JP2003022203A - Content analysis device, content analysis method, program, and recording medium therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To provide a content analysis device, a content analysis method, a program, and a recording medium for efficiently caching content data. A content separation unit separates acquired content data into analysis target data, and a content management unit manages the separated analysis target data as independent cache data, a content analysis method, a program, and a program. The recording medium is provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a content analysis device, a content analysis method, a program, and a recording medium for a portable information terminal, a home electric appliance, a personal computer or the like connected to a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the expansion of networks, various clients have come to be connected to the networks. An example is a home appliance network that connects home appliances to a network. The home electric appliance network connects home electric appliances such as a refrigerator in the home as a client to the network, and exchanges information between the home electric appliances to perform cooperative operation. For example, using a mobile phone or remote controller, turn on the power of home appliances connected to the network.
Turning on / off and adjusting power consumption are also cooperative operations using the home appliance network.

In such a network, some clients perform control using a specific communication protocol, but in this case, clients having different industries such as home electric appliances and mobile phones and having different communication functions are used. There is a problem that it is difficult to exchange information between them. XML (eXtensible Markup Language) is a method to solve the problem.
And mutual communication is realized using content data represented by HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language).

In this method, by transmitting / receiving the content data having a common format such as XML or HTML, the cooperative operation and the information transmission can be realized without depending on each client.

A client that handles such content data is equipped with a content analysis device,
It has a function to analyze contents. Each client interprets the content data using this content analysis device and performs the processing required by the client.

[0006] For example, as the most common content analysis device, there is a browser included in a mobile phone. The browser analyzes (interprets) content data (HTML) acquired from a server on the Internet, for example, and then displays the content according to the interpretation.

[0007] Further, for example, when operating each home appliance, the command (content data) described in the above XML or the like,
There is also a method of transmitting via a network. Here, for example, the instruction is “power supply = OFF” or the like. The content analysis device included in the client that receives the command analyzes the command, converts the command into a command unique to each client based on the interpretation, and controls the command. In other words, the client equipped with the content analysis device turns off the power supply only by transmitting the command “power supply = OFF”.
As a result, a wide variety of clients can be operated with commands having the same format, and communication between clients can be seamlessly performed.

[0008] By the way, in such a content analysis device, a process of saving the acquired content data in the cache memory is performed in order to reduce the number of times of communication and the network connection time. When the acquired content data in the cache memory is accessed in the content analysis device, the content analysis device fetches the content data in the cache memory without acquiring the content data from the network. Thereby, the content data can be analyzed without communicating with the network.

A conventional process of caching content data will be briefly described with reference to FIG.
In FIG. 21, the content analysis device 2100 is a browser included in, for example, a personal computer. The content analysis apparatus 2100 receives, for example, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) input from the content acquisition instruction unit 2107 such as a keyboard. The URL is information including the server on the network 2102, the location of content data stored in the server, and the like. The content analysis device 21
The analysis target acquisition means 2105 constituting 00 is the UR
When receiving L, first, the content management means 2104
Is inquired whether or not the content data indicated by the URL is in the cache memory 2103. The content management means 2104 searches the cache memory 2103 based on the inquiry and the URL and confirms whether or not there is corresponding content data.

If there is no content data corresponding to the URL, the content management means 21
04 notifies the analysis target acquisition means 2105 of the information to that effect. Upon receiving the information indicating that the content data does not exist, the analysis target acquisition means 2105 receives the U
The content data on the network 2102 indicated by RL is acquired via the network means 2101.

The analysis target acquisition means 2105 transmits the content data thus acquired to the content analysis means 2106 and the content management means 2104.

The content management means 2104 stores (caches) all the content data received from the analysis target acquisition means 2105 in the cache memory 2103 to prepare for the subsequent inquiry.

The content analysis means 2106 analyzes the contents described in the content data acquired by the analysis target acquisition means 2105 and sends the result of the analysis to the control means 2110. The content described in the content data is, for example, display of characters or images on a display.

Control means 211 which has received the result of the above analysis
0 indicates an instruction corresponding to the above analysis result to each control device 211.
The content described in the above-mentioned content data is realized by transmitting the data to the content data No. 1. Here, for example, the control device 2111 is a display or a power supply device, and the command is display of characters or images, power ON / OFF, or the like.

When the content management means 2104 searches the cache memory 2103 and content data corresponding to the URL exists, the content management means 2104 analyzes the content data stored in the cache memory. Target acquisition means 2105
Send to.

When the analysis object acquisition means 2105 acquires the content data from the content management means 2104, the analysis object acquisition means 2105 transmits the content data to the content analysis means 2106 without accessing a server on the network 2102.

The subsequent processing is the same as when the content data is acquired from the server on the network 2102.

The above is the outline of the conventional cache processing.

Some content analyzers having the above cache memory cannot secure a sufficient cache area due to memory restrictions. That is, for example, if the home electric appliance is a large one as described above, the cost is high, but it is possible to provide a sufficient cache memory. However, in a portable terminal such as a mobile phone, a cache memory is often not sufficiently provided due to physical restrictions. Of course, in consideration of cost, it is desirable to reduce the cache memory.

As described above, efficient use of the cache memory is required for a client that cannot be provided with a large amount of cache memory in terms of cost and physically.

As a conventional technique for efficiently using the cache memory, for example, when the cache memory becomes insufficient, there is a method of securing the cache memory of the newly received content data by deleting the oldest content data. However, there is a problem that even the frequently used content data is deleted from the cache memory.

As a method for solving this problem, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 11-120060 discloses a technique of storing the expiration date together with the representative content data. In this method, whether or not to read the content data from the cache memory is determined using the expiration date. If the expiration date is not reached, the cache memory is used. It is obtained from a different client that is connected.

As another conventional technique, there is a method of deleting the content data that is least frequently used. In this case, even if the content data is old, if it is used frequently, there is an advantage that it is not deleted from the cache memory.

[0024]

However, as described above, the content data is data having a format common to various clients. Therefore, an operation method is considered in which, for example, one content data includes instructions for various clients.
However, in this case, some clients may include unnecessary information. For example, a command (information) related to display (corresponding to another client, for example) in the same content data has no meaning for the content analysis device provided in the client having no display function. However, in the above-mentioned conventional technique, since unnecessary content data is also stored in the cache memory, a large amount of cache memory is required. In other words, various clients will be connected to the network, and a highly convenient operation using content data will be possible, but at the same time, it is necessary to increase the capacity of the cache memory.

However, as described above, it may be physically impossible depending on the client, and it is desirable to reduce the cache memory in terms of cost.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a content analysis device, a content analysis method, a program, and a recording medium thereof for efficiently caching content data. is there.

[0027]

The present invention employs the following means in order to achieve the above object. That is, the present invention is premised on a content analysis device including an analysis target acquisition unit that acquires content data described in ML (Markup Language) via a network, and a content analysis unit that analyzes the content of the content data. I am trying. Here, the content separation unit separates the acquired content data into analysis target data, and the content management unit manages the separated analysis target data as independent cache data.

