JP4073522B2 - Information processing apparatus, computer-readable recording medium storing information processing program, and method for computer to display information - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus that performs a database search and a computer-readable recording medium that records an information processing program.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, when searching a database, a user has to input keywords for search. You can enter multiple keywords, but you must set the calculation method yourself. For users who are unfamiliar with search, the operation is difficult to understand and the user is familiar. Even the operation was complicated. Furthermore, since only one database can be searched at a time, the same keyword input operation has to be repeated for each database in order to use a plurality of databases.
[0003]
On the other hand, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-16608, personal information such as name, department, external number, extension number, and communication ID is registered in association with a seating chart and a map, and coordinate information or arbitrary personal information is input. It is disclosed that related information is displayed, and according to this, it is possible to utilize such as making a call using the displayed information.
[0004]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-115975 discloses that a personal information database such as an address book and a dating record database are associated with each other and managed by dedicated software, and a database is searched by inputting conditions. It is also possible.
[0005]
In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-92561, when a call is made to a destination, the caller obtains the caller's phone number and location information from the phone number database on the called side, and further from the map database to the destination. According to this, it is possible to search the database only with the telephone number entered for making a call, and to reduce the user's operation.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the conventional techniques described above all relate to a single database search, and a plurality of databases cannot be automatically searched.
[0007]
In JP-A-9-16608 and JP-A-2-115975, it is necessary to associate various information in advance and register them in a database, and a search user needs to input or select a search element. It was.
[0008]
In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-92561, in order to obtain route guidance information, it is possible to obtain a search result simply by calling a destination, and it is not necessary to input search elements. It is independent and cannot search multiple databases automatically.
[0009]
Furthermore, in order to search a plurality of databases, it is necessary to input necessary search elements for each database, which causes a problem of complicated operation by the user.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made for the purpose of solving the above-mentioned problems, and the invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that personal information storage means for storing personal information and telephone or communication.Used forContact informationFromThe personal information storage meansThe relevantOpponentAheadExtracting means for extracting personal information of saiddidpersonal informationBased onAn information processing apparatus comprising: search means for searching a database; and display means for displaying a search result searched by the search means.
  In addition to the configuration of the invention described in claim 1, the invention described in claim 2 further includes history storage means for storing search results, and the display means stores in the history storage means. Search results that are stored and search results that are not stored are displayed separately.
[0011]
  Claims3The described inventionIn addition to the configuration of the invention described in claim 1,Timekeeping means to keep timeThe display means identifies and displays the search result based on the time information timed by the time measuring means.
[0014]
  Claims4The described inventionInput from input means to an information processing device that retrieves information related to personal information from a databaseCall or communicationUsed forContact informationFrom,personal informationThe destination in the databaseThe personal information ofStepAnd the extractiondidpersonal informationBased on, Search the databaseStepAnd beforeInspectionSearch result searchedThe tableIndication meansSteps to displayAndExecutionThe computer-readable recording medium which recorded the information processing program for making it do.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited thereby.
[0017]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the system configuration of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, a CPU 1 performs overall operation control. The ROM 2 stores a control program for operating the CPU 1 and the like. The RAM 3 stores data necessary for operating the CPU 1, and in particular stores personal information databases 1-3-a and 1-3-b, a next update information group list 1-3-c, and the like.
[0018]
The clock function unit 4 outputs a date and time as required according to a command from the CPU 1. The modem 5 functions as a communication means. The input unit 6 is used to input a character string or a user instruction, and includes a keyboard, a pen tablet, and the like. The display unit 7 displays database search results, messages from the system to the user, and the like, and includes a liquid crystal display, a CRT display, and the like.
[0019]
The search unit 8 performs a database search. The database management unit 9 manages database updates and information shortages. The information group management unit 10 manages information groups obtained by classifying databases according to categories and search elements, and also includes database search element information 1-10-a in which search elements necessary for searching each information group are registered. And manage. The database search element information 1-10-a is expressed in a tree structure or a table format. The history management unit 11 manages the history of an information group used for browsing or the like during a past fixed period, and holds a database history management table 1-11-a.
