Information providing system, method of providing information and program for providing information

• US 8,306,933 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2007
• Issued: 11/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Kawai, Takao, Doi, Shinichi, Ando, Shinichi, Sadamasa, Kunihiko, Matsukawa, Yoshiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Traktovenko, Ilya
• Application Number:
  US12/301,899
• Publication Number:
  US 20090164566A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,996 Days
• Field of Search: 706/45, 706/50, 706/62
• US Class Current: 706/45
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/245 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3331 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/90335 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/62 Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6209 to a single file or object, e.g. in a secure envelope, encrypted and accessed using a key, or with access control rules appended to the object itself
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database

Abstract

Disclosed is an information providing system comprising a receiving unit that receives an information request from a requester, a data storage unit that stores data, a detection processing unit that analyzes the content of the information request and extracts provision candidate data corresponding to the information request from the data storage unit, a responder output device to which the content of the information request and the provision candidate data are output, a responder input device that receives instruction information on whether or not the provision candidate data is to be provided, a response control unit that determines whether or not there is providable data based on the received instruction information and the provision candidate data, and an answer generating unit that generates answer data using the decision result by the response control unit.

Claims

1. An information providing system comprising:

a data processing device; and

a data storage unit in which store data and responder information that identifies a responding person, are stored in correlated manner to each other,

the data processing device comprising;

a detection processing unit that searches the data storage unit based on an information request received from a requester terminal, extracts provision candidate data, which is a candidate for an answer to be provided to a requester, in correspondence with the information request, from the data storage unit, and combines the provision candidate data with responder information correlated to each store data corresponding to the provision candidate data to produce a detection processing result; and

a control unit that determines a responder for each store data in the detection processing result, creates display data, which includes a content of the information request and the provision candidate data, for each determined responder, receives information on permission or non-permission of information provision regarding the extracted provision candidate data from a responding person who confirmed the display data, creates answer data for the information request based on the information on permission or non-permission of information provision and the extracted provision candidate data, and controls sending of the created answer data to the requester terminal, the created answer data being supplied as information provision to the requester,

wherein the information providing system comprises a plurality of sets of the data processing device and the data storage unit,

the data processing device comprising;

a detection processing unit that analyzes a content of an information request from a requester, extracts provision candidate data from store data stored in the data storage unit, combines the provision candidate data, store data corresponding to the provision candidate data, and responder information related to each item of the store data, and outputs the combined information as a detection processing result; and

a respondent control unit that receives the content of the information request and the detection processing result from the detection processing unit, determines a responder for each item of store data in the detection processing result, outputs display data, which includes the content of the information request, the provision candidate data, and store data corresponding to the provision candidate data, to a responder terminal for each determined responder, receives instruction information that is entered from the responder terminal and that indicates permission or non-permission on provision of the provision candidate data that is produced as the detection processing result, determines whether or not there is providable data based on the detection processing result and the instruction information, and outputs providable data based on a determination result,

the information providing system further comprising an consolidated processing device that is connected to the plurality of data processing devices and a plurality of requester terminals via a network and that comprises a receiving unit, a delivery control unit, and an answer generating unit, wherein

in the consolidated processing device, the delivery control unit delivers an information request from the requester terminal, which is accepted by the receiving unit, to one or more data processing devices,

the delivery control unit receives providable data that is searched for by the detection processing unit of the data processing device and that is output from the respondent control unit of the data processing device, and

the answer generating unit creates answer data from the providable data and sends the created answer data to the requester terminal via the network as a response to the information request,

wherein, when providable data is received from the respondent control unit of the data processing device, the delivery control unit generates answer data if a number of items of providable data has reached a predetermined number or if a predetermined time has been reached, and sends the answer data to a requester terminal that corresponds to the requester information corresponding to the information request.

2. The information providing system according to claim 1, comprising a storage device connected to the consolidated processing device, the storage device including:

a delivery destination storage unit that stores delivery information identifying the plurality of data processing devices;

a result storage unit that stores processing results of the data processing devices; and

a requester information storage unit that stores requester information, which is information identifying requesters, and related communication information on requester terminals, wherein

in the consolidated processing device,

the receiving unit receives an information request sent from the requester terminal via the network, assigns request identification information to the information request, identifies requester information by referencing the requester information storage unit, and establishes a correspondence between the request identification information and the requester information,

the delivery control unit identifies a plurality of data processing devices, which are delivery destinations, from the delivery information stored in the delivery destination storage unit and delivers the request identification information and the information request to the identified data processing devices via the network as a detection processing request,

the detection processing unit of the data processing device receives the detection processing request delivered from the consolidated processing device via the network,

the detection processing unit of the data processing device searches the data storage unit for a set of data related to the content of the information request, extracts a set of provision candidate data corresponding to the information request, combines the extracted set of provision candidate data with attribute information that includes responder information related to data in the set of provision candidate data to create a detection processing result, and sends the detection processing result, as well as the request identification information, to the delivery control unit of the consolidated processing device,

in the consolidated processing device, the delivery control unit receives a response that is the detection processing result for the detection processing request and, if the response is obtained, determines whether or not there is a data processing device that is a sending destination, to which a providable data request for requesting providable data is to be sent, according to the detection processing result, and

if it is determined that there is a sending destination, sends the detection processing result, as well as the request identification information and the requester information, to the data processing device, which is determined to be the sending destination, via the network as the providable data request,

the respondent control unit of the data processing device, which has received the providable data request from the delivery control unit of the consolidated processing device, determines a responder of each provision candidate data from the detection processing result, creates display data, which includes the content of the information request data, requester information, and provision candidate data, for the responder, and outputs the created display data to the responder terminal,

the respondent control unit receives an input of instruction information on permission or non-permission on provision of the provision candidate data, produced as the detection processing result, from the responder terminal, determines providable data, based on the instruction information and the detection processing result, to produce providable data, and sends the providable data, as well as the request identification information, to the consolidated processing device,

the consolidated processing device transfers the providable data, received from the respondent control unit of the data processing device, to the delivery control unit,

the delivery control unit of the consolidated processing device collects providable data for the request identification information and transfers the collected providable data to the answer generating unit, and

the answer generating unit generates answer data from the data, received from the respondent control unit, as a response to the information request data and sends the answer data to the requester terminal, which corresponds to the requester information corresponding to the request identification information on the information request data, via the network.

3. The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the delivery control unit receives a response of the detection processing result for the detection processing request and, if the response is received, sends the detection processing result as providable data, if a number of detection processing results has reached a predetermined number, if a predetermined time has been reached, or if a score that indicates a matching degree for the information request has reached a predetermined score for each provision candidate data in the detection processing result.

4. An information providing method using a data processing device, the method comprising:

searching a data storage unit in which store data and responder information for identifying responding persons are stored in correlated manner to each other, based on an information request received from a requester terminal and extracting provision candidate data, which is a candidate for an answer to be provided to a requester, in correspondence with the information request, from the data storage unit;

combining the provision candidate data with responder information, related to each store data corresponding to the provision candidate data, to produce a detection processing result;

determining a responder for each store data in the detection processing result, creating display data, which includes the content of the information request and the provision candidate data, for each determined responder, and outputting the created display data; and

receiving information on permission or non-permission of information provision regarding the extracted provision candidate data from the responding person who confirmed the display data, creating answer data for the information request based on the information on permission or non-permission of information provision and the extracted provision candidate data, and controlling sending of the created answer data to the requester terminal, the created answer data being supplied as information provision to the requester,

wherein there are provided a plurality of sets of the data processing device and the data storage unit, the method comprising

analyzing a content of an information request from a requester, extracting provision candidate data from store data stored in the data storage unit, combining the provision candidate data, store data corresponding to the provision candidate data, and responder information related to each item of the store data, and outputting the combined information as a detection processing result; and

receiving the content of the information request and the detection processing result from the detection processing step, determining a responder for each item of store data in the detection processing result, outputting display data, which includes the content of the information request, the provision candidate data, and store data corresponding to the provision candidate data, to a responder terminal for each determined responder, receiving instruction information that is entered from the responder terminal and that indicates permission or non-permission on provision of the provision candidate data that is produced as the detection processing result, determining whether or not there is providable data based on the detection processing result and the instruction information, and outputting providable data based on a determination result,

the information providing system further comprising an consolidated processing device that is connected to the plurality of data processing devices and a plurality of requester terminals via a network and that comprises receiving means, delivery control means, and answer generating means, wherein the method further comprises;

the delivery control means delivering an information request from the requester terminal, which is accepted by the receiving means, to one or more data processing devices,

the delivery control means receiving providable data that is searched for by the detection processing means of the data processing device and that is output from the respondent control means of the data processing device, and

the answer generating means creating answer data from the providable data and sending the created answer data to the requester terminal via the network as a response to the information request,

wherein

a storage device connected to the consolidated processing device comprises;

a delivery destination storage unit that stores delivery information identifying the plurality of data processing devices;

a result storage unit that stores processing results of the data processing devices; and

a requester information storage unit that stores requester information, which is information identifying requesters, and related communication information on requester terminals, the method comprising;

in the consolidated processing device,

the receiving means receiving an information request sent from the requester terminal via the network, assigning request identification information to the information request, identifying requester information by referencing the requester information storage unit, and establishing a correspondence between the request identification information and the requester information,

the delivery control means identifying a plurality of data processing devices, which are delivery destinations, from the delivery information stored in the delivery destination storage unit and delivering the request identification information and the information request to the identified data processing devices via the network as a detection processing request,

the data processing device receiving the detection processing request delivered from the consolidated processing device via the network,

the data processing device searching the data storage unit for a set of data related to the content of the information request, extracting a set of provision candidate data corresponding to the information request, combining the extracted set of provision candidate data with attribute information that includes responder information related to data in the set of provision candidate data to create a detection processing result, and sending the detection processing result, as well as the request identification information, to the delivery control means of the consolidated processing device,

in the consolidated processing device, the delivery control means receiving a response that is the detection processing result created for the detection processing request and, if the response is obtained, determining whether or not there is a data processing device that is a sending destination, to which a providable data request for requesting providable data is to be sent, according to the detection processing result, and

if it is determined that there is a sending destination, sending the detection processing result, as well as the request identification information and the requester information, to the data processing device, which is determined to be the sending destination, via the network as the providable data request,

the respondent control means of the data processing device, which has received the providable data request from the delivery control means of the consolidated processing device, determining a responder of each provision candidate data from the detection processing result, creating display data, which includes the content of the information request data, requester information, and provision candidate data, for the responder, and outputting the created display data to the responder terminal,

the respondent control means receiving an input of instruction information on permission or non-permission on provision of the provision candidate data, produced as the detection processing result, from the responder terminal, determining providable data, based on the instruction information and the detection processing result, to produce providable data, and sending the providable data, as well as the request identification information, to the consolidated processing device,

the consolidated processing device transferring the providable data, received from the respondent control means of the data processing device, to the delivery control means,

the delivery control means of the consolidated processing device collecting providable data for the request identification information and transferring the collected providable data to the answer generating means, and

the answer generating means generating answer data from the data, received from the respondent control means, as a response to the information request and sending the answer data to the requester terminal, which corresponds to the requester information corresponding to the request identification information on the information request data, via the network,

generating answer data if a number of items of providable data has reached a predetermined number or if a predetermined time has been reached, and the answer data is sent to a requester terminal that corresponds to the requester information corresponding to the information request.

5. The information providing method according to claim 4, wherein

a storage device connected to the consolidated processing device comprises:

a delivery destination storage unit that stores delivery information identifying the plurality of data processing devices;

a result storage unit that stores processing results of the data processing devices; and

a requester information storage unit that stores requester information, which is information identifying requesters, and related communication information on requester terminals, the method comprising;

in the consolidated processing device,

the receiving means receiving an information request sent from the requester terminal via the network, assigning request identification information to the information request, identifying requester information by referencing the requester information storage unit, and establishing a correspondence between the request identification information and the requester information,

the delivery control means identifying a plurality of data processing devices, which are delivery destinations, from the delivery information stored in the delivery destination storage unit and delivering the request identification information and the information request to the identified data processing devices via the network as a detection processing request,

the data processing device receiving the detection processing request delivered from the consolidated processing device via the network,

the data processing device searching the data storage unit for a set of data related to the content of the information request, extracting a set of provision candidate data corresponding to the information request, combining the extracted set of provision candidate data with attribute information that includes responder information related to data in the set of provision candidate data to create a detection processing result, and sending the detection processing result, as well as the request identification information, to the delivery control means of the consolidated processing device,

in the consolidated processing device, the delivery control means receiving a response that is the detection processing result created for the detection processing request and, if the response is obtained, determining whether or not there is a data processing device that is a sending destination, to which a providable data request for requesting providable data is to be sent, according to the detection processing result, and

if it is determined that there is a sending destination, sending the detection processing result, as well as the request identification information and the requester information, to the data processing device, which is determined to be the sending destination, via the network as the providable data request,

the respondent control means of the data processing device, which has received the providable data request from the delivery control means of the consolidated processing device, determining a responder of each provision candidate data from the detection processing result, creating display data, which includes the content of the information request data, requester information, and provision candidate data, for the responder, and outputting the created display data to the responder terminal,

the respondent control means receiving an input of instruction information on permission or non-permission on provision of the provision candidate data, produced as the detection processing result, from the responder terminal, determining providable data, based on the instruction information and the detection processing result, to produce providable data, and sending the providable data, as well as the request identification information, to the consolidated processing device,

the consolidated processing device transferring the providable data, received from the respondent control means of the data processing device, to the delivery control means,

the delivery control means of the consolidated processing device collecting providable data for the request identification information and transferring the collected providable data to the answer generating means, and

the answer generating means generating answer data from the data, received from the respondent control means, as a response to the information request and sending the answer data to the requester terminal, which corresponds to the requester information corresponding to the request identification information on the information request data, via the network.

6. The information providing method according to claim 4, comprising:

when a response of the detection processing result for the detection processing request is received and, if the response is obtained,

sending the detection processing result as providable data if a number of detection processing results has reached a predetermined number, if a predetermined time has been reached, or if a score that indicates a matching degree for the information request has reached a predetermined score for each provision candidate data in the detection processing result.

7. The information providing method according to claim 4, wherein the data processing device is connected to the responder terminal via a network for communication,

in the data storage unit, store data and related responder information for identifying responders are stored in correlated manner to each other,

the system further comprises a requester information storage unit that stores requester information, which identifies requesters, and related communication information on requester terminals;

and

a responder information storage unit that stores the responder information and related communication information on responder terminals, the method comprising;

receiving an input entered from the requester terminal via the network as an information request, assigning request identification information as information identifying the information request, identifies the requester information by referencing the requester information storage unit, and establishes a correspondence between the request identification information and the requester information,

receiving the information request, the request identification information, and the requester information, analyzing the content of the information request, searching data stored in the data storage unit for a set of data related to the content of the information request, extracting a set of provision candidate data corresponding to information request data from the set of related data, combining the extracted set of provision candidate data with attribute information that includes responder information related to data in the set of provision candidate data to create a detection processing result, and outputting the detection processing result, as well as the content of the information request, the request identification information, and the requester information;

identifying responder information corresponding to the provision candidate data for each provision candidate data by referencing the responder information storage unit based on the detection processing result, creating display data, which includes the content of the information request, the requester information, and the provision candidate data, for each responder and outputting the created display data to the corresponding responder terminal via the network, receiving the instruction information that is from the responder terminal and that indicates permission or non-permission on provision of the provision candidate data, determining whether or not there is providable data based on the instruction information and the detection processing result, and outputting the providable data as well as the request identification information; and

generating answer data from the data that is output and sending the answer data to the requester terminal, which corresponds to the requester information corresponding to the request identification information on the information request, via the network as a response to the information request.

8. A non-transitory computer readable recording medium having recorded thereon a computer program that causes a data processing device in a computer system comprising the data processing device and a data storage unit that stores data, to execute:

a processing of searching the data storage unit based on an information request received from a requester terminal and extracting provision candidate data, which is a candidate for an answer to be provided to a requester in correspondence with the information request, from the data storage unit;

a processing of combining the provision candidate data with responder information, related to each store data corresponding to the provision candidate data, to produce a detection processing result;

determining a responder for each store data in the detection processing result, creating display data, which includes the content of the information request and the provision candidate data, for each determined responder, and outputting the created display data; and

a processing of receiving information on permission or non-permission of information provision regarding the extracted provision candidate data from the responding person who confirmed the display data, creating answer data for the information request based on the information on permission or non-permission of information provision and the extracted provision candidate data, and controlling sending of the created answer data to the requester terminal,

wherein the data processing device is connected to the responder terminal via a network for communication,

the data storage unit stores store data and related responder information for identifying responders,

the system further comprises a requester information storage unit that stores requester information, which identifies requesters, and related communication information on requester terminals; and

a responder information storage unit that stores the responder information and related communication information on responder terminals,

the program causes the data processing device to execute;

a processing of receiving an input entered from the requester terminal via the network as an information request, assigning request identification information as information identifying the information request, identifying the requester information by referencing the requester information storage unit, and establishing a correspondence between the request identification information and the requester information,

a processing of receiving the information request, the request identification information, and the requester information, analyzing the content of the information request, searching data stored in the data storage unit for a set of data related to the content of the information request, extracting a set of provision candidate data corresponding to information request data from the set of related data, combining the extracted set of provision candidate data with attribute information that includes responder information related to data in the set of provision candidate data to create a detection processing result, and outputting the detection processing result as well as the content of the information request, the request identification information, and the requester information;

a processing of identifying responder information corresponding to the provision candidate data for each provision candidate data by referencing the responder information storage unit based on the detection processing result, creating display data, which includes the content of the information request, the requester information, and the provision candidate data, for each responder and outputting the created display data to the corresponding responder terminal via the network, receiving instruction information that is from the responder terminal and that indicates permission or non-permission on provision of the provision candidate data, determining whether or not there is providable data based on the instruction information and the detection processing result, and outputting the providable data as well as the request identification information; and

a processing of generating answer data from the data that is output and sending the answer data to the requester terminal, which corresponds to the requester information corresponding to the request identification information on the information request, via the network as a response to the information request.