Information processing system, information processing server, and information processing method

Abstract

To provide an information processing system, an information processing server, and an information processing method capable of improving convenience when providing useful information such as patent information to a user.SOLUTION: In the information processing system 10 or an information processing method, when a first monitoring unit 74 detects the occurrence of a target event (such as a decision to grant a patent), an information processing server 30 reports the occurrence of the target event to a user terminal 20. The information processing server 30 then collectively notifies each user terminal 20 of the determination result including the target application in which the occurrence of the target event has not been detected.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing system, an information processing server, and an information processing method. [Background technology]

[0002] The problem of Patent Document 1 is to propose a device for calculating patent power based on an evaluation method capable of identifying a causal relationship with economic activity (the monopoly power of patent rights) (

[0006] , Abstract). To solve this problem, the patent power calculation device of Patent Document 1 (Abstract) has a sorting standardized data acquisition unit, an item content extraction unit, a search result storage unit, a cost table storage unit, an obsolescence function storage unit, a post-obsolescence cost calculation unit, an accumulating unit, and an output unit.

[0003] The item content extraction unit searches for combinations of standard item names indicating legal procedures, and extracts item contents together with their procedure dates according to the searched combinations of standard item names. The search result storage unit stores the extracted item contents and procedure dates. The cost table storage unit stores a cost table that associates pre-prepared costs with each combination of item contents. The obsolescence function storage unit stores an obsolescence function that serves as a guide to the obsolescence of a technology for each technology field. The post-obsolescence cost calculation unit obtains costs using the cost table, and calculates post-obsolescence costs on the calculation reference date using the calculation reference date, procedure date, filing date, and obsolescence function. The summation unit sums up all calculated post-obsolescence costs for the application. The output unit outputs the sum obtained by the summation unit. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2009-003727 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] As described above, the patent power calculation device of Patent Document 1 (abstract) is intended to calculate patent power in accordance with an evaluation method capable of identifying a causal relationship with economic activity (the monopoly exclusivity of a patent right). Such a device is understood to be usable for evaluating the competitiveness of a company, investment activities in a company, etc. However, Patent Document 1 leaves room for improvement in terms of user convenience when providing the calculated patent power (useful information). Similar issues exist in applications other than presenting patent power.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide an information processing system, an information processing server, and an information processing method that can improve convenience when providing useful information such as patent information to users. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The information processing system according to the present invention includes a user terminal and an information processing server, The user terminal, A user-side communication unit for transmitting and receiving information to and from the information processing server; an input unit for receiving input of application number identification information for identifying a target application number as the application number of a target application that is a search target application or the target application number; a user-side control unit that causes the application number specifying information or the target application number inputted into the input unit to be transmitted to the information processing server via the user-side communication unit together with user identification information; Equipped with The information processing server includes: A server-side communication unit for transmitting and receiving data to and from the user terminal; a search target database that stores the application number specifying information or the target application number in association with the user's identification information; a first monitoring unit that determines whether or not a target event that is an event to be searched for has occurred for each of the target applications or the application number identification information at each first predetermined timing; a server-side control unit that controls operations of the server-side communication unit, the search target database, and the first monitoring unit; Equipped with When the first monitoring unit detects the occurrence of the target event, the server-side control unit notifies the user terminal of the occurrence of the target event via the server-side communication unit, and then notifies the user terminal of the judgment results including the target applications in which the occurrence of the target event was not detected. It is characterized by:

[0008] According to the present invention, when the occurrence of a target event is detected, this fact is immediately reported to the user terminal. Therefore, the user can immediately know the occurrence of a target event related to the target application or application number identification information. In addition, thereafter, the judgment results including at least the target applications in which the occurrence of the target event was not detected are collectively notified to each user terminal. Therefore, the user can know the overall judgment results at this timing. This makes it possible to improve user convenience.

[0009] The server-side control unit may, when the first monitoring unit detects the occurrence of the target event on a specific day of the week, notify the user terminal of the occurrence of the target event via the server-side communication unit, and then notify the determination results including the target applications in which the occurrence of the target event was not detected, collectively for each user terminal. The server control unit may, when the first monitoring unit detects the occurrence of the target event on a day other than the specific day of the week, notify the user terminal of the occurrence of the target event via the server-side communication unit, but omit the notification of the determination results including the target applications in which the occurrence of the target event was not detected. This makes it possible to avoid the inconvenience of receiving a notification of the determination results including the target applications in which the occurrence of the target event was not detected on days other than the specific day of the week, when the occurrence of the target event tends to be biased toward a specific day of the week.

[0010] The input unit may accept input of the target event for each of the application number identifying information or each of the target application numbers, or for each of the users, in addition to the application number identifying information or the target application number. The user-side control unit may transmit the target event input to the input unit to the information processing server via the user-side communication unit. The first monitoring unit may determine whether or not the target event has occurred for each of the application number identifying information or each of the target application numbers, or for each of the users, for each of the target application numbers at each of the first timings. This makes it possible to select a target event for each of the target applications or for each user. This makes it possible to further improve user convenience.

[0011] The search target database may include an application information storage unit that stores the target application number and the current status of the target application in association with the user's identification information. The server-side control unit may extract the target application number from the application information storage unit in a manner that avoids duplication. The first monitoring unit may determine whether the target event has occurred for each of the extracted target application numbers. When the first monitoring unit detects the occurrence of the target event, the server-side control unit may immediately report the occurrence of the target event in the application information storage unit to each of the user terminals associated with the target application in which the target event has occurred. The server-side control unit may determine whether the target event has occurred for all of the target application numbers extracted from the application information storage unit, and then notify the determination results collectively for each user terminal.

[0012] This eliminates duplication of target application numbers, thereby reducing the computational load and processing time required to determine whether a target event has occurred, and enabling the notification of the determination result to be performed earlier, thereby further improving user convenience.

[0013] When the application number specifying information includes a target applicant name that is the applicant name of the target application, the information processing server or the user terminal may have an application number search unit that searches for the target application number based on the target applicant name, thereby enabling a user to specify the target application by simply inputting the target applicant name.

[0014] The server-side control unit may include a first evaluation unit that evaluates the degree of impact of the target application on the business of a target applicant who is the applicant of the target application. The search target database may accumulate the degree of impact for each application number identification information or for each target application number. When the first monitoring unit detects the occurrence of the target event, the server-side control unit may immediately report the occurrence and the degree of impact of the target event to the user terminal via the server-side communication unit. This allows the user to refer not only to the occurrence of a target event related to the target application, but also to the degree of impact of the target application on the business of the target applicant.

[0015] The first evaluation unit may search for internet articles about the target applicant. The first evaluation unit may also determine the content relevance between the content included in the target application and the internet article. The first evaluation unit may further determine the impact level based on the content relevance. It is considered that internet articles may contain content that is highly related to the target applicant's business. Therefore, by using an impact level based on the content relevance between the invention content included in the target application and the internet article, it is possible to present a more accurate impact level to the user.

[0016] The first monitoring unit may be a plurality of virtual servers set by the server-side control unit. The plurality of virtual servers may acquire the target application numbers that they are responsible for from the server-side control unit, determine whether the target event has occurred for the acquired target application numbers, and transmit the determination result to the server-side control unit. By using the first monitoring units as a plurality of virtual servers, it is possible to reduce the overall processing time and to notify the determination result early. This makes it possible to further improve user convenience.

[0017] The information processing server may include a second monitoring unit that determines the presence or absence of new articles on the Internet for each of the target applicants who are the applicants of the target applications after the occurrence of the target event is detected, and a second evaluation unit that determines the degree of agreement between the contents of the target applications after the occurrence of the target event is detected and the new articles. Furthermore, when the degree of agreement indicates that the new articles are related to the target applications, the server-side control unit may notify the user terminal of the occurrence of the new articles via the server-side communication unit. This allows the user to know, for example, that an IR (Investor Relations) announcement regarding the decision to grant a patent has been made for the target application for which a decision to grant a patent has been issued as the target event.

[0018] The information processing server according to the present invention comprises: a server-side communication unit that receives application number identification information for identifying a target application number as the application number of a target application that is an application to be searched or the target application number from a user terminal; a search target database that stores the application number specifying information or the target application number in association with user identification information; a first monitoring unit that determines whether or not a target event that is an event to be searched for has occurred for each of the target applications or the application number identification information at each first predetermined timing; a server-side control unit that controls operations of the server-side communication unit, the search target database, and the first monitoring unit; The present invention provides When the first monitoring unit detects the occurrence of the target event, the server-side control unit notifies the user terminal of the occurrence of the target event via the server-side communication unit, and then notifies the user terminal of the judgment results including the target applications in which the occurrence of the target event was not detected. It is characterized by:

[0019] The information processing server according to the present invention comprises: a server-side communication unit that receives application number identification information for identifying a target application number as the application number of a target application that is an application to be searched or the target application number from a user terminal; a search target database that stores the application number specifying information or the target application number in association with user identification information; a first monitoring unit that determines whether or not a target event that is an event to be searched for has occurred for each of the target applications or the application number identification information at each first predetermined timing; a server-side control unit that controls operations of the server-side communication unit, the search target database, and the first monitoring unit; The present invention provides the server-side control unit includes a first evaluation unit that evaluates the degree of impact of the target application on a business of a target applicant who is an applicant of the target application; the search target database accumulates the impact degree for each of the application number identification information or for each of the target application numbers; When the first monitoring unit detects the occurrence of the target event, the server-side control unit notifies the user terminal of the occurrence of the target event and the degree of impact via the server-side communication unit. It is characterized by:

[0020] The information processing server according to the present invention comprises: a server-side communication unit that receives application number identification information for identifying a target application number as the application number of a target application that is an application to be searched or the target application number from a user terminal; a search target database that stores the application number specifying information or the target application number in association with user identification information; a first monitoring unit that determines whether or not a target event that is an event to be searched for has occurred for each of the target applications or the application number identification information at each first predetermined timing; a second monitoring unit that determines whether or not there is a new article on the Internet for each of the target applicants who are the applicants of the target application at each second predetermined timing; a server-side control unit that controls operations of the server-side communication unit, the search target database, the first monitoring unit, and the second monitoring unit; The present invention provides the server-side control unit includes a second evaluation unit that determines a degree of agreement between the content of the target application after the occurrence of the target event is detected and a new article on the Internet; The server-side control unit When the first monitoring unit detects an occurrence of the target event, the first monitoring unit notifies the user terminal of the occurrence of the target event via the server-side communication unit; When the degree of coincidence indicates that the new article is related to the target application, the occurrence of the new article is notified to the user terminal via the server-side communication unit. It is characterized by:

[0021] The information processing method according to the present invention is a method used in an information processing system having a user terminal and an information processing server, The user terminal, A user-side communication unit for transmitting and receiving information to and from the information processing server; an input unit for receiving input of application number identification information for identifying a target application number as the application number of a target application that is a search target application or the target application number; a user-side control unit that causes the application number specifying information or the target application number inputted into the input unit to be transmitted to the information processing server via the user-side communication unit together with user identification information; Equipped with The information processing server includes: A server-side communication unit for transmitting and receiving data to and from the user terminal; a search target database that stores the application number specifying information or the target application number in association with the user's identification information; a first monitoring unit that determines whether or not a target event that is a search target event has occurred for each of the target applications at each first predetermined timing; a server-side control unit that controls operations of the server-side communication unit, the search target database, and the first monitoring unit; Equipped with When the first monitoring unit detects the occurrence of the target event, the server-side control unit notifies the user terminal of the occurrence of the target event via the server-side communication unit, and then notifies the user terminal of the judgment results including the target applications in which the occurrence of the target event was not detected. It is characterized by: Effect of the Invention

[0022] According to the present invention, it is possible to improve convenience when providing useful information such as patent information to users. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an information processing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of each part of the information processing system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3A] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a user table in a simplified manner according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3B] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a simplified application table according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3C] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a simplified report timing determination table according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] 4 is a flowchart of crawler control according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a part of the crawler control in the first embodiment. [Figure 6]It is a block configuration diagram of an information processing server of an information processing system according to the second embodiment. [Figure 7] It is a flowchart of application registration control of the second embodiment. [Figure 8] It is a flowchart of second crawler control of the second embodiment.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0024] A. First Embodiment <A-1. Configuration of the First Embodiment> [A-1-1. Overall Configuration] FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an information processing system 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block configuration diagram of each part of the information processing system 10 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the information processing system 10 (hereinafter also referred to as "system 10") includes a plurality of user terminals 20, an information processing server 30, and a data providing server 40. The user terminal 20, the information processing server 30, and the data providing server 40 can communicate with each other via the Internet 50.

[0025] The user terminal 20 is an input device for inputting a patent application number to be searched (hereinafter referred to as "target application number ANtar" or "target number ANtar"), and is also a display device or an output device for displaying or outputting a report from the information processing server 30. The information processing server 30 accesses the data providing server 40 at a predetermined timing, searches whether a target event Etar has occurred for the target application number ANtar specified by the user, and notifies the user terminal 20 of the search result.

[0026] The target event Etar is an event that requests a search for the target application number ANtar, and is fixed in the first embodiment. In the case of a Japanese patent application, the target event Etar includes, for example, a decision to grant a patent and a decision to reject the application. In the case of a U.S. patent application, the target event Etar includes, for example, a Notice of Allowance, a Notice of Allowability, and a Final Office Action.

[0027] The data providing server 40 has a patent database 432 (FIG. 2) that accumulates data on bibliographic and historical information of patent applications (patent data Dpat). The data providing server 40 provides or transmits the patent data Dpat in response to a request from an external device such as the data processing server 30. As the data providing server 40, for example, a server of the Japan Patent Information Platform (J-PlatPat) (both are registered trademarks) can be used.

[0028] The user can know whether or not a target event Etar occurs for a patent application specified by a target application number ANtar (hereinafter also referred to as "target application APNtar") from the search result received from the information processing server 30 to the user terminal 20. Then, for example, the user can use the information on the occurrence of the target event Etar to carry out business activities, investment activities, etc.

[0029] [A-1-2. User terminal 20] As described above, the user terminal 20 accepts input of the target application number ANtar from the user and transmits it to the information processing server 30. It also notifies the user of the search results received from the information processing server 30. As shown in Fig. 2, the user terminal 20 has an input / output unit 200, a communication unit 210, a calculation unit 220, and a storage unit 230, and is configured, for example, by a general personal computer, a tablet terminal, or a smartphone.

[0030] The input / output unit 200 performs input / output with the user. The input / output unit 200 has, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, a microphone, etc. as an input unit. The input / output unit 200 also has, for example, a display, a touch panel, etc. as an output unit. The communication unit 210 has, for example, a modem (not shown) and communicates with the information processing server 30, etc. via the Internet 50 (FIG. 1).

[0031] The calculation unit 220 includes a central processing unit (CPU) and operates by executing a program stored in the storage unit 230. Some of the functions executed by the calculation unit 220 can also be realized using a logic IC (Integrated Circuit). The calculation unit 220 can also configure some of the programs with hardware (circuit components). The same applies to the calculation units 320, 420 of the information processing server 30 and the data providing server 40 described later.

[0032] The storage unit 230 stores the programs and data used by the calculation unit 220, and includes a random access memory (hereinafter referred to as "RAM"). As the RAM, a volatile memory such as a register, and a non-volatile memory such as a hard disk or a flash memory can be used. The storage unit 230 may also include a read-only memory (ROM) in addition to the RAM. The same applies to the storage units 330, 430 of the information processing server 30 and the data providing server 40 described later.

[0033] [A-1-3. Information processing server 30] (A-1-3-1. Overview) As described above, the information processing server 30 uses the patent data Dpat of the data providing server 40 to determine whether or not the target event Etar has occurred for the target application number ANtar received from the user terminal 20, and notifies the user terminal 20 of the determination result. As shown in FIG. 2, the information processing server 30 has an input / output unit 300, a communication unit 310, a calculation unit 320, and a storage unit 330. The input / output unit 300 has a communication port and the like not shown. The communication unit 310 has a modem and the like not shown, and communicates with the user terminal 20 and the data providing server 40 via the Internet 50. The calculation unit 320 includes a CPU, and operates by executing a program stored in the storage unit 330. The storage unit 330 stores programs and data used by the calculation unit 320.

[0034] (A-1-3-2. Arithmetic unit 320) As shown in FIG. 2, the calculation unit 320 of the information processing server 30 has a user management unit 322, an application information management unit 324, and a crawler management unit 326. The user management unit 322 executes user management control to manage user information. The user information includes user identification information (user ID) and user attribute information (name, address, email address, etc.). The application information management unit 324 executes application information management control to manage information on the target patent application APNtar (target application information). The crawler management unit 326 executes crawler control to perform crawler processing to determine whether a target event Etar has occurred for a patent application (target application APNtar) that the user wishes to monitor.

[0035] (A-1-3-3. Storage section 330) 2, the storage unit 330 of the information processing server 30 has an information processing database 322 (hereinafter referred to as “information processing DB 322”). The information processing DB 322 has a user table 340, an application table 342, and a report timing determination table 344.

[0036] Fig. 3A is a diagram showing a simplified example of a user table 340 according to the first embodiment. User information is managed in the user table 340. As shown in Fig. 3A, the user information includes a user's identification information (user ID), a user name, an address, an email address, and a telephone number. The user table 340 may also include other user information (e.g., a service plan name).

[0037] FIG. 3B is a diagram showing a simplified version of the application table 342 in the first embodiment. The application table 342 manages information (application information) related to the APNtar of the target application. As shown in FIG. 3B, the application information includes the application number of the APNtar of the target application, a user ID, a current status of the APNtar of the target application, and a report flag. The application table 342 may also include other application information (e.g., application publication date, registration date, and remarks). The current status includes, for example, under examination, decision to grant, and decision to reject. The report flag will be described later with reference to FIG. 5.

[0038] 3C is a diagram illustrating a simplified version of the report timing determination table 344 in the first embodiment. The report timing determination table 344 is a table used to determine the timing of normal reporting in the current crawler process, and includes the current status and update date and time of each part (details will be described later with reference to FIG. 5).

[0039] [A-1-4. Data providing server 40] As described above, the data providing server 40 provides data of patent applications (patent data Dpat) in response to requests from external devices such as the user terminal 20 and the information processing server 30. As shown in FIG. 2, the data providing server 40 includes an input / output unit 400, a communication unit 410, an arithmetic unit 420, and a storage unit 430. The input / output unit 400 has a communication port (not shown) or the like. The communication unit 410 has a modem (not shown) or the like and communicates with the user terminal 20 and the information processing server 30 via the Internet 50. The arithmetic unit 420 includes a CPU and operates by executing a program stored in the storage unit 430. The storage unit 430 stores programs and data used by the arithmetic unit 420 and has a patent database 432 (hereinafter referred to as "patent DB432"). The patent DB432 stores patent data Dpat.

[0040] <A-2. Control in the First Embodiment> [A-2-1. Overview] As described above, the information processing server 30 of the first embodiment executes user management control, application information management control, and crawler control.

[0041] [A-2-2. User Management Control] As described above, the user management control manages user information. The user management control includes a new user registration control for accepting a new user registration and a user information update control for updating the registered user information.

[0042] In the new user registration control, the information processing server 30 (user management unit 322) transmits data of a new user input screen to the user terminal 20 in response to a request from the user terminal 20. The user terminal 20 displays the received data of the new user input screen and accepts input of user information from the user. Then, the user terminal 20 transmits the input user information to the information processing server 30. The information processing server 30 stores the user information received from the user terminal 20 in the information processing DB322 (user table 340).

[0043] In user information update control, the information processing server 30 (user management unit 322) transmits user information update screen data to the user terminal 20 in response to a request from the user terminal 20. The user terminal 20 displays the received user information update screen data and accepts input of user information (update information) from the user. The user terminal 20 then transmits the input update information to the information processing server 30. The information processing server 30 accumulates the update information received from the user terminal 20 in the information processing DB 322 (user table 340).

[0044] [A-2-3. Application information management control] The application information management control manages information (application information) of the target application number ANtar. The application information management control includes application registration control for registering a new target application number ANtar and application information update control for updating registered application information.

[0045] In application registration control, the information processing server 30 (application information management unit 324) transmits application input screen data to the user terminal 20 in response to a request from the user terminal 20. The user terminal 20 displays the received application input screen data and accepts input of a new target application number ANtar from the user. The user terminal 20 then transmits the input target application number ANtar and the user ID to the information processing server 30. The information processing server 30 associates the target application number ANtar received from the user terminal 20 with the user ID and stores it in the information processing DB322 (application table 342).

[0046] In application information update control, the information processing server 30 (application information management unit 324) transmits application information update screen data to the user terminal 20 in response to a request from the user terminal 20. The user terminal 20 displays the received application information update screen data and accepts input of patent information (update information) from the user. The user terminal 20 then transmits the input update information to the information processing server 30. The information processing server 30 accumulates the update information received from the user terminal 20 in the information processing DB 322 (application table 342).

[0047] [A-2-4. Crawler control] (A-2-4-1. Overview) 4 is a flowchart of crawler control in the first embodiment. In step S11, the information processing server 30 (crawler management unit 326) determines whether or not to start crawler management processing (in other words, whether or not the timing to start crawler management processing has arrived). The start timing referred to here may be, for example, the timing immediately after data is updated in the patent DB 432 in the data providing server 40. When the crawler management processing is to be started (S11: true), the process proceeds to step S12.

[0048] In step S12, the information processing server 30 executes a crawler management process. In the crawler management process, it is determined whether or not a target event Etar has occurred for the target application APNtar. As shown in Fig. 4, the crawler management process includes a general management process (S121), a crawler process (S122), a flash report process (S123), and a regular report process (S124).

[0049] The general management process (S121) manages the entire crawler management process. The crawler process (S122) judges whether or not a target event Etar has occurred for the target application number ANtar through data communication with the data providing server 40, and performs processing according to the judgment result. The quick report process (S123) is a process for performing quick report prior to normal report (described later) when a target event Etar has been detected for the target number ANtar. The normal report process (S124) is a process for reporting the search result regardless of whether or not a target event Etar has been detected for the target number ANtar. The normal report process (S124) may be performed only on a specific day of the week (for example, only on Wednesday), and the quick report process (S123) may be performed on multiple days of the week including the specific day of the week (for example, every day). Details of these processes (S121 to S124) will be described later with reference to FIG. 5.

[0050] After the crawler management process is completed, the process returns to step S11.

[0051] (A-2-4-2. Crawler management process) Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a part of the crawler control of the first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 5, the calculation unit 320 (crawler management unit 326) of the information processing server 30 has an overall management unit 70, a request queue 72, a crawler unit 74, a flash report queue 76, a first mail unit 78, a normal report queue 80, and a second mail unit 82. The overall management unit 70 has a data reading unit 700, a data updating unit 702, a flash report unit 704, and a normal report unit 706. Each unit is a functional unit (in other words, control or processing) realized by executing a program.

[0052] The flow of the crawler management process will be described with reference to FIG. 5. With the start of the crawler management process, the overall management unit 70 and each crawler unit 74 start operation (or control or processing). Specifically, the data reading unit 700 of the overall management unit 70 starts the process described below. In addition, the data update unit 702 of the overall management unit 70 monitors whether the combination of the target application number ANtar and the target event Etar is stored in the normal report queue 80 at a first predetermined period. Furthermore, the quick report unit 704 monitors whether the combination of the target application number ANtar and the target event Etar is stored in the quick report queue 76 at a second predetermined period. Furthermore, the normal report unit 706 monitors the state of the report timing determination table 340 at a third predetermined period. In addition, each crawler unit 74 monitors whether the target application number ANtar is stored in the request queue 72 at a fourth predetermined period. At the start of the crawler management process, each section of the report timing determination table 340 (FIG. 3C) is set to the "standby" state and records the date and time at that point in time (update date and time).

[0053] In the crawler management process, first, the data reading unit 700 of the overall management unit 70 reads all target numbers ANtar whose report flag is set to 1 (report required) from the application table 342 (FIG. 3B) of the information processing DB 322. In the application table 342, the target numbers ANtar and user IDs are recorded in pairs (FIG. 3B), but the data reading unit 700 reads the target numbers ANtar by using, for example, the DISTINCT method of Ruby on Rails to avoid duplication of the target numbers ANtar (step S21 in FIG. 5). When the data reading unit 70 starts reading, it changes the status of the overall management unit 70 in the report timing determination table 340 (FIG. 3C) to "active" and updates the update date and time.

[0054] Then, the data reading unit 700 sets the number of crawler units 74 to be activated according to the number of read target numbers ANtar, and activates the set number of crawler units 74 (virtual servers). The greater the number of read target numbers ANtar, the greater the number of crawler units 74 to be activated. The data reading unit 700 also generates a record for each crawler unit 74 in the report timing determination table 340 corresponding to the activated crawler unit 74, sets the state of each crawler unit 74 to "standby", and updates the update date and time.

[0055] Next, the data reading unit 700 writes or copies all of the read target numbers ANtar to the request queue 72 (step S22). After writing or copying, the data reading unit 700 returns the state of the overall management unit 70 in the report timing determination table 340 to "standby" and updates the update date and time. Each crawler unit 74 reads one of the target numbers ANtar stored or copied to the request queue 72 and deletes the read target number ANtar from the request queue 72 (step S23). In addition, each crawler unit 74 that reads one of the target numbers ANtar changes its own state in the report timing determination table 340 to "active" and updates the update date and time.

[0056] Each crawler unit 74 accesses the data providing server 40 via the Internet 50, and judges whether or not a target event Etar has occurred for the target number ANtar read from the request queue 72 (step S24). More specifically, each crawler unit 74 accesses the data providing server 40 using a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) stored in the storage unit 330. Then, the target number ANtar is input in the history search screen of the data providing server 40, and data (patent data Dpat) of the history screen of the target number ANtar is acquired.

[0057] Then, it is determined whether or not there is a name that is the same as the target event Etar in the text data included in the history screen. If there are multiple target events Etar, the determination is made starting with the event with the highest priority. For example, if the target events Etar include a decision to grant a patent and a decision to reject the application, the decision to grant a patent is searched for first, and then the decision to reject the application is searched for. If there is a name that is the same as the target event Etar in the text data included in the history screen, the crawler unit 74 determines that the target event Etar has occurred. If there is no name that is the same as the target event Etar in the text data included in the history screen, the crawler unit 74 determines that the target event Etar has not occurred.

[0058] When it is determined that the target event Etar has occurred, each crawler unit 74 writes or copies the target number ANtar and the current status Scur to the bulletin queue 76 (step S25). The current status Scur here is the name of the target event Etar if the target event Etar has occurred, and is, for example, pending if the target event Etar has not occurred. Next, the bulletin unit 704 reads out one of the combinations of the target application number ANtar and the current status Scur written or copied to the bulletin queue 76, and erases the read combination from the bulletin queue 76 (step S26).

[0059] Next, the breaking news unit 704 reads all user IDs corresponding to the target number ANtar read from the breaking news queue 76 from the application table 342 (Figure 3B), and reads user information (user name and email address) corresponding to each read user ID from the user table 340 (Figure 3A) (step S27).

[0060] Next, the breaking news unit 704 outputs a breaking news command and breaking news contents to the first mail unit 78 (step S28). The breaking news contents include a combination of the target application number ANtar, current status Scur, user name and email address. The first mail unit 78, which has received the breaking news command and breaking news contents, generates and sends a breaking news email based on the breaking news contents (step S29). The breaking news email includes text data notifying that the current status Scur (one of the target events Etar) has occurred for the target application APNtar. The breaking news email is sent to the email address included in the breaking news contents.

[0061] Returning to the description of each crawler unit 74, each crawler unit 74 writes or copies the target application number ANtar and the current status Scur to the normal report queue 80 (step S30), regardless of whether it is determined that the target event Etar has occurred or not. If it is determined that the target event Etar has occurred, step S30 is performed after step S25. Then, after completing writing or copying to the normal report queue 80, the crawler unit 74 changes its own status in the report timing determination table 340 from "active" to "standby," updates the update date and time, and then returns to step S23.

[0062] After step S30, the data update unit 702 of the overall management unit 70 reads one of the combinations of the target application number ANtar and the current status Scur written or copied to the normal report queue 80, and erases the read combination from the normal report queue 80 (step S31). When it is detected that the combination of the target number ANtar and the current status Scur is stored in the normal report queue 80, the data update unit 702 switches the status of the overall management unit 70 in the report timing determination table 340 to "active" and updates the update date and time.

[0063] Next, the data update unit 702 judges whether the combination of the target application number ANtar and the current status Scur read from the normal report queue 80 is different from the combination of the target application number ANtar and the current status Scur stored in the application table 342 (step S32). If the combination of the target application number ANtar and the current status Scur is not different, the data update unit 702 updates only the update time of the application table 342. If the combination of the target application number ANtar and the current status Scur is different, the data update unit 702 updates the current status and the update time of the application table 342 for all records corresponding to the target application number ANtar. When these processes are completed, the data update unit 702 returns the status of the overall management unit 70 in the report timing judgment table 340 to "standby". After that, the data update unit 702 continues to monitor whether the combination of the target application number ANtar and the current status Scur is stored in the normal report queue 80 (attempting to read in step S31).

[0064] The normal reporting unit 706 judges whether crawling has been performed for all target numbers ANtar written in the request queue 72 based on each current status and update date and time in the normal reporting timing judgment table 340 (FIG. 3C). Specifically, the normal reporting unit 706 judges whether all statuses in the normal reporting timing judgment table 340 are set to "standby" at a third predetermined cycle. If all statuses are set to "standby", the normal reporting unit 706 judges whether the update date and time of each status is a predetermined period or more before the current date and time. If all statuses are set to "standby" and the update date and time of each status is a predetermined period or more before the current date and time, it is judged that crawling has been performed for all target numbers ANtar written in the request queue 72.

[0065] If it is determined that crawler processing has been performed for all target application numbers ANtar stored in the request queue 72, the normal reporting unit 706 reads out one of the user records (FIG. 3A) contained in the user table 340 (step S33). The contents of the user record to be read out include a user ID, a user name, and an email address. The normal reporting unit 706 then searches the application table 342 (FIG. 3B) for an application record corresponding to the read out user ID, and reads out all of the extracted application records whose report flag is 1 (report required).

[0066] At that time, if the current status Scur is one that does not require further reporting (for example, patent allowance), the report flag is changed from 1 (report required) to 0 (report not required). By doing this, for the target application number ANtar that is in a status that does not require further reporting, this regular report will be the last report, and it will not be included in future regular reports.

[0067] Next, the normal reporting unit 706 outputs a normal reporting command and normal reporting content to the user terminal 20 for the second mail unit 82 (step S34). The normal reporting content includes all of the target applications APNtar registered by the user (in other words, all of the target applications APNtar with the same user ID) for which the report flag is 1 (report required) and the combination of their current status Scur, as well as a set of the user name and email address.

[0068] Upon receiving the normal reporting command and normal reporting content, the second mail unit 82 generates and transmits a normal reporting mail based on the normal reporting content (step S35). The normal reporting mail includes text data for notifying the current status Scur of each target application APNtar (only those with a report flag of 1 (report required)) to the person with the user name. Also, the destination of the normal reporting mail is the email address included in the normal reporting content. The quick report mail was transmitted for each one target application APNtar for which the target event Etar occurred. In contrast, the normal reporting mail is transmitted for each user and includes text data listing the current status Scur of all applications for which the report flag is 1 among the target applications APNtar corresponding to a specific user ID.

[0069] The normal reporting unit 706 and the second mail unit 82 perform steps S33 to S34 for all user records included in the user table 340. The order at this time can be, for example, ascending or descending order of the user ID. When the normal reporting unit 706 and the second mail unit 82 perform steps S33 to S34 for all user records included in the user table 340, the current crawler management process ends.

[0070] <A-3. Effects of the First Embodiment> According to the first embodiment as described above, when the occurrence of the target event Etar is detected, this fact is promptly reported to the user terminal 20 (S25 to S29 in FIG. 5). Therefore, the user can immediately know the occurrence of the target event Etar related to the target application number ANtar. After that, the judgment results including the target application APNtar in which the occurrence of the target event Etar was not detected for each user terminal 20 (or each user) are collectively notified to each user terminal 20 (or each user) (S30 to S35 in FIG. 5). Therefore, the user can know the overall judgment results at this timing. This makes it possible to improve user convenience.

[0071] In the first embodiment, when the crawler unit 74 (first monitoring unit) detects the occurrence of the target event Etar on a specific day of the week, the calculation unit 320 (server-side control unit) of the information processing server 30 reports the occurrence of the target event Etar to the user terminal 20 via the communication unit 310 (server-side communication unit) (S25 to S29 in FIG. 5), and then notifies the judgment results including the target application APNtar in which the occurrence of the target event Etar was not detected for each user terminal 20 collectively (S30 to S35 in FIG. 5). Also, when the crawler unit 74 detects the occurrence of the target event Etar on a day other than the specific day of the week, the calculation unit 320 reports the occurrence of the target event Etar to the user terminal 20 via the communication unit 210 (S25 to S29 in FIG. 5), but omits the notification of the judgment results including the target application APNtar in which the occurrence of the target event Etar was not detected (S30 to S35 in FIG. 5). This makes it possible to avoid the inconvenience of receiving a notification of the judgment result including the APNtar of a target application where the occurrence of the target event Etar tends to be concentrated on certain days of the week, in cases where the occurrence of the target event Etar tends to be concentrated on certain days of the week.

[0072] In the first embodiment, the information processing DB322 (search target database) includes an application table 342 (application information storage unit) that stores the target application number ANtar and the current status Scur of the target application APNtar in association with a user ID (user identification information) (FIG. 3B). The calculation unit 320 (server-side control unit) of the information processing server 30 extracts the target application number ANtar from the application table 342 in a manner that avoids duplication (S21 in FIG. 5). The crawler unit 74 (monitoring unit) determines whether or not a target event Etar has occurred for each of the extracted target application APNtars (S24). In addition, when the crawler unit 74 detects the occurrence of the target event Etar, the calculation unit 320 immediately reports the occurrence of the target event Etar to each user associated with the target application APNtar in which the target event Etar has occurred in the application table 342 (S25 to S29). Furthermore, the calculation unit 320 judges whether or not the target event Etar has occurred for all the target application numbers ANtar extracted from the application table 342, and then notifies the judgment results collectively for each user terminal 20 (or for each user) (S30 to S35).

[0073] This eliminates duplication of the target application number ANtar, thereby reducing the computation load and processing time required to determine whether the target event Etar has occurred, and enabling the notification of the determination result to be performed earlier. Therefore, it is possible to further improve user convenience.

[0074] In the above embodiment, the crawler unit 74 (monitoring unit) is a plurality of virtual servers set by the arithmetic unit 320 (server-side control unit) of the information processing server 30. Each crawler unit 74 as a plurality of virtual servers acquires its own target application number ANtar from the request queue 72 of the arithmetic unit 320, determines whether or not a target event Etar has occurred for the acquired target application number ANtar, and transmits the determination result to the overall management unit 70 (S25 and S30 in FIG. 5). By using the crawler units 74 as a plurality of virtual servers in this way, it becomes possible to reduce the overall processing time and to notify the determination result earlier. Therefore, it becomes possible to further improve the convenience for the user.

[0075] B. Second Embodiment <B-1. Configuration of the Second Embodiment> [B-1-1. Overall Configuration] FIG. 6 is a block configuration diagram of the information processing server 30a of the information processing system 10A according to the second embodiment. The information processing system 10A of the second embodiment (hereinafter also referred to as "system 10A") basically has the same configuration as the information processing system 10 of the first embodiment. Among the components of the second embodiment, those that are the same as those of the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

[0076] In the user terminal 20 of the first embodiment, the user inputs the target application number ANtar and transmits it to the information processing server 30. The information processing server 30 registers the received target application number ANtar in the application table 342 and performs the subsequent crawler processing. In contrast, in the user terminal 20 of the second embodiment, the user inputs the name (hereinafter referred to as the "target applicant name NAPTtar") of the applicant to be monitored (hereinafter referred to as the "target applicant APTtar") and transmits it to the information processing server 30a. The information processing server 30a accesses the data providing server 40 and searches for the target application number ANtar of the target applicant APTtar using the target applicant name NAPTtar as a keyword. Then, the information processing server 30a registers the searched target application number ANtar in the application table 342. The target application number ANtar to be searched at this time is limited to one for which the target event Etar may occur in the future. In addition, the information processing server 30a registers the target applicant name NAPTtar itself in the information processing DB 322 (user table 340).

[0077] Furthermore, the information processing server 30a of the second embodiment evaluates the influence Di of the target application APNtar on the business of the target applicant APTtar, and records the evaluation result in the application table 342 together with the target application number ANtar.

[0078] [B-1-2. Information processing server 30a] 6, the information processing server 30a includes an input / output unit 300, a communication unit 310, a calculation unit 320a, and a storage unit 330. The calculation unit 320a includes a user management unit 322, an application information management unit 324a, a crawler management unit 326, and a second crawler management unit 328.

[0079] The application information management unit 324a includes an application number search unit 360, a first evaluation unit 362, and a second evaluation unit 364. The application number search unit 360 accesses the data providing server 40 and searches for a target application number ANtar using the target applicant name NAPTtar received from the user terminal 20 as a keyword. The first evaluation unit 362 evaluates the degree of influence Di of the target application APNtar on the business of the target applicant APTtar. The searched target application number ANtar and its degree of influence Di are registered in the application table 342 together with the user ID. The second evaluation unit 364 determines the degree of match Da between the content included in the target application APNtar after the occurrence of the target event Etar is detected and new articles on the Internet.

[0080] The second crawler management unit 328 (second monitoring unit) determines the presence or absence of new articles on the Internet for each of the applicants (target applicants APTtar) of the target application APNtar after the occurrence of the target event Etar (for example, patent examination) is detected, at every second predetermined timing. The determination of the presence or absence of new articles by the second crawler management unit 328 may be limited to a predetermined period (for example, 3 to 6 months) after the detection of the occurrence of the target event Etar.

[0081] <B-2. Control of the Second Embodiment> [B-2-1. Overview] Similar to the information processing server 30 of the first embodiment, the information processing server 30a of the second embodiment executes user management control, application information management control, and crawler control. In addition, the information processing server 30a of the second embodiment executes second crawler control. The second crawler control is control for determining the presence or absence of new articles on the Internet for each of the applicants (target applicants APTtar) of the target application APNtar after the occurrence of the target event Etar (for example, patent examination) is detected, at every second predetermined timing.

[0082] [B-2-2. Application Information Management Control] The application information management control manages information (application information) of the target application number ANtar. The application information management control includes application registration control for registering a new target application number ANtar and application information update control for updating the registered target application number ANtar, etc.

[0083] 7 is a flowchart of application registration control in the second embodiment. In application registration control, the information processing server 30a (application information management unit 324a) transmits data of the applicant name input screen to the user terminal 20 in response to a request from the user terminal 20 (step S51). The user terminal 20 displays the received data of the applicant name input screen and accepts input of the name of a new target applicant APTtar (target applicant name NAPTtar) from the user. Then, the user terminal 20 transmits the input target applicant name NAPTtar and user ID to the information processing server 30a. The information processing server 30a receives the target applicant name NAPTtar from the user terminal 20 and stores it in the information processing DB 322 (user table 340) in association with the user ID (step S52).

[0084] Next, the application information management unit 324a accesses the data providing server 40 via the communication unit 310, and searches for currently pending patent applications of the target applicant APTtar using the target applicant name NAPTtar as a keyword as the target application APNtar (step S53). Then, the application information management unit 324 registers the application numbers of the searched one or more target applications APNtar as the target application number ANtar together with the user ID as an application record in the application table 342 (step S54). The search results may be notified to the user terminal 20.

[0085] Next, the first evaluation unit 362 of the information processing server 30a calculates the influence Di of the target application APNtar on the business of the target applicant APTtar (step S55). Specifically, the first evaluation unit 362 searches for Internet articles via a search site using the target applicant name NAPTtar as a keyword (step S551). Next, the first evaluation unit 362 calculates the content relevance Dr between the invention content included in the application documents (specification, etc.) of the target application APNtar and the Internet article (step S552). The content relevance Dr is a score indicating the degree of relevance between the contents of both. For example, the content relevance Dr can be the degree of agreement between the text data of the application documents (specification, etc.) of the target application APNtar and the text data included in the Internet article. In addition to or instead of this, the degree of agreement of the drawings may be used.

[0086] Next, the first evaluation unit 362 determines the impact Di based on the content relevance Dr. For example, if the content relevance Dr is equal to or greater than a first threshold, the impact Di is set to large, if the content relevance Dr is less than the first threshold and equal to or greater than a second threshold, the impact Di is set to medium, and if the content relevance Dr is less than the second threshold, the impact Di is set to small. The first evaluation unit 362 registers the determined impact Di in the application record of the corresponding target application number ANtar in the application table 342 (step S56). At this time, the target application APNtar and the location (URL) of the Internet article with the high content relevance Dr may be registered together in the application record.

[0087] In application information update control, the information processing server 30a transmits application information update screen data to the user terminal 20 in response to a request from the user terminal 20. The user terminal 20 displays the received application information update screen data and accepts input of patent information (update information) from the user. The update information input here may include the target applicant name NAPTtar. The user terminal 20 then transmits the input update information to the information processing server 30a. The information processing server 30a accumulates the update information received from the user terminal 20 in the information processing DB 322 (application table 342). If the update information includes the target applicant name NAPTtar, the target application number ANtar, impact degree Di, etc. are identified and included in the application record, similar to the case of application registration control.

[0088] [B-2-3. Crawler control (first crawler control)] The crawler control of the second embodiment is basically the same as the crawler control of the first embodiment (FIGS. 4 and 5). However, the breaking news email (S29 of FIG. 5) includes the impact degree Di of the target application APNtar in addition to the fact that the current status Scur (one of the target events Etar) has occurred for the target application APNtar. Also, if the location (URL) of an Internet article that has a high content relevance Dr to the target application APNtar is registered as an application record in the application table 342, the location may be included in the breaking news email.

[0089] Furthermore, in the crawler control of the second embodiment, it is determined whether there is a new application publication or something similar (for example, an application publication and an application republication in Japan) for the target applicant name NAPTtar, and if a new application publication, etc. is detected, the application number of the new application publication, etc. is registered in the application table 342 as the target application number ANtar together with the user ID.

[0090] [B-2-4. Second crawler control] 8 is a flowchart of the second crawler control of the second embodiment. As described above, the second crawler control is a control that determines the presence or absence of new articles (e.g., IR information) on the Internet for each applicant (target applicant APTtar) of the target application APNtar after the occurrence of the target event Etar (e.g., patent decision) is detected at each second predetermined timing.

[0091] In step S61 of Fig. 8, the information processing server 30 (second crawler management unit 328) judges whether or not to start the second crawler management process (in other words, whether or not the timing to start the second crawler management process has come). The start timing here can be, for example, the timing immediately after the timing when data of a new article (IR information, etc.) is updated in the second data providing server (not shown) managed and operated by the target applicant APTtar, which is a corporation (e.g., 3:00 p.m. on a weekday). If the second crawler management process is to be started (S61: true), proceed to step S62.

[0092] In step S62, the information processing server 30 executes a second crawler management process. In the second crawler management process, it is determined whether or not a new article has occurred regarding the applicant (target applicant APTtar) of the target application APNtar after the occurrence of the target event Etar is detected. As shown in FIG. 8, the second crawler management process includes a general management process (S621), a second crawler process (S622), a coincidence determination process (S623), and a notification process (S624).

[0093] The general management process (S621) manages the entire second crawler management process. The second crawler process (S622) determines whether a new article has occurred for the target applicant APTtar of the target application APNtar after the occurrence of the target event Etar has been detected through data communication with the second data providing server.

[0094] The consistency determination process (S623) determines the degree of consistency Da between the content included in the target application APNtar after the occurrence of the target event Etar is detected and a new article on the Internet. For example, it determines whether the patent application number or patent number included in the new article matches the application number or the corresponding patent number of the target application APNtar after the occurrence of the target event Etar is detected. Alternatively, the degree of consistency Da may be determined using the content relevance Dr in the same manner as the first evaluation unit 352.

[0095] The notification process (S624) is a process of notifying the user terminal 20 of the occurrence of a new article via the communication unit 210 when the degree of consistency Da indicates that the new article is related to the target application APNtar.

[0096] After the second crawler management process ends, the process returns to step S61.

[0097] <B-3. Effects of the Second Embodiment> According to the second embodiment as described above, in addition to or instead of the effects of the first embodiment, the following effects can be achieved.

[0098] In the second embodiment, the information (application number specifying information) input by the user includes the target applicant name NAPTtar (S52 in FIG. 7). Further, the information processing server 30a has an application number search unit 360 that searches for the target application number ANtar based on the target applicant name NAPTtar (FIG. 6). Thereby, the user can specify the target application number ANtar only by inputting the target applicant name NAPTtar.

[0099] In the second embodiment, the information processing server 30a includes a first evaluation unit 362 that evaluates the impact Di of the target application APNtar on the business of the target applicant APTtar (FIG. 6). In addition, the information processing DB 332 (search target database) accumulates the impact Di for each target application number ANtar (S56 in FIG. 7). Furthermore, when the crawler management unit 326 (first monitoring unit) detects the occurrence of the target event Etar, the calculation unit 320a (server side control unit) of the information processing server 30a promptly reports the occurrence and impact Di of the target event Etar to the user terminal 20 via the communication unit 310 (server side communication unit) (see S29 in FIG. 5). This allows the user to refer not only to the occurrence of the target event Etar related to the target application APNtar but also to the impact Di of the target application APNtar on the business of the target applicant APTtar.

[0100] In the second embodiment, the first evaluation unit 362 (FIG. 6) searches for Internet articles about the target applicant APTtar (S551 in FIG. 7), determines the content relevance Dr between the invention content included in the target application APNtar and the Internet article (S552), and calculates the impact Di based on the content relevance Dr (S553). It is considered that the Internet article may contain content that is highly related to the business of the target applicant APTtar. Therefore, by using the impact Di based on the content relevance Dr between the invention content included in the target application APNtar and the Internet article, it is possible to present a more accurate impact Di to the user.

[0101] In the second embodiment, after the occurrence of the target event Etar is detected, for each of the target applicants APTtar who are the applicants of the target application APNtar, the second crawler management unit 364 (second monitoring unit) that determines the presence or absence of new articles on the Internet at every second predetermined timing, and the second evaluation unit 364 that determines the degree of coincidence Da between the content included in the target application APNtar after the occurrence of the target event Etar and the new articles are provided (FIG. 6). Further, when the degree of coincidence Da indicates that the new article is related to the target application APNtar, the arithmetic unit 320a (server-side control unit) of the information processing server 30a notifies the user terminal 20 of the occurrence of the new article via the communication unit 310 (server-side communication unit) (S624 in FIG. 8). Thereby, for example, regarding the target application APNtar for which a patent examination as the target event Etar has been issued, the user can know that an IR announcement regarding the patent examination has been made.

[0102] C. Modification Example Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it goes without saying that various configurations can be adopted based on the description in this specification. For example, the following configurations can be adopted.

[0103] <C-1. Configuration> In the information processing system 10 of the first embodiment, the information processing server 30 was configured as a single server (FIGS. 1 and 2). However, for example, from the viewpoint of executing crawler control (FIGS. 4 and 5), it is not limited to this. For example, the information processing server 30 may be configured from a plurality of servers (hardware). The same applies to the information providing server 40. The same applies to the second embodiment.

[0104] In the second embodiment, the application number search unit 360 was provided in the information processing server 30a (FIG. 6). However, for example, from the viewpoint of specifying the target application number ANtar based on the target applicant name NAPTtar, it is not limited to this. The application number search unit 360 may be provided in the user terminal 20, for example.

[0105] In the second embodiment, the first evaluation unit 362 is provided in the information processing server 30a (Fig. 6). However, for example, from the perspective of evaluating the degree of influence Di that the target application APTtar has on the business of the target applicant APTtar, it is not limited to this. The first evaluation unit 362 may be provided in the user terminal 20, for example. The same applies to the second evaluation unit 364.

[0106] <C-2. Control> [C-2-1. Setting of the target event Etar] In the first embodiment, the target event Etar detected by the crawler process (S122 in Fig. 4 and S24 in Fig. 5) is set on the information processing server 30 side and could not be set by the user (S24 etc. in Fig. 5). However, for example, from the perspective of improving user convenience, it is not limited to this, and the user may be able to set the target event Etar for each target application APNtar. Such control can be realized as follows, for example.

[0107] That is, the information processing server 30 transmits the data of the screen for inputting the target application number ANtar to the user terminal 20 in response to a command from the user terminal 20. The user terminal 20 displays the screen based on the received data and accepts the input of the target application number ANtar from the user. At that time, the input of the target event Etar is also accepted for each target application number ANtar. The user terminal 20 transmits the input target application number ANtar and target event Etar to the information processing server 30. The information processing server 30 that has received these registers them in the application table 342 of the information processing DB 332.

[0108] When the current status Scur is changed as a result of the crawler process, the information processing server 30 compares the new current status Scur with the target event Etar, and if both match, it notifies the user promptly. Also, in the normal report, the new current status Scur is reported. As a result, it becomes possible to select the target event Etar for each target application number ANtar. Therefore, it becomes possible to improve user convenience. The same applies to the second embodiment.

[0109] Alternatively, the input of the target event Etar may be set as a collective setting for each user, not for each target application number ANtar. In that case, the target event Etar may be registered for each target application number ANtar in the application table 342, as described above. Alternatively, since it is a setting for each user, the target event Etar may be registered in the user table 340 and used. In that case, when the current status Scur of the target application number ANtar is changed, the target event Etar in the user record of the user table 340 for the user ID in the application table 342 may be read, and it may be used by determining whether the current status Scur after the change matches the target event Etar. This makes it possible to select the target event Etar for each user. Therefore, it is possible to further improve the convenience of the user. The same applies to the second embodiment.

[0110] [C-2-2. Determining the occurrence of the target event Etar] In the first embodiment, the occurrence of the target event Etar is determined based on whether or not there is a name that is the same as the target event Etar among the text data included in the history screen of the target application number ANtar (S24 in FIG. 5). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the occurrence of the target event Etar may be determined by other methods. For example, if the history screen of the target application number ANtar includes the dates of each event or various documents, it is also possible to determine the occurrence of the target event Etar based on the event name or document name corresponding to the most recent date.

[0111] [C-2-3. Timing of crawler management process execution] In the first embodiment, the timing for starting or executing the crawler management process (S12 in FIG. 4) was common to each target application APNtar recorded in the application table 342 (FIG. 4). In other words, the user could not set the execution timing of the crawler management process. However, from the viewpoint of improving user convenience, for example, this is not limited to this, and the user may be able to set the timing of the crawler management process. Such control can be realized, for example, as follows.

[0112] That is, in response to a command from the user terminal 20, the information processing server 30 transmits to the user terminal 20 data of a screen for inputting the execution timing of the crawler management process. The user terminal 20 displays the screen based on the received data and accepts timing input from the user. The user terminal 20 transmits the input execution timing of the crawler management process to the information processing server 30. The information processing server 30, which receives this, registers it in an execution timing table (not shown) of the information processing DB 332. However, if the execution timing is the same as one already registered, no new registration is made.

[0113] Every time an execution timing is registered and every time a crawler management process is executed, the information processing server 30 determines the most recent execution timing among those recorded in the execution timing table and stores it in memory. Then, when the most recent execution timing arrives, the information processing server 30 executes the crawler management process.

[0114] In addition, when a new execution timing is registered, the identifier of the execution timing is also recorded in the user table 340. Then, the information processing server 30 sends a quick report and a normal report only to the user terminal 20 that has registered the current crawler management process as the execution timing. The same applies to the crawler management process and the second crawler management process of the second embodiment.

[0115] [C-2-4. Flash Reports and Regular Reports] In the first embodiment, when the occurrence of the target event Etar is detected, a prompt report is sent to the user terminal 20 (S25 to S29 in FIG. 5), and then the determination results for all target application APNtars for which crawler processing has been performed are notified to the user terminal 20 (S30 to S35). However, from the viewpoint of sending a prompt report for the target application APNtars for which the target event Etar is detected and collectively reporting the rest normally, for example, this is not limited to this.

[0116] For example, the normal report may not include the APNtar of the target application for which the preliminary report was performed. Alternatively, from the viewpoint of providing preliminary report on the APNtar of the target application for which the target event Etar was detected, a configuration or control that does not provide a normal report is also possible. The same applies to the second embodiment. Alternatively, for example, focusing on the function of the application number search unit 360 or the first evaluation unit 362 or the second evaluation unit 364 in the second embodiment, a configuration or control that provides only one of the preliminary report and the normal report and does not provide the other is also possible.

[0117] [C-2-5. Target Application Number ANtar] In the first embodiment, the occurrence of the target event Etar for the target application number ANtar was detected (S24 in FIG. 5). However, from the viewpoint of, for example, using crawler processing to report the progress of the target event Etar in a flash or regular manner, this is not limited to this. For example, a target patent number (target patent number) may be used in addition to or instead of the target application number ANtar. Alternatively, the number used here may not be related to a patent, but may be a number related to other intellectual property rights (design, trademark, etc.). Alternatively, the present invention may be applicable to applications other than intellectual property rights (for example, applications for approval of pharmaceuticals). The same is true for the second embodiment.

[0118] In the second embodiment, the target applicant name NAPTtar is used as information (application number identifying information) that can identify the target application number ANtar (FIG. 7). However, from the viewpoint of, for example, using crawler processing to provide a flash or regular report of the progress of the target event Etar, this is not limited to this. For example, the target application number ANtar may be identified using the name of the target technology area as the name of the technology area. Alternatively, the target application number ANtar may be identified using a patent classification code (such as the International Patent Classification).

[0119] [C-2-6. Accumulation of data in information processing DB332] In the information processing DB 332 (application table 342) of the first embodiment, an application record is created for each combination of the target application number ANtar and the user ID (FIG. 3B). However, from the viewpoint of creating an application record by associating the target application number ANtar with the user ID, for example, this is not limited to this. For example, it is also possible to generate a table for each user ID and store the target application number ANtar in each table. The same is true for the second embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0120] 10, 10A... Information processing system 20... User terminal 30, 30a: Information processing server 40: Data providing server 74... crawler unit (first monitoring unit) 200... input / output unit (input unit) 210: Communication unit (user-side communication unit) 220: Calculation unit (user-side control unit) 310: Communication unit (server-side communication unit) 320: Calculation unit (server-side control unit) 328...Second crawler management unit (second monitoring unit) 332...Information processing DB (searchable database) 342...Application table (application information storage section) 360...Application number search section 362...First evaluation section 364…Second Evaluation Section ANtar…Target application number APNtar…Target application APTtar: Target applicant Da: Degree of agreement Di…Influence Dr…Content relevance NAPTtar…Applicant name Scur…Current status Etar…Target event

Claims

1. An information processing system having a user terminal and an information processing server, The user terminal, A user-side communication unit for transmitting and receiving information to and from the information processing server; an input unit for receiving input of application number identification information for identifying a target application number as the application number of a target application that is a search target application or the target application number; a user-side control unit that causes the application number specifying information or the target application number inputted into the input unit to be transmitted to the information processing server via the user-side communication unit together with user identification information; Equipped with The information processing server includes: A server-side communication unit for transmitting and receiving data to and from the user terminal; a search target database that stores the application number specifying information or the target application number in association with the user's identification information; a first monitoring unit that determines whether or not a target event that is an event to be searched for has occurred for each of the target applications or the application number identification information at each first predetermined timing; a second monitoring unit that determines whether or not there is a new article on the Internet for each of the target applicants who are the applicants of the target application at each second predetermined timing; a server-side control unit that controls operations of the server-side communication unit, the search target database, the first monitoring unit, and the second monitoring unit; Equipped with The server-side control unit a first evaluation unit that evaluates the impact of the target application on the business of a target applicant that is the applicant of the target application; a second evaluation unit that determines a degree of agreement between the content of the target application after the occurrence of the target event is detected and the new article on the Internet; Equipped with the search target database accumulates the impact degree for each of the application number identification information or for each of the target application numbers; The server-side control unit When the first monitoring unit detects the occurrence of the target event, the first monitoring unit promptly reports the occurrence and the impact of the target event to the user terminal via the server-side communication unit, and then notifies the user terminal of the judgment results including the target applications in which the occurrence of the target event was not detected, in a lump sum; When the degree of coincidence indicates that the new article is related to the target application, the occurrence of the new article is reported to the user terminal via the server-side communication unit. An information processing system comprising:

