JP2002183370A - Method and apparatus for collecting preference information - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To provide a preference information collection method and apparatus that can automatically collect preference information of a user who browses a web page via the Internet without making the user aware of the preference information. Kind Code: A1 Abstract: KEY information serving as a basis of preference information is associated with a hyperlink (product list 11) of a web page displayed on a client, and each time a hyperlink is selected by a user, KEY information associated with a WWW server is associated with the key information. The WWW server composes the preference information based on the acquired key information, stores the preference information in the client or the WWW server, and uses it for generating a web page.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for collecting preference information, and more particularly, to a method and an apparatus for automatically collecting preference information of individuals using the Internet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As the number of Internet users has increased, it has become possible for companies to directly transmit information to individual users using homepages. Also, being able to send information directly to a user means that different information can be sent to each user, so that information can be sent according to the user's personal preference.

For example, when a news is posted on a web page, fields such as politics, economy, and sports can be displayed in an order according to the user's interests and preferences.

[0004] When a product is sold at a shopping mall or the like on a web page, product information that matches the user's interests and preferences is preferentially displayed, and a banner according to the user's preference is displayed. By displaying an advertisement, it is possible to enhance the effect of the advertisement.

[0005] Displaying a page adapted to the personal preferences of the user in this manner is performed by CGI (Common Gat).
Such a page can be realized by a technique using an e.g. anyway interface, but if the user's personal preference information is unknown, such a page cannot be displayed.

Therefore, in order to display a page for an individual user, it is necessary to collect preference information of the user. As a method for collecting the preference information, it is common to conduct a questionnaire to the user. In addition, in a shopping mall or the like, a history of purchased products can be used as the preference information.

[0007]

As described above, a questionnaire is used as a method for obtaining personal preference information of a user. However, in order to collect personal preference information by a questionnaire, a user is required to collect personal preference information. Cooperation is essential. However, users may refuse to cooperate with the questionnaire for various reasons such as "It is troublesome", "I am afraid of leaking personal information", "Is unnecessary email sent?" In this case, the user's preference information cannot be obtained.

In the case where the history of purchased products is used as the preference information, the products browsed by the user are not targeted for the preference information. There is a drawback that it cannot be said that the product is adapted to the user's preference.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus for collecting preference information that can automatically collect user's personal preference information without being conscious of the user.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a preference information acquisition method for acquiring preference information of a user who browses a web page. A keyword corresponding to the link destination of the hyperlink is associated with the link, a keyword associated with the hyperlink is acquired when the hyperlink is selected by a user, and preference information is formed based on the acquired keyword. It is characterized by doing.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the keyword is embedded in the web page, and when the user selects the hyperlink, the keyword is displayed together with information on the link destination of the hyperlink. The method is characterized in that the keyword is obtained.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a table in which the keyword and the link destination of the hyperlink are associated with each other is stored when the user selects the hyperlink. It is characterized in that information of a link destination of a hyperlink is obtained, and the keyword is obtained by referring to the table based on the obtained information of the link destination.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the preference information is stored in a terminal used by each user, and the stored preference information is obtained from the terminal to acquire the preference information. Generate a web page based on the
When the preference information is updated, the updated preference information is stored in the terminal.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, an identifier is assigned to a terminal used by each user, and the preference information is separated for each user based on the identifier. It is characterized by the following.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, an address of a terminal used by each user is obtained, and the preference is determined based on an identifier of the terminal specified based on the address. The information is separated for each user.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a preference information acquisition apparatus for acquiring preference information of a user who browses information, and provides information including a hyperlink to a terminal connected via a network. Means, and when a hyperlink included in the information provided by the information providing means is selected by a user, keyword acquiring means for acquiring a keyword associated with the hyperlink,
A preference information configuration unit configured to configure preference information based on the keyword acquired by the keyword acquisition unit.

Each means is realized by software in a computer device.

