Database system, computer program and advertisement presentation method in database system

Abstract

A database system comprising: a database storing a plurality of types of information; a storage storing element associated information in which a plurality of elements included in said plurality of types of information are associated with each other and element-advertisement associated information in which advertising information is associated with a combination of two or more elements included in the plurality of elements; and a presentation device visibly presenting the advertising information by referring to the element-advertisement associated information when information entered by a user corresponds to the combination of two or more elements.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating the structure of a DB system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the flow of information in the DB system;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the functional structure of the DB system;

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram illustrating search-related operations;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the structuration of elements of information provided;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating element associated information;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating element-advertisement associated information;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an initial search screen;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a search result screen;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a detailed advertising screen;

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the contents of advertisement-access control table information;

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the contents of charging list information;

FIGS. 13 and 14 are diagrams each schematically showing an operational flow of the DB system;

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating element associated information in an e-learning system;

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating element-advertisement associated information in the e-learning system;

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating the hierarchical structure of contents in an auction site;

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating element associated information in an auction system;

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating element-advertisement associated information in the auction system;

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating the hierarchical structure of contents in a real estate search/retrieval site;

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating element-advertisement associated information in a real estate search/retrieval system;

FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating the hierarchical structure in a search/retrieval site for personal computer purchase; and

FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating element-advertisement associated information in a search/retrieval system for personal computer purchase.

Claims

1. A database system comprising: a database storing a plurality of types of information;a storage storing element associated information in which a plurality of elements included in said plurality of types of information are associated with each other and element-advertisement associated information in which advertising information is associated with a combination of two or more elements included in said plurality of elements; anda presentation device visibly presenting said advertising information by referring to said element-advertisement associated information when information entered by a user corresponds to said combination of two or more elements.

2. The database system according to claim 1, further comprising a calculating part calculating charging information to be charged to an advertiser of said advertising information visibly presented by said presentation device in accordance with access conditions of a user making access to said advertising information.

3. The database system according to claim 2, wherein said calculating part calculates said charging information in accordance with a frequency of presentation of said advertising information by said presentation device.

4. The database system according to claim 2, wherein said calculating part calculates said charging information in accordance with a frequency of user's access to detailed contents information about said advertising information visibly presented by said presentation device.

5. The database system according to claim 2, wherein said calculating part calculates said charging information in accordance with an order quantity induced by said advertising information visibly presented by said presentation device.

6. The database system according to claim 1, further comprising a reward-information determining part determining reward information for an information provider who provides at least part of said plurality of types of information.

7. The database system according to claim 2, further comprising a changing part changing a calculating rule of said charging information obtained by said calculating part so as to reduce a fee charged to said advertiser of said advertising information when he/she is also an information provider of at least part of said plurality of types of information.

8. The database system according to claim 1, wherein said element associated information is described in RDF.

9. The database system according to claim 1, further comprising an associated information generating part structuring a plurality of elements included in said plurality of types of information and associating them with each other by using language processing, thereby generating said element associated information.

10. The database system according to claim 1, wherein when said plurality of types of information contain information belonging to at least one or more categories of medical care, nursing and caregiving, an advertiser of said advertising information includes at least one or more entities of a hospital, a medical practitioner, a clinic, a medical equipment manufacturer, a school for medical care, a publisher relating to medical care and a pharmaceutical manufacturer.

11. The database system according to claim 1, wherein said database system includes an auction system.

12. The database system according to claim 1, wherein said database system includes an e-learning system.

13. A computer program controlling a computer to operate as a database system, wherein said database system comprises: a database storing a plurality of types of information;a storage storing element associated information in which a plurality of elements included in said plurality of types of information are associated with each other and element-advertisement associated information in which advertising information is associated with a combination of two or more elements included in said plurality of elements; anda presentation device visibly presenting said advertising information by referring to said element-advertisement associated information when information entered by a user corresponds to said combination of two or more elements.

14. The computer program according to claim 13, wherein said element associated information is described in RDF.

15. An advertisement presentation method in a database system, comprising the steps of: (a) storing, in a storage, element associated information in which a plurality of elements included in a plurality of types of information constituting a database are associated with each other and element-advertisement associated information in which advertising information is associated with a combination of two or more elements included in said plurality of elements; and(b) visibly presenting said advertising information by referring to said element-advertisement associated information when information entered by a user corresponds to said combination of two or more elements.

16. The advertisement presentation method according to claim 15, wherein said element associated information is described in RDF.