Therefore, in the above content analysis device, it is possible to reduce the size of the cache memory. Further, since the data to be analyzed is stored in the smallest unit that can be analyzed and is independently managed by the content management means, the content analysis means receives only necessary information. Therefore, improvement in analysis speed can be expected. Furthermore, for example, even when cache data is deleted due to lack of the capacity of the cache memory, the cache data to be deleted can be minimized, so that the cache data is more likely to hit.

Further, the content analysis means has a structure for analyzing separated analysis target data instead of the acquired content data.

As a result, the content analysis means does not need to analyze unnecessary portions, and as a result, the analysis processing can be speeded up.

The analysis target data separated by the content separating means may be one card in the card & deck system. In particular, the card & deck method is a method adopted in a device having a relatively small cache memory such as a mobile phone, so that the effect obtained by efficient operation of the cache memory is great.

Further, a header in which a description commonly used by the cards is described may be used as the analysis target data.

With this configuration, it is not necessary to store information necessary for analyzing each card in a plurality of cards, and as a result, it is possible to effectively use the cache memory.

Further, the content separating means is provided with an analysis target determining means for giving the content separating means a condition for separating the analysis target data, and the content separating means is configured to separate the content data based on the condition given by the analysis target determining means. Good.

The condition is, for example, to separate only the description specified by a predetermined element, to separate only the description that can be analyzed by the content analysis means, or to separate only the description excluding the part related to the expression. There are conditions for doing so.

The condition may be given by an external input.

That is, since the content separating means flexibly separates the analysis target data based on the instruction of the analysis target determining means, only the necessary analysis target can be separated according to various situations, and the cache memory is more efficient. Can be used well.

Further, the content management means has a configuration for deleting the analysis target data stored in the cache memory based on a predetermined priority.

Here, the priority can be determined based on the storage time of the analysis target data, the access time of the analysis target data in the cache memory, the expiration date of the analysis target data, and the like.

Further, the content management means may be configured to manage the information of the deleted analysis target data.

For example, whether or not the analysis target data has been deleted by managing the analysis target data (deletion) according to the list of fragment identifiers and the deletion history and the presence or absence of the analysis target data in the cache memory, or , It can be determined whether the content does not exist. Therefore, even if analysis target data that does not exist is specified, the analysis target data (default contents) can be used without accessing the network in some cases.

Further, the analysis target acquisition means may acquire only the target analysis target data via the network by using an identifier such as a fragment identifier.

With this configuration, when the analysis target data deleted from the cache memory is acquired via the network, the analysis target acquisition means re-acquires the data except the other contents stored in the cache memory. The above communication data can be reduced.

Further, when the sub-content designated by the link information described in the content data is treated as cache data, the link management means manages the association information which is the information regarding the link between the content data and the sub-content. However, the content management means has a configuration for managing (deleting) cache data of sub-contents based on the association information.

With this structure, unnecessary sub-contents can be surely deleted based on the deletion of the content data which is the source of the link.

Further, the link management means has a structure in which the sub-contents used by the plurality of pieces of analysis target data are treated as links of the analysis target data corresponding to the header.

With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the header from being deleted from the cache memory earlier than the analysis target data that constitutes the same content data as the header.
Further, it is possible to reduce the capacity of the associated information for managing the link.

The present invention may be provided as a program that is individually distributed via a telecommunication line or the like. This program cooperates with a control device that includes a CPU that controls a cache memory and the like, and causes this control device to function as the content analysis device described above. For example, when the control device controls the cache memory according to the program or the content analysis device operates, the present invention is implemented as a content analysis method. The program may be distributed in a state of being recorded in a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM.

[0049]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings to provide an understanding of the present invention.
It should be noted that the following embodiment is an example in which the present invention is embodied, and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

(Embodiment 1) As a specific example, a process using a mobile phone equipped with a browser and capable of referring to content data on a network will be described. Prior to the description, content data using the card & deck method, which is mainly used in mobile phones in recent years, will be described.

When browsing content data (Web page) on a personal computer or the like, HTML is used.
Download each time. However, in the case of content for mobile phones, since the display is small, there is little information that can be displayed on the display. Therefore, one HT
When the information for one screen of the display is stored in the ML, the mobile phone needs to access the server many times when browsing the information over a plurality of pages. Therefore, communication traffic and the number of times of access to the server increase, and an extra load is applied to the network and the server. On the other hand, if the information for a plurality of pages is stored in one HTML, for example, the mobile phone that is not provided with sufficient operability due to physical restrictions must scroll the HTML endlessly. , It can be said that it is not easy to use.

Therefore, for example, WML (Wireless Markup Langua) which is content data corresponding to the above-mentioned mobile phone.
ge), a card & deck format is used.

In the above card & deck system, as shown in FIG. 2, a header 203 and one deck 202 in the content 201, and a plurality of cards 2 in the deck 202.
04 to 207 are stored. In the mobile phone, when the card & deck type content data is received, first, the content data is displayed according to the card 204 shown in FIG. 2, and the card 205 and the card 206 are sequentially displayed by the user's page turning operation, for example. . In other words, by configuring content data in predetermined units of cards and decks and setting the amount of information per screen (per card) to an appropriate amount, content data for multiple pages can be accessed with one access to the server. In addition to being able to obtain it, it is possible to switch pages with a simple operation. Note that the page turning operation is, for example, by performing a predetermined description in the header of the content data to display a button for sequentially browsing the cards (page turning button) or to display link information for different pages (cards). It is realized by describing in each card.

In the above card & deck system, the above URL
In addition to this, by inputting a fragment identifier described later, it is possible to directly display the card pointed to by the fragment identifier from the contents of the URL. That is, the format indicated by "URL # fragment identifier" (specifically, "http://www.aaa.
bbb.co.jp/index.html #fragment "), it is possible to display the card indicated by the above" fragment ".

Now, based on the structure of the content data of the card & deck system, the content analysis apparatus in the first embodiment will be described.

In the first embodiment, it is assumed that a mobile phone equipped with a content analysis device is connected to a server that provides content data via a network (wireless network).

First, FIG. 1 shows a functional configuration of the content analysis apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment. The content analysis device 100 includes a network unit 101, an analysis target acquisition unit 105, a content management unit 104, a cache memory 108, a content analysis unit 106, and a control unit 1.
10 and further includes a content separating unit 103. Further, as a means (apparatus) for performing processing in cooperation with the content analysis apparatus 100, the content acquisition instruction means 107 and the control device 111 are connected.

The detailed processing of each means and device will be described step by step.

First, a series of flows in the content analysis apparatus 100 of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the user inputs a URL in which desired information is stored by using the content acquisition means 107 such as a numeric keypad provided in a mobile phone, the input U is input.
The RL is transmitted to the analysis target acquisition means 105.

Upon receipt of the URL, the analysis target acquisition means 105 transmits the URL to the content management means 104, so that the analysis corresponding to the URL from the cache memory 108 managed by the content management means 104. Try to get the target data. It should be noted that the analysis target data in the first embodiment includes each of the cards 204 to 207 shown in FIG. 2 as one unit.