[0018] In the invention according to claim 8, in the invention according to claim 7, the information providing means embeds the keyword in the information and provides the information to the terminal. The method is characterized in that a keyword embedded in information is obtained.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the seventh aspect, the keyword acquiring means holds a table in which the keyword and the link destination of the hyperlink are associated with each other. When selected, the information of the link destination of the hyperlink is obtained, and the keyword is obtained based on the obtained information of the link destination and the table.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the seventh aspect, a preference information storage unit for storing the preference information configured by the preference information configuration unit in the terminal, and a preference information stored in the terminal. And a preference information acquisition unit for acquiring, wherein the information providing unit generates information to be provided to the terminal based on the preference information acquired by the preference information acquisition unit, and the preference information storage unit includes the 8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein when the preference information configuration unit updates the preference information based on a keyword newly acquired by the keyword acquisition unit, the updated preference information is stored in the terminal. Preference information collection device.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the seventh aspect, an identifier assigning means for assigning an identifier to the terminal, and the preference information configuration based on the identifier assigned to the terminal by the identifier assigning means. And a preference information management means for managing preference information constituted by the means for each terminal.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the seventh aspect of the present invention, an address acquiring means for acquiring the address of the terminal and an identifier of the terminal are specified based on the address acquired by the address acquiring means. It is characterized by further comprising a terminal specifying means and a preference information managing means for managing the preference information configured by the preference information configuring means for each terminal based on the identifier specified by the terminal specifying means.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of a preference information collecting method and apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The present invention is used when transmitting information using the Internet network. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, a WWW server 2 connected to the Internet 1 and transmitting various information is transmitted to a client 3 (3-1, 3-2, 3-3) equipped with a web browser used by a user. )
The user's preference information is collected via.

For example, when the WWW server 2 transmits a web page 10 for selling a product as shown in FIG. 2, the user may select a product (group) list on the web page 10 displayed on the client 3. By selecting 11, the user browses the sales product. When a user selects a product list, the WWW server 2 acquires user preference information from the selected product list.

The preference information that can be obtained from the product list includes:
There is direct information and indirect information. For direct information,
Information on the selected product itself, for example, information that a user selects beer and that the user prefers beer among alcoholic beverages can be obtained. The indirect information is information estimated from the selected product. For example, it is possible to acquire information that a male is selected when an electric razor is selected and a woman is selected when a sanitary napkin is selected.

By associating such information with a hyperlink such as a product list on a web page, the WWW server 2 can acquire the information each time a user selects a hyperlink, and if necessary, Web page immediately reflecting the acquired information, for example, Web page 10
The advertisements 12-1 and 12-2 displayed according to the user's preference can be transmitted.

Next, an example of a method for associating information with a hyperlink and a method for acquiring the information will be described. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing information exchanged between the WWW server 2 and the client 3.

First, when information is not associated with a hyperlink, as shown in FIG. 3A, when a hyperlink is selected by the client 3, the URL of the hyperlink is selected.
Is notified to the WWW server 2, and the contents of the page as a result are returned from the WWW server 2 to the client 3.
In this case, the hyperlink contains <A href = "razor.html"
> Electric razor </A>.

On the other hand, when associating information with a hyperlink or the like, as shown in FIG. 3B, when a hyperlink is selected by the client 3, KEY which is information associated with the URL becomes: The WGI server 2 is notified as an argument when starting the CGI,
Acquires the KEY as the preference information and returns the page of the specified URL to the client 3. The description of the hyperlink in this case is <A href="cgi-bin/info.cgi?KEY=man&URL=razor.html">
Like an electric razor, the name of the CGI script to be started, information of man, and the URL of the web page to be displayed are described.

As described above, by associating information with a hyperlink when creating a web page, it is possible to acquire information associated when the hyperlink is selected.

Incidentally, it is desirable that the preference information collected as described above can be used not only when the client 3 continuously accesses the WWW server 2 but also when the client 3 accesses it after a certain period of time. . For this purpose, it is necessary to store the collected preference information.
There are two types on the W server 2 side.

