JP3674427B2 - Information providing server and information providing method - Google Patents

Description

【００３２】
（コンテンツの選択動作）
次に、このようにして利用者とコンテンツの距離が算出されると、ステップＳ２４において、コンテンツ選択部１８が、端末装置２を利用している利用者iに対して、Ｎ個のコンテンツの中からＤijが小さいコンテンツを順に一定の数だけ選択し、利用者iと類似度の高いコンテンツ集合Ｗを形成する。
【００３３】
次にステップＳ２５において、Ｄijが大きいコンテンツを順に一定の数だけ選択し、利用者iと類似度の低いコンテンツ集合Ｖを形成する。
【００３４】
なおここでは、数式（１）により利用者iとコンテンツｊの距離を使ってコンテンツを選択したが、距離の他に、情報空間内における利用者iとコンテンツｊとの方向を考慮して選択をしてもよい。例えば、利用者iのサンプルスコアＸiqを中心にして特定の方向にカテゴリスコアＹjqが位置するようなコンテンツｊを優先的に選択するようにしてもよい。
【００３５】
コンテンツメニューには、「嗜好に合致するコンテンツ」、「嗜好に合致しないコンテンツ」、「利用者の分類情報」の３種類のページがある。ステップＳ２６において、コンテンツ集合Ｗに属するコンテンツの「タイトル」、「作者」、「ジャンル」等をコンテンツ属性テーブルから取り出して「嗜好に合致するコンテンツ」のページを作成する。ステップＳ２７において、コンテンツ集合Ｖに属するコンテンツの「タイトル」、「作者」、「ジャンル」等をコンテンツ属性テーブルから取り出して「嗜好に合致しないコンテンツ」のページを作成する。
【００３６】
ステップＳ２８において「利用者の分類情報」のページを作成する。利用者分類部２０には、図６のような「利用者分類基準」テーブルが格納されている。これはスコア計算部１７において計算したサンプルスコアＸiq(i＝１〜Ｍ，ｑ＝１〜Ｑ)に関する条件と、分類結果の関係を示したものである。
例えば、「第１次元のサンプルスコア Ｘi1が1.0以上であり、かつ第２次元のサンプルスコアＸi2が2.0以上である利用者は、新作コンテンツの好きな利用者と判定する」といったルールを記述している。利用者分類部２０では、この利用者分類基準テーブルに従って、利用者を分類し、「利用者の分類情報」のページを作成する。なお、利用者の分類に使用するサンプルスコアの次元および閾値は、あらかじめ設定しておく。
【００３７】
このようにして作成したコンテンツメニューをサーバから端末装置２側に送信して当該図５に示すフローチャートの全ルーチンを終了する。
【００３８】
この図５に示すフローチャートの全ルーチンが終了すると、当該情報提供システムは、図４に示すフローチャートのステップＳ１４に進むこととなる。
【００３９】
〔利用者によるコンテンツの選択動作〕
次に、図４に示すフローチャートのステップＳ１４において、利用者は、端末装置２を介して受信したコンテンツメニューの中から所望のコンテンツの選択を行う。
【００４０】
すなわち、コンテンツメニューには、図７に示すような「嗜好に合致するコンテンツ」、「嗜好に合致しないコンテンツ」、「利用者分類情報」の３つのページがある。利用者が「嗜好に合致するコンテンツ」を選択した場合、端末装置２のディスプレイには、例えば図８に示すような表示形式でタイトル、作者、ジャンル等が表示される。また「嗜好に合致しないコンテンツ」を選択した場合も、同様な形式でコンテンツの情報が表示される。利用者は２つのページを比較することにより、サーバ１の情報選択性能を容易に評価することができ、サーバ１を信頼して使用することができる。
また、「利用者分類情報」を選択した場合は、例えば「あなたは新作コンテンツの好きなタイプと判定されました」というように利用者の分類に関するメッセージが出力される。
利用者は、「嗜好に合致するコンテンツ」あるいは「嗜好に合致しないコンテンツ」のページから所望のコンテンツを選択する。これにより、端末装置２からサーバ１に対して、利用者により選択されたコンテンツに対応するコンテンツＩＤが送信される。
【００４１】
〔サーバによる選択されたコンテンツＩＤの格納動作〕
次に、端末装置２から利用者により選択されたコンテンツに対応するコンテンツＩＤが送信されると、ステップＳ１５において、サーバ１の制御部１９が、この送信されたコンテンツＩＤと共に、利用者ＩＤ及び利用日時を利用履歴格納部１５に格納する。これにより、利用履歴格納部１５には、図９に示すような形式で、コンテンツＩＤ、利用者ＩＤ、利用日時等の属性を含む利用履歴テーブルが形成されることとなる。
【００４２】
〔コンテンツデータの送信動作〕
次に、制御部１９は、このような格納制御と共に、受信したコンテンツＩＤに対応するコンテンツデータの検索を行う。コンテンツ属性格納部１３には、図１０に示すような形式でコンテンツ属性テーブルが形成されており、コンテンツを一意に識別するコンテンツＩＤ毎に、タイトル、作者、ジャンル、登録日時、コンテンツ本体の格納場所等の属性が格納されている。なお、ここでいう作者とは、コンテンツを制作した人にとどまらず、監督者、演奏者、編集者、出演者等も含む。
【００４３】
制御部１９は、利用者の端末装置２から送信されたコンテンツＩＤに基づいてコンテンツ属性テーブルからコンテンツデータ本体の格納場所を検索する。コンテンツデータ本体は、コンテンツ格納部１２に格納されており、制御部１９は、前記検索した格納場所から（コンテンツ格納部１２から）コンテンツデータ本体を読み出し、これを端末装置２に送信する。
【００４４】
これにより、利用者は、ステップＳ１６において、サーバ１から送信されたコンテンツデータ（利用者が選択したコンテンツ）に対応する音声出力或いは映像を、端末装置２を介して得ることができる。
【００４５】
以上の説明から明らかなように、当該実施の形態の情報提供システムは、利用者の利用履歴を用いて利用者の興味に適合すると判定したコンテンツ及び適合しないと判定したコンテンツを選択して利用者に提示すると共に、利用者の分類情報を利用者に提示する。
【００４６】
次に、本発明に係る情報提供サーバ及び情報提供方法に関連する参考例について、その実施の形態を図面を参照しながら説明する。
［実施の形態の構成］
図１１は、本発明に関連する参考例としての情報提供システムの全体の構成を示している。図１１は、本発明に関連する参考例としての情報提供方法の実施形態を適用した情報提供システムでもある。図１に示した実施形態と同様に、コンテンツを提供するサーバ１ａと利用者の端末装置２とが、ＬＡＮ、電話網、専用線等のネットワーク３を介して接続されることで構成されている。
【００４７】
サーバ１ａは、次の構成を有している。
ネットワーク３の制御を行う送受信部１１。テキスト、オーディオ、静止画、ビデオ等のデータ形式のコンテンツを格納するコンテンツ格納部１２。各コンテンツを識別するためのコンテンツＩＤと、コンテンツのタイトル、作者、登録年月日等の属性データとを格納するコンテンツ属性格納部１３。利用者のコンテンツに対する評価情報を格納する評価情報格納部２５。評価情報から行列形式のデータを作成する評価行列生成部２６。評価情報から生成された評価行列を使って情報空間内に各利用者と各コンテンツをその類似性に基づき配置するスコアを計算するスコア計算部１７。端末装置２を利用している利用者のスコアと差が小さいスコアを持つコンテンツと、端末装置２を利用している利用者のスコアとの差が大きいコンテンツを選択するコンテンツ選択部１８。当該サーバ１ａ全体を制御する制御部１９。スコア計算部の結果を使って利用者の分類を行なう利用者分類部２０である。
【００４８】
なお、この図１１においては、サーバ１ａの各部をハードウェア的に示しているが、これは、各部を内蔵プログラム処理としてソフトウェア的に実現してもよい。これにより、当該サーバ１ａとして、パーソナルコンピュータ、ワークステーション、その他のコンピュータにより実現可能となる。
【００４９】
端末装置２は、ＣＰＵ、ＲＡＭ、ＲＯＭ、ネットワーク制御回路、キーボードやマウス等の入力装置、ディスプレイ等の表示装置で構成されており、内蔵されたプログラムにより処理動作を行う。この端末装置２としては、一般的なパーソナルコンピュータを用いることができる。
【００５０】
［実施の形態の動作］
次に、このような構成を有する実施の形態の情報提供システムの動作説明をする。
【００５１】
〔利用者登録動作〕
本実施形態の情報提供システムにおいて、情報提供サービスを受けるためには、利用者はサーバ１ａ側に利用者登録を行うようになっている。この利用者登録は、図１２に示すフローチャートに従って行われるようになっており、利用者登録を行う際には、利用者は、ステップＳ３１において端末装置２を操作して例えば利用者の氏名、性別、住所、生年月日等の利用者属性の入力を行う。この利用者により入力された利用者属性を示す利用者属性情報は、ネットワーク３を介してサーバ１ａ側に送信される。
【００５２】
サーバ１ａは、制御部の制御１９により、利用者から送信された利用者属性情報を送受信部１１を介して受信し、これを利用者属性格納部１４に供給する。利用者属性格納部１４には、図３に示すような形式で、利用者を一意に識別するための利用者ＩＤ、パスワード、利用者により入力された氏名等の属性を含む利用者属性テーブルが設けられている。
【００５３】
制御部１９は、ステップＳ３２において、利用者から送信された利用者属性情報が、利用者属性テーブルに既に格納されていないことを確認した後、未使用の利用者ＩＤ及びそれに対応したパスワードを作成する。そして、ステップＳ３３において、利用者属性格納部１４に新たなエントリを割り当て、受信した利用者属性情報と共に、この形成した利用者ＩＤ及びパスワードを利用者属性テーブルに格納する。また、制御部１９は、このような格納制御と共に、形成した利用者ＩＤ及びパスワードを、送受信部１１を介して端末装置２側に送信する。
【００５４】
利用者は、サーバ１ａ側から送信された利用者ＩＤ及びパスワードを端末装置２を介して取得し、以後、この利用者ＩＤ及びパスワードを用いて当該情報提供システムにおける情報提供サービスを受けることとなる。
次に、ステップＳ３４において制御部１９は、コンテンツ属性格納部から適当なコンテンツを選択し、評価用コンテンツリストを作成する。評価用コンテンツリストには、各コンテンツのタイトル、作者などが含まれている。そして送受信部１１を介してこれを端末装置２に送信する。
ステップＳ３５において、利用者は、評価用コンテンツリストに記述されているコンテンツに対して評価作業を行なう。例えば、興味の度合いを１（全く興味なし）から５（非常に興味あり）までの５段階で評価し、この評価情報をサーバ１ａに送信する。利用者は、自分が知らない等のコンテンツに関しては評価しなくても良い。
ステップＳ３６において、サーバ１ａは図１３に示すような形式で、利用者が評価したコンテンツについての評価情報を評価情報格納部２５に格納する。なお、利用者の評価情報登録は、利用者登録時のみでなく、情報提供時に適宜行なう。
【００５５】
〔情報提供動作〕
次に、このようにサーバ１ａ側に利用者属性と評価情報が登録され、利用者が利用者ＩＤ及びパスワードを取得すると、当該情報提供システムにおける情報提供サービスを受けることが可能となる。
【００５６】
この情報提供サービスは、図１４に示すフローチャートに従って行われるようになっており、情報提供サービスを受ける場合、ステップＳ４１において、利用者は端末装置２を操作して前記取得した利用者ＩＤ及びパスワードの入力を行う。端末装置２は、利用者により入力された利用者ＩＤ及びパスワードをサーバ１ａに送信する。
【００５７】
サーバ１ａの制御部１９は、この利用者ＩＤ及びパスワードを送受信部１１を介して受信し、ステップＳ４２において利用者属性格納部１４の利用者属性テーブルに登録されている利用者ＩＤ及びパスワードと比較する。そして、両者の一致が検出された場合にのみ、以下に説明する情報提供サービスを行う。なお、両者が不一致であった場合には、端末装置２側にエラーコードを返信する。これにより、利用者は、利用者ＩＤやパスワードの入力誤り等に気付き、再度、正確な利用者ＩＤ或いはパスワードの入力を行うこととなる。
【００５８】
次に、サーバ１ａの制御部１９は、利用者から送信された利用者ＩＤ及びパスワードと、利用者属性格納部１４の利用者属性テーブルに登録されている利用者ＩＤ及びパスワードとの一致を検出すると、ステップＳ４３において利用者に対し個別にコンテンツメニューを作成し、これを利用者側に送信する。
【００５９】
〔コンテンツメニューの作成動作〕
具体的には、このコンテンツメニューは、図１５に示すフローチャートに従って作成されるようになっている。このフローチャートは、前記ステップＳ４２において制御部１９が前記両者の一致を検出することでスタートとなりステップＳ５１に進む。
【００６０】
以下の説明においては、Ｍ人の利用者が合計Ｎ個のコンテンツについて評価を行なっているものとする。
ステップＳ５１では、評価行列生成部２６が、評価情報格納部２５から利用者ＩＤ、コンテンツＩＤ、評価値を読み出し、行列形式のデータ評価行列Ｂを作成する。評価行列Ｂの要素ｂijは、利用者i（i＝１〜Ｍ）が、コンテンツｊ（j＝１〜Ｎ）を評価している場合は、その評価値となり、評価していない場合は０である。
【００６１】
（スコアの計算動作）
次に、ステップＳ５２では、図１に示すスコア計算部１７が、情報空間内に各利用者と各コンテンツをその類似性に基づき配置するスコアを計算する。
【００６２】
具体的には、このスコア計算部１７は、評価行列Ｂに対し、例えば多変量解析の一手法である主成分分析を適用して得られるようになっている。これを適用すると、各利用者に対してサンプルスコア（主成分得点）Ｘiq(i＝１〜Ｍ，ｑ＝１〜Ｑ)、各コンテンツに対してカテゴリスコア（主成分負荷量）Ｙjq(j＝１〜Ｎ、q＝１〜Ｑ)が得られる。定数Ｑは、有効な成分の数であり、Q＜min(M, N)である。ここで、２つのサンプルスコアの差は２人の利用者間の類似度を表し、２つのカテゴリスコアの差は２つのコンテンツ間の類似度を表す。また、サンプルスコアとカテゴリスコアの差は利用者とコンテンツの間の類似度を表す。
【００６３】
例えば、３人の利用者i＝１、２、３がいて、それらのサンプルスコアがＸ1q、Ｘ2q、Ｘ3qである場合、Ｘ1qとＸ2qの差（距離）が小さく、Ｘ1qとＸ3qの差（距離）が大きければ、利用者1と利用者２はコンテンツに対する嗜好の類似度が高く、利用者１と利用者３は類似度が低いと判断できる。同様なことはカテゴリスコアＹjqについても成立し、サンプルスコアＸiqとカテゴリスコアYjqとの間でも成立する。
【００６４】
なお、当該実施の形態では、前記スコアの計算に主成分分析を適用することとしたが、これは、同様な結果の得られる他の統計手法を用いるようにしてもよい。
【００６５】
（利用者とコンテンツの距離の算出動作）
次に、ステップＳ５３において、コンテンツ選択部１８が、以下の数式（１）に基づいて利用者ｉとコンテンツｊの距離Ｄｉｊを算出する。
【００６６】
【数２】

【００６７】
（コンテンツの選択動作）
次に、このようにして利用者とコンテンツの距離が算出されると、ステップＳ５４において、コンテンツ選択部１８が、端末装置２を利用している利用者iに対して、Ｎ個のコンテンツの中からＤijが小さいコンテンツを順に一定の数だけ選択し、利用者iと類似度の高いコンテンツ集合Ｗを形成する。
【００６８】
次に、ステップＳ５５において、Ｄijが大きいコンテンツを順に一定の数だけ選択し、利用者iと類似度の低いコンテンツ集合Ｖを形成する。
【００６９】
なおここでは、数式（１）により利用者iとコンテンツｊの距離を使ってコンテンツを選択したが、距離の他に、情報空間内における利用者iとコンテンツｊとの方向を考慮して選択をしてもよい。例えば、利用者iのサンプルスコアＸiqを中心にして特定の方向にカテゴリスコアＹjqが位置するようなコンテンツｊを優先的に選択するようにしてもよい。
【００７０】
コンテンツメニューには、「嗜好に合致するコンテンツ」、「嗜好に合致しないコンテンツ」、「利用者の分類情報」の３種類のページがある。
ステップＳ５６において、コンテンツ集合Ｗに属するコンテンツの「タイトル」、「作者」、「ジャンル」等をコンテンツ属性テーブルから取り出して「嗜好に合致するコンテンツ」のページを作成する。
ステップＳ５７において、コンテンツ集合Ｖに属するコンテンツの「タイトル」、「作者」、「ジャンル」等をコンテンツ属性テーブルから取り出して「嗜好に合致しないコンテンツ」のページを作成する。
【００７１】
ステップＳ５８において「利用者の分類情報」のページを作成する。利用者分類部２０には、図６のような「利用者分類基準」テーブルが格納されている。これはスコア計算部１７において計算したサンプルスコアＸiq(i＝１〜Ｍ，ｑ＝１〜Ｑ)に関する条件と、分類結果の関係を示したものである。
例えば、「第１次元のサンプルスコア Ｘi1が1.0以上であり、かつ第２次元のサンプルスコアＸi2が2.0以上である利用者は、新作コンテンツの好きな利用者と判定する」といったルールを記述している。利用者分類部２０では、この利用者分類基準テーブルに従って、利用者を分類し、「利用者の分類情報」のページを作成する。なお、利用者の分類に使用するサンプルスコアの次元および閾値は、あらかじめ設定しておく。
【００７２】
このようにして作成したコンテンツメニューをサーバから端末装置２側に送信して当該図１５に示すフローチャートの全ルーチンを終了する。
【００７３】
この図１５に示すフローチャートの全ルーチンが終了すると、当該情報提供システムは、図１４に示すフローチャートのステップＳ４４に進むこととなる。
【００７４】
〔利用者によるコンテンツの選択動作〕
次に、図１４に示すフローチャートのステップＳ４４において、利用者は、端末装置２を介して受信したコンテンツメニューの中から所望のコンテンツの選択を行う。
【００７５】
すなわち、コンテンツメニューには、図７に示すような「嗜好に合致するコンテンツ」、「嗜好に合致しないコンテンツ」、「利用者分類情報」の３つのページがある。利用者が「嗜好に合致するコンテンツ」を選択した場合、端末装置２のディスプレイには、例えば図８に示すような表示形式でタイトル、作者、ジャンル等が表示される。また「嗜好に合致しないコンテンツ」を選択した場合も、同様な形式でコンテンツの情報が表示される。利用者は２つのページを比較することにより、サーバ１ａの情報選択性能を容易に評価することができ、サーバ１ａを信頼して使用することができる。
また、「利用者分類情報」を選択した場合は、例えば「あなたは新作コンテンツの好きなタイプと判定されました」というように利用者の分類に関するメッセージが出力される。
利用者は、「嗜好に合致するコンテンツ」あるいは「嗜好に合致しないコンテンツ」のページから所望のコンテンツを選択する。これにより、端末装置２からサーバ１ａに対して、利用者により選択されたコンテンツに対応するコンテンツＩＤが送信される。
【００７６】
制御部１９は、利用者の端末装置２から送信されたコンテンツＩＤに基づいてコンテンツ属性テーブルからコンテンツデータ本体の格納場所を検索する。コンテンツデータ本体は、コンテンツ格納部１２に格納されており、制御部１９は、前記検索した格納場所から（コンテンツ格納部１２から）コンテンツデータ本体を読み出し、これを端末装置２に送信する。
【００７７】
これにより、利用者は、ステップＳ４５において、サーバ１ａから送信されたコンテンツデータ（利用者が選択したコンテンツ）に対応するテキスト、音声、或いは映像を、端末装置２を介して得ることができる。
その後、ステップＳ４６において、利用者はコンテンツを表示・再生した後、そのコンテンツに対する評価作業を行なうことができる。利用者の評価情報は端末装置からサーバに送信され、ステップＳ４７において、前述したように評価情報格納部２５に格納される。利用者がコンテンツの再生後に評価作業を行いたくない場合は、これを省略できる。
【００７８】
以上の説明から明らかなように、当該参考例における実施形態の情報提供サーバは、利用者の評価情報を用いて利用者の興味に適合すると判定したコンテンツ及び適合しないと判定したコンテンツを選択し利用者に提示すると共に、利用者の分類情報を利用者に提示する。
【００７９】
最後に、上述の実施の形態の説明は本発明の一例である。このため、本発明は、この実施の形態に限定されることはなく、この実施の形態以外であっても、本発明に係る技術的思想を逸脱しない範囲であれば種々の変更が可能であることは勿論である。
【００８０】
【発明の効果】
以上の通り本発明によれば、利用者の嗜好に適合すると判定した情報だけでなく、利用者の嗜好に適合しないと判定した情報も合わせて提供するので、利用者はこの２種類の情報を比較することにより、情報提供システムの持つ情報選択能力と個人的適応能力とを容易に判定することができ、情報提供システムを信頼して使用することができる。その結果、この情報提供システムの利用が促進されることになる。
【００８１】
また、本発明によれば、情報提供サーバが情報選択の過程において作成した利用者に関する分類情報を、利用者に提示するので、情報提供サーバに対する利用者の関心度や信用度を高めることができ、この情報提供サーバの利用が促進される。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】 本発明に係る情報提供サーバ及び情報提供方法を適用した実施の形態としての情報提供システムの全体的な構成を示すブロック図である。
【図２】 図１に示す情報提供システムにおける利用者の登録手順を示すフローチャートである。
【図３】 図１に示す情報提供システムの情報提供サーバ側に設けられている利用者属性格納部のデータ形式を示す図である。
【図４】 図１に示す情報提供システムの情報提供動作を説明するためのフローチャートである。
【図５】 図１に示す情報提供システムのコンテンツメニューの形成動作を説明するためのフローチャートである。
【図６】 図１に示す情報提供システムの情報提供サーバ側に設けられている利用者分類部のデータ形式を示す図である。
【図７】 端末装置側に表示されるコンテンツメニューの表示例を示す図である。
【図８】 端末装置側に表示されるコンテンツメニューにおける「利用者の嗜好に合致するコンテンツ」ページの表示例を示す図である。
【図９】 図１に示す情報提供システムの情報提供サーバ側に設けられている利用履歴格納部のデータ形式を示す図である。
【図１０】 図１に示す情報提供システムの情報提供サーバ側に設けられているコンテンツ属性格納部のデータ形式を示す図である。
【図１１】 本発明に関連する参考例としての情報提供サーバ及び情報提供方法を適用した実施形態としての情報提供システムの全体的な構成を示すブロック図である。
【図１２】 図１１に示す情報提供システムにおける利用者の登録手順を示すフローチャートである。
【図１３】 図１１に示す情報提供システムの情報提供サーバ側に設けられている評価情報格納部のデータ形式を示す図である。
【図１４】 図１１に示す情報提供システムの情報提供動作を説明するためのフローチャートである。
【図１５】 図１１に示す情報提供システムのコンテンツメニューの形成動作を説明するためのフローチャートである。
【符号の説明】
１…サーバ
２…端末装置
３…ネットワーク
１１…送受信部
１２…コンテンツ格納部
１３…コンテンツ属性格納部
１４…利用者属性格納部
１５…利用者履歴格納部
１６…利用者頻度情報作成部
１７…スコア計算部
１８…コンテンツ選択部
１９…制御部
２０…利用者分類部[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  The present invention provides network information in the Internet, personal computer communication, etc.serverProviding information suitable for applicationserverAnd information provision methods that can provide information that matches the interests and preferences of users.serverAnd an information providing method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, with the spread of the Internet and personal computer communication, for example, an information providing service using the WWW (World Wide Web) of the Internet is widely used to provide information to a large number of users via a network. However, the amount of information available to network users is increasing, and it has become difficult to search for necessary information from a large amount of information. Therefore, it is required to select and present only appropriate information that suits the user's interests and preferences from a lot of information.
[0003]
On the other hand, conventionally, an information search method and an information filtering method for selecting information suitable for a user's interests and preferences have been proposed. For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-190443, a large number of users who use information evaluate each information, calculate the similarity between users based on the evaluation information, and searchers An information search method that preferentially provides information highly evaluated by users with high similarity is proposed. In this information retrieval method, it is also possible to perform fine control by designating the age, gender, and occupation of the user used for similarity calculation.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when the conventional information retrieval method and information filtering method are applied to the information providing system, the usage rate and satisfaction of the users are not necessarily high. One reason for this is that it is difficult for the user to determine the information selection ability of the system. In other words, the conventional system selects and presents only information that has been determined to fit the user's interests and preferences from among a large amount of information. It is difficult to determine the information selection ability of the system because it is impossible to know whether it exists (since it is not known what information is determined not to match the user's interests and preferences). Therefore, even if the information selection function is provided, the system may not be used.
[0005]
In addition, presenting user classification information such as how the system classifies users in the information selection process and what types of users it considers to the user is important to the user's interest and credit However, in the conventional system, such information cannot be presented to the user.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and provides information that allows the user to easily evaluate the information selection performance of the system and present the user classification information generated by the system to the user. The object is to provide a system and an information providing method.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  Then, in order to solve the said subject, this invention provides the following (1)-(4).
(1) In an information providing server that is connected to a plurality of terminals via a network and provides desired content to one user who uses the terminals,
  Content attribute storage means for storing content identification information for identifying content and content attribute information of the content in association with each other;
  User attribute storage means for storing at least each user identification information corresponding to each user using each terminal;
  Usage history storage means for associating content identification information for identifying content used by a user with user identification information of a user who has used the content as usage history information;
  Based on the content attribute information stored in the content attribute storage means and the usage history information stored in the usage history storage means, a usage frequency value for each user's content is calculated as a value of 0 or more, Usage frequency information forming means for forming matrix data having the calculated usage frequency value as a matrix element;
  A score that uses a multivariate analysis method for the matrix data and calculates both scores of a category score that is a coordinate value in the information space of each content and a sample score that is a coordinate value in the information space of each user The calculation means, and as the multivariate analysis method, the difference in the category score is smaller between the content similar to the numerical pattern by each matrix element in the matrix data, and the numerical pattern by each matrix element in the matrix data is similar Score calculation means using a multivariate analysis method having the characteristic that the difference in the sample score is smaller between users,
  Based on the calculation result of the score calculation means, a distance value in the information space between the sample score of the one user and the category score of each content is calculated, and a predetermined number of the calculated distance values are in ascending order. A content set having high similarity with the one user is selected by selecting content, and a content set having low similarity with the one user by selecting a predetermined number of content in descending order of the distance value Content selection means for forming
  For the two content sets formed by the content selection unit, at least one of content identification information and content attribute information of each content corresponding to each set is read from the content attribute storage unit, and the one use A transmission means for transmitting to the terminal used by the person,
  An information providing server characterized by comprising:
(2) In an information providing server that is connected to a plurality of terminals via a network and provides desired content to one user who uses the terminals,
  Content attribute storage means for storing content identification information for identifying content and content attribute information of the content in association with each other;
  User attribute storage means for storing at least each user identification information corresponding to each user using each terminal;
  Usage history storage means for associating content identification information for identifying content used by a user with user identification information of a user who has used the content as usage history information;
  Based on the content attribute information stored in the content attribute storage means and the usage history information stored in the usage history storage means, a usage frequency value for each user's content is calculated as a value of 0 or more, Usage frequency information forming means for forming matrix data having the calculated usage frequency value as a matrix element;
  A score that uses a multivariate analysis method for the matrix data and calculates both scores of a category score that is a coordinate value in the information space of each content and a sample score that is a coordinate value in the information space of each user The calculation means, and as the multivariate analysis method, the difference in the category score is smaller between the content similar to the numerical pattern by each matrix element in the matrix data, and the numerical pattern by each matrix element in the matrix data is similar Score calculation means using a multivariate analysis method having the characteristic that the difference in the sample score is smaller between users,
  Based on the calculation result of the score calculation means, the distance value in the information space between the sample score of the one user and the category score of each content is calculated, and at least the predetermined distance values are predetermined in ascending order. Content selection means for selecting a number of contents;
  The conditions related to the sample score are associated with the user classification information.Based on user classification criteria, user classification information indicating preference characteristics of the one user is generated from a sample score which is a coordinate value in the information space of the one user calculated by the score calculation means. User classification means;
  Reading at least one of content identification information and content attribute information corresponding to the content selected by the content selection means from the content attribute storage means, together with user classification information generated by the user classification means, A transmission means for transmitting to a terminal used by one user;
  An information providing server characterized by comprising:
(3) In an information providing method in an information providing server that is connected to a plurality of terminals via a network and provides desired content to one user who uses the terminals,
  The information providing server includes content attribute storage means, user attribute storage means, usage history storage means, usage frequency information formation means, score calculation means, content selection means, and transmission means,
  The information providing server is
  Associating content identification information for identifying content with content attribute information of the contentAboveA content attribute storage step of storing in the content attribute storage means;
  Each user identification information corresponding to each user using each terminal isAboveA user attribute storage step for storing at least in the user attribute storage means;
  Usage history information is obtained by associating content identification information for identifying content used by a user with user identification information of a user who has used the content.AboveA usage history storage step of storing in the usage history storage means;
  Based on the content attribute information stored in the content attribute storage means and the usage history information stored in the usage history storage means, the usage frequency value for each user's content is set to a value of 0 or more.AboveA usage frequency information forming step of forming matrix data having the calculated usage frequency value as a matrix element by the usage frequency information forming unit,
  A multivariate analysis method is used for the matrix data, and both a score of a category score that is a coordinate value in the information space of each content and a sample score that is a coordinate value in the information space of each user are obtained.AboveA score calculation step of calculating by a score calculation means, and as the multivariate analysis method, the content of similar numerical patterns by the matrix elements in the matrix data is smaller in the category score difference, and each matrix in the matrix data A score calculation step using a multivariate analysis method having a characteristic that the difference between the sample scores becomes smaller between users having similar numerical patterns by elements;
  Based on the calculation result of the score calculation step, the distance value in the information space between the sample score of the one user and the category score of each content is calculated.AboveCalculated by the content selection means, a predetermined number of contents are selected in ascending order of the calculated distance value to form a content set having high similarity with the one user, and a predetermined number of the distance value in descending order. A content selection step of selecting the content of the content to form a content set having low similarity with the one user;
  For the two content sets formed by the content selection step, at least one of content identification information and content attribute information of each content corresponding to each set is read from the content attribute storage means,By the transmission meansA transmission step of transmitting to a terminal used by the one user;
  TheExecutionAn information providing method characterized by:
(4) In an information providing method in an information providing server that is connected to a plurality of terminals via a network and provides desired contents to one user who uses the terminals,
  The information providing server includes content attribute storage means, user attribute storage means, usage history storage means, usage frequency information forming means, score calculation means, content selection means, user classification means, and transmission means. And
  The information providing server is
  Associating content identification information for identifying content with content attribute information of the contentAboveA content attribute storage step of storing in the content attribute storage means;
  Each user identification information corresponding to each user using each terminal isAboveA user attribute storage step for storing at least in the user attribute storage means;
  Usage history information is obtained by associating content identification information for identifying content used by a user with user identification information of a user who has used the content.AboveA usage history storage step of storing in the usage history storage means;
  Based on the content attribute information stored in the content attribute storage means and the usage history information stored in the usage history storage means, the usage frequency value for each user's content is set to a value of 0 or more.AboveA usage frequency information forming step of forming matrix data having the calculated usage frequency value as a matrix element by the usage frequency information forming unit,
  A multivariate analysis method is used for the matrix data, and both a score of a category score that is a coordinate value in the information space of each content and a sample score that is a coordinate value in the information space of each user are obtained.AboveA score calculation step of calculating by a score calculation means, and as the multivariate analysis method, the content of similar numerical patterns by the matrix elements in the matrix data is smaller in the category score difference, and each matrix in the matrix data A score calculation step using a multivariate analysis method having a characteristic that the difference between the sample scores becomes smaller between users having similar numerical patterns by elements;
  Based on the calculation result of the score calculation step, the distance value in the information space between the sample score of the one user and the category score of each content is calculated.AboveA content selection step of calculating by a content selection means and selecting at least a predetermined number of content in ascending order of the calculated distance value;
  The conditions related to the sample score are associated with the user classification information.Based on user classification criteria,By the user classification meansA user classification step for generating user classification information indicating a preference characteristic of the one user from a sample score which is a coordinate value in the information space of the one user calculated by the score calculation step;
  Reading at least one of content identification information and content attribute information corresponding to the content selected in the content selection step from the content attribute storage means, together with the user classification information generated in the user classification step,By the transmission meansA transmission step of transmitting to a terminal used by the one user;
  TheExecutionAn information providing method characterized by:
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and provides both information determined to match the user's interests and preferences and information determined to not match. By comparing these two pieces of information, the user canInformation providing serverEasily evaluate the information selection performance ofInformation providing serverCan be used with confidence. In addition, since the classification information of the user used in the information selection process is presented to the user,Information providing serverIt is possible to increase the interest level and reliability of users.
  Information provision according to the present inventionserverAnd preferred method of providing informationFruitEmbodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention can be applied to an information providing system as shown in FIG.
[0009]
[Configuration of the embodiment]
FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of an information providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is also an information providing system to which an embodiment of the information providing method of the present invention is applied. As shown in FIG. 1, this information providing system is configured by connecting a server 1 that provides content and a terminal device 2 of a user via a network 3 such as a LAN, a telephone network, a dedicated line, or the like. Yes.
[0010]
The server 1 has the following configuration.
A transmission / reception unit 11 that controls the network 3. A content storage unit 12 that stores content in a data format such as text, audio, still image, and video. A content attribute storage unit 13 that stores a content ID for identifying each content and attribute data such as a title, an author, and a registration date of the content. A user attribute storage unit 14 for storing the user ID and password of the user. A usage history storage unit 15 that records and stores the content ID of the used content and the user ID of the user who uses the content ID. A usage frequency information forming unit 16 that creates data representing content usage frequency for each user based on data in the usage history storage unit 15 with reference to attribute data in the content attribute storage unit 13. A score calculation unit 17 that calculates a score for arranging each user and each content in the information space based on the similarity using the usage frequency information. A content selection unit 18 that selects content having a small difference from the score of the user using the terminal device 2 and content having a large difference between the score of the user using the terminal device 2. A control unit 19 that controls the entire server 1. This is a user classifying unit 20 that classifies users using the result of the score calculating unit.
[0011]
In FIG. 1, each unit of the server 1 is shown in hardware, but this may be realized in software by using each unit 11 to 20 as a built-in program process. Thereby, the server 1 can be realized by a personal computer, a workstation, or other computers.
[0012]
The terminal device 2 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, a network control circuit, an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse, and a display device such as a display, and performs a processing operation using a built-in program. As the terminal device 2, a general personal computer can be used.
[0013]
[Operation of the embodiment]
Next, the operation of the information providing system according to the embodiment having such a configuration will be described.
[0014]
[User registration operation]
In the information providing system of this embodiment, in order to receive the information providing service, the user performs user registration on the server 1 side. This user registration is performed according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 2, and when performing user registration, the user operates the terminal device 2 in step S1, for example, the name and sex of the user. Enter user attributes such as address and date of birth. The user attribute information indicating the user attribute input by the user is transmitted to the server 1 side via the network 3.
[0015]
The server 1 receives the user attribute information transmitted from the user via the transmission / reception unit 11 under the control of the control unit 19, and supplies this to the user attribute storage unit 14. The user attribute storage unit 14 has a user attribute table including attributes such as a user ID, a password, and a name input by the user in a format as shown in FIG. Is provided.
[0016]
In step S2, after confirming that the user attribute information transmitted from the user is not already stored in the user attribute table, the control unit 19 creates an unused user ID and a corresponding password. To do. In step S3, a new entry is assigned to the user attribute storage unit 14, and the formed user ID and password are stored in the user attribute table together with the received user attribute information. Moreover, the control part 19 transmits the formed user ID and password to the terminal device 2 side via the transmission / reception part 11 with such storage control.
[0017]
The user obtains the user ID and password transmitted from the server 1 via the terminal device 2, and thereafter receives the information providing service in the information providing system using the user ID and password. .
[0018]
[Information provision operation]
Next, when the user attributes are registered on the server 1 side in this way and the user acquires the user ID and password, the information providing service in the information providing system can be received.
[0019]
This information providing service is performed according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 4. When receiving the information providing service, in step S11, the user operates the terminal device 2 to obtain the acquired user ID and password. Make input. The terminal device 2 transmits the user ID and password input by the user to the server 1.
[0020]
The control unit 19 of the server 1 receives the user ID and password via the transmission / reception unit 11 and compares them with the user ID and password registered in the user attribute table of the user attribute storage unit 14 in step S12. To do. The information providing service described below is performed only when a match between the two is detected. If the two do not match, an error code is returned to the terminal device 2 side. As a result, the user notices an input error of the user ID or password, and inputs the correct user ID or password again.
[0021]
Next, the control unit 19 of the server 1 detects a match between the user ID and password transmitted from the user and the user ID and password registered in the user attribute table of the user attribute storage unit 14. Then, in step S13, a content menu is individually created for the user and transmitted to the user side.
[0022]
[Content menu creation operation]
Specifically, this content menu is created according to the flowchart shown in FIG. This flowchart starts when the control unit 19 detects the coincidence of both in step S12, and proceeds to step S21.
[0023]
(Use frequency data creation operation)
In step S21, the usage frequency data creating unit 16 shown in FIG. 1 creates the matrix-type usage frequency data A as described below. In the following, it is assumed that the number of users stored in the usage history storage unit 15 is M and the number of contents is N.
[0024]
The usage frequency data creation unit 16 performs a search by combining the table of the content attribute storage unit 13 and the table of the usage history storage unit 15 using “content ID”, which both have in common, as a key, and the table of the usage history storage unit 15 A user i (i = 1 to M) takes out a record using the content j (j = 1 to N). Let L be the number of records. The record number L is used as the usage frequency aij for the content j of the user i. If user i is not using content j, aij is set to 0.
[0025]
In this way, the usage frequency data creation unit 16 creates the usage frequency data A of a matrix of M rows and N columns whose elements are the usage frequencies aij (i = 1 to M, j = 1 to N). When the usage frequency data A is created, the server 1 proceeds to step S22 in FIG.
[0026]
(Score calculation operation)
Next, in step S22, the score calculation unit 17 shown in FIG. 1 calculates a score for arranging each user and each content in the information space based on the similarity.
[0027]
Specifically, the score calculation unit 17 is obtained by applying, for example, principal component analysis, which is one method of multivariate analysis, to the usage frequency data A. When this is applied, a sample score (principal component score) Xiq (i = 1 to M, q = 1 to Q) for each user, and a category score (principal component load) Yjq (j = 1-N, q = 1-Q). The constant Q is the number of effective components, and Q <min (M, N). Here, the difference between the two sample scores represents the similarity between the two users, and the difference between the two category scores represents the similarity between the two contents. The difference between the sample score and the category score represents the degree of similarity between the user and the content.
[0028]
  For example, there are 3 users i = 1, 2, 3 and thosesampleWhen the scores are X1q, X2q, and X3q, if the difference (distance) between X1q and X2q is small and the difference (distance) between X1q and X3q is large, user 1 and user 2 have a high preference similarity to content. It can be determined that the user 1 and the user 3 have low similarity. The same applies to the category score Yjq, and also holds between the sample score Xiq and the category score Yjq.
[0029]
In this embodiment, the principal component analysis is applied to the score calculation. However, other statistical methods that obtain similar results may be used.
[0030]
(Calculation of distance between user and content)
Next, in step S23, the content selection unit 18 calculates a distance Dij between the user i and the content j based on the following formula (1).
[0031]
[Expression 1]

[0032]
(Content selection operation)
Next, when the distance between the user and the content is calculated in this way, in step S24, the content selection unit 18 determines the content of N contents for the user i who uses the terminal device 2. The content set W having a high similarity to the user i is formed by selecting a certain number of contents in order of Dij.
[0033]
Next, in step S25, a certain number of contents having large Dij are selected in order, and a content set V having a low similarity with user i is formed.
