Information search method and apparatus, information search server utilizing this apparatus, relevant program, and storage medium storing the program

• US 20010049664A1
• Filed: 05/18/2001
• Published: 12/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
• Inventors: Kashino, Kunio, Kurozumi, Takayuki, Murase, Hiroshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,490,107 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/52
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/433 using audio data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/634 Query by example, e.g. query by humming
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/683 using metadata automatically derived from the content
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

It enables easy and quick searching and delivery of information desired by a user based upon a portion of time-series data which consists of clip information from music, a movie, a commercial message, or the like. The user accesses an information search server from a user terminal which is connected to a network, and, using this portion of time-series data as a search key, performs searches upon said server for information related to the time-series data. The information search server returns the name of the tune, the title of the movie, the name of goods advertised in the commercial message or the like to the user terminal via said network as search results, and the search provider levies a price for said search from the user.

Claims

1. An information search apparatus, comprising:

an information accumulation section which accumulates in advance accompanying information related to time-series data; and

;

a search section which performs searching among said accompanying information which is stored in said information accumulation section based upon at least one of time-series data which is inputted from a user terminal and searched time-series signal feature data which represents said time-series data, and outputs the searched out accompanying information.

2. An information search apparatus according to

claim 1

, wherein said search section comprises:

a search key input section which receives said time-series data;

a feature calculation section which, based upon time-series data which said search key input section has received, calculates search time-series signal feature data which represents said time-series data;

a time-series signal feature accumulation section which accumulates in advance time-series signal feature data for performing collation with said search time-series signal feature data;

a feature collating section which searches said search time-series signal feature data from said time-series signal feature data which is accumulated in said time-series signal feature accumulation section;

a search information selection section which selects accompanying information which is accumulated in said information accumulation section based upon the results of collation by said feature collating section; and

;

an information presentation section which outputs said accompanying information which is selected by said search information selection section.

3. An information search apparatus according to

claim 2

, further comprising a data discrimination section which discriminates the type of data which has been input to said search key input section, and, if said inputted data is said search time-series signal feature data, outputs said search time-series signal feature data to said feature collating section;

and said apparatus performs searching, not via said feature calculation section.

4. An information search apparatus according to

claim 1

, wherein said search section comprises:

a search key input section which receives search time-series signal feature data representing said time-series data;

a time-series signal feature accumulation section which accumulates in advance time-series signal feature data for performing collation with said search time-series signal feature data;

a feature collating section which searches said search time-series signal feature data from said time-series signal feature data which is accumulated in said time-series signal feature accumulation section;

a search information selection section which selects accompanying information which is accumulated in said information accumulation section based upon the results of collation by said feature collating section; and

;

an information presentation section which outputs said accompanying information which is selected by said search information selection section.

5. An information search apparatus according to

claim 2

or

claim 4

, further comprising an information update section which, when time-series data and accompanying information related to said time-series data have been received from a terminal of an information provider, performs addition to the time-series signal feature data which is accumulated in said time-series signal feature accumulation section and the accompanying information which is accumulated in said information accumulation section, according to time-series signal feature data which has been calculated from said received time-series data and said received accompanying information, and which, when a signal for commanding the deletion of a time-series signal feature data and the accompanying information, and data for specifying the time-series signal feature data and the accompanying information which are to be deleted have been received from said terminal of said information provider, performs deletion of said time-series signal feature data and said accompanying information which are to be deleted from said time-series signal feature accumulation section and said information accumulation section, respectively, and said apparatus performs updating of said accompanying information which is presented to said user.

6. An information search apparatus according to

claim 5

, wherein said information update section discriminates the type of received data, and, if said received data is time-series signal feature data, performs addition according to said received time-series signal feature data and said accompanying information.

7. An information search apparatus according to

claim 2

or

claim 4

, further comprising an information update section which, when time-series signal feature data and accompanying information related to said time-series signal feature data have been received from a terminal of an information provider, performs addition to the time-series signal feature data which is accumulated in said time-series signal feature accumulation section and the accompanying information which is accumulated in said information accumulation section, according to said received time-series signal feature data and accompanying information, and which, when a signal for commanding the deletion of a time-series signal feature data and the accompanying information, and data for specifying the time-series signal feature data and the accompanying information which are to be deleted have been received from said terminal of said information provider, performs deletion of said time-series signal feature data and said accompanying information which are to be deleted from said time-series signal feature accumulation section and said information accumulation section, respectively, and said apparatus performs updating of said accompanying information which is presented to said user.

8. An information search server, comprising:

an information search apparatus according to

claim 1

or

claim 2

offered by an information provider; and

a communication device which performs transmission and reception of information between a terminal of a user and said information search apparatus; and

wherein

based upon at least one of time-series data or time-series signal feature data which have been inputted from said terminal of said user, presents to said user accompanying information related to said time-series data or said time-series signal feature data which have been inputted.