When the preference information is stored in the client 3, a mechanism called a cookie (cookie) is used. The Cookie is for the WWW server 2 to write data to the accessed client 3 via a web browser, and uses this to read and write preference information.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing information transmitted and received between the WWW server 2 and the client 3 when the preference information is stored on the client 3 side. First, client 3
Makes a web page display request to the WWW server 2 by specifying a URL,
IE, the preference information is transmitted from the client 3 to the WWW server 2 (step 101). However, the client 3 does not always store the preference information, and if not, only the display request is transmitted.

Subsequently, a web page to be displayed is generated based on the preference information obtained by the WWW server 2 (step 102). However, if the preference information cannot be obtained, a web page is generated based on default settings. The generated web page is transmitted to the client 3 as page information (step 103) and displayed on the web browser of the client 3 (step 10).
4).

Next, when a hyperlink on the web page is selected by the client 3, as described above, the key associated with the preference information and the URL of the web page requested by the user are used as arguments of the CGI script. A start command is sent from client 3 to WWW server 2 together with preference information (step 105). WWW server 2
Then, the CGI script operates to update the preference information based on the argument KEY (step 106) and generate a web page to be displayed based on the updated preference information and the argument URL (step 107). The generated web page is returned to the client 3 together with the updated preference information (step 108), and displayed on the web browser of the client 3 (step 109). After that, the processing of steps 105 to 109 is repeated as necessary.

Next, a case where the preference information is stored in the WWW server 2 will be described. When storing the preference information on the WWW server 2 side, it is necessary to read out the stored preference information in association with the client 3. This association only needs to be able to identify the client 3. Therefore, if an IP address is statically assigned to the client 3, the IP 3
This can be done using an address.

However, since the client 3 used personally is often assigned an IP address dynamically, it is difficult to associate with the IP address. Therefore, it is conceivable that the WWW server 2 uniquely assigns a unique ID to the client 3 and stores this ID in the client 3 using Cookie.

Further, IPv6 (I), which is expected to start operation as a next-generation Internet protocol soon
In P version 6), the IP address is extended to 128 bits, and the lower 64 bits have an interface ID
, A hardware identifier that uniquely identifies the network connection interface device. In other words, even if the IP address is dynamically assigned, the lower 64 bits of the IP address do not change, so that the client 3 can be specified by acquiring the interface ID.

Here, the case where an ID is assigned to the client 3 using Cookie will be described first. FIG. 5 shows the WWW server 2 and the client 3 when the preference information is stored in the WWW server 2 using Cookie.
It is a figure showing information exchanged between. First, when the client 3 issues a web page display request to the WWW server 2 by specifying a URL, the terminal ID is transmitted from the client 3 to the WWW by the Cookie together with the display request.
It is transmitted to the W server 2 (step 201). Terminal ID
Is the terminal ID assigned to the client 3 by the WWW server 2 in the past.
If not, only a display request is sent.

Subsequently, the terminal I acquired by the WWW server 2
D to retrieve and acquire preference information (step 20).
2) Generate a web page to be displayed based on the acquired preference information (step 203). However, if the preference information cannot be obtained, a web page is generated based on default settings.

The web page generated by the WWW server 2 is transmitted to the client 3 as page information.
At the same time, the terminal ID is assigned to the client 3 to which no terminal ID is assigned by using Cookie (step 204), and the web page is
(Step 205).

Next, when a hyperlink on the web page is selected by the client 3, as described above, the key associated with the preference information and the URL of the web page requested by the user as arguments of the CGI script A start command is sent from the client 3 to the WWW server 2 (step 206). In the WWW server 2, the CGI script operates, updates the preference information based on the argument KEY (step 207), and updates the updated preference information and the argument U.
A web page to be displayed is generated based on the RL (step 208). The generated web page is returned to the client 3 (step 209) and displayed on the web browser of the client 3 (step 210). In addition,
Thereafter, the processing of steps 206 to 210 is repeated as necessary.

Further, the client 3
Is stored in the WWW server 2 on the side of the WWW server 2 for a certain period of time in association with the IP address, and when the client 3 issues a display request after the certain period of time has passed. The display request corresponds to the display request in step 201, and the search processing of the preference information in step 202 is performed again. Steps 206 and 2
In 09, the notification of the terminal ID by Cookie is not necessary, but may be notified.

