Server apparatus, content providing method, and content providing program

Abstract

To provide a content formed of news which a user should read.SOLUTION: A server extracts, based on a browsing history of news by a user, news which the user has not browsed among news estimated for the user to have interest. For example, the server, based on the browsing history of news by the user, picks up, among the news estimated for the user to have interest, news commented by an expert followed by the user, news whose reaction button was pressed by the expert, news which the expert followed by the user recommends, and so on. Then, the server provides the user with a content including the news which the user has not browsed, among the picked-up news.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a server device, a content providing method, and a content providing program. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, when providing content such as news to a user, a service has been provided in which the user is first asked to select a desired theme, and when a theme has been selected, multiple pieces of content encompassed by this theme are provided (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2014-049094 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the above-mentioned conventional technology has room for further improvement in terms of user convenience when browsing content. For example, consider a case where the provided content is news. In this case, if there are many news items provided to the user, the user needs to select which news item to read within a limited time.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above, and has an object to provide content that compiles news that a user should read. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is characterized by comprising an extraction unit that extracts news that is estimated to be of interest to a user from the user's news browsing history and that the user has not yet viewed, and a provision unit that provides content that summarizes the extracted news.

[0007] According to one aspect of the embodiment, content that summarizes news that a user should read can be provided. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of news provided by a server. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an outline of the process executed by the server. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of attribute information of each user. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a system including a server. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure executed by the server. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a hardware configuration diagram showing an example of a computer that realizes the functions of the server. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, a mode for carrying out a server device according to the present application (hereinafter, referred to as an "embodiment") will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the server device according to the present application is not limited to the following embodiment.

[0010] [overview] An overview of the processing executed by the server device (server) of this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. The server, for example, acquires news from a news server and provides it to a user. When the server provides news to a user, it also accepts, for example, the user's reactions and comments to the news as shown in Figure 1. The server displays the reactions and comments accepted from the user as part of the news. Comments are also accepted, for example, from experts registered in advance.

[0011] The server also provides content that compiles news that is estimated to be of interest to the user based on the user's news browsing history and that the user has not yet viewed (news that is estimated to be something the user should read).

[0012] For example, the server picks out news recommended by experts that the user follows from news that the user is likely to be interested in based on the user's news browsing history.Then, the server provides content that compiles news that the user has not yet viewed among the picked news (see Figure 2).

[0013] In addition, the server may pick out news on which an expert followed by the user has commented or reacted from news that is estimated to be of interest to the user based on the user's news browsing history.

[0014] At this time, for example, the server accepts a selection input from the user's My Page as to the perspective from which the user should pick up news that the user should read (for example, "news on which an expert you follow has commented," "news on which an expert you follow has pressed the reaction button," "top 5 news stories recommended by an expert you follow this week," etc.) as shown in Fig. 2. The server may then pick up news that the user should read based on the perspective selected by the user.

[0015] Alternatively, the user may register in advance conditions regarding the viewpoint from which the user should pick up news to read, and the server may automatically pick up news that meets the conditions as news to be read by the user. Even if the user does not register the above conditions, for example, a service provider may set the above conditions in the server based on statistical data, and the server may automatically pick up news to be read by the user based on the set conditions.

[0016] In this way, the server can provide a summary of news that the user should read by selecting the news from the viewpoint desired by the user.

[0017] [Configuration example] An example of the configuration of a system including a server 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 3, the system includes a terminal 10, a server 100, and a news server. There may be multiple terminals 10, multiple servers 100, and multiple news servers in the system.

[0018] The terminal 10 is, for example, an information processing device used by a user to view news. For example, the terminal 10 is a desktop personal computer (PC), a notebook PC, a tablet terminal, a mobile phone such as a smartphone, or the like.

[0019] In the following, the terminal 10 may be written as a user. That is, in the following, the user may be read as the terminal 10. In addition, in the following, when it is not necessary to distinguish between the terminals 10 used by each user, the terminal 10 may be written as the terminal 10.

[0020] A news server is a server that stores news. The server 100 obtains news from the news server.

[0021] The terminal 10 and the server 100, and the news server and the server 100 are communicably connected via a network such as the Internet, either wired or wirelessly.

[0022] The server 100 acquires news from, for example, a news server, and provides the user with content that summarizes news that the user should read. The server 100 includes a communication unit 110, a storage unit 120, and a control unit .

[0023] (About the Communications Department) The communication unit 110 is realized by, for example, a network interface card (NIC) etc. The communication unit 110 is connected to a network such as the Internet by wire or wirelessly, and transmits and receives various data between the terminal 10 and a news server.

[0024] (Regarding the memory unit) The storage unit 120 is realized by, for example, a semiconductor memory element such as a random access memory (RAM) or a flash memory, or a storage device such as a hard disk or an optical disk. The storage unit 120 stores various information that the control unit 130 refers to when providing a content that summarizes news to a user.

[0025] For example, the storage unit 120 includes a news storage unit. This news storage unit stores news acquired from a news server. The news storage unit stores news including comments, reactions, etc. from each user to the news, if any. Note that when news includes comments or reactions, the news also includes information indicating which user made the comments or reactions.

[0026] Furthermore, the storage unit 120 stores the news viewing history of each user, attribute information of each user, etc. The news viewing history of each user is information indicating when and which news the user viewed for each user.

[0027] The attribute information of each user is information indicating the attributes of each user. An example of the attribute information of each user is shown in Fig. 4. The attribute information of each user is, for example, information indicating, for each user ID of the user, experts followed by the user, news categories selected by the user, the gender, age, and area in which the user lives, etc.

[0028] In addition to the above information, the storage unit 120 may store the behavior history of each user. The behavior history of each user is, for example, the user's content browsing history, service usage history, product purchase history, etc. In addition, the storage unit 120 may store conditions regarding the perspective from which the user picks up news to be read.

[0029] (Regarding the control unit) The control unit 130 is a controller, and is realized, for example, by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or MPU (Micro Processing Unit) executing various programs (corresponding to an example of a chat control program) stored in a storage device inside the server 100 using a RAM as a working area. The control unit 130 is also a controller, and is realized, for example, by an integrated circuit such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).

[0030] The control unit 130 has a news processing unit 131, an extraction unit 132, and a provision unit 133, and realizes or executes the functions and actions of information processing described below.

[0031] 3, the internal configuration of the control unit 130 may be other configurations as long as they perform information processing described later. For example, the news processing unit 131, the extraction unit 132, and the provision unit 133 may each be provided in a device separate from the server 100.

[0032] More specifically, the functions performed by the control unit 130 may be realized by a server performing the functions of the news processing unit 131, a server performing the functions of the extraction unit 132, and a server performing the functions of the provision unit 133 working together to execute processing.

[0033] (About the News Section) The news processing unit 131 accumulates the news transmitted from the news server in the news accumulation unit, and also provides the news accumulated in the news accumulation unit to each user.

[0034] Furthermore, when the news processing unit 131 receives a comment, a reaction, or the like from a user to the news, the news processing unit 131 adds the comment or reaction from the user to the news. Furthermore, when a follow-up report on past news is transmitted from the news server, the news processing unit 131 may update the news by adding the follow-up report to the past news stored in the news storage unit.

[0035] (About the extraction part) The extraction unit 132 extracts news that is estimated to be read by a user from among the news stored in the news storage unit, based on the news viewing history of the user.

[0036] For example, based on the user's news viewing history, the extraction unit 132 picks out news that is estimated to be of interest to the user, and extracts from among them news that the user has not yet viewed as news that the user should read.

[0037] In addition, the extraction unit 132 may pick out news that has been commented on, reacted to, or recommended by an expert that the user follows from among the news that is estimated to be of interest to the user, and extract from among them news that the user has not yet viewed.

[0038] In addition, the extraction unit 132 may pick out news that has been commented on, reacted to, or recommended by experts who are followed by other users with attributes similar to those of the user, from among the news that is estimated to be of interest to the user, and extract from among them news that the user has not yet viewed.

[0039] In the following description, which other users have attributes similar to those of the user in question is identified by referring to the attribute information of each user in the storage unit 120, for example.

[0040] Furthermore, the extraction unit 132 may pick out news from the news that is estimated to be of interest to the user, that is in the category selected by the user, and that has a number of views, comments, and reactions that is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, and extract from among them news that the user has not yet viewed.

[0041] In addition, the extraction unit 132 may pick out news from among the news items that are estimated to be of interest to the user, from news items in categories selected by other users with attributes similar to those of the user, that have the above-mentioned number of views, number of comments, and number of reactions that are greater than or equal to a predetermined value.

[0042] In addition, when news stored in the news storage unit about which a user has posted a comment or reacted in the past is updated, the extraction unit 132 may pick up the updated news and extract from it news that has not yet been viewed by the user.

[0043] In addition, when news is updated, for example, when a follow-up report is added to the news, when the poster of the comment on the news to which the user reacted posts a further comment on the news, when a reply comment is posted to the comment on the news to which the user reacted, etc.

[0044] In addition, when news stored in the news storage unit is updated and another user who has attributes similar to the user has posted a comment or reacted to the news, the extraction unit 132 may pick up the updated news.

[0045] The extraction unit 132 may select from what viewpoint the user should read the news by selecting from what viewpoint. For example, as shown in Fig. 2, the server 100 accepts a selection input from the user's My Page on the screen displaying the news, indicating from what viewpoint the news should be selected.

[0046] For example, the server 100 accepts a selection input from the user's My Page of "news on which an expert you follow has commented," "news to which an expert you follow has reacted," or "Top 5 news stories recommended by an expert you follow this week." The extraction unit 132 then picks out news that the user should read based on the viewpoint selected by the user.

[0047] For example, as shown in Fig. 2, when "Top 5 news items recommended this week by experts you follow" is selected on the user's My Page, the extraction unit 132 picks out news items that correspond to the top 5 news items recommended this week by experts the user follows from among news items that are estimated to be of interest to the user. Then, the extraction unit 132 extracts news items that the user has not yet viewed from the picked-up news items.

[0048] As mentioned above, the user may pre-register conditions regarding the perspective from which the user should pick out news to read, and the extraction unit 132 may automatically pick out news that meets those conditions as news that the user should read.

[0049] (About the provider) The providing unit 133 displays content summarizing the news (news that the user should read) extracted by the extracting unit 132. For example, the providing unit 133 displays content showing an outline of each piece of news that the user should read on the user's My Page, as shown in Fig. 2. This allows the user to know the outline of the news that he or she should read.

[0050] Thereafter, when the providing unit 133 receives an instruction input from the user to display details of any news in the content, the providing unit 133 displays the details of the news based on the instruction input. This allows the user to check the details of news that he or she is particularly interested in after knowing the outline of the news that he or she should read. The details of the news include, for example, not only the details of the news article, but also comments, reactions, and the like posted to the news article.

[0051] The providing unit 133 may display the content summarizing news that the user should read on the user's My Page or the like, or may display the content that the user should read on a timeline that arranges the content in chronological order.

[0052] [Example of processing procedure] Next, an example of a procedure of a process executed by the server 100 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0053] The news processing unit 131 of the server 100 acquires news from each news server (S1). Then, the news processing unit 131 accumulates the acquired news in the news accumulation unit. Furthermore, if each user has posted a comment or reaction to the acquired news, the news processing unit 131 adds the comment or reaction posted by each user. After that, the extraction unit 132 acquires news that is estimated to be of interest to each user from the news accumulation unit based on the news browsing history of each user (S2).

[0054] After S2, the extraction unit 132 narrows down the news acquired in S2 (S3). For example, the extraction unit 132 picks out, from the news acquired in S2, news on which a comment has been posted, reacted to, or recommended by an expert followed by the user.

[0055] After S3, the extraction unit 132 extracts news that the user has not yet seen (viewed) from the news narrowed down in S3 (S4). After that, the provision unit 133 presents the content summarizing the news extracted in S4 to the user (S5).

[0056] [Hardware configuration] Moreover, the server 100 according to the embodiment described above is realized, for example, by a computer 1000 configured as shown in Fig. 6. The following description will be given taking the server 100 as an example. Fig. 6 is a hardware configuration diagram showing an example of a computer 1000 that realizes the functions of the server 100. The computer 1000 has a CPU 1100, a RAM 1200, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 1300, a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 1400, a communication interface (I / F) 1500, an input / output interface (I / F) 1600, and a media interface (I / F) 1700.

[0057] The CPU 1100 operates and controls each unit based on a program stored in the ROM 1300 or the HDD 1400. The ROM 1300 stores a boot program executed by the CPU 1100 when the computer 1000 is started up, programs that depend on the hardware of the computer 1000, and the like.

[0058] The HDD 1400 stores programs executed by the CPU 1100, data used by such programs, etc. The communication interface 1500 receives data from other devices via the network N and sends it to the CPU 1100, and transmits data generated by the CPU 1100 to other devices via the network N.

[0059] The CPU 1100 controls output devices such as a display and a printer, and input devices such as a keyboard and a mouse, via the input / output interface 1600. The CPU 1100 acquires data from the input devices via the input / output interface 1600. The CPU 1100 also outputs data generated via the input / output interface 1600 to the output devices.

[0060] The media interface 1700 reads a program or data stored in the recording medium 1800 and provides it to the CPU 1100 via the RAM 1200. The CPU 1100 loads the program from the recording medium 1800 onto the RAM 1200 via the media interface 1700 and executes the loaded program. The recording medium 1800 is, for example, an optical recording medium such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) or a PD (Phase change rewritable Disc), a magneto-optical recording medium such as an MO (Magneto-Optical disk), a tape medium, a magnetic recording medium, or a semiconductor memory.

[0061] For example, when the computer 1000 functions as the server 100 according to the embodiment, the CPU 1100 of the computer 1000 executes a program loaded on the RAM 1200 to realize the function of the control unit 130. In addition, the data in the storage unit 120 is stored in the HDD 1400. The CPU 1100 of the computer 1000 reads and executes these programs from the recording medium 1800, but as another example, these programs may be obtained from another device via the network N.

[0062] [others] In addition, among the processes described in the above embodiments, all or part of the processes described as being performed automatically can be performed manually, or all or part of the processes described as being performed manually can be performed automatically by a known method. In addition, the information including the processing procedures, specific names, various data and parameters shown in the above documents and drawings can be changed arbitrarily unless otherwise specified. For example, the various information shown in each drawing is not limited to the illustrated information.

[0063] In addition, each component of each device shown in the figure is a functional concept, and does not necessarily have to be physically configured as shown in the figure. In other words, the specific form of distribution and integration of each device is not limited to that shown in the figure, and all or part of them can be functionally or physically distributed and integrated in any unit according to various loads, usage conditions, etc.

[0064] Furthermore, the above-described embodiments and modifications can be appropriately combined as long as the processing contents are not contradictory.

[0065] Moreover, the above-mentioned "section, module, unit" can be read as "means" or "circuit", etc. For example, the extraction unit can be read as an estimation means or an estimation circuit.

[0066] [effect] As described above, the server 100 includes the extraction unit 132 and the provision unit 133. The extraction unit 132 extracts news that the user has not yet viewed from among news that is estimated to be of interest to the user from the news viewing history of each user. The provision unit 133 provides content that summarizes the extracted news.

[0067] This allows the server 100 to provide content that compiles news that the user should read.

[0068] As described above, the extraction unit 132 extracts news that the user has not yet viewed from among news that is estimated to be of interest to the user, and that has had comments posted, reactions posted, or been recommended by experts followed by the user.

[0069] This allows the server 100 to provide content that compiles news that is estimated to be of interest to the user and in which an expert that the user follows has taken some kind of action as news that the user should read.

[0070] As described above, the extraction unit 132 extracts news that has not yet been viewed by the user from among news about which comments have been posted, reactions have been generated, or news that has been recommended by experts who are followed by other users with attributes similar to the user.

[0071] As a result, even if a user does not follow an expert, the server 100 can provide content that compiles news in which an expert followed by a user similar to the user has taken some action as news that the user should read.

[0072] As described above, the extraction unit 132 extracts news that the user has not yet viewed from among news that is estimated to be of interest to the user, news in a category selected by the user, and news for which at least one of the number of views, number of comments, and number of reactions is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.

[0073] This allows the server 100 to provide content that compiles news that is expected to be of interest to the user and that is particularly notable within the category selected by the user, as news that the user should read.

[0074] Although some of the embodiments of the present application have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, these are merely examples, and the present invention can be embodied in other forms that incorporate various modifications and improvements based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, including the forms described in the Disclosure of the Invention section. [Explanation of symbols]

[0075] 100 Servers 110 Communications Department 120 Storage section 130 Control section 131 News Processing Section 132 Extraction part 133 Provision Department

Claims

1. an extraction unit that extracts news that is presumed to be of interest to the user from the user's news viewing history and that the user has not yet viewed; a providing unit that provides content summarizing the extracted news; A server device comprising:

2. The extraction unit is Extracting news that the user has not yet viewed from among news that is presumed to be of interest to the user and has been commented on, reacted to, or recommended by an expert followed by the user 2. The server device according to claim 1.

3. The extraction unit is Extracting news that the user has not yet viewed from among news that is presumed to be of interest to the user and has comments posted, reactions posted, or been recommended by experts followed by other users with attributes similar to the user.

2. The server device according to claim 1.

4. The extraction unit is Among the news items that are estimated to be of interest to the user, news items that are in a category selected by the user and have at least one of a number of views, a number of comments, and a number of reactions that is equal to or greater than a predetermined value are extracted, and news items that the user has not yet viewed are extracted.

2. The server device according to claim 1.

5. The extraction unit is When news on which the user has posted a comment or reacted in the past is updated, news that the user has not yet viewed is extracted from the updated news.

2. The server device according to claim 1.

6. A content providing method executed by a server device, comprising: extracting news that is presumed to be of interest to the user and that the user has not yet viewed, from the user's news viewing history; Providing content summarizing the extracted news; A content providing method comprising:

7. extracting news that is presumed to be of interest to the user and that the user has not yet viewed, from the user's news viewing history; Providing content summarizing the extracted news; A content provision program for causing a computer to execute the above.

Images