Specification
[Title of Invention] TERMINAL DEVICE, EXTERNAL DEVICE,
INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, PROGRAM, AND INFORMATION
PROCESSING SYSTEM
5 [Technical Field]
[OOOl]
This technique relates to terminal devices,
external devices, information processing methods,
programs, and information processing systems. More
10 particularly, this technique facilitates use of
information that matches the life rhythm of a user at a
desired time.
[Background Art]
[00021
15 There have been health services that provide each
user with health-related information by using an
information processing system. For example, a terminal
device having a communication function is linked to a
measuring apparatus that measures vital data (such as
20 weights, blood pressures, numbers of steps), and clients'
vital data measured by the measuring apparatus is
recorded on an external device by the terminal device.
The external device performs statistical processing or
the like on the recorded vital data, and transmits the
25 results of the statistical processing to the terminal
device.
[0003]
As another health service, the health management
system suggested in Patent Document 1 provides advice on
30 food, exercise, and the like, based on lifestyle data and
vital data.
[Prior Art Documents]
[Patent Document]
[0004]
[Patent Document 11 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open
5 No. 11-47096
[Summary of Invention]
[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]
[0005]
Through the service that reports the results of
10 statistical processing of vital data, changes in the
stored vital data can be grasped. If daily changes in
the vital data are small, however, changes in the
reported results of the statistical processing are also
small. As a result, the interest level of the users
15 might become lower, and the use of the service might
become less frequent.
[00061
In a case where a search system that can provide
information desired by a user is used, the user cannot
20 obtain information unless he/she sets various kinds of
search crireria. Therefore, once the user determines
that the operation is complicated, it is difficult for
the user to increase the frequency of use of the service
or to regularly use the service.
25 [00071
Further, through a service that automatically
reports only the information corresponding to the present
time like a television or radio broadcasting system, a
user cannot reuse missed information or plan a schedule
30 or the like by obtaining information corresponding to a
future time. Therefore, the usefulness of the service
becomes lower.
[00081
In view of this, this technique aims to facilitate
use of information that matches the life rhythm of a user
5 at a desired time.
[Means for Solving the Problems]
[0009]
A first aspect of this technique is a terminal
device that includes: a user interface unit that receives
10 a date and time input from a user; a control unit that
issues a request for content corresponding to the input
date and time to an external device; and a content
presenting unit that presents content supplied from the
external device, the content being selected based on the
15 life rhythm of the user on the input date and time by the
external device in response to the content request.
[OOlO]
According to this technique, a content request
containing a date and time input through the user
20 interface unit is issued from the control unit to the
external unit, and the content presenting unit presents
content that is selected based on the life rhythm of the
user on the input date and time by the external device in
response to the content request. In a case where the
25 user inputs a date, a request for content corresponding
to the input date is issued to the external device, and
the time is automatically increased in the system. ,
Content that is selected at each hour based on the life
rhythm of the user on the input date is then presented as
30 a list. Further, in a case where an information
collecting unit that collects information for selecting
content matching a life rhythm is provided, the
information collected by the information collecting unit
is supplied to the external device, to acquire content
that is selected based on the user's life rhythm analyzed
5 by the external device based on the collected information.
In a case where a life rhythm analyzing unit that
analyzes a life rhythm based on the collected information
is provided, the results of the life rhythm analysis are
supplied to the external device. Further, actions are
10 classified based on the collected information, the
results of the classification are stored by the hour, and
the life rhythm is analyzed based on the frequencies of
the actions at each hour.
[00111
15 A second aspect of this technique is an information
processing method that includes: receiving a date and
time input from a user; issuing a request for content
correspondinq to the input date and time to an external
device; and presenting content supplied from the external
20 device, the content being selected based on the life
rhythm of the user on the input date and time by the
external device in response to the content request.
[00121
A third aspect of this technique is a program for
25 causing a computer to acquire content from an external
device. This program causes the computer to: receive a
date and time input from a user; issue a request for
content corresponding to the input date and time to the
external device; and present content supplied from the
30 external device, the content being selected based on the
life rhythm of the user on the input date and time by the
external device in response to the content request.
[00131
A fourth aspect of this technique is an external
device that includes a content transmitting unit that
5 selects content matching the life rhythm of a user from a
content storing unit or a transmitted content storing
unit in response to a content request of the user from a
terminal device, and transmits the content to the
terminal device, the transmitted content storing unit
10 storing content selected from the content storing unit in
accordance with the life rhythm of the user, the content
stored in the transmitted content storing unit being
associated with dates and times.
[00141
15 According to this technique, in response to a
content request of the user from the terminal device,
content that matches the life rhythm of the user is
selected from the content storing unit or the transmitted
content storing unit, and is transmitted to the terminal
20 device. In a case where the date and time designated in
the content request is a past date and time, content
corresponding to the past date and time is selected from
the transmitted content storing unit. In a case where
the date and time designated in the content request is
25 not a past date and time, content is selected from the
content storing unit in accordance with the life rhythm
of the user on the designated date and time. In a case
where a date is designated in the content request, the
time is automatically increased in the system, and
30 content is selected and transmitted at each hour based on
the life rhythm of the user on the designated date.
Further, content is selected from the content storing
unit based on collected information for selecting content
that matches a life rhythm, the collected information
being supplied from the terminal device. In a case where
5 a life rhythm analyzing unit that analyzes a life rhythm
based on the collected information is provided, content
that matches the life rhythm on the date and time
designated in the content request is selected. In the
life rhythm analysis, actions of the user are classified
10 based on the collected information, and the life rhythm
is analyzed based on the frequencies of the actions at
each hour.
[00151
A fifth aspect of this technique is an information
15 processing method that includes selecting content
matching the life rhythm of a user from a content storing
unit or a transmitted content storing unit in response to
a content request of the user from a terminal device, and
transmitting the content to the terminal device, the
20 transmitted content storing unit storing content selected
from the content storing unit in accordance with the life
rhythm of the user, the content stored in the transmitted
content storing unit being associated with dates and
times.
25 [0016]
A sixth aspect of this technique is a program for
causing a computer to transmit content in response to a
content request from a terminal device. This program
causes the computer to select content matching the life
30 rhythm of a user from a content storing unit or a
transmitted content storing unit in response to the
content request of the user from the terminal device, and
transmit the content to the terminal device, the
transmitted content storing unit storing content selected
from the content storing unit in accordance with the life
5 rhythm of the user, the content stored in the transmitted
content storing unit being associated with dates and
times.
[0017]
A seventh aspect of this technique is an
10 information processing system that transmits content from
an external device to a terminal device in response to a
content request from the terminal device. In this system,
the terminal device includes: a user interface unit that
receives a date and time input from a user; a control
15 unit that issues a request for content corresponding to
the input date and time to the external device; and a
content presenting unit that presents content supplied
from the external device, the content being selected '
based on the life rhythm of the user on the input date
20 and time by the external device in response to the
content request. The external device includes a content
transmitting unit that selects content matching the life
rhythm of the user from a content storing unit or a
transmitted content storing unit in response to the
25 content request of the user from the terminal device, and
transmits the content to the terminal device, the
transmitted content storing unit storing content selected
from the content storing unit in accordance with the life
rhythm of the user, the content stored in the transmitted
30 content storing unit being associated with dates and
times.
[00181
The programs according to the present technique can
be provided via a storage medium or a communication
medium that supplies programs in a computer-readable form
5 to general-purpose computers that can execute various
program codes. Examples of such storage media include an
optical disk, a magnetic disk, and a semiconductor memory,
and examples of such communication media include networks.
By providing the programs in a computer-readable form,
10 processing in accordance with the programs can be
performed in a computer.
