JP2006113733A - Search method, search program and search device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To increase the ease of search by providing users with search results in a way that allows easy viewing. <P>SOLUTION: On a statistical table 500, broader terms and their related terms are plotted on a horizontal axis as search criteria while broader terms, related terms of the broader terms, and synonyms for the broader terms are plotted on a vertical axis; search results that satisfy two requirements for the horizontal and vertical axes are shown at the cells of intersections between the search criteria plotted on the horizontal axis and the search criteria plotted on the vertical axis. For example, 199 search results that meet two criteria, a related term "solid-state image pickup device" and a broader term "camera", are shown at the cells of the intersections between the search criteria for the "solid-state image pickup device" and those for the "camera", and 20 search results that meet two criteria, a related term "video camera" and a related term "solid-state image pickup device", are shown at the cells of the intersections between the "video camera" and the "solid-state image pickup device". <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a search method, a search program, and a search apparatus for searching for related terms such as synonyms, synonyms, broad words, narrow words, etc. of search target words using a thesaurus search.

In the conventional search device, when searching for patent information and technical information, the thesaurus is updated or managed in the system without making the searcher aware of the thesaurus relevance level. There is one that is dynamically changed in a form close to a searcher's intention (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 9-259139 A

  However, in the above-described conventional apparatus, when performing a search, the relevance level of the thesaurus is simply changed in a manner closer to the searcher's intention within the system, and there is no way to display the search results. There is a problem that it is not touched and is not easy to use when searching.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a search method, a search program, and a search device that can provide a user with a search result in an easy-to-see manner and improve usability when searching.

  The search method of the present invention uses a search condition input step for inputting a search term as a search condition, a keyword search step for searching a keyword related to the search term from a thesaurus dictionary, and a keyword searched in the keyword search step. A search step for searching, a table search condition input step for inputting the table search condition for outputting the results searched in the search step in a table format, and a table search result output for the search step. Output step.

  By this method, an actual search can be performed using a keyword related to the search term specified as the search condition, and a search with little leakage is possible.

  In the search method of the present invention, the keyword search step searches for a synonym of the search word as a keyword.

  By this method, it is possible to search for items having the same contents as the search word.

  Furthermore, in the search method of the present invention, the keyword search step searches for a related word of the search word as a keyword.

  By this method, a search including a field related to a search word can be performed simultaneously.

  Furthermore, in the search method of the present invention, the keyword search step searches for a broader word of the search word as a keyword.

  By this method, it is possible to perform a search that covers the entire field specified by the search word.

  In the search method of the present invention, the output step emphasizes and outputs the search word.

  By this method, it is possible to easily compare the search result with the actually specified search word and the search result with the keyword related to the term.

  Further, in the search method of the present invention, the search condition input step inputs two search terms, and the output step outputs a table with one of the search terms on the vertical axis and the other on the horizontal axis.

  This method allows an intuitive and comprehensive comparison by row or column.

  Further, in the search method of the present invention, the search condition input step inputs three search terms, and the output step includes a first search term on the vertical axis, a second search term on the horizontal axis, and a third search term. Outputs a table with search terms divided into pages.

  By this method, it is possible to easily compare with three search terms.

  Further, in the search method of the present invention, the output step displays a rectangular parallelepiped table in which the tables paged by the third search word are superimposed, and the rectangular parallelepiped is cut at an arbitrary axis and an arbitrary position. Display the cut surface.

  By this method, search results including three search terms and related keywords can be output as a table based on arbitrary conditions, and aggregation and analysis can be performed from various viewpoints.

  According to the present invention, search results satisfying two conditions of a related term taken on the horizontal axis and a related term taken on the vertical axis are set with the two terms specified in the search condition as the horizontal axis and the vertical axis. Since the statistical table shown in the cell of the intersection of the related word taken on the horizontal axis and the related word taken on the vertical axis is displayed, it becomes possible to provide the user with the search results more easily and search. Usability can be improved.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  In this embodiment, a synonym is a term used as another expression when representing a specified term, a related term is a term related to a specified term, and a broader term is specified Suppose that it is a general term representing a term. For example, in the technical field, a synonym is a specific technical term expressed in Japanese, foreign language, foreign language, abbreviation, etc., and a related word is similar using a means or method different from the technology. It is possible to use a transferable technical term that can obtain a similar output from the input, and the broad term can be a general noun representing the technology.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an entire search system to which a search device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in this search system, a server 1 and a search device 2 are connected via a network 3.

