Information provision system, viewing terminal, information provision method, and information provision programme

The information providing system includes the communication unit, the content database, the search unit and the map information generation unit. The communication unit acquires place information indicating a place. The content database stores place information indicating a place and specifying information specifying an expression part where an expression related to the place appears in content in association with each other. The search unit acquires the specifying information stored in association with the place information indicating a place within a specified range from the place indicated by the place information acquired by the communication unit from the content database. The map information generation unit outputs the specifying information acquired by the search unit.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a National Stage of International Application No. PCT/JP2012/083492 filed Dec. 25, 2012, claiming priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-147714 filed Jun. 29, 2012, the contents of all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an information providing system, a viewing terminal, an information providing method, and an information providing program capable of displaying information related to content.

BACKGROUND ART

A technique for a mobile terminal to download video data from an information providing server has been proposed. For example, in the download system disclosed in Patent Literature 1, video work data from an information providing server is stored in a storage means included in a mobile communication terminal. In the information providing server, abstract versions that are collections of famous scenes of a plurality of video works are stored.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-325241

Patent Literature 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-133618

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

There are cases where you see or hear a certain place name and recognize that it is a place of a certain scene that appears in certain content such as a book or a video work. Then, even if you want to view the corresponding part of the content, you cannot recall the title and thus cannot specify the content in some cases. Further, even if the content can be specified, it takes time and effort to find where the corresponding part is in some cases.

The present invention has been accomplished to solve the above problems and an object of the present invention is thus to provide an information providing system, a viewing terminal, an information providing method, and an information providing program that enable a user to easily find a part where an expression related to a place appears in content containing the expression.

Solution to Problem

An information providing system according to one aspect of the present invention includes an acquisition means configured to acquire place information indicating a place, a search means configured to acquire, from a storage means configured to store place information indicating a place and specifying information specifying an expression part where an expression related to the place appears in content in association with each other, the specifying information stored in association with the place information indicating a place within a specified range from the place indicated by the place information acquired by the acquisition means, and an output means configured to output the specifying information acquired by the search means.

In the information providing system according to one aspect of the present invention, place information indicating a place is acquired first, and specifying information that is stored in association with place information indicating a place within a specified range from the acquired place information is acquired from the storage means. Then, the specifying information that specifies an expression part where an expression related to the place appears in the content is output. It is thereby possible to easily find the part where the expression appears in the content that contains the expression related to the place.

The information providing system according to another aspect may be able to communicate with a viewing terminal and may further include a determination means configured to determine whether purchasing of the content is done by a user of the viewing terminal, and the output means may transmit the specifying information to the viewing terminal when the determination means determines that the purchasing of the content is done.

In this aspect, it is determined whether purchasing of the content is done, and when it is determined that purchasing of the content is done, specifying information is transmitted to the viewing terminal. It is thereby possible to transmit the specifying information to the viewing terminal when purchasing of the content is done. As a result, the viewing terminal can specify the corresponding part of the purchased content based on the specifying information and display it.

The information providing system according to another aspect may further include a generation means configured to generate a trial read file containing at least part of an expression part specified by the specifying information, and the output means may transmit the trial read file to the viewing terminal when the determination means determines that the purchasing of the content is not done.

In this aspect, a trial read file that contains at least part of an expression part specified by specifying information is generated, and when it is determined that purchasing of the content is not done, the trial read file is transmitted to the viewing terminal. It is thereby possible to transmit the trial read file to the viewing terminal1and display it when purchasing of the content is not done.

In the information providing system according to another aspect, the generation means may generate an encrypted content file, and the output means may transmit the content file generated by the generation means to the viewing terminal after transmitting the trial read file, and after purchasing of the content file is done, transmit information for decrypting the encrypted content file.

In this aspect, an encrypted content file is generated first. Then, after a trial read file is transmitted, the content file is transmitted to the viewing terminal. After purchasing of the content file is done, information for decrypting the encrypted content file is transmitted. It is thereby possible to generate the encrypted content file and transmit it to the viewing terminal and, after purchasing of the content file is done, decrypt the content file.

In the information providing system according to another aspect, when a plurality of specifying information is acquired by the search means, the output means may output a plurality of expression parts specified by the plurality of specifying information in such a way that the expression parts can be displayed in combination.

In this aspect, when a plurality of specifying information is acquired, a plurality of expression parts specified by the plurality of specifying information are output in such a way that they can be displayed in combination. A user can thereby view the combined plurality of expression parts all together.

In the information providing system according to another aspect, the search means may acquire the specifying information relating to content belonging to a specific genre and stored in association with a place indicated by place information where an appearance percentage based on an appearance history of the place indicated by the place information acquired by the acquisition means is less than a specified percentage from the storage means.

In this aspect, specifying information that is stored in association with a place indicated by place information where an appearance percentage on the basis of an appearance history of the place indicated by the acquired place information is less than a specified percentage and that relates to the content belonging to a specific genre is acquired. A place where the appearance percentage is less than a specified percentage is likely to be a place where the place information is not usually acquired, and it is considered to be a place such as a business trip or travel destination. In such a case, the specifying information in the content belonging to a specific genre that is suitable for a place such as a business trip or travel destination, for example, is acquired. As a result, it is possible to display the specifying information suitable for a user that is considered to be in a place such as a business trip or travel destination.