Here, it is assumed that there is no analysis target data corresponding to the above URL because the content data corresponding to the above URL has been acquired for the first time. Therefore, the content management means 104 outputs information indicating that there is no analysis target data corresponding to the URL to the analysis target acquisition means 10.
5 (FIG. 3: S302 NO).

Upon receiving the information "there is no analysis target data", the analysis target acquisition means 105 transmits the URL to the network means 101, so that the network means 101 causes the network 10 to operate.
The target content data is acquired from the server corresponding to the URL in No. 2 and transmitted to the content separating unit 103 (FIG. 3: S303). Here, for the sake of understanding, the content data corresponding to the URL will be referred to as the content data 201 shown in FIG.

Subsequently, the content separation means 103 which has acquired the content data corresponding to the above-mentioned URL extracts the analysis target data (here, the header 2 from the content data).
03 and cards 204 to 207) are separated. That is,
The content separation means 103 uses the tag “<head>” indicating that it is a header and the tag “<head”.
Based on the tag "</ head>" indicating the end of ">",
The header 203 which is the analysis target data is separated. Similarly, the content separating unit 103 uses the tag "<card id =" card1 ">" indicating that the card is a card.
And the card 204 which is the analysis target data is separated based on the tag “</ card>” indicating the end of the tag. In addition, the tag is, for example, in the content data,
This is a format for writing commands and comments that express the movement of the homepage. By sandwiching the text between tags, the design etc. when displayed in the browser are decided. In addition, one set of <tag> and </ tag> is an “element”
Called.

FIG. 4A is a diagram schematically showing the content data shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4B shows target analysis target data from the content data by the content separating means 103. It is an image figure which shows the result after isolate | separating.

That is, the content separation means 103 is
The header 203 and each of the cards 204 to 207 are separated based on the tag in the content data, and the URL used to acquire the content data is added (FIG. 3: S304). As a result, FIG.
As shown in, multiple analysis target data can be separated. In addition to the URL, a fragment identifier indicating which part of the content data is added to each of the analysis target data 404 to 407 excluding the header of the URL. For the fragment identifier, for example, the id attribute described in the tag for identifying each card is used. That is, the fragment identifier of the analysis target data 404 is i in the tag “<card id =” card1 “>” indicating that it is a card.
It becomes "card1" which is the d attribute. Since it is not permitted that the same fragment identifier exists in the content data, it is possible to uniquely indicate predetermined data in the content data by using the fragment identifier.

Now, the header and the content data divided for each card by the content separation means 103 are transmitted to the content management means 104 and the analysis object acquisition means 105, respectively. Subsequently, the divided content data is stored in the cache memory 108 as analysis target data by the content management means 104, and thereafter treated as independent cache data (FIG. 3: S305).

The processing for storing the analysis target data in the cache memory 108 is as described above, but after the analysis target acquisition means 105 acquires the analysis target data (header and cards 404 to 407) from the content separation means 103, respectively. The analysis target acquisition means 105 transmits the analysis target data to the content analysis means 106.
Here, what is transmitted to the content analysis unit 106 is the analysis target data 403 corresponding to the header and the analysis target data 404 that is the analysis target data described first in the content data. However, when a predetermined fragment identifier is specified in addition to the URL when the command is transmitted to the analysis target acquisition means 105, the analysis target data corresponding to the predetermined fragment identifier is replaced with the analysis target data 404. Sent.

The content analysis means 106 analyzes the contents described in the analysis target data acquired by the analysis target acquisition means 105, and sends the result of the analysis to the control means 110. The content described in the content data is, for example, display of characters and images on the display (FIG. 3: S306).

The control means 110 which has received the result of the above analysis
Sends a command according to the analysis result to each control device 111 to display the characters and images described in the content data on, for example, a display (FIG. 3: S307).

Next, the processing of the content analysis apparatus 100 when the user tries to access the URL again will be described.

The user selects the content acquisition instruction means 1 described above.
07, or by using a bookmark or the like in which the history of URL acquisition in the past is saved,
It is assumed that an attempt is made to acquire content data corresponding to "3". In this case, the URL and the fragment identifier "card3" are received by the analysis target acquisition means 105 (FIG. 3: S301).

Next, the analysis target acquisition means 105 transmits the URL and the fragment identifier to the content management device 104, so that the analysis target data corresponding to the URL and the fragment identifier in the cache memory 108 is present. To confirm.

Here, as shown in FIG. 4B, the analysis target data 403 to 407 are stored in the cache memory 108, so that the content management means 104 can store the URL. It is possible to extract the analysis target data 403 corresponding to the header part of the URL by using as a key. Further, the analysis target data 406 can be extracted using the URL and the fragment identifier (“card3”) as a key. The extracted analysis target data 403, 406 is transmitted to the analysis target acquisition means 105 by the content management means 104 (FIG. 3: S302 YES → S306).

After that, the contents analysis means 106 analyzes each of the analysis target data 403 and 406, and the display on the display or the like is performed via the control means 110 as described above (FIG. 3: S306). → S30
7).

As described above, when the content data is stored in the cache memory, only the necessary data is stored as the analysis target data, so that the cache memory can be downsized. In addition, by storing in the smallest unit that can be analyzed (here, header and card unit), and managing each independently by the content management means,
The content analysis means receives only the necessary information.
Therefore, improvement in analysis speed can be expected. Furthermore, for example, even when cache data is deleted according to a predetermined rule due to lack of capacity of the cache memory, the minimum cache data is deleted, so that the cache data is more likely to hit.

That is, as described above, for example, when the user again tries to access the third page (corresponding to the card 206) of the content data by using the bookmark again, when the cache memory has a shortage of capacity, the above-mentioned method is used. Since all the content data 201 was deleted, it was acquired again from the network. However, in the first embodiment, since each analysis target data is managed independently, if the card 206 remains as cache data even if the cards 204 and 207 are deleted, the cache data is deleted. It can be used. This is the management of a cache memory (cache data) applicable to an analysis device that handles data whose contents can be analyzed even when divided, such as the content data described above. .

In the first embodiment, the header 203
When the analysis target data corresponding to is saved, but the header does not include information common to the card (for example, the page feed button or style sheet described above),
The analysis target data corresponding to the header is not always necessary.

Next, a process for more efficiently managing the cache data which is the analysis target data will be described.

In the WML standard, there is a rule that "if there is no card that matches the designated fragment identifier, the card at the top is displayed."

That is, for example, when the user specifies an incorrect fragment identifier, the card 204 is used in the above example.
(Analysis target data 404: “card1”) needs to be displayed. However, in the above-described processing, if the content data corresponding to the input fragment identifier is not stored in the cache memory 108, it is determined whether the content data has already been deleted from the cache memory 108 or has not existed. I can't. After all,
Therefore, it becomes necessary to acquire the content data from the network based on the URL and the content identifier input again.

Therefore, in order to solve this problem, the content separating means 103 carries out the following processing.

