Information providing apparatus for performing data processing in accordance with order from user

Abstract

This invention is a photosite which allows access from a cell phone to provide user-friendlier services. The photosite creates an ID (S 6501 ) and creates a character string Str from the ID by combining numerals and alphabetical characters by using a storage unit which stores buttons 0 to 9 of the cell phone and the number of alphabetical characters assigned to the respective buttons in correspondence with each other (S 6502 -S 6507 ). In this case, a character string is created such that any two consecutive characters are assigned to different keys.

1 - 9 . (canceled)  
   
   
       10 . An information providing apparatus comprising: 
 a creation unit configured to create ID data;    a storage unit configured to store a number and characters assigned to each key of a plurality of keys of a communication apparatus; and    a conversion unit configured to convert the ID data to a character string, on the basis of the number and characters assigned to each key which are stored in said storage unit, such that two consecutive characters in the character string are respectively assigned to different keys of the plurality of keys.    
   
   
       11 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein said conversion unit comprises a selection unit configured to extract characters constituting the character string one by one and, in a case where a currently selected character is assigned to a key to which an immediately preceding selected character is assigned, to change the currently selected character into a different character assigned to another key.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein said communication apparatus is a telephone, and the plurality of keys includes at least buttons to which numbers 0 to 9 are assigned.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , further comprising an information provision unit configured to provide predetermined information to the communication apparatus in accordance with a character string input by the communication apparatus.  
   
   
       14 . An information processing method comprising the steps of: 
 creating ID data;    storing a number and characters assigned to each key of a plurality of keys of a communication apparatus in a storage unit; and    converting the ID data to a character string, on the basis of the number and characters assigned to each key which are stored in said storage unit, such that two consecutive characters in the character string are respectively assigned to different keys of the plurality of keys.    
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein said converting step comprises the step of: 
 extracting characters constituting the character string one by one and, in a case where a currently selected character is assigned to a key to which an immediately preceding selected character is assigned, changing the currently selected character into a different character assigned to another key.    
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein said communication apparatus is a telephone, and the plurality of keys includes at least buttons to which numbers 0 to 9 are assigned.  
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising a step of providing predetermined information to the communication apparatus in accordance with a character string input by the communication apparatus.  
   
   
       18 . A computer-executable program stored on a computer-readable medium, the program causing a computer to perform the steps of: 
 creating ID data;    storing a number and characters assigned to each key of a plurality of keys of a communication apparatus in a storage unit; and    converting the ID data to a character string, on the basis of the number and characters assigned to each key which are stored in said storage unit, such that two consecutive characters in the character string are respectively assigned to different keys of the plurality of keys.    
   
   
       19 . The program according to  claim 18 , wherein said converting step comprises the step of: 
 extracting characters constituting the character string one by one and, in a case where a currently selected character is assigned to a key to which an immediately preceding selected character is assigned, changing the currently selected character into a different character assigned to another key.    
   
   
       20 . The program according to  claim 18 , wherein said communication apparatus is a telephone, and the plurality of keys includes at least buttons to which numbers 0 to 9 are assigned.  
   
   
       21 . The program according to  claim 18 , wherein the program causes a computer to perform a step of providing predetermined information to the communication apparatus in accordance with a character string input by the communication apparatus.