  The server 1 stores and distributes information related to intellectual property rights such as patents, utility models, designs, and trademarks, their gazette data, catalog image data obtained from the Internet, and the like.

  The search device 2 includes a CPU 21, a memory 22, a storage unit 23 storing a search program for operating the CPU 21, a thesaurus dictionary, a display unit 24, an input unit 25 such as a keyboard and a mouse, and a communication I / F26 etc.

  Next, the operation of the search device 2 will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the search method that is the operation of the search device 2.

  First, when the search device 2 is turned on, the search program according to the present invention stored in the storage means 23 is activated, and when the CPU 21 executes the search program, a condition input screen (not shown) is displayed on the display unit 24. (Step 100).

  Next, the CPU 21 displays a message prompting the user to input search conditions on the display unit 24, and causes the user to use the input means 25 or the like to input the search conditions and the table creation conditions on a condition input screen (not shown). (Step 110). In this example, "CCD camera" and "Warning system" are entered as search conditions, and search conditions set on the vertical and horizontal axes, synonyms, related terms, and broader terms are displayed as table creation conditions Shall be set.

  In this example, only the vertical and horizontal axis conditions are set as the table creation condition. However, if there is one search condition, whether the vertical axis or the horizontal axis is set, or the search condition is In the case of three, conditions used for page division can be set in addition to the vertical axis and the horizontal axis.

  In addition, if related words or synonyms are used, or if they are used, the number of words used for display is limited, or the horizontal and vertical terms in the statistical table described later are blank. Items to be displayed in the blank can also be set.

  Here, by displaying a preview screen including the vertical and horizontal axes that do not display the total number based on the table setting conditions set by the user and the page search when there are three search conditions, You may enable it to check the table created.

  Then, the CPU 21 searches the thesaurus dictionary based on the search condition input by the user, and extracts synonyms, related words, and the like of the search condition as keywords for the actual search (step 120). Based on the extracted keyword, the server 1 is accessed through the network 3 to perform a search (step 130), and the search result is displayed (step 140).

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a statistical table showing search results according to the present embodiment.

  The statistical table 300 shown in FIG. 3 sets the broad terms “CCD camera” and “warning system” on the horizontal axis, and the synonyms, related words, and broad terms of “CCD camera” on the vertical axis. The search result when set is shown.

  Specifically, in the case of the statistical table 300 shown in FIG. 3, the horizontal axis represents “camera” and “system” which are broad terms of “CCD camera” and “warning system”, and the vertical axis represents “CCD camera”. "Camera" which is the broader term for "CCD" and "Cooled CCD Camera", "Charge Coupled Device", "Optical Instrument", "Solid-State Imaging Device", "Video Camera" and "CCD" And “CCD camera” that is a search condition, and “charge coupled device camera” and “charge coupled device camera” that are synonyms of “CCD camera”. Note that these broader terms, related terms, and synonyms are keywords obtained by the CPU 21 searching the thesaurus dictionary as described above.

  Then, the number of search results including the terms set on the horizontal axis and the vertical axis of the statistical table 300 is displayed in the cell at the intersection of the vertical axis and the horizontal axis.

  In the case of the statistical table 300 shown in FIG. 3 of this example, the search result of “camera” which is the broader term of “CCD camera” is the search condition of “camera” taken on the horizontal axis and “ There are 69,497 items shown in the cell at the intersection with the search condition of “camera”.

  In addition, the search result that satisfies the two conditions of “camera” which is the broader term of “CCD camera” and “system” which is the broader term of the broader term “warning system” There are 10,813 items shown in the cell at the intersection of the search condition and the search condition of “camera” taken on the vertical axis, and the broader term “camera” of “CCD camera” is synonymous with “CCD camera”. The search result that satisfies the two conditions of “charge coupled device camera” is the cell at the intersection of the search condition of “camera” taken along the horizontal axis and the search condition of “charge coupled device camera” taken along the vertical axis. It is 52 cases shown in.