[0034]
Here, the content is selected using the distance between the user i and the content j according to the formula (1). However, in addition to the distance, the selection is performed in consideration of the direction between the user i and the content j in the information space. May be. For example, the content j in which the category score Yjq is located in a specific direction around the sample score Xiq of the user i may be preferentially selected.
[0035]
There are three types of pages in the content menu: “contents that match preferences”, “contents that do not match preferences”, and “user classification information”. In step S26, the “title”, “author”, “genre”, and the like of the content belonging to the content set W are extracted from the content attribute table to create a “content that matches preferences” page. In step S27, the “title”, “author”, “genre”, and the like of the content belonging to the content set V are extracted from the content attribute table to create a “content that does not match preferences” page.
[0036]
In step S28, a “user classification information” page is created. The user classification unit 20 stores a “user classification standard” table as shown in FIG. This shows the relationship between the conditions regarding the sample score Xiq (i = 1 to M, q = 1 to Q) calculated by the score calculation unit 17 and the classification result.
For example, a rule such as “a user whose first-dimensional sample score Xi1 is 1.0 or more and whose second-dimensional sample score Xi2 is 2.0 or more is determined as a favorite user of the new content” is described. Yes. The user classification unit 20 classifies the users according to the user classification reference table, and creates a “user classification information” page. Note that the dimension and threshold value of the sample score used for user classification are set in advance.
[0037]
The content menu created in this way is transmitted from the server to the terminal device 2 side, and all the routines of the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 are completed.
[0038]
When all the routines in the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 are completed, the information providing system proceeds to step S14 in the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0039]
[Content selection by user]
Next, in step S <b> 14 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 4, the user selects a desired content from the content menu received via the terminal device 2.
[0040]
  That is, the content menu has three pages, “content that matches preferences”, “content that does not match preferences”, and “user classification information” as shown in FIG. When the user selects “content that matches preference”, the title, author, genre, and the like are displayed on the display of the terminal device 2 in a display format as shown in FIG. Also, when “content that does not match preferences” is selected, content information is displayed in a similar format. By comparing the two pages, the userServer 1Information selection performance can be easily evaluated,Server 1Can be used with confidence.
  When “user classification information” is selected, a message regarding the classification of the user is output, for example, “You are determined to be a favorite type of new content”.
  The user selects desired content from the “contents that match preferences” or “contents that do not match preferences” pages. As a result, the content ID corresponding to the content selected by the user is transmitted from the terminal device 2 to the server 1.
[0041]
[Storage operation of selected content ID by server]
Next, when the content ID corresponding to the content selected by the user is transmitted from the terminal device 2, in step S15, the control unit 19 of the server 1 together with the transmitted content ID, the user ID and the usage. The date and time are stored in the usage history storage unit 15. As a result, a usage history table including attributes such as a content ID, a user ID, and a usage date is formed in the usage history storage unit 15 in the format shown in FIG.
[0042]
[Content data transmission operation]
Next, the control unit 19 searches for content data corresponding to the received content ID together with such storage control. In the content attribute storage unit 13, a content attribute table is formed in a format as shown in FIG. 10, and for each content ID that uniquely identifies the content, a title, an author, a genre, a registration date, and a storage location of the content body Etc. are stored. Note that the term “author” as used herein includes not only the person who created the content but also the director, performer, editor, performer, and the like.
[0043]
The control unit 19 searches the storage location of the content data body from the content attribute table based on the content ID transmitted from the user terminal device 2. The content data body is stored in the content storage unit 12, and the control unit 19 reads the content data body from the searched storage location (from the content storage unit 12) and transmits it to the terminal device 2.
[0044]
Thereby, the user can obtain the audio output or the video corresponding to the content data (content selected by the user) transmitted from the server 1 via the terminal device 2 in step S16.
[0045]
  As is clear from the above explanation, the implementationForm ofThe state information provision system uses the user's usage history to select and present to the user the content that has been determined to match the user's interest and the content that has been determined not to match, and use the user's classification information Present it to the person.
[0046]
  Next, provision of information according to the present inventionserverAnd information provision methodReference examples related toabout,The embodimentThis will be described with reference to the drawings.
  [Configuration of the embodiment]
  FIG. 11 shows the present invention.As a reference example related to1 shows the overall configuration of an information providing system. FIG. 11 shows the present invention.As a reference example related toIt is also an information providing system to which an embodiment of the information providing method is applied. Shown in Figure 1FruitSimilar to the embodiment, a server 1a that provides content and a terminal device 2 of a user are connected to each other via a network 3 such as a LAN, a telephone network, and a dedicated line.
[0047]
  The server 1a has the following configuration.
  A transmission / reception unit 11 that controls the network 3. A content storage unit 12 that stores content in a data format such as text, audio, still image, and video. A content attribute storage unit 13 that stores a content ID for identifying each content and attribute data such as a title, an author, and a registration date of the content. An evaluation information storage unit 25 that stores evaluation information for the user's content. An evaluation matrix generation unit 26 that creates data in a matrix format from the evaluation information. A score calculation unit 17 that calculates a score for arranging each user and each content in the information space based on the similarity using an evaluation matrix generated from the evaluation information. A content selection unit 18 that selects content having a small difference from the score of the user using the terminal device 2 and content having a large difference between the score of the user using the terminal device 2. Server 1aA control unit 19 for controlling the whole. This is a user classifying unit 20 that classifies users using the result of the score calculating unit.
[0048]
  In addition, this FIG.1Server 1aAlthough each part is shown in hardware, this may be realized in software as each part is built-in program processing. As a result, the server 1a can be realized by a personal computer, a workstation, or another computer.
[0049]
The terminal device 2 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, a network control circuit, an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse, and a display device such as a display, and performs a processing operation using a built-in program. As the terminal device 2, a general personal computer can be used.
[0050]
[Operation of the embodiment]
Next, the operation of the information providing system according to the embodiment having such a configuration will be described.
[0051]
[User registration operation]
In the information providing system of this embodiment, in order to receive the information providing service, the user performs user registration on the server 1a side. This user registration is performed according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 12, and when performing user registration, the user operates the terminal device 2 in step S31, for example, the user's name, gender, and the like. Enter user attributes such as address and date of birth. The user attribute information indicating the user attribute input by the user is transmitted to the server 1a side via the network 3.
[0052]
  Server 1a is controlled by the control unit19Thus, the user attribute information transmitted from the user is received via the transmission / reception unit 11 and supplied to the user attribute storage unit 14. The user attribute storage unit 14 has a user attribute table including attributes such as a user ID, a password, and a name input by the user in a format as shown in FIG. Is provided.
[0053]
  Control unit19In step S32, after confirming that the user attribute information transmitted from the user is not already stored in the user attribute table, an unused user ID and a corresponding password are created. In step S33, a new entry is assigned to the user attribute storage unit 14, and the formed user ID and password are stored in the user attribute table together with the received user attribute information. Moreover, the control part 19 transmits the formed user ID and password to the terminal device 2 side via the transmission / reception part 11 with such storage control.
[0054]
  The user acquires the user ID and password transmitted from the server 1a side via the terminal device 2, and thereafter receives the information providing service in the information providing system using the user ID and password. .
  Next, in step S34, the control unit19Selects an appropriate content from the content attribute storage unit and creates an evaluation content list. The content list for evaluation includes the title and author of each content. And the transceiver11This through the terminal device2Send to.
  In step S35, the user performs an evaluation operation on the content described in the evaluation content list. For example, the degree of interest is evaluated in five stages from 1 (not interested at all) to 5 (very interested), and this evaluation information is stored in the server.1aSend to. The user does not have to evaluate content that the user does not know.
  In step S36, the server1aIs stored in the format shown in FIG. 13 and the evaluation information about the content evaluated by the user is stored in the evaluation information.Part 25To store. Note that the user's evaluation information registration is appropriately performed not only when the user is registered but also when the information is provided.
[0055]
[Information provision operation]
Next, when the user attribute and the evaluation information are registered on the server 1a side as described above and the user acquires the user ID and the password, the information providing service in the information providing system can be received.
[0056]
This information providing service is performed according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 14. When receiving the information providing service, in step S41, the user operates the terminal device 2 to obtain the acquired user ID and password. Make input. The terminal device 2 transmits the user ID and password input by the user to the server 1a.
[0057]
The control unit 19 of the server 1a receives the user ID and password via the transmission / reception unit 11, and compares them with the user ID and password registered in the user attribute table of the user attribute storage unit 14 in step S42. To do. The information providing service described below is performed only when a match between the two is detected. If the two do not match, an error code is returned to the terminal device 2 side. As a result, the user notices an input error of the user ID or password, and inputs the correct user ID or password again.
[0058]
Next, the control unit 19 of the server 1a detects a match between the user ID and password transmitted from the user and the user ID and password registered in the user attribute table of the user attribute storage unit 14. Then, in step S43, a content menu is created individually for the user and transmitted to the user side.
[0059]
[Content menu creation operation]
Specifically, this content menu is created according to the flowchart shown in FIG. This flowchart starts when the control unit 19 detects the coincidence of both in step S42, and proceeds to step S51.
[0060]
In the following description, it is assumed that M users are evaluating a total of N contents.
In step S51, the evaluation matrix generation unit 26 reads the user ID, content ID, and evaluation value from the evaluation information storage unit 25, and creates a data evaluation matrix B in a matrix format. The element bij of the evaluation matrix B is an evaluation value when the user i (i = 1 to M) is evaluating the content j (j = 1 to N), and is 0 when the evaluation is not performed. is there.
[0061]
(Score calculation operation)
Next, in step S52, the score calculation unit 17 shown in FIG. 1 calculates a score for arranging each user and each content in the information space based on the similarity.
[0062]
Specifically, the score calculation unit 17 is obtained by applying, for example, principal component analysis, which is one method of multivariate analysis, to the evaluation matrix B. When this is applied, a sample score (principal component score) Xiq (i = 1 to M, q = 1 to Q) for each user, and a category score (principal component load) Yjq (j = 1-N, q = 1-Q). The constant Q is the number of effective components, and Q <min (M, N). Here, the difference between the two sample scores represents the similarity between the two users, and the difference between the two category scores represents the similarity between the two contents. The difference between the sample score and the category score represents the degree of similarity between the user and the content.
[0063]
  For example, there are 3 users i = 1, 2, 3 and thosesampleWhen the scores are X1q, X2q, and X3q, if the difference (distance) between X1q and X2q is small and the difference (distance) between X1q and X3q is large, user 1 and user 2 have a high preference similarity to content. It can be determined that the user 1 and the user 3 have low similarity. The same applies to the category score Yjq, and also holds between the sample score Xiq and the category score Yjq.
[0064]
In this embodiment, the principal component analysis is applied to the score calculation. However, other statistical methods that obtain similar results may be used.
[0065]
(Calculation of distance between user and content)
Next, in step S53, the content selection unit 18 calculates a distance Dij between the user i and the content j based on the following formula (1).
[0066]
[Expression 2]

[0067]
(Content selection operation)
Next, when the distance between the user and the content is calculated in this way, in step S54, the content selection unit 18 gives the user i who is using the terminal device 2 a medium of N content. The content set W having a high degree of similarity with the user i is formed by selecting a certain number of content items with the smallest Dij in order.
[0068]
Next, in step S55, a certain number of contents having large Dij are selected in order, and a content set V having a low similarity with the user i is formed.
[0069]
Here, the content is selected using the distance between the user i and the content j according to the formula (1). However, in addition to the distance, the selection is performed in consideration of the direction between the user i and the content j in the information space. May be. For example, the content j in which the category score Yjq is located in a specific direction around the sample score Xiq of the user i may be preferentially selected.
[0070]
There are three types of pages in the content menu: “contents that match preferences”, “contents that do not match preferences”, and “user classification information”.
In step S56, the “title”, “author”, “genre”, and the like of the content belonging to the content set W are extracted from the content attribute table to create a “content that matches preferences” page.
In step S57, “title”, “author”, “genre”, and the like of content belonging to the content set V are extracted from the content attribute table, and a “content that does not match preferences” page is created.
[0071]
In step S58, a “user classification information” page is created. The user classification unit 20 stores a “user classification standard” table as shown in FIG. This shows the relationship between the conditions regarding the sample score Xiq (i = 1 to M, q = 1 to Q) calculated by the score calculation unit 17 and the classification result.
For example, a rule such as “a user whose first-dimensional sample score Xi1 is 1.0 or more and whose second-dimensional sample score Xi2 is 2.0 or more is determined as a favorite user of the new content” is described. Yes. The user classification unit 20 classifies the users according to the user classification reference table, and creates a “user classification information” page. Note that the dimension and threshold value of the sample score used for user classification are set in advance.
[0072]
The content menu created in this way is transmitted from the server to the terminal device 2 side, and all the routines in the flowchart shown in FIG. 15 are finished.
[0073]
When all the routines in the flowchart shown in FIG. 15 are completed, the information providing system proceeds to step S44 in the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0074]
[Content selection by user]
Next, in step S <b> 44 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 14, the user selects a desired content from the content menu received via the terminal device 2.
[0075]
  That is, the content menu has three pages, “content that matches preferences”, “content that does not match preferences”, and “user classification information” as shown in FIG. When the user selects “content that matches preference”, the title, author, genre, and the like are displayed on the display of the terminal device 2 in a display format as shown in FIG. Also, when “content that does not match preferences” is selected, content information is displayed in a similar format. By comparing the two pages, the userServer 1aInformation selection performance can be easily evaluated,Server 1aCan be used with confidence.
  When “user classification information” is selected, a message regarding the classification of the user is output, for example, “You are determined to be a favorite type of new content”.
  The user selects desired content from the “contents that match preferences” or “contents that do not match preferences” pages. Thereby, the content ID corresponding to the content selected by the user is transmitted from the terminal device 2 to the server 1a.
[0076]
The control unit 19 searches the storage location of the content data body from the content attribute table based on the content ID transmitted from the user terminal device 2. The content data body is stored in the content storage unit 12, and the control unit 19 reads the content data body from the searched storage location (from the content storage unit 12) and transmits it to the terminal device 2.
[0077]
Thereby, the user can obtain the text, audio, or video corresponding to the content data (content selected by the user) transmitted from the server 1a via the terminal device 2 in step S45.
Thereafter, in step S46, after the user displays / reproduces the content, the user can perform an evaluation operation on the content. The user evaluation information is transmitted from the terminal device to the server, and stored in the evaluation information storage unit 25 as described above in step S47. This can be omitted if the user does not want to perform the evaluation work after the content is played back.
[0078]
  As is clear from the above explanation,Embodiment in Reference ExampleInformation provisionserverUses the evaluation information of the user to select the content determined to match the user's interest and the content determined to be unsuitable to present to the user, and to present the user's classification information to the user.
[0079]
Finally, the description of the above embodiment is an example of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the technical idea according to the present invention, even if it is not this embodiment. Of course.
[0080]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, not only the information determined to match the user's preference but also the information determined not to match the user's preference are provided together, so the user can provide these two types of information. By comparing, it is possible to easily determine the information selection ability and the personal adaptation ability of the information provision system, and the information provision system can be used reliably. As a result, the use of this information providing system is promoted.
[0081]
  In addition, according to the present invention, provision of informationserverProvides the user with classification information about the user created in the information selection process.serverThis information can increase the interest and trust of usersserverIs promoted.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 Information provision according to the present inventionserverAnd implementation of information provision methodForm ofstateAsIt is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of this information provision system.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a user registration procedure in the information providing system shown in FIG. 1;
3 is a diagram of the information providing system shown in FIG.Information provisionIt is a figure which shows the data format of the user attribute storage part provided in the server side.
4 is a flowchart for explaining an information providing operation of the information providing system shown in FIG.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a content menu forming operation of the information providing system shown in FIG. 1;
6 is a diagram of the information providing system shown in FIG.Information provisionIt is a figure which shows the data format of the user classification | category part provided in the server side.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a display example of a content menu displayed on the terminal device side.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a display example of a “content that matches user preferences” page in a content menu displayed on the terminal device side;
9 is a diagram of the information providing system shown in FIG.Information provisionIt is a figure which shows the data format of the utilization log | history storage part provided in the server side.
FIG. 10 shows the information providing system shown in FIG.Information provisionIt is a figure which shows the data format of the content attribute storage part provided in the server side.
