comprising means for determining a match between said lost-item information registered in said lost-item information database and said found-item information registered in said found-item information database,

wherein said lost-item reporting means comprises means for accepting reporter information including contact information of an owner who has lost said lost item, as well as said lost-item information, from said second terminal, and registering said reporter information in a reporter information database, and said match determining means comprises means for determining a match with said found-item information registered in said found-item information database after said lost-item information is registered, and if said lost-item information and said found-item information match each other, indicating the match to said owner based on said reporter information.