JP2002073682A - Information retrieval service device and its method and user terminal equipment corresponding to internet and its using method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information retrieval service device which can receive the retrieval service from an information retrieval service site with the shortest Internet connection time and even with use of a cellular phone having a small display screen size. SOLUTION: This information retrieval service device 10 is provided with a retrieval condition receiving means 12 which receives the retrieval condition from the user terminal equipment 30, a Web retrieval means 14 which retrieves a Web site or a web page in accordance with the retrieval condition and a mail transmitting means 16 which transmits the retrieval result by en electronic mail to the equipment 30.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information retrieval service using an Internet-compatible mobile phone.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in searching a Web site on the Internet, a user first connects a user terminal device to the Internet. Then, the Web page of the information search service site is displayed on the screen of the user terminal device. Next, the user inputs search conditions and causes the information search service site to search. Then, the search result is output to the Web page of the information search service site, and this is output to the Web
By displaying the search result on the browser b, the user can recognize the search result. Then, the user needs to always connect the user terminal device to the Internet during this time. Further, the search result may reach several tens of pages depending on the search condition.
In addition, development of Internet Web sites and Web pages has been promoted with the specifications of personal computers in mind. The screen of a personal computer generally has a relatively large display area of about 15 inches.

[0003]

However, the conventional Web
In an information search service using a page, it is necessary for the user to be connected to the Internet while using the service, and the user is not able to make or receive a call during that time. Also, during connection, regardless of whether you are entering search conditions, searching on the server of the information search service site, or browsing the search results, call charges may always be charged. Was imposed.

[0004] In addition, Internet-compatible mobile phones having an e-mail and browser function are rapidly spreading. However, this Internet-enabled mobile phone,
Since the display screen is about 4 inches, which is much smaller than a personal computer, there is a problem that it is extremely difficult to display search results on a search screen of a conventional information search service site.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and
An object of the present invention is to provide an information search service device that can minimize the Internet connection time and can enjoy a search service of an information search service site even with a mobile phone having a narrow display screen.

[0006]

The information retrieval service apparatus 10 of the present invention which solves the above-mentioned problems has a structure as shown in FIG.
Search condition receiving means 12 for receiving the search conditions transmitted from the user terminal device 30, and Web search means 14 for searching a Web site or a Web page according to the search conditions
And a mail transmitting means 16 for transmitting the search result by an electronic mail addressed to the user terminal device.

[0007] In the device configured as described above, the information search service device 10 receives the search condition transmitted from the user terminal device 30 and transmits the search result by e-mail addressed to the user terminal device. Therefore, the user terminal device 30
Can check the search result by checking the received mail as needed without always connecting to the communication line 20, and the communication cost can be reduced.

[0008] Preferably, the following configuration makes the search results easy to see and use even when the user terminal device 30 has a small screen such as a mobile phone.
First, if the search result is configured to be transmitted including the URL address of the Web page, the target Web page can be browsed quickly. Further, when a search result indicates that a Web page exceeding a predetermined number (α) is hit, the search result is classified into categories and transmitted, so that a large number of search results can be displayed in an easy-to-read manner. Also,
If there is no Web page that hits the search result, the search is performed under conditions close to the search result, and the search result is sent by e-mail addressed to the user terminal device. If the user searches again Of the search conditions can be obtained.
Also, when there is no Web page that hits the search results,
Alternatively, when a Web page exceeding a predetermined number (α) is hit, if the search condition is received again from the user terminal device, the search can be narrowed down to an appropriate number of search results, which is suitable for a small screen. Get elite search results.

Preferably, the search condition transmitted from the user terminal device is configured to transmit the search condition to the information search service device by e-mail according to a predetermined format, and the transmission and reception of the search condition is standardized. Thus, information can be smoothly exchanged between the user terminal device and the information search service device. Further, if the predetermined number of search results (α) based on the specifications of the user terminal device, the number of display characters, the designation of the outline, and the like are transmitted to the information search service device, the information search service device transmits the designation. In determining the format of the electronic mail of the search result, it is possible to reflect the circumstances of the display screen of the user terminal device. Further, if at least one program or data of the search condition receiving means, the Web search means, or the mail sending means is configured to be backed up, reliability is improved.