[Effects of the Invention]
[00191
According to this technique, in the terminal device,
15 a request for content corresponding to a date and time
input from a user is issued to the external device, and
content that is selected and supplied based on the life
rhythm of the user on the input date and time by the
external device in response to the content request is
20 presented. In the external device, in response to a
content request of the user from the terminal device,
content that matches the life rhythm of the user is
selected from the content storing unit or the transmitted
content storing unit, and is transmitted to the terminal
25 device. The transmitted content storing unit stores
content selected from the content storing unit in
accordance with the life rhythm of the user, and the
stored content is associated with dates and times.
Accordingly, information that matches the life rhythm of
30 the user at a desired time can be readily made available.
[Brief Description of Drawings]
[0020]
Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of
an information processing system.
Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example external
5 vievl of a terminal device.
Figs. 3(A) through 3(C) are diagrams showing
example information entry screens.
Figs. 4 (A) and 4 (B) show example channel select
screens.
10 Figs. 5 (A) and 5 (B) shovi example date and time
entry screens.
Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing operations of the
terminal device.
Fig. 7 is a table showing example information
15 stored in a collected information storing unit.
Fig. 8 is a table shovling example results of action
pattern analyses.
Fig. 9 is a table showing example results of
exercise quantity pattern analyses.
20 Fig. 10 is a table showing example results of
preference pattern analyses.
Fig. 11 is a table shovling example results of
specific daily pattern analyses.
Fig. 12 is a flowchart showing operations of a life
25 rhythm analyzing unit.
Fig. 13 is a table shor.ling an example of stored
content information.
Fig. 14 is a table showing an example of stored
environmental information.
30 Figs. 15 (A) and 15 (B) are tables for explaining an
action determining operation.
Figs. 16(A) and 16(B) are tables for explaining a
category determining operation.
Fig. 17 is a table for explaining a target level
determining operation.
5 Fig. 18 is a flowchart showing operations of a
content transmitting unit.
Fig. 19 is a flowchart showing an operation to be
performed when the content corresponding to each hour of
a day is to be acquired.
10 Fig. 20 is a diagram showing a displayed example of
a content list.
Fig. 21 is a diagram illustrating a content
presenting operation.
[Mode for Carrying Out the Invention]
15 [0021]
The following is a description of a mode for
carrying out the present technique. The description brill
be given .in the following order:
1. Structure of information processing system
20 2. Operations of terminal device
3. Operations of life rhythm analyzing unit
4. Operations of server device
5. Other operations of terminal device
[0022]
25
Fig. 1 is a block diagram shoviing the structure of
an information processing system. An information
processing system 10 is formed with a terminal device 20
and an external device such as a server device 40. The
30 terminal device 20 and the server device 40 are connected
via a network 50, for example.
LOO231
The terminal device 20 includes a sensor unit 21, a
user interface unit 22, a display unit 23, a
communication unit 24, and a control unit 25. The server
5 device 40 includes a content registering unit 41, a
content storing unit 42, an environmental information
acquiring unit 43, an environmental information storing
unit 44, a content transmitting unit 45, a transmitted
content storing unit 46, and a communication unit 47.
10 Further, the information processing system 10 has a life
rhythm analyzing unit 30 provided in the terminal device
20 or in the server device 40. Fig. 1 shows an example
case where the life rhythm analyzing unit is provided in
the server device 40. Content is information in the form
15 of images, characters, sound, control signals for a motor,
and the like. In the example case described below, the
content is information in the form of images and
characters.
[00241
2 0 The information collecting unit 21 of the terminal
device 20 collects information to be used for analyzing a
life rhythm. For example, a movement sensor 211 having a
pedometer function and the like is provided in the
information collecting unit 21, to generate information
25 related to movement of a user. Also, a location
detecting unit 212 for acquiring location information may
be provided in the information collecting unit 21. The
location detecting unit 212 has a function to detect the
actual location by receiving a positioning signal used in
30 GPS (Global Positioning System), a function to detect the
actual location by receiving a signal from a base station
of a portable telephone device, a function to detect the
actual location by acquiring the information on the
location of a router based on the address contained in a
signal received from the router in WiFi (wireless
5 fidelity), and the like. The information collected by
the information collecting unit 21 and information that
is input through user information input operations as
described later will be hereinafter referred to as
collected information.
10 [0025]
The user interface unit 22 is for a user to select
from a menu, input information, and the like. The user
interface unit 22 is formed with operating switches, a
touch panel, and the like. The user interface unit 22
15 generates operating signals in accordance with user
operations, and outputs the operating signals to the
control unit 25.
[00261
The display unit 23 is formed with a liquid crystal
20 display element and a flat display element such as
organic EL. The display unit 23 displays the menu,
information about content supplied from the server device
40, and the like.
[0027]
25 The communication unit 24 performs communication
with the server device 40. Under the control of the
control unit 25, the communication unit 24 transmits
collected information or a content request to the server
device 40. The communication unit 24 a1so.receive.s
30 content supplied from the server device 40.
COO281
The control unit 25 4controls the respective
components of the terminal device 20, and controls the
respective components to perform operations in accordance
with user operations. For example, the control unit'25
5 provides collected information or issues a content ,
request to the server device 40 in accordance with a user
operation. Also, the control unit 25 uses user
identification information in providing collected
information or issuing a content request, so that the
10 server device 40 can identify the user who has provided
the collected information or made the content request.
Further, if allowed by the user in advance, the control
unit 25 provides collected information to the server
device 40 on a regular basis.
15 [0029]
The control unit 25 also reproduces the content
supplied from the server device 40 in response to a
content request, and causes the display unit 23 to
display various kinds of information indicated by the
20 content. In a case where the content is information in
the form of images and characters, for example, the
information is displayed by the display unit 23. In a
case where the content indicates a URL (Uniform Resource
Locator), the control unit 25 accesses the host indicated
25 by the URL via the network 50, and acquires information.
The information is then displayed by the display unit 23.
When reproduction of content comes to an end, the control
unit 25 issues a content request to the server device 40.
[00301
30 The life rhythm analyzing unit 30 includes a
collected information storing unit 31, an analysis .
processing unit 32, and an analysis results storing unit
33. The collected information storing unit 31 stores
collected information provided by the terminal device 20.
[0031]
5 The analysis processing unit 32 analyzes the life
pattern of a user, based on the collected information
stored in the collected information storing unit 31. For
example, the analysis processing unit 32 analyzes the
pattern of a daily life rhythm or a ~s~eekllyi fe rhythm,
10 and supplies the analysis results to the analysis results
storing unit 33.
[0032]
The analysis results storing unit 33 stores life
rhythm analysis results supplied from the analysis
15 processing unit 32. In response to a request from the
content transmitting unit 45, the analysis results
storing unit 33 supplies stored analysis results to the
content transmitting unit 45.
[0033]
20 The content registering unit 41 of the server
device 40 registers content to be provided to the
terminal device 20. The content is information related
to actions that form the life pattern of a user. The
content registering unit 41 registers the content
25 associated with attributes related to the actions. The
registration of the content may be performed by content
providers online, ormay be performed off-line in
accordance with instructions from the content providers.
roo341
3 0 The content storing unit 42 stores the content
registered in association with the attributes related to
the actions. The content stored in the content storing
unit 42 is read by the content transmitting unit 45.
roo351
The environmental information acquiring unit 43
5 acquires environmental information related to the life of
a user. The environmental information acquiring unit 43
acquires meteorological information such as temperature,
daylight hours, precipitation, wind direction, wind
velocity, as the environmental information, for example.
10 In acquiring the meteorological information, the
environmental information acquiring unit 43 acquires the
information corresponding to the location of the user.
The location of the user may be registered beforehand in
the server device 40, or the location detected by the
15 location detecting unit 212 of the information collecting
unit 21 in the terminal device 20 may be used. Further,
a future location of the user may be predicted, and the
environmental information about the area including the
predicted location may be acquired. A future location
20 can be predicted by referring to the past action history
of the user, for example.
[00361
The environmental information storing unit 44
stores the environmental information acquired by the
25 environmental information acquiring unit 43. The
environmental information storing unit 44 is read by the
content transmitting unit 45.
[0037]
Based on collected information supplied from the
30 terminal device 20 to select the content that matches a
life rhythm, the content transmitting unit 45 analyzes
the life rhythm of a user. By further analyzing the
action of the user on a designated date and time based on
the analysis result, the content transmitting unit 45
selects the content related to the analysis results from
5 the content storing unit 42, and transmits the content to
the content requester. In a case where the life rhythm
analyzing unit 30 that analyzes the life rhythm of a user
is provided, the content transmitting unit 45 identifies
the user who has made the content request, and reads the
10 results of the analysis on the life rhythm of the
identified user on the designated date and time from the
analysis results storing unit 33 of the life rhythm
analyzing unit 30. Based on the read analysis results,
the content transmitting unit 45 analyses the actions of
15 the user, and selects the content related to the analysis
results from the content storing unit 42, and transmits
the content to the content requester.
[00381
The transmitted content storing unit 46 associates
20 the date and the time with the content selected by the
content transmitting unit 45 from the content storing
unit 42 in accordance with the results of the analysis on
the action of the user. The transmitted content storing
unit 46 then stores the selected content associated with
25 the date and the time. Also, in response to a request
from the content transmitting unit 45, the transmitted
content storing unit 46 outputs stored content to the
content transmitting unit 45.
[00391
3 0 The communication unit 47 communicates with the
communication unit 24 of the terminal device 20. The
communication unit 47 receives a content request or the
like supplied from the terminal device 20, and supplies
the content request or the like to the content
transmitting unit 45. The communication unit 47 also
5 transmits the content supplied from the content
transmitting unit 45 in response to the content request,
to the terminal device 20.
[0040]
In the above description, the terminal device 20
10 displays content by using the display unit 23 as a
content presenting unit. In a case where content is
audio information, however, the content is presented
through a speaker or the like. Also, the content storing
unit 42 and the environmental information storing unit 44
15 may not be provided in the server device 40, but may be
provided in an external device such as a data center.
[00411
<2. Operations of Terminal Device>
Fig. 2 shows an example external view of the
20 terminal device 20. Operating switches 221, 222, and 223,
which form the user interface unit 22, are provided on a
housing 200 of the terminal device 20. A touch panel 224
forming the user interface unit 22 is formed on the
display surface of the display unit 23. For example, the
25 operating switch 221 is a switch for calling up an entry
screen for information to be used to analyze a life
rhythm. The operating switch 222 is a switch for calling
up a channel select screen for designating a category of
content to be acquired from the server device 40. The
30 operating switch 223 is a switch for calling up a date
and time entry screen for acquiring the content
corresponding to a desired date and time.
[00421
The control unit 25 of the terminal device 20
displays an information entry screen on the display unit
5 23 in accordance with an operation of the operating
switch 2 2 1 . Further, when a user operation is performed
on the display of the information entry screen, the
control unit 25 determines what kind of input operation
the user has performed, based on the operated spot and
10 the displayed screen on the touch panel 224. The control
unit 25 then performs an information input operation,
based on the results of the determination.
[0043]
Figs. 3 ( A ) through 3(C) show example information
1 5 entry screens. Fig. 3 ( A ) shows an example 'user
information entry screen. From the user information
entry screen, physical features of a user and information
for selecting content of interest to the user can be
input. For example, as shown in Fig. 3 ( A ) , there are.
20 text fields for inputting the height and weight as
physical features, and text fields for inputting subjects
of interest. Information is not necessarily input from
the text fields. Instead, spin buttons may be provided
to allow inputting of the height and weight, and list
25 boxes or combo boxes may be provided to allow inputting
of subjects of interest.
[0044]
Fig. 3 ( B ) shows an example action information entry
screen. From the action information entry screen, action
30 information that cannot be collected by the information
collecting unit 2 1 can be input, and action information
can be input by the user, instead of the information
collecting unit 2 1 . For example, as shown in Fig. 3 ( B ) ,
there are text fields for inputting wake-up time, bedtime,
a meal category, the number of calories consumed, a
5 category of exercise, and the number of steps. As
described above, information is not necessarily input
from the text fields. Instead, spin buttons may be
provided to allow inputting of wake-up time, bedtime, and
the number of steps, and list boxes or combo boxes may be
10 provided to allow inputting of a category of meal and a
category of exercise. In inputting the action
information, time information is associated with the
action information, so as to allow determination on what
time and which action the action information is related
1 5 to. As for the time information to be associated with
the action information, the control unit 25 may
automatically generate time information indicating the
time at which information is input, and the user may be
allowed to input time information.
20 roo451
Fig. 3 ( C ) sh0r.1~a n example login screen. The login
screen includes a text field for inputting the user ID
for identifying the user.
[a0461
25 The control unit 25 of the terminal device 20
displays a channel select screen on the display unit 23
in accordance with an operation of the operating switch
222. Further, when a user operation is performed on the
display of the channel select screen, the control unit 25
30 determines what kind of channel select operation the user
has performed, based on the operated spot and the
displayed screen on the touch panel 2 2 4 .
[00471
Figs. 4(A) and 4 ( B ) show example channel select
screens. From a channel select screen, one of channels
5 can be selected. In Fig. 4 ( A ) , for example, a daily life
channel, an exercise channel, or a meal channel can be
selected. The daily life channel is a channel that
provides timely meal, exercise, sleep information that
matches the life rhythm of the user. The exercise
10 channel is a channel that provides timely exerciserelated
information based on exercise history information
as to the user, in synchronization with the life rhythm
of the user. The meal channel is a channel that provides
timely meal-related information that matches the users
15 preference or the like, in synchronization with the life
rhythm of the user.
[00481
The control unit 25 of the terminal device 20
displays a date and time entry screen on the display unit
20 23 in accordance with an operation of the operating
switch 223. Further, when a user operation is performed
on the display of the date and time entry screen, the
control unit 25 determines what kind of date andctime
input operation the user has performed, based on the
25 operated spot and the displayed screen on the touch panel
224. The control unit 25 then performs a date and time
input operation, based on the results of the
determination.
[0049]
30 Figs. 5 (A) and 5 (B) show example date and time
entry screens. Fig. 5 ( A ) shows a date and time entry
screen for designating a date by using a calendar, and
designating a time after the designation of the date.
Fig. 5(B) shows a date and time entry screen that
includes date and time entry text fields from which a
5 year, a month, a day, and a time are input. As described
above, a date and a time are not necessarily input from
the text fields, and spin buttons may be provided to
allow the inputting.
[0050]
10 Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing operations of the
terminal device. In step ST11, the control unit 25 logs
on. The control unit 25 causes the display unit 23 to
display the login screen, to receive an input of a user
ID. The control unit 25 also transmits the input user ID
15 to the server device 40. If there is a notification from
the server device 40 that the user has been confirmed, .
the process moves on to step ST12. If there is a
notification that the user cannot be confirmed, the
display unit 23 shovis an indication to that effect.
20 [00511
In step ST12, the control unit 25 calls up the
channel select screen. The control unit 25 controls the
display unit 23 to display the channel select screen, and
the, process moves on to step ST13.
25 [0052]
In step ST13, the control unit 25 determines
whether a channel has been selected. If a selected
channel is not detected, the process returns to step ST13.
If a selected channel is detected, the process moves on
30 to step ST14.
[0053]
In step ST14, the control unit 25 performs date and
time setting. The control unit 25 controls the display
unit 23 to display the date and time entry screen.
Further, the control unit 25 sets the date and time input
5 by the user as a designated date and time for content
acquirement, and the process moves on to step ST15.
fOO541
In step ST15, the control unit 25 issues a content
request. The control unit 25 requests the server device
10 40 for content corresponding to the designated date and
time, and the process moves on to step ST16.
[00551
In step ST16, the control unit 25 determines
whether the content has been received. Unless the
15 content is supplied from the server device 40 in response
to the content request, the process returns to step ST16.
Upon receipt of the content from the server device 40,
the process moves on to step ST17.