  When the search condition is a technical term as in this example, the tendency of the term used in the field set on the vertical axis can be found from the search result using the synonym of the specified search condition. In addition, it is possible to know the related technology used in the field set on the vertical axis from the search result based on the related word of the specified search condition. Furthermore, it is possible to know how much higher-level technologies including related technologies are used in the field set on the vertical axis from the search results using the higher-order words of the specified search conditions.

  In this example, two search conditions are displayed and the search results are displayed on the vertical and horizontal axes, but by knowing the relationship between the three search conditions by dividing the search condition into pages by setting the search condition to 3. Can do. In addition, by using one search condition, it is possible to know how the terms of the search condition are generally used.

  Furthermore, it is possible to know the tendency of which term is appropriate to use when creating a document by the search result.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another example of a statistical table showing search results according to the present embodiment.

  In the statistical table 400 shown in FIG. 4, the horizontal axis sets synonyms of “camera” and “system”, and the vertical axis sets the same setting as the statistical table 300 shown in FIG. The search result of the form is shown.

  Specifically, in the case of the statistical table 400 shown in FIG. 4, the horizontal axis shows “camera” as a search condition and “CCD camera”, “charge coupled device camera” as synonyms for “camera”, While taking “charge coupled device camera”, search system “system” and its synonyms “system”, “alarm system”, “warning system”, “alarm system”, “warning system” As in the statistical table 300 shown in FIG. 3, the axes are “camera”, which is a broad term for “CCD camera”, and “cooled CCD camera”, “charge coupled device”, “optical” which are related words of “CCD camera”. Instrument, solid-state imaging device, video camera and CCD, search conditions CCD camera, and charge-coupled device camera and charge-coupled device camera, which are synonyms for CCD camera " Note that these broader terms, related terms, and synonyms are keywords obtained by the CPU 21 searching the thesaurus dictionary as described above.

  In the case of the statistical table 400 as well, the number of search results including the terms set on the vertical axis and the horizontal axis at the same time is displayed in the intersection cell, as in the statistical table 300 of FIG.

  This example shows that synonyms can be set on the horizontal axis in the same manner as the vertical axis, and the number of cases displayed in each cell is the same as the statistical table 300 in FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another example of a statistical table showing search results according to the present embodiment.

  In the statistical table 500 shown in FIG. 5, the horizontal axis sets related words of “CCD camera” and “warning system”, and the vertical axis shows the same setting as the statistical table 300 shown in FIG. 3 and the statistical table 400 shown in FIG. The search results of the present embodiment when searching are shown.

  Specifically, in the statistical table 500 shown in FIG. 5, the horizontal axis indicates “CCD camera” as a search condition, “cooling CCD camera” and “charge coupled device” as related words of “CCD camera”. , "Optical instrument", "Solid-state imaging device", "Video camera", "CCD", "Warning system" that is a search condition, and "Warning", "Warning", " On the other hand, the vertical axis represents “camera”, which is a broad term for “CCD camera”, and “cooled CCD camera”, “ “Charge Coupled Device”, “Optical Instrument”, “Solid-State Imaging Device”, “Video Camera” and “CCD”, “CCD Camera” as a search condition, and “Charge Coupled Device Camera” which are synonyms for “CCD Camera” ”And“ Charge Coupled Device Camera ” . Note that these broader terms, related terms, and synonyms are keywords obtained by the CPU 21 searching the thesaurus dictionary as described above.

  In the case of the statistical table 500 as well, as in the statistical table 300 of FIG. 3 and the statistical table 400 of FIG. 4, the number of search results that simultaneously include terms set on the vertical axis and the horizontal axis is displayed in the intersection cell.

  This example shows that related words can be set on the horizontal axis in the same manner as the vertical axis. The number of cases displayed in each cell is the same as the statistical table 300 in FIG. 3 and the statistical table 400 in FIG. is there.

  In the case shown in FIG. 5, since the related terms having the same contents are used as the search conditions on both the horizontal axis and the vertical axis, there are two cells for displaying the search results, and the same contents are displayed in two places. However, in the case shown in FIG. 5, the search result is displayed only in one cell without displaying the same contents in two locations. For example, in the case of FIG. 5, when the horizontal axis is the related word “cooling CCD camera”, the vertical axis is the column of the search result after “charge coupled device” of the related word, or the horizontal axis is the related word. In the case of “charge coupled device”, the display of the search result is omitted in the column of the search result in which the vertical axis indicates the related word “optical instrument” and thereafter. Of course, the display need not be omitted.

  In FIG. 4, the case where a synonym is set on the horizontal axis and the related word is set on the horizontal axis in FIG. 5 has been described. However, a broader term can be set in the same manner, or a synonym, a related term and a broader term can be combined. It can also be displayed. The display when combined is the same display as the vertical axis.

  From the above, the user can check the search results including synonyms, related words, and broader terms in the distribution state of the number of cases by checking the statistical tables 300 to 500 as shown in FIGS. .

  Then, returning to FIG. 2, any one of the statistical tables 300 to 500 shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 5 is displayed on the display unit 24, and a message prompting the user to confirm whether or not this search result is satisfactory is displayed. The user is allowed to check the statistical tables 300 to 500 as search results (step 150).

  Here, when the user inputs that the search result cannot be satisfied (step 150 “NO”), the process returns to the first step 110 to cause the user to input the search condition and the table creation condition again. On the other hand, if it is input that the search result is satisfied (step 150 “YES”), the process proceeds to the display range designation process in the next step 160.

  In the display range designation process, the CPU 21 issues a message prompting the user to designate a display range on the statistical tables 300 to 500 and designates the display range (step 160).

  The user searches each of the search conditions on the statistical tables 300 to 500 with respect to the answer results displayed on any one of the statistical tables 300 to 500 shown in FIGS. A part (including the case of one or a plurality of cells) or all of the cells indicating the results is designated. The CPU 21 determines whether the cells on the statistical tables 300 to 500 are specified only for specific ranges or the entire range is specified.

  Next, the CPU 21 further displays a message that allows the user to select whether or not to perform a refinement search, and accepts an input of a refinement search instruction from the user (step 170).

  If an instruction for narrowing search is input from the user (step 170 “YES”), the process returns to step 110 to input the condition again so that the user can input the conditions for narrowing search and the table creation condition again. The screen is displayed, and the process of allowing the user to input new search conditions for narrowing search and table creation conditions is repeated.

  In this way, the statistical tables 300 to 500 as shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 5 can be created by the above-described processing based on the search conditions newly specified for the narrowing search and the table creation conditions. The search result desired by the user can be obtained.

  On the other hand, if the instruction for narrowing search is not input from the user (step 170 “NO”) and the output instruction is input (step 180 “YES”), the CPU 21 outputs according to the output instruction. Perform (step 190). If no output instruction is input ("NO" at step 180), the process returns to step 170, and a narrow search is accepted.

  As an output method, in step 160, a part of cells indicating the search result of each search condition on one of the statistical tables 300 to 500 shown in FIGS. Or all of them are designated, and the search results of the designated cells are output as electronic data or printed as a list or as data for each individual case.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a statistical table showing search results when three terms according to the present embodiment are used.

  In the statistical table 600 shown in FIG. 6, the horizontal axis is a keyword related to “warning system”, the vertical axis is “CCD camera”, the page is a keyword related to “security”, and this page is a synonym of “security”, related words, and upper terms. Words are displayed as multiple pages. In addition, in order to show that the statistical table of the vertical axis and horizontal axis at any position on the page can be displayed, in this example, the related term of “security” that is the search condition set as the page, the statistical table of “security” Is shown in the middle.

  In this way, when three terms are specified in the search condition, statistics of search results by three terms are created by creating a plurality of tables with one term with the two terms as the vertical axis and the horizontal axis. A table can also be displayed. As a display method, pages can be displayed separately, and when outputting, the pages can be output separately. In addition, by displaying three-dimensionally a rectangular parallelepiped by overlapping the pages, and displaying a cut surface obtained by cutting it in an arbitrary plane, a statistical table with two terms on the vertical axis and horizontal axis of the page is displayed. It can also be output. The remaining two terms for one keyword of any of the three terms are displayed by displaying the cut in the plane perpendicular to any of the X, Y, and Z axes. A statistical table with keywords can be output.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the two terms specified in the search condition are the horizontal axis and the vertical axis, and the two search conditions are the search condition along the horizontal axis and the search condition along the vertical axis. The search results that satisfy the conditions are displayed in the statistical table shown in the cell at the intersection of the search condition taken along the horizontal axis and the search condition taken along the vertical axis. It is possible to improve the usability when searching.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, when one or more cells are specified and re-refined search is specified, the horizontal axis search condition for specifying the specified one or more cells, the vertical axis search condition, Since the refined search is performed, it is possible to specify the refined search range while referring to the search result displayed in the cell and execute the refined search again, making it easier to view the search result. In addition, it is easy to use and can be provided to the user, and it is possible to further improve the usability when searching.

  In this example, the display range is specified by specifying cells, but only a certain number or more can be displayed by specifying the number of search results. Similarly, only a certain number or less can be displayed.

  In addition, only specific rows and columns of the statistical table can be specified and displayed. This can be realized by using a check box or the like.

  Furthermore, by storing the row and column specified here in the storage means, it is also possible to specify items to be displayed based on the term selection conditions stored in the storage means. As a result, the keyword frequently used by the user can be selected and displayed in combination with other conditions.

  Furthermore, the number of times searched as a keyword using the thesaurus dictionary can also be stored. As a result, the keyword frequently used by the user can be selected and displayed in combination with other conditions.

  Furthermore, related terms that are not in the thesaurus dictionary are input independently and stored in a different storage means from the thesaurus dictionary, and by using the terminology simultaneously with the thesaurus dictionary, the related terms that are not in the thesaurus dictionary are also searched simultaneously. Can be displayed on the statistical table.

  According to the search device, the search method, and the search program according to the present invention, there is an effect that it is possible to improve the usability when searching, intellectual property information such as patents, utility models, designs, It is useful for a search device, a search method, and a search program for searching various information such as library literature information.

The figure which shows the whole search system with which the search device which concerns on embodiment of this invention is applied. The flowchart which shows the procedure of the search method which is operation | movement of the search device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows an example of the statistical table which shows the search result by this Embodiment The figure which shows the other example of the statistical table which shows the search result by this Embodiment The figure which shows the other example of the statistical table which shows the search result by this Embodiment The figure which shows the example of the statistical table which shows the search result at the time of using three terms by this Embodiment

Explanation of symbols

1 server 2 search device 3 network

Claims (10)

  A search condition input step for inputting a search term as a search condition, a keyword search step for searching a keyword related to the search term from a thesaurus dictionary, and a search step for performing a search using the keyword searched in the keyword search step And a table input condition step for inputting a table condition for outputting the result searched in the search step in a table format, and an output for outputting the result searched in the table step in a table format based on the table condition A search method comprising steps.   The search method according to claim 1, wherein the keyword search step searches for a synonym of the search word as a keyword.   The search method according to claim 1, wherein the keyword search step searches for a related word of the search word as a keyword.   The search method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the keyword search step searches for a broad word of the search word as a keyword.   5. The search method according to claim 1, wherein in the output step, the search word is emphasized and output.   6. The search condition input step inputs two search terms, and the output step outputs a table with one of the search terms on the vertical axis and the other on the horizontal axis. The search method described in any one.   In the search condition input step, three search terms are input, and in the output step, the first search term is on the vertical axis, the second search term is on the horizontal axis, and the third search term is paged. The search method according to claim 1, wherein:   In the output step, a rectangular parallelepiped table in which the tables paged by the third search word are superimposed is displayed three-dimensionally, and a cut surface obtained by cutting the rectangular parallelepiped at an arbitrary axis and an arbitrary position is displayed. The search method according to claim 7.   A search condition input step for inputting a search term as a search condition, a keyword search step for searching a keyword related to the search term from a thesaurus dictionary, and a search step for performing a search using the keyword searched in the keyword search step And a table input condition step for inputting a table condition for outputting the result searched in the search step in a table format, and an output for outputting the result searched in the table step in a table format based on the table condition A search program for causing a computer to execute steps.   Search condition input means for inputting a search term as a search condition, keyword search means for searching a keyword related to the search word from a thesaurus dictionary, and search means for performing a search using the keyword searched by the keyword search means The table search condition input means for inputting the table search condition for outputting the result searched by the search means in a table form, and the output for outputting the result searched by the search means in a table form based on the table preparation condition. And a search device.

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