JP2008083738A - Ranking server - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a ranking server, which can suppress initial costs and operation costs and can collect use requests for the same content existing in a plurality of locations. <P>SOLUTION: Images 4, 5 as content are actually stored in content servers 6, 7, respectively. The ranking server 1 stores meta data, on the images 4, 5, indicating what kind of images are the images 4, 5, meta data such as temporary URL 4s, 5s, and thumbnails. A ranking site 2 searches for the meta data as a search object and the search results are arranged in the descending order of the number of downloads and displayed. In the ranking server 1, guidance to the temporary URL 4s, 5s is performed by a link not only when making a download request from actual URL 4u, 5u but also when a user 14 makes a download request in the ranking site 2, and the ranking server 1 totalizes the number of the downloads. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a ranking server that aggregates usage request information and performs ranking (ranking) when a usage request such as browsing or downloading is made on a content such as an image on a network such as the Internet.

  Currently, there are many ranking sites that perform ranking of sites that collect content such as images, videos, documents, and software on networks such as the Internet. This ranking site ranks each site by clicking the link to the ranking site and clicking the link to each site of the ranking site, and does not evaluate the usage request for each content in the site. . For this reason, the conventional ranking site cannot know the evaluation of the content.

  On the other hand, there are many download sites that collect content such as images and receive usage requests such as downloads from users. The download site also counts the number of times each content has been downloaded, ranks it, and displays it on the site.

  However, the ranking in the download site is limited to the ranking among the contents registered in the download site, and cannot be compared with the contents registered in other download sites. Therefore, in order to make the ranking more objective, it is necessary to collect a lot of contents on the download site and perform the ranking.

  However, in the current network environment, it is necessary to bear the cost burden on the network equipment, etc., not on the user side who downloads the data but on the operator side such as the site where the data is uploaded. Therefore, an operator of such a download site not only requires initial investment such as installation of a server for registering contents, but also has to bear daily operation costs. Such cost burden increases as the number and capacity of content handled increases, and will increase rapidly in the future considering the recent increase in network line speed and the accompanying increase in data capacity of each content. It is clear that it will continue.

  Such a cost burden can be collected as a registration fee from a person who wishes to register, but the person who wishes to register often dislikes the cost burden and does not register. Especially in the case of non-profit content, there is a risk that the number will not be collected if a registration fee is collected. In addition, it may be possible to display advertisements on the site and allocate the advertising fee to the operating expenses, but if the advertising effect is not expected, such as a well-known portal site, the advertiser will think It is expected that it will be difficult to operate stably without gathering.

  Therefore, for example, as in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 below, the usage of the content registered in the server is obtained, the high usage is left in the server, and the low usage is deleted from the server. It is proposed to take such measures. If such measures are taken, the burden on the site operator will be reduced to some extent, but from the viewpoint of the objectivity of ranking, the objectivity may be impaired. In addition, it is expected that such measures will not lead to the solution of the fundamental problem in view of the recent enlargement of data.

  In conventional download sites, the burden is reduced by restricting the contents to be registered in advance. For example, on a software download site, the only content to be registered is software, and only those that meet certain criteria are registered, and those that are not software or those that do not meet the criteria are not registered on the site. I have to. However, if the restriction is performed in this manner, the ranking displayed on the site is also only the registered genre, and it is inevitable that the ranking result is biased.

On the other hand, a registration applicant who desires to register content may have stored the same content as that registered in the download site on his / her own server or various rental servers. In such a case, if the content is used from the download site, the number of accesses can be ascertained at the ranking site. . Accordingly, the ranking displayed on the site does not reflect all usage requests for the content.
JP 2003-323371 A

  The present invention aims to improve a ranking server that aggregates usage request information for content on a network and performs ranking. More specifically, in order to eliminate the inconvenience, ranking among many contents is performed. It is possible to provide a ranking server that can reduce initial costs and operating costs.

  In order to achieve the above object, the ranking server of the present invention is a ranking server that aggregates usage request information made by users over a network for content on the content server and ranks the content. The actual URI that is the location information of the content entity stored in the content server, the display URI that is the URI of the web page on which the content entity is displayed, and the user who performed the content of the display URI Storage means for storing metadata including a temporary URI that guides a usage request to a predetermined destination, and usage request information when a usage request made to the content is guided by the temporary URI And at least the usage request information tabulated by the tabulation means An evaluation unit that evaluates the content, a display unit that displays a display related to the content on a ranking site together with a part or all of the metadata in the evaluation order of the evaluation unit, and storage in the use request information and the storage unit It is characterized by comprising guiding means for making the content available to the user with reference to the metadata that has been made.

