U.S. patent application number 12/787819 was filed with the patent office on 2010-12-09 for communication apparatus, communication method, electronic apparatus, control method for controlling electronic apparatus, and storage medium.
Invention is credited to Tetsujiro KONDO, Akira TANGE.
Application Number | 20100313234 12/787819 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18880969 |
Filed Date | 2010-12-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100313234 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KONDO; Tetsujiro ; et
al. |
December 9, 2010 |
COMMUNICATION APPARATUS, COMMUNICATION METHOD, ELECTRONIC
APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD FOR CONTROLLING ELECTRONIC APPARATUS, AND
STORAGE MEDIUM
Abstract
Value-added information is generated by collecting information
relating to apparatuses from a plurality of users, and service is
automatically and adaptively provided in a manner that satisfies
each user's own preference. Since a second electronic apparatus of
a given user is controlled based on control information of a second
electronic apparatus of another user to which first electronic
apparatus information of the user is similar, electronic apparatus
control service is performed in a manner adaptively matching
preference of the user without complex signal processing such as
user preference analysis. The electronic apparatus of the user is
controlled based electronic apparatus information of the similar
user with whom the user shares activity information such as
transfer and purchases of apparatuses in common, electronic
apparatus control service is performed in a manner adaptively
matching preference of the user without complex signal processing
such as user preference analysis.
Inventors: |
KONDO; Tetsujiro; (Tokyo,
JP) ; TANGE; Akira; (Tokyo, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FROMMER LAWRENCE & HAUG
745 FIFTH AVENUE- 10TH FL.
NEW YORK
NY
10151
US
|
Family ID: |
18880969 |
Appl. No.: |
12/787819 |
Filed: |
May 26, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11964595 |
Dec 26, 2007 |
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12787819 |
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10239109 |
Sep 19, 2002 |
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PCT/JP02/00172 |
Jan 15, 2002 |
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11964595 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
725/116 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 21/4135 20130101;
H04N 21/4826 20130101; H04N 21/4532 20130101; H04N 21/47 20130101;
G06F 16/9535 20190101; H04N 5/4401 20130101; H04N 21/252 20130101;
H04N 5/44543 20130101; H04N 21/6582 20130101; H04N 5/50 20130101;
H04N 21/4104 20130101; H04N 21/4113 20130101; H04N 21/488 20130101;
H04N 21/426 20130101; H04N 21/4755 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
725/116 |
International
Class: |
H04N 7/173 20060101
H04N007/173 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 23, 2001 |
JP |
2001-014244 |
Claims
1.-285. (canceled)
286. A server comprising: an identifying unit configured to
identify a preference of a first user; and a controller configured
to transmit a control signal to an electronic apparatus associated
with the first user according to the preference.
287. The server of claim 286, wherein the electronic apparatus is a
television, and wherein the controller transmits a control signal
to change a channel of the television.
288. The server of claim 287, wherein the controller identifies a
preference of a first user according to operation information for
another electronic apparatus.
289. The server of claim 288, wherein the controller identifies the
preference of the first user according to a preference of a second
user having similar operation information for another electronic
apparatus to operation information of the first user for another
electronic apparatus.
290. A communication method comprising the steps of: identifying a
preference of a first user; and transmitting a control signal to an
electronic apparatus associated with the first user according to
the preference.
291. The communication method of claim 290, wherein the electronic
apparatus is a television, and wherein the transmitter transmits a
control signal to change a channel of the television.
292. The communication method of claim 291, wherein the preference
of a first user is identified according to operation information
for another electronic apparatus.
293. The communication method of claim 292, wherein operation for
another electronic apparatus is a preference of a second user
having similar operation information for another electronic
apparatus to operation information of the first user for another
electronic apparatus.
294.-297. (canceled)
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a communication apparatus
and a communication method of a server which adds value to
information collected from a plurality of users, and an electronic
apparatus and a method of controlling the electronic apparatus for
a client who receives this type of value-added information and,
particularly, to a communication apparatus and a communication
method, an electronic apparatus and a method controlling the
electronic apparatus, and a storage medium for collecting
information relating to operation of apparatuses by a plurality of
users and activity of the users in the real world, for generating
value-added information and for receiving the value-added
information.
[0002] More specifically, the present invention relates to a
communication apparatus and a communication method, an electronic
apparatus and a method for controlling the electronic apparatus,
and a storage medium for collecting information relating to
apparatus operation from a plurality of users, for generating
value-added information relating to users' preferences, and for
automatically adapting to provision of a variety of services based
on user preferences taking advantage of the value-added
information.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] Along with current advance of technology, information
apparatuses such as personal computers (PCs), and information
appliances such as television receivers, and other audio-visual
apparatuses have been developed and are commercially available.
Consumers purchase these information apparatuses directly from show
cases in stores, or online shop them.
[0004] Purchase information of what products the consumers have
bought, and history of use and operation of the products by the
users may serve as source information for value addition to be used
to predict consumer life and needs of the consumers. For example,
purchasers of television sets are expected to desire to receive
signals from broadcasting satellites (or the purchasers of
television sets may be interested in satellite broadcasting more
than purchasers of other products). The purchase information of the
purchasers of the television sets may be registered in a purchase
information data base and the data base is then analyzed to select
addressees to which advertising catalogs for satellite broadcasting
may be efficiently sent. Based on television viewing information
(for example, of what programs are viewed for how long), it is
possible to determine what category of television programs each
individual prefers. Automatic reception service of advertising
contents may be provided to people who like the same category.
[0005] The method for linking the purchasers of the television sets
to the advertising catalogs of satellite broadcasting needs human
intervention in the interpretation of the data, and cannot be
automatically adapted to a variety of other services.
[0006] The method of distributing programs of the same category
based on the television viewing information requires less data
interpretation because the object from which information is
collected is identical to the object to which value-added
information is provided. Broadcast and distributed contents need to
be automatically categorized, and this method cannot be
automatically adapted to a variety of other services.
[0007] The provision of service based on the user's preference has
conventionally required human intervention in data interpretation
or automatic categorization of the contents. Applying the methods
in vast amount of service is costly, and is difficult to
technically implement.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
communication apparatus and a communication method, an electronic
apparatus, and a method of controlling the electronic apparatus,
and a storage medium for collecting information relating to
operation of apparatuses by a plurality of users and activity of
the users, for generating value-added information and for receiving
the value-added information.
[0009] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
communication apparatus and a communication method, an electronic
apparatus, and a method of controlling the electronic apparatus,
and a storage medium for collecting information relating to
apparatus operation from a plurality of users, for generating
value-added information relating to users' preferences, and for
automatically adapting to provision of a variety of services based
on user preferences taking advantage of the value-added
information.
[0010] The present invention has been developed to achieve the
above objects, and in a first aspect relates to a communication
apparatus or a communication method, including receiver means or
receiving step for receiving first electronic apparatus information
relating to a first electronic apparatus from a plurality of users,
determining means or determining step for determining, from among
the plurality of users, a second user having the first electronic
apparatus information similar to that of a first user, and
[0011] transmitter means or transmitting step for transmitting
control information for a second electronic apparatus of the second
user to a second electronic apparatus of the first user.
[0012] The present invention has been developed based on the fact
that operation information or control information such as input
operations to the electronic apparatus by the user reflects a
certain degree of preference information of the user.
[0013] In accordance with the communication apparatus and the
communication method of the present invention in the first aspect
thereof, value-added information is generated based on the
operation information and the control information to a diversity of
media by a plurality of users so that an automatic control service
is provided in the operation of a particular medium by a particular
user. In other words, service working on another medium of a
similar user is tuned up making use of information expressing the
preference of the user such as the operation information and the
control information acquired on the medium of the particular
user.
[0014] The present invention in a second aspect relates to a
communication apparatus or a communication method and includes
receiver means or receiving step for receiving user activity
information from a plurality of users, determining means or
determining step for determining, from among the plurality of
users, a second user having activity information which, received
and collected by the receiver means, is similar to that of a first
user, and transmitter means or transmitting step for transmitting
control information for a second electronic apparatus of the second
user to a second electronic apparatus of the first user.
[0015] In accordance with the communication apparatus or the
communication method of the present invention in the second aspect
thereof, an automatic control service is provided to a medium of a
particular user based on trial information and activity information
of a plurality of users in the real world. In other words, the user
activity information is received and accumulated from a plurality
of user terminals, and value-added information is generated based
on the accumulated activity information, and service working on the
medium of the user is tuned up making use of the operation
information of the medium of the similar user having similar
activity information.
[0016] The present invention in a third aspect relates to a
communication apparatus or a communication method and includes
receiver means or receiving step for receiving first electronic
apparatus information relating to a first electronic apparatus from
a plurality of users, determining means or determining step for
determining, among the plurality of users, a second user having the
first electronic apparatus information similar to that of a first
user, and transmitter means or transmitting step for transmitting
control information for a second electronic apparatus,
corresponding to activity information of the second user, to a
second electronic apparatus of the first user.
[0017] In accordance with the communication apparatus or the
communication method of the present invention in the third aspect
thereof, activity information affecting the activity of the user in
the real world is provided based on the value-added information
obtained from the operation information and the control information
of the media of the plurality of users. For example, based on the
operation information of another user collected on a personal
computer, value-added information affecting the real world is
provided through notice to the user on a mobile telephone, for
example.
[0018] The present invention in a fourth aspect relates to an
electronic apparatus or a control method for the electronic
apparatus, and includes receiver means or receiving step for
receiving control information for the electronic apparatus, and
control means or control step for controlling the electronic
apparatus based on the received control information, wherein the
control information includes control information for another
electronic apparatus of a similar user, and wherein electronic
apparatus information of the similar user of the other electronic
apparatus is similar to that of a user of the electronic
apparatus.
[0019] In accordance with the fourth aspect of the present
invention, the electronic apparatus receives, from an external
server, the value-added information which is generated based on the
operation information and the control information of a variety of
media by a plurality of users. The user thus enjoys an automatic
tuning service on the electronic apparatus making use of the
value-added information from another user who has similar operation
information on a medium.
[0020] The present invention in a fifth aspect relates to an
electronic apparatus or a control method for controlling the
electronic apparatus, and includes receiver means or receiving step
for receiving control information for controlling the electronic
apparatus, and
[0021] control means or control step for controlling the electronic
apparatus based on the received control information, wherein the
control information includes control information for another
electronic apparatus of a similar user, and wherein activity
information of the similar user is similar to that of a user of the
electronic apparatus.
[0022] In accordance with the fifth aspect of the present
invention, the operation of the electronic apparatus by the user is
automatically tuned making use of the operation information of the
medium by the similar user who has similar preference information
and activity information in the real world.
[0023] The present invention in a sixth aspect relates to a
recording medium physically storing a computer readable software
program into which a process for controlling an electronic
apparatus for a single user based on control information of
electronic apparatuses of a plurality of users is written to be
executed on a computer system. The computer software program
includes a receiving step of receiving first electronic apparatus
information relating to a first electronic apparatus from a
plurality of users, a determining step of determining, from among
the plurality of users, a second user having the first electronic
apparatus information similar to that of a first user, and a
transmitting step of transmitting control information for a second
electronic apparatus of the second user to a second electronic
apparatus of the first user.
[0024] The present invention in a seventh aspect relates to a
recording medium physically storing a computer readable software
program into which a process for controlling an electronic
apparatus for a single user based on activity information of a
plurality of users is written to be executed on a computer system.
The computer software program includes a receiving step of
receiving user activity information from a plurality of users, a
determining step of determining, from among the plurality of users,
a second user having activity information which, received and
collected in the receiving step, is similar to that of a first
user, and a transmitting step of transmitting control information
for a second electronic apparatus of the second user to a second
electronic apparatus of the first user.
[0025] The present invention in an eighth aspect relates to a
recording medium physically storing a computer readable software
program into which a process for controlling an electronic
apparatus for a single user based on electronic apparatus
information of a plurality of users is written to be executed on a
computer system. The computer software program includes a receiving
step of receiving first electronic apparatus information relating
to a first electronic apparatus from a plurality of users, a
determining step of determining, from among the plurality of users,
a second user having the first electronic apparatus information
similar to that of a first user, and a transmitting step of
transmitting control information for a second electronic apparatus,
corresponding to activity information of the second user, to a
second electronic apparatus of the first user.
[0026] The present invention in a ninth aspect relates to a
recording medium physically storing a computer readable software
program into which a process for controlling an electronic
apparatus for a single user based on control information of an
electronic apparatus of a similar user is written to be executed on
a computer system. The computer software program includes a
receiving step of receiving control information for controlling the
electronic apparatus, and a controlling step of controlling the
electronic apparatus based on the received control information,
wherein the control information includes control information for
another electronic apparatus of a similar user, and wherein
electronic apparatus information of the similar user of the other
electronic apparatus is similar to that of a user of the electronic
apparatus.
[0027] The present invention in a tenth aspect relates to a
recording medium physically storing a computer readable software
program into which a process for controlling an electronic
apparatus for a single user based on activity information of a
similar user is written to be executed on a computer system. The
computer software program includes a receiving step of receiving
control information for controlling the electronic apparatus, and a
controlling step of controlling the electronic apparatus based on
the received control information, wherein the control information
includes control information for another electronic apparatus of a
similar user, and wherein activity information of the similar user
is similar to that of a user of the electronic apparatus.
[0028] The storage medium in each of the sixth through tenth
aspects of the present invention provides a computer software
program in a computer readable form to a general-purpose computer
system which executes a diversity of program codes. Such medium may
be a removable and portable recording medium such as a DVD (Digital
Versatile Disc), a CD (Compact Disc), an FD (Flexible Disk), or an
MO (Magneto-Optical disc). It is technically possible to supply a
computer software program to a particular computer system through a
network (whether the network is wireless or wired is not
important).
[0029] The storage medium in each of the sixth through tenth
aspects of the present invention defines structural or functional
collaborative relationship with which the function of a
predetermined computer software program is carried on the computer
system. In other words, the predetermined computer software program
is installed in the computer system through the storage medium in
each of the sixth through tenth aspects of the present invention,
and a collaborative operation is performed on the computer system.
The storage medium thus provides the same advantages and operation
as those provided by the communication apparatus or the
communication method related to each of the first through third
aspects of the present invention, and the electronic apparatus or
the control method for controlling the electronic apparatus related
to each of the fourth and fifth aspects of the present
invention.
[0030] Other objects, features, and advantages of the present
invention will become obvious from the detailed description of the
embodiments of the present invention and accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0031] FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrating a tuning service using
other media in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0032] FIG. 2 lists, in a table, information collected from each
medium and value-added information provided to each medium.
[0033] FIG. 3 is a block diagram diagrammatically illustrating the
function of a server 1 which provides a tuning service using
another medium.
[0034] FIG. 4 diagrammatically illustrates the functional structure
of a personal computer (PC) to which the present invention is
applied.
[0035] FIG. 5 diagrammatically illustrates the functional structure
of a digital TV 3 to which the present invention is applied.
[0036] FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating the process for
automatically controlling the digital TV 3 based on information
collected on a personal computer 2.
[0037] FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating the functional
structure of a digital video tape recorder 5 to which the present
invention is applied.
[0038] FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating the process for
automatically controlling the digital video tape recorder 5 based
on the information accumulated on the personal computer 2.
[0039] FIG. 9 is a block diagram diagrammatically illustrating the
functional structure of a mobile telephone 6 to which the present
invention is applied.
[0040] FIG. 10 is a flow diagram of a process for automatically
controlling the mobile telephone 6 based on the information
accumulated on the personal computer 2.
[0041] FIG. 11 diagrammatically illustrates a tuning service that
uses another medium in accordance with another embodiment of the
present invention.
[0042] FIG. 12 lists, in a table information collected from each
medium and value-added information provided to each medium.