That is, the content separating means 103 is
In the above-mentioned “processing for separating analysis target data from content data (FIG. 3: S304)”, for example, at the end of the analysis target data 403 in which the header is stored, a description that does not affect display or operation For example, all the id attributes of the fragment identifier included in the content are described. In this case, for example, by describing the order of each id attribute in a distinguishable manner, each analysis target data 40
The order of 4 to 407 can be grasped. Here, "discriminately describing the order" includes, for example, describing the id attributes in the order described in the content data.

In the above example, the description content is, for example, "<?
? > Card1, card2, card3, card4
</? ? >, Etc. Here, it is assumed that “<??>” is a description that does not affect display or operation even when analyzed by the content analysis unit 106.

The list of fragment identifiers is stored in the analysis target data 403 corresponding to the header and stored in the cache memory 108.

Next, for example, when a certain fragment identifier is transmitted from the analysis object acquisition means 105 together with the URL, the content management means 104 reads the analysis object data 403 from the URL and refers to the list of fragment identifiers. In addition, the analysis target data corresponding to the URL and the fragment identifier is the cache memory 108.
Check if it exists inside.

Here, when there is no analysis target data corresponding to the fragment identifier in the cache memory 108, it is already deleted from the cache memory 108 from the list of fragment identifiers or the analysis corresponding to the fragment identifier. It is possible to determine whether the target data originally did not exist (whether the fragment identifier was incorrect).

If the analysis target data corresponding to the fragment identifier has already been deleted from the cache memory 108, the content management means 104 notifies the analysis target acquisition means 105 of that fact, and the data is transferred via the network 102. Acquire the corresponding content data.

If the analysis target data corresponding to the fragment identifier does not originally exist,
The content management means 104 stores the analysis target data 404 corresponding to “card1” in the analysis target acquisition means 10.
Send to 5.

Of course, it is also possible to newly create analysis target data for managing the fragment identifier and list all fragment identifiers included in the content in the analysis target data. Further, instead of the list of fragment identifiers, the deletion history may be described when the cache data is deleted.

As described above, by managing the analysis target data based on the list of fragment identifiers, the deletion history, and the presence or absence of the analysis target data in the cache memory, whether the analysis target data is the deleted contents, or You can judge whether the content does not exist. Therefore, even if analysis target data that does not exist is specified, the analysis target data (default contents) can be used without accessing the network in some cases.

Furthermore, as an application of the example in which the analysis target data is stored in the cache memory 108 as one unit, the following processing can be mentioned.

Normally, the analysis target acquisition means 2105 in the prior art makes a request to the server using only the URL even when the fragment identifier is specified in addition to the URL. Since the request is transmitted only by the URL, all the content data can be obtained. In other words, useless data is included in the communication data on the network.

Therefore, the analysis target acquisition means 105 is
A fragment identifier is added to the above URL to request content data from the server. On the other hand, the server transmits only the content corresponding to the fragment identifier from the content data to the content analysis apparatus 100.

Upon receiving the content corresponding to the fragment identifier, the content separating means 103 adds the URL and the fragment identifier to the content and transmits it as analysis target data to the content managing means 104. As a result, only the deleted analysis target data is added to the cache memory 108.

Therefore, as described above, when the analysis target data deleted from the cache memory is acquired via the network, the analysis target acquisition means re-acquires the contents except the other contents stored in the cache memory. Therefore, communication data on the network can be reduced.

(Second Embodiment) Next, in the second embodiment, an example in which each content analysis device is capable of designating a predetermined cache data unit is not limited to the card in the first embodiment.

In the second embodiment, the case where the content data is XML, which is used for transmitting a command to a home electric appliance or the like, is used as an example.

The operation of the client using concrete XML is as follows, for example. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, a personal computer 601 that stores and generates XML, a refrigerator 602 as a client, and a television 6
Consider the case where 03 is connected to the network 510. Here, for example, when transmitting a predetermined command to the refrigerator 602 or the television 603, the user uses the computer 601 to display “html: //aaa.b” on the refrigerator 602 or the television 603.
Send the URL "bb.ccc.ddd / outing.xml". Here, "aaa.bbb.ccc.ddd" is the IP address of the personal computer 601. Due to the transmission, the refrigerator 602 is described in the URL. "Outgoing.xml" stored in the personal computer 601 based on the obtained information
Gets the content data with the name.

Here, the above-mentioned "outgoing.xml" is, for example, as shown in FIG.
This is shown in the content data 701 of (a).
Note that the "going-out.xml" stores, for example, a command to turn off the power to each client in order to turn off all the home appliances in the home when the user goes out.

When the refrigerator 602 acquires the content data, it is described in the “operation of the home appliance id =” refrigerator ”based on the description of“ home appliance id = ”refrigerator” described in the analysis target data 705. The refrigerator 602 stops the buzzer function based on “buzzer = OFF” and shifts the operation to the energy saving mode based on “energy saving = ON.” Similarly, the television 603. Turns off the display and also turns off the power based on the description of "operation" in "home appliance id =" TV ". The above id is one of the attributes often used in XML. Since this id attribute is a value that is uniquely determined within the same content data, there is no possibility of overlapping with other tags. Same tag Te even if it has been more described, it is possible to identify the tag to be analyzed.

In the above operation, one content data, here content data 701 (outgoing.xml)
Contains instructions for multiple clients. That is, conventionally, the content analysis device provided in each client also caches the commands to other clients. Therefore, particularly in such an operation, the cache memory is wastefully used.

Therefore, in the content analysis device 500 according to the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the analysis target determining means 501 is provided. The content separation unit 503 separates the analysis target data based on the elements determined by the analysis target determination unit 501, which will be described in detail later.

Subsequently, the processing of the content analysis device 500 provided in the refrigerator 602 will be described below.

First, as described above, a content acquisition instruction is issued from the computer 601 connected to the network 510, specifically, "html: //aaa.bbb.ccc.ddd/outing.
When the URL "xml" is received, the URL is received by the analysis target acquisition unit 105 via the network unit 101. Note that, for example, when the user presses the "out" button provided in the refrigerator 602. The URL stored in association with the button may be transmitted to the analysis target acquisition means 105.

By receiving the URL, the analysis target acquisition means 105 obtains the address on the network of the server storing the content data and the target content data. The content data corresponding to the ID may be acquired by defining an ID for each content data on the same network and designating the ID.

Analysis target acquisition means 1 that has received the above URL
05 uses the above URL to inquire the presence / absence of corresponding analysis target data with respect to the content management means 104 by the same procedure as described in the first embodiment (FIG. 8: S301 → S302).

If there is corresponding analysis target data, the analysis target data is stored in the cache memory 108.
It is acquired and transmitted to the content analysis means 106 (FIG. 8: S302 YES). After that, the processing is performed in the same procedure as in the first embodiment, and as a result, the buzzer function of the refrigerator 602 is turned off, and the energy saving mode is further entered (FIG. 8: S306 → S307).

Here, if there is no corresponding analysis target data, the analysis target acquisition means 105 sends a command to the network means 101 to acquire the content data. Upon receiving the command, the network means 101 acquires the content data 701 via the network 510 and transmits it to the content separating means 503 (FIG. 8: S302NO → S303).