An information search service method according to the present invention for solving the above problems receives a search condition transmitted from a user terminal device, and according to the search condition, a Web site or a Web site.
A step of retrieving a page and transmitting the retrieval result by e-mail addressed to the user terminal device.

As shown in FIG. 1, the Internet-compatible user terminal device according to the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems includes a search condition transmitting means 32 for transmitting a search condition to the information search service device 10, and a search in accordance with the search condition. Search result receiving means 3 for receiving the search result of the Web page by e-mail
4 and a Web page browsing means 36 for selecting the URL address of the Web page of the search result and browsing the Web page. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of using an Internet-compatible user terminal device, wherein a search condition is transmitted to an information search service device, and a search result of a Web page searched according to the search condition is received by e-mail. Then, the method includes a step of selecting a URL address of the Web page of the search result and browsing the Web page.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, an information search service device 10 searches for a web site or a web page according to a search condition receiving unit 12 that receives a search condition transmitted from a user terminal device 30 via a communication line 20 according to the search condition. Web search means 14, e-mail transmission means 16 for transmitting the search result by e-mail addressed to user terminal device 30, category summary having text describing the outline of the category while classifying Web sites and Web pages into categories It has a database 18.
The Web search means 14 arranges the search results into three types according to the search results, and transmits the e-mail. The backup device 19 backs up at least one program or data of the search condition receiving means 12, the Web search means 14, or the mail sending means 16.
For example, a magnetic tape recording medium is used.

The communication line 20 is a mobile communication line, and may be an automobile telephone or a satellite telephone line. User terminal device 30
Is a mobile phone compatible with the Internet. The user terminal device 30 includes a search condition transmitting unit 32 that transmits search conditions to the information search service device 10 by e-mail, and a search result receiving unit that receives, by e-mail, a search result of a Web page searched according to the search conditions. 34 and W of the search result
Web page browsing means 36 for selecting a URL address of the Web page and browsing the Web page.

The operation of the apparatus having the above-mentioned configuration will be described below. FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the exchange between the user terminal device and the information search service device. The user sends an e-mail describing search conditions to the information search service device 10 through the user terminal device 30 (S100). Then, the information search service device 10 searches for a Web site or a Web page corresponding to the search condition (S10).
2). Then, processing is performed by classifying into three types according to the number of search results (S104).

In the first type, the number of search results is 1 or more and a predetermined number α.
This is the case (S110). The predetermined number α is a number suitable for the display screen of the mobile phone, for example, ten. In this case, the information search service device 10 transmits the search result by describing the detailed contents of the corresponding Web page and the respective URL addresses in an e-mail (S112). The user terminal device 30 browses the received search result e-mail, selects a URL address of a Web page to be browsed by the user, and presses a button (S114). Then, the user terminal device 30 is automatically connected to the Internet, and the Web page of the selected URL address is displayed on the display screen (S116). Preferably, a predetermined number (α) of search results based on the specifications of the user terminal device 30;
It is preferable that the information such as the number of characters to be displayed and the presence or absence of an outline be transmitted to the information retrieval service device 10. In the presence / absence of summary, only title (including link information), title + U
RL, title + URL + summary, etc. Also,
The predetermined number (α), the number of display characters, the presence or absence of the outline, and the like may be specified by the user himself in accordance with the user terminal device 30.

The second type is a case where the number of search results is equal to or more than a predetermined number α (S120). In this case, if the first type of display method is adopted, there is too much information to be displayed, and it is difficult for the user to determine which Web page to browse. Therefore, the information search service device 10 classifies the search results into categories, and sends an outline of the category and the number of hits in an e-mail (S122). The category summary is registered in a category summary database 18 provided in the information search service device 10. The user views the electronic mail of the search result received by the user terminal device 30 and resets appropriate search conditions so that the search result is less than the predetermined number α. And the user is the user terminal device 30
As a result, an e-mail describing the reset search conditions is transmitted to the information search service device 10 (S124). The information search service device 10 is a web site or a web site that satisfies the search condition transmitted from the user terminal device 30 again.
Search eb page. Since the user terminal device 30 transmits the search condition again by using the e-mail, the user terminal device 30 need only be connected to the telephone line only when sending and receiving the e-mail, without always connecting the telephone line.