  According to the ranking server of the present invention, when there is a usage request for the content from the web page on which the content is displayed, the usage request is guided to the counting unit by the temporary URI in the display URI. Then, the usage request information is aggregated by the aggregation means, the content is evaluated by the evaluation means, and the usage request is guided to the actual URI by the guiding means, so that the user can Can be used. Therefore, in the counting means, it is possible to count information on the usage request simply by the user performing an operation of using the content from the site. At this time, the content may be evaluated every time there is a usage request, or the usage request information may be accumulated and evaluated every predetermined period.

  The content entity is on the content server, and its metadata is stored in the ranking server. Since this metadata has a small data amount regardless of the data amount of the content entity and the storage capacity of the storage means can be small, a large amount of content can be registered. Even when a large amount of content is handled, data to be transmitted and received is metadata, and the amount of data is small, so there is no need to increase the communication band. Accordingly, since the ranking server of the present invention has a small influence on the initial cost and the operating cost depending on the type and number of contents to be handled, it is possible to register a large amount of contents regardless of the type and number of contents. . In addition, as the number and types of registered contents increase, the objectivity of ranking increases.

  Here, URI (Uniform Resource Identifiers) indicates a framework for indicating location information including http, http, or urn (Uniform Resource Name) used on the Internet. Uniform Resource Locator) is known.

  In the ranking server of the present invention, the counting unit may also calculate the second usage request information related to the second usage request made for the content displayed on the ranking site. . The use request for the content may be made not only from the content server but also from the ranking site. Therefore, the usage requests made for the contents can be collected widely by counting the usage requests by the counting means.

  In the ranking server of the present invention, the guiding means responds to the use request when the use request is made via the display URI or a pre-registered URI stored in the storage means. It is preferable that the actual URI is transmitted, otherwise, the display URI is transmitted in response to the use request, or the display of the metadata is added to the display of the content.

  When a usage request for content is made from the display URI, the content user sees the site of the content creator. Therefore, as a creator, the content is used after the user views his / her own site, so that no particular problem occurs. The same applies to URIs registered in advance by the content creator because the creator has already given consent. On the other hand, in other cases, for example, when the user directly enters a temporary URI in the address bar (URI entry field) of the web browser, the user may use the content without looking at the content creator's site. There is. In this case, the guiding means can transmit the display URI to the user so that the user can use the content after viewing the site of the content creator. Alternatively, by displaying the content together with the display of the content to the user, the content can be used after making the user understand the intention of the content creator more.

  At this time, particularly when the metadata includes copyright license information or adult rating, the content can be used after the user understands the information in advance.

  In the ranking server of the present invention, the use request information includes a remote host name, an IP address, and a referrer URI, and the evaluation means includes the number of uses for each host, the connection request date and time for each host, the remote host The evaluation is preferably performed based on the name, IP address, and reference URI. Since it is possible to discriminate a user who makes an unauthorized use request based on the information about the remote host or the like, the objectivity and reliability of the ranking can be increased.

  Further, in the ranking server of the present invention, the display means displays an inquiry screen for displaying the content metadata when a user makes a browsing request for the content displayed on the ranking site. In the inquiry screen, when metadata adding means for enabling input of additional metadata for the content is provided, the storage means stores the additional metadata, and the metadata is stored in the ranking site. It is preferable to further include a search unit capable of searching for the additional metadata.

  In the ranking site, many contents are ranked and displayed as a list, and it is difficult to understand the contents of the contents only by looking at the list. Therefore, there is a strong possibility that the user will make a browsing request for the content. However, if there is such a browsing request, the details of the content can be displayed in more detail on the inquiry screen. In addition, although it is not usually done to add a search comment to the content itself and register it on the site, it is possible to enter additional metadata for search on the inquiry screen and search for the additional metadata. By making it possible, it is possible to increase the width by searching for contents.

  The additional metadata preferably includes a comment on the content and / or a trackback on the content. By providing a comment addition and trackback addition function on the inquiry screen, it is possible to perform a search including not only the content creator but also the content user's opinion. Therefore, it is possible to perform a search not only from the viewpoint of the content creator but also from the viewpoint of the user. Trackback is one of the functions of a web log used for diary sites, etc. When a link is made to another weblog, the link destination is notified that the link has been made. It is a function.

