Chronology providing method, chronology providing apparatus, and recording medium containing chronology providing program

Abstract

A method for providing chronologic information that is generated by placing one or more pieces of related information according to information about elapsed time is provided. The method includes the steps of obtaining, by an obtaining unit, (i) basic information associating pieces of the related information with the information about time indicating positions on the chronologic information and (ii) information indicating a display form of the chronologic information; and providing, by a control unit, the chronologic information to a user by displaying the chronologic information in a display unit based on the information indicating a display form of the chronologic information by using the basic information.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Apparatus comprising:
 at least one processor programmed to;
 analyze a plurality of entries, each associated with a particular time, to identify one or more first time periods during which a relatively greater number of the plurality of entries were created and one or more second time periods during which a relatively lesser number of the plurality of entries were created; and 
   in response to a request from a first user, provide information defining a graphical user interface displaying the one or more first time periods and not displaying the one or more second time periods.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the graphical user interface displays a digest representing at least one of the one or more first time periods. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the digest represents at least one of the one or more first time periods previously identified by the first user. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more first time periods is a year. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the graphical user interface displays the one or more first time periods in chronological order. 
     
     
         6 . A method, performed by at least one computer processor, the method comprising:
 in response to a request from a first user, providing, by the at least one computer processor, information defining a graphical user interface, the graphical user interface displaying one or more first time periods and not displaying one or more second time periods;   wherein:
 the one or more first time periods and the one or more second time periods are identified by analyzing a plurality of entries, each of the plurality of entries being associated with a particular time; and 
 the analyzing comprises identifying the one or more first time periods as being one or more time periods during which a relatively greater number of the plurality of entries were created, and identifying the one or more second time periods as being one or more time periods during which a relatively lesser number of the plurality of entries were created. 
   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the graphical user interface displays a digest representing at least one of the one or more first time periods. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the digest represents at least one of the one or more first time periods previously identified by the first user. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the one or more first time periods is a year. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the graphical user interface displays the one or more first time periods in chronological order. 
     
     
         11 . At least one computer-readable storage medium having instructions encoded thereon which, when executed in a computer system, cause the computer system to perform a method comprising:
 in response to a request from a first user, providing information defining a graphical user interface displaying one or more first time periods and not displaying one or more second time periods;   wherein:
 the one or more first time periods and the one or more second time periods are identified by analyzing a plurality of entries, each of the plurality of entries being associated with a particular time; and 
 the analyzing comprises identifying the one or more first time periods as being one or more time periods during which a relatively greater number of the plurality of entries were created, and identifying the one or more second time periods as being one or more time periods during which a relatively lesser number of the plurality of entries were created. 
   
     
     
         12 . The at least one computer-readable storage medium of  claim 11 , wherein the graphical user interface displays a digest representing at least one of the one or more first time periods. 
     
     
         13 . The at least one computer-readable storage medium of  claim 12 , wherein the digest represents at least one of the one or more first time periods previously identified by the first user. 
     
     
         14 . The at least one computer-readable storage medium of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the one or more first time periods is a year. 
     
     
         15 . The at least one computer-readable storage medium of  claim 11 , wherein the graphical user interface displays the one or more first time periods in chronological order. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus, comprising:
 at least one processor programmed to;   present a graphical user interface displaying one or more first time periods and not displaying one or more second time periods;   wherein:
 the one or more first time periods and the one or more second time periods are identified by analyzing a plurality of entries, each of the plurality of entries being associated with a particular time; and 
 the analyzing comprises identifying the one or more first time periods as being one or more time periods during which a relatively greater number of the plurality of entries were created, and identifying the one or more second time periods as being one or more time periods during which a relatively lesser number of the plurality of entries were created. 
   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the graphical user interface displays a digest representing at least one of the one or more first time periods. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the digest represents at least one of the one or more first time periods previously identified by the first user. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the one or more first time periods is a year. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the graphical user interface displays the one or more first time periods in chronological order.