Subsequently, the analysis target determining means 501 constituting the content separating means 503 uses the “element” stored in advance in the content analysis device in order to limit the analysis target data. As described above, the element refers to the start tag and the end tag, and the content corresponding to the element refers to the content sandwiched between the start tag and the end tag.

That is, the analysis target determining means 501 designates a specific element to be cached to the content separating means 503. XM used in this example
Content data 701 described in L is shown in FIG.
As shown in, it has a tree structure of tags. Therefore, information about the particular tag hangs within the particular tag. Utilizing this feature, the analysis target determining unit 501
The specific element (tag) stored in advance is notified to the content separating means 503 (FIG. 8: S801).
In the present embodiment, it is assumed that “home appliance id = refrigerator” (that is, fragment identifier = refrigerator tag) and “action” tag are stored in the above elements.

The content separation means 503 that has acquired the content data 701 is the analysis target determination means 50.
Content data 7 based on the above elements received from 1
The target analysis target data is separated from 01 (FIG. 8:
S802).

Concretely, the content separating means 50.
3 is based on the tag (fragment identifier = “refrigerator”) and “operation” received from the analysis target determining means 501, the portion shown in the analysis target data 705 of FIG. 9, that is, in the “home appliance id = refrigerator” tree. Only the part that belongs to the “motion” tree is separated, analysis target data 901 (URL is not shown) is created together with the URL and the tag (fragment identifier), and the data is transmitted to the content management means 104. The content management means 104 stores the received analysis target data 901 in the cache memory 108 (FIG. 8: S305). The content separation unit 503 also transmits the analysis target data 901 to the analysis target acquisition unit 105.

After that, the processing is performed in the same procedure as in the first embodiment, and as a result, the buzzer function of the refrigerator 602 is turned off, and the energy saving mode is further entered (FIG. 8: S306).
→ S307).

As described above, the analysis target determining means notifies the element to be analyzed, so that the analysis target to be acquired as a cache by the content analysis device is not limited to the card in the first embodiment and can be changed flexibly. Can be changed.

Although the analysis target determining means notifies the element, the following instruction may be notified to the content separating means.

For example, although the content data 701 includes a command for a plurality of clients, when the command is directly transmitted from the personal computer 601 to the refrigerator 602, the content data 10 shown in FIG.
As shown at 01, it may only include instructions for one client. In such a case, the content separation unit 503 causes the content data 10
All the commands included in 01 are analyzed as the commands to the refrigerator 602. Specifically, the command portion shown in the content data 1001, that is, the analysis target 1002
Is selected as an analysis target and is separated as analysis target data 1003 (URL is not shown) together with the URL and the tag. In this case, the capacity of the content data in the cache memory 108 is significantly compressed.

Further, the analysis target determining means 501 sends to the content separating means 503 an instruction to remove the elements that the content analyzing apparatus 500 cannot analyze (separate only the content data belonging to the analyzable elements). You may notify. For example, in the refrigerator 602, since the display-related elements often have no meaning, the “display” is not included in the analyzable elements. In such a case, the display element can be prevented from being included in the cache memory.

Specifically, in the content data 1101 of FIG. 11, for example, an element (tag) 1103 that can be interpreted by the content analysis device of the refrigerator 602 is shown by a dotted rectangle. Here, it is "home appliance control", "operation", and "power supply". That is, the content data 11 based on the above command
When 01 is separated, the analysis target data 1102 is only the content data related to “home appliance control”, “operation”, and “power supply”, and the capacity of the content data in the cache memory 108 can be significantly compressed in the same manner as described above. it can.

Further, the content separating means 503 may be notified of an instruction to delete a portion related to a predetermined element. This is effective when deleting tags which are not always necessary but are included in many content data.

Specifically, for example, as shown in the description 1203 regarding the expression in the content data 1201 of FIG. 12, the part corresponding to the structure description part is deleted. In this example, the cascading style sheet language is used as a description method regarding expressions, but other description methods may be used. Also, it does not necessarily have to be related to the expression, and may be a completely different type of element.

Further, for example, the content separation means or the analysis target determination means described above is based on a command from the outside (a computer connected via a network or an input means provided in the content analysis apparatus) to perform the separation processing described above. The contents of may be switched. Specifically, the instruction is, for example, designation of a tag from a personal computer, selection of a tag from a keyboard, or the like.

As described above, since the content separating means flexibly separates the analysis target data based on the instruction of the analysis target determining means, only the necessary analysis target can be separated according to various situations, and the cache memory can be separated. Can be used more efficiently. Further, since the analysis target data analyzed by the content analysis means does not include an unnecessary portion, it is expected that the processing speed can be increased.

In the first and second embodiments, the analysis target data is composed of the URL and the separated data which is the data separated by the content separating means. However, for example, the content data received via the network is used. When the expiration date of the content data is described in, the expiration date may be added to the analysis target data. When the expiration date is not included, the content separating means may add the reception date and time as the expiration date.

In the second embodiment, the elements include
By including the header in which the description commonly used for the analysis target data is described, it is not necessary to store the information related to the analysis of each element in a plurality of analysis target data, as in the first embodiment, and the result As a result, the cache memory can be effectively used.

(Third Embodiment) Next, in the third embodiment, the management processing of the analysis target data separated in the first and second embodiments by the content management means 104 will be described in detail.

FIG. 13 is an example showing an outline of the analysis target data 1301 managed by the content management means 104. The analysis target data 1301 is composed of the following information. The URL 1302 includes the address of the server on the network where the content data that is the base of the analysis target data 1301 was stored, the storage location in the server, and the file name. The fragment identifier described in the first and second embodiments may be included. Expiration date 1
303 is a communication protocol header at the time of acquisition, or the expiration date of the content data described in the content data. The separated data 1304 is a part separated by the content separating means 103, 503 from the content data which is the basis of the analysis target data 1301, and includes the above-mentioned commands and the like.

Next, a cache saving process, which is a process in which the content management means 104 stores the analysis target data 1301 in the cache memory 108, will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Cache memory 10
Storing in 8 corresponds to the case where there is no analysis target data, or the case where the validity period 1303 has expired even if there is analysis target data. Since the fragment identifier included in the analysis target data has been sufficiently described in the first and second embodiments, it will be omitted.

When the analysis target data 1301 is transmitted from the content management means 104, the content management means 104 determines that the analysis target data corresponding to the URL 1302 included in the transmitted analysis target data is already stored in the cache memory 108. It is searched whether there is any (FIG. 14: S1401). The search is performed by using the URL transmitted from the analysis target acquisition means 105 and the cache memory 1
Analysis target data 1301 stored in 08
The URLs 1302 are compared in order.

Here, the content management means 104.
Determines whether there is analysis target data having the matching URL 1302 and deletes the matching analysis target data (FIG. 14: S1402 YES → S1403). This corresponds to the case where the analysis target data corresponding to the URL exists, but the expiration date of the analysis target data has expired. If there is no matching analysis target data, the following process is performed (FIG. 14: S1402 NO → S1404).
This is the case when new content data is acquired.

Next, the new analysis target data transmitted from the content separating means 103 is the cache memory 1.
It is determined whether or not the cache memory 108 is larger than 08.
If it is larger, the cache saving process ends as a failure (FIG. 14: S1404 YES → End), and if it is smaller, the process proceeds to the next step (FIG. 14: S1404 NO → S14).
05).

Subsequently, the content separating means 103,
The analysis target data received from 503 is saved (stored) at the head of the cache memory 108 (FIG. 14: S140).
5).

When the data to be analyzed is successfully saved, the process ends (FIG. 14: S1406 YES → end). If the saving fails, by deleting the last analysis target data stored in the cache memory 108,
Secure a storage area (FIG. 14: S1406 NO → S14
07). Here, the last analysis target data stored in the cache memory corresponds to, for example, the analysis target data having the largest address in the cache memory or the analysis target data having the address having the last search order.

Thereafter, the content separating means 103, 5
The above processing S1405 to processing S1407 are repeated until all the plurality of analysis target data transmitted from 03 are stored.

In this example, when the cache memory is full and cannot be saved, the analysis target data with a new save time is saved on the front side of the cache memory,
The analysis target data saved in the oldest time is deleted preferentially. However, in the cache acquisition processing described below, it is also possible to preferentially delete stored content data with an old access time by moving the analysis target data with a new access time to the beginning. The access time is the time when the cache data is last read by the content management means.

Further, when changing the arrangement of the analysis target data, writing frequently occurs when the actual data is moved. Therefore, separate information for managing the arrangement of the analysis target data is prepared, or the data and the management information are changed. It is better to implement it separately. Also, the judgment of the analysis target data to be deleted is not based on the arrangement of the analysis target data,
There is also an implementation method in which the analysis target data to be deleted is determined by storing the time of recent access as the expiration date in the analysis target data.

Further, in order to reduce the deletion of valid analysis target data when the cache memory becomes insufficient, before deleting the analysis target data of low priority,
You may check the expiration date 1303 of all the analysis target data, and delete the analysis target data outside the expiration date in advance.

[0138] Next, the URL from the analysis target acquisition means 105
Is transmitted, the content management unit 104 stores the analysis target data 1301 in the cache memory 108.
The process of acquiring from will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the content management means 104
Based on the URL transmitted from the analysis target acquisition means 105, the corresponding analysis target data in the cache memory 108 is searched (FIG. 15: S1501).

If there is no data to be analyzed corresponding to the above URL, the cache acquisition process ends as a failure (FIG. 15: S1502 NO → end).

Here, if there is analysis target data corresponding to the URL, then the content management means 104 is executed.
Checks the expiration date 1303 in the analysis target data and determines whether it is within the expiration date (FIG. 15: S1502).
YES → S1503).

If it is determined that the validity period has expired, the contents management means 104 reads out the analysis target data and sends it to the analysis target acquisition means 105 (FIG. 15:
S1503 YES → S1504). Further, the read analysis target data is moved to the head of the cache memory, and the cache acquisition processing is ended (FIG. 15: S1505 → end).

If it is determined that the validity period has not expired,
The corresponding analysis target data is deleted, and the cache acquisition process ends as a failure (FIG. 15: S1503 NO → S1).
506 → end).

The process S1505 in FIG. 15 is performed to move the analysis target data having a high access frequency to the front side of the cache memory, as described in the cache saving process. Of course, if you do not do the process,
Since the analysis target data are arranged in the order of the storage time, the analysis target data with the old storage time is preferentially deleted. In other words, by performing this processing, the analysis target data are arranged in the order of access time, so that the stored content data 2 with an old access time
01 is deleted preferentially.

Further, the analysis target data which is not within the expiration date may be deleted at a timing other than the time of acquisition as long as it can be determined that the expiration date has been exceeded.
The expiration date may be determined at regular time intervals. Further, it is not always necessary to determine the expiration date, and the expiration date may be ignored under a specific condition, for example.

(Fourth Embodiment) Next, a fourth embodiment will be described.
In the following, processing for sub-contents not mentioned in the first to third embodiments will be described.

Conventionally, in the content data described in the above-mentioned ML (markup language), in addition to the text data described in the content data, an image file designated by a link from the content data is specified. And sub-contents such as style sheet files and script files. Here, the content data (file) for the sub-content
Is referred to as main content, the sub-content can be defined as another file linked from the main content. The above sub contents are
If there is no link from the main content, it will not be referenced.

The sub contents are managed as cache data independently of the main contents. In other words, even if the main content having the link is deleted from the cache memory, the sub-content may remain stored in the cache memory. Here, the size of the sub-content, especially the image file, tends to be larger than that of the main content composed of text. In other words, if there is useless sub-content left, such sub-content is more likely to squeeze the cache memory than the main content.

Therefore, in the fourth embodiment, by managing the links in detail, useless sub-contents are surely deleted.

First, as shown in FIG. 16, the content management means 1601 according to the fourth embodiment further includes a link management means 1602. The content separating means 10
3, 503 and each means other than the content management means 1601 are the same as in the first to third embodiments. further,
Content separation means 1 shown in the first to third embodiments
03 (503), when the sub content is received based on the description of the content (main content),
It is assumed that the sub-content (file) is transmitted to the content management means 104.

Here, for the sake of understanding, an example of the main contents is shown in FIG. In the content data 1701 (main content) shown in FIG. 17, the card 1 (1703) has a link 1702 to the sub-content.
Is listed. The link 1702 described in the card 1 (1703) is a link related only to the card 1703 and corresponds to an image file or the like.

Then, with reference to FIG. 18, the content separation means 103 (503) and the content management means 1601.
The operation when the above contents data 1701 is received will be described.

First, the content separation means 103 (5
03) receives the content data 1701 and the sub-content 1810 indicated by a link from the content data 1701 (FIG. 18: acquired content 1850-Phase 1), the content data 17
For 01, the processing described in the first embodiment is performed. That is, the card 1 (1703) and the card 2 (170
4) are separated from each other, and the URL and the fragment identifier indicating the card are added (see FIG. 4). CARD1 separated as described above and used as analysis target data
(1811) and CARD2 (1812) are transmitted to the content management means 1601. In addition, the sub-content 1810 is the content management means 160 as it is.
Sent to 1.

[0154] The main contents which are the analysis target data, that is, CARD1 (1811) and CARD2 (18)
12) and the sub-content 1810 are stored in the cache memory 108. However, at this time, the link management unit 1602 analyzes the related information (link information) between the main content and the sub content.

Specifically, first, the link managing means 1
The 602 analyzes the “link to sub-content” 1702 of the CARD1 (1811) to determine that the sub-content 1810 and the CARD1 (1811) have a link relationship.

Therefore, the sub-content 1810 and the CAR
D1 (1811) is associated.

By the above processing, the main contents and the sub contents are stored in the cache memory 108,
Further, the association information between each main content and sub-content is stored in, for example, a predetermined memory in the link management means 1602. An image in which the main content and the sub content are stored in the cache memory 108 is shown in the main content cache state 1851 and the sub content cache state 1852 in phase 1 of FIG. That is, CARD1 (1811),
CARD2 (1812) and sub-contents 1810
Is stored in the cache memory 108, and the content of the above-mentioned association information is indicated by an arrow 1809 above each sub-content. However, for the association information, for example, the URL of the sub-content 1809 and the numerical value “1” indicating that the sub-content 1809 has one link may be stored in association with each other.

For the sake of understanding, the main contents and the sub contents are stored in the same cache memory 108, but the storage destination is not particularly limited. That is, the main content and the sub-content may be stored in different memories. The method of holding the association information may be any method as long as it is known that the main content and the sub content are associated with each other.

Next, the content separating means 103 (5
03) has acquired the content data 1821 shown in the phase 2-acquired content in FIG. The content data 1821 is CARD3 (1
822) and CARD4 (1823), and the CARD4 (1823) further includes the sub-content 1810.
With a link to.

When the content data 1821 is acquired by the content separating means 103 (503), CARD3 (1822) and CARD4 are analyzed as data to be analyzed.
(1823) is created, and content management means 1601
Sent to.

When the content management means 1601 receives the analysis target data, the link management means 1602
First analyzes the CARD3 (1822). Here, since the CARD3 (1822) has no link, the association information is not changed in the analysis of the CARD3 (1822). Since the cache memory 108 has free space, the CARD3 (1822) is stored in the cache memory 108.

Next, the content management means 1601.
Analyzes the CARD4 (1823). here,
The CARD4 (1823) is the sub content 1 described above.
Since it has a link to 810, the link management means 1
Reference numeral 602 denotes the sub-content 18 in the association information.
"1" is added to the numerical value "1" corresponding to 10 to obtain "2".

Then, the CARD4 (1823) is
It is stored in the cache memory 108. At this time, if there is not enough free space in the cache memory 108,
For example, CARD1 (1811) is the cache memory 10
It will be deleted from 8. The details of the deletion are the same as the processing described in the third embodiment.

Further, when deleting the main contents from the cache memory 108, the link management means 160 is used.
2 analyzes the content of the main content to be deleted.
Specifically, "1" is subtracted from the numerical value "2" corresponding to the sub-content 1810 in the association information, based on the link information to the sub-content 1810 described in the CARD1 (1811). And set it to "1".

The states in which the above processing is completed are the cache states 1851 and 1852 in phase 2 of FIG. That is, the CARD is stored in the cache memory 108.
4 (1823), CARD3 (1822), CARD2
(1812) is stored, and the sub content 181 is further stored.
It can be seen that 0 has a link from CARD4 (1823).

Next, the content separating means 103 (5
03) has acquired the content data 1831 shown in the phase 3-acquired content in FIG. The content data 1831 is CARD6 (1
832), CARD7 (1833), CARD8 (18
34).

When the content data 1831 is acquired by the content separating means 103 (503), CARD6 (1832) and CARD7 (1) are analyzed as data to be analyzed.
833) and CARD8 (1834) are created and transmitted to the content management means 1601.

When the content management means 1601 receives the analysis target data, the link management means 160
2 first analyzes CARD6 (1832). Here, since the CARD6 (1832) has no link, the association information is not changed in the analysis of the CARD6 (1832). However, the cache memory 108
Since there is not enough free space in CARD2 (181
2) is deleted. Since the CARD2 (1812) does not have a link, the related information is not changed.

Next, the link management means 1602
The above CARD7 (1833) is analyzed. Here, since the CARD 7 (1833) does not have a link, the association information is not changed in the analysis of the CARD 7 (1833). However, since there is not enough free space in the cache memory 108, the CARD3 (1822) is deleted. Since the CARD3 (1822) does not have a link, the association information is not changed.

Next, the link management means 1602
The above CARD8 (1834) is analyzed. Here, since the CARD 8 (1834) has no link, the association information is not changed in the analysis of the CARD 8 (1834). However, since there is not enough free space in the cache memory 108, the CARD4 (1823) is deleted. At this time, since the CARD 4 (1823) has a link to the sub-content 1810, “1” is subtracted from the numerical value “1” corresponding to the sub-content 1810 in the association information to obtain “0”. Next, the link management unit 1602 causes the sub-contents 181.
Based on that the numerical value corresponding to 0 is “0”, the sub-content 1810 is deleted from the cache memory 108.

The state in which the above processing is completed is phase 3 in FIG. That is, in the cache memory 108,
CARD8 (1834), CARD7 (1833), C
It can be seen that ARD6 (1832) is stored and the sub-content is deleted.

As described above, the link management means manages the link information between the content data (main content) and the sub-content linked from the content data, whereby the unnecessary sub-content can be surely deleted. become.

(Fifth Embodiment) Next, in the fifth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 19, a content data 190 including a link 1902 to a sub-content in a header 1903.
The case where 1 is received will be described. The description of the points described in the fourth embodiment will be omitted.

When the header 1903 includes link information, as shown in FIG. 20, the sub-contents 2010 to be linked are all cards (here, CRA).
D1 (1904), CARD2 (1905)) means that it is used, for example, a style sheet file or the like.

In such a case, the association information is managed as follows.

That is, when the content data 1901 is separated by the content separating means 103 (503) and transmitted to the content managing means 1601, the link managing means 1602 determines the sub-content 20 of the associated information.
Record "1" in the numerical value corresponding to 10. However, this numerical value means that it is a link from HEAD2011. Also, "2" is recorded in the numerical value corresponding to HEAD2011 of the association information. The numerical value “2” is CARD1.
(2012) and CARD2 (2013). That is, the link management means 1602
It also manages the number of links to the header.

Subsequently, as shown in the phase 2-acquired content 2050 of FIG. 20, the content data 2020
Is acquired. The content data 2020 is
It includes CARD3 (2021) and CARD4 (2022).

In this case, since there is not enough free space in the cache memory 108, CARD1 (2012) is deleted. At this time, CARD1 (2012) is HEAD2
Since the content data is the same as 011, “1” is subtracted from the numerical value “2” corresponding to the HEAD 2011 of the association information to obtain “1”. The same content data can be determined from the URL of the HEAD 2011 (data to be analyzed) and the URL of the CARD1 (2012) (data to be analyzed).

Next, it is assumed that the content data 2030 is acquired as shown in the phase 3-acquired content 2050 of FIG. The content data 2030 is C
ARD5 (2031) is included.

In this case, since there is not enough free space in the cache memory 108, CARD2 (2022) is deleted. At this time, CARD2 (2022) is HEAD2
Since the content data is the same as 011, "1" is subtracted from the numerical value "1" corresponding to HEAD2011 of the above-mentioned association information to obtain "0". Next, the link management unit 1602 deletes the HEAD2011 based on the numerical value "0" corresponding to the HEAD2011 of the association information. In addition, at this time, the link information (link 190 to the sub-contents) described in the HEAD 2011 is displayed.
From 2), "1" is subtracted from the numerical value "1" corresponding to the sub-content 2010 of the above-mentioned association information to obtain "0". Further, the link management means 1602 deletes the sub-content 2010 based on the numerical value “0” corresponding to the sub-content 2010 of the association information.

The states in which the above processing is completed are the cache states 2051 and 2052 in phase 3 of FIG.