Next, a case where the client 3 is specified by acquiring an interface ID from an IP address (IPv6) will be described. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing information exchanged between the WWW server 2 and the client 3 when the preference information is stored in the WWW server 2 using the interface ID.

First, when the client 3 issues a web page display request to the WWW server 2 by specifying a URL, the display request is sent from the client 3 to the WWW server 2.
(Step 301). WWW server 2
When the display request is received, an interface ID is obtained from the source IP address (IPv6) (step 302).

Subsequently, based on the interface ID acquired by the WWW server 2, the client retrieves and acquires the preference information corresponding to the client 3 (step 303), and generates a web page to be displayed based on the acquired preference information. (Step 304). However, if the preference information cannot be obtained, a web page is generated based on default settings.

The web page generated by the WWW server 2 is transmitted to the client 3 as page information (step 305) and displayed on the web browser of the client 3 (step 306).

Next, when a hyperlink on the web page is selected by the client 3, as described above, the key associated with the preference information and the URL of the CGI script using the URL of the web page requested by the user as arguments are used. A start command is sent from the client 3 to the WWW server 2 (step 307). In the WWW server 2, the CGI script operates, updates the preference information based on the argument KEY (step 308), and updates the updated preference information and the argument U.
A web page to be displayed is generated based on the RL (step 309). The generated web page is returned to the client 3 (step 310) and displayed on the web browser of the client 3 (step 311). In addition,
Thereafter, the processing of steps 307 to 311 is repeated as necessary.

In the above description, the KEY for composing the preference information is described in the web page, and is passed from the client 3 to the WWW server 2 as an argument when a hyperlink is selected. , KEY in the WWW server 2 without describing it in the web page.
Y can be collected.

For example, the WWW server 2 is configured to hold a table in which the URL of the hyperlink is associated with the KEY in advance, and the WWW server 2 acquires the KEY from the URL to form the preference information. can do.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing information exchanged between the WWW server 2 and the client 3 when specifying the KEY on the WWW server 2 side.

First, when the client 3 requests the WWW server 2 to display a web page by specifying a URL, the display request is sent from the client 3 to the WWW server 2.
(Step 401). At this time, when the WWW server 2 specifies the client 3 using the Cookie (corresponding to the description of FIG. 5 described above), the terminal ID is transmitted from the client 3 to the WWW server 2 by the Cookie together with the display request. Also, WWW server 2
However, when the client 3 is specified using the interface ID (corresponding to the description of FIG. 6 described above), when the display request is received, the IP address (IPv4
Get the interface ID from 6) (Step 40)
2).

Subsequently, the terminal I acquired by the WWW server 2
D or the preference information is retrieved and acquired based on the interface ID (step 403), and a web page to be displayed is generated based on the acquired preference information (step 4).
04). However, if the preference information cannot be obtained, a web page is generated based on default settings.

The web page generated by the WWW server 2 is transmitted to the client 3 as page information (step 405) and displayed on the web browser of the client 3 (step 406).

Next, when the hyperlink on the web page is selected by the client 3, the URL of the web page of the link destination is sent from the client 3 to the WWW server 2 (step 407). The WWW server 2 specifies the KEY from the received URL with reference to the table (step 408), and updates the preference information based on the specified KEY (step 409). Then, a web page to be displayed is generated based on the updated preference information and the received URL (step 410). The generated web page is returned to the client 3 (step 411),
It is displayed on the web browser of the client 3 (step 412). After that, the processing of steps 407 to 412 is repeated as necessary.

Here, the case where the WWW server 2 stores the preference information in the WWW server 2 has been described as an operation example when the WWW server 2 holds a table in which the URL of the link destination is associated with the KEY. 3, the preference information can be configured by specifying the KEY, and the result can be stored in the client 3 using Cookie or the like.

[0058]

As described above, according to the present invention, the key information as the basis of the preference information is associated with the hyperlink of the web page to be displayed, and the associated key information is selected each time the hyperlink is selected. Since it is configured to acquire and collect the preference information, the user can acquire the page according to the preference only by browsing the web page by a normal operation, and the website performs a questionnaire and the like. The user's preference information can be automatically collected without the need.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a connection configuration of an Internet network.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a display example of a web page.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing information exchanged between a WWW server 2 and a client 3.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing information exchanged between the WWW server 2 and the client 3 when preference information is stored on the client 3 side.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing information exchanged between a WWW server 2 and a client 3 when preference information is stored on the WWW server 2 side using a cookie.

FIG. 6 shows a WWW server 2 using an interface ID.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing information exchanged between a WWW server 2 and a client 3 when preference information is stored on the side.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating W when the WWW server 2 specifies a KEY.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing information exchanged between a WW server 2 and a client 3.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Internet network 2 WWW server 3 (3-1, 3-2, 3-3) Client 10 Web page 11 Product list 12-1, 12-2 Advertising

Claims (12)

[Claims] In a preference information acquiring method for acquiring preference information of a user who browses a web page, a hyperlink displayed in the web page is associated with a keyword corresponding to a link destination of the hyperlink, and the hyperlink is A preference information collection method comprising: acquiring a keyword associated with the hyperlink when selected by a user; and configuring preference information based on the acquired keyword. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the keyword is embedded in the web page, and when the user selects the hyperlink, the keyword is acquired together with information on a link destination of the hyperlink. Preference information collection method. 3. A table that associates the keyword with the link destination of the hyperlink is stored, and when the user selects the hyperlink, information on the link destination of the hyperlink is acquired, and the acquired information is acquired. 2. The preference information collection method according to claim 1, wherein the keyword is acquired by referring to the table based on information of a link destination. 4. Saving the preference information in a terminal used by each user, acquiring the stored preference information from the terminal, generating a web page based on the preference information, and updating the preference information. The updated preference information is stored in the terminal when the update is performed.
The described preference information collection method. 5. The preference information collection method according to claim 1, wherein an identifier is assigned to a terminal used by each user, and the preference information is sorted for each user based on the identifier. . 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein an address of a terminal used by each user is obtained, and the preference information is classified for each user based on an identifier of the terminal specified based on the address. The preference information collection method according to claim 1. 7. A preference information acquisition device for acquiring preference information of a user who browses information, an information providing means for providing information including a hyperlink to a terminal connected via a network, and the information providing means. When a user selects a hyperlink included in the information provided by the user, a keyword acquiring unit that acquires a keyword associated with the hyperlink, and preference information is configured based on the keyword acquired by the keyword acquiring unit. A preference information collection unit, comprising: 8. The information providing unit, wherein the keyword is embedded in the information and provided to the terminal, and the keyword obtaining unit obtains the keyword embedded in the information by the providing unit. The preference information collection device according to claim 7. 9. The keyword acquiring unit holds a table in which the keyword and the link destination of the hyperlink are associated, and when the user selects the hyperlink, information on the link destination of the hyperlink 8. The preference information collection device according to claim 7, wherein the keyword is acquired based on the acquired link destination information and the table. 10. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a preference information storage unit configured to store the preference information configured by the preference information configuration unit in the terminal; and a preference information acquisition unit configured to acquire the preference information stored in the terminal. Providing means, based on the preference information acquired by the preference information acquisition means,
Generating information to be provided to the terminal, wherein the preference information storage means updates the preference information when the preference information configuration means updates the preference information based on the keyword newly acquired by the keyword acquisition means. The preference information collection device according to claim 7, wherein the preference information is stored in the terminal. 11. An identifier assigning means for assigning an identifier to the terminal, and a preference for managing preference information configured by the preference information forming means for each terminal based on the identifier assigned to the terminal by the identifier assigning means. The preference information collection device according to claim 7, further comprising an information management unit. 12. An address acquiring unit for acquiring an address of the terminal, and based on the address acquired by the address acquiring unit.
A terminal specifying unit that specifies an identifier of the terminal; and a preference information management unit that manages, for each terminal, preference information configured by the preference information configuration unit based on the identifier specified by the terminal specification unit. 8. The preference information collection device according to claim 7, wherein: