Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and information processing program

Abstract

To properly provide much more information to a user who is searching for distribution content, as well as a search result corresponding to a search keyword, by utilizing past search history information of the user.SOLUTION: An information processing apparatus includes a searching unit and a providing unit. The searching unit searches for search complementary information which complements a distribution content search result, based on search history information and information on distribution content searched by a user. The providing unit provides the search complementary information searched by the searching unit together with the distribution content search result.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, there are known techniques for distributing content such as news articles. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for searching aggregated news content based on one or more personalized search queries received from a user and providing news content selected from customized news documents. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-123920 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the above-mentioned conventional technology, when searching for distributed content, only articles that match the search keywords are provided at the time of the search, and the past search history information of the user searching for the distributed content is not utilized, so there is room for improvement in terms of providing search information for distributed content.

[0005] The present application has been made in consideration of the above, and aims to provide an information processing device, an information processing method, and an information processing program that can appropriately provide more information to users searching for distribution content. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The information processing device of the present disclosure includes a search unit and a providing unit. The search unit searches for search complement information that complements a distribution content search result based on information about distribution content searched by a user and search history information. The providing unit provides the search complement information searched by the search unit to the user together with the distribution content search result. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to one aspect of the embodiment, it is possible to provide more information appropriately to a user searching for distribution content. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of information processing according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of an information processing system according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the information processing device according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user information table stored in a user information storage unit according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a distribution content table stored in the distribution content storage unit according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a search content table stored in the search content storage unit according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of search complement information included in provided content provided by the providing unit of the information processing device according to the embodiment and displayed on the terminal device. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of search complement information included in provided content provided by the providing unit of the information processing device according to the embodiment and displayed on the terminal device. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of information processing by the processing unit of the information processing device according to the embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a hardware configuration diagram showing an example of a computer that realizes the functions of the information processing device according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, modes for implementing an information processing device, an information processing method, and an information processing program according to the present application (hereinafter referred to as "embodiments") will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the information processing device, the information processing method, and the information processing program according to the present application are not limited to these embodiments. Furthermore, the respective embodiments can be appropriately combined within the scope of not causing any contradiction in the processing content. Furthermore, the same components in the following embodiments will be assigned the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[0010] [1. An example of information processing] First, an example of information processing according to the embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of information processing according to the embodiment, which is executed by an information processing device 1.

[0011] The information processing device 1 shown in Figure 1 is an information processing device that works in conjunction with terminal devices 2 of multiple users U and provides various information to each user U online, and is realized, for example, by one or more servers or cloud systems.

[0012] The information processing device 1 receives a search request for distribution content, which is transmitted from the terminal device 2 of the user U (step S1). The distribution content is the distribution content that is the target of the search by the user U, and may be, for example, news article content, but may also be book content, blog article content, content searched for on a social networking service (SNS), or other content.

[0013] By operating the terminal device 2, the user U can cause the terminal device 2 to execute a process of transmitting a search request for distribution content. For example, when the user U operates the terminal device 2 to select desired distribution content from among the distribution contents, the terminal device 2 transmits a search request for the distribution content selected by the user U to the information processing device 1. Hereinafter, the distribution content searched for by the user U may be referred to as search content. The search content may also be content on which the user U has performed an action, such as posting a comment.

[0014] When the information processing device 1 receives a search request in step S1, it searches for distribution content related to the user U's search request, and searches for search complement information that complements the distribution content search results based on the distribution content search results and the user U's search history information (step S2).

[0015] The search complement information is information that complements the results of a search for distributed content related to a search request from user U. For example, the search complement information includes user U's past search history related to the search results for distributed content, content update information from that time, articles viewed by user U related to the search history, and actions taken by user U in response to those articles. The content update information is, for example, the latest character string, image, or video information about searched content included in user U's past search history related to the search results for distributed content, or information about the location of the searched content or the latest live video of the area including that location. The action content is articles related to user U's past search history related to the search results for distributed content, such as comments posted by user U on articles viewed by user U.

[0016] The distribution content searched by the user U is the distribution content included in the distribution content search results searched by the information processing device 1 in accordance with the search request of the user U. The information on the distribution content includes information indicating the content of the distribution content (for example, information such as character strings or images included in the distribution content), information on the range searched for the distribution content, etc.

[0017] First, the information processing device 1 identifies, as keywords, words contained in the content of the distribution content searched by the user U. The information processing device 1 identifies, for example, words indicating a location related to the distribution content from the content of the distribution content. Words indicating a location related to the distribution content include, for example, words indicating administrative districts such as words indicating addresses, words indicating ranges such as words indicating area names or local region names, and words indicating landmarks such as station names or park names.

[0018] Furthermore, when the distribution content searched by user U contains a character string, the information processing device 1 identifies keywords in the character string by paragraph, sentence, segment, phrase, word, or character. For example, when a searcher selects a character string in various distribution content by paragraph, sentence, segment, phrase, word, or character, a web search may be performed using the selected character string. Therefore, the information processing device 1 associates the search range and the number of searches with the distribution content by paragraph, sentence, segment, phrase, word, or character. Then, the information processing device 1 may identify, as keywords, character strings whose number of searches satisfies a predetermined condition for the distribution content searched by user U.

