Information retrieval apparatus and method

• US RE41,174 E1
• Filed: 07/20/2001
• Issued: 03/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kitano, Hiroaki, Rekimoto, Junichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Steven H. D.
• Application Number:
  US09/910,288
• Time in Patent Office: 3,175 Days
• Field of Search: 370/382, 370/389, 340/988, 340/995, 340990-994, 340/996, 358/103, 358/440, 704217-219, 704/246, 705/14, 705/23, 705/84, 707/3, 707/10, 707/5, 707/104, 707/114, 382162-165, 382113-116, 382282-293
• US Class Current: 340/988
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/18 in which the network application is adapted for the location of the user terminal wireless application services making use of the location of users or terminals H04W4/02 takes precedence; location based Web retrieval G06F16/9537
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals

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.

Claims

1. An information retrieval apparatus for retrieving information from a remote data base which contains registration data including position data, image data and designation information for retrieval of additional information , said remote data base comprising image information for a plurality of images, and at least corresponding location data, comprising:

imaging means for obtaining an image;

location detection means for detecting a current position location of said information retrieval apparatus;

and

imaging means for obtaining an image at the current position location of the 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 informationfor determining a limited portion of the remote data base based on the current position location of the information retrieval apparatus and for searching the limited portion of the remote data base to acquire image information corresponding to a number of images based on the obtained image from the imaging means.

2. An The information retrieval apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising reception means for receiving the image data and the designation information information and at least the corresponding location data via a computer network.

3. An The information retrieval apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said reception means has a portable telephone function and is connected to said computer network via a telephone line.

4. An The information retrieval apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the designation information corresponding location data is a URL for specifying information stored in a server of a world wide web build up on the Internet.

5. An information retrieval method for retrieving information by an information retrieval apparatus from a remote data base which contains registration data including position data, image data and designation information for retrieval of additional information , said remote data base comprising image information for a plurality of images, and at least corresponding location data, comprising the steps of:

obtaining an image;

detecting the current position location of the information retrieval apparatus;

and

obtaining an image at 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 informationdetermining a limited portion of the remote data base based on the current position location of the information retrieval apparatus and searching the limited portion of the remote data base to acquire image information corresponding to a number of images based on the obtained image.

6. An information retrieval apparatus for retrieving information from a remote data base, said remote data base comprising image information for a plurality of images, and at least corresponding location data, comprising:

location detection means for detecting a current position location of said information retrieval apparatus;

imaging means for obtaining an image at the current position location of the information retrieval apparatus;

transmitting means for transmitting said detected current position location to the remote data base;

means for determining a limited portion of the remote data base based on the current position location of the information retrieval apparatus and for searching the limited portion of the remote data base to acquire image information corresponding to a number of images based on the obtained image from the imaging means;

first receiving means for receiving designation information for retrieving additional information corresponding to said obtained image;

checking means for checking whether user'"'"'s manual operation is needed to acquire said additional information corresponding to said designation information;

second receiving means for receiving additional information based on the designation information; and

displaying means for displaying said additional information.

7. An information retrieval apparatus for retrieving information from a remote data base, said remote data base comprising image information for a plurality of images, and at least corresponding location data, comprising:

location detection means for detecting a current position location of said information retrieval apparatus;

imaging means for obtaining an image at the current position location of the information retrieval apparatus;

transmitting means for transmitting said detected current position location to the remote data base;

means for determining a limited portion of the remote data base based on the current position location of the information retrieval apparatus and for searching the limited portion of the remote data base to acquire image information corresponding to a number of images based on the obtained image from the imaging means;

reception means for receiving said acquired image information; and

checking means for checking a match between said received image and said obtained image.

8. An information retrieval apparatus for retrieving information from a remote data base, said remote data base comprising image information for a plurality of images, and at least corresponding location data, comprising:

location detection means for detecting a current position location of said information retrieval apparatus;

imaging means for obtaining an image at the current position location of the information retrieval apparatus;

transmitting means for transmitting said detected current position location to the remote data base;

means for determining a limited portion of the remote data base based on the current position location of the information retrieval apparatus and searching the limited portion of the remote data base to acquire image information corresponding to a number of images based on the obtained image from the imaging means;

reception means for receiving said acquired image information; and

displaying means for displaying said received image.

9. An information retrieval method for retrieving information by an information retrieval apparatus from a remote data base, said remote data base comprising image information for a plurality of images, and at least corresponding location data, comprising the steps of:

detecting a current position location of said information retrieval apparatus;

obtaining an image at the current position location of the information retrieval apparatus;

transmitting said detected current position location to the remote data base;

determining a limited portion of the remote data base based on the current position location of the information retrieval apparatus and searching the limited portion of the remote data base to acquire image information corresponding to a number of images based on the obtained image from the imaging means;

receiving said acquired image information; and

checking a match between said received image and said obtained image.

10. An information retrieval method for retrieving information by an information retrieval apparatus from a remote data base, said remote data base comprising image information for a plurality of images, and at least corresponding location data, comprising the steps of:

detecting a current position location of said information retrieval apparatus;

obtaining an image at the current position location of the information retrieval apparatus;

transmitting said detected current position location to the remote data base;

determining a limited portion of the remote data base based on the current position location of the information retrieval apparatus and searching the limited portion of the remote data base to acquire image information corresponding to a number of images based on the obtained image;

receiving said acquired image information; and

displaying a matching image after performance of a matching process using said obtained image.