JP2000137734A - Zip code retrieval device and zip code retrieving method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a zip code retrieval device capable of properly dealing with the addition of a dictionary. SOLUTION: This zip code retrieval device which retrieves an area according to the corresponding zip code is provided with a fixed dictionary 5 wherein zip code dictionary data are described, a difference dictionary 4 wherein additional zip code dictionary data are described, a key retrieval means 3 which stores previous retrieval results and retrieves the pointer of the fixed or difference dictionary corresponding to a zip code, and a retrieval means 2 which retrieves an inputted zip code by the key retrieval means and directly retrieves the corresponding area name from the fixed or difference dictionary when it is not retrieved by the key retrieval means. This device is smoothly adapted to an increase of zip code dictionary data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a zip code search device and a search method for searching a zip code for a corresponding area, and a portable information terminal having the zip code search function. It is made to be able to respond appropriately to.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, there has been known a desktop personal computer having a postal code search function for searching a corresponding area from a postal code. This search is performed using a postal code dictionary stored on a disk or the like.

With the postal code of 7 digits, the number of postal codes and place names to be stored in the postal code dictionary has increased dramatically compared to before, so that the disk storing the postal code dictionary has to be replaced or rewritten. Is required.

In a portable information terminal, if a hard disk is mounted, there is a risk of damage to the disk. Therefore, when a search function is implemented, a dictionary stored in a mask ROM is often used. Since this mask ROM cannot rewrite data, the mask ROM is replaced when the dictionary needs to be changed.

[0005]

However, in the portable information terminal, the operation of replacing the mask ROM is troublesome. When a dictionary is stored by using a data rewritable FROM, it is not necessary to replace the ROM.
OM is expensive and has a problem of increasing the price of the portable information terminal.

The present invention solves such a conventional problem, and can appropriately cope with the addition of a dictionary. Further, it can perform a search at high speed and can be mounted on a portable information terminal. Zip code search device,
Its purpose is to provide a search method.

[0007]

Therefore, the postal code search apparatus of the present invention has a fixed dictionary in which postal code dictionary data is described and a differential dictionary in which additional postal code dictionary data is described. , A pointer of a fixed dictionary or a difference dictionary corresponding to the postal code is stored in the memory based on the previous search result.

According to the search method of the present invention, when the postal code to be searched is stored in this memory, the corresponding area name is read from the fixed dictionary or the difference dictionary according to the corresponding pointer, and the search target postal code is read. When the postal code is not stored in the memory, the corresponding area name is searched by directly searching the fixed dictionary or difference dictionary.

As described above, by separating the fixed dictionary and the difference dictionary, it is possible to use the ROM for the fixed dictionary, and to cope with an increase in dictionary data by using an external storage device. be able to. Further, it is possible to speed up the search by using the past search results.

[0010] Therefore, it can be used for a portable information terminal.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a postal code search apparatus for searching a corresponding area from a postal code, comprising: a fixed dictionary in which postal code dictionary data is described; A key dictionary for storing a difference dictionary in which the number dictionary data is described, a previous search result, and a pointer of a fixed dictionary or a difference dictionary corresponding to a postal code, and a key searcher for searching for an input postal code. Search means for directly searching for a corresponding area name from a fixed dictionary or a difference dictionary when the corresponding zip code is not stored in the key search means. Can be handled.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a fixed dictionary is RO
M, and the difference dictionary is stored on a PC card or disk. Cost can be reduced by using a ROM, and the large amount of data can be increased by using a difference dictionary on a PC card or disk. Also,
We can respond promptly.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a postal code search method for searching for a corresponding area from a postal code, wherein a fixed dictionary describing postal code dictionary data and a differential dictionary describing additional postal code dictionary data. And, based on the previous search result, stores a fixed dictionary or difference dictionary pointer corresponding to the postal code in the memory.If the postal code to be searched is stored in the memory, the pointer is stored in accordance with the corresponding pointer. The corresponding area name is read from the fixed dictionary or difference dictionary, and when the postal code to be searched is not stored in the memory, the corresponding area name is searched by directly searching the fixed dictionary or difference dictionary. Therefore, it is possible to speed up the search by using the past search results.

[0014] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the postal code search device according to the first or second aspect is provided in a portable information terminal, and a postal code search on the portable information terminal becomes possible.

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

As shown in FIG. 1, the postal code search device of the embodiment has a postal code input means 1 comprising a touch panel.
Display means 6 comprising a display; fixed dictionary storage means 5 comprising a ROM for storing a fixed dictionary; difference dictionary storage means 4 comprising a PC card or a disk for storing an additional dictionary (difference dictionary); Key search means 3 for searching a key (pointer) for reading a fixed dictionary or a difference dictionary using data stored in the memory;
A search unit 2 configured to execute a search operation using the difference dictionary or key search unit 3.

As shown in FIG. 3, the fixed dictionary storage means 5 includes a postal code / address index table, a prefecture name table, a city name table, and a town name table as the fixed dictionary (a-1). The difference dictionary storage means 4 stores a postal code / address index table, a municipal name table, and a town name table as additional difference dictionaries (a-2).