9. An information search server according to

claim 8

, wherein said information accumulation section accumulates accompanying information including goods information related to goods;

and further comprising a goods purchase device which comprises;

a purchase information reception section which receives goods purchase information which is transmitted from said terminal of said user;

a purchase information transmission section which transmits said goods purchase information which has been received by said purchase information reception section to a terminal of said information provider; and

wherein information is presented to said user for purchasing said goods based upon said search results transmitted by said information search apparatus.

10. An information search server according to

claim 9

, further comprising a user registration and authentication section which performs registration and authentication of said user, and wherein said goods purchase device outputs information related to purchase of said goods only to a terminal of a user whose registration is approved, based upon the registration and authentication results by said user registration and authentication section.

11. An information search server according to

claim 8

, further comprising a usage price calculation device which calculates a usage price according to the amount by which said terminal of said user has utilized said information search apparatus, and which presents said usage price to said terminal of said user in order to levy said usage price from said user.

12. An information search server according to

claim 11

, wherein said usage price calculation device calculates said usage price based upon at least one of the number of times of transmission of data from said terminal of said user, and the amount of said transmitted data.

13. An information search server according to

claim 8

, further comprising an information provision price calculation device which calculates a price for information provision to said information provider according to the amount by which said terminal of said user has utilized said information search apparatus, and which presents said information provision price to said information provider in order to levy said information provision price from said information provider.

14. An information search server according to

claim 13

, wherein said information provision price calculation device calculates said information provision price based upon at least one of the number of times of transmission of purchase information to said terminal of said user, and goods purchase price.

15. An information search method, comprising:

an information accumulation step of accumulating accompanying information related to time-series data in advance; and

;

a search step of performing searching from among said accompanying information which has been accumulated in advance and outputting searched accompanying information, based upon at least one of time-series data input from a terminal of a user, and search time-series signal feature data representing said time-series data.

16. An information search method according to

claim 15

, wherein said search step comprises:

a search key input step which receives said time-series data;

a feature calculation step which calculates search time-series signal feature data representing said time-series data, based upon the time-series data which have been received by said search key input step;

a time-series signal feature accumulation step which accumulates in advance time-series signal feature data for performing collation with said search time-series signal feature data;

a feature collation step which searches said search time-series signal feature data from said time-series signal feature data which have been accumulated in advance;

a search information selection step which selects said accompanying information which has been accumulated in advance, based upon the results of collation by said feature collation step; and

;

an information presentation step which outputs the accompanying information which has been selected by said search information selection step.

17. An information search method according to

claim 16

, further comprising a data discrimination step which discriminates the type of data which have been inputted by said search key input step, and, if said input data is said search time-series signal feature data, outputs said search time-series signal feature data to said feature collation step, and searching is performed without performing said feature calculation step.

18. An information search method according to

claim 15

, wherein said search step comprises:

a search key input step which receives search time-series signal feature data which represents said time-series data;

a time-series signal feature accumulation step which accumulates in advance time-series signal feature data for performing collation with said search time-series signal feature data;

a feature collation step which searches said search time-series signal feature data from said time-series signal feature data which have been accumulated in advance;

a search information selection step which selects said accompanying information which has been accumulated in advance, based upon the results of collation by said feature collation step; and

;

an information presentation step which outputs the accompanying information which has been selected by said search information selection step.

19. An information search method according to

claim 16

or

claim 18

, further comprising an information updating step which, when time-series data and accompanying information related to said time-series data have been received from a terminal of an information provider, performs a step of calculating time-series signal feature data from said received time-series data;

and a step of performing addition to said accumulated time-series signal feature data and said accumulated accompanying information, according to said time-series signal feature data and said received accompanying information; and

which, when a signal for commanding the deletion of a time-series signal feature data and the accompanying information, and data for specifying the time-series signal feature data and the accompanying information which are to be deleted have been received from said terminal of said information provider, performs deletion of said time-series signal feature data and said accompanying information which are to be deleted from said accumulated time-series signal feature data and said accumulated accompanying information, respectively;

and which performs updating of said accompanying information which is presented to said user.

