Information retrieval system using location and transportation by GPS traces as search criteria

In our study, we have proposed and tested an information retrieval system that employs a user´s location and mode of transportation obtained from GPS data as search criteria. In recent years, the daily usage of several different types and amounts of data has made it difficult to locate and retrieve archived files. When we want to access locate files or e-mail messages, we are required to remember the relevant filenames, the date of creation, or the extension of the file. However, it is troublesome to remember information. Therefore, we propose a method to use the location and transportation information (Where) for a retrieval system. Even if a user cannot remember the filename, date, extension of the file, etc., of the required file, he can use his location during file creation as a search parameter. Our system records the GPS user´s position data and the history of his actions (editing /saving files) on the device. This recorded data is used by the system to show search results for the location of the user during file creation as a criteria. Our system uses the principle of the Five W´s and One H and several other ideas to identify the user location from the GPS data. We conducted an experiment to confirm whether or not our tools were useful. Experimental results showed that our tools enabled the retrieval system to accurately identify various user locations and a user could locate the required target file efficiently and rapidly.