Intelligent information retrieval system using hierarchically classified preferences

• US 7,877,513 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2005
• Issued: 01/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Nishio, Fumihiko, Yoshida, Kimiyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Avellino; Joseph E
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, JENEE LAUREN
• Application Number:
  US11/236,193
• Publication Number:
  US 20060026266A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,946 Days
• Field of Search: 709/225, 709/217, 706/934
• US Class Current: 709/245
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1859 adapted to provide push services, e.g. data channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services

Abstract

A server computer stores user favorites information that relates to the favorites of a user. Whether digital information that has newly occurred on a network suits the favorites of the user is judged based on the user favorites information. If it is judged that there exists digital information that suits the favorites of the user, the server computer informs the user of the new establishment of the digital information that suits the favorites of the user by transmitting E-mail to the user. When a browsing request of the digital information is made by the user, the server computer delivers the digital information to the user and stores history information relating to a history of the digital information that has been delivered to the user. Thereafter, the server computer updates the user favorites information based on the history information.

Claims

1. A data processing system including at least one processor and memory which includes instructions to perform a method of updating personal favorite information in a data storage unit, the method comprising the steps of:

gathering history information or personal information of a user and registering the information in the data storage unit;

creating a plurality of user subject categories in the data storage unit based on the registered information;

recognizing a user subject sub category, which is related to but narrower than the user subject category, by analyzing keywords in the registered information

counting a frequency of user requests for said user subject sub category;

determining if said frequency is greater than a predetermined value;

adding said user subject sub category, history information and personal information to the data storage unit upon the determination that said frequency is greater than said predetermined value;

relating the user subject sub category to one or more of the user subject categories in the data processing unit;

deleting the user subject categories when at least one sub category related to the user subject categories is stored in the data storage unit;

searching a network for new data;

identifying a keyword in the new data which is used to classify the new data into at least one of the user subject categories or to at least one user subject sub categories stored in the data storage unit;

and

sending a single e-mail message containing the locations of the new data found on the network to a user apparatus.

2. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein said user subject category is a genre.

3. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein said user subject categories stored in said personal favorite information unit are structured in a hierarchical manner.

4. A data processing system including a server with at least one processor and memory which includes instructions to perform a method of registering personal favorite information in the memory of the server, the method comprising the steps of:

displaying a registration picture on a user apparatus;

displaying inputted user personal information on said registration picture which includes a plurality of user subject categories;

sending said inputted user personal information to the server;

extracting at least one user subject category from the inputted user personal information in to the memory and registering the user subject category in a personal favorite information unit running in the memory of the server;

recognizing a user subject sub category, which is related to but narrower than the user subject category, by analyzing keywords in the requests made by the user;

counting the requests by the user for the user subject sub category;

adding said user subject sub category to the personal favorite information unit when the count surpasses a predetermined value;

relating the user subject sub category to one or more of the user subject categories;

deleting the user subject categories when at least one sub category related to the user subject categories is stored in the personal favorite information unit;

searching for new data on a network;

identifying a keyword in the new data which is used to classify the new data into at least one user subject category or user subject sub category stored in the personal favorite information unit;

generating delivery information including a network address of said new data; and

sending a single e-mail message containing the locations of all new data found on the network to said user apparatus.

5. The data processing system of claim 4, wherein said personal favorite information unit includes at least one user subject category and said user subject category is a genre of the new data.

6. The data processing system of claim 4, wherein said personal favorite information unit includes at least one user subject category and said user subject category is structured in a hierarchical manner.