[0020]
The database unit 12 includes a health information group 1-12-a, a living information group 1-12-b, a tourism information group 1-12-c, a menu table group 1-12-d, and a shop information group 1-12-f. Such information groups are classified by category. Each information group is managed by the information group management unit 10 based on the database search element information 1-10-a. The external storage device 13 is a removable memory.
[0021]
A typical example of the storage medium for registering the database is the RAM 3. Regarding the update of the database, in consideration of real-time characteristics, downloading from a server using a network via the modem 5 is considered effective, but depending on the type of information, an external storage device such as a CD-ROM or a floppy disk 13 may be read.
[0022]
In addition, the personal information databases 1-3-a and 1-3-b are often input by the user.
[0023]
Next, the outline of the invention will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.
When a user inputs a telephone number from the input unit 6 to make a call, the modem 5 performs a connection process to the line, and the database search unit 8 reads the personal information database 1-3-a registered in the RAM 3 from the personal information database 1-3-a. Search for an individual who has a phone number and identify the person to call. Further, information that can be a search element such as address, date of birth, sex, etc. is extracted from the specified individual information, and time information of the date is acquired from the clock function unit 4 and added to the search element group. Through the above processing, a plurality of search elements for specifying a communication partner from the telephone number and searching the database are extracted.
[0024]
Next, with reference to the database search element information 1-10-a, information groups that can be searched with the already extracted search element group are extracted, search is performed for each information group, and the result is displayed. Here, since the search elements necessary for the search of each information group are different from each other, it is possible to perform a search of a plurality of databases by selecting a search element suitable for each information group having a plurality of search elements. it can. This search element group includes personal information acquired from the personal information database and time information acquired from the clock function unit 4. By performing a search by combining these, it is possible to perform a more detailed search.
[0025]
When displaying the search result, the database usage history information 1-11-a is referred to, the information of the recently used group is highlighted, or the information of the group remaining in the history is displayed with priority. For other groups, only the category name is displayed as a button, and the contents are displayed only when the user selects it. With the above processing, it is possible to automatically provide a topic suitable for a communication partner simply by inputting a telephone number in order to make a call.
[0026]
Also, in the above description, the case of making a call is described as an example. However, when a call is received, the user can use a means of knowing the telephone number of the other party to call such as a caller ID service. A search can be performed in the same manner by manually entering the telephone number of the caller.
[0027]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a personal information database registered in advance in the apparatus main body.
[0028]
Usually, it is often realized by an address book, a telephone directory function, or the like. In the example of FIG. 2, in addition to the normal address book function, input items such as sex and hobbies are set in order to increase the utilization as a database.
[0029]
The personal information database is searched by a telephone number or the like input during a call or communication, and a call partner is searched. When a call partner is found, search elements are extracted from each information. For example, the age can be used as a search element from the address and postal code to the residential area and date of birth.
[0030]
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a relationship table (database search element information 1-10-a) of information elements and search elements necessary for the search.
[0031]
Here, personal information is also included as an information group, and the information from the searched personal information database can be considered as a kind of database similar to general information.
[0032]
Also, by using time elements and individual elements together as search elements, it is possible to perform detailed searches for seasonal events, sightseeing information, menus, and the like.
[0033]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the database search / display process of the present invention.
Here, the database usage on the telephone will be described as an example.
[0034]
In step S2, when making a call, the user inputs the destination telephone number from the input unit 6. When a call is received, the other party's telephone number is acquired by a caller information service or a user's manual input.
[0035]
In step S4, an individual registered with the telephone number is searched from the personal information database 1-3-3-a. If it is not registered in the personal information database 1-3-3-a, the process proceeds to step S8. If it is registered, the personal information in which the telephone number is registered is searched in step S6. A search element group is constructed by extracting information that can be search elements.
[0036]
Next, in step S8, date and time information is acquired from the clock function unit 4 and added to the search element group as year / month / day and season information.
[0037]
In step S10, the database search element information 1-10-a is referred to, and in step S12, an information group that can be searched with the search element group extracted in steps S6 and S8 is extracted.
[0038]
Here, processing for extracting a searchable information group from the search element group based on the correlation diagram of FIG. 8 generated from the database search element information of FIG. 3 will be described later.
[0039]
  In step S14, the database is searched. The database is composed of a plurality of information groups, each having a search element necessary for the search. Here, those search elements are set to information that can be acquired from personal information and time information, and are automatically selected from the search element information to perform a search. When the search of each information group is completed, the database usage history table 1-11-a is referred to in step S16, and in step S18, it is determined whether each searched information group is included in the history table 1-11-a. To do. If not included, the process proceeds to step S22, and the search result is displayed. If included, in step S20, the search result is displayed.ThisThe information group to be displayed is highlighted compared to other information groups. Thereby, the information browsed in the past fixed period can be preferentially displayed for the user in an easy-to-understand manner.
[0040]
In step S22, the search result is displayed. At this time, not all the information is displayed. For example, only the information on the last topic (remaining in the use history) is displayed, and the other information groups display only the category name. In step S24, the contents of the information group designated by the user using the input unit 6 are displayed in step S26, so that only the information requested by the user can be displayed in an easily understandable manner.
[0041]
If the user wants to see different information, a “return” instruction is input in step S28, the process returns to step S22, and the first search result screen is displayed. When a call end instruction is input, the line is disconnected.
[0042]
In the above processing, when a plurality of databases are searched with a combination of the personal information database input in advance and the information obtained by the clock function, and a call is made to the other party registered in the personal information database, only the operation of making a call It is possible to automatically search for a topic suitable for the other party and provide it without bothering the user. In addition, it is possible to automatically search without being conscious of the distinction between personal information and general information.
[0043]
Next, the personal information database designation process will be described with reference to FIG.
When a telephone number is input from the input unit 6 in step S30, it is checked in step S32 whether a plurality of personal information databases are registered in the RAM 3, and if there are a plurality of personal information databases used in step S34 for the user. Is designated to prompt designation, and the selection of the personal information database is awaited in step S36. If there are not more than one in step S32, the existing personal information database is used, and the personal information database is designated as a search target in step S38.
[0044]
With the above processing, even when there are a plurality of users of the apparatus, it is possible to search a database that matches the user and the communication partner.
[0045]
6 and 7 are flowcharts of the database search display update process of the present invention.
[0046]
Since the processing from step S40 to step S50 in FIG. 6 is the same as the processing from step S2 to step S12 in FIG. 4, the description thereof is omitted here.
[0047]
In step S52, the past database usage history table 1-11-a is referred to, and in step S54, it is checked whether an information group remaining in the history, that is, an information group used in the past is extracted as an information group that can be searched this time.
[0048]
In step S56, if the information group remaining in the history does not match the information group extracted this time, the information group newly extracted this time that does not match is registered in the next collection list 1-3-3-c.
[0049]
Proceeding to step S58, the database search is started. The processing from step S58 to step S64 in FIG. 6 is the same as the processing after step S14 in FIG.
[0050]
Next, the processing proceeds to FIG. There are various means for updating the database. Here, a method of downloading from a server via a network will be described.
[0051]
In step S66, the server is connected to the network through a telephone line or the like. Next, in step S68, the next update information group list 1-3-3-c stored in the RAM 3 of the apparatus main body is referenced. First, in step S70, the information group registered in the next update information group list 1-3-3-c. Download the data.
[0052]
Next, in step S72, the data of the information group registered in the apparatus main body is updated, and after the data collection of all the information groups is completed, in step S74, the search element information table 1 regarding the updated information group. Also update -10-a. When the above process is completed, the data exchange with the new database is completed, so the communication is terminated in step S76.