[00561
20 In step ST17, the control unit 25 reproduces the
content. The control unit 25 reproduces the received
content, and displays the information in the content on
the screen of the display unit 23. The process then
moves on to step ST18.
25 [00571
In step ST18, the control unit 25 determines
whether an event has occurred. In a case where an event
has not occurred, for example in a case where a user
operation has not been performed, the process returns to
30 step ST18. In a case where a user operation has been
detected, the process moves on to step ST19.
[00581
In step ST19, the control unit 25 determines
whether the event is an end of reproduction or a switch
operation. In a case where the touch panel of the
5 display unit 23 has been operated, for example, the
control unit 25 moves on to step ST23. In a case where a
switch operation has been performed with the operating
switch 223, the process moves on to step ST20.
[00591
10 In step ST20, the control unit 25 calls up the date
and time entry screen. The control unit 25 controls the
display unit 23 to display the date and time entry screen,
and the process moves on to step ST21.
[00601
15 In step ST21, the control unit 25 determines
whether a date and a time have been input. If inputting
of information has not been detected, the process returns
to step ST21. If inputting of a date and a time has been
detected, the process moves on to step ST22.
20 [00611
In step ST22, the control unit 25 performs date and
time setting. The control unit 25 sets the input date
and time as a designated date and time, and the process
moves on to step ST23.
25 [00621
Moving on to step ST23 from step ST19 or ST22, the
control unit 25 ends the reproduction of the content, and
the process returns to step ST15.
[0063]
3 0 In this manner, the terminal device 20 sets a
designated date and time, and requests the server device
40 for the content.
LOO641
Although not shown in Fig. 6, in a case where a
switch operation has been performed with the operating
5 switch 221, the information entry screen is displayed'to
allow inputting of information. In a case where a sx,jitch
operation has been performed with the operating switch
222, the channel select operation screen is displayed,
and an operation is performed to request content on a
10 channel selected by the user.
[00651
As described above, the terminal device 20 provides
the server device 40 with collected information for
analyzing a life rhythm. Accordingly, after analyzing
15 the life rhythm in a later described manner using the
provided collected information, the server device 40 can
provide the content in accordance with the results of a
prediction of the user's action on the designated date
and time.
20 [00661
<3. Operations of the Life Rhythm Analyzing Unit>
The life rhythm analyzing unit 30 analyzes the life
rhythms of users, based on collected information.
[00671
25 The collected information storing unit 31 stores
information input from the information entry screen and
collected information acquired by the information
collecting unit 21 as the history about each user. Fig.
7 shows example collected information stored in the
30 collected information storing unit 31. For example, the
collected information is stored, with the names of
actions, the categories, and the quantities being
associated with one another. In the "name of action"
column, actions are classified into exercising and eating.
In the "category" column, the categories of exercises and
5 categories of meals are shok~n. Further, the "quantity"
column shows the numbers of steps taken in exercises, and
the numbers of calories taken at mealtimes.
[0068]
The analysis processing unit 32 analyzes a life
10 rhythm, using the collected information stored in the
collected information storing unit 31. Based on the
collected information stored in the collected information
storing unit 31, the analysis processing unit 32 analyzes
an action pattern, an action-related quantity pattern
15 such as an exercise quantity pattern, a preference
pattern, and a specific daily pattern.
[0069]
Fig. 8 shows example results of action pattern
analyses. The results of the action pattern analysis
20 show which action is taken most often among the
respective actions in chronological order. For example,
the analysis processing unit 32 compares the stored
exercise quantity or the stored consumed calories
information with a predetermined threshold value, and,
25 based on the comparison result, determines whether an
exercise or a meal has been taken. If the 'exercise
quantity is equal to or greater than the threshold value,
the analysis processing unit 32 determines that an
exercise has been taken, and sets the analysis result to
30 "1" . Likewise, if the number of consumed calories is.
equal to or larger than the predetermined threshold value,
the analysis processing unit 32 determines that a meal
has been taken, and sets the analysis result to "1" . In
a case where the analysis processing unit 32 determines
that any exercise or meal has not been taken, the
5 analysis processing unit 32 sets the analysis result to
"0". Further, the analysis processing unit 32 sets the
initial value of each action pattern analysis result to
"O", and combines the analysis results of each day in a
time-synchronized manner, to obtain frequency values. In
10 this manner, the analysis processing unit 32 generates
the action pattern analysis results. Generated in this
manner, the action pattern analysis results serve as the
model of an action pattern. Therefore, by using the
action pattern analysis results, it is possible to
15 determine which action is often taken at what time based
on the frequency values in the action pattern analysis
results.
[00701
Fig. 9 shows example results of exercise quantity
20 pattern analyses. The analysis processing unit 32
calculates the statistical values such as the average
values of the hourly exercise quantities of each day, to
obtain exercise quantity pattern analysis results.
Generated in this manner, the exercise quantity pattern
25 analysis results serve as the model of expected exercise
quantities.
[0071]
Fig. 10 shows example results of preference pattern
analyses. Specifically, Fig. 10 shows the results of
30 exercise category preference pattern analyses. The
preference pattern analysis results show which category
of exercise is most of\en taken in chronological order.
For example, based on the stored "category" information,
the analysis processing unit 32 analyzes which category
of exercise has been taken, and sets the result of the
5 analysis as to the category of the taken exercise to "1".
The analysis processing unit 32 also sets the result of
the analysis as to each category of exercise that has not
been taken to "0". Further, the analysis processing unit
32 puts the initial value of each preference pattern
10 analysis result to "0" like each action pattern analysis
result. The analysis processing unit 32 then combines
the results of analyses of each day in a timesynchronized
manner, to obtain frequency values. In this
! manner, the analysis processing unit 32 generates the
15 preference pattern analysis results. Generated in this
manner, the preference pattern analysis results serve as
the model of an exercise category preference. Therefore,
by using the preference pattern analysis results, it is
possible to determine which category of exercise is often
20 taken at what time based on the frequency values in the
preference pattern analysis results.
[0072]
A life rhythm varies between weekdays and holidays,
for example. Therefore, not only a life rhythm analysis
25 is carried out in the same manner on a daily basis, but
also a life rhythm analysis may be carried out in a
different manner on each day of the week. In the life
rhythm analysis on each day of the week, the collected
information is classified into the days of the week, and
30 the life rhythm is analyzed by using the collected
information about the day of the week on which the life
rhythm analysis is being analyzed. Fig. 11 shows example
results of specific daily pattern analyses. The specific
daily pattern analysis results include the results of
pattern analyses that are carried out in the same manner
5 each day of the week, and the results of pattern analyses
that are carried out in a different manner on each day of
the week. That is, the specific daily pattern analysis
results consist of eight analysis result patterns. For
example, the "(quantity) walking" of each day of the week
10 is associated with the hourly distribution data that
corresponds to each date and is shor~~inn Fig. 9. Also,
the "(preference) exercise category" of each day is
associated with the hourly distribution data that
corresponds to each date and is shown in Fig. 10.
15 Likewise, the action pattern distribution shown in Fig. 8
is associated vith each corresponding date, and is
managed in the table shown in Fig. 11.
[0073]
The analysis results storing unit 33 stores the
20 models related to the life rhythm analyzed by the
analysis processing unit 32. The models related to the
life rhythm include the action pattern analysis results,
the quantity pattern analysis results, and the preference
pattern analysis results, and the specific daily pattern
25 analysis results. The models related to the life rhythm
stored in the analysis results storing unit 33 are
updated with new analysis results, when the collected
information stored in the collected information storing
unit 31 is updated, and a life rhythm analysis is carried
30 out by the analysis processing unit 32.
LOO741
Fig. 12 is a flowchart showing operations to be
performed by the life rhythm analyzing unit 30 in a case
where the life rhythm analyzing unit 30 is provided in
the server device 40.
