Method of searching for, collecting and distributing information in distributed computer

• US 7,499,911 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2003
• Issued: 03/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dentsu Incorporated (Dentsu Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Viewpoint Communications Inc.
• Inventors: Akiyama, Ryuhei
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam; Hosain T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ahluwalia; Navneet K
• Application Number:
  US10/406,072
• Publication Number:
  US 20040019657A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,161 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1- 10, 707100-1041, 707200-205
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9538 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

Information control techniques capable of storing information from information providers distributedly and arbitrarily collecting information related to a desired subject. An information processor being in cooperation with other information processors connected with a network, comprising an operating unit for preparing information related to a desired subject, recording units for recording the information, a communication unit for communicating with other information processors connected with a network, and a control unit, the control unit, on receiving a subject-specified inquiry from other first information processor, retrieves information matching the inquiry in the recording units and sends back the matched information to a specified receiving party.

Claims

1. A readable-by-computer storage medium having a program stored therein for making a computer execute steps of:

receiving a query having a designated theme from a first computer connected to a network, the theme being a user'"'"'s evaluation about a commercial article, the query containing personal characteristic information of a query originator user related to a purchase of the commercial article, the query also containing transfer control information for controlling transferability of the query;

searching for information coincident with the query, the information, inputted by a respondent user, including an evaluation about a commercial article, the evaluation being associated with the respondent user having associated personal characteristics;

referring to the personal characteristics of a respondent user,

judging whether the respondent user is coincident with the query originator user based upon a comparison of the personal characteristic information of the query originator user and the personal characteristics of the respondent user, wherein said computer is made to execute the judging step without online assistance and without feedback information not induced by an active intention of the query originator user;

updating the transfer control information under a predetermined condition;

judging based on the transfer control information whether the transfer of query can be permitted or not;

transferring, when the transfer is permitted, the query to one or more second computers; and

sending the information coincident with the query to a predetermined response destination, the information excluding an evaluation of a respondent user who is judged not coincident with the query originator user when comparing the personal characteristics,

whereby said computer manages the information in distribution.

2. A readable-by-computer storage medium having a program according to claim 1 stored therein, wherein said computer is made to further execute a step of inputting information on a desired theme or defining an accumulation area for inputting the information on the desired theme.

4. A readable-by-computer storage medium having a program according to claim 1 stored therein, wherein said computer is made to further execute steps of:

receiving the response to the query from said second computer; and

sending the received response back to said first computer.

5. A readable-by-computer storage medium having a program according to claim 1 stored therein, wherein the response destination is said first computer.

6. A readable-by-computer storage medium having a program according to claim 1 stored therein, wherein the query contains information for specifying the response destination, and

the response destination is a query originator computer originating the query first.

7. A readable-by-computer storage medium having a program according to claim 1 stored therein, wherein the response destination is an administration computer requested to distribute the query to said other computer by the query originator computer originating the query first, and starting such a distribution.

8. A readable-by-computer storage medium having a program according to claim 1 stored therein, wherein said computer is made to further execute the step of:

generating the query.

9. A readable-by-computer storage medium having a program according to claim 8 stored therein, wherein said computer is made to further execute a step of requesting an administration computer to start distributing the thus generated query.

10. A readable-by-computer storage medium having a program according to claim 9 stored therein, wherein said receiving step involves receiving the response from said administration computer.

11. A readable-by-computer storage medium having a program according to claim 8 stored therein, wherein said receiving step involves receiving the response from a computer having information coincident with the query.

12. A readable-by-computer storage medium having a program according to claim 8 stored therein, wherein said computer is made to further execute a step of

totaling the responses.

13. A readable-by-computer storage medium having a program according to claim 1 stored therein, wherein the query is an offer of selling a specified commercial article, and

the information is a price in the case of purchasing the commercial article concerned.

14. A readable-by-computer storage medium having a program according to claim 13 stored therein, wherein said computer is made to further execute steps of:

generating the query;

receiving a response to the query; and

selecting only a predetermined number of responses in sequence from the highest price down to the lowest.

15. A readable-by-computer storage medium having a program according to claim 1 stored therein, wherein the query is an offer of purchasing a specified commercial article, and

the information is a price in the case of selling the commercial article concerned.

16. A readable-by-computer storage medium having a program according to claim 15 stored therein, wherein said computer is made to further execute steps of:

generating the query;

receiving a response to the query; and

selecting only a predetermined number of responses in sequence from the lowest price to the highest.