2. An information processing system having a user terminal and an information processing server, The user terminal, A user-side communication unit for transmitting and receiving information to and from the information processing server; an input unit for receiving input of application number identification information for identifying a target application number as the application number of a target application that is a search target application or the target application number; a user-side control unit that causes the application number specifying information or the target application number inputted into the input unit to be transmitted to the information processing server via the user-side communication unit together with user identification information; Equipped with The information processing server includes: A server-side communication unit for transmitting and receiving data to and from the user terminal; a search target database that stores the application number specifying information or the target application number in association with the user's identification information; a first monitoring unit that determines whether or not a target event that is an event to be searched for has occurred for each of the target applications or the application number identification information at each first predetermined timing; a server-side control unit that controls operations of the server-side communication unit, the search target database, and the first monitoring unit; Equipped with When the first monitoring unit detects the occurrence of the target event, the server-side control unit promptly reports the occurrence of the target event to the user terminal via the server-side communication unit, and then notifies the user terminal of the judgment results including the target applications in which the occurrence of the target event was not detected. An information processing system comprising:

3. 3. The information processing system according to claim 1, The server-side control unit When the first monitoring unit detects the occurrence of the target event on a specific day of the week, the first monitoring unit promptly reports the occurrence of the target event to the user terminal via the server-side communication unit, and then notifies the user terminal of the judgment results including the target applications in which the occurrence of the target event was not detected, collectively; When the first monitoring unit detects the occurrence of the target event on a day other than the specific day of the week, the occurrence of the target event is promptly reported to the user terminal via the server-side communication unit, while omitting notification of the judgment result including the target application in which the occurrence of the target event was not detected. An information processing system comprising:

4. In the information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The input unit accepts input of the target event for each of the application number identifying information or the target application number, or for each of the target application numbers or the users, in addition to the application number identifying information or the target application number; the user-side control unit causes the target event input to the input unit to be transmitted to the information processing server via the user-side communication unit; The first monitoring unit determines whether or not the target event has occurred for each of the application number identification information, the target application number, or the user for each of the target application numbers at each first predetermined timing. An information processing system comprising:

5. In the information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the search target database includes an application information storage unit that stores the target application number and the current status of the target application in association with the user's identification information; The server-side control unit extracts the target application number from the application information storage unit in a manner that avoids duplication, The first monitoring unit determines whether or not the target event has occurred for each of the extracted target application numbers; The server-side control unit When the first monitoring unit detects the occurrence of the target event, the application information storage unit reports the occurrence of the target event to each of the user terminals associated with the target application in which the target event has occurred; After judging whether or not the target event has occurred for all the target application numbers extracted from the application information storage unit, the judgment results are collectively notified to each of the user terminals. An information processing system comprising:

6. In the information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, The application number identifying information includes a target applicant name, which is the name of the applicant of the target application; The information processing server or the user terminal further includes an application number search unit that searches for the target application number based on the target applicant name. An information processing system comprising:

7. In the information processing system according to any one of claims 2 to 6, the server-side control unit includes a first evaluation unit that evaluates the degree of impact of the target application on a business of a target applicant who is an applicant of the target application; the search target database accumulates the impact degree for each of the application number identification information or for each of the target application numbers; When the first monitoring unit detects the occurrence of the target event, the server-side control unit promptly reports the occurrence and the impact of the target event to the user terminal via the server-side communication unit. An information processing system comprising:

8. 8. The information processing system according to claim 7, The first evaluation unit is Searching for articles on the subject applicant on the Internet; determining a content relevance between the content of the target application and the internet article; The impact level is determined based on the content relevance level. An information processing system comprising:

9. In the information processing system according to any one of claims 2 to 8, The information processing server includes: a second monitoring unit that determines whether or not there is a new article on the Internet for each of the target applicants who are the applicants of the target applications after the occurrence of the target event is detected at each second predetermined timing; a second evaluation unit that determines a degree of agreement between the content of the target application after the occurrence of the target event is detected and the new article on the Internet; Equipped with When the degree of coincidence indicates that the new article is related to the target application, the server-side control unit notifies the user terminal of the occurrence of the new article via the server-side communication unit. An information processing system comprising:

10. a server-side communication unit that receives application number identification information for identifying a target application number as the application number of a target application that is an application to be searched or the target application number from a user terminal; a search target database that stores the application number specifying information or the target application number in association with user identification information; a first monitoring unit that determines whether or not a target event that is an event to be searched for has occurred for each of the target applications or the application number identification information at each first predetermined timing; a server-side control unit that controls operations of the server-side communication unit, the search target database, and the first monitoring unit; An information processing server comprising: When the first monitoring unit detects the occurrence of the target event, the server-side control unit promptly reports the occurrence of the target event to the user terminal via the server-side communication unit, and then notifies the user terminal of the judgment results including the target applications in which the occurrence of the target event was not detected. An information processing server comprising:

11. a server-side communication unit that receives application number identification information for identifying a target application number as the application number of a target application that is an application to be searched or the target application number from a user terminal; a search target database that stores the application number specifying information or the target application number in association with user identification information; a first monitoring unit that determines whether or not a target event that is an event to be searched for has occurred for each of the target applications or the application number identification information at each first predetermined timing; a server-side control unit that controls operations of the server-side communication unit, the search target database, and the first monitoring unit; An information processing server comprising: the server-side control unit includes a first evaluation unit that evaluates the degree of impact of the target application on a business of a target applicant who is an applicant of the target application; the search target database accumulates the impact degree for each of the application number identification information or for each of the target application numbers; When the first monitoring unit detects the occurrence of the target event, the server-side control unit notifies the user terminal of the occurrence of the target event and the degree of impact via the server-side communication unit. An information processing server comprising:

12. a server-side communication unit that receives application number identification information for identifying a target application number as the application number of a target application that is an application to be searched or the target application number from a user terminal; a search target database that stores the application number specifying information or the target application number in association with user identification information; a first monitoring unit that determines whether or not a target event that is an event to be searched for has occurred for each of the target applications or the application number identification information at each first predetermined timing; a second monitoring unit that determines whether or not there is a new article on the Internet for each of the target applicants who are the applicants of the target application at each second predetermined timing; a server-side control unit that controls operations of the server-side communication unit, the search target database, the first monitoring unit, and the second monitoring unit; An information processing server comprising: the server-side control unit includes a second evaluation unit that determines a degree of agreement between the content of the target application after the occurrence of the target event is detected and a new article on the Internet; The server-side control unit When the first monitoring unit detects an occurrence of the target event, the first monitoring unit notifies the user terminal of the occurrence of the target event via the server-side communication unit; When the degree of coincidence indicates that the new article is related to the target application, the occurrence of the new article is reported to the user terminal via the server-side communication unit. An information processing server comprising:

13. An information processing method for use in an information processing system having a user terminal and an information processing server, comprising: The user terminal, A user-side communication unit for transmitting and receiving information to and from the information processing server; an input unit for receiving input of application number identification information for identifying a target application number as the application number of a target application that is a search target application or the target application number; a user-side control unit that causes the application number specifying information or the target application number inputted into the input unit to be transmitted to the information processing server via the user-side communication unit together with user identification information; Equipped with The information processing server includes: A server-side communication unit for transmitting and receiving data to and from the user terminal; a search target database that stores the application number specifying information or the target application number in association with the user's identification information; a first monitoring unit that determines whether or not a target event that is an event to be searched for has occurred for each of the target applications or the application number identification information at each first predetermined timing; a server-side control unit that controls operations of the server-side communication unit, the search target database, and the first monitoring unit; Equipped with When the first monitoring unit detects the occurrence of the target event, the server-side control unit promptly reports the occurrence of the target event to the user terminal via the server-side communication unit, and then notifies the user terminal of the judgment results including the target applications in which the occurrence of the target event was not detected.

23. An information processing method comprising:

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