FIG. 11 shows the present invention.As a related reference exampleInformation provisionserverAnd the application of information provision methodsProcessingstateAsIt is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of this information provision system.
12 is a flowchart showing a user registration procedure in the information providing system shown in FIG.
13 shows the information providing system shown in FIG.Information provisionIt is a figure which shows the data format of the evaluation information storage part provided in the server side.
14 is a flowchart for explaining an information providing operation of the information providing system shown in FIG.
15 is a flowchart for explaining a content menu forming operation of the information providing system shown in FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
  1 ... Server
  2 ... Terminal equipment
  3 ... Network
  11: Transmitter / receiver
  12. Content storage unit
  13: Content attribute storage unit
  14: User attribute storage
  15. User history storage unit
  16. User frequency information creation unit
  17 ... Score calculator
  18 ... Content selection section
  19 ... Control unit
  20 ... User classification section

Claims (4)

In an information providing server that is connected to a plurality of terminals via a network and provides desired content to one user who uses the terminal,
Content attribute storage means for storing content identification information for identifying content and content attribute information of the content in association with each other;
User attribute storage means for storing at least each user identification information corresponding to each user using each terminal;
Usage history storage means for associating content identification information for identifying content used by a user with user identification information of a user who has used the content as usage history information;
Based on the content attribute information stored in the content attribute storage means and the usage history information stored in the usage history storage means, a usage frequency value for each user's content is calculated as a value of 0 or more, Usage frequency information forming means for forming matrix data having the calculated usage frequency value as a matrix element;
A score that uses a multivariate analysis method for the matrix data and calculates both scores of a category score that is a coordinate value in the information space of each content and a sample score that is a coordinate value in the information space of each user The calculation means, and as the multivariate analysis method, the difference in the category score is smaller between the content similar to the numerical pattern by each matrix element in the matrix data, and the numerical pattern by each matrix element in the matrix data is similar Score calculation means using a multivariate analysis method having the characteristic that the difference in the sample score is smaller between users,
Based on the calculation result of the score calculation means, a distance value in the information space between the sample score of the one user and the category score of each content is calculated, and a predetermined number of the calculated distance values are in ascending order. A content set having high similarity with the one user is selected by selecting content, and a content set having low similarity with the one user by selecting a predetermined number of content in descending order of the distance value Content selection means for forming
For the two content sets formed by the content selection unit, at least one of content identification information and content attribute information of each content corresponding to each set is read from the content attribute storage unit, and the one use A transmission means for transmitting to the terminal used by the person,
An information providing server characterized by comprising: In an information providing server that is connected to a plurality of terminals via a network and provides desired content to one user who uses the terminal,
Content attribute storage means for storing content identification information for identifying content and content attribute information of the content in association with each other;
User attribute storage means for storing at least each user identification information corresponding to each user using each terminal;
Usage history storage means for associating content identification information for identifying content used by a user with user identification information of a user who has used the content as usage history information;
Based on the content attribute information stored in the content attribute storage means and the usage history information stored in the usage history storage means, a usage frequency value for each user's content is calculated as a value of 0 or more, Usage frequency information forming means for forming matrix data having the calculated usage frequency value as a matrix element;
A score that uses a multivariate analysis method for the matrix data and calculates both scores of a category score that is a coordinate value in the information space of each content and a sample score that is a coordinate value in the information space of each user The calculation means, and as the multivariate analysis method, the difference in the category score is smaller between the content similar to the numerical pattern by each matrix element in the matrix data, and the numerical pattern by each matrix element in the matrix data is similar Score calculation means using a multivariate analysis method having the characteristic that the difference in the sample score is smaller between users,
Based on the calculation result of the score calculation means, the distance value in the information space between the sample score of the one user and the category score of each content is calculated, and at least the predetermined distance values are predetermined in ascending order. Content selection means for selecting a number of contents;
Based on the user classification criteria that associates the condition relating to the sample score and the user classification information, the one from the sample score that is the coordinate value in the information space of the one user calculated by the score calculation means. User classification means for generating user classification information indicating the preference characteristics of two users;
Reading at least one of content identification information and content attribute information corresponding to the content selected by the content selection means from the content attribute storage means, together with user classification information generated by the user classification means, A transmission means for transmitting to a terminal used by one user;
An information providing server characterized by comprising: In an information providing method in an information providing server that is connected to a plurality of terminals via a network and provides desired content to one user who uses the terminals,
The information providing server includes content attribute storage means, user attribute storage means, usage history storage means, usage frequency information formation means, score calculation means, content selection means, and transmission means,
The information providing server is
And the content identification information identifying the content, and content attribute storing step of storing the content attribute storage means in association with the content attribute information of the content,
A user attribute storing step of storing at least individual user identification information associated with the respective user who uses each terminal to the user attribute storage means,
Content identification information identifying the content that is utilized by the user, a use history storage step of storing in said use history storing means as the use history information in association with user identification information of the user using the content,
The content attribute information stored in the content attribute storing means, based on the use history information stored in the use history storage unit, the use frequency of the use frequency value of each content of each user as a value of 0 or more A usage frequency information forming step of forming matrix data having the calculated usage frequency value as a matrix element by the usage frequency information forming unit;
Using a multivariate analysis method to the matrix data, and category scores are coordinate values in the information space of each content, the score calculation both score sample score to be the coordinate value of the information space of each user A score calculation step that is calculated by means, and as the multivariate analysis method, the difference in the category score is smaller between contents similar in numerical pattern by each matrix element in the matrix data, and depending on each matrix element in the matrix data A score calculation step using a multivariate analysis method having a characteristic that the difference between the sample scores becomes smaller between users having similar numerical patterns;
Based on the calculation result of the score calculation step, the distance value in the information space of the sample scores and the category score for each content of said one of the user calculated by the content selection device, the calculated distance value A predetermined number of contents are selected in ascending order to form a content set having a high similarity with the one user, and a predetermined number of contents are selected in descending order of the distance value and similar to the one user. A content selection step for forming a low-content set;
For the two content sets formed by the content selection step, at least one of content identification information and content attribute information of each content corresponding to each set is read from the content attribute storage unit, and transmitted by the transmission unit A transmission step of transmitting to a terminal used by the one user;
Information providing method, characterized by the execution. In an information providing method in an information providing server that is connected to a plurality of terminals via a network and provides desired content to one user who uses the terminals,
The information providing server includes content attribute storage means, user attribute storage means, usage history storage means, usage frequency information forming means, score calculation means, content selection means, user classification means, and transmission means. And
The information providing server is
And the content identification information identifying the content, and content attribute storing step of storing the content attribute storage means in association with the content attribute information of the content,
A user attribute storing step of storing at least individual user identification information associated with the respective user who uses each terminal to the user attribute storage means,
Content identification information identifying the content that is utilized by the user, a use history storage step of storing in said use history storing means as the use history information in association with user identification information of the user using the content,
The content attribute information stored in the content attribute storing means, based on the use history information stored in the use history storage unit, the use frequency of the use frequency value of each content of each user as a value of 0 or more A usage frequency information forming step of forming matrix data having the calculated usage frequency value as a matrix element by the usage frequency information forming unit;
Using a multivariate analysis method to the matrix data, and category scores are coordinate values in the information space of each content, the score calculation both score sample score to be the coordinate value of the information space of each user A score calculation step that is calculated by means, and as the multivariate analysis method, the difference in the category score is smaller between contents similar in numerical pattern by each matrix element in the matrix data, and depending on each matrix element in the matrix data A score calculation step using a multivariate analysis method having a characteristic that the difference between the sample scores becomes smaller between users having similar numerical patterns;
Distance based on the calculation result by said score calculating step, the distance value in the information space of the sample scores and the category score for each content of said one of the user calculated by the content selection device, at least, that is the calculated A content selection step of selecting a predetermined number of content in ascending order of value;
Based on the user classification criteria that associates the condition related to the sample score with the user classification information , the coordinate value in the information space of the one user calculated by the score calculation step by the user classification means A user classification step for generating user classification information indicating a preference characteristic of the one user from a sample score;
At least one of content identification information and content attribute information corresponding to the content selected by the content selection step reads from the content attribute storage means, together with the user classification user classification information generated in step, the A transmission step of transmitting to the terminal used by the one user by a transmission means ;
Information providing method, characterized by the execution.

Images