The information providing system according to another aspect may further include a determination means configured to determine whether purchasing of the content is done, and the search means may acquire the specifying information relating to content determined that the purchasing is done and stored in association with a place indicated by place information where an appearance percentage based on an appearance history of the place indicated by the place information acquired by the acquisition means is less than a specified percentage from the storage means.

In this aspect, specifying information that is stored in association with a place indicated by place information where an appearance percentage on the basis of an appearance history of the place indicated by the acquired place information is less than a specified percentage and that relates to the content determined to be already purchased is acquired. A place where the appearance percentage is less than a specified percentage is likely to be a place where the place information is not usually acquired, and it is considered to be a place such as a business trip or travel destination. In such a case, the specifying information in the content that is determined to be already purchased is acquired. As a result, it is possible to display the specifying information suitable in the purchased content for a user that is considered to be in a place such as a business trip or travel destination.

The information providing system according to another aspect may further include a determination means configured to determine whether purchasing of the content is done, and the search means may acquire the specifying information relating to content determined that the purchasing is not done and stored in association with a place indicated by place information where an appearance percentage based on an appearance history of the place indicated by the place information acquired by the acquisition means is equal to or more than a specified percentage from the storage means.

In this aspect, specifying information that is stored in association with a place indicated by place information where an appearance percentage on the basis of an appearance history of the place indicated by the acquired place information is equal to or more than a specified percentage and that relates to the content determined to be not purchased is acquired. A place where the appearance percentage is equal to or more than a specified percentage is likely to be a place within the field of everyday activities where the place information is usually acquired. In such a case, the specifying information in the content that is determined to be not purchased is acquired. As a result, it is possible to display the specifying information suitable in the content that is not yet purchased and considered to be unknown by a user for the user who is familiar with the field of everyday activities.

An information providing system according to one aspect of the present invention includes an acquisition means configured to acquire place information indicating a place, a search means configured to acquire, from a storage means configured to store place information indicating a place and specifying information specifying an expression part where an expression related to the place appears in content in association with each other, the specifying information stored in association with the place information indicating a place within a specified range from the place indicated by the place information acquired by the acquisition means, and an output means configured to output at least part of an expression part specified by the specifying information acquired by the search means, the expression part acquired from a means of storing the content.

In the information providing system according to one aspect of the present invention, place information indicating a place is acquired first, and specifying information that is stored in association with place information indicating a place within a specified range from the acquired place information is acquired from the storage means. Then, at least part of an expression part where an expression related to the place appears in the content and that is acquired from a means of storing the content is output. It is thereby possible to easily find the part where the expression appears in the content that contains the expression related to the place.

A viewing terminal according to one aspect of the present invention is able to communicate with the above-described information providing system and includes a specifying means configured to specify the expression part in the content stored in a means of storing the content based on the specifying information output by the output means included in the information providing system, and a display means configured to display the expression part of the content specified by the specifying means.

In the viewing terminal according to one aspect of the present invention, an expression part in the content stored in a means of storing the content is specified based on the specifying information output from the output means included in the information providing system, and the specified expression part in the content can be displayed.

An information providing method according to one aspect of the present invention is an information providing method performed by an information providing system, the method including an acquisition step of acquiring place information indicating a place by the information providing system, a search step of acquiring, from a storage means configured to store place information indicating a place and specifying information specifying an expression part where an expression related to the place appears in content in association with each other, the specifying information stored in association with the place information indicating a place within a specified range from the place indicated by the place information acquired in the acquisition step by the information providing system, and an output step of outputting the specifying information acquired in the search means by the information providing system.

In the information providing method according to one aspect of the present invention, place information indicating a place is acquired first, and specifying information that is stored in association with place information indicating a place within a specified range from the acquired place information is acquired from the storage means. Then, the specifying information that specifies an expression part where an expression related to the place appears in the content is output. It is thereby possible to easily find the part where the expression appears in the content that contains the expression related to the place.

An information providing program according to one aspect of the present invention causes a computer to implement a function of an acquisition means to acquire place information indicating a place, a function of a search means to acquire, from a storage means to store place information indicating a place and specifying information specifying an expression part where an expression related to the place appears in content in association with each other, the specifying information stored in association with the place information indicating a place within a specified range from the place indicated by the place information acquired by the function of the acquisition means, and a function of an output means to output the specifying information acquired by the function of the search means.

In the information providing program according to one aspect of the present invention, place information indicating a place is acquired first, and specifying information that is stored in association with place information indicating a place within a specified range from the acquired place information is acquired from the storage means. Then, the specifying information that specifies an expression part where an expression related to the place appears in the content is output. It is thereby possible to easily find the part where the expression appears in the content that contains the expression related to the place.

A computer-readable recording medium according to one aspect of the present invention stores an information providing program that causes a computer to implement a function of an acquisition means to acquire place information indicating a place, a function of a search means to acquire, from a storage means to store place information indicating a place and specifying information specifying an expression part where an expression related to the place appears in content in association with each other, the specifying information stored in association with the place information indicating a place within a specified range from the place indicated by the place information acquired by the function of the acquisition means, and a function of an output means to output the specifying information acquired by the function of the search means.

In the computer-readable recording medium according to one aspect of the present invention, place information indicating a place is acquired first, and specifying information that is stored in association with place information indicating a place within a specified range from the acquired place information is acquired from the storage means. Then, the specifying information that specifies an expression part where an expression related to the place appears in the content is output. It is thereby possible to easily find the part where the expression appears in the content that contains the expression related to the place.

