Electronic equipment, information processing systems, and programs

Abstract

This invention provides electronic devices, information processing systems, and programs that can improve the efficiency of search operations performed by users of electronic devices. [Solution] The electronic device (electronic dictionary 100) includes an acquisition unit (CPU 11) that acquires headword information including information on headwords searched on other electronic devices, and a control unit (CPU 11) that displays the headwords included in the headword information acquired by the acquisition unit as search candidates on the display unit 14.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic device, an information processing system, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, an electronic device such as an electronic dictionary having an information search function has been known. In this regard, Patent Document 1 discloses a content display device that receives an input operation of a heading word by a user and reads out and displays information corresponding to the heading word (search target) input by the user from dictionary content.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, for example, in a situation where a plurality of students learn through the same text in a school classroom, there is a possibility that each student searches for the same heading word in the electronic dictionary they each possess. However, in the conventional technology, even in such a case, each student has to manually input and search all of their target heading words (character strings) in the electronic dictionary, and there is a problem that it takes time to obtain information corresponding to the heading words.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device, an information processing system, and a program that can improve the efficiency when a user performs a search operation using an electronic device.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To solve the above problems, the electronic device of the present invention comprises an acquisition unit that acquires headword information including information on headwords searched in other electronic devices, and a control unit that causes the headwords included in the headword information acquired by the acquisition unit to be displayed on a display unit as search candidates in the device itself.

[0007] Furthermore, the information processing system of the present invention comprises an electronic device and an information processing device that is communicably connected to the electronic device, wherein the electronic device includes a transmitting unit that, when a headword different from the headword used as a search candidate is found in the device, transmits the headword information, including the information of the found headword, by broadcast communication, and the information processing device receives and analyzes the headword information.

[0008] Furthermore, the program of the present invention causes the computer of an electronic device to function as an acquisition unit that acquires headword information including information on headwords searched in other electronic devices, and a control unit that displays the headwords included in the headword information acquired by the acquisition unit as search candidates on the display unit of the device itself. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] This invention makes it possible to improve the efficiency of search operations performed by users using electronic devices. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This figure shows the configuration of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of an electronic dictionary. [Figure 3] This is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of an information processing device. [Figure 4] This is a flowchart showing the flow of the search information sharing process. [Figure 5] This figure shows an example of a display screen showing recommendation information. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the illustrated examples.

[0012] The configuration of this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. The information processing system 1000 is a system used, for example, during lessons in a classroom of a school, which is an educational institution. The classroom is occupied by a teacher and several students. The information processing system 1000 comprises electronic dictionaries 101 to 105 and an information processing device 200. Since the electronic dictionaries 101 to 105 have similar configurations, they will be referred to as "electronic dictionary 100" when not distinguishing between them.

[0013] The electronic dictionary 100 is an electronic dictionary terminal capable of displaying information from various dictionary contents, and is an electronic device that each student possesses. The number of electronic dictionaries and the number of students shown in Figure 1, 5, are just examples, and other numbers of 2 or more are also acceptable. Each electronic dictionary 100 is assigned an identification code, such as an ID, to identify it. The information processing device 200 is a PC (Personal Computer), etc., and is a device that the teacher conducting the lesson possesses.

[0014] Multiple electronic dictionaries 100 communicate with each other via short-range wireless communication. Furthermore, multiple electronic dictionaries 100 communicate with each other via short-range wireless communication. This short-range wireless communication will be described as using, for example, BLE (Bluetooth® Low Energy) wireless communication. In this embodiment, an example will be described in which a predetermined electronic dictionary 100 transmits headword information, including the headword information searched in the electronic dictionary 100 and the identification code of the electronic dictionary 100, via broadcast communication (simultaneous broadcast communication) using short-range wireless communication, and other electronic dictionaries 100 and the information processing device 200 receive this headword information.

[0015] Next, with reference to Figure 2, the internal functional configuration of the electronic dictionary 100 will be described. The electronic dictionary 100 comprises a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, an operation unit 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, a display unit 14, a storage unit 15, and a communication unit 16. Each part of the electronic dictionary 100 is connected via a bus 17.

[0016] The CPU 11 controls various parts of the electronic dictionary 100. The CPU 11 reads a specified program from the system programs and various application programs stored in the memory unit 15 and loads it into the RAM 13. The CPU 11 executes various processes in cooperation with the loaded program. The operation unit 12 includes, for example, a touch panel superimposed on the display panel of the display unit 14, and various operation keys. The operation unit 12 detects contact operations on the touch panel and outputs operation information indicating the location where the contact operation was detected to the CPU 11. The operation unit 12 also outputs operation signals to the CPU 11 corresponding to input operations such as pressing operation keys. The RAM 13 is a volatile semiconductor memory and includes a memory area that temporarily holds various programs executed by the CPU 11 and data related to the execution of future programs. In this embodiment, the RAM 13 includes a search candidate buffer 131 (buffer area) that temporarily stores search results in the dictionary content of the first headword, which is a search candidate, in the search information sharing process (see Figure 4) described later.

[0017] The display unit 14 has a display panel such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or ELD (Electro-Luminescent Display). The display unit 14 displays various information such as dictionary content according to control signals and image data transmitted from the CPU 11. The communication unit 16 is a wireless communication module that uses a communication standard such as BLE. The CPU 11 transmits and receives information with external devices such as other electronic dictionaries 100 and information processing devices 200 via the communication unit 16.

[0018] The storage unit 15 is a non-temporary recording medium readable by the CPU 11 and includes a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory. The storage unit 15 stores a search information sharing program 151 for executing search information sharing processing and various data. The search information sharing program 151 is stored in the storage unit 15 in the form of program codes readable by a computer. Further, the storage unit 15 stores a dictionary DB (database) 152. Dictionary contents are registered in the dictionary DB 152. The dictionary contents include a plurality of headwords and explanatory information associated with each headword. A plurality of dictionary contents corresponding to a plurality of types of dictionaries may be registered in the dictionary DB 152. The type of dictionary is not particularly limited as long as it is in a form in which explanatory information is associated with a headword, and may be a language dictionary such as a Japanese dictionary or an English-Japanese dictionary, or an encyclopedia or a terminology dictionary in various fields. Further, the storage unit 15 stores the identification code of its own device.

[0019] Next, referring to FIG. 3, the internal functional configuration of the information processing apparatus 200 will be described. The information processing apparatus 200 includes a CPU 21, an operation unit 22, a RAM 23, a display unit 24, a storage unit 25, and a communication unit 26. Each unit of the information processing apparatus 200 is connected via a bus 27. The CPU 21, the display unit 24, and the communication unit 26 have the same configuration as the CPU 11, the display unit 14, and the communication unit 16, and different parts will be mainly described.

[0020] The CPU 21 controls each part of the information processing apparatus 200. The operation unit 22 has a keyboard with various keys and a pointing device such as a mouse. The operation unit 22 receives key operations and position operations from the user and outputs the operation information to the CPU 21. The operation unit 22 may include a touch panel provided on the display panel of the display unit 24. The RAM 23 is a volatile semiconductor memory and has a memory area for temporarily holding various programs executed by the CPU 21 and data related to the execution of programs to come. The storage unit 25 is composed of an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), an SSD (Solid State Drive), etc., and stores information in a readable and writable manner. The storage unit 25 stores various programs and various information.

[0021] Next, referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the operation of the information processing system 1000 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing system 1000 is used in a class in a predetermined classroom where a teacher who possesses the information processing apparatus 200 and students who each possess an electronic dictionary 100 have entered. Here, it is assumed that the electronic dictionary 100 is in a state where it can receive broadcast communication from other electronic dictionaries 100. Also, it is assumed that the information processing apparatus 200 is in a state where it can receive broadcast communication from the electronic dictionary 100.

[0022] For example, in the electronic dictionary 101 which is a predetermined electronic dictionary 100, when a predetermined heading word is input from the student via the operation unit 12 and an execution instruction for the search process of the second heading word which is the heading word input from the student is input, the CPU 11 of the electronic dictionary 101 executes the search information sharing process shown in FIG. 4 according to the search information sharing program 151. In addition, in the electronic dictionary 100 other than the electronic dictionary 101, when a predetermined heading word is input from the student via the operation unit 12 and an execution instruction for the search process of the second heading word which is the heading word input from the student is input, the search information sharing process is executed according to the search information sharing program 151.