5 [00751
In step ST31, the life rhythm analyzing unit 30
determines whether collected information has been
received. Where information input from the information
entry screen or information acquired by the information
10 collecting unit 21 has been supplied from the terminal
device 20, the process moves on to step ST32. Where
collected information has not been supplied, the process
returns to step ST31.
[00761
15 In step ST32, the life rhythm analyzing unit 30
updates the stored information. The collected
information storing unit 31 of the life rhythm analyzing
unit 30 stores the newly supplied collected information
as a history, and the process moves on to step ST33.
20 [00771
In step ST33, the life rhythm analyzing unit 30'
confirms the day of the week. The analysis processing
unit 32 confirms to which day of the week the collected
information corresponds, and the process moves on to step
25 ST34.
[0078]
In step ST34, the life rhythm analyzing unit 30
carries out a life rhythm analysis. As the collected
information stored in the collected information storing
30 unit 31 has been updated, the analysis processing unit 32
of the life rhythm analyzing unit 30 carries out the life
rhythm analysis, using the updated information
corresponding to the day on which the update has been
performed. The process then moves on to step ST35. In
the life rhythm analysis, the daily pattern that is the
5 same on each day of the week, and the pattern of the day
on which the update has been performed are analyzed.
[0079]
In step ST35, the life rhythm analyzing unit 30
updates the models related to the life rhythm. Based on
10 the analysis results of step ST34, the analysis results
storing unit 33 of the life rhythm analyzing unit 30
updates the stored models related to the life rhythm, and
the process returns to step ST31.
[OOEO]
15 As described above, the life rhythm analyzing unit
30 analyzes the life rhythm of a user, based on the
collected information. The life rhythm analyzing unit 30
then generates an action pattern, a preference pattern,
and the like. Therefore, by using the pattern analysis
20 results, it is possible to predict actions and the like
of the user on a designated date and time.
[00811
<4. Operations of the Server Device>
The content information registered by the content
25 registering unit 41 of the server device 40 is stored
into the content storing unit 42.
[0082]
Fig. 13 shows example content information stored in
the content storing unit 42. The content information
30 contains the metadata indicating content attributes, as
well as the specifics of the content (such as URLs
(Uniform Resource Locators)). The metadata is the
information to be used for selecting content in
accordance with the life rhythm or the like of the user,
and is registered in accordance with the content
5 attributes by the content provider, for example. As the
metadata, information about the names, categories, and
quantities of the actions used in the life rhythm
analysis, and environmental information are used.
[0083]
10 The environmental information acquired by the
environmental information acquiring unit 43 of the server
device 40 is stored into the environmental information
storing unit 44.
LOO841
15 Fig. 14 shovrs example environmental information
stored in the environmental information storing unit 44.
As the environmental information, information on weather,
temperature, and the like is acquired. The environmental
information is divided into regions and is associated
20 with hours, so that information can be acquired in
accordance with the location of the content user. In Fig.
14, the environmental information as to one region is
shown as an example.
[00851
25 The content transmitting unit 45 of the server
device 40 determines at each hour the parameter for
searching the registered content, based on the respective
models indicating a life rhythm and the location
information and channel information contained in a
30 request from a client. Further, the content transmitting
unit 45 selects content in accordance with the determined
parameter, and transmits the selected content to the
client.
[0086]
In a case where the daily life channel is selected
5 in the terminal device 20, the content transmitting unit
45 calculates the action probabilities, taking into
account the frequencies at the designated hour in the
action pattern analysis results. Further, the content
transmitting unit 45 conducts a drawing based on the
10 probabilities, and determines an action. In a case vihere
a specific channel such as the meal channel or the
exercise channel is selected in the terminal device 20,
the content transmitting unit 45 selects content by
picking up the action of the selected channel. Therefore,
15 the content transmitting unit 45 does not conduct a
drawing based on the probabilities.
roo871
Figs. 15(A) and 15(B) are tables for explaining the
action determining operation. For example, in a case
20 vihere the frequency value of exercising is "85" while the
frequency value of eating is "15" between 18:00 and 19:OO
in the action pattern analysis results as shown in Fig.
15(A), the action probabilities are as follows: the
probability of exercising is "0.85", and the probability
25 of eating is "0.15", as shown in Fig. 15 (B) . A draviing
is conducted based on the probabilities, and an action is
determined.
[0088]
In relation to the determined action, the content
30 transmitting unit 45 then determines a category of
content to be provided based on the preference pattern,
and determines a target level of the value for selecting
the content to be provided based on the quantity pattern.
[00891
Figs. 16(A) and 16(B) are tables for explaining the
5 category determining operation in a case bzhere exercising
is determined as an action. For example, in a case where
the frequency value of running is "70" while the
frequency value of tennis is "5" between 18:OO and 19:OO
in the exercise preference pattern analysis results as
10 shovzn in Fig. 16(A), the category probabilities are as
follows: the probability of running is "0.70n, and the
probability of tennis is "0.05", as shown in Fig. 16(B).
A drawing is conducted based on the probabilities, and a
category is determined.
15 [0090]
Fig. 17 is a table for explaining the target
quantity level determining operation in a case where
exercising is determined as an action. For example, in a
case where the exercise quantity between 18:00 and 19:00
20 in the quantity pattern analysis results is "3890" as
shown in Fig. 17, the target level is determined as "3890
steps".
[0091]
Although Figs. 16 and 17 show a case where
25 exercising is determined as an action, a meal category
such as Chinese or Japanese is determined based on the
preference pattern analysis results in a case where
eating is determined as an action. Also, the number of
calories to be consumed is determined as the quantity
30 reference value. In the case of sleeping, the preference
pattern consists of sleeping and getting up, and
therefore, any quantity parameter is not used.
[0092]
The content transmitting unit 45 also performs an
environmental information determining operation. In
5 determining an environment, environmental information is
determined based on a designated date and time. The
content transmitting unit 45 may determine environmental
information corresponding to the designated date and time,
based on the environmental information as to the area
10 including the location indicated by location information
supplied from the terminal device 20.
[0093]
Further, in a case where a content request with a
designated date and time has been issued, the content
15 transmitting unit 45 determines a category of content to
be provided, based on the action on the designated date
and time and the preference pattern.
[00941
As described above, the content transmitting unit
20 45 determines an action, a category, a target level, a
designated date and time, and the like, which are to be
used as search parameters. For example, in a case vhere
the action is exercising, the category of action is
running, and the target level is 3890 steps on the
25 designated date and time, those subjects and value are
used as the search parameters. Further, the content
transmitting unit 45 selects transmission candidate
content from the content stored in the content storing
unit 42, based on the search parameters. For example,
30 the content having the metadata indicating exercising as
the action and running as the category of action is
searched, and the content with quantity meta close to the
target level of 3890 steps is selected from the searched
content and is set as the transmission candidates.
[00951
5 Further, the content transmitting unit 45 randomly
selects a piece of content from pieces of content .
selected as transmission candidates, and sets the
selected piece of content as content to be transmitted.
The content transmitting unit 45 transmits the to-be-
10 transmitted content to the terminal device 20. If a
content request is issued from the terminal device 20 two
or more times in the same time slot when a piece of
content is selected and transmitted based on the search
parameters, the same content is repeatedly provided. To
15 provide new content, an operation to change the search
parameters needs to be performed. However, the content
transmitting unit 45 selects pieces of content as
transmission candidates based on the search parameters.
The content transmitting unit 45 then randomly selects
20 content from the transmission candidates, and transmits
the selected content. Accordingly, different content can
be provided even in a case where a content request is
issued from the terminal device two or more times in the
same time slot.
25 [00961
Also, there are hours at which an action might not
belong to any action category in the action pattern
analysis results. In that case, a keyword that is input
by the user is used as the search parameter in selecting
30 transmission candidates. Specifically, keywords
registered from the "interest" field in the user
information entry screen are stored in the life rhythm
analyzing unit 30, and content is selected by using a
search parameter that is a keyword randomly selected from
the stored keywords. For example, if an action does not
5 belong to any action category in the action pattern
analysis results, the action-related search parameter is
set as "information". In a case where the randomly
selected keyword is "high-blood pressure", pieces of
content having "information" as the action and "high-
10 blood pressure" as the category are selected as
transmission candidates from the registered content.
[0097]
Fig. 18 is a flowchart showing operations to be
performed by the content transmitting unit 45 when a
15 content request with a designated date and time is issued.
100981
In step ST41, the content transmitting unit 45
determines whether a content request has been issued. In
a case where any content request has not been issued, the
20 process returns to step ST41. In a case r~rhere a content
request has been issued, the process moves on to step
ST42.
[00991
In step ST42, the content transmitting unit 45
25 determines whether the designated date and time indicate
past time. If the designated date and time does not
indicate past time, the process moves on to step ST43.
If the designated date and time indicates past time, the
process moves on to step ST66.
30 [OlOO]
In step ST43, the content transmitting unit 45
determines whether the selected channel is the daily life
channel. If the selected channel is the daily life
channel, the process moves on to step ST44. If the
selected channel is some other channel, the process moves
5 on to step ST47.
[01011
In step ST44, the content transmitting unit 45
determines a time and a day of the week. The content
transmitting unit 45 determines a day of the week and a
10 time based on the designated date and time, and the
process moves on to step ST45.
[01021
In step ST45, the content transmitting unit 45
calculates action probabilities. Based on the frequency
15 values on the determined day of the {sleek and time in the
action pattern analysis results, the content transmitting
unit 45 calculates the probability of each action, and
the process moves on to step ST46.
[01031
20 In step ST46, the content transmitting unit 45
determines an action. The content transmitting unit 45
conducts a drawing in accordance with the action
probabilities, and determines an action. The process
then moves on to step ST49.
25 [01041
In step ST47, the content transmitting unit 45
determines a time and a day of the week. The content
transmitting unit 45 determines a day of the week and a
time based on the designated date and time, and the ,
30 process moves on to step ST48.
[0105]
In step ST48, the content transmitting unit 45
determines an action. The content transmitting unit 45
picks up the action of the selected channel, and the
process moves on to step ST49.
5 [0106]
In step ST49, the content transmitting unit 45
determines whether the determined action is exercising.
If the determined action is exercising, the process moves
on to step ST50. If the determined action is not
10 exercising, the process moves on to step ST54.
[0107]
In step ST50, the content transmitting unit 45
determines a category. Based on the frequency values on
the designated date and time in the exercise preference
15 pattern analysis results, the content transmitting unit
45 calculates the probabilities of respective categories.
Further, the content transmitting unit 45 conducts a
drawinq in accordance with the category probabilities,
and determines a category of exercise. The process then
20 moves on to step ST51.
[0108]
In step ST51, the content transmitting unit 45
determines a target level. The content transmitting unit
45 determines the target level that is the exercise
25 quantity on the designated date and time in the quantity
pattern analysis results, and then the process moves on
to step ST52.
[0109]
In step ST52, the content transmitting unit 45
30 determines environmental information. The content
transmitting unit 45 selects, from the information stored
in the environmental information storing unit 44, the
information corresponding to the location indicated by
location information supplied from the terminal device 20
and to the determined time. In this manner, the content
5 transmitting unit 45 determines the environmental
information and the process moves on to step ST53.
[01101
In step ST53, the content transmitting unit 45
determines transmission candidates. The content
10 transmitting unit 45 sets the action, the category, and
the like determined in step ST46 or ST48 and steps ST50
through ST52 as the search parameters. Based on the
search parameters, the content transmitting unit 45
selects transmission candidate content from the content
15 stored in the content storing unit 42, and the process
then moves on to step ST64.
[01111
Moving from step ST49 to step ST54, the content
transmitting unit 45 determines whether the determined
20 action is eating. If the determined action is eating,
the process moves on to step ST55. If the determined
action is not eating, the process moves on to step ST59.
[01121
In step ST55, the content transmitting unit 45
25 determines a category. Based on the frequency values at
the determined time in the results of the preference
pattern analysis on meal categories, the content
transmitting unit 45 calculates the probabilities of the
respective categories. Further, the content transmitting
30 unit 45 conducts a drawing in accordance v~ith the
probabilities of the respective categories, and then the
process moves on to step ST56.
[0113]
In step ST56, the content transmitting unit 45
determines a target level. The content transmitting unit
5 45 determines the target level from the consumed calories
on the designated date and time in the quantity pattern
analysis results, and the process moves on to step ST57.
[0114]
In step ST57, the content transmitting unit 45
10 determines environmental information. As in step ST52,
the content transmitting unit 45 selects, from the
information stored in the environmental information
storing unit 44, the information corresponding to the
location indicated by location information supplied from
15 the terminal device 20 and to the determined time. In
this manner, the content transmitting unit 45 determines
the environmental information and the process moves on to
step ST58.
[01151
20 In step ST58, the content transmitting unit 45
determines transmission candidates. The content
transmitting unit 45 sets the action, the category, and
the like determined in step ST46 or ST48 and ST55 through
ST57 as the search parameters. Based on the search
25 parameters, the content transmitting unit 45 selects
transmission candidate content from the content stored in
the content storing unit 42, and the process then moves
on to step ST64.
[01161
30 Moving from step ST54 to step ST59, the content
transmitting unit 45 determines whether the determined
action is sleeping. If the determined action is sleeping,
the process moves on to step ST60. If the determined
action is not sleeping, the process moves on to step ST62.
[01171
5 In step ST60, the content transmitting unit 45
determines a category. The content transmitting unit 45
determines the category as sleeping, and the process
moves on to step ST61.
[0118]
10 In step ST61, the content transmitting unit 45
determines transmission candidates. The content
transmitting unit 45 sets the action and the category
determined in step ST46, ST48 and step ST60 as the search
parameters. Based on the search parameters, the content
15 transmitting unit 45 selects transmission candidate
content from the content stored in the content storing
unit 42, and the process then moves on to step ST64.
[0119]
Moving from step ST59 to step ST62, the content
20 transmitting unit 45 determines a keyword. The content
transmitting unit 45 randomly selects the keyword from
the keywords registered by the user, and the process
moves on to step ST63.
[01201
2 5 In step ST63, the content transmitting unit 45
determines transmission candidates. The content
transmitting unit 45 sets the keyword determined in step
ST62 as the search parameter. Based on the search
parameter, the content transmitting unit 45 selects
30 transmission candidate content from the content stored in
the content storiny unit 42, and the process then moves
on to step ST64.
[01211
In step ST64, the content transmitting unit 45
determines content to be transmitted. The content
5 transmitting unit 45 randomly selects a piece of content
from pieces of content selected as the transmission
candidates, and determines the selected piece of content
as the content to be transmitted. The process then moves
on to step ST65.
10 [0122]
In step ST65, the content transmitting unit 45 have
the to-be-transmitted content stored. The content
transmitting unit 45 associates the determined to-betransmitted
content with a date and a time, and stores
15 the determined to-be-transmitted content and the date and
time into the transmitted content storing unit 46. The
process then moves on to step ST67.
[I31231
Moving from step ST42 to step ST66, the content
20 transmitting unit 45 searches for content. The content
transmitting unit 45 searches the content stored in the
transmitted content storing unit 46 for the content
corresponding to the designated date and time. If there
is no content corresponding to the designated date and
25 time, content indicating that there is no corresponding
content is searched for. The content transmitting unit
45 reads the content corresponding to the designated date
and time, and transmits the content as the content to be
transmitted. The process then moves on to step ST67.
30 [0124]
In step ST67, the content transmitting unit 45
transmits the content. The content transmitting unit 45
transmits the to-be-transmitted content to the terminal
device 20 that has issued the content request, and the
process returns to step ST41.
5 [0125]
As described above, the content transmitting unit
45 determines the search parameters that are an action, a
category, a target level, environmental information, and
the like corresponding to a designated date and time,
10 from the results of analyses on the user's life rhythm
pattern analyzed by the life rhythm analyzing unit 30.
