Information providing method which enables data communication costs to be reduced, and information providing system for implementing the method

• US 6,606,748 B1
• Filed: 03/09/1998
• Issued: 08/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rakuten, Inc. (Rakuten Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Tanaka, Nobuaki, Shikatani, Yukio, Tomioka, Yutaka, Kushiki, Yoshiaki, Kato, Fumiyuki, Soma, Kenji
• Primary Examiner(s): Srivastava, Vivek
• Application Number:
  US09/036,696
• Time in Patent Office: 1,982 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.5445, H04/N.7173, G06/F.300, G06/F 1.300, 725/39, 725/40, 725/44, 725/45, 725/46, 725/47, 725/48, 725/49, 725/50, 725/53, 725/54, 725/55, 725/56, 725/57, 725/61, 725/136, 725/86, 725/96
• US Class Current: 725/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/26 Arrangements for switching distribution systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/28 Arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/76 Wired systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/25 Arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/47 for recognising genres
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/72 using electronic programme guides [EPG] focusing on identifying broadcast space time H04H60/39 ; menu type display of EPG in television receivers H04N21/47
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/94 Telephonic networks for accessing the Internet H04H60/84
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/088 the inserted signal being digital
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0887 for the transmission of programme or channel identifying signals

Abstract

An information method and system enables information, from a set of original information which is updated at regular or irregular intervals, to be provided to each information receiving apparatus of respective users via a data transmission path which can be selected in accordance with the type of data to be transferred, stated preferences of the user with regard to providing of data, current operating status of a data communication network, etc. A set of framework data are selected as data which are rarely updated, by monitoring original information that is to be provided, over a suitably long period, and are stored at the information providing apparatus and each information receiving apparatus. Thereafter until a new set of framework data are selected, any differences between newly updated original information and the framework data are obtained as variation data, and transmitted to be stored at each information receiving apparatus, which can reconstitute desired data on request from a user by combining appropriate parts of the locally stored framework and variation data, thereby minimizing the amounts of data which must be transmitted to the information receiving apparatuses.

Claims

1. An information providing method for use with an information providing system having an information providing apparatus, at least one information receiving apparatus, and means for transferring data between the information providing apparatus and information receiving apparatus, the method comprising:

at said information providing apparatus, editing and separating original information which is to be provided into first data and second data, storing the first data and second data as respectively separate data categories, and subsequently reading out and transmitting the first data and second data to the information receiving apparatus with respectively different values of time interval between successive transmissions of said first data and between successive transmissions of said second data, and

wherein the method further includes storing a data dispatch record in data dispatching storage section each time said first or second data is transmitted to the receiver apparatus and searching the data dispatch records in said data dispatching storage section prior to the transmission of said or first or second data to the receiver apparatus

at said information receiving apparatus, receiving the transmitted first data and second data and storing the received first data and second data respectively separately, and subsequently responding to a request for output of a part of said original information by reading out and combining respectively parts of said stored first data and second data, to reconstitute said part of the original information;

detecting an interval between successive updating occurrences of said original information or detecting the amount of charge which results from updating of said original information

whereby said first data are obtained from said original information as a part of said original information which satisfies a selection condition that that the interval between successive updating occurrences is longer than a predetermined duration, or that the amount of change which results from updating of said original information is less than a predetermined amount,

and whereby said second data are obtained from said original information as a part of said original information which does not satisfy said selection condition,

wherein said original information consists of program broadcast schedule information in which data items identify a specific program and convey attribute information relating to the broadcast of said program, storing said data items in said information providing apparatus as program data records expressing broadcast information for respective programs.

2. An information providing method according to claim 1, whereby said original information is periodically acquired by said information providing apparatus as successive sets of updated original information, and whereby said first data are obtained by comparing the contents of each of a plurality of pairs of said sets, to extract information that is common to all of said pairs of said sets and which satisfies said selection condition.

3. An information providing method according to claim 2, whereby after said first data and said second data have been obtained and stored by said information providing apparatus, each subsequent one of said sets of updated original information is compared with said stored first data to obtain updating data as data which are contained in said updated original information and not in said first information providing apparatus, and said updating data are stored at said information providing apparatus as an updated part of said second data.

4. An information providing method according to claim 3 whereby said updating data, when obtained, are transmitted to said information receiving apparatus and are stored at said information receiving apparatus as an updated part of said second data.

5. An information providing method according to claim 3 whereby said information providing apparatus maintains a record of data which have been transmitted to said information receiving apparatus, whereby when a request for output of data is input to said information receiving apparatus, said request is transmitted by said information receiving apparatus to said information providing apparatus, and whereby said information providing apparatus responds by judging said transmitted data records in relation to said request to determine if transfer of updating data to said information receiving apparatus is necessary for enabling said information receiving apparatus to reconstitute said requested data, and by transmitting said updating data to said information receiving apparatus when it is found necessary.

6. An information providing system comprising an information providing apparatus, at least one information receiving apparatus, and data transfer means for use in transmitting data between said information providing apparatus and information receiving apparatus,

said information providing apparatus comprising

original information storage means for receiving and storing original information which is supplied from an external source and is periodically updated,

data editing means for operating on said stored original information to separate said original information into first data and second data,

data storage means for storing said first data and said second data, and

data transmitting means for transmitting data to said information receiving apparatus via said data transfer means, wherein said information providing apparatus further includes a data dispatching section which stores a data dispatch record in a dispatch record storage section each time said first or second data is transmitted to the receiver apparatus, and wherein the data dispatch records in the data dispatching storage section are first searched prior to the transmission of said first or second data to the receiver apparatus said data editing means detects an interval between successive updating occurrences of said original information or detects the amount of change which results from updating of said original information

wherein said first data are obtained from said original information as a part of said original information which satisfies a selection condition that the interval between successive updating occurrences is longer than a predetermined duration, or that the amount of change which results from updating is less than a predetermined amount,

and wherein said second data are obtained as a part of said original information for which said selection condition is not satisfied;

and wherein said information receiving apparatus comprises

receiving means for receiving said first data and said second data transmitted from said information providing apparatus,

storage means for storing the received first data and second data, and

data reconstitution means responsive to an externally supplied request for output of a part of said original information for reading out and combining respective parts of said stored first data and second data, to thereby reconstitute said part of the original information

wherein said original information consists of program broadcast schedule information in which data items identify a specific program and convey attribute information relating to a broadcast of said program, and wherein said data editing means further comprises means for storing said data items in said data storage means of the information providing apparatus as program data records expressing broadcast information for respective programs.

7. An information providing system according to claim 6, wherein said original information is periodically acquired by said information providing apparatus as successive sets of updated original information, and wherein said data editing means comprises means for comparing the contents of each of a plurality of pairs of successive ones of said sets, to extract information which is common to all of said of pairs plurality and which satisfies said selection condition.

8. An information providing system according to claim 7 wherein said data editing means further comprises means, functioning after said first data and second data have been obtained and stored, for comparing each subsequent one of said sets of original information with said stored first data to thereby obtain updating data as data which are contained in said updated original information and not in said stored first data, and for storing said updating data in said data storage means of said information providing apparatus as an updated part of said second data.

9. An information providing system according to claim 8 wherein said information providing apparatus further comprises means for transmitting said updating data to said information receiving apparatus each time that said updating data are derived, and wherein said information receiving apparatus comprises means for storing said updating data in said data storage means of said information receiving apparatus as an updated part of said second data.

10. An information providing system according to claim 6, wherein said information receiving apparatus means further comprises means for responding to said request by transmitting said request to said information providing apparatus via said data transfer means, and

said data dispatch record means stores dispatch record data indicative of an updating status of said first data and said second data which are currently stored at said information receiving apparatus, in relation to said first data and said second data that are currently stored at said information providing apparatus, and wherein said information providing apparatus further comprises

means responsive to the contents of said request transmitted from said information receiving apparatus and to said dispatch record data for judging whether it necessary to transmit updated data to said information receiving apparatus in order to enable said information receiving apparatus to correctly reconstitute said part of the original information, and if said updated data are judged to be necessary, reading out said updated data from said data storage means of the information receiving apparatus and transmitting said updated data to said information receiving apparatus via said data transfer means, to be stored in said data storage means of said information receiving apparatus.

11. An information providing system according to claim 6, wherein said second data are obtained from said original information as a plurality of levels of second data, said levels of second data having successively increasing smaller values of said interval between successive updating occurrences, or exhibiting successively greater values of said amount of change as a result of updating.

12. An information providing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said data transfer means comprises a plurality of respectively different data communication paths, and wherein said information providing apparatus comprises means for selecting, based upon whether said first data or second data is to be transmitted, one of said data communication paths to be utilized for transmitting data to said information receiving apparatus.

13. An information providing system according to claim 6 wherein said information receiving apparatus further comprises means for inputting apparatus attribute information relating to said information receiving apparatus, and means for transmitting said apparatus attribute information to said information providing apparatus;

and

wherein said information providing apparatus further comprises means for storing said apparatus attribute information which is transmitted from said information receiving apparatus.

14. An information providing system according to claim 13, wherein said information receiving apparatus comprises means for attaching said apparatus attribute information to a request for output of a part of the original information, for thereby transmitting said apparatus attribute information, together with said request, via said data transfer means to said information providing apparatus.

15. An information providing system according to claim 13, wherein said apparatus attribute information relates to one or more apparatus attributes, included in a set of apparatus attributes that includes data storage capacity, image display resolution capability, data processing performance, and types of secondary data storage media which can be connected for use with said information receiving apparatus.

16. An information providing system according to claim 13, wherein said data transfer means comprises a plurality of respectively different data communication paths, and wherein said information providing apparatus comprises means for selecting, based upon said apparatus attribute information, one or a combination of said plurality of data communication paths for use in transmitting data to said information receiving apparatus.

17. An information providing system according to claim 6, wherein said information receiving apparatus further comprises means for inputting user attribute information relating to said information receiving apparatus, and means for transmitting said user attribute information to said information providing apparatus;

and

wherein said information providing apparatus further comprises means for storing said user attribute information which is transmitted from said information receiving apparatus.

18. An information providing system according to claim 17, wherein said information receiving apparatus comprises means for attaching said user attribute information to said request for output of a part of said original information, for thereby transmitting said user attribute information, together with said request, via said data transfer means to said information providing apparatus.

19. An information providing system according to claim 17, wherein said user attribute information relates to one or more user attributes, from a set which include the age of said user, the sex of said user, and the area of residence of said user.

20. An information providing system according to claim 19, wherein said user attribute information comprises customized user attribute data, expressing individual preferences of respective users with regard to providing of data by said information providing system.

21. An information providing system according to claim 19, wherein said information providing apparatus further comprises means for selecting, based on said user attribute information, data which are read out from said data storage means of the information providing apparatus and transmitted to said information receiving apparatus.

22. An information providing system according to claim 19, wherein said information providing apparatus further comprises means for determining, based on said user attribute information, a frequency of transmitting data from said information providing apparatus to said information receiving apparatus for updating the contents of said data storage means of said information receiving apparatus.

23. An information providing system according to claim 19, wherein said data transfer means comprises a plurality of respectively different data communication paths, and wherein said information providing apparatus comprises means for selecting, based upon said user attribute information, one or a combination of said plurality of data communication paths for use in transmitting data to said information receiving apparatus.

24. An information providing system according to claim 23, wherein said information providing apparatus comprises means for storing attribute information relating to said data communication paths, and wherein said one or a combination of data communication paths is selected based upon said user attribute information and said data communication path attribute information in combination.

25. An information providing system according to claim 24, wherein said attribute information relating to the data communication paths is selected from a set of attribute information which includes data transfer speed and communication cost.

26. An information providing system according to claim 24, wherein said one or a combination of data communication paths is fixedly selected in accordance with at least said user attribute information and said data communication path attribute information, in combination.

27. An information providing system according to claim 24, wherein said data communication path attribute information may be altered in accordance with current conditions of respective data communication paths, and wherein said one or a combination of data communication paths is dynamically selected, in accordance with at least said user attribute information and the current status of said data communication path attribute information, in combination.

28. An information providing system according to claim 6, wherein said data editing means further comprises means functioning, when an updated set of said original information is received by said information providing apparatus, to compare said updated original information with said first data stored in said data storage means of said information providing apparatus for thereby deriving any differences between said updated original information and said stored first data as updating data, and for storing said updating data in said data storage means to thereby update said second data.

29. An information providing system according to claim 6, wherein said information providing apparatus further comprises means for transmitting said updating data to said information receiving apparatus via said data transfer means, to be stored in said data storage means of said information receiving apparatus to thereby update said second data which are held therein.

30. An information providing system according to claim 6 wherein said data transfer means is selected as one or a combination of a plurality of data transfer means which include a data communication path via a communication network based on dedicated communication lines or public telephone lines, a data communication path established via a terrestrial or satellite radio broadcasting system, physical transport of data stored on optical recording discs, and physical transport of data stored on magnetic recording discs.

31. An information providing system according to claim 6, wherein said original information is formed as a plurality of respectively identified data items, each data item including identifier data and data expressing at least one attribute, and wherein said data editing means extracts said first data from said original information by processing said original information during a predetermined initial processing period which extends over a plurality of successive updatings of said original information, to select respective data items for which at least one attribute satisfies said selection condition during said initial processing period.

32. An information providing system according to claim 31 wherein said data editing means further comprises means functioning, when a set of updated original information is received by said information providing apparatus subsequent to said initial processing period, to judge each data item of said set in relation to said first data stored in said data storage means of the information providing apparatus to thereby detect any changed data for at least one attribute of any of said data items, and to store said changed attribute data in said data storage means to update said second data.

33. An information providing system according to claim 6, wherein said first data are derived in said initial processing period as respective ones of said program records, each specifying a name of a program and attribute information including at least a starting time point and a duration of a broadcast of said program.

34. An information providing system according to claim 33 wherein said data editing means further comprises means whereby, subsequent to said initial processing period, when a set of updated original information is received by said information providing apparatus, starting time point values for respective programs contained in said updated original information are compared with corresponding starting time point values which have been stored as said first data, and any difference between an updated starting time point for a program and a corresponding previously stored starting time point value is expressed as a positive or negative time increment value and is stored as part of said second data, in said data storage means of said information providing apparatus, as said attribute information in conjunction with the name of said program in a program data record.

35. An information providing system according to claim 34 wherein said data editing means further comprises means functioning subsequent to said initial processing period, when a set of updated original information is received by said information providing apparatus, to compare program names contained in said updated original information with program names contained in said first data which have been stored in said data storage means of the information providing apparatus, to detect any new program name, and for storing each said new program name and all corresponding said attribute information as a new program data record which is part of said second data, in said data storage means.