In this postal code / address index table, as shown in FIG. 3B, a postal code and a prefectural ID, a municipal ID, and a town name ID of a region corresponding to the postal code are described. Figure 3 shows the prefecture name table.
As shown in (c), the prefecture name is described in association with the prefecture ID, and the municipal name table is shown in FIG.
As shown in (d), the municipal name is described in association with the prefecture ID and the municipal ID, and the municipal name table corresponds to the municipal name ID as shown in FIG. The name of the town area is described.

The key search means 3 stores a pointer to a fixed dictionary or a difference dictionary corresponding to the postal code based on the result of the previous postal code search. The pointer corresponding to the postal code is searched.

Next, search means 2 of this postal code search device
Will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Step 1: When the postal code is input from the postal code input means 1, Step 2: Search the postal code stored in the key search means 3, and Step 3: If the relevant postal code is stored, Step 4: Obtain a pointer (place name table pointer) to the fixed dictionary or the difference dictionary from the key search means 3, and store it in the difference dictionary storage means 4 or the fixed dictionary storage means 5 based on the place name table pointer. The place name character string is read from the table that has been set, and is displayed on the display means 6.

On the other hand, if the corresponding postal code is not stored in the key search means 3 in step 3, step 7: if the difference dictionary storage means 4 is provided, step 8: difference dictionary storage Search the input zip code from the difference dictionary stored in the means 4. Step 9: If there is a corresponding zip code, Step 10: Add several place name table pointers of the difference dictionary for the next search. Step 5: The place name character string corresponding to the postal code is read from the table stored in the difference dictionary storage unit 4, and displayed on the display unit 6.

If the difference dictionary storage means 4 is not provided in step 7 or if there is no postal code corresponding to the difference dictionary in step 9, the data is stored in the fixed dictionary storage means 5. Step 12: If there is a corresponding zip code, search for the fixed zip code from the fixed dictionary. Step 13: Use the fixed dictionary for several place name table pointers in the fixed dictionary for the next search. After saving to step 3, step 5: read the place name character string corresponding to the postal code from the table stored in the fixed dictionary storage means 5, and display it on the display means 6.

If there is no corresponding postal code in step 12, the search process is terminated.

Thus, in this postal code search device,
The fixed dictionary is stored in the ROM, and the additional dictionary is held using a PC card or a disk. Therefore, when dictionary data is added, without changing the ROM at all,
It can be dealt with simply by exchanging PC cards and disks and rewriting data. Therefore, an inexpensive ROM can be used, and the cost can be reduced. Further, a large amount of additional data can be processed by a PC card or a disk.

Further, the key search means searches for a key in a difference dictionary or a fixed dictionary, thereby achieving a high-speed search.

[0026]

As is apparent from the above description, in the postal code search apparatus and the search method of the present invention, R
The use of the OM becomes possible, and the cost can be reduced. In addition, it is possible to appropriately cope with an increase in dictionary data using a PC card or a disk, and it is possible to appropriately process a large amount of additional data.

Further, it is possible to speed up the search using the past search results.

Further, the search device can be applied to a portable information terminal, and a postal code search can be performed on the portable information terminal.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a postal code search device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the postal code search device according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a table held in a fixed dictionary and a difference dictionary according to the embodiment;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Postal code input means 2 Search means 3 Key search means 4 Difference dictionary storage means 5 Fixed dictionary storage means 6 Display means

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Tetsuji Otsuki 4-3-1 Tsunashima Higashi, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Matsushita Communication Industrial Co., Ltd. 4-3-1, Matsushita Communication Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yukicho Watanabe 4-3-1 Tsunashimahigashi, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Matsushita Communication Industrial Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 5B009 ME23 MG06 TA01 VA02 5B075 PP02 PP03 PP22 PQ02 PR03 QS20 UU01 UU09 UU40

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A postal code search device for searching a corresponding area from a postal code, comprising: a fixed dictionary in which postal code dictionary data is described; a differential dictionary in which additional postal code dictionary data is described; Key search means for storing a result and searching for a pointer of the fixed dictionary or the difference dictionary corresponding to the postal code; and searching for the input postal code by the key search means. A search means for directly searching for the corresponding area name from the fixed dictionary or the difference dictionary when not stored. 2. The postal code search device according to claim 1, wherein the fixed dictionary is stored in a ROM, and the difference dictionary is stored in a PC card or a disk. 3. A postal code search method for searching for a corresponding area from a postal code, wherein a fixed dictionary describing postal code dictionary data and a differential dictionary describing additional postal code dictionary data are stored. Based on the search result, a pointer of the fixed dictionary or difference dictionary corresponding to the postal code is stored in a memory, and when the postal code to be searched is stored in the memory, the fixed dictionary or the difference is stored in accordance with the corresponding pointer. The postal code is read from the dictionary, and when the postal code to be searched is not stored in the memory, the postal code is searched directly for the fixed dictionary or the differential dictionary to search for the relevant postal code. Number search method. 4. A portable information terminal comprising the postal code search device according to claim 1.