INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD FOR SAME, AND STORAGE MEDIUM

Conventionally, in a case where a plurality of pieces of tag information automatically provided with respect a content is arranged and displayed in random order, there is an issue where an at-a-glance view of the tag information is degraded. The present invention is directed to an information processing apparatus by which first related information with respect to a content is determined and a plurality of pieces of second related information with respect to the content is acquired. Then, the order of the plurality of pieces of second related information is set based on the first related information, and a screen information is generated such that the plurality of pieces of second related information is arranged and displayed on a screen according to the set order.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a technique for displaying a list of a plurality of pieces of related information with respect to a content.

Background Art

Conventionally, an image is analyzed to automatically provide a plurality of pieces of tag information as information related to the image, and a list of the pieces of tag information is displayed (Patent Document 1).

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a case where a plurality of pieces of tag information is automatically provided with respect to an image, and a list of these pieces of tag information is displayed in random order, there is an issue where a user cannot easily ascertain which tag information has been provided or cannot easily find desired tag information due to a lack of certain criterion for the arrangement.

According to an aspect of the present invention, an information processing apparatus includes a determination unit configured to determine first related information with respect to a content, an acquisition unit configured to acquire a plurality of pieces of second related information with respect to the content, a setting unit configured to set order of the plurality of pieces of second related information based on the first related information, and a generation unit configured to generate screen information so that the plurality of pieces of second related information is arranged and displayed on a screen according to the set order.

According to the present invention, a plurality of pieces of tag information that has been automatically provided with respect to a content is arranged and displayed in accordance with a certain criterion based on a characteristic of the content, instead of random order. Thus, an effect is acquired in which an at-a-glance view of the tag information is enhanced.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, a preferable exemplary embodiment of the invention is described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, components described in the exemplary embodiment are illustrative only, and the descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

First Exemplary Embodiment

FIG. 1is a block diagram illustrating one example of a configuration of a content management system according to the present invention.

A first information processing apparatus101and a second information processing apparatus102are implemented by a server computer apparatus. An electronic apparatus104is implemented by a computer apparatus such as a personal computer or a smart phone. The first information processing apparatus101is communicable with each of the second information processing apparatus102and the electronic apparatus104via a network103.

FIG. 2is a block diagram illustrating one example of a configuration of a computer apparatus each including the first information processing apparatus101and the electronic apparatus104. Each of the first information processing apparatus101and the electronic apparatus104may be implemented by a single computer apparatus. Alternatively, functions of the first information processing apparatus101and the electronic apparatus104may be distributed to a plurality of computer apparatuses as needed so that the first information processing apparatus101and the electronic apparatus104may be implemented by the plurality of computer apparatuses. In a case where a plurality of computer apparatuses is provided, the plurality of computer apparatuses is connected by, for example, a local area network (LAN) so as to be communicable with each other.

InFIG. 2, a control unit201comprehensively controls the first information processing apparatus101, and a control unit231comprehensively controls the electronic apparatus104. The control units201and231are, for example, central processing units (CPUs). Read only memories (ROMs)202and232store programs and parameters that do not need to be changed. Random access memories (RAMS)203and233temporarily store programs and data that are supplied from devices such as external devices. External storage devices201and234are hard disk drives (HDDs) that are respectively disposed in the first information processing apparatus101and the electronic apparatus104in a fixed manner. Alternatively, each of the external storage devices204and234may be a solid state drive (SSD) including a flash memory, a hybrid drive with a combination of an HDD and a flash memory, or a memory card. Each of the external storage devices204and234stores a program such as an operating system (OS). Each of input interfaces205and235receives an operation from a user, and is connected to input devices, such as a pointing device and a keyboard, that are used to input data. Bit move units (BMUs)206and236control data transfer, for example, between memories (e.g., between a video random access memory (VRAM)207and another memory and between a VRAM237and another memory), and between memories and respective input output (I/O) devices (e.g., network interfaces209and239). The VRAMs207and237render images to be displayed on respective display devices211and241. The images generated in the VRAMs207and237, respectively are transmitted to the display devices211and241based on a predetermined rule, so that the display devices211and241display the images. The network interfaces209and239are connected to a network103such as Internet. A system bus212causes each of the units201through209to be communicably connected, and a system bus242causes each of the units231through239to be communicably connected.

Each of the external storage devices204and234stores contents such as an image file and a music file.

Moreover, the second information processing apparatus102has a configuration similar to that of the first information processing apparatus101.

FIG. 3is a flowchart illustrating one example of an operation performed by the first information processing apparatus101to generate display screen information so that a content, category information (first related information), and tag information (second related information) are displayed. on the electronic apparatus104. The control unit201of the first information processing apparatus101implements the operation below by reading out a program such as an OS stored in the external storage device204to execute the program and controlling each unit.

In step S301, the control unit201receives a content from the electronic apparatus104via the network103, and stores the received content in the external storage device204. In step S302, the control unit201determines category information about the content based on a first learning model of machine learning.

Next, in step S303, the control unit201transmits the content to the second information processing apparatus102via the network103. In step S304, the control unit201receives tag information about the content from the second information processing apparatus102. Here, the second information processing apparatus102determines a plurality of pieces of tag information with respect to the content based on a second learning model of machine learning. The second learning model is generated by using input data and training data different from those for the first learning model and being adjusted with a parameter different from that for the first learning model. Thus, even if contents are the same, the tag information to be determined based on the second learning model includes information different from the category information to be determined based on the first learning model.

In step S305, the control unit201sets display order of the plurality of pieces of tag information received in step S304, based on the category information determined in step S302. Specifically, in the first information processing apparatus101, a table as illustrated inFIGS. 4A and 4Bis stored beforehand in the external storage device204. The table indicates a score for a degree of relation to tag information for each piece of category information to be determined based on the first learning model. Since category information inFIG. 4Adiffers from that inFIG. 4B, relation degree scores inFIG. 4Adiffer from those inFIG. 4Bin spite of the same tag information. In step S305, the control unit201reads out the table of the category information determined in step S302from the external storage device204to acquire a relation degree score for each piece of tag information received in step S304, and sets display order of the tag information to the descending order of relation degree scores.

In step S306, the control unit201generates content display screen information so that the content, the category information determined in step S302, and the plurality of pieces of tag information received in step S304are arranged and displayed according to the display order set in step S305. Then, the control unit201transmits the content display screen information to the electronic apparatus104via the network103. The content display screen information may not include all of the plurality of pieces of tag information received in step S304. For example, a predetermined number of pieces of tag information having a higher degree of relation are displayed out of the plurality of pieces of tag information. Alternatively, tag information having a degree of relation that is greater than or equal to a threshold value is displayed.

FIG. 5is one example of a content display screen500to be displayed on the display device241of the electronic apparatus104. The content received in the step S301is displayed in a content display area501. The category information determined in step S302is displayed in a category display area502. In a tag display area503, the plurality of pieces of tag information received in step S304is arranged and displayed according to the display order set in step S305.

In step S302, category information about the content may be determined without machine learning. For example, if a content is an image file, category information may be determined based on metadata such as an imaging time and an imaging location. Alternatively, a user may input optional category information.

If a content is a moving image file or a music file, tag information may be changed depending on a playback time. In such a case, in step S305, the display order may also he set based on appearance timing or appearance frequency.

Alternatively, in step305, a score for a degree of relation between category information and tag information may be calculated each time the tag information is received instead of referring to the table retained beforehand. In such a case, for example, the score can be calculated using, for example, an algorithm that calculates a degree of language similarity.

Moreover, in step S304, the control unit201receives a degree of reliability of each of the plurality of pieces of tag information from the second information processing apparatus102. However, the degree of reliability merely indicates a degree of estimated certainty of each piece of tag information based on a learning model of machine learning, and a user cannot ascertain a criterion thereof. Consequently, even in a case where a plurality of pieces of tag information is arranged and displayed based on a degree of reliability, it seems as if the plurality of pieces of tag information is arranged and displayed in random order to a user. In the present exemplary embodiment, a plurality of pieces of tag information is displayed in display order that is provided based on a content characteristic (content information) and differs from the order of degree of reliability. Thus, an at-a-glance view of the tag information is enhanced for a user.

The present exemplary embodiment has been described using a case in which each of the first information processing apparatus101, the second information processing apparatus102, and the electronic apparatus104is implemented as an independent apparatus. However, the present exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto. The present exemplary embodiment may be appropriately applied to a case in which the first information processing apparatus101, the second information processing apparatus102, and the electronic apparatus104are implemented as a single apparatus having respective functions thereof. For example, functions of the first information processing apparatus101and the second information processing apparatus102may be implemented by a single apparatus, functions of the first information processing apparatus101and the electronic apparatus104may be implemented by a single apparatus, or functions of the first information processing apparatus102and the electronic apparatus104may be implemented by a single apparatus. Alternatively, functions of the first information processing apparatus101, the second information processing apparatus102, and the electronic apparatus104may be implemented by a single apparatus.

In addition, the first information processing apparatus101, the second information processing apparatus102, and the electronic apparatus104may each be connected via a LAN or short-range wireless communication, instead of a public line such as the Internet.

Other Embodiments