An information providing method according to one aspect of the present invention is an information providing method performed by an information providing system, the method including an acquisition step of acquiring place information indicating a place by the information providing system, a search step of acquiring, from a storage means configured to store place information indicating a place and specifying information specifying an expression part where an expression related to the place appears in content in association with each other, the specifying information stored in association with the place information indicating a place within a specified range from the place indicated by the place information acquired in the acquisition step by the information providing system, and an output step of outputting at least part of an expression part specified by the specifying information acquired in the search step, the expression part acquired from a means of storing the content, by the information providing system.

In the information providing method according to one aspect of the present invention, place information indicating a place is acquired first, and specifying information that is stored in association with place information indicating a place within a specified range from the acquired place information is acquired from the storage means. Then, at least part of an expression part specified by the specifying information that specifies an expression part where an expression related to the place appears in the content and that is acquired from a means of storing the content is output. It is thereby possible to easily find the part where the expression appears in the content that contains the expression related to the place.

An information providing program according to one aspect of the present invention causes a computer to implement a function of an acquisition means configured to acquire place information indicating a place, a function of a search means configured to acquire, from a storage means configured to store place information indicating a place and specifying information specifying an expression part where an expression related to the place appears in content in association with each other, the specifying information stored in association with the place information indicating a place within a specified range from the place indicated by the place information acquired by the function of the acquisition means, and a function of an output means configured to output at least part of an expression part specified by the specifying information acquired by the function of the search means, the expression part acquired from a means of storing the content.

In the information providing program according to one aspect of the present invention, place information indicating a place is acquired first, and specifying information that is stored in association with place information indicating a place within a specified range from the acquired place information is acquired from the storage means. Then, at least part of an expression part specified by the specifying information that specifies an expression part where an expression related to the place appears in the content and that is acquired from a means of storing the content is output. It is thereby possible to easily find the part where the expression appears in the content that contains the expression related to the place.

A computer-readable recording medium according to one aspect of the present invention stores an information providing program that causes a computer to implement a function of an acquisition means configured to acquire place information indicating a place, a function of a search means configured to acquire, from a storage means configured to store place information indicating a place and specifying information specifying an expression part where an expression related to the place appears in content in association with each other, the specifying information stored in association with the place information indicating a place within a specified range from the place indicated by the place information acquired by the function of the acquisition means, and a function of an output means configured to output at least part of an expression part specified by the specifying information acquired by the function of the search means, the expression part acquired from a means of storing the content.

In the computer-readable recording medium according to one aspect of the present invention, place information indicating a place is acquired first, and specifying information that is stored in association with place information indicating a place within a specified range from the acquired place information is acquired from the storage means. Then, at least part of an expression part specified by the specifying information that specifies an expression part where an expression related to the place appears in the content and that is acquired from a means of storing the content is output. It is thereby possible to easily find the part where the expression appears in the content that contains the expression related to the place.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an information providing system, a viewing terminal, an information providing method, and an information providing program that enable a user to easily find a part where an expression related to a place appears in content containing the expression.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention are described hereinafter in detail with reference to the appended drawings. Note that, in the description of the drawings, the same or equivalent elements are denoted by the same reference symbols, and the redundant explanation thereof is omitted.

<1> Configuration of Information Providing System

First, the configuration of an information providing system according to the present invention is described hereinafter with reference toFIGS. 1 to 3.FIG. 1is a functional diagram illustrating the functional configurations of a content server2including an information providing system100, and a viewing terminal1that can communicate with the content server2. The information providing system100is a system that can display information related to various content such as electronic books and video content on the viewing terminal1.FIG. 2is a physical diagram illustrating the physical configuration of the viewing terminal1, andFIG. 3is a physical diagram illustrating the physical configuration of the content server2. Note that S01, S02and so on shown inFIG. 1correspond to Steps S01, S02and so on shown inFIG. 6, which is described later.

The viewing terminal1shown inFIG. 1is a device with a built-in viewer such as a smartphone, a mobile phone terminal or a dedicated terminal for content viewing capable of displaying various content such as electronic books and video content. An electronic book is digital data having a function of a computerized book composed of a plurality of pages. The viewing terminal1can communicate with the content server2through a communication network NW such as a radio base station or a wired communication network. Thus, the viewing terminal1can measure the current position and transmit the positioning result to the content server2. Further, in the case where there is content containing an expression related to a spot (place) near the current position, the viewing terminal1can receive information related to the spot (place) from the content server. Furthermore, the viewing terminal1can display map information where those various spots are displayed on the map in the vicinity of the current position. When one of those spots is selected, the viewing terminal1can receive specifying information that specifies an expression part where an expression related to the selected spot (place) appears in content and display the expression specified by the specifying information.

The content server2is a device such as a server or host computer that manages the above-described specifying information and the above-described content as data. For example, the content server2manages whether the content installed in the viewing terminal1is purchased by a user of the viewing terminal1.

The configuration of the viewing terminal1is described next. As shown inFIG. 2, the viewing terminal1is configured as a computer that includes hardware such as a CPU101(Central Processing Unit), a RAM102(Random Access Memory) and a ROM103(Read Only Memory) serving as main storage devices, an operating unit104for operating the viewing terminal1, a communication unit105for performing communication, a display106such as a touch panel display, and an antenna107as principal physical components. Those components operate so that the functions of the viewing terminal1are exerted as described below.

Further, as shown inFIG. 1, the viewing terminal1includes a positioning unit11, a communication unit12, a map display unit13, a content display unit14(display means), a specifying unit15(specifying means), and a content storage unit16as principal functional components.