[0053]
FIG. 8 is a TREE diagram generated from database search element information 1-10-a for managing search element information necessary for each information group in FIG.
[0054]
In FIG. 8, a depth-first search is performed. If the search element attached to each branch is in the hand-held search element group, the search is advanced one step down. If not, the search is advanced to the previous branch point. If the leaf has been reached, it is extracted as a searchable information group. All searchable information groups are extracted when all TREE searches are completed.
[0055]
As described above, by using FIG. 8, it is possible to easily extract an information group that can be searched with a search element on hand.
[0056]
FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining information group extraction processing using the TREE diagram of FIG.
[0057]
For example, if the search element group extracted from the personal information database and the clock function part is age, region, gender, hobby, date, the element is surrounded by a dotted circle in FIG. It is.
[0058]
Here, according to the TREE diagram, information groups that can be searched by the search element group are tourism information, seasonal topics, health information, hobby, TV program guide, and menu table.
[0059]
FIG. 10 shows an example of a search result display screen.
The personal information database 1-3-3-a is searched from the telephone number “000-777-1111” input for making a call, the call partner is identified as “Hanako Yamada”, and the search element is acquired. After searching and acquiring general and individual time-related information and information of various information groups obtained from the time elements, the process enters a process for determining the configuration of data to be displayed.
[0060]
First, the telephone number of the other party and the name of the other party registered in the personal information database 1-3-3-a are displayed on the screen information. This information has been displayed before the database search.
[0061]
Next, general and personal time-related information is displayed. Here, date-related information such as date and time, ◯ × day and Daan, and the schedule registered in the name and schedule of the person on the day of the day from the personal information database 1-3-a are displayed.
[0062]
In addition, when the information group remaining in the usage history was examined, event information and tourism information were registered. Therefore, in order to make it easy to understand that these two topics are recently used, Highlight rather than information groups.
[0063]
Next, displaying the contents of all the search results is not preferable because it is cluttered in constructing the screen. Since the screen area is limited, the remaining searched information group names are displayed. When the user has browsed information, the user can view the contents by touching the information group name.
[0064]
Here, when the personal information is touched, the contents of the personal information database as shown in FIG. 2 are displayed. In addition, when the tourist information is touched, recommended tourist spots searched by the season and the residential area are displayed. For example, here, since the address of the other party is Sapporo and the season is spring, tourist attractions in spring in the Hokkaido region are displayed, and map information is also linked and displayed.
[0065]
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen for explaining the selection process of the personal information database when there are a plurality of users of this apparatus.
[0066]
In FIG. 11A, a message prompting the user to input a telephone number is displayed. Here, when a telephone number is input, the personal information database is examined. If there are a plurality of personal information databases, a display prompting the user to select a personal database to be used is displayed in FIG. If only one is registered, the process proceeds to the general information database search process immediately after entering the telephone number. Here, when the personal information database 1 to be used is selected by the user, the name of the specified call partner is displayed in FIG. 11C, and the process further proceeds to the search process of the general information database. If it is not selected, it will not proceed to the search process, or if it is not selected until the connection with the other party is established, a personal information database to be used by default is determined in advance, and the user's selection instruction is omitted You can also
[0067]
The above description is mainly based on providing a topic on the telephone, but it can also be used for providing a topic when an e-mail is created by replacing a telephone number with an e-mail address. In this case, the displayed search result can be taken into a buffer and inserted into an e-mail body or attached.
[0068]
It is also possible to provide a memo input field in a part of the display so that the busy memo is taken into the database as new information and the database data can be automatically updated.
[0069]
FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing another system configuration of the present invention.
In FIG. 12, another system configuration includes a recording medium 51, a program memory 52, a CPU 53, a clock function unit 54, a modem 55, an external storage device 56, an input unit 57, a display unit 58, data And a memory 59.
[0070]
The clock function unit 54, the modem 55, the external storage device 56, the input unit 57, and the display unit 58 are the same as the clock function unit 4, the modem 5, the external storage device 13, the input unit 6, and the display unit 7 of FIG. is there.
[0071]
The data memory 59 stores database search element information 59-1, a database use history table 59-2, a database 59-3, and a personal information database 59-4. The database search element information 59-1, the database use history table 59-2, database 59-3, and personal information database 59-4 are respectively database search element information 1-10-a, database usage history table 1-11-1a, database 12, and personal information database 1-3 in FIG. It is the same information as a and 1-3-b.
[0072]
The recording medium 51 is detachable including, for example, a CD-ROM, a floppy disk, and an IC card. In addition to the execution format program 51-3 that is a program necessary for carrying out the present invention, the source program 51-1 and An intermediate program 51-2 is recorded. Then, the execution format program 51-3 is expanded in the program memory 52 by the CPU 53.
[0073]
An execution format program 51-3 is expanded in the program memory 52, and an input control program 52-1, a display control program 52-2, a database management program 52-3, a database search program 52-4, and an information group. A management program 52-5, a history management program 52-6, and a personal information database management program 52-7 are stored.
[0074]
The input control program 52-1 is a program for controlling the input unit 57, and the display control program 52-2 is a program for controlling the display unit 58. The input control program 52-1 and the display control program 52-2 are general programs necessary for an apparatus including an input unit and a display unit.
[0075]
On the other hand, the database management program 52-3, the database search program 52-4, the information group management program 52-5, the history management program 52-6, and the personal information database management program 52-7 are programs unique to the present invention.
[0076]
The database management program 52-3 is a program for managing update of the database 59-3, lack of information, etc., and the database search program 52-4 is a program for searching the database 59-3.
[0077]
The information group management program 52-5 is a program for managing an information group in which the database 59-3 is classified by category and search element, and is a program for managing based on the database search element information 59-1.
[0078]
The history management program 52-6 is a program for managing the history of information groups used for browsing or the like during a past fixed period, and the history is held in the database usage history table.
[0079]
The personal information database management program 52-7 is a program for managing the personal information databases 1, 2,... 59-4.
[0080]
Note that the program stored in the program memory 52 corresponds to the program stored in the ROM 2 of FIG. 1, and the program memory 52 stores the processing program of the flowcharts of FIGS. 4 to 7.
[0081]
The CPU 53 operates according to the program stored in the program memory 52, and functions in the same manner as the CPU 1, the database search unit 8, the database management unit 9, the information group management unit 10, and the history management unit 11 shown in FIG.
[0082]
【The invention's effect】
  According to the present invention, the invention according to claim 1MemoryPersonal informationBased on the databaseInspectionSearchThis saves you the trouble of entering keywords for searching.
  Further, in the invention described in claim 2, by displaying the search results stored in the history storage means and the search results that are not stored separately, the information browsed in the past is displayed in an easy-to-understand manner to the user. Can do.
[0083]
  Claims3In the described invention,By displaying the search results based on the time information, the information browsed in the past certain period can be displayed in an easy-to-understand manner for the user.
[0086]
  Claims4In the described invention, in advanceMemoryPersonal informationSearch database based onThis saves you the trouble of entering keywords for search.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a personal information database registered in advance in the apparatus main body.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a relationship table (database search element information) of each information group and search elements necessary for the search.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of database search display processing of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of personal information database designation processing according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of database search display update processing according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of database search display update processing according to the present invention.
8 is a TREE diagram generated from database search element information for managing search element information necessary for each information group in FIG. 3;
FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining information group extraction processing using the TREE diagram of FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a search result display screen.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen for explaining a personal information database selection process when there are a plurality of users of the apparatus.
FIG. 12 is another block diagram of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1,53 CPU
2 ROM
3 RAM
4,54 Clock function part
5,55 modem
6,57 Input section
7,58 display
8 Database search part
9 Database Management Department
10 Information Group Management Department
11 History Management Department
12 Database
13 External storage device
51 recording media
52 Program memory
59 Data memory

Claims (4)

An information processing apparatus connected to a network,
Database storage means for storing a database composed of a plurality of information groups, each of which is classified and grouped by category and search element ;
New information for updating the database is downloaded from the outside of the information processing apparatus via the network in units of the information group, and the new information downloaded in units of the information group is used to download the information. Database update means for updating the database;
Personal information storage means for storing personal information, which is information including a plurality of search elements for specifying the information group, and destination information used for communication or communication ;
Information group management means for storing the information group and one or more search elements in association with each other for each of the plurality of information groups;
A first retrieval unit that retrieves personal information stored in the personal information storage unit based on the partner information when a call or a communication partner is specified by an input to the information processing apparatus;
Search element extraction means for extracting a plurality of search elements from the searched personal information;
Information group extraction means for extracting a plurality of information groups by comparing the search elements associated with each of the information groups stored in the information group management means and the plurality of extracted search elements;
Second search means for searching for information of each of the plurality of extracted information groups from the database using values of the plurality of extracted search elements as keys;
First display means for displaying a plurality of information groups that are the extracted,
Selecting means for selecting an information group designated by input to the information processing apparatus from the plurality of information groups displayed by the first display means;
Second display means for displaying a result searched by the second search means for the specified information group selected by the selection means ;
An information processing apparatus comprising:   The information according to claim 1, wherein the information group extraction unit extracts the information group when a search element associated with each of the information groups matches the plurality of extracted search elements. Processing equipment. A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to function as an information processing apparatus,
The computer
Connected to the network,
A database composed of a plurality of information groups each of which is classified and grouped by category and search element, a plurality of search elements for specifying the information group, and used for a call or communication And personal information , which is information that includes contact information ,
For each of the plurality of information groups, it has stored in association with the information group and one or more search elements,
The program is stored in the computer.
New data for updating the database is downloaded from the outside of the computer via the network in units of the information group, and the database is updated using the new data downloaded in units of the information group. A step to update,
A first search step of searching for the personal information based on the destination information when a call or a communication destination is specified by an input to the computer;
Extracting a plurality of search elements from the searched personal information;
Extracting a plurality of information groups by comparing a search element associated with each of the information groups and the plurality of extracted search elements;
A second search step of searching the information of each of the plurality of extracted information groups from the database using values of the plurality of extracted search elements as keys;
A first display step of displaying the multiple information groups that the extracted,
A selection step of selecting an information group designated by an input to the computer from the plurality of information groups displayed in the first display step;
A second display step for displaying a result searched in the second search step for the designated information group selected in the selection step;
A computer-readable recording medium for executing A method for a computer to display information,
The computer
Connected to the network,
A database composed of a plurality of information groups each of which is classified and grouped by category and search element, a plurality of search elements for specifying the information group, and used for a call or communication And personal information, which is information that includes contact information,
For each of the plurality of information groups, the information group and one or more search elements are stored in association with each other,
The method
New data for updating the database is downloaded from the outside of the computer via the network in units of the information group, and the database is updated using the new data downloaded in units of the information group. A step to update,
A first search step of searching for the personal information based on the destination information when a call or a communication destination is specified by an input to the computer;
Extracting a plurality of search elements from the searched personal information;
Extracting a plurality of information groups by comparing a search element associated with each of the information groups and the plurality of extracted search elements;
A second search step of searching the information of each of the plurality of extracted information groups from the database using values of the plurality of extracted search elements as keys;
A first display step of displaying the extracted plurality of information groups;
A selection step of selecting an information group designated by an input to the computer from the plurality of information groups displayed in the first display step;
A method of displaying information by a computer, comprising: a second display step of displaying a result searched in the second search step for the specified information group selected in the selection step.

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