Using the search parameters, the content transmitting
unit 45 selects transmission candidate content, and
determines content to be transmitted among the
15 transmission candidates. The content transmitting unit
45 then transmits the content to the terminal device 20
Accordingly, content in accordance with the result of a
prediction of the user's action on a designated date and
time can be provided.
20 [01261
<5. Other Operations of the Terminal Device>
Further, in a case where a content request contains
a date designated from the date and time entry screen,
content corresponding to the respective hours of the day
25 is acquired, and which content is to be provided is
displayed at the time of time setting. In this manner,
content can be intuitively selected.
[01271
Fig. 19 is a flowchart showing an operation to be
30 performed to acquire content corresponding to the
respective hours of the day.
[01281
In step ST71, the control unit 25 displays a
monthly calendar. The control unit 25 controls the
display unit 23 to display the monthly calendar, and the
5 process moves on to step ST72.
[01291
In step ST72, the control unit 25 determines
whether a date has been designated. In a case >?here a
date has not been designated, the process returns to step
10 ST72. In a case >?here a date has been designated, the
process moves on to step ST73.
[0130]
In step ST73, the control unit 25 issues a content
request. The control unit 25 designates a date and a
15 time, and issues the content request to the server device
40. The process then moves on to step ST74.
[01311
In step ST74, the control unit 25 creates a content
list. Using the content supplied from the server device
20 40, the control unit 25 creates the list in r~rhich the
content is associated with the time, and the process
moves on to step ST75.
[01321
In step ST75, the control unit 25 automatically
25 increases the time. The control unit 25 increases the
time, and the process then moves on to step ST76.
[0133]
In step ST76, the control unit 25 determines
whether the time is past 24:OO. If the increased time is
30 not past 24300 of the day, the process returns to step
ST73, and the control unit 25 issues a request for
content corresponding to the increased time. If the
increased time is past 24:00, the process moves on to
step ST77.
[0134]
5 In step ST77, the control unit 25 displays the list.
The control unit 25 displays the list in which content
corresponding to the respective hours of the designated
date is shown.
[0135]
10 Through the above procedures, the list of the .
content corresponding to a day designated on the calendar
can be created. Fig. 20 shows a displayed example of the
content list. When a date is determined, a list of the
content corresponding to the respective hours of the day
15 is displayed. Accordingly, time setting can be
intuitively performed by referring to the displayed list.
[01361
In a case where only a date is designated in a
content request from the terminal device 20, the content
20 transmitting unit 45 of the server device 40
automatically updates the time, using a clock provided in
the server device. Content may be selected and
transmitted at each hour, based on the life rhythm of the
user on the designated date. In this manner, the
25 terminal device 20 can display the content list only by
designating a date, without constantly updating the time
from the terminal device 20 and issuing a content request.
Alternatively, the control unit 25 of the terminal device
20 may have the function to automatically update the time.
30 101371
As described above, in the information processing
system 10, client-server functions, registered content,
and respective models indicating life rhythms analyzed
based on logs of respective users are used,. and a date
and a time are designated. In this manner, content in
5 accordance with the results of a prediction of a user's
action on a designated date and time can be provided. A
content user can receive content that matches his/her
life rhythm by designating a date and a time and making a
content request. Accordingly, use of the information in
10 content is facilitated. For example, as shown in Fig. 21,
a user can easily obtain and use information related to
'meals or restaurants before lunch, exercise information
before going home, information related to relaxing items
before going to bed, and relaxing music or environmental
15 sound while in bed. Further, content is selected by
combining parameters such as a category and a quantity.
Accordingly, content that is new to content users can be
provided. Also, a content user can easily obtain
personalized content in synchronization with his/her life
20 rhythm simply by selecting a channel that indicates an
attribute. Further, the content provider only has to set
metadata about content and then register the content to
efficiently acquire information only to users interested
in the content through the information processing system
25 10.
[0138]
In the above described embodiment, the life rhythm
analyzing unit 30 is provided in the server device 40.
However, the life rhythm analyzing unit 30 may be
30 provided in the terminal device 20. In a case where the
life rhythm analyzing unit 30 is provided in the server
device 40, the terminal device 20 only has'to provide the
server device 40 with collected information to have a
life rhythm pattern analyzed. Accordingly, the
processing in the terminal device 20 can be reduced. In
5 a case where the life rhythm analyzing unit 30 is
provided in the terminal device 20, the terminal device
20 does not provide the collected information, but adds
search parameters for selecting content that matches the
life rhythm at a designated time to a content request.
10 The display unit 23 displays content that is selected and
supplied in accordance with the life rhythm by the server
device 40 based on the search parameters added to the
content request.
[01391
15 The series of operations described in the
specification can be performed by hardware, software, or
a combination of hardware and software. In a case where
the operations are performed by softvare, the programs in
which the operation sequences are written are installed
20 on a memory incorporated into dedicated hardware in a
computer, and are then executed. Alternatively, the
programs are installed on a general-purpose computer that
can perform various kinds of operations, and are then
executed.
25 [01401
The programs can be recorded beforehand on a hard
disk or a ROM (Read Only Memory) as a recording medium,
for example. Alternatively, the programs can be
temporarily or permanently stored (recorded) in a
30 removable recording medium such as a flexible disk, a CDROM
(Compact Disc Read Only Memory), a MO (Magneto
Optical) disk, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), a magnetic
disk, or a semiconductor memory card. Such a removable
recording medium can be provided as so-called packageij
software.
5 [0141]
Also, the programs may be installed on a computer
via a removable recording medium, and may be transferred
from a download site to a computer via a network such as
a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet in a v~ireless
10 or wired manner. The computer receives the programs
transferred in that manner, and can install the programs
on a recording medium such as an internal hard disk.
101421
Further, the present technique should not be
15 limited to the above embodiment of the technique. The
above embodiment of the technique is disclosed in the
form of an example, and it is obvious that those skilled
in the art can make changes and alternatives to the
embodiment without departing from the scope of the
20 technique. That is, the claims should be taken into
consideration in determining the scope of the present
technique.
[01431
It should be noted that the terminal device and the
25 external device according to the present technique may
have the following configurations.
(1) A terminal device that includes:
a user interface unit that receives a date and time
input from a user;
3 0 a control unit that issues a request for content
corresponding to the input date and time to an external
device; and
a content presenting unit that presents content
supplied from the external device, the content being
selected based on the life rhythm of the user on the
5 input date and time by the external device in response to
the content request.
(2) The terminal device of (I), wherein
the control unit issues a request for content
corresponding to the input date to the external device,
10 and
the content .presenting unit displays the content
supplied from the external device in the form of a list,
the content being selected at each hour based on the life
rhythm of the user on the input date by the external
15 device in response to the content request.
(3) The terminal device of (1) or ( 2 ) , further
including
an information collecting unit that collects
information for selecting content that matches a life
20 rhythm,
wherein the control unit provides the external
device with the information collected by the information
collecting unit, to acquire content selected based on the
user's life rhythm analyzed by the external device based
25 on the collected information.
(4) The terminal device of any of (1) through (3),
further including
a life rhythm analyzing unit that analyzes a life
rhythm based on the collected information,
3 0 wherein the control unit provides the external
device with the result of the life rhychm analysis.
(5) The terminal device of (4), wherein
the life rhythm analyzing unit classifies actions
based on the collected information, stores the results of
the classification by the hour, and analyzes the life
5 rhythm based on the frequencies of the actions at each
hour.
(6) An external device that includes
a content transmitting unit that selects content
that matches the life rhythm of a user from a content
10 storing unit or a transmitted content storing unit in
response to a content request of the user from a terminal
device, and transmits the selected content to the
terminal device, the transmitted content storing unit
storing content selected from the content storing unit in
15 accordance with the life rhythm of the user, the content
stored in the transmitted content storing unit being
associated with dates and times.