[0023] First, the CPU 11 of the electronic dictionary 101 retrieves explanatory information corresponding to the second headword from the dictionary DB 152 as part of the search process for the second headword. Next, the CPU 11 of the electronic dictionary 101 displays the second headword and its explanatory information on the display unit 14 as the search result for the second headword (step S1). Next, the CPU 11 of the electronic dictionary 101 transmits headword information, including the information of the second headword retrieved in step S1, via broadcast communication through the communication unit 16 (step S2). The headword information includes the retrieved second headword, the identification code of the electronic dictionary 100 that performed the search, the date and time the search was performed, etc. The headword information may also include information about the type of dictionary content (e.g., English-Japanese dictionary) in which the second headword was searched. Here, the CPU 11 functions as a transmitter. Electronic dictionaries 100 other than the electronic dictionary 101 receive the headword information from the electronic dictionary 101 and execute the processes from step S5 onwards, which will be described later. The information processing device 200 receives headword information from the electronic dictionary 101 and stores the received headword information in the storage unit 25.

[0024] Next, the CPU 11 of the electronic dictionary 101 determines whether or not it has received headword information transmitted by broadcast communication from the other electronic dictionary 100 in connection with the search process for the second headword performed in the other electronic dictionary 100 (step S3). If the electronic dictionary 101 has not received headword information from the other electronic dictionary 100 (step S3; NO), the CPU 11 of the electronic dictionary 101 determines whether or not a predetermined headword has been input from the student via the operation unit 12, and whether or not an instruction to execute a search process for the second headword, which is the headword input from the student, has been input (step S4). If an instruction to execute a search process for the predetermined second headword has been input from the student (step S4; YES), the CPU 11 of the electronic dictionary 101 proceeds to step S1 for the search information sharing process. On the other hand, if no instruction to execute a search process for the predetermined second headword has been input from the student (step S4; NO), the CPU 11 of the electronic dictionary 101 proceeds to step S3 for the search information sharing process.

[0025] Furthermore, if the electronic dictionary 101 receives headword information from another electronic dictionary 100 (step S3; YES), the CPU 11 of the electronic dictionary 101 obtains the first headword, which is a headword searched in the other electronic dictionary 100 and is included in the received headword information (step S5). In other words, the CPU 11 of the electronic dictionary 101 obtains headword information that includes information on headwords searched in the other electronic device (electronic dictionary 100). Here, the CPU 11 functions as an acquisition unit. Next, the CPU 11 of the electronic dictionary 101 performs a search process for the first headword obtained in step S5 in the background. Specifically, the CPU 11 of the electronic dictionary 101 obtains explanatory information corresponding to the first headword from the dictionary DB 152. Next, the CPU 11 of the electronic dictionary 101 temporarily stores the explanatory information for the first headword in the search candidate buffer 131 as a search result for the first headword (step S6). Here, the CPU 11 functions as a search unit. The CPU 11 of the electronic dictionary 101 may store the search results for the first headword, which have been temporarily stored in the search candidate buffer 131, until they are read in step S9 described later, or it may delete them after a predetermined time has passed since they were saved. Also, in step S6, if there is not enough free space in the search candidate buffer 131, the CPU 11 of the electronic dictionary 101 deletes the information stored in the search candidate buffer 131 in chronological order and saves the search results for the first headword.

[0026] Next, as shown in Figure 5, the CPU 11 of the electronic dictionary 101 displays recommendation information 142 with the first headword as a search candidate in a pop-up on the display screen 141 shown on the display unit 14 (step S7). In other words, the CPU 11 of the electronic dictionary 101 displays the headwords included in the headword information transmitted by broadcast communication from another electronic device (electronic dictionary 100) as search candidates on the display unit 14. Here, the CPU 11 functions as a control unit. In step S7, the CPU 11 of the electronic dictionary 101 has received multiple headword information from the other electronic dictionary 100, and if it has obtained multiple first headwords from this multiple headword information, it displays the multiple first headwords in a list in the recommendation information 142.

[0027] Next, the CPU 11 of the electronic dictionary 101 receives a request to specify one of the first headwords displayed as search candidates in the recommendation information 142 shown in step S7, and determines whether or not one of the first headwords has been specified by the student via the operation unit 12 (step S8). If one of the first headwords is specified as a search candidate (step S8; YES), the CPU 11 of the electronic dictionary 101 reads the search results for the specified first headword from the search candidate buffer 131 and displays them on the display unit 14 (step S9). This allows the search results for a headword to be displayed without the student having to input a headword via the operation unit 12, saving the effort required to obtain information corresponding to the headword. Next, the CPU 11 of the electronic dictionary 101 moves the search information sharing process to step S3. On the other hand, if no first headword is specified (step S8; NO), the CPU 11 of the electronic dictionary 101 moves the search information sharing process to step S3.

[0028] Furthermore, the CPU 21 of the information processing device 200 analyzes the headword information stored in the memory unit 25 at a predetermined timing, such as the end of a class, and displays the analysis results on the display unit 24. This allows the teacher to understand the usage status of the electronic dictionary 100 by the students from the analysis results. The CPU 11 of the electronic dictionary 100 may store headword information received from other electronic dictionaries 100 and search history information of second headwords searched on its own device in the memory unit 15. In this case, the CPU 11 of the electronic dictionary 100 may analyze the headword information received from other electronic dictionaries 100 and the search history information of second headwords searched on its own device at a predetermined timing, and display the analysis results on the display unit 14. Here, the CPU 11 functions as an analysis unit.

[0029] As described above, the electronic device (electronic dictionary 100) of this embodiment includes an acquisition unit (CPU 11) that acquires headword information including information on headwords searched on other electronic devices, and a control unit (CPU 11) that displays the headwords included in the headword information acquired by the acquisition unit as search candidates on the display unit 14 of the device. Therefore, headwords can be searched without the need for students to input headwords via the operation unit 12, and the effort required to obtain information corresponding to the headwords can be reduced. This improves the efficiency of search operations when users perform searches using the electronic device.

[0030] In the electronic device (electronic dictionary 100) of this embodiment, headword information is transmitted by broadcast communication using short-range wireless communication. Therefore, headword information can be sent and received between multiple electronic dictionaries 100, or between an electronic dictionary 100 and an information processing device 200, without establishing a one-to-one communication connection.

[0031] The electronic device (electronic dictionary 100) of this embodiment is equipped with a search unit (CPU 11) that searches for headwords (first headwords) included in the headword information in the background on the device itself. Therefore, headwords can be searched without the need for students to input headwords via the operation unit 12, and the effort required to obtain information corresponding to the headwords can be reduced.

[0032] In the electronic device (electronic dictionary 100) of this embodiment, the search unit (CPU 11) temporarily stores the search results for a headword (first headword) in a memory buffer area (search candidate buffer 131). Therefore, the search results for a headword can be retained until the student user specifies the headword displayed as a search candidate.

[0033] In the electronic device (electronic dictionary 100) of this embodiment, when the control unit (CPU 11) receives a request for a headword (first headword) displayed as a search candidate, it reads the search result for the first headword from the buffer area (search candidate buffer 131) and displays it on the display unit 14. Therefore, the search result for the first headword can be displayed on the display unit 14 without the need for the student to input a headword via the operation unit 12, thus saving the effort required to obtain information corresponding to the headword.

[0034] In the electronic device (electronic dictionary 100) of this embodiment, when a headword (second headword) different from the headword (first headword) used as a search candidate is found in the device, a transmitting unit (CPU 11) is provided that transmits headword information including the information of the found second headword via broadcast communication. Therefore, headword information can be transmitted between multiple electronic dictionaries 100, or between an electronic dictionary 100 and an information processing device 200, without establishing a one-to-one communication connection.

[0035] In the electronic device (electronic dictionary 100) of this embodiment, when the acquisition unit acquires multiple headword information, the control unit (CPU 11) displays the multiple headwords included in the multiple headword information as a list of search candidates. Therefore, even when multiple headword information is acquired, the headword can be searched without the student having to input the headword via the operation unit 12, thus saving the effort required to obtain information corresponding to the headword.

[0036] In the electronic device (electronic dictionary 100) of this embodiment, the headwords included in the headword information are headwords searched in the dictionary content. Therefore, without the need for students to input headwords via the operation unit 12, it is possible to search for headwords searched in the dictionary content of other electronic dictionaries 100, thus saving the effort required to obtain information corresponding to the headwords.

[0037] The electronic device (electronic dictionary 100) of this embodiment includes an analysis unit (CPU 11) that analyzes headword information and search history information of headwords different from the headwords (first headwords) that are search candidates on the device (second headwords). Therefore, the usage status of the electronic dictionary 100 by students can be understood from the analysis results.

[0038] In the electronic device (electronic dictionary 100) of this embodiment, the headword information includes an identification code of another electronic device and / or information about dictionary content in which the headword was searched on another electronic device. Therefore, it is possible to identify the electronic device in which the headword included in the headword information was searched and to identify the dictionary content in which the headword was searched.

[0039] The information processing system 1000 of this embodiment comprises an electronic device (electronic dictionary 100) and an information processing device 200 that is communicatively connected to the electronic device. The electronic device includes a transmitting unit (CPU 11) that, when a headword different from a headword (first headword) is found as a search candidate in the device (second headword), transmits headword information including the information of the found second headword via broadcast communication. The information processing device 200 receives and analyzes the headword information. Therefore, a teacher using the information processing device 200 can understand the usage status of the electronic dictionary 100 by students from the analysis results.

[0040] The above description discloses an example in which the storage units 15 and 25 are used as a computer-readable medium for the program according to the present invention, but the invention is not limited to this example. Other computer-readable mediums that can be used include ROM (Read Only Memory) and portable recording media such as CD-ROM. Furthermore, a carrier wave can also be used as a medium for providing the program data according to the present invention via a communication line.

[0041] The above description of the embodiment is merely an example of the electronic device, information processing system, and program according to the present invention, and is not limited thereto. For example, the information processing system 1000 in the above embodiment can be used not only in classes at educational institutions but also in corporate training and the like. Furthermore, the electronic dictionary 100 may be able to communicate with an external device such as a server via Wi-Fi communication. In this case, in the search information sharing process described above, other electronic dictionaries 100 other than electronic dictionary 101 transmit headword information to the external device in conjunction with the search process for the second headword. When the external device receives headword information from the other electronic dictionary 100, it transmits the headword information transmitted from the other electronic dictionary 100 to electronic dictionary 101. As a result, electronic dictionary 101 acquires the headword information transmitted from the other electronic dictionary 100.

[0042] While embodiments of the present invention have been described, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but includes the scope of the invention as described in the claims and its equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 100, 101~105 Electronic dictionary (electronic device), 11 CPU (acquisition unit, control unit, search unit, transmission unit, analysis unit)

Claims

1. An acquisition unit that acquires headword information including information on headwords searched on other electronic devices, A control unit that causes the headwords included in the headword information acquired by the acquisition unit to be displayed on the display unit as search candidates on the device, Electronic devices equipped with these features.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the aforementioned headword information is transmitted by broadcast communication via short-range wireless communication.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a search unit that searches for the headwords included in the headword information in the background on the device itself.

4. The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the search unit temporarily stores the search results for the headword in a memory buffer area.

5. The electronic device according to claim 4, wherein when the control unit receives a specification of the headword displayed as a search candidate, it reads the search result for the headword from the buffer area and displays it on the display unit.

6. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a transmitting unit that, when the device itself searches for a headword different from the headword used as a search candidate, transmits the headword information, including the information of the searched headword, via broadcast communication.

7. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein when the acquisition unit acquires a plurality of headwords, the control unit displays a list of the plurality of headwords included in the plurality of headwords as search candidates.

8. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the headwords included in the headword information are headwords searched in the dictionary content.

9. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising an analysis unit that analyzes the aforementioned headword information and search history information of headwords different from the aforementioned headwords used as search candidates in the device itself.

10. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the headword information includes an identification code of the other electronic device and / or information relating to dictionary content in which the headword was searched in the other electronic device.

11. An electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, An information processing device that is communicatively connected to the aforementioned electronic device, Equipped with, The electronic device includes a transmitting unit that, when a headword different from the headword used as a search candidate is found in the device, transmits the headword information, including the information of the found headword, via broadcast communication. The aforementioned information processing device is an information processing system that receives and analyzes the aforementioned headword information.

12. Computers in electronic devices, An acquisition unit that acquires headword information, including information on headwords searched on other electronic devices. A control unit that displays the headwords included in the headword information acquired by the acquisition unit as search candidates on the display unit of the device. A program that makes it function as such.

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