20. An information search method according to

claim 19

, wherein said information updating step discriminates the type of received data, and, if said received data is time-series signal feature data, performs addition according to said received time-series signal feature data and said accompanying information

21. An information search method according to

claim 16

or

claim 18

, further comprising an information updating step which, when time-series signal feature data and accompanying information related to said time-series signal feature data have been received from a terminal of an information provider, performs addition to said accumulated time-series signal feature data and said accumulated accompanying information, according to said received time-series signal feature data and said accompanying information;

and which, when a signal for commanding the deletion of a time-series signal feature data and the accompanying information, and data for specifying the time-series signal feature data and the accompanying information which are to be deleted have been received from said terminal of said information provider, performs deletion of said time-series signal feature data and said accompanying information which are to be deleted from said accumulated time-series signal feature data and said accumulated accompanying information, respectively;

and which performs updating of said accompanying information which is presented to said user.

22. A search service provision method which performs an information search method according to

claim 15

or

claim 16

, based upon at least one of time-series data or time-series signal feature data which has been input from said terminal of said user, and which presents to said user accompanying information related to said time-series data or time-series signal feature data which has been input.

23. A search service provision method according to

claim 22

, wherein said accompanying information includes goods information related to goods, and further comprising a goods purchase step which comprises:

a purchase information reception step which receives goods purchase information which is transmitted from said terminal of said user;

a purchase information transmission step which transmits said goods purchase information which has been received by said purchase information reception step to a terminal of said information provider;

and wherein information is presented to said user for purchasing said goods based upon said search results transmitted by said information search method.

24. A search service provision method according to

claim 23

, further comprising a user registration and authentication step which performs registration and authentication of said user, and wherein said goods purchase step outputs information related to purchase of said goods only to a terminal of a user whose registration is approved, based upon the registration and authentication results by said user registration and authentication step.

25. A search service provision method according to

claim 22

, further comprising a usage price calculation step which calculates a usage price according to the amount by which said terminal of said user has utilized information search in accordance with said information search method, and which presents said usage price to said terminal of said user in order to levy said usage price from said user.

26. A search service provision method according to

claim 25

, wherein said usage price calculation step calculates said usage price based upon at least one of the number of times of transmission of data from said terminal of said user, and the amount of said transmitted data.

27. A search service provision method according to

claim 22

, further comprising an information provision price calculation step which calculates a price for information provision to said information provider according to the amount by which said terminal of said user has utilized information search in accordance with said information search method, and which presents said information provision price to said information provider in order to levy said information provision price from said information provider.

28. A search service provision method according to

claim 27

, wherein, in said information provision price calculation step, said information provision price is calculated based upon at least one of the number of times of transmission of purchase information to said terminal of said user, and goods purchase price.

29. An information search method according to

claim 15

, wherein:

said accompanying information is utilized tune information related to a tune which is utilized in a program which is broadcast via radio waves, a cable, or a computer network;

said time-series data is clip information which is a portion of said program or of a commercial which is presented during an interval of said program; and

;

said utilized tune information related to the time-series data which has been inputted from said terminal of said user is transmitted to said terminal of said user.

30. An information search method according to

claim 15

, wherein:

said accompanying information is goods information related to goods which are offered by a provider of a program which is broadcast via radio waves, a cable, or a computer network;

said time-series data is clip information which is a portion of said program or of a commercial which is presented during an interval of said program; and

;

said goods information related to the time-series data which has been inputted from said terminal of said user is transmitted to said terminal of said user.

31. An information search method according to

claim 15

, wherein:

said accompanying information is goods information related to a CD or a video;

said time-series data is clip information for music which is recorded upon said CD or for sound or a video image which is recorded upon said video; and

;

said goods information related to the time-series data which has been inputted from said terminal of said user is transmitted to said terminal of said user.

32. An information search method according to

claim 15

, wherein said time-series data includes a sound signal.

33. An information search method according to

claim 15

, wherein said time-series data includes a video image signal.

34. An information search method according to

claim 15

, wherein at least one of said received time-series data or said time-series signal feature data is sent from a portable telephone which is said terminal of said user.

35. A program for execution upon a computer of:

an information accumulation step which accumulates in advance accompanying information related to time-series data; and

;

a search step which performs searching among said accompanying information which has been accumulated in advance based upon at least one of time-series data which is inputted from a user terminal and search time-series signal feature data which represents said time-series data, and outputs the searched out accompanying information.

36. A program according to

claim 35

, wherein said search step comprises:

a search key input step which receives said time-series data;

a feature calculation step which, based upon time-series data received by said search key input step, calculates search time-series signal feature data which represents said time-series data;

a time-series signal feature accumulation step which accumulates in advance time-series signal feature data for performing collation with said search time-series signal feature data;

a feature collation step which searches said search time-series signal feature data from said time-series signal feature data which is accumulated in advance;

a search information selection step which selects accompanying information which is accumulated in advance based upon the results of collation by said feature collation step; and

;

an information presentation step which outputs said accompanying information which is selected by said search information selection step.

37. A storage medium capable of being read by a computer, upon which is stored a program according to

claim 35

or

claim 36

.