Information retrieval system

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments according to the present invention will be disclosed with reference to the attached drawings.
First Embodiment FIG.
1 shows a block diagram of a first preferred embodiment of an information retrieval system according to the present invention.
The information retrieval system includes a hand-held device (a user device) 11 having a function of data communications and a server 12 also having a data communications function.
The server 12 is equipped with a wireless communications interface 15 such as Bluetooth (trademark) for communications with the hand-held device 11.
The hand-held device 11 is also equipped with the same wireless communications interface 15.
The server 12 is set in a limited space 10 such as a shop and has a music/video-transferring function 16 via speakers or monitors (not shown).
Instead of the server 12, such function 16 can be installed in a hardware (not shown) capable of communication with the server 12.
The music/video-transferring function 16 shows/plays audio/visual information 18 such as movies and music in the space 10.
In synchronism with the audio/visual information 18, the server 12 transmits relevant information and URL (Uniform Resource Locator, also called relevant information) related to the information 18 to the space 10 using its information/data-transferring function 19 via the wireless communications interface 15.
The relevant information can be transmitted to the hand-held device 11 when a user who carries the device 11 enters a communications area 17 covered by the server 12.
The two-way communication between the server 12 and the hand-held device 11 via the communications interfaces 15 within the communications area 17 of the space 10 is called the first communications network hereinafter.
The hand-held device 11 recognizes that it is now located in the communications area 17 in the space 10 and establishes the communications with the server 12 over the first communications network when the user carrying the device 11 takes an interest in the relevant information on the audio/visual information 18 while watching or listening to the information in the communications area 17