The positioning unit11is a position measurement unit that acquires place information indicating a place. The positioning unit11may acquire current position information indicating a current position of the viewing terminal1as the place information by using GPS (Global Positioning System) technology. The positioning unit11may acquire the place information through communication with the outside of the viewing terminal1. Further, the place information may be the current position information indicating an address, a place name, a place or the like entered by a user's character input using an operating unit of the viewing terminal1. Furthermore, the place information may be the current position information indicating a selected spot by a user's touch input on a map displayed on the viewing terminal1. Note that the place information contains a user ID that identifies a user of the viewing terminal1.

The communication unit12is a communication processing unit that transmits and receives various signals (information) to and from the content server2. The communication unit12can transmit the above-described place information and selection information, which is described later, and the like to the content server2. Further, the communication unit12can receive map information corresponding to the place information, specifying information corresponding to the selection information, a trial read file, which are described later, and the like from the content server2. Further, the communication unit12can determine whether purchasing of the content indicated by the specifying information is done by a user of the viewing terminal1based on the received purchase information.

The map display unit13is a communication processing unit that acquires the above-described map information from the content server2. The content server2receives the place information from the communication unit12and then acquires place information indicating a place within a specified range (for example, one area) from the place (for example, one spot) indicated by the place information. Note that the content server2stores the place information indicated by latitude and longitude, address, place name, place or the like and the above-described specifying information in association with each other. The specifying information is information that specifies an expression part where an expression related to a place appears in content. Therefore, the content server2can generate the above-described map information based on the acquired place information. Then, the content server2outputs the map information to the viewing terminal1so that the map information can be displayed on the viewing terminal1. The map display unit13receives the map information and displays the map information where various spots are displayed superimposed on the map in the vicinity of the current position. At each spot, the title of the corresponding content is displayed in addition. When one of the various spots is selected by a user's touch input or the like, the map display unit13generates selection information indicating the selected spot.

The map display unit13transmits the generated selection information to the content server2. The content server2extracts specifying information or generates a trial read file based on the acquired selection information and outputs (transmits) it to the viewing terminal1. The trial read file is information that is set to allow viewing (previewing) of a part of the content to help consider whether to purchase the content. The viewing terminal1can thereby display the specifying information or the trial read file.

The specifying unit15is a unit that, when purchasing of the content indicated by the specifying information is done by a user of the viewing terminal1, specifies an expression part specified by the specifying information in the corresponding content stored in the content storage unit16. The content display unit14displays the expression part specified for the corresponding content. For example, the content display unit14displays the first page of the specified expression part.

On the other hand, when it is determined that purchasing of the content indicated by the specifying information is not done by a user of the viewing terminal1, the specifying unit15outputs the trial read file received by the communication unit12to the content display unit14. At least part of the expression part specified by the specifying information is thereby displayed on the content display unit14.

The content display unit14is a display control unit that displays at least part of the expression part specified by the specifying information which corresponds to one spot in the map information acquired by the map display unit13on the viewing terminal1. Note that the content display unit14may display the trial read file instead of the expression part specified by the specifying information. The content display unit14displays at least part of the expression part specified by the specifying information. Note that, in the case where the content is an electronic book, the expression part specified by the specifying information may be a sentence where the selected spot is described in the electronic book. The expression part, however, is not limited thereto, and it may be any expression related to a place as described later.

Note that the expression part specified by the specifying information is information indicating the actual expression (description) in the expression part indicated by the specifying information, and it is acquired from the content storage unit16. Further, the content display unit14may display the trial read file received by the communication unit12.

The content storage unit16is a storage unit that stores the content for which purchasing is done by a user of the viewing terminal1. A part of the content stored in the content storage unit16which corresponds to the expression part specified by the specifying information is acquired by the specifying unit15.

The configuration of the content server2is described hereinafter. As shown inFIG. 3, the content server is configured as a computer that includes hardware such as a CPU201, a RAM202and a ROM203, a communication module204for performing communication and an auxiliary storage device205such as a hard disk as principal physical components. Those components operate so that the functions of the content server2are exerted as described below.

Further, the content server2includes a content database21, (storage means), a communication unit22(acquisition means, output means), a purchase determination unit23(determination means), a map information generation unit24, a trial read information generation unit25(generation means), and a search unit26(search means).

The content database21is a database that stores place information indicating a specific place such as latitude and longitude, address, place name or place and the above-described specifying information in association with each other. A target of the expression part specified by the specifying information is a place where an important scene or a famous scene of a novel has taken place, for example. Further, a target of the expression part specified by the specifying information may be a place where a historical event is considered to have occurred, though it is uncertain, in a fiction based on history. Furthermore, a target of the expression part specified by the specifying information may be a place described in an essay, a guidebook or the like.

FIG. 4shows one example of a table structure of the content database21. As shown inFIG. 4, items stored in the content database21include a registration number that can uniquely identify a combination of specifying information and place information, the title of content, specifying information (information that specifies a part where an expression related to a place appears in the content; from row Q in page P to row S to page R for an electronic book, from T minutes to U minutes for video content), a scene name (e.g. “battle scene between AA and BB”), registration place information as place information (latitude and longitude information, geo-tag information), a place name as place information (e.g. “Sekigahara”) and the like. The specifying information may be registered into the content database21by an author or creator of the content or may be registered by a user. Further, the content database21may store data of the actual content corresponding to the specifying information and genre information of the content in association with each other. Further, a purchase history of a user associated with each user ID may be stored in the content server2or stored in another server.