  In this case, it is preferable that the evaluation unit further includes the content of the additional metadata as an evaluation target. For example, by including a questionnaire about the superiority or inferiority of content as the additional metadata, ranking can be performed in consideration of user evaluation of the content.

  Next, an example of an embodiment of the ranking server of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, a case where content is an image will be described as an example. Further, in the following embodiment, a description will be given by taking a URL that is generally widely used as an example.

  The ranking server 1 of this embodiment is a server that operates a ranking site 2 that ranks various types of content, and is connected to the Internet 3 (network). The Internet 3 is connected to content servers 6 and 7 in which entity data (content entities) of the images 4 and 5 are stored. The content server 6 is operated by the operator of the portal site 8, and the content server 7 is a server for the site 9 operated by a network connection company. As described above, the content servers 6 and 7 are operated by an operator different from the operator of the ranking site 2.

  Reference numeral 10 in FIG. 1 denotes a content creator, and the creator 10 owns the images 4 and 5 as his own content. Image 4 is registered in HP (homepage, the same applies hereinafter) 11 of content server 6, and image 5 is registered in HP 12 of content server 7. Here, the image 4 is a photograph of Mt. Fuji as shown by reference numeral 4 in FIG. 1, and the URL of the storage destination of the image 4, that is, the actual URL 4u is “http://www.example.org/fuji.jpg”. ing. Similarly, the image 5 is an illustration of a giraffe as indicated by reference numeral 5 in FIG. 1, and the actual URL 5u of the image 5 is “http://www.example.net/giraffe.jpg”.

  The URL of the HP 11 is a display URL 11u, which is “http://www.example.org/fuji.html”. The URL of the HP 12 is a display URL 12u, which is “http://www.example.net/giraffe.html”. Further, the creator 10 can connect to the Internet 3 by a computer 13 owned by the creator 10.

  Reference numeral 14 in FIG. 1 denotes a user who intends to use an image (content) via the Internet 3. The user 14 can also be connected to the Internet 3 by the computer 15.

  Next, the main functional configuration of the ranking server 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The ranking server 1 includes a storage unit including a memory 21 and a hard disk 22, a check program 23, a database program (hereinafter referred to as a DB program) 24, a display program 25, and a search program, which are programs stored in the hard disk 22. 26, an aggregation program 27 (aggregation means), a guidance program 28 (guidance means), and a ranking program 29 (evaluation means).

  The check program 23 is a program for checking whether or not the use request is valid when the user 14 requests use of the content. An example of an unfair request is access for the purpose of attacking a server, for example, unauthorized access such as so-called cross-site scripting. The DB creation program 24 is a program for creating a database so that various metadata included in the usage request information for content can be searched by a search program 26 described later.

  The display program 25 is a program for displaying data stored in the hard disk 22 on the ranking site 2 in a predetermined layout. The display program 25 displays the top page 2a of the ranking site 2 shown in FIG. 3 and the screens shown in FIGS. The search program 26 is a program for searching for images in the ranking site 2 using the search keywords input on the top page 2a displayed by the display program 25 and each screen of FIGS.

  The tabulation program 27 is a program for tabulating usage request information such as the number of browsing times and the number of downloads (number of usage requests) of the images 4 and 5 stored in the content servers 6 and 7 and displayed on the respective HPs 11 and 12. . The guidance program 28 is a program that guides browsing requests and the like aggregated by the aggregation program 27 to actual URLs 4u and 5u in which entity data of the images 4 and 5 are stored, or a detailed display screen 2e described later. The ranking program 29 is a program for ranking each content according to the number of downloads counted by the counting program 27 and other evaluation target points.

  Here, browsing refers to displaying content on the screen of the computer 15 and includes a state of being taken into the cache of the web browser. Download means an operation such as saving to the hard disk of the computer 15 by the mouse operation of the user 14. In addition, the usage request includes online execution of the program content.

  Next, the screen configuration in the ranking site 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. First, FIG. 3 shows a top page 2 a of the ranking site 2. The top page 2a includes a genre button 30 for designating the genre of content, an input area 31 for searching for content, a search button 32, and a new registration button 33 for registering images in the ranking site 2. is doing. In the top page 2a, the contents from the first place to the fifth place of each genre displayed on the genre button 30 are ranked and displayed by the ranking program 29.

  FIG. 4 shows an image screen 2 b when an image button is selected from the genre buttons 30. The image screen 2b is provided with a genre button 34 for designating an image genre (photo, illustration, 3DCG). Also, on the image screen 2b, the contents from the first place to the fifth place of each genre are ranked and displayed.

