Information retrieval apparatus and method

Abstract

The invention provides an information retrieval apparatus and an information retrieval method by which information can be retrieved in an improved operability. A CPU controls a video camera to fetch an image and controls a GPS to detect a current position. The CPU reads out, from within image data stored in a corresponding relationship with URLs of WWW servers, those image data which correspond to position data regarding positions around the detected current position from a WWW data base via a modem and a host machine. Then, the CPU selects, from among the read out image data, that image data which matches with the fetched data, reads out a URL corresponding to the image data and accesses a WWW server designated by the URL.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An information retrieval apparatus for retrieving information from a data base which contains registration data including position data, image data and designation information for retrieval of additional information comprising:
 imaging means for obtaining an image;   location detection means for detecting a current position location of said information retrieval apparatus; and   selection means for selecting image data from said data base which corresponds to the image obtained by said imaging means, said image data having position data representing positions in the vicinity of the current position location detected by said location detection means, and said designation information corresponding to said image data for retrieving said additional information.   
     
     
       2. An information retrieval apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising reception means for receiving the image data and the designation information via a computer network. 
     
     
       3. An information retrieval apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said reception means has a portable telephone function and is connected to said computer network via a telephone line. 
     
     
       4. An information retrieval apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the designation information is a URL for specifying information stored in a server of a world wide web build up on the Internet. 
     
     
       5. An information retrieval method for retrieving information by information retrieval apparatus from a data base which contains registration data including position data, image data and designation information for retrieval of additional information, comprising the steps of:
 obtaining an image;   detecting the current position location of the information retrieval apparatus; and   selecting image data from said data base which corresponds to the image obtained, said image data having position data representing positions in the vicinity of the detected current position location of the information retrieval apparatus, and designation information corresponding to said image data for retrieving said additional information.   
     
     
       6. An information retrieval apparatus for retrieving information stored in a remote database, comprising:
 a position detection unit for detecting a current position of the information retrieval apparatus;   an image obtaining unit for obtaining an image at the current position of the information retrieval apparatus;   a transmitting unit for transmitting to the remote database at least the current position of the information retrieval apparatus and a request to retrieve a portion of information based at least in part on the current position of the information retrieval apparatus;   a receiving unit for receiving the portion of the information from the remote database, the received portion of the information including at least two images corresponding to the image obtained at the current position of the information retrieval apparatus, at least one of the at least two images relating to a web site;   a searching unit for searching the received portion of the information to acquire related information based on the obtained image; and   a selecting unit for selecting at least one of the at least two images.   
     
     
       7. The information retrieval apparatus of claim 6, wherein the selecting unit selects at least one of the two images based on a user input. 
     
     
       8. The information retrieval apparatus of claim 7, wherein the transmitting unit transmits a request to the remote database to transfer information related to the image data determined to match the obtained image. 
     
     
       9. The information retrieval apparatus of claim 6, wherein the related information includes a uniform resource locator (URL) of content associated with the obtained image. 
     
     
       10. The information retrieval apparatus of claim 9, wherein the receiving unit accesses the content using the URL. 
     
     
       11. The information retrieval apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a display unit for displaying the content to a user of the information retrieval apparatus. 
     
     
       12. The information retrieval apparatus of claim 6, wherein the image obtaining unit includes a camera. 
     
     
       13. A method performed by an information retrieval apparatus for retrieving information stored in a remote database, the method comprising:
 detecting a current position of the information retrieval apparatus;   obtaining an image at the current position of the information retrieval apparatus;   transmitting to the remote database at least the current position of the information retrieval apparatus and a request to retrieve a portion of information based at least in part on the current position of the information retrieval apparatus;   receiving the portion of the information from the remote database, the received portion of the information including at least two images corresponding to the image obtained at the current position of the information retrieval apparatus, at least one of the at least two images relating to a web site;   searching the received portion of information to acquire related information based on the obtained image; and   selecting at least one of the at least two images.   
     
     
       14. The method of claim 13, wherein selecting selects at least one of the two images based on a user input. 
     
     
       15. The method of claim 14, further comprising transmitting a request to the remote database to transfer information related to the image data determined to match the obtained image. 
     
     
       16. The method of claim 13, wherein the related information includes a uniform resource locator (URL) of content associated with the obtained image. 
     
     
       17. The method of claim 16, further comprising accessing the content using the URL. 
     
     
       18. The method of claim 17, further comprising displaying the content to a user of the information retrieval apparatus via a display device. 
     