As described above, by making the header (corresponding analysis target data) to be recorded in the association information, the header precedes the analysis target data forming the same content data as the header. It can be prevented from being deleted from the cache memory. Further, it becomes possible to reduce the associated information for managing the link.

[0183]

When the content data is stored in the cache memory, only the necessary data is stored as the analysis target data, so that the cache memory can be downsized.

Further, by storing the analysis target data in the smallest unit that can be analyzed and independently managing them by the content management means, the content analysis means receives only necessary information. Therefore, improvement in analysis speed can be expected. Furthermore, for example, even when cache data is deleted according to a predetermined rule due to lack of capacity of the cache memory, the minimum cache data is deleted, so that the cache data is more likely to hit.

By managing the analysis target data based on the list of fragment identifiers and the deletion history, and the presence or absence of the analysis target data in the cache memory, the analysis target data has been deleted or does not exist. You can judge whether it is. Therefore, even if analysis target data that does not exist is specified, the analysis target data (default contents) can be used without accessing the network in some cases.

Furthermore, when the analysis target data deleted from the cache memory is acquired via the network, the analysis target acquisition means re-acquires the analysis target data excluding other contents stored in the cache memory. Communication data can be reduced.

[0187] Furthermore, the content separating means flexibly separates the analysis target data based on the instruction of the analysis target determining means, so that only the necessary analysis target can be separated according to various situations, and the cache memory can be further improved. It can be used efficiently.

Furthermore, the link management means manages the link information between the content data (main content) and the sub-contents linked from the content data, whereby unnecessary sub-contents can be surely deleted. .

Furthermore, by making the header (analysis target data corresponding thereto) the target of recording in the association information, the header is cached earlier than the analysis target data constituting the same content data as the header. It can be prevented from being deleted more. Further, it becomes possible to reduce the capacity of the associated information for managing the link.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional configuration diagram of a content analysis device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an example of content data using a card & deck method.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing processing of the content analysis device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an image diagram in which target analysis target data is separated from content data.

FIG. 5 is a functional configuration diagram of the content analysis device according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an image diagram when connecting a home appliance to a network.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of XML including a command for controlling a home appliance and a tree structure.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing processing of the content analysis device according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a first image diagram showing separation of analysis target data by content separation means.

FIG. 10 is a second image diagram showing separation of analysis target data by the content separation means.

FIG. 11 is a third image diagram showing separation of analysis target data by the content separation means.

FIG. 12 is a fourth image diagram showing separation of analysis target data by the content separation means.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of analysis target data.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of cache storage processing by the content management means.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of cache acquisition processing by the content management means.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram of content separation means / content management means in the fourth and fifth embodiments.

FIG. 17 is an example of content data including link information on a card.

FIG. 18 is an image diagram of cache memory and associated information at the time of receiving each content data according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 19 is an example of content data including link information in a header.

FIG. 20 is an image diagram of cache memory and associated information at the time of receiving each content data according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a diagram for explaining a cache in a conventional content analysis device.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 Content analysis device 101 Network means 102 network 103 content separation means 104 content management means 105 Analysis target acquisition means 106 content analysis means 107 content acquisition instruction means 108 cache memory 110 control means 111 Control device

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Daisaku Suzuki             3-10-18 Kagamiyama, Higashihiroshima-shi Matsushita Co., Ltd.             Electric Appliance Information System Hiroshima Laboratory F-term (reference) 5B082 HA02 HA07 HA08                 5B089 GA23 GA25 GB04 JA33 JA35                       JB02 JB10 KA11 KD06

Claims (22)

[Claims] 1. A content analysis device comprising: an analysis target acquisition means for acquiring content data described in ML (Markup Language) via a network; and a content analysis means for analyzing the content of the content data. A content separating unit that separates the acquired content data into analysis target data that is a unit that can be analyzed by the content analyzing unit, and stores the analysis target data separated by the content separating unit in a cache memory and independently of each other. Content management means for managing the cached data as the cache data, and a content analysis device. 2. The content analysis device according to claim 1, wherein the content analysis means analyzes the separated analysis target data. 3. The analysis target data separated by the content separating unit is a card in the card & deck system.
The content analysis device according to claim 1, wherein the content analysis device is configured as a unit. 4. The content analysis device according to claim 3, wherein a header in which a description commonly used by the card is described is analysis target data. 5. The method further comprises an analysis target determining means for giving the content separating means a condition for separating the analysis target data, and the content separating means is based on the condition given by the analysis target determining means. The content analysis device according to claim 1, wherein the content data is separated. 6. The content analysis apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the condition is separation of descriptions specified by a predetermined element. 7. The element includes a header in which a description commonly used for the analysis target data is described.
The content analysis device described in 1. 8. The content analysis apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the condition is separation of only descriptions that can be analyzed by the content analysis unit. 9. The content analysis device according to claim 5, wherein the condition is separation of descriptions excluding a portion related to expressions. 10. The content analysis apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the condition is given by an external input. 11. The content analysis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the content management unit deletes the analysis target data stored in the cache memory based on a predetermined priority. 12. The content analysis device according to claim 11, wherein the priority is determined based on the storage time. 13. The content analysis device according to claim 11, wherein the priority is determined based on an access time of the analysis target data in the cache memory. 14. The content analysis according to claim 11, wherein the content separating unit stores an expiration date of the analysis target data in the analysis target data, and the priority is determined based on the expiration date. apparatus. 15. The content analysis apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the content management unit deletes the analysis target data whose expiration date has expired at a predetermined timing. 16. The content analysis apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the content management unit manages information on the deleted analysis target data. 17. The content analysis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the analysis target acquisition means acquires only target analysis target data via a network using a predetermined identifier. 18. A link for managing association information, which is information regarding a link between the content data and the sub-content, when the sub-content specified by the link information described in the content data is treated as cache data. The content analysis device according to claim 1, further comprising management means, wherein the content management means manages cache data of the sub-contents based on the association information. 19. The link management means links a sub-content used from a plurality of pieces of the analysis target data to a piece of analysis target data corresponding to a header in which a description commonly used for the analysis target data is described. The content analysis device according to claim 18, which is treated as. 20. A content analysis method for acquiring content data described in ML via a network and analyzing the content of the content data, wherein the acquired content data is an analysis unit that is a predetermined analyzable unit. A content separation step of separating the data into target data; and a content management step of storing the analysis target data separated in the content separation step in a cache memory and managing the data as independent cache data, respectively. Content analysis method. 21. An analysis target data, which is a predetermined analyzable unit of the acquired content data, to a computer which acquires the content data described in ML via a network and analyzes the content of the content data. And a content management step of storing the analysis target data separated in the content separation step in a cache memory and managing the data as independent cache data. 22. Analysis target data, which is a unit capable of analyzing the acquired content data, in a computer that acquires the content data described in ML via a network and analyzes the content of the content data. A computer-readable record that records a program for executing a content separation step of separating the content into a cache memory and a content management step of storing the analysis target data separated in the content separation step in a cache memory and managing the data as independent cache data. Medium.