The communication unit22is a communication processing unit that transmits and receives various signals (information) to and from the viewing terminal1as shown inFIG. 1. The communication unit22can receive (acquire) place information from the viewing terminal1. Further, the communication unit12can receive map information corresponding to the place information from the map information generation unit24and transmit it to the viewing terminal1. Furthermore, the communication unit22can receive selection information from the viewing terminal1. Further, the communication unit12can receive specifying information corresponding to the selection information from the map information generation unit24and transmit it to the viewing terminal1. Further, the communication unit12can receive a trial read file corresponding to the selection information from the trial read information generation unit25and transmit it to the viewing terminal1.

The search unit26is a search processing unit that acquires, from the content database21, the specifying information that is stored in association with place information indicating a place existing within a specified range (e.g. an area with a specified radius) from a place (e.g. one spot) indicated by the place information acquired by the communication unit22. After acquiring the specifying information from the content database21, the search unit26transmits it to the map information generation unit24.

Note that the search unit26can specify whether an appearance percentage on the basis of an appearance history of the place indicated by the place information acquired by the communication unit22is less than a specified percentage or not. A place where the appearance percentage is less than a specified percentage is likely to be a place where the place information is not usually acquired, and it is a place such as a business trip or travel destination, for example. The search unit26can acquire, from the content database21, the specifying information that is stored in association with the place indicated by the place information where the appearance percentage is less than a specified percentage and that relates to the content belonging to a specific genre (e.g. travel guide). Note that the appearance history may be stored in association with a user ID in the content server2or stored in another server.

Further, the search unit26can acquire, from the content database21, the specifying information that is stored in association with the place indicated by the above-described place information and that is in the content which is determined that the above-described purchasing is done. As a result, it is possible to display the specifying information related to the already purchased content to a user who is considered to be in the place such as a business trip or travel destination as described above.

Further, the search unit26can specify whether an appearance percentage on the basis of an appearance history of the place indicated by the place information acquired by the communication unit22is equal to or more than a specified percentage or not. A place where the appearance percentage is equal to or more than a specified percentage is likely to be a place within the field of everyday activities where the place information is usually acquired. The search unit26can acquire, from the content database21, the specifying information that is stored in association with the place indicated by the place information where the appearance percentage is equal to or more than a specified percentage and that relates to the content which is determined that purchasing is not done. As a result, it is possible to create a trial read file related to the content that is not yet purchased and considered to be unknown by a user who is familiar with the field of everyday activities and displays it on the viewing terminal1.

The purchase determination unit23is a determination processing unit that determines whether purchasing of the content searched by the search unit26is done or not. The purchase determination unit23uses a user ID contained in the place information transmitted from the communication unit12and generates purchase information indicating whether purchasing is done by a user of the user ID. The purchase determination unit23determines whether the purchasing is done or not by accessing the content database21. The purchase information generated as a result of the determination is contained in the above-described map information and transmitted to the viewing terminal1by the communication unit22.

When place information included in a specified range from the place indicated by the place information exists in the content database21, the map information generation unit24extracts registration data corresponding to the place information as a result of searching.

Next, the map information generation unit24acquires purchase information for the content specified by the registration data from the purchase determination unit23. Then, the map information generation unit24generates map information where various spots indicated by the registration data are displayed superimposed on the map in the vicinity of the current position indicated by the place information. The purchase information is contained in the map information. Note that the map information is transmitted to the viewing terminal1by the communication unit22. The registration data acquired by the map information generation unit24is thereby output so that it can be displayed as the map information on the viewing terminal1.

Further, the map information generation unit24generates specifying information based on the selection information received by the communication unit22. To be more specific, the map information generation unit24first acquires purchase information for the content specified by the selection information from the purchase determination unit23. When purchasing of the content is done, the map information generation unit24extracts the specifying information corresponding to the spot selected by the selection information. The specifying information is thereby generated. Note that the specifying information is transmitted to the viewing terminal1by the communication unit22.

The trial read information generation unit25is a setting processing unit that sets a trial read range where the spot selected by the selection information appears in the case where purchasing of the content specified by the specifying selection information is not done. The trial read range is a range that is set to allow viewing (previewing) of the content to help consider whether to purchase the content, and it includes at least part of the expression part described above.

Further, in the case where the content is an electronic book and the expression part specified by the specifying information is information of equal to or less than a specified number of rows (several rows), the trial read information generation unit25sets the trial read range so as to contain the expression part and not to exceed a specified number of pages. Further, in the case where the content is an electronic book and the expression part specified by the specifying information is information of more then a specified number of pages, the trial read information generation unit25sets the trial read range so as not to exceed the specified number of pages. The range that can be set as the trial read range may be defined in advance by an author or creator of the content, a publisher or the like.

The trial read information generation unit25then creates a trial read file based on the trial read range. Note that the trial read file is transmitted to the viewing terminal1by the communication unit22. At least part of the above-described expression part indicated by the trial read file acquired by the trial read information generation unit25is thereby output so that it can be displayed on the viewing terminal1.

<2> Description of Presentation by Information Providing System

The description of presentation by the information providing system100is described hereinafter with reference toFIG. 5.FIG. 5is a screen schematic diagram illustrating one example of the way of changing from display of map information to display of an expression part specified by specifying information in the viewing terminal1. Note that the viewing terminal1has a display D.