[0019] The information processing device 1 uses information about the search range and the number of searches for the distribution content to identify, as keywords, character strings included in a search range of the distribution content whose number of searches satisfies a predetermined condition. The predetermined condition is, for example, a condition that the number of web searches is equal to or greater than a threshold, or a condition that the ratio of the number of web searches for the distribution content to its range is equal to or greater than a threshold.

[0020] Next, the information processing device 1 uses the identified keywords and the user U's search history information to identify, from among the search queries previously entered by the user U, search queries that are highly relevant to the search results for the distribution content searched by the user U, based on the relevance between the identified keywords and search queries previously entered by the user U. A search query that is highly relevant to the search results for the distribution content searched by the user U is a search query that is relevant to the identified keywords for the searched distribution content, such as a search query that includes multiple identified keywords or a search query that includes a word that is synonymous with or related to the identified keyword. By performing this process, the information processing device 1 can identify search queries for searching for at least a portion of the search completion information from the distribution content search results.

[0021] Then, the information processing device 1 searches a web search site using the identified search query, selects from among the web contents that match the identified search query web contents that have been distributed since the previous search and have not been viewed by the user U, and searches for content update information as at least part of the search completion information.

[0022] When a keyword identified from the distribution content searched for by the user U is a word indicating a location related to the distribution content, a search result based on a search query related to the keyword includes location-related information, which is, for example, information about at least one of the location related to the distribution content and the surrounding area of ​​this location. The information processing device 1 may use, as the location-related information, information about a live video captured by a live camera installed at least one of the location related to the distribution content and the surrounding area of ​​this location, as content update information.

[0023] The location information related to the distribution content is, for example, information about a live video captured by a live camera installed at a location related to the distribution content. For example, if the location related to the distribution content is an address or a landmark, the information processing device 1 may use information about a live video of the address or landmark as content update information.

[0024] Furthermore, the location-related information may be, for example, information about the congestion level at a location related to the distribution content, weather, etc. The information about the congestion level includes, for example, information about road congestion, and information about the congestion of people in spaces such as stores, means of transportation (trains and buses), and facilities. The weather information includes, for example, information about one or more of temperature, air pressure, humidity, wind, rain, snow, fog, and sunshine.

[0025] Furthermore, the information about the vicinity of the location related to the distributed content is, for example, information about live video around the location related to the distributed content, such as video captured by a live camera installed at the location related to the distributed content or around that location. For example, if the location related to the distributed content is an address or a landmark, the information processing device 1 may use information about live video around the address or landmark as content update information as information about the vicinity of the location related to the distributed content. Furthermore, the information processing device 1 may use information about the congestion level or weather around the location related to the distributed content as content update information as information about the vicinity of the location related to the distributed content.

[0026] Furthermore, the information processing device 1 uses a search query related to the keyword to search for actions of the user U (such as comments posted by the user U) as at least part of the search complement information. The actions are the opinions or impressions of the user U, and may include character strings, stamps, emoticons, etc. Note that instead of or in addition to comments, actions of the user U may include URLs (Uniform Resource Locators) of other content. The actions of the user U are not limited to comments posted on content viewed by the user U, but may also be comments on comments made by others as actions on the distributed content.

[0027] Next, the information processing device 1 provides the provided content including the search complement information and the distribution content search results obtained in step S2 to the user U (step S3). The information processing device 1 provides the provided content to the user U by transmitting the provided content to the terminal device 2 of the user U.

[0028] The provided content is content that displays information including the distribution content search results and their search supplement information on the display unit of the terminal device 2. The search supplement information includes the user U's past search history related to the distribution content search results, content update information from that time, articles viewed by the user U related to the search history, and the actions taken by the user U in response to those articles. The content update information is, for example, the latest text strings, images, video information, etc. for searched content included in the user U's past search history related to the distribution content search results, or information on the location of the searched content or the latest live video of the area including that location. A thumbnail of the selected web content may be displayed. The action content is articles related to the user U's past search history related to the distribution content search results, such as comments posted by the user U on articles viewed by the user U.

[0029] The terminal device 2, which has received the provided content transmitted from the information processing device 1, displays information including the distribution content search results and the search complement information on a display unit (not shown). This allows the user U of the terminal device 2 to search for the search complement information when searching for distribution content, and the search complement information can help the user U to better understand the content of the distribution content search results.

[0030] The provided content may also be content that displays search completion information together with the results of a distribution content search using an augmented reality display. In this case, the terminal device 2 that receives the provided content transmitted from the information processing device 1 displays the results of the distribution content search on a display unit (not shown), and outputs the search completion information to an AR (Augmented Reality) device connected via a wired or wireless connection, thereby providing the search completion information to the user U via the AR device.

[0031] The AR device can superimpose, for example, text, images, or live video included in the search completion information on the outside world. The live video is not limited to two-dimensional video and may be three-dimensional video.

[0032] Furthermore, the AR device can provide the user U with a sense other than sight (for example, touch, smell, etc.) that corresponds to the search complementary information (for example, temperature, humidity, wind, etc.) by using VR (Virtual Reality) technology or haptic technology. The AR device may be built into the terminal device 2.

[0033] The information processing device 1 can also provide a plurality of pieces of information to the terminal device 2 based on information input from the terminal device 2 via an interface such as an API (Application Programming Interface). The information processing device 1 can also perform the processes of steps S2 and S3 before the process of step S1, or can periodically perform the processes of steps S2 and S3.

[0034] In this way, the information processing device 1 searches for search complement information that complements the distribution content search results related to the search request of the user U, based on the information on the distribution content searched for by the user U and the search history information, and provides the search complement information thus found together with the distribution content search results to the user U. This allows the information processing device 1 to appropriately provide more information regarding the distribution content search results.

[0035] The configuration of an information processing system including the information processing device 1 and terminal device 2 that perform such processing will be described in detail below.

[0036] [2. Information Processing System Configuration] 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an information processing system according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the information processing system 100 according to the embodiment includes an information processing device 1 and a plurality of terminal devices 2.

[0037] The multiple terminal devices 2 are used by different users U. The terminal devices 2 are, for example, a notebook PC (Personal Computer), a desktop PC, a smartphone, a tablet PC, or a wearable device. The wearable device is, for example, but not limited to, smart glasses or a smart watch. The user U is a user who uses a service provided by the information processing device 1 or the like.

[0038] The information processing device 1 and the terminal device 2 are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other by wire or wirelessly via a network N. Note that the information processing system 100 shown in Fig. 2 may include a plurality of information processing devices 1 and the like.

[0039] The network N includes, for example, a WAN (Wide Area Network) such as the Internet and a mobile communication network such as LTE (Long Term Evolution), 4G (4th Generation), and 5G (5th Generation: 5th generation mobile communication system).

[0040] The terminal device 2 can connect to the network N via short-range wireless communication such as a mobile communication network, Bluetooth (registered trademark), or a wireless LAN (Local Area Network), and communicate with the information processing device 1.

[0041] 3. Configuration of Information Processing Device 1 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the information processing device 1 according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the information processing device 1 includes a communication unit 10, a storage unit 11, and a processing unit 12.

[0042] [3.1. Communication Unit 10] The communication unit 10 is realized by, for example, a communication module or a network interface card (NIC). The communication unit 10 is connected to a network N by wire or wirelessly, and transmits and receives information to and from various other devices. For example, the communication unit 10 transmits and receives information to and from the terminal device 2 via the network N.

[0043] [3.2. Storage section 11] The storage unit 11 is realized by, for example, a semiconductor memory element such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a flash memory, or a storage device such as a hard disk or an optical disk. The storage unit 11 has a user information storage unit 20, a distribution content storage unit 21, and a search content storage unit 22.

[0044] [3.2.1. User information storage unit 20] The user information storage unit 20 stores various types of information related to the user U. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a user information table stored in the user information storage unit 20 according to the embodiment.

[0045] 4, the user information table stored in the user information storage unit 20 includes information items such as "user ID," "attribute information," and "history information." The "user ID" is an identifier that identifies a user U, and is information assigned to each user U.

[0046] "Attribute information" is attribute information indicating the attributes of user U associated with "user ID." The attributes of user U include, for example, demographic attributes and psychographic attributes. Demographic attributes are demographic attributes and include multiple attribute items such as age, gender, occupation, place of residence, annual income, and family composition.

[0047] Psychographic attributes are psychological attributes and include, for example, multiple attribute items related to lifestyle, values, interests, etc. For example, each of the multiple attribute items in the psychographic attributes is an object of interest to user U, such as cars, clothes, travel, games, camping, motorcycles, trains, home appliances, or computers.

[0048] "History information" includes information on the behavioral history of user U associated with "user ID." User U's behavioral history includes, for example, information on user U's behavioral history in online services. Information on user U's behavioral history in online services includes, for example, search history information, browsing history information, distribution history information, and transaction history information in online services of user U.

[0049] The search history information of the user U includes, for example, information on the search history of the user U in a web search service. The browsing history information of the user U includes, for example, information on the browsing history of content by the user U in an online service. The distribution history information includes, for example, information on the distribution history of distribution content distributed to the terminal device 2 of the user U.

[0050] The transaction history information includes information on the transaction history of products by the user U in the online service. Note that the "history information" may also include information such as search content displayed on the terminal device 2 of the user U associated with the "user ID."

[0051] 3.2.2. Distribution Content Storage Unit 21 The distribution content storage unit 21 stores various types of information related to distribution content. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a distribution content table stored in the distribution content storage unit 21 according to the embodiment.

[0052] 5, the distribution content table stored in the distribution content storage unit 21 includes information items such as "distribution content ID," "content type," "content," and "link." The "distribution content ID" is an identifier that identifies the distribution content, and is information assigned to each distribution content.

[0053] "Content type" is information indicating the type of distribution content associated with "distribution content ID." The type of distribution content is, for example, a category of the content of the distribution content, and if the distribution content is a news article, it may be, but is not limited to, incident, economy, entertainment, gourmet, etc.

[0054] "Content" is the distribution content associated with the "distribution content ID." "Link" is link information of the distribution content associated with the "distribution content ID."

[0055] 3.2.3. Search Content Storage Unit 22 The search content storage unit 22 stores various types of information related to search content. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a search content table stored in the search content storage unit 22 according to the embodiment.

[0056] 6, the search content table stored in the search content storage unit 22 includes information on items such as "search ID," "user ID," "search target ID," "search location," and "search content." The "search ID" is an identifier that identifies the search content, and is information assigned to each search content.

[0057] The "user ID" is the user ID of user U, the searcher who searched for the search content associated with the "search ID." The "search target ID" is the content ID of the content that is the search target of the search content associated with the "search ID." For example, if the search target is distribution content, it is the distribution content ID, and if the search target is search content, it is the search ID.

[0058] "Search location" is information indicating the content location where the search content associated with the "search ID" was searched for; for example, if the search target is distribution content, it is part or all of the distribution content; if the search target is search content, it is part or all of the search content.

[0059] "Search content" is search content associated with "search ID." The search content is, for example, content searched for by each searcher among distributed content. The search content may be the URL of the content, etc.

[0060] [3.3. Processing Unit 12] The processing unit 12 is a controller, and is realized, for example, by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an MPU (Micro Processing Unit) executing various programs stored in a storage device inside the information processing device 1 using RAM as a working area.

[0061] The processing unit 12 may be partially or entirely realized by an integrated circuit such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).

[0062] 3, the processing unit 12 has an acquisition unit 30, a reception unit 31, a search unit 32, and a provision unit 33, and realizes or executes the functions and actions of information processing described below. Note that the internal configuration of the processing unit 12 is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. 3, and may be any other configuration as long as it performs the information processing described below.

[0063] [3.3.1. Acquisition part 30] The acquisition unit 30 acquires various pieces of information from an external information processing device, the terminal device 2, or the like via the communication unit 10, and stores the acquired information in the storage unit 11.

[0064] For example, the acquisition unit 30 acquires user information, which is information about the user U, from an external information processing device or terminal device 2 via the communication unit 10, and adds the acquired user information to the user information table in the user information storage unit 20.

[0065] Furthermore, the acquisition unit 30 acquires various types of information from the storage unit 11. For example, the acquisition unit 30 acquires user information, which is information about the user U, from the user information storage unit 20 or the like. The user information acquired by the acquisition unit 30 includes, for example, part or all of at least one of the attribute information and history information described above.

[0066] Furthermore, the acquisition unit 30 acquires distribution content from the distribution content storage unit 21 etc., and acquires search content from the search content storage unit 22 etc. For example, when a search request for distribution content is accepted by the acceptance unit 31, the acquisition unit 30 acquires distribution content corresponding to the search request from the distribution content storage unit 21 etc., and acquires the searched range and the number of searches in paragraph units, sentence units, segment units, phrase units, word units, or character units associated with the distribution content for the distribution content corresponding to the search request from the search content storage unit 22 etc.

[0067] [3.3.2. Reception Unit 31] The reception unit 31 receives various requests and information from the terminal device 2 via the communication unit 10. For example, the requests received by the reception unit 31 include various search requests from the user U, such as a search request for list content that displays a list of multiple distribution contents, a search request for distribution content, and a search request for search content, but are not limited to these examples.

[0068] A search request for distribution content includes information for identifying the distribution content, such as link information for the distribution content, and a search request for search content includes information for identifying the distribution content, such as link information for the search content.

[0069] The receiving unit 31 also receives distribution content transmitted to the information processing device 1 from a distributor or the like, and adds the received distribution content to a distribution content table in the distribution content storage unit 21.

[0070] The receiving unit 31 also receives articles related to the search results that the user U has viewed, and the details of the user U's actions in response to those articles (such as comments). The receiving unit 31 also receives the details of the user U's actions in response to comments made by others on the distributed content. The receiving unit 31 adds the received details of the actions to the search content table of the search content storage unit 22.

[0071] When the distribution content is content that includes a character string, the reception unit 31 receives a search for web content by the user U who has selected the character string in paragraph units, sentence units, segment units, phrase units, word units, or character units. When the reception unit 31 receives a search for web content, the reception unit 31 associates the updated number of searches with the range of the web content searched by the user U in paragraph units, sentence units, segment units, phrase units, word units, or character units.

[0072] [3.3.3. Search Unit 32] The search unit 32 searches for distribution content in accordance with the search request of the user U, and searches for search complement information that complements the distribution content search results related to the search request of the user U based on information about the searched distribution content and the search history information of the user U.

[0073] The search completion information includes the user U's past search history related to the distribution content search results, content update information from that time, articles viewed by the user U related to the search history, and actions taken by the user U in response to those articles. The content update information is, for example, the latest character string, image, or video information about the searched content included in the user U's past search history related to the distribution content search results, or information about the location of the searched content or the latest live video of the area including that location. The action content is articles related to the user U's past search history related to the distribution content search results, such as comments posted by the user U on articles viewed by the user U.

[0074] The search unit 32 searches for search completion information, for example, when the reception unit 31 receives a search request for distribution content, when a predetermined period arrives, or when the number of times a web search using a selected character string has been performed for the distribution content searched for by user U exceeds a threshold value.

[0075] The search for search completion information may be, for example, a search using a web search site or a search using a database stored in storage unit 11. For example, search unit 32 transmits a search query to a web search site via communication unit 10, and obtains search results transmitted from the web search site in response to the search query via communication unit 10. Then, search unit 32 can obtain search completion information from the search results transmitted from the web search site.

[0076] The search unit 32 includes, for example, a specification processing unit 40 that specifies keywords for searching for at least a portion of the search complement information based on information about the distribution content searched for by the user U, and a search processing unit 41 that searches for at least a portion of the search complement information using the keywords specified by the specification processing unit 40.

[0077] The identification processing unit 40 identifies, as keywords, words contained in the content of the distribution content searched for by the user U (for example, information such as character strings or images contained in the distribution content). For example, the identification processing unit 40 identifies, from the content of the distribution content, words indicating a location related to the distribution content as keywords. Words indicating a location related to the distribution content include, for example, words indicating administrative districts such as words indicating addresses, words indicating ranges such as words indicating area names or local region names, and words indicating landmarks such as station names or park names.

[0078] Furthermore, when the distribution content searched by user U contains a character string, the identification processing unit 40 identifies keywords in the character string by paragraph, sentence, segment, phrase, word, or character. For example, when a searcher selects a character string in various distribution content by paragraph, sentence, segment, phrase, word, or character, a web search may be performed using the selected character string. Therefore, the identification processing unit 40 associates the search range and the number of searches with each distribution content by paragraph, sentence, segment, phrase, word, or character. Then, the identification processing unit 40 identifies, as keywords, character strings whose number of searches satisfies a predetermined condition for the distribution content searched by user U.

[0079] The identification processing unit 40 can also use information about the search range and the number of searches for the distribution content to identify, as keywords, character strings included in a search range of the distribution content whose number of searches satisfies a predetermined condition. The predetermined condition is, for example, a condition that the number of web searches is equal to or greater than a threshold, or a condition that the ratio of the number of web searches for the distribution content to its range is equal to or greater than a threshold.

[0080] If the number of web content items found in the distribution content falls within a range that satisfies a predetermined condition and the content of the web content items found in an area that includes that range satisfies the predetermined condition, the identification processing unit 40 can also identify a character string included in that range as a keyword. The predetermined condition is, for example, that the percentage of critical or negative content in the searched content is equal to or less than a threshold.

[0081] The identification processing unit 40 uses the keywords and the user U's search history information to identify, from among search queries previously entered by the user U, a search query that is highly relevant to the search results for the distribution content searched by the user U, based on the relevance to the search queries previously entered by the user U. A search query that is highly relevant to the search results for the distribution content searched by the user U is a search query that is relevant to the keywords identified for the searched distribution content, such as a search query that includes multiple identified keywords or a search query that includes a word that is synonymous or related to the identified keyword. The search processing unit 41 searches for search completion information using the search query identified by the identification processing unit 40. For example, the search processing unit 41 transmits the search query identified by the identification processing unit 40 to a web search site, thereby obtaining search results corresponding to the search query from the web search site.

[0082] The search processing unit 41 acquires, as content update information, web content that has been distributed since the past search and has not been viewed by the user U, from among the web content that is a search result corresponding to the search query identified by the identification processing unit 40.

[0083] Furthermore, the search processing unit 41 searches for actions of the user U (such as comments posted by the user U) using the search query identified by the identification processing unit 40. Actions are the opinions and impressions of the user U, and include character strings, stamps, emoticons, etc. Note that instead of or in addition to comments, they may also be URLs (Uniform Resource Locators) of other content. The actions of the user U are not limited to comments posted on content viewed by the user U, but may also be comments on comments made by others as actions on the distributed content.

[0084] When the search query indicates a location related to the distributed content, the search results based on the search query include location-related information, which is, for example, information about at least one of the location related to the distributed content and the surrounding area of ​​this location. The search processing unit 41 can acquire, as content update information, location-related information such as information about live video captured by a live camera installed at least one of the location related to the distributed content and the surrounding area of ​​this location.

[0085] The location information related to the distribution content is, for example, information about a live video captured by a live camera installed at a location related to the distribution content. For example, if the location related to the distribution content is an address or a landmark, the search processing unit 41 can acquire information about a live video of the address or landmark as content update information.

[0086] Furthermore, the location-related information may be, for example, information about the congestion level at a location related to the distribution content, weather, etc. The information about the congestion level includes, for example, information about road congestion, and information about the congestion of people in spaces such as stores, means of transportation (trains and buses), and facilities. The weather information includes, for example, information about one or more of temperature, air pressure, humidity, wind, rain, snow, fog, and sunshine.

[0087] Furthermore, the information about the vicinity of the location related to the distribution content is, for example, information about live video around the location related to the distribution content, such as video captured by a live camera installed at the location related to the distribution content or around that location. For example, if the location related to the distribution content is an address or a landmark, the search processing unit 41 can acquire, as content update information, information about live video around the address or landmark as information about the vicinity of the location related to the distribution content. Furthermore, the search processing unit 41 can acquire, as content update information, information about the congestion level and weather around the location related to the distribution content as information about the vicinity of the location related to the distribution content.

[0088] [3.3.4.Providing Department 33] The providing unit 33 provides the user U with the search complement information searched for by the searching unit 32 together with the distribution content search results. The providing unit 33 provides the provided content to the user U by transmitting the provided content to the terminal device 2 of the user U via the communication unit 10.

[0089] The provided content is content that displays information including the distribution content search results and their search supplement information on the display unit of the terminal device 2. For example, the search supplement information includes the user U's past search history related to the distribution content search results, content update information from that time, articles viewed by the user U related to the search history, and the actions taken by the user U in response to those articles. The content update information is, for example, the latest text strings, images, video information, etc., for searched content included in the user U's past search history related to the distribution content search results, or information on the location of the searched content or the latest live video of the area including that location. A thumbnail of the selected web content may be displayed. The action content is articles related to the user U's past search history related to the distribution content search results, such as comments posted by the user U on articles viewed by the user U.

[0090] The terminal device 2, which receives the provided content transmitted from the providing unit 33, displays information including the distribution content search results and the search complement information on a display unit (not shown). This allows the user U of the terminal device 2 to search for the search complement information when searching for the distribution content, and can deepen his or her understanding of the content of the distribution content using the search complement information.

[0091] The provided content may also be content that displays the search completion information together with the distribution content search results by augmented reality display. In this case, the terminal device 2 that receives the provided content transmitted from the providing unit 33 displays the distribution content search results on a display unit (not shown) and outputs the search completion information to an AR device connected via a wired or wireless connection, thereby providing the search completion information to the user U via the AR device.

[0092] The AR device can, for example, superimpose text, images, or live video included in the search completion information onto the outside world. The live video is not limited to 2D video, but may be 3D video. Furthermore, the AR device can provide the user U with a sense other than vision (e.g., touch, smell, etc.) that corresponds to the search completion information (e.g., temperature, humidity, wind, etc.) using VR technology, haptic technology, etc. This allows the providing unit 33 to provide the user U with a sense of realism.

[0093] Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a distribution content search result and part of the search complement information included in the provided content provided by the providing unit 33 of the information processing device 1 according to the embodiment and displayed on the terminal device 2. Fig. 8 is a diagram showing an example of part of the search complement information included in the provided content provided by the providing unit 33 of the information processing device 1 according to the embodiment and displayed on the terminal device 2.

[0094] 7, the display area of ​​the terminal device 2 displays a portion of the provided content 50, including a delivery content search result 51 and search supplement information 54. The delivery content search result 51 includes an indication 52 that the user U has entered the search keyword "car," and an indication 53 (531, 532) of the delivery content search results for the search keyword "car." The search supplement information 54 also includes the user U's past search history 55 related to the delivery content search results and content update information 57 (571, 572) from that time.

[0095] In the example shown in FIG. 7 , the identification processing unit 40 identifies keywords based on information about the distribution content (531, 532) included in the distribution content search result 53 searched for by the user U. In this example, the identification processing unit 40 identifies “driving,” “snowy roads,” “◇◇◇,” and “new releases” as keywords. Then, using the keywords “driving,” “snowy roads,” “◇◇◇,” and “new releases” and the search history information of the user U, the identification processing unit 40 identifies, from among the search queries previously entered by the user U, the search queries “driving_snowy roads” and “◇◇◇_new releases” that are highly relevant to the distribution content search results searched for by the user U, based on the relevance to the search queries previously entered by the user U. Next, the search processing unit 41 transmits the search queries “driving_snowy roads” and “◇◇◇_new releases” to a web search site and acquires content published in web content that has been started to be distributed after the previous search and that has not been viewed by the user U, from among the searched web content. Specifically, the search history 55 of user U, which indicates that "in the past, I have searched for 'driving_snowy roads' and '◇◇◇_new releases'," and content update information 56, 57 (571, 572) posted on the web content are obtained.

[0096] In the example shown in Figure 8, a portion (continuation) of the provided content is displayed in the display area of ​​the terminal device 2, and the search supplement information 58 includes an indication 59 that user U has commented on an article viewed by user U that is related to the search result, an article viewed by user U 61, and action content 60 of user U in response to the viewed article 61.

[0097] 8, the search processing unit 41 searches for actions of user U (such as comments posted by user U) using the search query "driving_snowy road" identified by the identification processing unit 40. The search processing unit 41 acquires a viewed article 61 by user U related to the distribution content search results and a content 60 of the user U's action on the viewed article 61, "What do you do if you get stuck on a snowy road? Road service will wait for several hours... How can I get out on my own?..."

[0098] [4. Processing Procedure] Next, a procedure of information processing by the processing unit 12 of the information processing device 1 according to the embodiment will be described. Fig. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of information processing by the processing unit 12 of the information processing device 1 according to the embodiment.

[0099] 9, the processing unit 12 of the information processing device 1 determines whether or not there is a search request for distribution content (step S10). If it determines that there is a search request for distribution content (step S10: Yes), the processing unit 12 acquires information indicating the content of the distribution content and information regarding the searched range of the distribution content as information on the searched distribution content (step S11).

[0100] Next, the processing unit 12 searches for search complement information that complements the distribution content search results related to the search request of the user U, based on the information on the distribution content searched by the user U and the search history information of the user U (step S12).Then, the processing unit 12 provides the user U with the distribution content search results and the provided content including the search complement information (step S13).

[0101] Next, the processing unit 12 determines whether or not a content search has been received from the user U for the distribution content searched by the user U (step S14). If the processing unit 12 determines that a content search has been received (step S14: Yes), the processing unit 12 associates the updated number of searches with the range of the distribution content searched by the user U and stores the updated number of searches in the storage unit 11 (step S15).

[0102] The processing unit 12 again determines whether a content search has been received from the user U (step S14), and if it determines that a content search has not been received (step S14: No) or that there has been no search request for distribution content (step S10: No), it determines whether the operation end time has arrived (step S16). The processing unit 12 determines that the operation end time has arrived, for example, when the power of the information processing device 1 is turned off.

[0103] If the processing unit 12 determines that the operation end time has not yet arrived (step S16: No), it proceeds to step S10, and if it determines that the operation end time has arrived (step S16: Yes), it terminates the processing shown in Figure 9.

[0104] [5. Modifications] In the above example, the search completion information includes information about a location related to the distribution content or a live video of an area including that location, but instead of or in addition to such live video, the search completion information may include video or still images captured by an Earth observation camera, which is a camera installed on a satellite that captures images of the Earth. The video or still images captured by the Earth observation camera are video or still images of a location related to the distribution content or an area including that location.

[0105] In addition, the providing unit 33 may not include some or all of the search complement information searched by the searching unit 32 in the provided content, for example, depending on the attributes of the destination user, who is the user U of the terminal device 2 that sent the search request.

[0106] Furthermore, the providing unit 33 may exclude, from the provided content, search complementary information that has been provided to the destination user a predetermined number of times or more in the past. The predetermined number of times is set to a different value depending on, for example, the attribute information or history information of the destination user.

[0107] The providing unit 33 can also provide the user U with content that includes a script (e.g., a Java (registered trademark) script) that switches a portion of the search completion information displayed in the display area of ​​the terminal device 2 from among the distributed content. For example, such a script displays, as part of the search completion information, information that is searched for using a word included in an area of ​​the distributed content that is displayed in the display area of ​​the terminal device 2, and switches the information displayed as part of the search completion information in response to a scrolling operation by the user U.

[0108] The dedicated application program of the terminal device 2 may be configured to perform part or all of the processes performed by the information processing device 1.

[0109] [6. Hardware Configuration] The information processing device 1 according to the embodiment described above is realized by, for example, a computer 80 configured as shown in Fig. 10. Fig. 10 is a hardware configuration diagram showing an example of the computer 80 that realizes the functions of the information processing device 1 according to the embodiment. The computer 80 has a CPU 81, a RAM 82, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 83, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 84, a communication interface (I / F) 85, an input / output interface (I / F) 86, and a media interface (I / F) 87.

[0110] The CPU 81 operates and controls each part based on programs stored in the ROM 83 or the HDD 84. The ROM 83 stores a boot program executed by the CPU 81 when the computer 80 starts up, programs that depend on the hardware of the computer 80, and the like.

[0111] The HDD 84 stores programs executed by the CPU 81, data used by such programs, etc. The communication interface 85 receives data from other devices via the network N (see FIG. 2) and sends it to the CPU 81, and transmits data generated by the CPU 81 to other devices via the network N.

[0112] The CPU 81 controls output devices such as a display and a printer, and input devices such as a keyboard or a mouse, via the input / output interface 86. The CPU 81 acquires data from the input devices via the input / output interface 86. The CPU 81 also outputs generated data to the output devices via the input / output interface 86.

[0113] The media interface 87 reads a program or data stored in a recording medium 88 and provides it to the CPU 81 via the RAM 82. The CPU 81 loads the program or data from the recording medium 88 onto the RAM 82 via the media interface 87 and executes the loaded program. The recording medium 88 is, for example, an optical recording medium such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) or a PD (Phase Change Rewritable Disc), a magneto-optical recording medium such as an MO (Magneto-Optical disk), a tape medium, a magnetic recording medium, or a semiconductor memory.

[0114] For example, when the computer 80 functions as the information processing device 1 according to the embodiment, the CPU 81 of the computer 80 executes programs loaded onto the RAM 82 to realize the functions of the processing unit 12. In addition, the HDD 84 stores data in the storage unit 11. The CPU 81 of the computer 80 reads and executes these programs from a recording medium 88, but as another example, the CPU 81 may obtain these programs from another device via the network N.

[0115] [7. Other] Furthermore, among the processes described in the above embodiments, all or part of the processes described as being performed automatically can be performed manually, or all or part of the processes described as being performed manually can be performed automatically using known methods. In addition, the information including the processing procedures, specific names, various data, and parameters shown in the above documents and drawings can be changed as desired unless otherwise specified. For example, the various information shown in each drawing is not limited to the information shown in the drawings.

[0116] Furthermore, the components of each device shown in the figure are conceptual functional components and do not necessarily have to be physically configured as shown in the figure. In other words, the specific form of distribution and integration of each device is not limited to that shown in the figure, and all or part of them can be functionally or physically distributed and integrated in any unit depending on various loads, usage conditions, etc.

[0117] For example, the information processing device 1 described above may be realized by a terminal device and a server computer, or may be realized by multiple server computers. Furthermore, depending on the function, the configuration can be flexibly changed, such as by calling an external platform using an API or network computing.

[0118] Furthermore, the above-described embodiments and modifications can be combined as appropriate within the scope of not causing any contradiction in the processing content.

[0119] [8. Effects] As described above, the information processing device 1 according to the embodiment includes the search unit 32 and the providing unit 33. The search unit 32 searches for search complement information that complements the distribution content search results related to the user's search request, based on information about the distribution content searched for by the user and search history information. The providing unit 33 provides the user with the search complement information searched for by the search unit 32 along with the distribution content search results. This allows the information processing device 1 to appropriately provide more information about the distribution content.

[0120] The search unit 32 also includes an identification processing unit 40 that identifies keywords for searching for at least part of the search complement information based on information about the distribution content searched for by the user and search history information, and a search processing unit 41 that searches for at least part of the search complement information using the keywords identified by the identification processing unit 40. This allows the information processing device 1 to appropriately provide more information to a user searching for distribution content.

[0121] Furthermore, the identification processing unit 40 identifies words contained in the content of the distribution content searched by the user as keywords, thereby enabling the information processing device 1 to appropriately provide more information to the user searching for distribution content.

[0122] Furthermore, when the distribution content includes a character string, the range searched by each user and the number of times searched are linked for each character string in the distribution content, for example, paragraph, sentence, segment, phrase, word, or character, and the identification processing unit 40 identifies, as keywords, character strings included in the searched range whose number of times searched satisfies a predetermined condition in the distribution content. This allows the information processing device 1 to appropriately provide more information to users searching for distribution content.

[0123] The identification processing unit 40 identifies a search query related to the distribution content based on the keywords and the search history information, the search processing unit 41 searches for the distribution content using the search query, and the providing unit 33 provides content update information related to the distribution content that the user has not viewed among the searched distribution content as at least a part of the search complement information. This allows the information processing device 1 to appropriately provide more information to the user searching for distribution content.

[0124] The providing unit 33 also provides content that displays the search complement information searched for by the searching unit 32 together with the distribution content search results. This allows the information processing device 1 to appropriately provide more information to a user searching for distribution content.

[0125] The providing unit 33 also provides, as provided content, search complementary information, content that displays browsed articles related to the search results of the distributed content and details of actions taken on the browsed articles together with the search results of the distributed content, thereby enabling the information processing device 1 to appropriately provide more information to users searching for the distributed content.

[0126] Furthermore, the providing unit 33 provides, as provided content, content that displays the search complement information as image information together with the distribution content search results, thereby enabling the information processing device 1 to appropriately provide more information to a user searching for distribution content.

[0127] The above describes the embodiments of the present application in detail based on the drawings, but this is merely an example, and the present invention can be implemented in other forms that include the embodiments described in the Disclosure of the Invention section and that have been modified and improved in various ways based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art.

[0128] Furthermore, the above-mentioned "section, module, unit" can be read as "means" or "circuit," etc. For example, an acquisition unit can be read as an acquisition means or an acquisition circuit. [Explanation of symbols]

[0129] 1. Information processing equipment 2. Terminal Device 10. Communications Department 11 Storage section 12 Processing section 20 User information storage unit 21 Distribution content storage unit 22 Search content storage unit 30 Acquisition Department 31 Reception 32 Search Section 33 Providing Department 40 Special Processing Department 41 Search processing unit 100 Information Processing Systems

Claims

1. a search unit that searches for search complement information that complements the distribution content search results based on information on the distribution content searched by the user and search history information; a providing unit that provides the search complement information searched for by the searching unit to the user together with the distribution content search results.

1. An information processing device comprising:

2. The search unit a specifying processing unit that specifies keywords for searching at least part of the search complementary information based on information about the distribution content; a search processing unit that searches for at least a part of the search complement information using the keyword identified by the identification processing unit; 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

3. The specific processing unit Identifying words contained in the content of the distribution content as the keywords 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

4. If the distribution content is content including a character string, The range and number of searches by each user are linked to the character string of the distribution content in a predetermined unit, The specific processing unit Among the distributed content, a character string that falls within the range of the number of times that satisfies a predetermined condition is identified as the keyword.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

5. The specific processing unit Identifying a search query related to the distribution content based on the keyword and the search history information; The search processing unit searching for broadcast content using the search query; The providing unit Among the searched distribution contents, update information regarding distribution contents that the user has not viewed is provided as at least a part of the search complementary information.

5. The information processing device according to claim 2, wherein:

6. The providing unit To provide content that displays the search completion information searched by the search unit together with the distribution content search results.

5. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein:

7. The providing unit The search complement information is provided as the provided content, and the content displays, together with the distribution content search results, a browsed article related to the distribution content search results and details of actions taken on the browsed article.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6,

8. The providing unit The search complement information is displayed as image information together with the distribution content search results, and the content is provided as the provided content.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6,

9. A computer-implemented information processing method, comprising: a search step of searching for search complement information that complements the distribution content search results based on information on the distribution content searched by the user and search history information; a providing step of providing the search complement information retrieved by the searching step to the user together with the distribution content search results.

1. An information processing method comprising:

10. a search procedure for searching for search complement information that complements the distribution content search results based on information on the distribution content searched by the user and search history information; a providing step of providing the search complement information retrieved by the searching step to the user together with the distribution content search results. An information processing program characterized by:

Images