  FIG. 5 is a photo screen 2c when the photo button is selected from the genre buttons 34. This photo screen 2c specifies the genre of the photograph (person, nature / landscape, animal / biology, flower / plant, event / school event, travel, building / building, vehicle, sport, hobby / lifestyle, etc.) A genre button 35 is provided. In addition, on this photo screen, content ranked in the order of the number of accesses regardless of genre is displayed in the form of a thumbnail 36. Below the thumbnail 36, an creator HP button 37 linked to the creator's HP of the thumbnail 36 and a detail display button 38 linked to a detail display screen 2e described later are provided.

  FIG. 6 shows a new registration screen 2d displayed when the new registration button 33 on the top page 2a is pressed. In the new registration screen 2d, the name 41 of the creator 10 of the content to be registered, the URL 42 of the website owned by the creator 10, the information about the creator 10 such as the contact 43, the name 44 of the content, the actual URL URL 45, genre 46, registration availability 47 in the robot type search engine 47, directory registration request 48, adult rating 49, and other information related to the content.

  In addition, a creator comment 50, a license display 51, and a reference source URL list 52 relating to the content can be input. The reference source URL list 52 is a place where the URL of the site where the creator 10 has registered the content or the URL of the site of the other person who has permitted the use of the content is entered. When registered in a plurality of sites, URLs of the plurality of sites are described. A registration button 53 is provided above the new registration screen 2d.

  FIG. 7 shows a detail display screen 2e (inquiry screen) for displaying the metadata along with the content. The detail display screen 2e displays the thumbnail 4 'of the content on the screen of the computer 15 of the user 14 and the metadata registered on the new registration screen 2d. In addition, the thumbnail 4 'is linked, and the link destination is the display URL 11u of the HP 11 of the creator 10.

  However, reference numeral 45 ′ in FIG. 7 indicates a temporary URL 4 s instead of the actual URL 4 u entered by the creator 10. In addition, an access number 54a, an access ranking 54b, a trackback 55, and an additional comment 56 from a user who has viewed the content are displayed. This additional comment 56 can be newly added as well as viewed. Further, the reference source URL list 52 on the detail display screen 2e can be edited at any time in order to allow the creator 10 to use the content as well as the URL input by the creator 10 on the new registration screen 2d. ing. Some of these metadata can be hidden by the creator's request.

  Next, an operation when the content creator 10 registers his content (Mt. Fuji image 4) in the ranking site 2 will be described. First, the creator 10 displays the ranking site 2 on his computer 13. Next, the new registration button 33 displayed on the top page 2a of the ranking site 2 is clicked to display a new registration screen 2d shown in FIG. On the new registration screen 2d, metadata of the image 4 of Mt. Fuji to be registered is entered. In the present embodiment, as this metadata, personal information such as the name 41 and contact information 43 of the creator 10, the image name 44, the image genre 46, the creator's comment 50, and the actual URL 4 u are input to the URL 45. To do. In the present embodiment, in the ranking site 2, data other than the URL 45 indicating the actual URL among these metadata is a search target.

  When the creator 10 fills in the predetermined items on the above new registration screen 2 d and presses the registration button 53, the entered contents are transmitted to the ranking server 1. The ranking server 1 creates a thumbnail 4 'of the registered data with reference to the actual URL 4u, and registers in the ranking site 2 for those that accept the contract terms such as terms of use.

  Then, the ranking server 1 issues a temporary URL 4s on the registration acceptance screen (not shown) to the creator 10 who has registered. For example, “http://www.example.com/123456.jpg”. Then, the creator 10 is instructed to enter the temporary URL 4 s as the target of the content displayed on the HP 11 of the content server 6. For example, the temporary URL 4s is entered in the image tag for displaying the content in the HTML tag, not the actual URL 4u. Thereby, for example, when the user 14 displays the HP 11 of the creator 10, a display request to the content, that is, a browsing request is made to the temporary URL 4s by the image tag, and the browsing request is guided to the ranking server 1. It will be. Similarly, when the creator 5 registers the giraffe image 5 in the ranking site 2, a temporary URL 5 s (for example, “http://www.example.com/abcdef.jpg”) is given to the creator 10. publish.

  Next, processing of each data in the ranking server 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. When there is a usage request such as browsing or downloading from the user 14 who intends to use the content (S1), the check program 23 of the ranking server 1 checks the validity of the usage request (S2). This legitimacy check is intended to eliminate unauthorized access such as access aimed at attacking the server. For example, if there is an unauthorized access such as so-called cross-site scripting, the check program 23 performs error processing such as denying a use request (S7), assuming that the access is an unauthorized access (NO in S2).

  When the usage request from the user 14 is valid (YES in S2), the aggregation program 27 records the usage request information on the hard disk 22. Further, the DB conversion program 24 processes the usage request information so that it can be easily searched by the search program 26 and converts it into a DB. Then, the ranking of the registered content is performed by the ranking program 29 (S3). This ranking is performed based on various types of information such as the number of accesses to content and the remote host name, IP address, reference source URL, etc. in the usage request information.

  The number of accesses is counted based on the number of download requests and browsing requests for content. For remote host names, etc., if the host is registered as the creator in the ranking server 1, the remote host is ranked according to the number of access by the general user to the remote host. The host is used for ranking by increasing the score.

  Also, when there is an access to increase the ranking for a certain content, it can be determined by the remote host name, etc., so processing such as not changing the evaluation for such access It becomes possible. Note that this ranking can be performed for each category specified on each of the screens shown in FIGS.

  Next, the aggregation program 27 compares the reference source URL in the use request information with the reference source URL list 52, and determines whether the reference source URL matches the display URL 11u or the URL recorded in the reference source URL list 52. Is checked (S4). If the reference URL of the usage request is registered, that is, if it is the display URL 11u or the URL recorded in the reference source URL list 52 (YES in S4), the guide program 28 responds to the usage request. The real URL 4u is returned (S5). Then, the content entity registered in the real URL 4u can be used (downloaded, viewed, etc.) in the computer 15 of the user 14 (S6).

  On the other hand, when the reference URL does not exist, that is, when the user 14 directly inputs the temporary URL 4s into the address bar in the web browser of the computer 15, or is accessed by a hyperlink described in the mail, or the reference source URL Is neither the display URL 11u nor the URL recorded in the reference source URL list 52 (NO in S4), a URL for displaying the detailed display screen 2e is returned in response to the use request (S8). As a result, the detailed display screen 2e is displayed on the screen of the computer 15 of the user 14, and content metadata is also displayed together with the content thumbnail 4 '(S9).

  As described above, the guidance program 28 displays the detailed display screen 2e without transmitting the actual URL 4u that is the URL of the content entity to the user 14 when the reference source URL is not the HP 11 of the creator 10. 14 is not likely to see the license display 51, the adult rating 49, or the like.

  Next, specific examples of the flow of each data will be described for each case as follows. First, when the user 14 who wants to use the image of Mt. Fuji finds the HP 11 of the creator 10 through the portal site 8 and makes a browsing request to the content from the HP 11. The second is a case where a user 14 who wants to use an image of Mt. Fuji finds a ranking site 2 on a site 9 operated by a network provider and makes a browsing request for content from the ranking site 2. The third case is a case where the user 14 who wants to use the giraffe image performs an image search from the portal site 8 and makes a download request for the image directly from the result of the image search.

  First, a description will be given of a first case where the user 14 who wants to use an image of Mt. Fuji discovers the HP 11 of the creator 10 through the portal site 8 and makes a browsing request to the content from the HP 11. This user 14 is currently searching for an image of Mt. Fuji that can be displayed on his HP. In this case, the user 14 first connects to the Internet 3 using his / her computer 15 to display the portal site 8. Next, the user 14 performs a search using the search function of the portal site 8. For example, when the user 14 enters “Mt. Fuji” in the search keyword input area of the portal site 8 and performs a search, a number of sites corresponding to the keyword “Mt. Fuji” are displayed (not shown). Among them, the HP 11 established by the creator 10 is included, and the ranking site 2 may be displayed. Therefore, the user 14 can select any site.

  When the user 14 selects the HP 11 established by the creator 10 and makes a browsing request among the search results, the HP 11 of the creator 10 is displayed on the screen of the computer 15 of the user 14. At this time, in the HP 11, a browsing request is made to the temporary URL 4s by an image tag for displaying the photograph 4 of Mt. Fuji (S1). In this way, when a browsing request is made, the checking program 23 checks the browsing request (S2). Since this browsing request is made from the display URL 11u, the browsing request is recognized as a legitimate access by the check program 23, and the browsing request is guided to the ranking server 1 by the temporary URL 4s and tabulated by the tabulation program 27. . At this time, the counting program 27 counts the number of browsing requests for the Mount Fuji photo 4. The ranking program 29 compares the count number of the Mount Fuji photo 4 with the count number of other contents, and updates the ranking of the Mount Fuji photo 4 (S3).

  Then, the guidance program 28 checks the URL for which the browsing request is made, that is, the reference source URL (S4). Since the download request is made from the HP 11 of the creator 10 this time, the reference URL is the display URL 11u. For this reason, the real URL 4u is sent to the computer 15 of the user 14 who made the download request (S5), and the photograph 4 of Mt. Fuji, which is the content entity, is displayed on the HP 11 on the computer 15 of the user 14.

  Next, a description will be given of a second case in which a user 14 who wants to use an image of Mt. Fuji finds a ranking site 2 on a site 9 operated by a network provider and makes a browsing request for content from the ranking site 2. To do.

  In this case, the user 14 first connects to the Internet 3 using his / her computer 15 to display the site 9. Next, the user 14 performs a search using the search function of the site 9. For example, when the user 14 performs a search by entering “image ranking” in the search keyword insertion portion of the site 9, many sites and the like that perform image ranking are displayed (not shown). Among them, the ranking site 2 is also displayed, so that the user 14 can select the ranking site 2.

  When the user 14 selects the ranking site 2 among the search results, the top page 2 a of the ranking site 2 is displayed on the computer 15 of the user 14. When the user 14 searches the top page 2a for an image of Mt. Fuji that he / she wants to use, the genre button 35 has an image, so the image is first selected, and then the photograph is selected by the genre button 34 on the image screen 2b. Then, since the photograph screen 2c is displayed, the user 14 enters “Mt. Fuji” as a keyword in the input area 31, and clicks the search button 32.

  Then, a list of photos having the keyword “Mt. Fuji” as metadata is displayed on the photo screen 2c. In the ranking site 2 of the present embodiment, the ranking program 29 arranges and displays them in descending order of evaluation. Therefore, since the user 14 can view the content used by many people, that is, in the order of the popular content, the user 14 is more likely to quickly find the content he / she is looking for.

  The user 14 searches for a desired image from the content and finds a favorite photo. Here, if the user 14 wants to know detailed information of the photograph, the detail display button 38 may be clicked. As described above, when the detail display button 38 on the photo screen 2c is clicked, the guidance program 28 displays the detail display screen 2e shown in FIG. 7 on the screen of the computer 15 of the user 14 in response to the click.

  Thereby, the user 14 can confirm the detailed information of the image selected on the detail display screen 2e. In particular, when the user 14 intends to use an image for his own HP, it is possible to clarify whether or not the content can be used for his own HP by viewing the license display 51 on the detailed display screen 2e. it can. In addition, when there is a comment 50 of the creator 10 or an additional comment 56 written by another user, the description thereof can also be referred to.

  Here, when the user 14 tries to browse the content and clicks the thumbnail 4 ′ on the detail display screen 2e, the link destination is the display URL 11u in the present embodiment, and therefore the screen of the computer 15 of the user 14 is displayed. Displays the HP 11 of the creator 10. Then, since the image tag of the photograph 4 of Mount Fuji on the HP 11 is a temporary URL 4s, a browsing request is guided to the ranking site 1 by the temporary URL 4s. As a result, a usage request is made to the ranking site 1 (S1), a check is made by the check program 23 (S2), the number of uses of the Mt. And the ranking is updated by the ranking program 29 (S3).

  Further, since the reference URL of the use request in this case is the HP 11 of the creator 10, the guidance program 28 transmits the real URL 4 u of the image 4 of Mt. Fuji to the computer 15 of the user 14 (S 5). Photo 4 is displayed. Here, when the user 14 issues a save instruction to his computer 15 by operating the mouse on the Mount 4 photo 4 on the HP 11, the Mount Fuji photo 4 is stored from the browser cache to the download destination of the computer 15. .

  On the other hand, when the thumbnail 14 is clicked by the user 14 or the creator HP button 37 is clicked on the photo screen 2c, the link destination is the display URL 11u. The HP 11 of the creator 10 is displayed on the top. The subsequent processing of the ranking server 1 is the same as described above.

  Next, a description will be given of a third case in which the user 14 who wants to use a giraffe image performs an image search for giraffe from the portal site 8 and makes a download request for the image directly from the result of the image search.

  In this case, the user 14 uses his / her computer 15 to connect to the Internet 3 and display the portal site 8. Next, the user 14 performs a search using the search function of the portal site 8. For example, when the user 14 enters “Kirin” in the search keyword insertion location of the portal site 8 and performs an image search for searching for an image, a large number of thumbnails of images having the keyword “Kirin” in their names and comments are displayed. . When the user 14 clicks one of the thumbnails, a larger thumbnail and file name of the image are displayed by the function of the portal site 8, but metadata such as the comment of the creator, license information, or adult rating is not displayed. Do not show. Note that such an image display screen of the portal site 8 is commonly seen and therefore not shown.

  The thumbnail image selected by the user 14 is the thumbnail of the giraffe image 5 registered in the HP 12 of the creator 10, and the user 14 makes a download request to the thumbnail of the giraffe image 5 by operating the mouse. In such a case, the image linked to the thumbnail is downloaded to the computer 15 of the user 14.

  However, since the image linked to the thumbnail is the Kirin image 5 and the temporary URL 5s is described in the image tag, the download request is guided to the ranking server 1 (S1). Therefore, the check program 23 checks whether or not the access is normal (S2), and data recording, DB creation, and ranking are performed (S3). Further, the download program distributes the download request.

  In this case, since the download request is made from the image display screen of the portal site 8 and the reference source URL is neither the display URL 12u nor the registered URL (NO in S4), the guide program 28 uses the URL of the detail display screen 2e. The data is transmitted to the computer 15 of the user 14 (S8), and the detail display screen 2e is displayed on the screen of the computer 15 of the user 14 (S9). Thereby, it becomes possible to display the metadata regarding the content to the user 14.

  Thus, even when the user 14 makes a direct download request on the portal site 8, the content is not downloaded directly on the computer 15 of the user 14, and the detailed display screen 2 e is displayed. Thereby, the user 14 can obtain information on the content of the content that the user 14 intends to use. When the user 14 looks at the detailed display screen 2e and clicks the giraffe image 5, the link destination of the giraffe image 5 is the display URL 12u, and thus the HP 12 of the creator 10 is displayed.

  In this way, when the HP 12 of the creator 10 is displayed, a use request is guided to the ranking server 1 by the temporary URL 5s by the image tag, and thus a series of processing of the flow shown in FIG. 8 is performed. In such a case, once the download request for the content is made and the detailed display screen 2e is displayed, and the HP 12 of the creator 10 is displayed by a link from the detailed display screen 2e, it may be excluded from the ranking target. Of course, it may be excluded from the evaluation target as a ranking target.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, even when a usage request is made to the content from the HPs 11 and 12 of the creator 10 or a usage request is made to the content from the ranking site 2, there is still another case. Even if a usage request is made for the content of the creator 10 from the site, the ranking server 1 counts the usage requests. Therefore, according to the ranking server 1 of the present embodiment, unlike the ranking registered in the conventional download site, the usage requests for the same content are aggregated regardless of the registered location. It can be performed.

  In addition, the ranking server 1 of the ranking site 2 according to the present embodiment does not store content entity data, but stores content metadata (content content and actual URL). In addition, thumbnails are attached to each content, but the capacity of the thumbnails is very small compared to the actual data. Therefore, the ranking server 1 can reduce the storage capacity of the hard disk 22 and the like, and the connection capacity with the network may be small. Furthermore, even if there are many users accessing the data, since the data to be transmitted / received is metadata and thumbnails, the amount of data uploaded from the ranking server 1 is small, so the cost for uploading data can be reduced. .

  Thus, according to the ranking server 1 of the present embodiment, the initial investment can be reduced when the ranking site 2 is started up, and the operation cost can be reduced. Further, since the capacity of the ranking server 1 necessary for registration can be reduced regardless of the type of content to be registered, a wide range of content can be collected without limiting the type of content. Moreover, since the burden on the ranking server 1 is small even if the number increases, it is possible to collect a large number of contents without limiting the number of registrations by limiting the server capacity as in the past.

  In the ranking server 1 of the present embodiment, various metadata can be associated with the content itself. For example, the RSS standard or the ATOM standard, which is a metadata standard such as a website title or summary, is used. Using the software for use, the content itself can be used and managed. For example, it is possible to use the metadata indicating the content desired by the user 14 (for example, “Mt. Fuji wallpaper”) by causing the own computer 15 to display a ranking on a content basis instead of a site basis.

  In the ranking server 1 of the present embodiment, since evaluation is also a search target, for example, a program for using the standard is used to collect Mt. Fuji wallpaper with an evaluation of 90 points or more. If specified in this way, it is possible to use only the content that meets the conditions. In addition, it becomes possible to use content such as cross-searching (skewered search) for contents of a plurality of pay video distribution sites by “director” or “actor” and comparing prices.

  In the above embodiment, when there is no reference source URL, or when the reference source URL is neither a display URL nor a URL recorded in the reference source URL list 52, the use request from the user 14 is answered. Although the URL for displaying the detail display screen 2e is returned, the display URL, which is not limited to this, is the HP URL of the creator 10 may be returned. When the display URL is returned as described above, the content is used from the HP of the creator 10. The creator 10 has originally posted the content on the website with the intention that the user wants the content to be used (viewed, etc.), so in this case, the creator 10 must comply with the original intention of the creator 10 as well. It becomes.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, when the user 14 makes a utilization request with respect to the content displayed on the ranking site 2, it is linked to the content on the display URL by a link and given to the content. Although the usage information is totaled by the totaling program 27 via the temporary URL, the usage request from the ranking site 2 may be totaled directly by the totaling program 27 without being limited thereto.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the content is an image has been described as an example. However, the type of content may be any document, music, video, software, or the like. Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the total program 27 totals the frequency | count of the download of an image, you may count not only this but the frequency | count etc. which displayed the detailed display screen. Further, if the content is a document, the number of times of browsing may be counted.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the example in which the operator of the ranking server 1 is different from the operator of the portal site 8 and the site 9 of the network connection company has been described. Some or all of the site 8 and the site 9 may be operated.

Explanatory drawing which shows an example of embodiment of the ranking server of this invention. Explanatory drawing which shows the functional structure of the ranking server of FIG. Explanatory drawing which shows the top page of a search site. Explanatory drawing which shows the search result screen of a search site. Explanatory drawing which shows the detailed display screen of the image which is content. Explanatory drawing which shows the new registration screen of an image. Explanatory drawing which shows the ranking server of other embodiment of this invention. Explanatory drawing which shows the process of each data in a ranking server.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Ranking server, 2 ... Search site, 3 ... Internet (network), 4, 5 ... Image (content), 4u, 5u ... Real URL, 4s, 5s ... Temporary URL, 21 ... Memory, 22 ... Hard disk (storage means) ), 23... Display program (display means), 25... Aggregation program (aggregation means), 26.

Claims (8)

A ranking server that ranks the content by summing usage request information made by a user via content on the content server,
By the actual URI that is the location information of the content entity stored in the content server, the display URI that is the URI of the web page on which the content entity is displayed, and the user performed on the content of the display URI Storage means for storing metadata including a temporary URI for guiding a use request to a predetermined destination;
Tally means for tallying use request information when a use request made for the content is guided by the temporary URI;
An evaluation unit that evaluates the content using at least the usage request information tabulated by the tabulation unit as an evaluation target;
Display means for displaying a display relating to the content on a ranking site together with a part or all of the metadata in the evaluation order of the evaluation means;
A guidance unit that enables the user to use the content with reference to the usage request information aggregated by the aggregation unit and the metadata stored in the storage unit; A featured ranking server.   2. The ranking server according to claim 1, wherein the aggregation unit also aggregates second usage request information related to a second usage request made for the content displayed on the ranking site. .   The guide means transmits the actual URI in response to the use request when the use request is made via the display URI or a pre-registered URI stored in the storage means, 3. The ranking server according to claim 1, wherein the ranking server transmits the display URI in response to the usage request or adds the display of the metadata to the display of the content.   The ranking server according to claim 3, wherein the metadata includes copyright license information or adult rating. The usage request information includes a remote host name, IP address, and reference source URI for the content server,
5. The evaluation unit according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation unit performs the evaluation based on a use count for each host, a connection request date and time for each host, a remote host name, an IP address, and a reference source URI. The listed ranking server. The display means displays an inquiry screen for displaying metadata of the content when there is a browsing request from a user for the content displayed on the ranking site,
The inquiry screen is provided with metadata adding means for enabling input of additional metadata for the content,
The storage means stores the additional metadata;
The ranking server according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising search means capable of searching the metadata and the additional metadata at the ranking site.   The ranking server according to claim 6, wherein the additional metadata includes a comment on the content and / or a trackback on the content.   The ranking server according to claim 6, wherein the evaluation unit further includes the content of the additional metadata as an evaluation target.

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