3. A readable-by-computer storage medium having a program stored therein for making a computer execute steps of:

receiving a query having a designated theme from a first computer connected to a network, the theme being a user'"'"'s evaluation about a commercial article, the query containing personal characteristic information of a query originator user related to a purchase of the commercial article, the query also containing transfer control information for controlling transferability of the query;

searching for information coincident with the query, the information, inputted by a respondent user, including an evaluation about a commercial article, the evaluation being associated with the respondent user having associated personal characteristics;

referring to the personal characteristics of a respondent user, and judging whether the respondent user is coincident with the query originator user based upon a comparison of the personal characteristic information of the query originator user and the personal characteristics of the respondent user, wherein said computer is made to execute the judging step of without online assistance and without feedback information not induced by an active intention of the query originator user;

updating the transfer control information under a predetermined condition;

judging based on the transfer control information whether the transfer of query can be permitted or not;

transferring, when the transfer is permitted, the query to one or more second computers; and

sending a location of the information coincident with the query to a predetermined response destination, the information excluding an evaluation of a respondent user who is judged not coincident with the query originator user when comparing the personal characteristics,

whereby said computer manages the information in distribution.

17. A readable-by-computer storage medium having a program stored therein for making a computer distribute a query to another computer on a network and execute steps of:

receiving a query distribution request for distributing the query to another distribution destination computer from a query originator computer generating the query related to a desired theme of a result of a user'"'"'s evaluation about a commercial article;

determining said distribution destination computer;

distributing the query to said determined distribution destination computer receiving responses to the query, including distributing transfer control information for controlling transferability of the query together with the query and eliminating a limitless transfer of the query, the responses including an evaluation about a commercial article, the evaluation being associated with a respondent user having associated personal characteristics;

referring to personal characteristic information of the user of said query originator computer with respect to the commercial article;

judging whether or not a respondent user is coincident with the user of said query originator computer based upon a comparison of the personal characteristic information of the user of said query originator computer and the personal characteristics of the respondent user, wherein said computer is made to execute the judging step without online assistance and without feedback information not induced by an active intention of the user of said query originator computer;

totaling responses of the respondent users coincident with the user of said query originator computer, the responses excluding an evaluation of a respondent user who is judged not coincident with the user of said query originator computer when comparing the personal characteristics;

generating total information; and

sending the total information back to the query originator computer.

18. A readable-by-computer storage medium having a program according to claim 17 stored therein, wherein said distribution step involves distributing the query to a plurality of distribution destinations on the basis of a multicast address.

19. A readable-by-computer storage medium having a program according to claim 17 stored therein, wherein said computer is made to further execute the step of:

sending the response back to said query originator computer.

20. A readable-by-computer storage medium having a program according to claim 17 stored therein, wherein said computer is made to further execute steps of:

generating an anonymous response by deleting the information for specifying an individual from the response; and

sending the anonymous response back the query originator computer.

21. A readable-by-computer storage medium having a program according to claim 17 stored therein, wherein said distribution step involves designating said query originator computer as a response destination for said distribution destination computer, and having the response directly given to said query originator computer from said distribution destination computer or said transfer destination computer.

22. A readable-by-computer storage medium having a program according to claim 17 stored therein, wherein the query is an offer of selling a specified commercial article,

the information is a price in the case of purchasing the commercial article, and

said totaling step includes selecting only a predetermined number of responses in sequence from the highest price down to the lowest.

23. A readable-by-computer storage medium having a program according to claim 17 stored therein, wherein the query is an offer of purchasing a specified commercial article,

the information is a price in the case of selling the commercial article, and

said totaling step includes selecting only a predetermined number of responses in sequence from the lowest price to the highest.

24. An information processing device cooperating with another information processing device connected to a network, comprising:

an operation unit for creating information related to a desired theme;

a recording unit for recording said information;

a communication unit for communicating with said other information processing device connected to the network; and

a processor,

wherein said processor, when receiving a query with a theme designated from said other first information processing device, the query also with transfer control information for controlling transferability of the query, the theme being a user'"'"'s evaluation about a commercial article, the query containing personal characteristic information of a query originator user related to a purchase of the commercial article, searches for information coincident with the query on said recording unit, the information, inputted by a respondent user, including an evaluation about a commercial article, the evaluation being associated with the respondent user having associated personal characteristics, wherein said processor also refers to personal characteristics of a respondent user, judges whether the respondent user is coincident with the query originator user based upon a comparison of the personal characteristic information of the query originator user and the personal characteristics of the respondent user, updates the transfer control information, judges based on the transfer control information whether the transfer of query can be permitted or not, and transfers, when the transfer is permitted, the query to one or more second information processing devices, wherein said processor also sends the information coincident with the query to a predetermined response destination, the information excluding an evaluation of a respondent user who is judged not coincident with the query originator user when comparing the personal characteristics, wherein said processor judges whether the respondent user is coincident with the query originator user without online assistance and without feedback information not induced by an active intention of the query originator user.

25. An information processing device according to claim 24, wherein said processor sends, as a substitute for the information coincident with the query, a location of the information coincident with the query.

26. An information processing device according to claim 24, wherein the query is an offer of selling a specified commercial article, and

the information is a price in the case of purchasing the commercial article.

