Context providing method, system, and apparatus

Abstract

A context providing method includes the collection step of collecting context information representing a situation of a target via a network, the generation step of applying a predetermined rule to the collected context information and information associated with a context entity which generates/utilizes the context information, thereby generating new context information, and the step of transmitting the generated context information to a context requester via the network. A context providing system and apparatus are also disclosed.

1 . A context providing method comprising: 
 the collection step of collecting context information representing a situation of a target via a network;    the generation step of applying a predetermined rule to the collected context information and information associated with a context entity which generates/utilizes the context information, thereby generating new context information; and    the step of transmitting the generated context information to a context requester via the network.    
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 the information associated with the context entity is a relationship between context entities contained in the colleted context information, and    the generation step comprises the step of applying the predetermined rule to the collected context information and the relationship between the context entities contained in the collected context information, thereby generating the new context information.    
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 the information associated with the context entity is at least one of a relationship between context entities contained in the colleted context information, prestored context entity attribute information, and a prestored relationship between the context entities, and    the generation step comprises the step of applying the predetermined rule to the collected context information and said at least one of the relationship between the context entities contained in the collected context information, the prestored context entity attribute information, and the prestored relationship between the context entities, thereby generating the new context information.    
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of laying out, in correspondence with a context entity, a context source which detects presence of the context entity, 
 the collection step comprising the step of collecting context information made up of a pair of a context source and a corresponding context entity.    
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of setting the predetermined rule, 
 the generation step comprising the step of generating context information in accordance with a set rule.    
   
   
       6 . A context providing system including a radio communication system connected to a network, and a context providing apparatus which collects context information representing a target situation and containing temporary context information notified from said radio communication system, and providing context information newly generated in accordance with a context information request, 
 said context providing apparatus comprising:    context information collection means for collecting context information via said network;    context generation means for applying a predetermined rule to context information output from said context information collection means and information associated with a context entity which generates/utilizes the context information, thereby generating new context information; and    context transmission means for transmitting the context information from said context generation means to a context requester via said network.    
   
   
       7 . A system according to  claim 6 , wherein 
 the information associated with the context entity is a relationship between context entities contained in the colleted context information, and    said context generation means applies the predetermined rule to the collected context information and the relationship between the context entities contained in the collected context information, thereby generating the new context information.    
   
   
       8 . A system according to  claim 6 , wherein 
 the information associated with the context entity is at least one of a relationship between context entities contained in the colleted context information, prestored context entity attribute information, and a prestored relationship between the context entities, and    said context generation means applies the predetermined rule to the collected context information and said at least one of the relationship between the context entities contained in the collected context information, the prestored context entity attribute information, and the prestored relationship between the context entities, thereby generating the new context information.    
   
   
       9 . A system according to  claim 6 , further comprising a context source which is laid out in correspondence with a context entity to detect presence of the corresponding context entity, 
 wherein said context information collection means collects context information made up of a pair of a context entity and said context source via said radio communication system.    
   
   
       10 . A system according to  claim 6 , further comprising rule holding means for holding the predetermined rule, 
 wherein said context generation means generates context information in accordance with the rule held in said rule holding means.    
   
   
       11 . A context providing apparatus comprising: 
 context information collection means for collecting context information representing a situation of a target via a network;    context generation means for applying a predetermined rule to the context information output from said context information collection means and information associated with a context entity which generates/utilizes the context information, thereby generating new context information; and    context transmission means for transmitting the generated context information from said context generation means to a context requester via said network.    
   
   
       12 . An apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein 
 the information associated with the context entity is a relationship between context entities contained in the colleted context information, and    said context generation means applies the predetermined rule to the collected context information and the relationship between the context entities contained in the collected context information, thereby generating the new context information.    
   
   
       13 . An apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein 
 the information associated with the context entity is at least one of a relationship between context entities contained in the colleted context information, prestored context entity attribute information, and a prestored relationship between the context entities, and    said context generation means applies the predetermined rule to the collected context information and said at least one of the relationship between the context entities contained in the collected context information, the prestored context entity attribute information, and the prestored relationship between the context entities, thereby generating the new context information.    
   
   
       14 . An apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein said context information collection means collects context information made up of a pair of a context entity and a context source which detects presence of a context laid out in correspondence with the context entity.  
   
   
       15 . An apparatus according to  claim 11 , further comprising rule holding means for holding the predetermined rule, 
 wherein said context generation means generates context information in accordance with the rule held in said rule holding means.    
   
   
       16 . A recording medium which records a program which executes: 
 the collection procedure of collecting context information representing a situation of a target via a network;    the generation procedure of applying a predetermined rule to the collected context information and information associated with a context entity which generates/utilizes the context information, thereby generating new context information; and    the procedure of transmitting the generated context information to a context requester via the network.    
   
   
       17 . A medium according to  claim 16 , wherein 
 the information associated with the context entity is a relationship between context entities contained in the colleted context information, and    the generation procedure comprises the procedure of applying the predetermined rule to the collected context information and the relationship between the context entities contained in the collected context information, thereby generating the new context information.    
   
   
       18 . A medium according to  claim 16 , wherein 
 the information associated with the context entity is at least one of a relationship between context entities contained in the colleted context information, prestored context entity attribute information, and a prestored relationship between the context entities, and    the generation procedure comprises the procedure of applying the predetermined rule to the collected context information and said at least one of the relationship between the context entities contained in the collected context information, the prestored context entity attribute information, and the prestored relationship between the context entities, thereby generating the new context information.    
   
   
       19 . A medium according to  claim 16 , wherein 
 the program comprises a program for executing a procedure of laying out, in correspondence with a context entity, a context source which detects presence of a context entity, and    the collection procedure comprises the procedure of collecting context information made up of a pair of a context source and a corresponding context entity.    
   
   
       20 . A medium according to  claim 16 , wherein 
 the program further comprises a program which executes a procedure which sets the predetermined rule, and    the generation procedure comprises a procedure which generates context information in accordance with a set rule.