(7) The external device of (61, wherein
when a date and time designated in the content
20 request is a past date and time, the content transmitting
unit selects content corresponding to the past date and
time from the transmitted content storing unit, and when
the date and time designated in the content request is
not a past date and time, the content transmitting unit
25 selects content from the content storing unit in
accordance with the life rhythm of the user on the .
designated date and time.
(8) The external device of (6) or ( 7 ) , wherein
when a date is designated in the content request,
30 the content transmitting unit selects and transmits
content at each hour based on the life rhythm of the user
on the designated date.
(9) The external device of any of (6) through ( 8 ) ,
v~herein
the content transmitting unit selects content from
5 the content storing unit based on collected information
for selecting content that matches a life rhythm, the
collected information being supplied from the terminal
device.
(10) The external device of ( 9 ) , further including
10 a life rhythm analyzing unit that analyzes a life
rhythm based on the collected information,
wherein the content transmitting unit selects
content that matches the life rhythm on the date and time
designated in the content request.
15 (11) The external device of (lo), wherein
the life rhythm analyzing unit classifies actions
of the user based on the collected information, and
analyzes the life rhythm based on the frequencies of the
actions at each hour.
20 [Industrial Applicability]
j01441
In the terminal device, the external device, the
information processing methods, the programs, and the
information processing system according to this technique,
25 a request for content corresponding to a date and time
input from a user is issued from a terminal device to an
external device, and the content selected and supplied
based on the life rhythm of the user on the input date
and time by the external device in response to the
30 content request is presented. In response to a content
request of the user from the terminal device, the content
that matches the life rhythm of the user is selected from
a content storing unit or a transmitted content storing
unit by the external device, and is transmitted to the
terminal device by the external device. The transmitted
5 content storing unit stores content selected from the
content storing unit in accordance with the life rhythm
of the user, and the stored content is associated with
dates and times. Accordingly, information that matches
the life rhythm of the user at a desired time can be
10 readily made available. For example, health care content
concerning food, exercise, or the like can be readily
made available in accordance with the life rhythm of the
user at a desired time. Also, the frequency of use of
the service providing the content can be made higher, and
15 the service can be used regularly.
[Description of Reference Symbols]
[0145]
10 Information processing system
20 Terminal device
20 21 Information collecting unit
22 User interface unit
2 3 Display unit
24, 47 Communication unit
25 Control unit
25 30 Life rhythm analyzing unit
31 Collected information storing unit
32 Analysis processing unit
33 Analysis results storing unit
4 0 Server device
30 4 1 Content registering unit
42 Content storing unit
Environmental information acquiring unit
Environmental information storing unit
Content transmitting unit
Content transmitting unit
Transmitted content storing unit
Network
Housing
Movement sensor
Location detecting unit
222, 223 Operating switch
Touch panel
[Name of Document] Claims
[Claim 11
A terminal device comprising:
a user interface unit receiving a date and time
5 input from a user;
a control unit issuing a request for content
corresponding to the input date and time to an external
device; and
a content presenting unit presenting content
10 supplied from the external device, the content being
selected based on a life rhythm of the user on the input
date and time by the external device in response to the
content request.
iclaim 21
15 The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein
the control unit issues a request for content
corresponding to the input date to the external device,
and
the content presenting unit displays the content
20 supplied from the external device in a list, the content
being selected at each hour based on the life rhythm of
the user on the input date by the external device in
response to the content request.
[Claim 31
25 The terminal device according to claim 1, further
comprising
an information collecting unit collecting
information for selecting content matching a life rhythm,
wherein the control unit provides the external
30 device with the information collected by the information
collecting unit, to acquire content selected based on the
user's life rhythm analyzed by the external device based
on the collected information.
[Claim 41
The terminal device according to claim 1, further
5 comprising
a life rhythm analyzing unit analyzing a life
rhythm based on the collected information,
wherein the control unit provides the external
device with a result of the life rhythm analysis.
10 [Claim 51
The terminal device according to claim 4, wherein
the life rhythm analyzing unit classifies actions
based on the collected information, stores results of the
classification by the hour, and analyzes the life rhythm
15 based on frequencies of the actions at each hour.
[Claim 61
An information processing method comprising:
receiving a date and time input from a user;
issuing a request for content corresponding to the
20 input date and time to an external device; and
presenting content supplied from the external
device, the content being selected based on a life rhythm
of the user on the input date and time by the external
device in response to the content request.
25 [Claim 71
A program for causing a computer to acquire content
from an external device,
the program causing the computer to:
receive a date and time input from a user;
3 0 issue a request for content corresponding to the
input date and time to the external device; and
present content supplied from the external device,
the content being selected based on a life rhythm of the
user on the input date and time by the external device in
response to the content request.
5 [Claim 81
An external device comprising
a content transmitting unit selecting content
matching a life rhythm of a user from a content storing
unit or a transmitted content storing unit in response to
10 a content request of the user from a terminal device, and
transmitting the content to the terminal device, the
transmitted content storing unit storing content selected
from the content storing unit in accordance with the life
rhythm of the user, the content stored in the transmitted
15 content storing unit being associated with dates and
times.
[Claim 91
The external device according to claim 8, wherein
when a date and time designated in the content
20 request is a past date and time, the content transmitting
unit selects content corresponding to the past date and
time from the transmitted content storing unit, and when
the date and time designated in the content request is
not a past date and time, the content transmitting unit
25 selects content from the content storing unit in
accordance with the life rhythm of the user on the
designated date and time.
[Claim 101
The external device according to claim 8, wherein
30 when a date is designated in the content request, the
content transmitting unit selects and transmits content
at each hour based on the life rhythm of the user on the
designated date.
[Claim 111
The external device according to claim 8, wherein
5 the content transmitting unit selects content from
the content storing unit based on collected information
for selecting content matching a life rhythm, the
collected information being supplied from the terminal
device.
10 [Claim 121
The external device accqrding to claim 11, further
comprising
a life rhythm analyzing unit analyzing a life
rhythm based on the collected information,
15 wherein the content transmitting unit selects
content matching the life rhythm on a date and time
designated in the content request.
[Claim 131
The external device according to claim 12, wherein
the life rhythm analyzing unit classifies actions
of the user based on the collected information, and
analyzes the life rhythm based on frequencies of the
actions at each hour.
[Claim 141
25 An information processing method comprising
selecting content matching a life rhythm of a user
from a content storing unit or a transmitted content
storing unit in response to a content request of the user
from a terminal device, and transmitting the content to
30 the terminal device, the transmitted content storing unit
storing content selected from the content storing unit in
accordance with the life rhythm of the user, the content
stored in the transmitted content storing unit being
associated with dates and times.
[Claim 151
5 A program for causing a computer to transmit
content in response to a content request from a terminal
device,
the program causing the computer to
select content matching a life rhythm of a user
10 from a content storing unit or a transmitted content
storing unit in response to the content request of the
user from the terminal device, and transmit the content
to the terminal device, the transmitted content storing
unit storing content selected from the content storing
15 unit in accordance with the life rhythm of the user, the
content stored in the transmitted content storing unit
being associated with dates and times.
[Claim 161
An information processing system transmitting
20 content from an external device to a terminal device in
response to a content request from the terminal device,
the terminal device including:
a user interface unit receiving a date and time
input from a user;
25 a control unit issuing a request for content
corresponding to the input date and time to the external
device; and
a content presenting unit presenting content
supplied from the external device, the content being
30 selected based on a life rhythm of the user on the input
date and time by the external device in response to the
content request,
the external device including:
a content transmitting unit selecting content
matching the life rhythm of the user from a content
5 storing unit or a transmitted content storing unit in
response to the content request of the user from the
terminal device, and transmitting the content to the
terminal device, the transmitted content storing unit
storing content selected from the content storing unit in
10 accordance with the life rhythm of the user, the content
stored in the transmitted content storing unit being
associated with dates and times.