27. An information processing device according to claim 24, wherein the query is an offer of purchasing a specified commercial article, and

the information is a price in the case of selling the commercial article.

28. An information processing device according to claim 24, wherein said processor generates the query and receives a response to the query.

29. An information processing device according to claim 24, wherein said processor generates the query, sets transfer control information for controlling transferability in the query and eliminates a limitless transfer of the query.

30. An information processing device cooperating with another information processing device connected to a network, comprising:

a communication unit for communicating with said other information processing device connected to the network; and

a processor,

wherein said processor receives a request for distribution from a query originator information processing device generating a query related to a desired theme to other distribution destination information processing device, determines said distribution destination information processing device, distributes the query to said distribution destination processing device, including distributing transfer control information for controlling transferability of the query together with the query and eliminating a limitless transfer of the query, and makes a predetermined respondent send back the information coincident with the query, wherein the information, inputted by a respondent user, includes an evaluation about the commercial article, the evaluation being associated with the respondent user having associated personal characteristics, and

said processor refers to personal characteristic information of a user of said query originator information processing device with respect to the commercial article, judges whether or not a respondent user is coincident with the user of said query originator information processing device based upon a comparison of the personal characteristic information of the user of said query originator information processing device and the personal characteristics of the respondent user, and totals responses of the respondent users coincident with the user of said query originator information processing device, the responses excluding an evaluation of a respondent user who is judged not coincident with the user of said query originator information processing device when comparing the personal characteristics, wherein said processor judges whether the respondent user is coincident with the user of said query originator information processing device without online assistance and without feedback information not induced by an active intention of the user of said query originator information processing device.

31. An information processing device according to claim 30, wherein the query is an offer of selling a specified commercial article,

the information is a price in the case of purchasing the commercial article, and

said processor selects only a predetermined number of responses in sequence from the highest price down to the lowest.

32. An information processing device according to claim 30, wherein the query is an offer of purchasing a specified commercial article,

the information is a price in the case of selling the commercial article, and

said processor selects only a predetermined number of responses in sequence from the lowest price to the highest.

33. An information management processing system, configured by a plurality of information processing devices on a network, for managing information in distribution, said information processing device comprising:

a communication unit for communicating with other information processing device connected to a network; and

a processor,

wherein said processor receives a query with a theme designated from other first computer connected to the network, the query also with transfer control information for controlling transferability of the query, the theme being a user'"'"'s evaluation about a commercial article, the query containing personal characteristic information of a query originator user related to a purchase of the commercial article, searches for information coincident with the query, the information, inputted by a respondent user, including an evaluation about a commercial article, the evaluation being associated with the respondent user having associated personal characteristics, wherein said processor also refers to personal characteristics of a respondent user, judges whether the respondent user is coincident with the query originator user based upon a comparison of the personal characteristic information of the query originator user and the personal characteristics of the respondent user, updates the transfer control information, judges based on the transfer control information whether the transfer of query can be permitted or not, and transfers, when the transfer is permitted, the query to one or more second information processing devices, wherein said processor also sends the information coincident with the query to a predetermined response destination, the information excluding an evaluation of a respondent user who is judged not coincident with the query originator user when comparing the personal characteristics, wherein said processor judges whether the respondent user is coincident with the query originator user without online assistance and without feedback information not induced by an active intention of the query originator user.

34. An information management processing system according to claim 33, wherein said communication unit communicates with other information processing device connected to the network,

wherein said processor further includes an administration device for receiving a request for distributing a query from a query originator computer generating the query to other distribution destination computer, determining said distribution destination computer and distributing the query to said distribution destination computer.

35. An information collecting method of distributing information to a computer on a network, the computer storing information in distribution, and making said computer respond to the query, said method comprising:

receiving a request for distribution from a query originator computer generating the query related to a desired theme about a result of a user'"'"'s evaluation about a commercial article;

determining a query distribution destination computer;

distributing the query to said distribution destination computer, including distributing transfer control information for controlling transferability of the query together with the query and eliminating a limitless transfer of the query;

receiving a responses to the query, the responses including an evaluation about a commercial article, the evaluation being associated with a respondent user having associated personal characteristics;

referring to personal characteristic information of the user of said query originator computer with respect to the commercial article;

judging whether or not a respondent user is coincident with the user of said query originator computer based upon a comparison of the personal characteristic information of the user of said query originator computer and the personal characteristics of the respondent user, wherein said judging step comprises judging whether or not a respondent user is coincident with the user of said query originator computer without online assistance and without feedback information not induced by an active intention of the user of said query originator computer;

totaling responses of the respondent users coincident with the user of said query originator computer, the responses excluding an evaluation of a respondent user who is judged not coincident with the user of said query originator computer when comparing the personal characteristics;

generating total information; and

sending the total information back to the query originator computer.