First, the viewing terminal1transmits place information obtained by measuring the current position or the like to the content server2. Then, the viewing terminal1receives map information related to various spots that are close to the current position and appear in the various content described above. The viewing terminal1thereby displays the map information where the various spots (three spots indicated by the white circles) are displayed on the map in the vicinity of the current position (the spot indicated by the black circle) as shown inFIG. 5(a). At each of the three spots, the title of content (“title A”, “title B” and “title C”) is displayed in addition. Note that characters or a mark indicating whether purchasing by a user of the viewing terminal1is done may be displayed for each of the titles.

It is assumed that the spot with “title A” (the spot indicated by the white circle), which is one of the various spots, is selected by a user's touch input or the like, and selection information is created. In this case, as shown inFIG. 5(b), an expression part S specified by specifying information is displayed for the content (electronic book) with the title A.

<3> Sequence of Process Performed by Information Providing System100

An example of a sequence of a process (information providing method) performed by the information providing system100is described hereinafter with reference toFIG. 6.FIG. 6is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a sequence of a process performed by the viewing terminal1and the content server2.

First, the positioning unit11acquires place information input to the viewing terminal1in relation to a place (Step S01). The communication unit12then transmits the place information to the content server2, and the communication unit22receives the place information from the viewing terminal1(Step S02, acquisition step).

Next, the map information generation unit24extracts registration data corresponding to each of place information included in a specified range from the place indicated by the place information as a result of searching (Step S03, search step). The map information generation unit24then acquires purchase information about content specified by the registration data from the purchase determination unit23(Step S04). Then, the map information generation unit24generates map information where various spots indicated by the registration data are superimposed on the map in the vicinity of the current position indicated by the place information (Step S05). The map information contains the purchase information. The map information is then transmitted to the viewing terminal1by the communication unit22(Step S06). The registration data acquired by the map information generation unit24can be thereby displayed as the map information on the viewing terminal1(Step S07).

After that, when one of the various spots is selected by a user's touch input or the like, the selection is accepted, and the map display unit13generates selection information indicating the selected spot (Step S08). The selection information is transmitted to the content server2by the communication unit22(Step S09). Then, the map information generation unit24acquires purchase information for the content specified by the selection information from the purchase determination unit23. The map information generation unit24then determines whether purchasing of the content is done or not (Step S10). When purchasing of the content is done, the process proceeds to Step S11, which is described later. On the other hand, when purchasing of the content is not done, the process proceeds to Step S12, which is described later.

In Step S11, the map information generation unit24extracts specifying information where the spot selected by the selection information appears. The specifying information is thereby generated. The process then proceeds to Step S14, which is described later (output step).

In Step S12, the map information generation unit24sets a trial read range where the spot selected by the selection information appears. The trial read range is a range that is set to allow viewing (previewing) of the content to help consider whether to purchase the content. The map information generation unit24then generates a trial read file based on the trial read range (Step S13).

In Step S14, the communication unit22transmits the specifying information or the trial read file to the viewing terminal1(output step). In the viewing terminal1, when purchasing of the content is done, an expression part specified by the specifying information is displayed (Step S15). On the other hand, when purchasing of the content is not done, the content display unit14displays the received trial read file (Step S15). In the case where the content is an electronic book, it is displayed on the viewing terminal1in the state where a relevant page which is the expression part corresponding to the specifying information is opened. In the case where the content is a video, it is displayed on the viewing terminal1in the state where the video is played from a relevant scene which is the expression part corresponding to the specifying information.

Note that the place information may be acquired and transmitted to the content server2at regular intervals during the period when an application for implementing the above function is running in the viewing terminal1. In this case, in the content server2, the map information is generated and transmitted to the viewing terminal1when the registration data is extracted.

<4> Module Configuration of Information Providing Program

The module configuration of an information providing program that causes a computer to function as the information providing system100is described hereinafter with reference toFIG. 7.FIG. 7is a module diagram illustrating the module configuration of an information providing program P that causes a computer to function as the information providing system100.

As shown inFIG. 7, the information providing program P includes a main module P1, a storage module P2, a communication module P3, a purchase determination module P4, a map information generation module P5, a trial read information generation module P6, and a search module P7.

The main module P1is a part that exercises control over the function of executing processing of various information. The above-described functions of the viewing terminal1are implemented by executing the main module P1.

Further, the functions implemented by executing the storage module P2, the communication module P3, the purchase determination module P4, the map information generation module P5, the trial read information generation module P6and the search module P7are equal to the functions of the content database21, the communication unit22, the purchase determination unit23, the map information generation unit24, the trial read information generation unit25and the search unit26, respectively. Note that, at the point of time when the information providing program P2is installed into a computer, the data is not necessarily contained in the content database21.

The information providing program P is provided in the form of being recorded in a static manner on a recording medium such as CD-ROM or DVD-ROM or semiconductor memory, for example. Further, the information providing P may be provided as a computer data signal superimposed onto a carrier wave over a communication network.

<5> Functions and Effects of the Present Invention

According to the information providing system100, place information indicating a place is acquired first, and specifying information that is stored in association with place information indicating a place within a specified range from the acquired place information is acquired from the content database21. Then, the specifying information that specifies an expression part where an expression related to the place appears in the content is output. It is thereby possible to easily find the part where the expression appears in the content that contains the expression related to the place.

For example, if there is a famous scene in connection with a specific place name in an unread book, many people are likely to want to read the corresponding part of the book immediately. According to the information providing system100, it is possible to clearly present how a place such as a specific place name that relates to a user of the viewing terminal1appears in the content such as a book.

