Communication terminal device, computer program, and content search method

1. A communication terminal device that is coupled to a network including a plurality of nodes, the device comprising:

a memory configured to accumulate a history table that stores a search history of a content search; and

a processor configured to execute a process comprising:

storing the search history of the content search in the history table;

comparing metadata attached to a search object content that is a content search object with metadata attached to a content stored in the history table;

determining whether the content stored in the history table is similar to the search object content based on the comparing of the metadata;

wherein the processor executes the process further comprising:

receiving information inquiring about possession of a content from another node;

searching the history table for history information related to the inquired about content when the inquired about content is possessed; and

transmitting a response indicating that the inquired about content is possessed and the retrieved history information to the another node;

transmitting information inquiring about possession of the search object content to a node that possesses a content determined to be similar to the search object content;

receiving response information for the information inquiring about possession of the search object content; and

storing history information included in the response information in the history table when the response information includes the history information related to the search object content, the history information being accumulated in a content search by an inquiry destination node.

2. The communication terminal device according to claim 1 , wherein the processor executes the process to include whether history information related to the search object content that the inquiry destination node possesses judges to be transmitted in information inquiring about possession of the search object content.

3. The communication terminal device according to claim 1 , wherein

the memory accumulates a metadata table that stores metadata attached to a content,

the processor executes the process further comprising:

searching the metadata table for metadata attached to the search object content, and searching the metadata table for metadata attached to the content stored in the history table.

4. The communication terminal device according to claim 3 , wherein the processor executes the process further comprising:

conducting a content search based on a content ID that identifies the search object content;

storing the retrieved content ID in the history table; and

retrieving the metadata from the metadata table based on the content ID.

5. The communication terminal device according to claim 1 , wherein the memory is one of a semiconductor memory and a hard disk.

6. A non-transitory storage medium configured to store a program executed by a communication terminal device that is connected to a network to transmit and receive contents among a plurality of nodes, the program causing the communication terminal device to execute a process of:

storing a search history of a content search in a memory;

comparing metadata attached to a search object content that is a content search object with metadata attached to a content stored in the search history;

determining whether the content stored in the search history is similar to the content search object based on the comparing of the metadata;

wherein the processor executes the process further comprising:

receiving information inquiring about possession of a content from another node;

searching the history table for history information related to the inquired about content when the inquired about content is possessed; and

transmitting a response indicating that the inquired about content is possessed and the retrieved history information to the another node;

transmitting information inquiring about possession of the search object content to a node that possesses a content determined to be similar to the search object content;

receiving response information for the information inquiring about possession of the search object content; and

storing history information included in the response information in the history table when the response information includes the history information related to the search object content, the history information being accumulated in a content search by an inquiry destination node.

7. A content search method causing a computer connected to a network to transmit and receive contents among a plurality of nodes, the method comprising:

accumulating, by each of the plurality of nodes, history of a content search conducted by the respective nodes;

comparing metadata attached to a search object content that is a search object with metadata attached to a content included in an accumulated history when each of the plurality of the nodes conducts a content search;

determining whether the content included in the history is similar to the search object content based on the comparing of the metadata;

wherein the processor executes the process further comprising:

receiving information inquiring about possession of a content from another node;

searching the history table for history information related to the inquired about content when the inquired about content is possessed; and

transmitting a response indicating that the inquired about content is possessed and the retrieved history information to the another node;

transmitting information inquiring about possession of the search object content to a node that possesses a content determined to be similar to the search content objects;

receiving response information for the information inquiring about possession of the search object content; and

storing history information included in the response information in the history table when the response information includes the history information related to the search object content, the history information being accumulated in a content search by an inquiry destination node.