[0043] FIG. 13 diagrammatically illustrates the functional
structure of a mobile telephone 8 with a GPS function to which the
present invention is applied.
[0044] FIG. 14 is a flow diagram of a process for automatically
controlling a TV 3 (see FIG. 5) based on information accumulated on
the mobile telephone 8 with the GPS function.
[0045] FIG. 15 diagrammatically illustrates the functional
structure of a credit use record system 9 in which the present
invention is applied.
[0046] FIG. 16 is a flow diagram of a process for automatically
controlling the TV 3 (see FIG. 5) based on information accumulated
on the credit use record system 9.
[0047] FIG. 17 diagrammatically illustrates the functional
structure of a mobile telephone 7 with a GPS function in which the
present invention is applied.
[0048] FIG. 18 is a flow diagram of the process for providing
service that affects the real world through the mobile telephone 7
with the GPS function based on information collected on the
personal computer 2.
[0049] FIG. 19 diagrammatically illustrates the functional
structure of a mobile telephone 7A with a GPS function in which the
present invention is applied.
[0050] FIG. 20 is a flow diagram of the process for providing
service that affects the real world wherein a product is purchased
through the mobile telephone 7A with the GPS function in accordance
with the information accumulated on the personal computer 2.
[0051] FIG. 21 diagrammatically illustrates the construction of a
computer system 500 in which the present invention is applied.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0052] The embodiments of the present invention will now be
discussed with reference to the drawings.
A. First Embodiment
[0053] A first embodiment of the present invention is based on the
fact that operation information or control information such as
input operations to an electronic apparatus by a user reflects the
user's preference information to some degree. In accordance with
the present embodiment, value-added information is generated based
on the operation information and the control information to a
variety of media by a plurality of users, and then an automatic
control service is provided to a particular user in the operation
of a particular medium.
[0054] The feature of the present embodiment is that the preference
information and the operation information acquired on the medium of
a given user are used to tune up service in another medium of a
similar user. Specifically, the present invention provides a wide
range of electronic apparatus control service to a diversity of
media and electronic apparatuses.
[0055] For example, user input information is collected as the
user's preference information from a plurality of media ubiquitous
at home, such as AV apparatuses including television sets, stereo
sets, video decks, and DVD players, and personal computers, and
some value-added information is generated based on the collected
information, and is then fed back in control service of other
media.
[0056] FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrates a tuning service using
other media in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0057] As shown, a particular server collects information relating
to user operation carried out on the media installed at home such
as TV sets, stereo sets, DVD players, and personal computers.
[0058] The server and each medium are connected to each other using
a short-distance radio data link such as Bluetooth, IEEE 1394, home
LAN, a wide-area network such as the Internet, cable television
(CATV), or other communication media.
[0059] The server may be installed at the same home or in a remote
place. A plurality of homes may share the same server. As shown,
users A through D share the same server.
[0060] FIG. 2 lists, in a table, information collected from each
medium and value-added information provided to each medium.
[0061] The user operation information collected on the server
includes "viewing and listening information" represented by a
program ID and viewing (replay) time of television or radio
broadcast data in a receiver and "channel switching information"
represented by the ID of a channel to which the receiver is tuned,
and channel switch time at which the tuned channel is switched.
[0062] Other examples of user operation information also include
"video (recording) information" represented by the ID of a program
which is replayed by a receiver such as a TV set or is recorded by
a recorder such as a VTR and broadcast (recording) time, "operation
information" representing an operation to the recorder during
recording, "preprogrammed recording information" representing the
ID of a content preprogrammed for video (recording) on the
recorder, and "operation information" for replaying representing
functions such as replay, fast-forward, rewind, and pause, and time
set for these functions.
[0063] The user operation information further includes "browsing
information" of a Web represented by a URL (Uniform Resource
Locator) indicating a site which is searched and monitored on a
user terminal that is linked over a network, such as a personal
computer, "download information" represented by a URL indicating
the storage location of a file downloaded to the user terminal
through the network from an external apparatus such as an
information providing server, "upload information" represented by a
URL indicating the ID and the storage location of a file uploaded
to an external electronic apparatus from the user terminal through
the network, "bookmark information" represented by an URL
indicating a site which is searched, monitored and bookmark
registered on the user terminal, and "edit information" containing
the ID of a file edited by the user on the user terminal and an
edit ID identifying the type of edit.
[0064] Other examples of the user operation information include
operation information for a mobile telephone or a communication
terminal which performs one-to-one communication such as in peer to
peer link. For example, the user operation information includes
"service use information" represented by a service ID identifying
ticket-booking information transmitted from a mobile telephone to
an external apparatus such as a service center through a public
telephone line.
[0065] The server collects and processes the user operation
information of each medium, and generates value-added information
based on the user preference information represented by the user
operation. The value-added information is fed to a medium (the
value-added information is fed to a TV set in FIG. 1), and tuning
service is carried out on the medium. The value-added information
may be operation information that helps the user operate the
electronic apparatus, for example.
[0066] The value-added information fed to the user from the server
includes operation information of a receiver such as a TV set. For
example, the value-added information may include "channel
information" formed of the ID of a channel to which the receiver is
tuned, "area information" indicating a target area of video data
received and replayed, and "volume information" indicating the
volume of audio data received and replayed.
[0067] The value-added information supplied to the user from the
server is operation information of a video recorder such as a VTR.
For example, the value-added information may include "preprogrammed
recording information" indicating the content ID and recording
time, and "preprogrammed recording information" which indicates
preprogrammed recording date and time on a video recorder of
another user.
[0068] The value-added information supplied to a reproducing device
such as a VTR or a DVD player may include "digest information" of a
replay content produced by another user, "search index information"
produced for searching for the replay content, "delete information"
formed of the ID of a content which is deleted from a recording
medium on the recorder of the other user, and "title information"
relating to a recorded content produced on the recorder of the
other user.
[0069] The value-added information supplied to the user terminal,
such as a personal computer, communicable over a network, may
include "browsing information" of a Web represented by a URL
indicating a site which is searched and monitored on another user
terminal, "download information" represented by a URL indicating
the storage location of a file downloaded to the terminal of the
other user through the network from an external apparatus such as
an information providing server, "bookmark information" represented
by an URL indicating a site which is bookmark registered on the
terminal of the other user, and "category information" according to
which the other user categorizes a plurality of contents stored in
a hard disk device in the terminal of the other user.
[0070] The value-added information supplied to a mobile telephone
or a communication terminal which performs a one-to-one
communication such as in a peer-to-peer link may include an
incoming call sound ID identifying an incoming call sound set in a
communication terminal of another user, and "service use
information" represented by a service ID identifying ticket-booking
information transmitted to an external apparatus such as a service
center from the mobile telephone of the other user through a public
telephone line.
[0071] FIG. 3 is a block diagram diagrammatically illustrating the
function of a server 1 which provides a tuning service using
another medium. The server 1 is actually embodied by an ordinary
computer system that carries out a predetermined server
application.
[0072] As shown, the server 1 includes a data transceiver 11, a
controller 12, a data base 13, and a matching degree calculator
14.
[0073] The data transceiver 11 is connected to each of media
installed at home, such as AV apparatuses including television
sets, stereo sets, video decks, and DVD players, and personal
computers, and collects information relating to operations carried
out to the media by a plurality of users. The data transceiver 11
is connected to each medium using a short-distance radio data link
such as Bluetooth, IEEE 1394, home LAN, a wide-area network such as
the Internet, cable television (CATV), or other communication
media.
[0074] The controller 12 generally controls the operation of the
server 1 by performing a variety of program codes under a program
execution environment provided by an operating system (OS). The
controller 12 may be formed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and
a main memory, for example.
[0075] The data base 13 stores the user operation information
received from each medium which is used by each user. Specifically,
all user operation information is stored on a per user ID basis as
illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0076] The matching degree calculator 14 is a functional module
which calculates a matching degree between the user operation
information received from the medium of a particular user and each
pieces of data on the data base 13. For example, the matching
degree calculator 14 searches the data base 13 for a user similar
to the user operation information of a particular apparatus of a
particular user. Also, the matching degree calculator 14 searches
the data base 13 for a user having activity information (to be
discussed later) similar to that of the particular user.
[0077] Based on the matching degree, the controller 12 generates
value-added information of the particular user. The generated
value-added information is transferred to the medium of the
particular user through the data transceiver 11.
[0078] The present embodiment is based on the assumption that users
who share operation information and preference information in
common concerning a particular apparatus/medium also have similar
operation information and preference information concerning other
apparatuses/media. In other words, a user who has coincident or
similar operation information and preference information concerning
a particular apparatus/medium is searched for, the operation
information and preference information of another apparatus/medium
of this user are retrieved, and the value-added information to be
supplied to another user is generated based on the operation
information and preference information, and is then sent to the
corresponding apparatus/medium through the data transceiver 11.
[0079] As a result, the server 1 tunes up apparatus control service
on the other medium making use of the preference information and
the operation information acquired on a given medium. For example,
based on the collected information such as the operation
information and the control information on a personal computer,
other media such as a digital TV, a digital video tape recorder,
and a mobile telephone of the same user are automatically
controlled.
[0080] Tuning service making use of the other medium is
specifically discussed below.
Automatic Control of Digital TV Based on Information Collection on
a Personal Computer:
[0081] FIG. 4 diagrammatically illustrates the functional structure
of a personal computer (PC) 2 to which the present invention is
applied.
[0082] As shown, the personal computer 2 includes an operation unit
21, a controller 22, a data transceiver 23, an HTML decoder 24, a
display 25, an external storage device 26 such as a hard disk
drive, a bookmark registration monitor 27, a download monitor 28, a
data storage command monitor 29, and a data deletion command
monitor 30. The personal computer 2 provides service under a
program execution environment provided by the operating system when
the controller 22 executes a variety of program codes. The blocks
of the personal computer 2 are discussed below.
[0083] The operation unit 21 is formed of a user input device such
as a keyboard or a mouse, and is used to input a command to the
system 2. The display 25 is formed of a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube)
display or an LCD (Liquid-Crystal Display), and is used to visually
provide a feedback to the user such as calculation results in the
system 2. A combination of the operation unit 21 and the display 25
forms a user interface. A GUI (Graphical User Interface)
environment is generally provided, and the user inputs a command to
the system by intuitively operating a mouse cursor on icons on the
desk-top screen of the display 25.
[0084] When the personal computer 2 is used as an ordinary
computer, the controller 22 executes an application program, and
provides a diversity of adaptive job services in response to an
interactive operation on a user console formed of the operation
unit 21 and the display 25.
[0085] In this embodiment, the operation unit 21 is used to enter
commands to store, delete, and edit data, and enter commands to
perform information searching on the Internet, such as registering
a bookmark, or downloading data. A command through the operation
unit 21 is processed by the controller 22 under the control of the
operating system.
[0086] The external storage device 26 is formed of a relatively
large-capacity non-volatile memory device such as a hard disk drive
(HDD). The external storage device 26 is used to store a software
program executed by the controller 22, and a variety of data
files.
[0087] The data storage command monitor 29 is a functional module
which monitors commands relating to the data storage of a file to
the external storage device 26. The data deletion command monitor
30 is a functional module which monitors a command relating to a
data deletion from the external storage device 26. Optionally, a
data edit monitor (not shown) may be included to monitor a file
edited by the user through the user interface such as the operation
unit 21 and the display 25, and the type of file edit.
[0088] The data transceiver 23 is a functional module which is used
to interconnect the system 2 to an external host terminal, and may
be a network interface and a communication protocol stack. For
example, the personal computer 2 is connected to the server 1
through the data transceiver 23. The personal computer 2 transmits
the collected user operation information to the server 1 through
the data transceiver 23 while receiving the value-added information
generated in the server 1 through the data transceiver 23.
[0089] The data transceiver 23 establishes a link to LAN or the
Internet. The data transceiver 23 may support a communication
function such as a short-range radio data link including Bluetooth,
or IrDA, or IEEE 1394 bus.
[0090] The HTML decoder 24 is a functional module which decodes a
document file described in an HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language)
format. The location of an HTML document is described in URL format
resource identification information over the TCP/IP (Transmission
Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) network such as the Internet,
and is transmitted in an HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) form
(as is known). The system 2 acquires the file through the data
transceiver 23.
[0091] An HTML document decoded by the HTML decoder 24 is processed
on a browser screen under the control of the controller 22.
Specifically, in response to the decode result of the HTML
document, a browser forms a so-called home page and presents it on
the screen of the display 25.
[0092] Link information embedded in an anchor is called by clicking
on the anchor on the home page screen presented by the browser.
Information is searched for over the TCP/IP network, and
information resources (files and contents) over the network are
thus downloaded. The browser has the function of bookmark
registering a frequently used URL.
[0093] The bookmark registration monitor 27 is a functional module
which monitors a bookmark registration on the browser. The download
monitor 28 is a functional module which monitors data such as a
file or a content downloaded through the network. Optionally, an
upload monitor (not shown) may be included to monitor the uploading
of data to an external apparatus (such as a server) over the
network.
[0094] The user operation information, collected by the monitors
such as the bookmark registration monitor 27, the download monitor
28, the upload monitor, the data storage command monitor 29, the
data deletion command monitor 30, and the data edit monitor, is
transmitted to the server 1 via the data transceiver 23.
[0095] FIG. 5 diagrammatically illustrates the functional structure
of a digital TV 3 to which the present invention is applied.
[0096] As shown, the digital TV 3 includes a controller 31, an
operation unit 32, a data transceiver 33, a memory 34, a channel
priority controller 35, a video decoder 36, an automatic channel
switch controller 37, a tuner 38, a demodulator 39, a demultiplexer
40, an audio decoder 41, and an automatic resolution controller 42.
The digital TV 3 provides services under a program execution
environment provided by the operating system when the controller 31
executes a variety of program codes. The blocks of the digital TV 3
are discussed below.
[0097] When the digital TV 3 receives digital broadcast signals,
the tuner 38 selects a channel as commanded by the controller 31,
thereby receiving the broadcast content of the predetermined
channel. The signal received by the tuner 38 is demodulated through
the demodulator 9 at a subsequent stage. An MPEG (Moving Picture
Experts Group) data stream is thus formed, and is then separated
into a video signal and an audio signal through the demultiplexer
40. The video signal is then decoded through the video decoder 36,
and is displayed as an image (not shown) on a display. The audio
signal is decoded through the audio decoder 41, and is output in
sound on a loudspeaker (not shown).
[0098] The operation unit 32, including a channel switch button, an
audio adjusting button, and a brightness control button, is used to
input commands to the digital TV 3. The input commands from the
operation unit 32 are processed by the controller 31 under the
control of the operating system.
[0099] The memory 34 is used to store the program codes of the
operating system and other programs to be executed by the
controller 31, and to temporarily store job data of the program.
The value-added information received from the server 1 through the
data transceiver 33 is temporarily stored in the memory 34.
[0100] The data transceiver 33 is a functional module which
interconnects the system 3 to an external host terminal, and may be
a combination of a network interface and a communication protocol
stack. The system 3 is connected to the server 1 through the data
transceiver 33. The digital TV 3 receives the value-added
information generated by the server 1 through the data transceiver
33. The received data is temporarily stored in the memory 34.
[0101] As already discussed with reference to FIG. 2, the
value-added information supplied to the receiver, such as a TV set
or a radio set receiving broadcast data may include "channel
information" formed of the ID of a channel to which the receiver is
tuned, "area information" indicating a target area of video data
received and replayed, and "volume information" indicating the
volume of audio data received and replayed.
[0102] The receiver 3 automatically controls apparatus operation in
accordance with the value-added information received from the
server 1. For example, the channel priority controller 35 and the
automatic channel switch controller 37 respectively determine
channel priority and automatically switch channels based on the
channel information received as the value-added information. The
automatic resolution controller 42 performs automatic resolution
setting based on the area information received as the value-added
information. Furthermore, automatic volume control may be performed
based on the volume information received as the value-added
information.
[0103] The server 1 collects the user operation information on the
personal computer 2 (see FIG. 5), thereby generating the
value-added information intended for the digital TV 3. The tuning
service of the digital TV 3 is thus performed taking advantage of
the other media.
[0104] The automatic resolution controller 42 controls the
resolution of a video decoded by the video decoder 36 with
predictive coefficients for class category responsive to a
plurality of resolutions. Based on an identifier of a predictive
coefficient preferred by users having the same preference stored in
the memory 34, the automatic resolution controller 42 automatically
controls the resolution of the video output from the video decoder
36. The class category process is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
5,517,588 which is assigned to the assignee of this application.
The specification of the patent constitutes part of this
description of the present invention.
[0105] FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating the process for
automatically controlling the digital TV 3 based on the operation
information and the control information collected on the personal
computer 2. This process is carried out when the controllers 12,
22, and 31 of the server 1, the personal computer 2 and the digital
TV 3 collaboratively execute predetermined program codes.
[0106] The automatic tuning of the digital TV 3 based on the
information collected on the personal computer 2 of another user is
discussed with reference to the flow diagram.
[0107] The operation of the personal computer 2 illustrated in FIG.
4 is discussed below. When the controller 22 determines in step S11
that the user operates the operation unit 21 to issue an HTML
acquisition command, the algorithm proceeds to step S12. If no HTML
acquisition command is input, the algorithm proceeds to step
S13.
[0108] In step S12, the data transceiver 23 receives HTML data
designated by the user through the server 1 connected to the
Internet. The controller 22 decodes the HTML data through the HTML
decoder 24 under the control thereof, and presents the HTML data on
the display 25. The controller 22 transmits, to the server 1
through the data transceiver 23, a user ID registered beforehand in
the external storage device 26, and the "browsing information" of
the Web represented by a URL indicating the site which is searched
for and monitored by the personal computer 2.
[0109] In step S13, the bookmark registration monitor 27 monitors
whether the user inputs a bookmark registration command on the
operation unit 21. If a bookmark registration command is input,
then the algorithm proceeds to step S14, else the algorithm
proceeds to step S15.
[0110] In step S14, the controller 22 transmits, to the server 1
through the data transceiver 23, the user operation information
such as the user ID registered beforehand in the external storage
device 26, and the "bookmark information" represented by the URL
indicating the bookmark registered site.
[0111] In step S15, the download monitor 28 monitors whether the
user inputs a download command on the controller 12. If a download
command is input, then the algorithm proceeds to step S16, else the
algorithm proceeds to step S17.
[0112] In step S16, the controller 22 transmits, to the server 1
through the data transceiver 23, the user operation information
such as the user ID, and the "download information" represented by
the URL indicating the storage location of the file downloaded to
the personal computer 2.
[0113] Similarly, the upload monitor monitors whether the user
inputs an upload command on the operation unit 21. If an upload
command is input, the controller 22 may transmit, to the sever 1,
the user operation information such as the user ID, the "upload
information" such as the ID of a file uploaded from the personal
computer 2 and the URL indicating the storage location of the
uploaded file.
[0114] In step S17, the data storage command monitor 29 monitors
whether the user inputs a data storage command for the information
displayed as the HTML information on the operation unit 21. If the
user inputs the storage command, then the algorithm proceeds to
step S18, else the algorithm proceeds to step S19.
[0115] Similarly in step S18, the controller 22 transmits, to the
server 1 through the data transceiver 23, the user operation
information such as the user ID, the storage ID, the URL data to be
stored.
[0116] In step S19, the data deletion command monitor 30 monitors
whether the user inputs a delete command of data stored in the HDD
26 on the operation unit 21. If the user has input the data delete
command, then the algorithm proceeds to step S20, else the
algorithm proceeds to step S21.
[0117] Similarly in step S20, the controller 22 transmits, to the
server 1 through the data transceiver 23, the user operation
information such as the user ID, the delete ID, the URL data to be
deleted, and the name of a file to be deleted.
[0118] When the user edits data on the personal computer 2, the
user operation information such as "edit information" containing
the ID of an edited file and the edit ID identifying the type of
edit may be transmitted to the server 1 via the data transceiver
23.
[0119] In step S21, the controller 22 determines whether the user
has input an end command. If no end command has been input, then
the algorithm loops to step S11, else the process on the personal
computer 2 ends.
[0120] The operation of the server 1 illustrated in FIG. 3 will now
be discussed. In step S22, the controller 12 determines whether the
data transceiver 11 receives the user operation information from
the personal computer 2 (and other media). If the user operation
information has been received, then the algorithm proceeds to step
S23, else the algorithm proceeds to step S24.
[0121] When the user operation information in the personal computer
2 of each user is received in step S23, the controller 12 controls
apparatus operation to store the user operation information in the
data base 13 on a per user ID basis for data base building.
[0122] In step S24, the controller 12 determines whether service
request information is received from a client through the data
transceiver 11. If the service request is received, then the
algorithm proceeds to step S25, else the algorithm proceeds to step
S27 for an end command. Here, the client is the digital TV 3, and
the user A requests TV information service as the value-added
information.
[0123] In step S25, the matching degree calculator 14 calculates
the matching degree of the user operation information concerning
the personal computer 2 between the user A and each of the other
user IDs in all data base information. The matching degree
calculator 14 thus detects a user ID having the highest degree of
matching. For example, data in each category is tested for matching
on a text basis, and the number of fully matched words may be
treated as the degree of matching. A weighting process may be
performed with the degree of matching varied from full to partial
matching. Hereinafter, a user having the highest degree of matching
is referred to as a "similar user."
[0124] In step S26, the controller 12 searches the data base 13 and
reads the TV information corresponding to the user ID of the
similar user. The controller 12 also transmits the search result as
the TV information to the requesting user A, namely, the digital TV
3. The TV information in this case includes the "channel
information" formed of the ID of a channel to which the receiver is
tuned, the "area information" indicating a target area of video
data received and replayed, and the "volume information" indicating
the volume of audio data received and replayed.
[0125] In step S27, the controller 12 determines whether a server
manager inputs an end command. If no end command is input, then the
algorithm loops to step S22, else the process on the server 1
ends.
[0126] The operation of the digital TV 3 illustrated in FIG. 5 is
discussed below.
[0127] In step S28, the controller 31 determines whether the user
has input a service request through the operation unit 32. If the
service request has been input, then the algorithm proceeds to step
S29, else the algorithm proceeds to step S30.
[0128] In step S29, the controller 31 transmits data request of the
user A and the TV information to the server 1 through the data
transceiver 33.
[0129] In step S30, the controller 31 determines whether the TV
information as the value-added information has been received from
the server 1 through the data transceiver 33. If the TV information
has been received, then the algorithm proceeds to step S31, else
the algorithm proceeds to step S32.
[0130] In step S31, the controller 31 controls the memory 34 to
store the received TV information therewithin.
[0131] In step S32, the controller 31 determines whether the user
inputs a channel selection display replay command. If the channel
selection display replay command is input, then the algorithm
proceeds to step S33, else the algorithm proceeds to step S34.
[0132] In step S33, the channel priority controller 35 replays a
channel selection display through the video decoder 36 in
accordance with a channel priority of a similar user having the
same preference stored in the memory 34. Specifically, the channel
selection display is automatically customized and replayed so that
a channel frequently viewed by the user having the same preference
is presented with priority. An automatic tuning service is thus
provided.
[0133] In step S34, the controller 31 determines whether the user
inputs an automatic channel switch command. If an automatic channel
switch command is input, then the algorithm proceeds to step S35,
else the algorithm proceeds to step S36.
[0134] In step S35, the automatic channel switch controller 37
automatically switches a channel in accordance with an automatic
channel switching information stored in the memory 34. In other
words, the automatic channel switch controller 37 automatically
switches the channel to a channel currently viewed by the similar
user. For example, this control may be performed by allowing the
controller 31 to control the tuner 38 to automatically switch the
channel. The output from the tuner 38 subsequent to the channel
switching is demodulated through the demodulator 39, and is then
separated into audio data and video data through the demultiplexer
40. The audio data is decoded and replayed by the audio decoder 41,
and the video data is decoded and replayed by the video decoder
36.
[0135] The volume of the audio data, received and replayed in
accordance with volume information stored in the memory 34, may be
automatically adjusted.
[0136] In step S36, the controller 12 determines whether the user
inputs an end command. If an end command is not input, then the
algorithm loops to step S28, else the process on the digital TV 3
ends.
[0137] The process routine illustrated in FIG. 6 includes no
automatic resolution control. Optionally, the automatic resolution
controller 42 may perform the automatic resolution control on the
digital TV 3 by determining the "area information" based on the
user operation information acquired from another medium, namely,
the personal computer 2. In this case, the controller 31 determines
whether the user inputs an automatic resolution control command. If
the automatic resolution control command is input, the automatic
resolution controller 42 controls the resolution of the video
decoded through the video decoder 36 in response to the predictive
coefficient for class category corresponding to the plurality of
resolutions. Based on an identifier of a predictive coefficient
preferred by users having the same preference stored in the memory
34, the automatic resolution controller 42 automatically controls
the resolution of the video output from the video decoder 36.
[0138] The class category process is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
5,517,588 which is already assigned to the assignee of this
application. The specification of the patent constitutes part of
this description of the present invention.
Automatic Control of the Digital Video Tape Recorder Based on
Information Collected on the Personal Computer:
[0139] The automatic control function of a digital video tape
recorder 5 is performed by the collaborative operation of the
personal computer 2, the server 1, and the digital video tape
recorder 5.
[0140] The server 1 and the personal computer 2 having the
functions and constructions respectively illustrated in FIG. 3 and
FIG. 4 are also used here, and the discussion thereof is omitted
here.
[0141] FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating the functional
structure of the digital video tape recorder 5 to which the present
invention is applied.
[0142] As shown, the digital video tape recorder 5 includes a
controller 51, a data transceiver 53, a memory 54, an automatic
preprogrammed recording controller 55, a digest production
controller 56, a search index production controller 57, an
operation unit 32, a video decoder 36, a tuner 38, a demodulator
39, a demultiplexer 40, an audio decoder 41, and an automatic
resolution controller 42. The digital video tape recorder 5
provides video replay related services under a program execution
environment provided by the operating system when the controller 51
executes a variety of program codes. The blocks of the digital
video tape recorder 5 are discussed below.
[0143] When the digital video tape recorder 5 receives digital
broadcast signals, the tuner 38 selects a channel as commanded by
the controller 51, thereby receiving the broadcast content of the
predetermined channel. The signal received by the tuner 38 is
demodulated through the demodulator 9 at a subsequent stage. An
MPEG data stream is thus formed, and is then separated into a video
signal and an audio signal through the demultiplexer 40. The video
signal is then decoded through the video decoder 36, and is
displayed as an image on a display (not shown). The audio signal is
decoded through the audio decoder 41, and is output in sound on a
loudspeaker (not shown).
[0144] The operation unit 32, including a channel switch button, an
audio adjusting button, and a brightness control button, is used to
input commands to the controller 51, such as those for video
recording, preprogrammed video recording, replaying of a video
content, fast-forward, rewind, pause, indexing. The input commands
from the operation unit 32 are processed by the controller 51 under
the control of the operating system.
[0145] The memory 54 is used to store the program codes of the
operating system and other programs to be executed by the
controller 51, and to temporarily store job data of the program.
The value-added information received from the server 1 through the
data transceiver 53 is temporarily stored in the memory 34.
[0146] The data transceiver 53 is a functional module which
interconnects the system 5 to an external host terminal, and may be
a combination of a network interface and a communication protocol
stack. The system 5 is connected to the server 1 through the data
transceiver 53. The digital video tape recorder 5 receives the
value-added information generated by the server 1 through the data
transceiver 53. The received data is temporarily stored in the
memory 54.
[0147] As already discussed with reference to FIG. 2, the
value-added information supplied to the digital video tape recorder
5 and other broadcast content record reproducing devices may
include "preprogrammed recording information" representing the ID
and recording time of a content, "preprogrammed recording
information" representing preprogrammed date and time information
that is already preprogrammed in a video recording device of
another user, "digest information" of a replay content produced by
the other user, "search index information" produced for searching
the replay content, "delete information" containing the ID of a
content deleted from a recording medium in the recording device of
the other user, and "title information" relating to a recorded
content in the recording device of the other user.
[0148] Based on the value-added information received from the
server 1, the automatic preprogrammed recording controller 55, the
digest production controller 56, and the search index production
controller 57 respectively automatically perform automatic
preprogrammed video recording control, digest production control,
and search index production control.
[0149] It should be noted that since these pieces of value-added
information are generated by collecting the user operation
information from the personal computer 2 (see FIG. 5), the server 1
can provide the tuning service to the digital video tape recorder
5.
[0150] FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating the process for
automatically controlling the digital video tape recorder 5 based
on the information collected on the personal computer 2 of each
user. The process is performed when the respective controllers 12,
22, and 51 of the server 1, the personal computer 2, and the
digital video tape recorder 5 collaboratively work by executing
predetermined program codes.
[0151] The automatic control of the digital video tape recorder 5
based on the user operation information collected on the personal
computer 2 of each user is discussed with reference to the flow
diagram.
[0152] The operation of the personal computer 2 illustrated in FIG.
4 is discussed first. If the controller 22 determines in step S41
that an HTML acquisition command is input, the algorithm proceeds
to step S42, else the algorithm proceeds to step S43.
[0153] In step S42, the data transceiver 23 receives HTML data
designated by the user through the server 1 connected to the
Internet. The controller 22 decodes the HTML data through the HTML
decoder 24 under the control thereof, and presents the HTML data on
the display 25. The controller 22 transmits, to the server 1
through the data transceiver 23, the user operation information
such as a user ID registered beforehand in the external storage
device 26, and the "browsing information" of the Web represented by
a URL indicating the site which is searched for and monitored by
the personal computer 2.
[0154] In step S43, the bookmark registration monitor 27 monitors
whether the user inputs a bookmark registration command. If a
bookmark registration command is input, then the algorithm proceeds
to step S44, else the algorithm proceeds to step S45.
[0155] In step S44, the controller 22 transmits, to the server 1
through the data transceiver 23, the user operation information
such as the user ID registered beforehand in the external storage
device 26, and the "bookmark information" represented by the URL
indicating the bookmark registered site.
[0156] In step S45, the download monitor 28 monitors whether the
user inputs a download command. If a download command is input,
then the algorithm proceeds to step S46, else the algorithm
proceeds to step S47.
[0157] In step S46, the controller 22 transmits, to the server 1
through the data transceiver 23, the user operation information
such as the user ID, and the "download information" represented by
the URL indicating the storage location of the file downloaded to
the personal computer 2.
[0158] Similarly, the upload monitor monitors whether the user
inputs an upload command. If an upload command is input, then the
controller 22 may transmit, to the sever 1, the user operation
information such as the user ID, the "upload information" such as
the ID of a file uploaded from the personal computer 2 and the URL
indicating the storage location of the uploaded file.
[0159] In step S47, the data storage command monitor 29 monitors
whether the user inputs a data storage command for the information
displayed as the HTML information on the operation unit 21. If the
user inputs the storage command, then the algorithm proceeds to
step S48, else the algorithm proceeds to step S49.
[0160] Similarly in step S48, the controller 22 transmits, to the
server 1 through the data transceiver 23, the user operation
information such as the user ID, the storage ID, and the URL data
to be stored.
[0161] In step S49, the data deletion command monitor 30 monitors
whether the user has input a delete command of data stored in the
HDD 26 on the operation unit 21. If the user has input the data
delete command, then the algorithm proceeds to step S50, else the
algorithm proceeds to step S51.
[0162] In step S50, the controller 22 transmits, to the server 1
through the data transceiver 23, the user operation information
such as the user ID, the delete ID, the URL data to be deleted, and
the name of a file to be deleted.
[0163] When the user edits data on the personal computer 2, the
user operation information such as "edit information" containing
the ID of an edited file and the edit ID identifying the type of
edit may be transmitted to the server 1 via the data transceiver
23.
[0164] In step S51, the controller 22 determines whether the user
has input an end command. If no end command has been input, the
algorithm loops to step S41, else the process on the personal
computer 2 ends.
[0165] The operation of the server 1 illustrated in FIG. 3 will now
be discussed. In step S52, the controller 12 determines whether the
data transceiver 11 receives the user operation information from
the personal computer 2 (and other media). If the user operation
information has been received, then the algorithm proceeds to step
S53, else the algorithm proceeds to step S54.
[0166] When the user operation information in the personal computer
2 of each user is received in step S53, the controller 12 controls
apparatus operation to store the user operation information in the
data base 13 on a per user ID basis for data base building.
[0167] In step S54, the controller 12 determines whether service
request information is received from a client through the data
transceiver 11. If the service request is received, then the
algorithm proceeds to step S55, else the algorithm proceeds to step
S57 for an end step. Here, the client is the digital video tape
recorder 5, and the user A requests video information service as
the value-added information.
[0168] In step S55, the matching degree calculator 14 calculates
the matching degree of the user operation information concerning
the personal computer 2 between the user A and each of the other
user IDs in all data base information. The matching degree
calculator 14 thus detects a user ID having the highest degree of
matching. For example, data in each category is tested for matching
on a text basis, and the number of fully matched words may be
treated as the degree of matching. A weighting process may be
performed with the degree of matching varied from full to partial
matching.
[0169] In step S56, the controller 12 searches the data base 13 and
reads the video information corresponding to the user ID of the
similar user. The controller 12 also transmits the search result as
the video information to the requesting user A, namely, the digital
video tape recorder 5 through the data transceiver 11. The video
information in this case includes "preprogrammed recording
information" containing the ID and recording time of a content,
"preprogrammed recording information" containing preprogrammed date
and time information that is already preprogrammed in a video
recording device of a similar user, "digest information" of a
replay content produced by the similar user, "search index
information" produced for searching the replay content, "delete
information" containing the ID of a content deleted from a
recording medium in the recording device of the other user, and
"title information" relating to a recorded content produced in the
recording device of the other user.
[0170] In step S57, the controller 12 determines whether a server
manager inputs an end command. If no end command is input, the
algorithm loops to step S52, else the process on the server 1
ends.
[0171] The operation of the digital video tape recorder 5
illustrated in FIG. 7 is discussed below. In step S58, the
controller 31 determines whether the user has input a service
request through the operation unit 32. If the service request has
been input, then the algorithm proceeds to step S59, else the
algorithm proceeds to step S60.
[0172] In step S59, the controller 51 transmits data request of the
user A and the video information to the server 1 through the data
transceiver 53.
[0173] In step S60, the controller 51 determines whether the video
information as the value-added information has been received from
the server 1 through the data transceiver 53. If the video
information as the value-added information has been received, then
the algorithm proceeds to step S61, else the algorithm proceeds to
step S62.
[0174] In step S61, the controller 51 controls the memory 54 to
store the received video information therewithin.
[0175] In step S62, the controller 51 determines whether the user
inputs a preprogrammed recording command. If the preprogrammed
recording command is input, then the algorithm proceeds to step
S63, else the algorithm proceeds to step S64.
[0176] In step S63, the automatic preprogrammed recording
controller 55 automatically stores, in the memory 54, time and
program at a channel designated by the user. Furthermore, the
preprogrammed video recording is automatically set based on the
video information namely, the preprogrammed recording information
of the similar user having the same preference stored in the memory
54. The decode process of the received information is identical to
that already discussed and is omitted here.
[0177] In step S64, the controller 51 determines whether the user
inputs a digest production command. If the digest production
command is input, then the algorithm proceeds to step S65, else the
algorithm proceeds to step S66.
[0178] In step S65, the digest production controller 56
automatically produces a digest video in accordance with the video
information stored in the memory 54, namely, the digest production
information of the similar user having the same preference,
specifically, the content ID and time information for producing a
digest, when the same content is stored in the memory 54. The
digest video is then stored in a different area in the memory
54.
[0179] The digest production information of the user having the
same preference is digest information that is manually produced
beforehand by the user having the same preference. The digest
production information is formed of the content ID, the ID of a
frame or a field of a digest screen, and time information.
[0180] In step S66, the controller 51 determines whether the user
inputs a search index production command. If the search index
production command is input, then the algorithm proceeds to step
S67, else the algorithm proceeds to an end command test.
[0181] In step S67, the search index production controller 57
automatically produces a search index in accordance with the search
index production information of the similar user having the same
preference stored in the memory 54, namely, the content ID and time
information for producing a search index when the same content is
stored in the memory 54. The search index is then stored in a
different area in the memory 54.
[0182] The search index production information of the user having
the same preference is search index information that is manually
produced beforehand by the user having the same preference. The
search index information is produced by bookmarking a
characteristic frame or a characteristic field. For example, when
the user searches video data for a desired screen in a random
access fashion, the user possibly quickly reaches the desired
screen by scrawling the bookmarks. The search index information
includes the content ID, the ID of a frame or a field for a search
index screen, and time information.
[0183] In step S68, the controller 12 determines whether the user
inputs an end command. If the end command is not input, then the
algorithm loops to step S58, else the process on the digital video
tape recorder 5 ends.
Automatic Control of a Mobile Telephone Based on the Information
Collection on the Personal Computer:
[0184] The automatic control function of a mobile telephone 6 is
performed in the collaborative operation of the personal computer
2, the server 1 and the mobile telephone 6.
[0185] The server 1 and the personal computer 2 having the
functions and constructions respectively illustrated in FIG. 3 and
FIG. 4 are also used here, and the discussion thereof is omitted
here.
[0186] FIG. 9 is a block diagram diagrammatically illustrating the
functional structure of the mobile telephone 6 to which the present
invention is applied. As shown, the mobile telephone 6 includes a
controller 61, a channel CODEC 62, a modulator 63, an RF circuit
64, a demodulator 65, a memory 66, a decoder 67, a D/A converter
68, a loudspeaker 69, an automatic ticket-booking information
producing unit 70, a coder 71, a decoder 72, an A/D converter 73, a
microphone 74, an operation unit 75, a display 76, and an automatic
melody update unit 77. The mobile telephone 6 provides services
under a program execution environment provided by the operating
system when the controller 51 executes a variety of program codes.
The blocks of the mobile telephone 6 are discussed below.
[0187] When the mobile telephone 6 is linked to an ordinary
telephone line, the RF circuit 64 down-converts an analog
transmission signal received through an antenna from a
mobile-telephone base station (not shown). The demodulator 65
demodulates the analog signal in accordance with predetermined
demodulation information and timing, is channel-decoded through the
channel CODEC 62, is decoded through the decoder 72, and is then
converted into analog audio signal through the D/A converter 68.
The analog audio signal is then output in sound from the
loudspeaker 69.
[0188] An audio sound input through the microphone 74 is converted
into a digital signal through the A/D converter 73, is encoded
through the coder 71, is channel-coded through the channel CODEC
62, and is then modulated through the modulator 63 in accordance
with predetermined modulation information and timing. The modulated
signal is then up-converted through the RF circuit 64 and is then
transmitted through the antenna to the mobile-telephone base
station (not shown).
[0189] The mobile telephone 6 of this embodiment also has the
function of transmitting and receiving data processed through the
controller 61 over a mobile telephone network. For example, the
mobile telephone 6 may be linked to a predetermined provider or a
service center through the mobile telephone network through
exchange to request service such as ticket booking. Through the
mobile telephone network, the mobile telephone 6 may also be linked
to the server 1 (see FIG. 3) to receive the value-added information
generated based on the user operation information on the other
medium.
[0190] When the mobile telephone 6 transmits data, the data handled
by the controller 61 is channel-coded through the channel CODEC 62,
is modulated through the modulator 63 in accordance with
predetermined modulation information and timing, is up-converted
through the RF circuit 64, and is then output from the antenna to
the mobile-telephone base station.
[0191] When the mobile telephone 6 receives data, an analog
transmission signal received through the antenna from the
mobile-telephone base station (not shown) is down-converted through
the RF circuit 64, is demodulated through the demodulator in
accordance with the demodulation information and timing, and is
then channel-decoded through the channel CODEC 62. The received
data is thus converted into data in a form that is processed
through the controller 61.
[0192] The operation unit 75, composed of a user input device such
as numeric keys and function buttons, is used to enter commands to
the system 6. The display 76 is formed of an LCD (Liquid-Crystal
Display), and provides a visual feedback to the user.
[0193] In this embodiment, the operation unit 75 is also used to
enter telephone numbers, set a melody signaling an incoming call,
and input commands for a variety of services such as ticket
booking. The commands input through the operation unit 75 are
processed through the controller 61 under the control of the
operating system.
[0194] The memory 66 stores program codes of the operating system
and other programs executed by the controller 61, and temporarily
stores job data of an execution program.
[0195] The memory 66 also stores a variety of audio data for
incoming calls, such as a "melody signaling an incoming call." The
audio data stored in the memory 66 is signal-processed through the
decoder 67, is converted into an analog audio signal through the
D/A converter 68, and is then output in sound from the loudspeaker
69.
[0196] The value-added information received from the server 1
through the mobile-telephone network is temporarily stored in the
memory 66. Already discussed with reference to FIG. 2, the
value-added information supplied to the mobile telephone 6 includes
an incoming call sound ID identifying an incoming call sound set in
a communication terminal of another user, and "service use
information" represented by a service ID identifying ticket-booking
information transmitted to an external apparatus such as a service
center from the mobile telephone of the other user through a public
telephone line.
[0197] The automatic ticket-booking information producing unit 70
and the automatic melody update unit 77 respectively automatically
produces ticket-booking information and updates incoming call
melody in accordance with the value-added information received from
the server 1.
[0198] It should be noted that since these pieces of value-added
information for the mobile telephone 6 are generated by collecting
the user operation information from the personal computer 2 (see
FIG. 5), the server 1 can provide the tuning service to the mobile
telephone 6.
[0199] FIG. 10 is a flow diagram of a process for automatically
controlling the mobile telephone 6 based on the user operation
information and the control information collected on the personal
computer 2. The process is performed when the respective
controllers 12, 22, and 61 of the server 1, the personal computer
2, and the mobile telephone 6 collaboratively work by executing
predetermined program codes.
[0200] The automatic tuning service of the mobile telephone 6 of a
particular user based on the operation information of the personal
computers 2 of a plurality of users is discussed below with
reference to the flow diagram.
[0201] The operation of the personal computer 2 illustrated in FIG.
4 is discussed below. When the controller 22 determines in step S71
that an HTML acquisition command is input, the algorithm proceeds
to step S72. If no HTML acquisition command is provided, the
algorithm proceeds to step S13.
[0202] In step S72, the data transceiver 23 receives HTML data
designated by the user through the server 1 connected to the
Internet. The controller 22 decodes the HTML data through the HTML
decoder 24 under the control thereof, and presents the HTML data on
the display 25. The controller 22 transmits, to the server 1
through the data transceiver 23, the user information such as a
user ID registered beforehand in the external storage device 26,
and the "browsing information" of the Web represented by a URL
indicating the site which is searched for and monitored by the
personal computer 2.
[0203] In step S73, the bookmark registration monitor 27 monitors
whether the user inputs a bookmark registration command on the
operation unit 21. If a bookmark registration command is input,
then the algorithm proceeds to step S14, else the algorithm
proceeds to step S75.
[0204] In step S74, the controller 22 transmits, to the server 1
through the data transceiver 23, the user operation information
such as the user ID registered beforehand in the external storage
device 26, and the "bookmark information" represented by the URL
indicating the bookmark registered site.
[0205] In step S75, the download monitor 28 monitors whether the
user inputs a download command on the controller 21. If a download
command is input, then the algorithm proceeds to step S76, else the
algorithm proceeds to step S77.
[0206] In step S76, the controller 22 transmits, to the server 1
through the data transceiver 23, the user operation information
such as the user ID, and the "download information" represented by
the URL indicating the storage location of the file downloaded to
the personal computer 2.
[0207] Similarly, the upload monitor monitors whether the user
inputs an upload command on the operation unit 21. If an upload
command is input, the controller 22 may transmit, to the sever 1,
the user operation information such as the user ID, and the "upload
information" such as the ID of a file uploaded from the personal
computer 2 and the URL indicating the storage location of the
uploaded file.
[0208] In step S77, the data storage command monitor 29 monitors
whether the user inputs a data storage command for the information
displayed as the HTML information on the operation unit 21. If the
user inputs the storage command, then the algorithm proceeds to
step S78, else the algorithm proceeds to step S79.
[0209] In step S78, the controller 22 transmits, to the server 1
through the data transceiver 23, the user operation information
such as the user ID, the storage ID, the URL data to be stored.
[0210] In step S79, the data deletion command monitor 30 monitors
whether the user has input a delete command of data stored in the
external storage device 26 on the operation unit 21. If the user
has input the data delete command, then the algorithm proceeds to
step S80, else the algorithm proceeds to step S81.
[0211] In step S80, the controller 22 transmits, to the server 1
through the data transceiver 23, the user operation information
such as the user ID, the delete ID, the URL data to be deleted, and
the name of a file to be deleted.
[0212] When the user edits data on the personal computer 2, the
user operation information such as "edit information" containing
the ID of an edited file and the edit ID identifying the type of
edit may be transmitted to the server 1 via the data transceiver
23.
[0213] In step S81, the controller 22 determines whether the user
has input an end command. If no end command has been input, then
the algorithm loops to step S11, else the process on the personal
computer 2 ends.
[0214] The operation of the server 1 illustrated in FIG. 3 will now
be discussed. In step S82, the controller 12 determines whether the
data transceiver 11 receives the user operation information from
the personal computer 2 (and other media). If the user operation
information has been received, then the algorithm proceeds to step
S83, else the algorithm proceeds to step S84.
[0215] When the user operation information in the personal computer
2 of each user is received in step S83, the controller 12 controls
apparatus operation to store the user operation information in the
data base 13 on a per user ID basis for data base building.
[0216] In step S84, the controller 12 determines whether service
request information is received from a client through the data
transceiver 11. If the service request is received, then the
algorithm proceeds to step S85, else the algorithm proceeds to step
S87 for an end step. Here, the client is the mobile telephone 6,
and the user A requests mobile telephone information service as the
value-added information.
[0217] In step S85, the matching degree calculator 14 calculates
the matching degree of the user operation information concerning
the personal computer 2 between the user A and each of the other
user IDs in all data base information. The matching degree
calculator 14 thus detects a user ID having the highest degree of
matching. For example, data in each category is tested for matching
on a text basis, and the number of fully matched words may be
treated as the degree of matching. A weighting process may be
performed with the degree of matching varied from full to partial
matching.
[0218] In step S86, the controller 12 searches the data base 13 and
reads the mobile telephone information corresponding to the user ID
of the similar user. The controller 12 also transmits the search
result as the mobile telephone information to the requesting user A
through the data transceiver 11.
[0219] The mobile telephone information in this case includes an
incoming call sound ID identifying an incoming call sound set in a
communication terminal of another user, and "service use
information" represented by a service ID identifying ticket-booking
information transmitted to an external apparatus such as a service
center from the mobile telephone of the other user through a public
telephone line.
[0220] In step S87, the controller 12 determines whether a server
manager inputs an end command. If no end command is input, then the
algorithm loops to step S82, else the process on the server 1
ends.
[0221] The operation of the mobile telephone 6 illustrated in FIG.
9 will now be discussed. In step S88, the controller 61 determines
whether a service request is received from the user through the
operation unit 75. If the service request is received, then the
algorithm proceeds to step S89, else the algorithm proceeds to step
S90.
[0222] In step S89, the controller 61 transmits service request
information about the user A and the mobile telephone information
to the server 1 through the channel CODEC 62, the modulator 63, and
the RF circuit 64.
[0223] In step S90, the controller 61 processes an analog
transmission signal, received from an antenna, through the RF
circuit 64, the demodulator 65, and the channel CODEC 62, and then
determines whether the mobile telephone information is received
from the server 1 as the value-added information. If the mobile
telephone information is received, then the algorithm proceeds to
step S91, else the algorithm proceeds to step S92.
[0224] In step S91, the controller 61 controls the memory 66 to
store the received mobile telephone information therewithin.
[0225] In step S92, the controller 61 determines whether the user
inputs an incoming call sound update command such as a melody
signaling an incoming call. If the melody update command is input,
then the algorithm proceeds to step S93, else the algorithm
proceeds to step S94.
[0226] In step S93, the controller 61 outputs, to the decoder 67,
the audio data identified by the incoming call sound ID as the
mobile telephone information stored in the memory 66. The audio
data is decoded by the decoder 67, is decompressed, if compressed,
is output to the D/A converter 68, and is then output to the
loudspeaker 69. The controller 61 links a program managing the
stored melodies with a pointer at which the melody is stored in the
memory 66 so that the incoming call sound becomes the melody of the
mobile telephone 6.
[0227] In step S94, the controller 61 determines whether the user
inputs a ticket-booking command. If the ticket-booking command is
input, then the algorithm proceeds to step S95, else the algorithm
proceeds to step S96 for an end command.
[0228] In step S95, the automatic ticket-booking information
producing unit 70 automatically produces the ticket-booking
information (the user ID, and a concert ID) based on the service
use information as the mobile telephone information stored in the
memory 66. The ticket-booking information is then radio transmitted
to an unshown ticket center (namely, over the mobile-telephone
network). The ticket booking may be categorized as value-added
service in the real world as will be discussed later.
[0229] In step S96, the controller 12 determines whether the user
inputs an end command. If no end command is input, then the
algorithm loops to step S88, else the process of the mobile
telephone 6 ends.
B. Second Embodiment
[0230] A second embodiment provides an automatic control service to
a medium of a particular user based on trial information and
activity information of a plurality of users in the real world.
Specifically, a server receives and accumulates activity
information from a plurality of users, while generating value-added
information based on the accumulated activity information, and
providing each user with the value-added information.
[0231] In the above-referenced first embodiment, the value-added
information is generated based on medium operation information of
the user. In contrast, the second embodiment of the present
invention generates the value-added information taking advantage of
the activity information of the user. The second embodiment
automatically controls the media based on the degree of matching of
preferences of the users in the real world, and provides services
in the real world in accordance with the matching degree of the
users' preferences in the media or in accordance with the activity
information indicating where the user is located.
[0232] Specifically, in the second embodiment of the present
invention, the work space of the value-added information based on
the user information of the plurality of users is expanded from the
medium to the real world.
[0233] FIG. 11 diagrammatically illustrates a value creation
service making use of information in the real world in accordance
with the second embodiment of the present invention.
[0234] As shown, a particular server collects the preference
information of each user from each user terminal (not shown).
[0235] The server and the user terminal are connected to each other
using a short-distance radio data link such as Bluetooth, IEEE
1394, home LAN, a wide-area network such as the Internet, cable
television (CATV), or other communication media.
[0236] The server collects the activity information of the user
accumulated on a mobile telephone with a GPS (Global Positioning
System) function, and product purchase information based on the use
of credit cards.
[0237] The server summarizes and processes the preference
information of the users, and generates the value-added
information. The value-added information here refers to information
that affects the real world, such as data helping the user in
activity in the real world. For example, the introduction of stores
or events to which individuals have personal preference is the
value-added information.
[0238] FIG. 12 lists, in a table, information collected from each
medium and value-added information provided to each medium.
[0239] As already discussed with reference to FIG. 2, information
collected from each user in a video deck, a DVD player, and an
audio apparatus for replaying a recorded content includes "video
(recording) information" containing the ID and broadcast (record)
time of a program replayed by a receiver such as a television and
recorded by a recording device such as a VTR, "operation
information" representing the operation of the recording device
during recording, "preprogrammed recording information" containing
the ID of a content, the recording of which is preprogrammed on the
recording device, and "operation information" for a reproducing
device such as the VTR or the DVD player for replaying the content,
relating to functions such as replay, fast-forward, rewind, and
pause, and time set for these functions.
[0240] In a terminal linked to a network for communication for
editing and processing user input data, such as a computer, a PDA
(Personal Digital Assistant), and a mobile telephone, information
collected from each user includes "browsing information" of a Web
represented by a URL indicating a site which is searched and
monitored on the terminal, "download information" containing a URL
indicating the storage location of a file downloaded to the user
terminal through the network from an external apparatus such as an
information providing server, "upload information" containing a URL
indicating the ID and the storage location of a file uploaded to an
external electronic apparatus from the user terminal through the
network, "bookmark information" containing an URL indicating a site
which is searched, monitored and bookmark registered on the user
terminal, and "edit information" containing the ID of a file edited
by the user on the user terminal and an edit ID identifying the
type of edit.
[0241] In a mobile terminal or a communication terminal which
performs one-to-one communication such as in peer to peer link,
information collected from each user includes an incoming call
sound ID identifying an incoming call sound set in the
communication terminal of another user, and "service use
information" represented by a service ID identifying ticket-booking
information transmitted to an external apparatus such as a service
center from the mobile telephone of the other user through a public
telephone line.
[0242] Besides the user operation information acquired from each
medium as shown in FIG. 2, the present embodiment collects user
information in the real world such as activity information of the
user accumulated in the mobile telephone with the GPS (Global
Positioning System) function, and information of products purchased
by credit cards.
[0243] The user activity information may be expressed in a format
of "position information+building ID." The activity information may
be categorized into categories such as "stores," "parks," and
"events." The "store category" may include attributes such as
"meal," "apparel," "articles of taste."
[0244] The information of the product purchased by the credit card
may be expressed in a format of "position information+building
ID+product ID." The product purchase information may be categorized
into categories such as "brand," "menu," "maker," and
"vehicle."
[0245] The server collects and process the user operation
information and the activity information in the real world in each
medium, and then generates the value-added information based on the
user preference information in accordance with the user
operation.
[0246] The value-added information available to each electronic
apparatus is listed in FIG. 2.
[0247] For example, the value-added information in a data receiver,
such as a television set or a radio set, receiving a broadcast
signal, namely, unilaterally receiving a signal, includes "channel
information" formed of the ID of a channel to which the receiver is
tuned, "area information" indicating a target area of video data
received and replayed, and "volume information" indicating the
volume of audio data received and replayed.
[0248] The value-added information available to a video deck, a DVD
player, and an audio apparatus for replaying a recorded content
includes "preprogrammed recording information" indicating the
content ID and recording time, and "preprogrammed recording
information" which includes recording date and time preprogrammed
on a recorder of another user.
[0249] The value-added information supplied to a reproducing device
such as a VTR or a DVD player includes "digest information" of a
replay content produced by another user, "search index information"
produced for searching for the replay content, "delete information"
formed of the ID of a content which is deleted from a recording
medium on the recorder of the other user, and "title information"
relating to a recorded content produced on the recorder of the
other user.
[0250] The value-added information available to a terminal, linked
to a network for communication for processing user input data, such
as a computer, a PDA, and a mobile terminal includes "browsing
information" of a Web represented by a URL indicating a site which
is searched and monitored on the terminal, "download information"
represented by a URL indicating the storage location of a file
downloaded to the user terminal through the network from an
external apparatus such as an information providing server, "upload
information" containing a URL indicating the ID and the storage
location of a file uploaded to an external electronic apparatus
from the user terminal through the network, "bookmark information"
containing an URL indicating a site which is searched, monitored
and bookmark registered on the user terminal, "category
information" according to which the other user categorizes a
plurality of contents produced by the other user, and "edit
information" containing the ID of a file edited by the user on the
user terminal and an edit ID identifying the type of edit.
[0251] The value-added information supplied to a mobile telephone
or a communication terminal which performs a one-to-one
communication such as in a peer-to-peer link may include an
incoming call sound ID identifying an incoming call sound set in
the communication terminal of another user, and "service use
information" represented by a service ID identifying ticket-booking
information transmitted to an external apparatus such as a service
center from the mobile telephone of the other user through a public
telephone line.
[0252] The value-added information affecting the real world is
information that helps the user in activity in the real world. For
example, the introduction of stores or events to which individuals
have personal preference is the value-added information. With this
type of value-added information fed back to the user, action to
promote another value adapted to the location of user activity is
expected.
[0253] For example, the user can get Mickey Mania information
(concerning secret stores and meeting places of buffs).
[0254] Information about a place where individuals having the area
of activity in common meet may be obtained. By distributing the
value-added information, consumers' willingness to purchase is
driven, leading to vitalization of economic activities.
[0255] Taking advantage of the preference information acquired in a
given medium and ordinary user information in the real world, the
server 1 in this embodiment generates the value-added information
for automatically controlling the media and the value-added
information affecting the user in the real world. The value-added
information automatically controls the media and affects the
activity of the user in the real world.
[0256] A TV can be automatically controlled in accordance with the
user information accumulated in the mobile terminal with the GPS
function. A TV may be automatically controlled in accordance with
the user information collected by a credit use record system. A
mobile telephone may be controlled in accordance with the user
information accumulated in a personal computer. The user may be
notified of the value-added information through a display output
and an audio output on the mobile telephone. The tuning service
making use of another media will be specifically discussed.
Automatic Control of the TV Based on the User Information
Accumulated in the Mobile Telephone with the GPS Function:
[0257] The automatic control function of the TV may be performed by
collaboratively combining the mobile telephone with the GPS
function, the server, and the TV.
[0258] The server 1 and the TV 3 having the functions and
constructions respectively illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5 are
also used here, and the discussion thereof is omitted here.
[0259] FIG. 13 diagrammatically illustrates the functional
structure of a mobile telephone 8 with a GPS function to which the
present invention is applied. As shown, the mobile telephone 8 with
the GPS function includes a controller 81, a GPS antenna 82, a GPS
receiver 83, a memory 84, a channel CODEC 62, a modulator 63, an RF
circuit 64, a demodulator 65, a D/A converter 68, a loudspeaker 69,
a coder 71, a decoder 72, an A/D converter 73, a microphone 74, an
operation unit 75, and a display 76. The mobile telephone 8 with
the GPS function provides mobile telephone service and other
services under a program execution environment provided by the
operating system when the controller 51 executes a variety of
program codes. The blocks of the mobile telephone 8 with the GPS
function are discussed below.
[0260] When the mobile telephone 8 with the GPS function is linked
to an ordinary telephone line, the RF circuit 64 down-converts an
analog transmission signal received through an antenna from a
mobile-telephone base station (not shown). The demodulator 65
demodulates the analog signal in accordance with predetermined
demodulation information and timing, is channel-decoded through the
channel CODEC 62, is decoded through the decoder 72, and is then
converted into analog audio signal through the D/A converter 68.
The analog audio signal is then output in sound from the
loudspeaker 69.
[0261] An audio sound input through the microphone 74 is converted
into a digital signal through the A/D converter 73, is encoded
through the coder 71, is channel-coded through the channel CODEC
62, and is then modulated through the modulator 63 in accordance
with predetermined modulation information and timing. The modulated
signal is then up-converted through the RF circuit 64 and is then
transmitted through the antenna to the mobile-telephone base
station.
[0262] The mobile telephone 8 with the GPS function also has the
function of transmitting and receiving data processed through the
controller 81 over a mobile telephone network. For example, the
mobile telephone 8 with the GPS function may be linked to a
predetermined provider or a service center through the mobile
telephone network through exchange and to the server 1 (see FIG. 3)
through the mobile telephone network to receive medium control
information and value-added information in the real world.
[0263] When the mobile telephone 8 with the GPS function transmits
data, the data handled by the controller 81 is channel-coded
through the channel CODEC 62, is modulated through the modulator 63
in accordance with predetermined modulation information and timing,
is up-converted through the RF circuit 64, and is then output from
the antenna to the mobile-telephone base station.
[0264] When the mobile telephone 8 with the GPS function receives
data, an analog transmission signal received through the antenna
from the mobile-telephone base station (not shown) is
down-converted through the RF circuit 64, is demodulated through
the demodulator in accordance with the demodulation information and
timing, and is then channel-decoded through the channel CODEC 62.
The received data is thus converted into data in a form that is
processed through the controller 81.
[0265] The mobile telephone 8 with the GPS function is equipped
with a position fixing function based on the GPS, namely, the
Global Positioning System. The mobile telephone 8 receives
radiowaves, namely, GPS signals transmitted from at least three GPS
satellites circling the earth, through the GPS antenna 82, and
channel-decodes the GPS signal through the channel CODEC 62.
Position information thus obtained is stored temporarily in the
memory 84 together with the ID of a building where the user is
currently located.
[0266] The operation unit 75, composed of a user input device such
as numeric keys and function buttons, is used to enter commands to
the system 8. The commands input through the operation unit 75 are
processed through the controller 81 under the control of the
operating system. The display 76 is formed of an LCD
(Liquid-Crystal Display), and provides a visual feedback to the
user.
[0267] The memory 84 stores program codes of the operating system
and other programs executed by the controller 81, and temporarily
stores job data of an execution program. The position information
acquired through the GPS function is temporarily stored in the
memory 84 together with the ID of the building in which the user is
currently located.
[0268] FIG. 14 is a flow diagram of a process for automatically
controlling a TV 3 (see FIG. 5) based on information collected on
the mobile telephone 8 with the GPS function for each user. The
process is performed when the respective controllers 12, 81, and 31
of the server 1, the mobile telephone 8 with the GPS function, and
the digital TV 3 collaboratively work by executing predetermined
program codes.
[0269] The automatic control of the digital TV 3 based on the
information collected on the mobile telephone 8 with the GPS
function for each user will now be discussed.
[0270] The operation of the mobile telephone 8 with the GPS
function illustrated in FIG. 13 is discussed below. In step S101,
the controller 81 determines whether the building ID is received
through the antenna and the RF circuit.
[0271] A transmitter having a short-range radio data communication
function such as Bluetooth or Wireless 1394 is mounted on each
store to continuously transmit the building ID. When a user having
the mobile telephone 8 with the GPS function enters into a service
area (a cell), the building ID may be received through the RF
circuit 64.
[0272] If the building ID is received in step S101, then the
algorithm proceeds to step S102, else the algorithm proceeds to
step S103 for an end process.
[0273] In step S102, the building ID is received. The position
information is also received through the GPS antenna 82 and the GPS
receiver 83. The position information and the building ID linked
thereto are stored in the memory 84. The user activity information
in the format of "position information+building ID" is sent to the
server 1 through the RF circuit 64.
[0274] In step S103, the controller 81 determines whether the user
enters an end command. If no end command is entered, then the
algorithm loops to step S101, else the process of the mobile
telephone 8 ends.
[0275] The operation of the server 1 illustrated in FIG. 3 will now
be discussed. In step S105, the controller 12 determines whether
the data transceiver 11 receives the user activity information from
the mobile telephone (and other media). If the user operation
information has been received, then the algorithm proceeds to step
S106, else the algorithm proceeds to step S107.
[0276] When the user operation information and the user activity
information accumulated in the mobile telephone 6 of each user are
received in step S106, the controller 12 controls the data base 13
to store these pieces of information therewithin on a per user ID
basis for data base building.
[0277] In step S107, the controller 12 determines whether service
request information is received from a client through the data
transceiver 11. If the service request is received, then the
algorithm proceeds to step S110, else the algorithm proceeds to
step S110 for an end step. Here, the client is the digital TV 3,
and the user A requests the service of TV information.
[0278] In step S108, the matching degree calculator 14 calculates
the matching degree of the user operation information concerning
the personal computer between the user A and each of the other user
IDs in all data base information. The matching degree calculator 14
thus detects, as a similar user, a user ID having the highest
degree of matching. A weighting process may be performed with the
degree of matching varied from full to partial matching.
[0279] In step S109, the controller 12 searches the data base 13
and reads the TV information corresponding to the user ID of the
searched user. The controller 12 also transmits the TV information
as the value-added information to the terminal of the requesting
user A through the data transceiver 11. The TV information in this
case includes "channel information" formed of the ID of a channel
to which the receiver is tuned, "area information" indicating a
target area of video data received and replayed, and "volume
information" indicating the volume of audio data received and
replayed.
[0280] In step S110, the controller 12 determines whether a server
manager inputs an end command. If no end command is input, then the
algorithm loops to step S105, else the process on the server 1
ends.
[0281] The operation of the digital TV 3 illustrated in FIG. 5 is
discussed below. In step S111, the controller 31 determines whether
the user has input a service request through the operation unit 32.
If the service request has been input, then the algorithm proceeds
to step S112, else the algorithm proceeds to step S113.
[0282] In step S112, the controller 31 transmits data request of
the user A and the TV information to the server 1 through the data
transceiver 33.
[0283] In step S113, the controller 31 determines whether the TV
information as the value-added information has been received from
the server 1 through the data transceiver 33. If the TV information
has been received, then the algorithm proceeds to step S114, else
the algorithm proceeds to step S115.
[0284] In step S114, the controller 31 controls the memory 34 to
store the received TV information therewithin.
[0285] In step S115, the controller 31 determines whether the user
inputs a channel selection display replay command. If the channel
selection display replay command is input, then the algorithm
proceeds to step S116, else the algorithm proceeds to step
S117.
[0286] In step S116, the channel priority controller 35 replays a
channel selection display through the video decoder 36 in
accordance with a channel priority of a similar user having the
same preference stored in the memory 34. Specifically, the channel
selection display is automatically customized and replayed so that
a channel frequently viewed by the user having the same preference
is presented with priority.
[0287] In step S117, the controller 31 determines whether the user
inputs an automatic channel switch command. If an automatic channel
switch command is input, then the algorithm proceeds to step S118,
else the algorithm proceeds to step S119.
[0288] In step S118, the automatic channel switch controller 37
automatically switches a channel in accordance with an automatic
channel switching information stored in the memory 34. In other
words, the automatic channel switch controller 37 automatically
switches the channel to a channel currently viewed by the similar
user. For example, this control may be performed by allowing the
controller 31 to control the tuner 38 to automatically switch the
channel. The output from the tuner 38 subsequent to the channel
switching is demodulated through the demodulator 39, and is then
separated into audio data and video data through the demultiplexer
40. The audio data is decoded and replayed by the audio decoder 41,
and the video data is decoded and replayed by the video decoder
36.
[0289] The volume of the audio data, received and replayed in
accordance with volume information stored in the memory 34, may be
automatically adjusted.
[0290] In step S119, the controller 12 determines whether the user
inputs an end command. If an end command is not input, then the
algorithm loops to step S111, else the process on the digital TV 3
ends.
[0291] The process routine illustrated in FIG. 14 includes no
automatic resolution control of the digital TV 3. Optionally, the
automatic resolution controller 42 may perform the automatic
resolution control on the digital TV 3 by determining the "area
information" based on the user activity information such as the
position information and the building ID acquired from another
medium, namely, the mobile telephone 8. In this case, the
controller 31 determines whether the user inputs an automatic
resolution control command. If the automatic resolution control
command is input, the automatic resolution controller 42 controls
the resolution of the video decoded through the video decoder 36 in
response to the predictive coefficients for class category
corresponding to the plurality of resolutions. Based on an
identifier of a predictive coefficient preferred by users having
the same preference stored in the memory 34, the automatic
resolution controller 42 automatically controls the resolution of
the video output from the video decoder 36.
[0292] The class category process is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
5,517,588 which is already assigned to the assignee of this
application. The specification of the patent constitutes part of
this description of the present invention.
Automatic Control of the TV Based on the User Information Collected
through the Credit Use Record System:
[0293] The automatic control function of the TV may be performed by
collaboratively combining a credit use record system, a server, and
a TV.
[0294] The server 1 and the TV 3 having the functions and
constructions respectively illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5 are
also used here, and the discussion thereof is omitted here.
[0295] FIG. 15 diagrammatically illustrates the functional
structure of a credit use record system 9 in which the present
invention is applied. The credit use record system 9 described here
is integrated with a card reader that receives payment by a credit
card, and is installed in each store.
[0296] As shown, the credit use record system 9 includes a product
information input unit 91, a controller 92, an external storage
device 93, a credit card information reader 94, an information
producing unit 95, an operation unit 96, a display 97, and a data
transceiver 98. The credit use record system 9 provides services
under a program execution environment provided by the operating
system when the controller 92 executes a variety of program codes.
The blocks of the credit use record system 9 are discussed
below.
[0297] When the credit use record system 9 is used for payment by a
credit card, the credit card information reader 94 reads
information magnetically recorded on the credit card. The product
information input unit 91 including a bar-code reader reads and
analyzes a medium such as a bar code associated with goods or
service, thereby identifying the product information. Credit card
information and the product information read are transferred to the
controller 92. The controller 92 under the control of the operating
system processes the credit card information and the product
information, stores the process results in the external storage
device 93, sends the process results to an external system, or
performs a billing process.
[0298] The information producing unit 95 produces user activity
information each time the credit card is used on the credit use
record system 9. The user activity information is formed of a data
combination of the ID of a holder of the credit card, the position
information of the credit use record system 9, the ID of the
building in which the credit use record system 9 is installed, and
the product ID input through the credit use record system 9.
[0299] The operation unit 96, composed of a user input device such
as numeric keys and function buttons, is used to enter commands to
the system 2. The display 97 is formed of an LCD (Liquid-Crystal
Display), and provides a visual feedback relating to process
results in the system 9 to the user.
[0300] The external storage device 93 is formed of a relatively
large-capacity non-volatile memory device such as a hard disk drive
(HDD). The external storage device 93 is used to store a software
program executed by the controller 22, and a variety of data
files.
[0301] The credit card information and product information of the
purchased product are managed in a data base in the external
storage device 93. The external storage device 93 also stores, in a
non-volatile fashion, the information of a location at which the
credit use record system 9 is installed, the building ID, the
product ID, etc. The external storage device 93 temporarily stores
the user ID of the card holder read from the card, and the user
information that is produced during the use of the credit card.
[0302] The data transceiver 98 is a functional module which
interconnects the credit use record system 9 to an external host
apparatus, and is a combination of a network interface and a
communication protocol stack. For example, the credit use record
system 9 is connected to the server 1 through the data transceiver
98. The credit use record system 9 transfers the user activity
information, generated by the information producing unit 95, to the
server 1 through the data transceiver 98. Furthermore, the credit
use record system 9 is interconnected, through the data transceiver
98, to a credit institution (not shown) which generally manages
credit on the basis of credit cards, and sends settlement
information thereto each time.
[0303] FIG. 16 is a flow diagram of a process for automatically
controlling the TV 3 (see. FIG. 5) based on the user activity
information collected on the credit use record system 9. The
process is performed when the respective controllers 12, 92, and 31
of the server 1, the credit use record system 9, and the digital TV
3 collaboratively work by executing predetermined program
codes.
[0304] The automatic control of the digital TV 3 based on the user
activity information accumulated in the credit use record system 9
will be now discussed with reference to the flow diagram.
[0305] In step S121, the controller 92 determines whether the
product information input unit 91 receives any input, such as a bar
code input. If the product information input unit 91 receives any
input, then the algorithm proceeds to step S122, else the algorithm
proceeds to step S123.
[0306] In step S122, the controller 92 stores the input purchased
product information in the external storage device 93.
[0307] In step S123, the controller 92 determines whether the
credit card information reader 94 provides any read output. If the
credit card information reader 94 provides any read output, then
the algorithm proceeds to step S124, else the algorithm proceeds to
an end process.
[0308] In step S124, the information producing unit 95 produces the
user activity information formed of the user ID identified from the
credit card information, the product ID identified from the output
from the product information input unit 91, and the position
information and the building ID registered beforehand in the
external storage device 93. In step S125, the produced user
activity information is transmitted to the server 1.
[0309] In step S126, the controller 92 determines whether the user
enters an end command. If no enter command is entered, then the
algorithm loops to step S121, else the process of the credit use
record system 9 ends.
[0310] The operation of the server 1 illustrated in FIG. 3 will now
be discussed. In step S127, the controller 12 determines whether
the data transceiver 11 receives the user activity information from
the credit use record system 9 (and other media). If the user
activity information has been received, then the algorithm proceeds
to step S128, else the algorithm proceeds to step S129.
[0311] When the user activity information accumulated in the credit
use record system 9 of each user is received in step S128, the
controller 12 controls the data base 13 to store these pieces of
information therewithin on a per user ID basis for data base
building.
[0312] In step S129, the controller 12 determines whether service
request information is received from a client through the data
transceiver 11. If the service request is received, then the
algorithm proceeds to step S130, else the algorithm proceeds to
step S132 for an end step. Here, the client is the digital TV 3,
and the user A requests the service of TV information.
[0313] In step S130, the matching degree calculator 14 calculates
the matching degree of the user activity information concerning the
personal computer between the user A and each of the other user IDs
in all data base information. The matching degree calculator 14
thus detects, as a similar user, a user ID having the highest
degree of matching. For example, data in each category is tested
for matching on a text basis, and the number of fully matched words
may be treated as the degree of matching. A weighting process may
be performed with the degree of matching varied from full to
partial matching.
[0314] In step S131, the controller 12 searches the data base 13
and reads the TV information corresponding to the user ID of the
searched user. The controller 12 also transmits the TV information
as the value-added information to the terminal of the requesting
user A through the data transceiver 11. The TV information in this
case includes "channel information" formed of the ID of a channel
to which the receiver is tuned, "area information" indicating a
target area of video data received and replayed, and "volume
information" indicating the volume of audio data received and
replayed.
[0315] In step S132, the controller 12 determines whether a server
manager inputs an end command. If no end command is input, then the
algorithm loops to step S127, else the process on the server 1
ends.
[0316] The operation of the digital TV 3 illustrated in FIG. 5 is
discussed below. In step S133, the controller 31 determines whether
the user has input a service request through the operation unit 32.
If the service request has been input, then the algorithm proceeds
to step S134, else the algorithm proceeds to step S135.
[0317] In step S134, the controller 31 transmits data request of
the user A and the TV information to the server 1 through the data
transceiver 33.
[0318] In step S135, the controller 31 determines whether the TV
information as the value-added information has been received from
the server 1 through the data transceiver 33. If the TV information
has been received, then the algorithm proceeds to step S136, else
the algorithm proceeds to step S137.
[0319] In step S136, the controller 31 controls the memory 34 to
store the received TV information therewithin.
[0320] In step S137, the controller 31 determines whether the user
inputs a channel selection display replay command. If the channel
selection display replay command is input, then the algorithm
proceeds to step S138, else the algorithm proceeds to step
S139.
[0321] In step S138, the channel priority controller 35 replays a
channel selection display through the video decoder 36 in
accordance with a channel priority of a similar user having the
same preference stored in the memory 34. Specifically, the channel
selection display is automatically customized and replayed so that
a channel frequently viewed by the user having the same preference
is presented with priority.
[0322] In step S139, the controller 31 determines whether the user
inputs an automatic channel switch command. If an automatic channel
switch command is input, then the algorithm proceeds to step S140,
else the algorithm proceeds to step S141.
[0323] In step S140, the automatic channel switch controller 37
automatically switches a channel in accordance with an automatic
channel switching information stored in the memory 34. In other
words, the automatic channel switch controller 37 automatically
switches the channel to a channel currently viewed by the similar
user. For example, this control may be performed by allowing the
controller 31 to control the tuner 38 to automatically switch the
channel. The output from the tuner 38 subsequent to the channel
switching is demodulated through the demodulator 39, and is then
separated into audio data and video data through the demultiplexer
40. The audio data is decoded and replayed by the audio decoder 41,
and the video data is decoded and replayed by the video decoder
36.
[0324] In step S141, the controller 12 determines whether the user
inputs an end command. If an end command is not input, then the
algorithm loops to step S133, else the process on the digital TV 3
ends.
[0325] The process routine illustrated in FIG. 16 includes no
automatic resolution control of the digital TV 3. Optionally, the
automatic resolution controller 42 may perform the automatic
resolution control on the digital TV 3 by determining the "area
information" based on the user activity information such as the
product ID, the position information and the building ID acquired
from another medium, namely, the credit use record system 9. In
this case, the controller 31 determines whether the user inputs an
automatic resolution control command. If the automatic resolution
control command is input, the automatic resolution controller 42
controls the resolution of the video decoded through the video
decoder 36 in response to the predictive coefficient for class
category corresponding to the plurality of resolutions. Based on an
identifier of a predictive coefficient preferred by users having
the same preference stored in the memory 34, the automatic
resolution controller 42 automatically controls the resolution of
the video output from the video decoder 36.
[0326] The class category process is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
5,517,588 which is already assigned to the assignee of this
application. The specification of the patent constitutes part of
this description of the present invention.
[0327] In the calculation of the matching degree of the user
activity information in this embodiment, the server 1 treats a user
having coincidence in the product purchased, the position
information of the store, and the name of the store as a similar
user having the same preference. The automatic tuning service of
the TV is performed based on apparatus operation information of the
similar user.
C. Third Embodiment
[0328] In the above-referenced second embodiment, the automatic
control of a medium of a particular user is performed based on the
trial information and the activity information of the plurality of
users in the real world. In contrast, a third embodiment of the
present invention provides activity information affecting the
activity of a user in the real world based on the value-added
information resulting from the operation information and the
control information of the media of the plurality of users.
[0329] The present embodiment provides the value-added information
affecting the real world, such as giving a notice on a mobile
telephone 7, based on user operation information accumulated on the
personal computer 2. The information service function for the
value-added information affecting the real world is performed when
the personal computer 2, the server 1, and the mobile telephone 7
work collaboratively.
[0330] The server 1 and the personal computer 2 having the
functions and constructions respectively illustrated in FIG. 3 and
FIG. 4 are also used here, and the discussion thereof is omitted
here.
[0331] FIG. 17 diagrammatically illustrates the functional
structure of a mobile telephone 7 with a GPS function in which the
present invention is applied. As shown, the mobile telephone 7 with
the GPS function includes a controller 101, a memory 102, a
position information comparator 103, a channel CODEC 62, a
modulator 63, an RF circuit 64, a demodulator 65, a D/A converter
68, a loudspeaker 69, a coder 71, a decoder 72, an A/D converter
73, a microphone 74, an operation unit 75, a display 76, a GPS
antenna 82, and a GPS receiver 83. The mobile telephone 7 with the
GPS function provides services affecting the real world under a
program execution environment provided by the operating system when
the controller 101 executes a variety of program codes. The blocks
of the mobile telephone 7 are discussed below.
[0332] When the mobile telephone 7 with the GPS function is linked
to an ordinary telephone line, the RF circuit 64 down-converts an
analog transmission signal received through an antenna from a
mobile-telephone base station (not shown). The demodulator 65
demodulates the analog signal in accordance with predetermined
demodulation information and timing, is channel-decoded through the
channel CODEC 62, is decoded through the decoder 72, and is then
converted into analog audio signal through the D/A converter 68.
The analog audio signal is then output in sound from the
loudspeaker 69.
[0333] An audio sound input through the microphone 74 is converted
into a digital signal through the A/D converter 73, is encoded
through the coder 71, is channel-coded through the channel CODEC
62, and is then modulated through the modulator 63 in accordance
with predetermined modulation information and timing. The modulated
signal is then up-converted through the RF circuit 64 and is then
transmitted through the antenna to the mobile-telephone base
station (not shown).
[0334] The mobile telephone 7 with the GPS function also has the
function of transmitting and receiving data processed through the
controller 101 over a mobile telephone network. For example, the
mobile telephone 7 with the GPS function may be linked to a
predetermined provider or a service center through the mobile
telephone network through exchange and to the server 1 (see FIG. 3)
through the mobile telephone network to receive medium control
information and value-added information in the real world.
[0335] When the mobile telephone 7 with the GPS function transmits
data, the data handled by the controller 101 is channel-coded
through the channel CODEC 62, is modulated through the modulator 63
in accordance with predetermined modulation information and timing,
is up-converted through the RF circuit 64, and is then output from
the antenna to the mobile-telephone base station (not shown).
[0336] When the mobile telephone 7 with the GPS function receives
data, an analog transmission signal received through the antenna
from the mobile-telephone base station (not shown) is
down-converted through the RF circuit 64, is demodulated through
the demodulator in accordance with the demodulation information and
timing, and is then channel-decoded through the channel CODEC 62.
The received data is thus converted into data in a form that is
processed through the controller 101.
[0337] The mobile telephone 7 with the GPS function receives the
value-added information affecting the real world from the server 1
using the data receiving function thereof. One example of the
value-added information is user activity information. The user
activity information is a combination of the position information
and the building ID. The user activity information is formed of
data that determines the activity of the user in the real world,
and has the effect of driving the user's willingness to act. The
user activity information received is temporarily stored in the
memory 102.
[0338] The mobile telephone 7 with the GPS function is equipped
with a position fixing function based on the GPS, namely, the
Global Positioning System. The mobile telephone 7 receives
radiowaves, namely, GPS signals transmitted from at least three GPS
satellites circling the earth, through the GPS antenna 82, and
channel-decodes the GPS signal through the channel CODEC 62.
Position information thus obtained is stored temporarily in the
memory 102 together with the ID of a building where the user is
currently located.
[0339] The operation unit 75, composed of a user input device such
as numeric keys and function buttons, is used to enter commands to
the system 7. The commands input through the operation unit 75 are
processed through the controller 101 under the control of the
operating system. The display 76 is formed of an LCD
(Liquid-Crystal Display), and provides a visual feedback to the
user.
[0340] The memory 102 stores program codes of the operating system
and other programs executed by the controller 61, and temporarily
stores job data of an execution program. The value-added
information received from the server 1 and the position information
acquired through the GPS function are temporarily stored in the
memory 102.
[0341] The position information comparator 103 is a functional
module which compares the position information received as the
value-added information and the position information acquired by
the GPS function. Based on the position information comparison
results, the controller 101 generates audio data for notice. The
audio data is temporarily stored in the memory 102, converted into
an analog signal through the D/A converter 68, and then output in
sound from the loudspeaker 69. A notice audio output draws
attention of the user, thereby affecting the real world.
[0342] FIG. 18 is a flow diagram of the process for providing
service that affects the real world through the mobile telephone 7
with the GPS function based on information collected on the
personal computer 2. The process is performed when the respective
controllers 12, 22, and 101 of the server 1, the personal computer
2, and the mobile telephone 7 collaboratively work by executing
predetermined program codes.
[0343] Service, affecting the real world, provided to the user
based on operation information of the personal computers 2 of a
plurality of users is discussed below.
[0344] The operation of the personal computer 2 illustrated in FIG.
4 is discussed below. When the controller 22 determines in step
S151 that the user operates the operation unit 21 to issue an HTML
acquisition command, the algorithm proceeds to step S152. If no
HTML acquisition command is provided, the algorithm proceeds to
step S153.
[0345] In step S152, the data transceiver 23 receives HTML data
designated by the user through the server 1 connected to the
Internet. The controller 22 decodes the HTML data through the HTML
decoder 24 under the control thereof, and presents the HTML data on
the display 25. The controller 22 transmits, to the server 1
through the data transceiver 23, the user information such as a
user ID registered beforehand in the external storage device 26,
and the "browsing information" of the Web represented by a URL
indicating the site which is searched for and monitored by the
personal computer 2.
[0346] In step S153, the bookmark registration monitor 27 monitors
whether the user inputs a bookmark registration command on the
operation unit 21. If a bookmark registration command is input,
then the algorithm proceeds to step S154, else the algorithm
proceeds to step S155.
[0347] In step S154, the controller 22 transmits, to the server 1
through the data transceiver 23, the user operation information
such as the user ID registered beforehand in the external storage
device 26, and the "bookmark information" represented by the URL
indicating the bookmark registered site.
[0348] In step S155, the download monitor 28 monitors whether the
user inputs a download command on the controller 12. If a download
command is input, then the algorithm proceeds to step S156, else
the algorithm proceeds to step S157.
[0349] In step S156, the controller 22 transmits, to the server 1,
the user operation information such as and the "download
information" represented by the URL indicating the storage location
of the file downloaded to the personal computer 2.
[0350] Similarly, the upload monitor monitors whether the user
inputs an upload command on the operation unit 21. If an upload
command is input, the controller 22 may transmit, to the sever 1,
the user operation information such as the user ID, the "upload
information" such as the ID of a file uploaded from the personal
computer 2 and the URL indicating the storage location of the
uploaded file.
[0351] In step S157, the data storage command monitor 29 monitors
whether the user inputs a data storage command for the information
displayed as the HTML information on the operation unit 21. If the
user inputs the storage command, then the algorithm proceeds to
step S158, else the algorithm proceeds to step S159.
[0352] In step S158, the controller 22 transmits, to the server 1
through the data transceiver 23, the user operation information
such as the user ID, the storage ID, the URL data to be stored.
[0353] In step S159, the data deletion command monitor 30 monitors
whether the user has input a delete command of data stored in the
external storage device 26 on the operation unit 21. If the user
has input the data delete command, then the algorithm proceeds to
step S160, else the algorithm proceeds to step S161.
[0354] In step S160, the controller 22 transmits, to the server 1
through the data transceiver 23, the user operation information
such as the user ID, the delete ID, the URL data to be deleted, and
the name of a file to be deleted.
[0355] When the user edits data on the personal computer 2, the
user operation information such as "edit information" containing
the ID of an edited file and the edit ID identifying the type of
edit may be transmitted to the server 1 via the data transceiver
23.
[0356] In step S161, the controller 22 determines whether the user
has input an end command. If no end command has been input, then
the algorithm loops to step S151, else the process on the personal
computer 2 ends.
[0357] The operation of the server 1 illustrated in FIG. 3 will now
be discussed. In step S162, the controller 12 determines whether
the data transceiver 11 receives the user operation information
from the personal computer 2 (and other media). If the user
operation information has been received, then the algorithm
proceeds to step S163, else the algorithm proceeds to step
S164.
[0358] When the user operation information in the personal computer
2 of each user is received in step S163, the controller 12 controls
apparatus operation to store the user operation information in the
data base 13 on a per user ID basis for data base building.
[0359] In step S164, the controller 12 determines whether service
request information is received from a client through the data
transceiver 11. If the service request is received, then the
algorithm proceeds to step S165, else the algorithm proceeds to
step S167 for an end step. Here, the client is the mobile telephone
6, and the user A requests activity information service as the
value-added information.
[0360] In step S165, the matching degree calculator 14 calculates
the matching degree of the user operation information concerning
the personal computer 2 between the user A and each of the other
user IDs in all data base information. The matching degree
calculator 14 thus detects, as a similar user, a user ID having the
highest degree of matching. For example, data in each category is
tested for matching on a text basis, and the number of fully
matched words may be treated as the degree of matching. A weighting
process may be performed with the degree of matching varied from
full to partial matching.
[0361] In step S166, the controller 12 searches the data base 13
and reads the user activity information (position
information+building ID) corresponding to the searched user ID. The
controller 12 also transmits the user activity information as the
value-added information to the terminal of the requesting user A
through the data transceiver 11.
[0362] In step S167, the controller 12 determines whether a server
manager inputs an end command. If no end command is input, then the
algorithm loops to step S162, else the process of the server 1
ends.
[0363] The operation of the mobile telephone 7 illustrated in FIG.
17 will now be discussed. In step S168, the controller 101
determines whether a service request is received from the user. If
the service request is received, then the algorithm proceeds to
step S169, else the algorithm proceeds to step S170.
[0364] In step S169, the controller 101 transmits service request
information about the user A and the mobile telephone information
to the server 1 through the channel CODEC 62, the modulator 63, and
the RF circuit 64.
[0365] In step S170, the controller 101 determines whether the user
activity information is received through an antenna, the RF circuit
64, the demodulator 65, and the channel CODEC 62, from the server
1. If the user activity information is received, then the algorithm
proceeds to step S171, else the algorithm proceeds to step
S172.
[0366] In step S171, the controller 101 controls the memory 102 to
store the received user activity information therewithin. The user
activity information includes the position information and the
building ID.
[0367] In step S172, the position information comparator 103
compares the position information of the current user position
received from the GPS antenna with the position information of the
similar user stored in the memory 102. If the two pieces of
information coincide with each other, then the algorithm proceeds
to step S173, else the algorithm proceeds to an end process.
[0368] In step S173, the controller 101 outputs alarm audio data
stored beforehand in the memory 102 to the D/A converter 68, and
outputs the sound from the loudspeaker 69, thereby notifying the
user that the two pieces of position information coincide with each
other. Instead of the audio output, the notice information that the
two pieces of position information coincide with each other is
output on the screen of the display 76.
[0369] In step S174, the controller 101 determines whether an end
command is input. If no end command is input, then the algorithm
loops to step S168, else the process of the mobile telephone 7
ends.
[0370] In this embodiment, the server 1 uses the browsing
information to calculate the matching degree of the user. When the
user of the mobile telephone drops in at a place where a user
having similar browsing information has visited, an alarm is
triggered. Even in a place that apparently draws no attention of
the users, the server 1 allows the user to find an item, a scenery,
or a product worth looking at. As a result, the value-added
information affects the activity of the user in the real world.
Purchase of Product Based on the Value-Added Information:
[0371] Internet connection service through the mobile telephone has
started, and transfer of value information, such as ticket booking,
and the purchase and consumption of goods and service are possible
over the mobile telephone. As already discussed, the present
invention provides the value-added information affecting the real
world on the mobile telephone, based on the user operation
information accumulated on the personal computer. Discussed next is
the value-added information service function affecting the real
world in which a product is purchased over the mobile telephone
based on the value-added information provided by the server.
[0372] The server 1 and the personal computer 2 having the
functions and constructions respectively illustrated in FIG. 3 and
FIG. 4 are also used here, and the discussion thereof is omitted
here.
[0373] FIG. 19 diagrammatically illustrates the functional
structure of a mobile telephone 7A with a GPS function in which the
present invention is applied. As shown, the mobile telephone 7A
includes a controller 111, a memory 112, a position information
comparator 113, an advance order/cancel/decision information
production unit 114, a channel CODEC 62, a modulator 63, an RF
circuit 64, a demodulator 65, a D/A converter 68, a loudspeaker 69,
a coder 71, a decoder 72, an A/D converter 73, a microphone 74, an
operation unit 75, and a display 76. The mobile telephone 7A with
the GPS function provides services affecting the real world under a
program execution environment provided by the operating system when
the controller 111 executes a variety of program codes. The blocks
of the mobile telephone 7A are discussed below.
[0374] When the mobile telephone 7A with the GPS function is linked
to an ordinary telephone line, the RF circuit 64 down-converts an
analog transmission signal received through an antenna from a
mobile-telephone base station (not shown). The demodulator 65
demodulates the analog signal in accordance with predetermined
demodulation information and timing, is channel-decoded through the
channel CODEC 62, is decoded through the decoder 72, and is then
converted into analog audio signal through the D/A converter 68.
The analog audio signal is then output in sound from the
loudspeaker 69.
[0375] An audio sound input through the microphone 74 is converted
into a digital signal through the A/D converter 73, is encoded
through the coder 71, is channel-coded through the channel CODEC
62, and is then modulated through the modulator 63 in accordance
with predetermined modulation information and timing. The modulated
signal is then up-converted through the RF circuit 64 and is then
transmitted through the antenna to the mobile-telephone base
station.
[0376] The mobile telephone 7A with the GPS function also has the
function of transmitting and receiving data processed through the
controller 111 over a mobile telephone network. For example, the
mobile telephone 7A with the GPS function may be linked to a
predetermined provider or a service center through the mobile
telephone network through exchange and to the server 1 (see FIG. 3)
through the mobile telephone network to receive medium control
information and value-added information in the real world.
[0377] When the mobile telephone 7A with the GPS function transmits
data, the data handled by the controller 111 is channel-coded
through the channel CODEC 62, is modulated through the modulator 63
in accordance with predetermined modulation information and timing,
is up-converted through the RF circuit 64, and is then output from
the antenna to the mobile-telephone base station (not shown).
[0378] When the mobile telephone 7A with the GPS function receives
data, an analog transmission signal received through the antenna
from the mobile-telephone base station (not shown) is
down-converted through the RF circuit 64, is demodulated through
the demodulator in accordance with the demodulation information and
timing, and is then channel-decoded through the channel CODEC 62.
The received data is thus converted into data in a form that is
processed through the controller 111.
[0379] The mobile telephone 7A with the GPS function receives the
value-added information affecting the real world from the server 1
using the data receiving function thereof. One example of the
value-added information is purchase information relating to the
purchase and consumption of goods and service. The purchase
information is a combination of the position information, the
building ID, and the product ID, and has the effect of driving the
user's willingness to act. The purchase information received is
temporarily stored in the memory 112.
[0380] The mobile telephone 7A with the GPS function is equipped
with a position fixing function based on the GPS, namely, the
Global Positioning System. The mobile telephone 7A receives
radiowaves, namely, GPS signals transmitted from at least three GPS
satellites circling the earth, through the GPS antenna 82, and
channel-decodes the GPS signal through the channel CODEC 62.
Position information thus obtained is stored temporarily in the
memory 112 together with the ID of a building where the user is
currently located.
[0381] The operation unit 75, composed of a user input device such
as numeric keys and function buttons, is used to enter commands to
the system 7. The display 76 is formed of an LCD (Liquid-Crystal
Display), and provides a visual feedback to the user.
[0382] In this embodiment, the operation unit 75 is also used to
enter telephone numbers, set a melody signaling an incoming call,
and input commands for a variety of services such as ticket
booking. The commands input through the operation unit 75 are
processed through the controller 111 under the control of the
operating system.
[0383] The memory 112 stores program codes of the operating system
and other programs executed by the controller 61, and temporarily
stores job data of an execution program.
[0384] The position information comparator 113 is a functional
module which compares the position information received as the
value-added information and the position information acquired by
the GPS function. Based on the position information comparison
results, the controller 111 generates audio data for notice. The
audio data is temporarily stored in the memory 112, is converted
into an analog signal through the D/A converter 68, and is then
output in sound from the loudspeaker 69. A notice audio output
draws attention of the user, thereby affecting the real world.
