Apparatus for retrieving and presenting digital data

Abstract

An apparatus for retrieving and presenting digital data, includes a network that includes data archives containing digital data, a terminal that can be connected to the network, a retrieval device that retrieves digital data, using a database of digital data retrieval information including information added to each group of digital data that can be provided over the network, and a communication quality determination device that determines a quality of communication between the terminal and a data archive containing digital data extracted by the retrieval device based on search conditions specified by a user via the terminal. Digital data sorted into an order in accordance with a priority specified by the user is downloaded to a user terminal.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for retrieving and presenting digital data, comprising: 
 a network that includes a data archive containing a plurality of digital data;    a terminal that can be connected to the network;    retrieval means that retrieves digital data, using a database of digital data retrieval information comprising predetermined item information added to each digital data item that can be presented over the network;    communication quality determination means that determines a quality of communication between the terminal and a data archive containing digital data extracted by the retrieval means based on search conditions specified by a user via the terminal; and    information presentation means that presents digital data sorted into an order in accordance with a priority specified by the user, based on item information and communication quality relating to each digital data group extracted by the retrieval means.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein information on classes of digital data that can be handled by the terminal is stored in the information presentation means, whereby digital data extracted by retrieval of the retrieval means that cannot be handled by the terminal are excluded from information that is presented.