The third type is a case where the search result is zero (S130). In this case, the search condition is special or too restrictive. Therefore, the information search service device 10 describes the outline of the category and the number of hits under the conditions close to the search condition in an e-mail and transmits the e-mail (S132). For example, if the initial search condition is (A and B and C),
Conditions that are close to the search conditions are (A and B) and (A and C). The user receives the e-mail from the user terminal device 30
Then, referring to the summary of categories under conditions close to the search conditions and the number of hits, an appropriate search condition is set again such that the number of search results is equal to or less than a predetermined number α. Then, the user sends an e-mail describing the reset search conditions to the information search service device 10 through the user terminal device 30 (S12).
4). Preferably, in resetting the search condition, the information search service device 10 may present the recommended narrowing condition to the user terminal device 30. The recommended narrowing condition is, for example, a condition in which the search condition is relaxed with respect to the search condition in which the search result is zero.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a normal electronic mail receiving screen in a mobile phone. On the normal e-mail reception screen, normal options appear in the processing menu. Common choices include saving email, clearing email,
There is a transfer of the email to another mobile phone.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a search result receiving screen in the mobile phone. If your search criteria are set properly,
The first type of e-mail is transmitted from the information retrieval service device 10. As shown in FIG. 4A, the detailed contents of the corresponding Web page as a search result, for example, “Hokkaido sightseeing diary” and the respective URL addresses, for example, “http: // w
ww.xxx.jp] is displayed. In the processing menu, a URL selection appears in addition to the normal options. Then, when the user selects the URL selection, a selection bar appears on the URL of the screen as shown in FIG. Then, the user operates the up and down keys attached to the mobile phone to move the selection bar, and as shown in FIG.
Above, for example, overlap the selection bar on "http://www.yyy.jp",
Press the Enter key. Then, as shown in FIG. 4D, the Internet is automatically connected to the selected URL address,
You can browse the web page "Travel Information".

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a reception screen when the search condition is loose and a search result corresponding to the second type is obtained.
The search conditions are illustrated, for example, in the case of “Hokkaido” and “sightseeing”. As shown in FIG. 5A, the search result is displayed as "Too many results.
Indicates that the type is applicable. Categories are displayed in three major categories, “region”, “sports”, and “others”, and the number of hits is described in an e-mail and transmitted. Preferably, a middle classification or a small classification is provided as a subordinate concept of the large classification. Here, the user selects the middle category “Nature” in the large category “Others”
And "tourism" and "nature".

As shown in FIG. 5B, it is assumed that three hits, "Hokkaido Creature Natural Tourism", "Hokkaido Shiretoko Nature Tourism", and "Hokkaido Natural Park Tourism" are found as re-search results. When the user clicks, for example, “Hokkaido Creature Nature Tourism”, the reception screen displays the “Hokkaido Creature Nature Tourism” W
Jump to eb page.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a reception screen in a case where search conditions are severe and search results corresponding to the third type are obtained.
For example, it is assumed that the search condition is "" Makomanai "and" sightseeing "", and Makomanai is a sightseeing spot in Sapporo, Hokkaido.
Then, the search condition is too strict, and “Result is 0” is displayed as shown in FIG. Even in such a case, the information search service device 10 writes the outline of the category and the number of hits under the conditions close to the search conditions in an e-mail and transmits it. For example, by the similar concept function, “Makomanai travel ＄ case”, “Makomanai + case”, and “Sapporo sightseeing ** case” are displayed. Here, the user performs a search again for "Makomanai".

As shown in FIG. 6 (B), it is assumed that three hits, "Makomanai Fudo Guidance", "Makomanai Travel Diary", and "Makomanai Inn" are found as re-search results. When the user clicks, for example, “Makomanai Travel Diary”, the reception screen jumps to the “Makomanai Travel Diary” Web page.

In the above embodiment, a mobile phone having both a display function and a communication function is used as a user terminal device.
Although the case where the communication line is a mobile communication line has been described, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a portable information terminal device or a notebook personal computer which does not have a communication function by itself may be connected to a mobile communication terminal such as a public telephone line or a mobile phone. Even when a desktop personal computer is connected to a home fixed-line telephone communication line, communication time can be reduced by sending and receiving search conditions by e-mail as compared with a case where an information search service is searched directly on a Web site. .

In some cases, a user describes a search condition in a natural language and sends it to the information search service device 10. In this case, in the case of a complicated content or a foreign language that cannot be understood by the information search service device 10, the information search service device 10 forwards the search condition mail to the full-time searcher, and the full-time searcher writes in a natural language. The search condition may be appropriately interpreted or translated to extract the search formula, and the search may be executed.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The information search service device receives the search condition transmitted from the user terminal device, and transmits a search result by e-mail addressed to the user terminal device. Therefore, the user terminal device can check the search result by checking the received mail as appropriate without constantly connecting to the communication line, which has the effect of reducing the communication cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an exchange between a user terminal device and an information search service device.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a normal e-mail reception screen on a mobile phone.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of search result reception in a mobile phone.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a reception screen when a search condition corresponding to a second type is obtained due to loose search conditions.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a reception screen in a case where search conditions are severe and search results corresponding to the third type are obtained.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Information search service apparatus 12 Search condition receiving means 14 Web search means 16 Mail transmission means 20 Communication line 30 User terminal device 32 Search condition transmission means 34 Search result receiving means 36 Web page browsing means

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A means for receiving a search condition transmitted from a user terminal device, a means for searching a web site or a web page according to the search condition, and a search result obtained by e-mail addressed to the user terminal device An information search service device comprising: a transmitting unit. 2. The search result is a URL of a Web page.
2. The information search service device according to claim 1, wherein the information search service device transmits the information including the address. 3. The information search according to claim 1, wherein, when the search result is a Web page exceeding a predetermined number (α), the search result is categorized and transmitted. Service equipment. 4. When there is no Web page that hits the search result, the search is performed under a condition close to the search result, and the search result is transmitted by e-mail addressed to the user terminal device. The information search service device according to claim 1. 5. When there is no Web page that hits the search result, or when a Web page exceeding a predetermined number (α) is hit, a search condition is received again from the user terminal device. The information search service device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein 6. The information search service device according to claim 1, wherein the search condition transmitted from the user terminal device is obtained by e-mailing the search condition according to a predetermined format. An information search service device transmitted to an information search service device. 7. The information search service device according to claim 1, wherein a predetermined number (α) of search results based on specifications of the user terminal device, the number of display characters, the presence or absence of an outline, and the like. The information search service device transmits the designation of the information search service to the information search service device. 8. The information search service device according to claim 1, further comprising a backup of at least one program or data of said search condition receiving means, Web search means, or mail transmission means. An information retrieval service device characterized by having means. 9. Receiving a search condition transmitted from the user terminal device, searching a Web site or a web page according to the search condition, and transmitting the search result by an e-mail addressed to the user terminal device. An information retrieval service method comprising: 10. A procedure for receiving a search condition transmitted from a user terminal device, a procedure for searching for a Web site or a web page according to the search condition, and transmitting the search result by e-mail addressed to the user terminal device. A computer-readable recording medium that records a transmitting procedure and a program for causing a computer to execute the procedure. 11. A means for transmitting a search condition to an information search service device, a means for receiving a search result of a Web page searched in accordance with the search condition by e-mail, and selecting a URL address of a Web page of the search result Means for browsing the web page; and an internet-compatible user terminal device. 12. A search condition is transmitted to an information search service device, a search result of a Web page searched in accordance with the search condition is received by e-mail, and a URL address of the Web page of the search result is selected. A method for using a user terminal device compatible with the Internet, characterized by browsing a Web page. 13. A procedure for transmitting a search condition to an information search service device, a procedure for receiving a search result of a Web page searched according to the search condition by e-mail, and selecting a URL address of the Web page of the search result. And a computer-readable recording medium that records a procedure for browsing the Web page and a program for causing a user terminal device compatible with the Internet to execute the procedure.