Information retrieval apparatus and method
First Claim
1. An information retrieval apparatus for retrieving information from a data base which contains registration data including position data, image data and designation information for retrieval of additional information comprising:
- imaging means for obtaining an image;
location detection means for detecting a current position location of said information retrieval apparatus; and
selection means for selecting image data from said data base which corresponds to the image obtained by said imaging means, said image data having position data representing positions in the vicinity of the current position location detected by said location detection means, and said designation information corresponding to said image data for retrieving said additional information.
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Abstract
The invention provides an information retrieval apparatus and an information retrieval method by which information can be retrieved in an improved operability. A CPU controls a video camera to fetch an image and controls a GPS to detect a current position. The CPU reads out, from within image data stored in a corresponding relationship with URLs of WWW servers, those image data which correspond to position data regarding positions around the detected current position from a WWW data base via a modem and a host machine. Then, the CPU selects, from among the read out image data, that image data which matches with the fetched data, reads out a URL corresponding to the image data and accesses a WWW server designated by the URL.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. An information retrieval apparatus for retrieving information from a data base which contains registration data including position data, image data and designation information for retrieval of additional information comprising:
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imaging means for obtaining an image; location detection means for detecting a current position location of said information retrieval apparatus; and selection means for selecting image data from said data base which corresponds to the image obtained by said imaging means, said image data having position data representing positions in the vicinity of the current position location detected by said location detection means, and said designation information corresponding to said image data for retrieving said additional information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An information retrieval method for retrieving information by information retrieval apparatus from a data base which contains registration data including position data, image data and designation information for retrieval of additional information, comprising the steps of:
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obtaining an image; detecting the current position location of the information retrieval apparatus; and selecting image data from said data base which corresponds to the image obtained, said image data having position data representing positions in the vicinity of the detected current position location of the information retrieval apparatus, and designation information corresponding to said image data for retrieving said additional information.
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6. An information retrieval apparatus for retrieving information stored in a remote database, comprising:
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a position detection unit for detecting a current position of the information retrieval apparatus; an image obtaining unit for obtaining an image at the current position of the information retrieval apparatus; a transmitting unit for transmitting to the remote database at least the current position of the information retrieval apparatus and a request to retrieve a portion of information based at least in part on the current position of the information retrieval apparatus; a receiving unit for receiving the portion of the information from the remote database, the received portion of the information including at least two images corresponding to the image obtained at the current position of the information retrieval apparatus, at least one of the at least two images relating to a web site; a searching unit for searching the received portion of the information to acquire related information based on the obtained image; and a selecting unit for selecting at least one of the at least two images. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method performed by an information retrieval apparatus for retrieving information stored in a remote database, the method comprising:
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detecting a current position of the information retrieval apparatus; obtaining an image at the current position of the information retrieval apparatus; transmitting to the remote database at least the current position of the information retrieval apparatus and a request to retrieve a portion of information based at least in part on the current position of the information retrieval apparatus; receiving the portion of the information from the remote database, the received portion of the information including at least two images corresponding to the image obtained at the current position of the information retrieval apparatus, at least one of the at least two images relating to a web site; searching the received portion of information to acquire related information based on the obtained image; and selecting at least one of the at least two images. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by an information retrieval apparatus, cause the information retrieval apparatus to perform a method for retrieving information stored in a remote database, the method comprising:
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detecting a current position of the information retrieval apparatus; obtaining an image at the current position of the information retrieval apparatus; transmitting to the remote database at least the current position of the information retrieval apparatus and a request to retrieve a portion of information based at least in part on the current position of the information retrieval apparatus; receiving the portion of the information from the remote database, the received portion of the information including at least two images corresponding to the image obtained at the current position of the information retrieval apparatus, at least one of the at least two images relating to a web site; searching the received portion of information to acquire related information based on the obtained image; and selecting at least one of the at least two images. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An information retrieval apparatus for retrieving information stored in a remote database, comprising:
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a position detection device configured to detect a current position of the information retrieval apparatus; an image obtaining device configured to obtain an image at the current position of the information retrieval apparatus; a communication device configured to communicate with the remote database over a network at least the current position of the information retrieval apparatus and a request to retrieve a portion of information based at least in part on the current position of the information retrieval apparatus; and a processor configured to; receive, via the communication device, the portion of the information from the remote database, the received portion of the information including at least two images corresponding to the image obtained at the current position of the information retrieval apparatus, at least one of the at least two images relating to a web site; search the received portion of information to acquire related information based on the obtained image; and select at least one of the at least two images. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. An information retrieval system, comprising:
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a remote database storing information in association with locations; and an information retrieval apparatus for retrieving the information stored in the remote database, comprising; a location detection device configured to detect a current location of the information retrieval apparatus; an image obtaining device configured to obtain an image at the current location of the information retrieval apparatus; a communication device configured to communicate with the remote database over a network at least the current position of the information retrieval apparatus and a request to retrieve a portion of information based at least in part on the current position of the information retrieval apparatus; and a processor configured to; receive, via the communication device, the portion of the information from the remote database, the received portion of the information including at least two images corresponding to the image obtained at the current position of the information retrieval apparatus, at least one of the at least two images relating to a web site; search the received portion of information to acquire related information based on the obtained image; and select at least one of the at least two images. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39)
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Specification