Further, according to the information providing system100, it is determined whether purchasing of the content is done by a user of the viewing terminal1, and when it is determined that purchasing of the content is done, specifying information is transmitted to the viewing terminal1. It is thereby possible to transmit the specifying information to the viewing terminal1when purchasing of the content is done. As a result, the viewing terminal1can specify the corresponding part of the purchased content based on the specifying information and display it.

Further, according to the information providing system100, a trial read file that contains at least part of an expression part specified by specifying information is generated, and when it is determined that purchasing of the content is not done, the trial read file is transmitted to the viewing terminal1. It is thereby possible to transmit the trial read file to the viewing terminal1and display it when purchasing of the content is not done.

Further, according to the information providing system100, specifying information that is stored in association with a place indicated by place information where an appearance percentage on the basis of an appearance history of the place indicated by the acquired place information is less than a specified percentage and that relates to the content belonging to a specific genre (e.g. travel guide) is acquired. A place where the appearance percentage is less than a specified percentage is likely to be a place where the place information is not usually acquired, and it is considered to be a place such as a business trip or travel destination. In such a case, the specifying information in the content belonging to a specific genre (e.g. travel guide) that is suitable for a place such as a business trip or travel destination, for example, is acquired. As a result, it is possible to display the specifying information suitable for a user that is considered to be in a place such as a business trip or travel destination.

Further, according to the information providing system100, specifying information that is stored in association with a place indicated by place information where an appearance percentage on the basis of an appearance history of the place indicated by the acquired place information is less than a specified percentage and that relates to the content determined to be already purchased is acquired. A place where the appearance percentage is less than a specified percentage is likely to be a place where the place information is not usually acquired, and it is considered to be a place such as a business trip or travel destination. In such a case, the specifying information in the content that is determined to be already purchased is acquired. As a result, it is possible to display the specifying information suitable in the purchased content for a user that is considered to be in a place such as a business trip or travel destination.

Further, according to the information providing system100, specifying information that is stored in association with a place indicated by place information where an appearance percentage on the basis of an appearance history of the place indicated by the acquired place information is equal to or more than a specified percentage and that relates to the content determined to be not purchased is acquired. A place where the appearance percentage is equal to or more than a specified percentage is likely to be a place within the field of everyday activities where the place information is usually acquired. In such a case, the specifying information in the content that is determined to be not purchased is acquired. As a result, it is possible to display the specifying information suitable in the content that is not yet purchased and considered to be unknown by a user for the user who is familiar with the field of everyday activities.

Further, according to the information providing system100, place information indicating a place is acquired first, and specifying information that is stored in association with place information indicating a place within a specified range from the acquired place information is acquired from the content database21. Then, at least part of an expression part where an expression related to the place appears in the content which is acquired from the content storage unit16is output. It is thereby possible to easily find the part where the expression appears in the content that contains the expression related to the place.

Further, according to the viewing terminal1, an expression part in the content stored in the content storage unit16is specified based on the specifying information output from the communication unit22included in the information providing system100, and the specified expression part in the content can be displayed.

<6> Alternative Examples

The trial read information generation unit25may be configured to be able to generate an encrypted content file. It is assumed that purchasing of the content related to one of various spots in map information selected by a user's touch input or the like is not done. In this case, the communication unit22transmits a trial read file to the viewing terminal1and then transmits a content file generated by the trial read information generation unit25to the viewing terminal. At this time, it is preferred that the content server2acquires a signal indicating that displaying of the trial read file is done in the viewing terminal1and then the communication unit22transmits the content file to the viewing terminal1. The content file is thereby downloaded in the viewing terminal1, and it is thereby possible to prevent a delay of the display process in the viewing terminal1.

In the case where the above configuration is employed, the content file is encrypted and cannot be read by a user using the terminal. After purchasing of the content file is done by a user of the viewing terminal1, a decryption key is transmitted from the content server2to the viewing terminal1. The content file is thereby decrypted in the viewing terminal1. Then, the restrictions on the viewing of the content file are released. The user of the viewing terminal1thereby becomes able to view the whole part of the purchased content (the full text for an electronic book). Note that, if a specified period of time has elapsed without purchasing of the content file by a user of the viewing terminal1, the content file is automatically deleted from the viewing terminal1.

Specifically, in the case where the above configuration is employed, the content file where restrictions are imposed on the viewing of the part other than the part contained in the trial read file is generated first. Then, after the trial read file is transmitted, the content file is transmitted to the viewing terminal1. After purchasing of the content file is done, the restrictions on the viewing of the content file are released. It is thereby possible to generate the content file and transmit it to the viewing terminal1and, after the content file is purchased, release the restrictions on the viewing of the content file.

Further, in the case where a user selects a plurality of spots on the map information, a plurality of selection information is received by the communication unit22, and the map information generation unit24may be configured to display a plurality of expression parts specified by a plurality of specifying information respectively corresponding to the plurality of selection information in combination. In the example using this configuration, each of a plurality of expression parts specified by a plurality of specifying information are displayed in combination regardless of whether they are related to a plurality of different content or related to one content.

Further, the map information generation unit24may abstract (extract) the expression parts specified by the plurality of specifying information and display them in combination. Note that the abstract may be made on the basis of a chapter including the expression part specified by the specifying information as a “good place to stop”. Further, “bookmark” icon may be displayed for the abstracted part to allow easy display of the abstracted part.