     
       19. The method of claim 13, wherein the image is obtained using a camera. 
     
     
       20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by an information retrieval apparatus, cause the information retrieval apparatus to perform a method for retrieving information stored in a remote database, the method comprising:
 detecting a current position of the information retrieval apparatus;   obtaining an image at the current position of the information retrieval apparatus;   transmitting to the remote database at least the current position of the information retrieval apparatus and a request to retrieve a portion of information based at least in part on the current position of the information retrieval apparatus;   receiving the portion of the information from the remote database, the received portion of the information including at least two images corresponding to the image obtained at the current position of the information retrieval apparatus, at least one of the at least two images relating to a web site;   searching the received portion of information to acquire related information based on the obtained image; and   selecting at least one of the at least two images.   
     
     
       21. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 20, the method further comprising transmitting a request to the remote database to retrieve the portion of information based on the current position of the information retrieval apparatus. 
     
     
       22. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the received portion of information includes image data, and searching the received portion of information includes determining whether the obtained image matches the image data. 
     
     
       23. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the method further comprises transmitting a request to the remote database to transfer information related to the image data determined to match the obtained image. 
     
     
       24. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the related information includes a uniform resource locator (URL) of content associated with the obtained image. 
     
     
       25. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 24, the method further comprising accessing the content using the URL. 
     
     
       26. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, the method further comprising displaying the content to a user of the information retrieval apparatus via a display device. 
     
     
       27. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the image is obtained using a camera. 
     
     
       28. An information retrieval apparatus for retrieving information stored in a remote database, comprising:
 a position detection device configured to detect a current position of the information retrieval apparatus;   an image obtaining device configured to obtain an image at the current position of the information retrieval apparatus;   a communication device configured to communicate with the remote database over a network at least the current position of the information retrieval apparatus and a request to retrieve a portion of information based at least in part on the current position of the information retrieval apparatus; and   a processor configured to:
 receive, via the communication device, the portion of the information from the remote database, the received portion of the information including at least two images corresponding to the image obtained at the current position of the information retrieval apparatus, at least one of the at least two images relating to a web site; 
 search the received portion of information to acquire related information based on the obtained image; and 
 select at least one of the at least two images. 
   
     
     
       29. The information retrieval apparatus of claim 28, wherein the processor is further configured to instruct the communication device to transmit a request to the remote database to retrieve the portion of information based on the current position of the information retrieval apparatus. 
     
     
       30. The information retrieval apparatus of claim 29, wherein the received portion of information includes image data, and the processor is configured to search the received portion of information by determining whether the obtained image matches the image data. 
     
     
       31. The information retrieval apparatus of claim 30, wherein the processor is configured to instruct the communication device to transmit a request to the remote database to transfer information related to the image data determined to match the obtained image. 
     
     
       32. The information retrieval apparatus of claim 28, wherein the related information includes a uniform resource locator (URL) of content associated with the obtained image. 
     
     
       33. The information retrieval apparatus of claim 32, wherein the processor is further configured to access the content using the URL using the communication device. 
     
     
       34. The information retrieval apparatus of claim 33, further comprising a display unit for displaying the content to a user of the information retrieval apparatus. 
     
     
       35. The information retrieval apparatus of claim 28, wherein the image obtaining device includes a camera. 
     
     
       36. An information retrieval system, comprising:
 a remote database storing information in association with locations; and   an information retrieval apparatus for retrieving the information stored in the remote database, comprising:
 a location detection device configured to detect a current location of the information retrieval apparatus; 
 an image obtaining device configured to obtain an image at the current location of the information retrieval apparatus; 
 a communication device configured to communicate with the remote database over a network at least the current position of the information retrieval apparatus and a request to retrieve a portion of information based at least in part on the current position of the information retrieval apparatus; and 
 a processor configured to:
 receive, via the communication device, the portion of the information from the remote database, the received portion of the information including at least two images corresponding to the image obtained at the current position of the information retrieval apparatus, at least one of the at least two images relating to a web site; 
 search the received portion of information to acquire related information based on the obtained image; and 
 
 select at least one of the at least two images. 
   
     
     
       37. The information retrieval system of claim 36, wherein:
 the processor is further configured to instruct the communication device to transmit a request to the remote database to retrieve the portion of information based on the current location of the information retrieval apparatus; and   the remote database is configured to identify the portion of information based on the current location of the information retrieval apparatus, and to transfer the portion of information to the information of the retrieval apparatus over the network.   
     
     
       38. The information retrieval system of claim 37, wherein the processor is further configured to search the received portion of information by determining whether the obtained image matches the at least two images. 
     
     
       39. The information retrieval system of claim 38, wherein:
 the processor is configured to obtain related information by instructing the communication device to transmit a request to the remote database to transfer information related to the image data determined to match obtained image; and   the remote database is configured to identify the related information based on the information related to the image data, and to transfer the related information to the information retrieval apparatus.