[0385] The advance order/cancel/decision information production
unit 114 automatically produces information for ordering, deciding,
and canceling the purchase of goods and service, and other
spending, based on the value-added information received from the
server 1. The server 1 generates the value-added information
relating to purchasing by collecting the user operation information
over the personal computer 2 (see FIG. 5), and provides service
affecting the activity of the user in the real world through the
mobile telephone 7A with the GPS function.
[0386] FIG. 20 is a flow diagram of the process for providing
service that affects the real world wherein a product is purchased
through the mobile telephone 7A with the GPS function in accordance
with the information collected on the personal computer 2. The
process is performed when the respective controllers 12, 22, and
111 of the server 1, the personal computer 2, and the mobile
telephone 7A collaboratively work by executing predetermined
program codes.
[0387] Service, affecting the real world, provided to a given user
based on operation information of the personal computers 2 of a
plurality of users is discussed below with reference to the flow
diagram.
[0388] The operation of the personal computer 2 illustrated in FIG.
4 is discussed below. When the controller 22 determines in step
S181 that the user operates the operation unit 21 to issue an HTML
acquisition command, the algorithm proceeds to step S162. If no
HTML acquisition command is provided, the algorithm proceeds to
step S183.
[0389] In step S182, the data transceiver 23 receives HTML data
designated by the user through the server 1 connected to the
Internet. The controller 22 decodes the HTML data through the HTML
decoder 24 under the control thereof, and presents the HTML data on
the display 25. The controller 22 transmits, to the server 1
through the data transceiver 23, the user information such as a
user ID registered beforehand in the external storage device 26,
and the "browsing information" of the Web presented by a URL
indicating the site which is searched for and monitored by the
personal computer 2.
[0390] In step S183, the bookmark registration monitor 27 monitors
whether the user inputs a bookmark registration command on the
operation unit 21. If a bookmark registration command is input,
then the algorithm proceeds to step S184, else the algorithm
proceeds to step S185.
[0391] In step S184, the controller 22 transmits, to the server 1
through the data transceiver 23, the user operation information
such as the user ID registered beforehand in the external storage
device 26, and the "bookmark information" represented by the URL
indicating the bookmark registered site.
[0392] In step S185, the download monitor 28 monitors whether the
user inputs a download command on the controller 21. If a download
command is input, then the algorithm proceeds to step S186, else
the algorithm proceeds to step S187.
[0393] In step S186, the controller 22 transmits, to the server 1,
the user operation information such as the "download information"
represented by the URL indicating the storage location of the file
downloaded to the personal computer 2.
[0394] Similarly, the upload monitor monitors whether the user
inputs an upload command on the operation unit 21. If an upload
command is input, the controller 22 may transmit, to the sever 1,
the user operation information such as the "upload information"
such as the ID of a file uploaded from the personal computer 2 and
the URL indicating the storage location of the uploaded file.
[0395] In step S187, the data storage command monitor 29 monitors
whether the user inputs a data storage command for the information
displayed as the HTML information on the operation unit 21. If the
user inputs the storage command, then the algorithm proceeds to
step S188, else the algorithm proceeds to step S189.
[0396] Similarly, in step S188, the controller 22 transmits, to the
server 1 through the data transceiver 23, the user operation
information such as the user ID, the storage ID, the URL data to be
stored.
[0397] In step S189, the data deletion command monitor 30 monitors
whether the user has input a delete command of data stored in the
external storage device 26 on the operation unit 21. If the user
has input the data delete command, then the algorithm proceeds to
step S190, else the algorithm proceeds to step S191.
[0398] In step S190, the controller 22 transmits, to the server 1
through the data transceiver 23, the user operation information
such as the user ID, the delete ID, the URL data to be deleted, and
the name of a file to be deleted.
[0399] When the user edits data on the personal computer 2, the
user operation information such as "edit information" containing
the ID of an edited file and the edit ID identifying the type of
edit may be transmitted to the server 1 via the data transceiver
23.
[0400] In step S191, the controller 22 determines whether the user
has input an end command. If no end command has been input, then
the algorithm loops to step S151, else the process on the personal
computer 2 ends.
[0401] The operation of the server 1 illustrated in FIG. 3 will now
be discussed. In step S192, the controller 12 determines whether
the data transceiver 11 receives the user operation information
from the personal computer 2 (and other media). If the user
operation information has been received, then the algorithm
proceeds to step S193, else the algorithm proceeds to step
S194.
[0402] When the user operation information in the personal computer
2 of each user is received in step S193, the controller 12 controls
apparatus operation to store the user operation information in the
data base 13 on a per user ID basis for data base building.
[0403] In step S194, the controller 12 determines whether service
request information is received from a client through the data
transceiver 11. If the service request is received, then the
algorithm proceeds to step S195, else the algorithm proceeds to
step S197 for an end step. Here, the user A requests the purchase
information service.
[0404] In step S195, the matching degree calculator 14 calculates
the matching degree of the user operation information concerning
the personal computer between the user A and each of the other user
IDs in all data base information. The matching degree calculator 14
thus detects, as a similar user, a user ID having the highest
degree of matching as a similar user. For example, data in each
category is tested for matching on a text basis, and the number of
fully matched words may be treated as the degree of matching. A
weighting process may be performed with the degree of matching
varied from full to partial matching.
[0405] In step S196, the controller 12 searches the data base 13
and reads the purchase information (position information+building
ID+product ID) corresponding to the searched user ID. The
controller 12 also transmits the purchase information as the
value-added information to the terminal of the requesting user A
through the data transceiver 11.
[0406] In step S197, the controller 12 determines whether a server
manager inputs an end command. If no end command is input, then the
algorithm loops to step S192, else the process on the server 1
ends.
[0407] The operation of the mobile telephone 7A illustrated in FIG.
19 will now be discussed. In step S198, the controller 111
determines whether a service request is received from the user
through the operation unit 75. If the service request is received,
then the algorithm proceeds to step S199, else the algorithm
proceeds to step S200.
[0408] In step S199, the controller 111 transmits service request
information about the user A and the purchase information to the
server 1 through the channel CODEC 62, the modulator 63, and the RF
circuit 64.
[0409] In step S200, the controller 111 determines whether the
purchase information as the value-added information is received
through an antenna, the RF circuit 64, the demodulator 65, and the
channel CODEC 62 from the server 1. If the purchase information is
received, then the algorithm proceeds to step S201, else the
algorithm proceeds to step S202.
[0410] In step S201, the controller 111 controls the memory 112 to
store the received user purchase information, namely, the position
information+the building ID+the product ID therewithin.
[0411] In step S202, the position information comparator 113
compares the position information of the current user position
received from the GPS antenna with the position information of the
similar user stored in the memory 112. If the two pieces of
information coincide with each other, then the algorithm proceeds
to step S203, else the algorithm proceeds to step S204.
[0412] In step S203, the controller 111 outputs alarm audio data
stored beforehand in the memory 112 to the D/A converter 68, and
outputs the sound from the loudspeaker 69, thereby notifying the
user that the two pieces of position information coincide with each
other. Instead of the audio output, the notice information that the
two pieces of position information coincide with each other is
visually output on the screen of the display 76.
[0413] In step S204, the advance order/cancel/decision information
production unit 114 transmits the advance order information to a
building (a store) based on the product ID and the building ID
stored in the memory 112. There is a limitation that the
information cannot be transmitted to the store outside the service
area when a short-range radio data communication function such as
Bluetooth is used to transmit data. If the building ID is a
telephone number, the data is transmitted by automatically
telephoning to the building.
[0414] In step S205, the data transceiver 11 calculates dates and
time which has elapsed from the advance order. If a predetermined
period of time has elapsed, then the algorithm proceeds to step
S206, else the algorithm proceeds to step S207.
[0415] In step S206, the controller 111 transmits order canceling
information produced by the advance order/cancel/decision
information production unit 114.
[0416] In step S207, the controller 111 determines whether the user
inputs a purchase decision command. If the purchase decision
command is input, then the algorithm proceeds to step S208, else
the algorithm proceeds to step S209.
[0417] In step S208, the advance order/cancel/decision information
production unit 114 produces purchase decision information, and the
controller 111 transmits the purchase decision information to the
store.
[0418] In step S209, the controller 111 determines whether the user
inputs an end command. If no end command is input, then the
algorithm loops to step S198, else the process of the mobile
telephone 7A with the GPS function ends.
[0419] In this embodiment, the server 1 uses the browsing
information to calculate the matching degree of the user. When the
user of the mobile telephone drops in at a place where a user
having similar browsing information has visited, an alarm is
triggered, inviting the user to the store. When a user having a
similar preference places an order of an item, the advance order
information is automatically transmitted to the store. In this way,
the user thus enjoys preferable service in the real world in which
valuable items that may not be listed in sales information can be
tentatively ordered.
[0420] The collected information supplied to the server and the
value-added information available from the server are now
summarized in the value-added information service in each of the
above embodiments of the present invention.
[0421] The collected information supplied from the media such as
the TV and the stereo devices include a DVD title, operation
information, information input by the user in game playing,
clicking for digest, clicking for products, channel information,
bookmarks, and browsing information.
[0422] The collected information supplied from the user in the real
world includes position, movement, congestion information, a GPS
fixed position, course information (statistical quantity), and
biological information (fingerprint, voice pattern).
[0423] The collected information intermediate between the media and
the real world includes a collection of images, and special
effects.
[0424] The value-added information which is supplied to the media
from the server for tuning service includes popular title
information, scenes attracting public attention/tiresome scenes,
game content/content update, digest image replay, marketing
information, automatic channel switch, search engine tuning, and
ranking of sports and movies with the degree of importance.
[0425] The value-added information available from the server and
affecting the real world includes the degree of crowdedness, date
spots, prediction of traffic congestion, and optimum route
searching.
[0426] The value-added information available from the server and
intermediate between and related to both the medium and the real
world includes know-how of image processing, and sale
information.
[0427] The above-referenced information collection and the
value-added information providing service in each of the above
embodiments of the present invention are carried out by the server
having a dedicated hardware. The service is also available from a
general-purpose computer that executes a predetermined computer
software program containing the server function. The computer
software here refers to program codes for performing steps S22-S27
as illustrated in the flow diagram in FIG. 6, steps S52-S57
illustrated in the flow diagram in FIG. 8, steps S82-87 illustrated
in the flow diagram in FIG. 10, steps S105-S110 illustrated in the
flow diagram in FIG. 14, steps S127-S132 illustrated in the flow
diagram in FIG. 16, steps S162-167 illustrated in the flow diagram
FIG. 18, and steps S192-S197 in the flow diagram illustrated in
FIG. 20.
[0428] FIG. 21 diagrammatically illustrates the construction of a
computer system 500 in which the present invention is applied.
Referring to FIG. 21, the functional structure of the computer
system 500 for carrying out the program codes implementing the
steps of each of the above flow diagrams is discussed below.
[0429] A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 501 as a main controller of
the system 500 executes a variety of applications under the control
of an operating system (OS). As shown, the CPU 501 is
interconnected to other devices (to be discussed later) through a
bus 508.
[0430] A memory 502 stores the program codes executed by the CPU
501 and temporarily stores job data during operation. The memory
502 contains both volatile and non-volatile memories.
[0431] A display controller 503 is a dedicated controller to
perform a rendering command input by the CPU 501. Rendering data
processed by the display controller 503 is first written on a frame
buffer (not shown), and then output on the screen of a display
511.
[0432] An input device interface 504 is used to interconnect user
input devices such as a keyboard 512 and a mouse 513 to the
computer system 500.
[0433] A network interface 505 is used to connect the system 500 to
a localized network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or a
wide-area network such as the Internet through a predetermined
communication protocol such as Ethernet.
[0434] Over the network, a plurality of host terminals (not shown)
such as content receivers is interconnected to each other in a
transparent fashion, thereby forming a distributed computing
environment. Software programs and data contents are delivered over
the network. For example, server applications for the information
collection and the generation and providing of the value-added
information are down-loaded through the network. The value-added
information generated using the server applications is then
delivered to each medium and user terminals over the network.
[0435] An external device interface 507 is used to interconnect the
system 500 to external devices such as a hard disk drive (HDD) 514
or a medium drive 515.
[0436] The HDD 514 is an (known) external storage device having a
magnetic disk as a storage medium mounted thereto, and outperforms
other external devices in terms of storage capacity and data
transfer speed. The placement of a software program onto the HDD
514 in a ready-to-be-executed fashion is referred to as the
"installation" of the program to the system. The HDD 514 stores
program codes of the operating system to be executed by the CPU
501, application programs, and device drivers in a non-volatile
manner.
[0437] The server applications for the information collection and
the generation and providing of the value-added information and the
client applications for using the value-added information may be
installed onto the HDD 514. The information of each user received
through the network is stored in the HDD 514. The value-added
information generated based on the user information is accumulated
in the HDD 514.
[0438] The medium drive 515 is a device which is loaded with a
removable medium such as a CD (Compact Disk), an MO
(Magneto-Optical Disc), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), and
accesses data storage surface thereof.
[0439] The removable medium is mainly used to back up software
programs and data files as computer readable data, and to move
these pieces of data between systems (for the purposes of sale,
distribution, and delivery). The server applications for the
information collection and the generation and providing of the
value-added information and the client applications for using the
value-added information may be physically distributed and delivered
among a plurality of apparatuses using the removable media. The
user information and the value-added information generated from the
user information may be physically distributed among a plurality of
apparatuses.
[0440] The computer system 500 illustrated in FIG. 21 is a computer
compatible with a "personal computer" PC/AT (Personal
Computer/Advanced Technology) manufactured by IBM or the successors
thereof. It is also possible to use a computer having another
architecture as the computer system 500 of this embodiment.
APPENDIX
[0441] The present invention has been discussed in detail with
reference to the particular embodiments. It is obvious that
ordinary skilled artisans easily modify or change the embodiments
without departing from the scope of the present invention. The
present invention has been discussed for exemplary purposes only,
and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
The scope of the present invention is determined solely by
reference to the claims appended.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0442] The present invention provides a communication apparatus, a
communication method, an electronic apparatus, a method for
controlling the electronic apparatus, and a storage medium, for
collecting information relating to apparatus operation of a
plurality of users and for generating value-added information in an
excellent manner based on the collected information.
[0443] The present invention provides a communication apparatus, a
communication method, an electronic apparatus, a method for
controlling the electronic apparatus, and a storage medium, for
collecting information relating to apparatus operation of a
plurality of users, for generating value-added information relating
to the preference of the user in an excellent manner based on the
collected information, and for automatically and adaptively
providing service in accordance with the user preference based on
the value-added information.
[0444] In accordance with the present invention, interlocking
features and correlation of user operations of a diversity of
electronic apparatuses are determined so that a variety of services
is automatically provided based on the preference of the users
without no human intervention in the interpretation of data.
[0445] In accordance with the present invention, a second
electronic apparatus of a particular user is controlled based on
control information of a second electronic apparatus of a user
whose first electronic apparatus information is similar to that of
the particular user. Electronic apparatus control service matching
the preference of the user is provided without the need for a
complex signal processing such as user preference analysis.
[0446] In accordance with the present invention, the electronic
apparatus of a particular user is controlled based on the
electronic apparatus information of a user who has activity
information, such as the transfer or purchase of an apparatus,
similar to that of the particular user. Electronic apparatus
control service matching the preference of the user is provided
without the need for a complex signal processing such as user
preference analysis. The real world and information space are
easily linked.
[0447] In accordance with the present invention, notice of stores
and advance order are automatically performed based on the activity
information of the user having similar electronic apparatus
information. The user is thus free from missing chance of
purchasing goods. The present invention contributes to driving
users' willingness to purchase.
* * * * *