Further, the map information generation unit24may abstract (extract) the expression parts specified by the plurality of specifying information after editing and then display them in combination. Note that user registration may be made for the expression parts specified by the specifying information. In this case, overlap can occur between the expression parts specified by the specifying information. When the overlap occurs, the map information generation unit24selects and extracts the expression part specified by any one specifying information and then outputs it.

In the case where the above configuration is employed, when a plurality of specifying information is acquired, a plurality of expression parts specified by the plurality of specifying information are output in such a way that they are displayed in combination. A user can thereby view the combined plurality of expression parts all together.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the information providing system100is composed of the content database21, the communication unit22, the purchase determination unit23, the map information generation unit24, the trial read information generation unit25and the search unit26as shown inFIG. 1. However, the arrangement of the components of the information providing system100is not particularly limited, and the information providing system100may be incorporated into a viewing terminal as shown inFIG. 8, for example. In this case, the viewing terminal includes a positioning unit1001(acquisition means), a content database1002(equivalent to the function of the content database21; storage means), a search unit1003(equivalent to the function of the search unit26; search means), a map information display unit1004(equivalent to the function of the map information generation unit24), an output unit1005(output means), and a content display unit1006(equivalent to the function of the communication unit22).

One example of a sequence of a process (information providing method) performed by the information providing system having the above configuration is described hereinafter with reference toFIG. 9.FIG. 9is a flowchart illustrating the flow of the process. Note that the viewing terminal in this configuration is a stand-alone terminal that performs local processing without communication with the outside such as the content server. Further, in the viewing terminal in this configuration, only the content for which purchasing is done is processed. Accordingly, the specifying information or the like is stored in the content DB1002for the content for which purchasing is done by a user.

First, the positioning unit1001of the viewing terminal1acquires place information indicating a place (Step T01, acquisition step). The positioning unit1001may acquire current position information indicating a current position of the viewing terminal1as the place information by using GPS technology. The positioning unit1001may acquire current position information indicating an address, a place name, a place or the like entered by a user's character input using an operating unit of the viewing terminal1as the place information. Then, the search unit1003of the viewing terminal1extracts specifying information that is stored in association with place information indicating a place within a specified range from the place indicated by the acquired information from the content database1002(Step T02, search step). Then, the map information display unit1004of the viewing terminal1generates and displays map information where various spots indicated by the specifying information are superimposed on the map in the vicinity of the current position indicated by the place information (Step T03).

After that, when one of the various spots is selected by a user's touch input or the like, the selection is accepted, and the map information display unit1004of the viewing terminal1generates selection information indicating the selected spot (Step T04). The map information generation unit24of the viewing terminal1then extracts the specifying information where the spot selected by the selection information appears (Step T05). The specifying information is thereby generated. After that, the content display unit14of the viewing terminal1outputs and displays the expression part corresponding to the specifying information on the viewing terminal1(Step T06; output step). The process thereby ends and is repeated from Step T01.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the various processing is performed when the place information input in relation to a place is acquired by the positioning unit11as shown inFIG. 6. However, the timing to acquire the place information is not particularly limited, and application software for performing positioning at specified time intervals may be running at all times in the viewing terminal1, and the various processing may be performed each time a positioning result obtained by the software is acquired by the positioning unit11. In this case, it is possible to display the map information automatically in a destination of a user at specified time intervals without need for a user operation on the viewing terminal (i.e. output display by push delivery to the viewing terminal1at specified time intervals).

Further, the map information generation unit24may be configured to transmit link information (specifying information) that allows access to a site that displays an expression part specified by specifying information to the viewing terminal1through the communication unit22. When a user performs an operation such as selecting the link information displayed on the viewing terminal1and accesses the site, the expression part specified by the specifying information is displayed on the viewing terminal1by the content display unit14.

Further, the map information generation unit24may transmit actual specifying information to the viewing terminal1, so that the actual specifying information is displayed on the viewing terminal1. It is assumed that a user of the viewing terminal1has a printed material (e.g. an actually published book) of the content corresponding to the displayed specifying information at hand. In this case, the user can easily find the expression part corresponding to the place information by opening the corresponding page of the printed material which is specified by the specifying information.

Finally, the module configuration of an information providing program in the case where the information providing system100is included in the viewing terminal is described. The information providing program in this case includes a main module, a positioning module, a content database module, a search module, a map information display module, an output module, and a content display module.

The main module is a part that exercises control over the function of executing processing of various information. The above-described functions of the viewing terminal incorporating the information providing system100are implemented by executing the main module.

Further, the functions implemented by executing the positioning module, the content database module, the search module, the map information display module, the output module and the content display module are equal to the functions of the positioning unit1001(acquisition means), the content database1002(equivalent to the function of the content database21; storage means), the search unit1003(equivalent to the function of the search unit26; search means), the map information display unit1004(equivalent to the function of the map information generation unit24), the output unit1005(output means) and the content display unit1006(equivalent to the function of the communication unit22), respectively. Note that, at the point of time when the information providing program in this case is installed into a computer, the data is not necessarily contained in the content database1002.

The information providing program in this case is provided in the form of being recorded in a static manner on a recording medium such as CD-ROM or DVD-ROM or semiconductor memory, for example. Further, the information providing program in this case may be provided as a computer data signal superimposed onto a carrier wave over a communication network.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

According to the present invention, it is possible to clearly present how a place that relates to a user appears in content such as a book.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST