JP2002259402A - Information retrieval system, information retrieval program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information retrieval method and an information retrieval program that always relate a post code to an address code so that either of the both pieces of the information can determine another piece of the information. SOLUTION: This system, as its feature, has a retrieval step 4 for retrieving a post code inputted from a terminal 2 having an input device (input means) 1 for inputting information from a post code information database 3 in which post codes are stored, an extraction step 6 for extracting from a post code corresponding information database 5 in which the address code information corresponding to the post code retrieved from the post code information database 3 is stored, a detection step 8 for detecting, from an address information database 7 in which the address information is stored, the piece of the address information corresponding to the extracted address code, and an output step 9 for outputting, to the terminal 2 having a display device (display means) 15 for displaying information, at least either of the extracted address code and the detected piece of the address information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for retrieving information,
And information retrieval programs.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, mails and deliveries are provided with an identification code for identifying a mailing or delivery destination by a numeral or the like. The identification code includes a postal code defined by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, a barcode created based on the postal code, various address codes, and the like.

[0003] The postal code and address code are
It specifies the municipalities, and plays a role as a part of the address in mail and delivery.

[0004] The address code is a code attached to various notification documents. For example, a number representing an address applied to vehicle verification, a mark number indicating a garage position and an owner described in a garage certificate, and the like can be given. In addition, the cargo handled by the carrier is provided with an address code indicating a delivery destination or a delivery source.

[0005] These postal codes and address codes are indispensable for post offices that handle postal items and carriers that handle deliveries. Needless to say, the postal address is described in the mail or the delivery. However, the presence of the postal code or the address code can improve the efficiency of the delivery operation.

[0006] For example, sorting mail items and delivery items by postal code or address code greatly reduces the time required for mailing or delivery operations and improves work efficiency.

Also, a combination of a normal seven-digit number of a postal code is converted into a bar code, and the bar code is attached to a postal matter. When sorting mails by mailing destination, the time required for sorting and delivering mails can be reduced by reading the mails with a dedicated reading device (commonly known as a barcode reader).

[0008]

In the case where a postal code and an address code are used in combination for a postal matter or a delivery, the postal code and the address code have to be artificially determined separately from the address.

[0009] However, there is a problem that the postal code and the address code are often found to be wrong due to the manual operation.

[0010] Further, if it is time-consuming to determine a postal code or an address code in order to eliminate an error, the efficiency of the delivery work will be reduced.

Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve such a conventional problem, and the problem to be solved is to always associate a zip code with an address code to determine the other information from one of them. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information search method and an information search program that make it possible.

[0012] The problem to be solved by the present invention is as follows.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an information search method and an information search program for improving the efficiency of delivery work of mail and delivery.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an information retrieval method and an information retrieval program for preventing a postal code or an address code from being erroneously entered in various notification documents and deliverables. .

[0014]

The information search method of the present invention employs the following means to solve the above-mentioned problems.
That is, the information retrieval method of the present invention includes a retrieval step of retrieving a postal code input from a terminal having input means such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a touch screen for inputting information from a postal code information database in which postal codes are stored. And extracting from a postal code correspondence information database in which address code information corresponding to the postal code retrieved from the postal code information database is stored.

Thus, an address code corresponding to the postal code can be obtained only by inputting the postal code. The postal code correspondence information database stores information that associates postal codes with address codes in a one-to-one relationship. Therefore, an accurate address code can always be obtained as long as the postal code to be input is correct.

Further, a detection step of detecting address information corresponding to the extracted address code from an address information database in which various address information is stored, and the extracted address code is provided to the terminal having display means for displaying information. And outputting at least one of the detected address information.

By inputting a postal code, an address code corresponding to the postal code and address information corresponding to the postal code can be obtained. If there is a mistake, it can be corrected before delivery. Along with this, delivery mistakes can be reduced.

The information retrieval method according to the present invention further comprises a retrieval step of retrieving an address code input from a terminal having input means for inputting information from an address code information database in which the address codes are stored. Extracting from an address code correspondence information database in which a postal code corresponding to the address code retrieved from the database is stored, and detecting address information corresponding to the extracted postcode from the address information database in which the address information is stored. And an output step of outputting at least one of the extracted postal code and the detected address information to the terminal having the display means for displaying information to the terminal.

Then, the postal code can be derived from the postal code and the postal code can be derived from the postal code. Therefore, it is possible to completely save the trouble of checking the postal code corresponding to the postal code or the trouble of checking the postal code corresponding to the postal code.

Further, the present invention uses a terminal having input means for inputting information, and searches for a postal code input from the terminal from a postal code information database in which postal codes are stored. An extraction step of extracting from a postal code correspondence information database in which address code information corresponding to a postal code retrieved from a number information database is stored; and an address corresponding to the extracted address code from an address information database in which address information is stored. An information search program for realizing a detection step of detecting information and an output step of outputting at least one of the extracted address code and the detected address information to the terminal having a display unit for displaying information is also provided. is there.

[0021] The present invention also provides a search step of searching for an address code input from the terminal from an address code information database storing address codes, using a terminal having input means for inputting information. Extracting from the address code correspondence information database in which the postal code corresponding to the address code retrieved from the information database is stored; and extracting the address information corresponding to the extracted postal code from the address information database in which the address information is stored. A detection step of detecting, and an output step of outputting at least one of the extracted postal code and the detected address information to the terminal having the display means for displaying information to the terminal. Is also good.

Thus, as in the above-described information detection method of the present invention, an address code can be derived from a zip code, and a zip code can be derived from an address code. For this reason, it is possible to completely save the trouble of checking the postal code corresponding to the postal code or vice versa.

Further, by installing the information search program of the present invention on a terminal such as a personal computer (PC) or a personal digital assistance (PDA), it is possible to use the information search program not only on a company basis but also on an individual basis. In addition, if it is a portable terminal, it can be used without restriction on the use range such as place and time.

The information search method of the present invention can be used via a network such as the Internet.
That is, the information retrieval method of the present invention is a method of retrieving information using a server mutually connected via a network, and a terminal, wherein the server receives a postal code input and transmitted from the terminal. A retrieval step for retrieving the received postal code from a postal code information database in which the postal code is stored, and postal code corresponding information in which an address code corresponding to the postal code retrieved from the postal code information database is stored. An extracting step of extracting from the database, a detecting step of detecting address information corresponding to the extracted address code from the address information database in which the address information is stored, and an extracted address code,
And transmitting at least one of the detected address information to the terminal.

Further, an information search method according to the present invention is a method for searching for information using a server and a terminal connected to each other via a network, wherein the server recognizes an address code input and transmitted from the terminal. A receiving step of receiving, an address code information database in which the address code is stored, a search step of searching for the received address code, and an address in which a postal code corresponding to the address code searched from the address code information database is stored. An extracting step of extracting from the code correspondence information database, a detecting step of detecting address information corresponding to the extracted postal code from the address information database in which the address information is stored, at least of the extracted postal code and the detected address information And transmitting a terminal to the terminal. In the transmitting step, the postal code or the address code input and transmitted from the terminal may be transmitted to the terminal.

Since the information search method of the present invention can be used via a network, a terminal having a communication function,
For example, a zip code, an address code, and address information can be obtained from a mobile phone such as an i-mode or a mobile terminal such as the PDA without being bound by time or place.

[0027]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The information retrieval method of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, uses a mail input from a terminal 2 having an input device (input means) 1 such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a touch screen for inputting information. Retrieval step 4 for retrieving a number from postal code information database 3 in which postal codes are stored
And an extraction step 6 for extracting from the postal code correspondence information database 5 in which the address code information corresponding to the postal code retrieved from the postal code information database 3 is stored.

Further, the apparatus has a detection step 8 for detecting address information corresponding to the extracted address code from an address information database 7 in which various address information is stored, and a display device (display means) 15 for displaying information. In terminal 2,
Output step 9 for outputting at least one of the extracted address code and the detected address information.

<First Embodiment> An information search method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
First, the hardware configuration of the present invention according to the present embodiment will be described.

As shown in FIG. 2, the hardware in this embodiment is a ROM for storing programs and data.
(Read Only Memory) 10 and ROM
Central processing unit (CPU: Central Processing Unit) that executes the program stored in
nit, hereinafter referred to as CPU) 11 and a RAM for temporarily storing programs and data processed by the CPU 11
(Random Access Memory) 12
And a hard disk 13 for storing programs and data processed by the CPU 11, and an interface 14 for inputting and outputting data in accordance with instructions from the CPU 11. Further, a display device (display means) 15 for displaying the processing result of the CPU 11 to the user 20 and an input device (input means) 1 for inputting various data are provided by a bus (B
US17).

The input device 1 is not limited as long as it can input information such as a postal code and an address code, such as a joystick and a touch screen using a liquid crystal panel, in addition to a keyboard and a numeric keypad. Not something.

Of course, various display devices 15 can be used. For example, a display using a cathode ray tube, a so-called cathode ray tube (CRT display)
And a liquid crystal display and a plasma display. It should be noted that not only the above-mentioned displays, but also a printer or the like can be used.

Further, a plurality of databases are constructed in the hard disk 13. The plurality of databases in the present embodiment include a postal code information database 3 in which information on existing postal codes is stored, an address code information database 18 in which information on existing address codes is stored, and There is a postal code correspondence information database 5 for storing postal address codes, and an address code correspondence information database 19 for storing postal codes corresponding to address codes.

With such a hardware configuration, the information retrieval method of the present invention retrieves an address code from a zip code or retrieves a zip code from an address code.

Next, the procedure of the information retrieval method according to the present invention based on the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. First, a method of inputting a postal code from the terminal 2 and searching for an address code based on the postal code will be described.

First, the postal code input by the input device 1 shown in FIG. 1 is searched from the postal code information database 3 built in the hard disk (S01). Next, an address code corresponding to the searched zip code is extracted from the zip code corresponding information database 5 (S02).

Next, address information corresponding to the extracted address code is detected from the address information database 7 (S0).
3). The address information database 7 stores address information corresponding to an address code. The stored address information includes prefectures and municipalities,
Area codes of telephone numbers, maps, and the like can be given.

Then, after detecting the address information corresponding to the extracted address code, the information is output to the display device 15 shown in FIG. When outputting to the display device 15,
When displaying the address code extracted based on the input postal code and the corresponding address information (S04), the input postal code, the address code extracted based on the postal code, and the address information corresponding to the address code are displayed. A case of displaying (S05) and a case of displaying only address information corresponding to the extracted address code (S06) can be considered. still,
These display contents can be freely selected by the input device 1.

Through the above process, the address code corresponding to the postal code is searched from the postal code, and further, the address information corresponding to the postal code and the address code can be obtained.

Next, a method of inputting an address code from the terminal 2 and searching for a postal code based on the address code will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, the address code input by the input device 1 shown in FIG. 1 is searched from the address code information database 18 constructed in the hard disk (S1).
0). Next, the postal code corresponding to the searched address code is extracted from the address code correspondence information database 19 (S
11).

Next, address information corresponding to the extracted postal code is detected from the address information database 7 (S1).
2). The address information database 7 stores address information corresponding to postal codes. As described above, as the stored address information, not only prefectures and municipalities but also area codes of telephone numbers and maps can be mentioned.

After detecting the address information corresponding to the extracted postal code, the information is output to the display device 15 shown in FIG. The display content output to the display device 15 is a case where the postal code extracted based on the input address code and the corresponding address information are displayed (S1).
3) When the input address code, the postal code extracted based on the input postal code, and the address information corresponding to the postal code are displayed (S14), only the address information corresponding to the extracted postal code is displayed (S15). ), Can be considered.
These display contents can be freely selected by the input device 1.

Through the above process, the postal code corresponding to the address code is searched from the address code, and further, the address information corresponding to the address code and the postal code can be obtained.

With the above configuration, the address code corresponding to the postal code or the postal code corresponding to the address code is detected by simply inputting either the postal code or the address code from the terminal 2. be able to.
That is, the postal code and the address code information can be linked and output.

As a result, the time required for checking the postal code from the postal code and the work for searching the postal code from the address code can be greatly reduced. Along with this, in the delivery business, the time and labor required for sorting by delivery destinations can be omitted, so that work efficiency can be improved.

The postal code correspondence information database 5
And the information stored in the address code correspondence information database 19 surely correspond to an address code corresponding to a postal code, a postal code corresponding to an address code, etc. It is possible to reduce the gain. Along with this, it is possible to reduce the possibility of delivering a delivery item to an incorrect address, and to mistakenly write a postal code or an address code on a postcard, a document, or the like.

Further, by inputting either the postal code or the address code from the terminal 2, it is possible to obtain the address information corresponding to the postal code or the address code. It becomes possible. If the address code is a number indicating the address applied to the vehicle verification, or a mark number indicating the position and owner of the garage described in the garage certificate,
Car and garage owner management can be performed smoothly.

The information search method described in the present embodiment may be an information search program having the following configuration. That is, the information search program of the present invention uses a terminal having input means for inputting information, and searches for a postal code input from the terminal from a postal code information database in which postal codes are stored; and An extraction step of extracting from a postal code correspondence information database in which address code information corresponding to the postal code retrieved from the postal code information database is stored, and an address code corresponding to the extracted address code from the address information database in which the address information is stored. Information search for realizing a detection step of detecting address information to be output and an output step of outputting at least one of the extracted address code and the detected address information to the terminal having a display means for displaying information. It is a program.

In addition, the information search program of the present invention
Using a terminal having input means for inputting information, a search step of searching for an address code input from the terminal from an address code information database storing address codes,
An extracting step of extracting a postal code corresponding to an address code retrieved from the address code information database from an address code correspondence information database in which the postal code is stored; A detecting step of detecting address information;
An information search program for causing the terminal having the display means for displaying information to output at least one of the extracted postal code and the detected address information to the terminal may be provided.

The information retrieval program of the present invention is a computer program for understanding a natural language used by humans, performing logical reasoning, and learning from experience.
That is, it is also possible to carry out by incorporating it into artificial intelligence (Ai).

<Second Embodiment> Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the information search method of the present invention comprises a user terminal 20 connectable to the network 1 represented by the Internet,
It can be suitably used even with the server 24 existing on the network 1.

That is, the information search method according to the present embodiment is a method for searching for information using the server 24 and the user terminal 20 which are interconnected via the network 1. A receiving step 22 for receiving the transmitted zip code, a search step 4 for searching the received zip code from the zip code information database 3 storing the zip code, and a zip code searched from the zip code information database 3 Extraction step 6 for extracting from the postal code correspondence information database 5 in which the address code corresponding to is stored, and detection step 8 for detecting the address information corresponding to the extracted address code from the address information database 7 in which the address information is stored. And at least one of the extracted address code and the detected address information to the user terminal. It may consist transmission step 23 for.

In addition, the information retrieval method of the present invention is a method for retrieving information using the server 24 and the user terminal 20 which are interconnected via the network 1. Receiving step 22 for receiving the received address code; searching step 4 for searching the received address code from the address code information database 18 in which the address code is stored; Address code correspondence information database 19 in which corresponding postal codes are stored
An extraction step 6 for extracting address information corresponding to the extracted postal code from an address information database 7 in which the address information is stored; and at least one of the extracted postal code and the detected address information. A transmission step 23 of transmitting either one to the user terminal may be performed. In the transmitting step, the postal code or the address code input and transmitted from the user terminal 20 may be transmitted to the terminal.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a case where the information retrieval method of the present invention is used via the network 21.
This will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the network 1 is connected to the Internet (TC
A description will be given assuming that a terminal that can connect to the network is a user terminal, and a server that exists on the network 1 and manages a database is the server 24.

First, the system configuration of the business card information management method of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, the information search method according to the present invention includes a user terminal 20 that transmits a postal code or an address code, and a server 24 that manages the postal code and the address code, and further manages address information attached thereto. It is connected via the Internet 21.

Although not shown, the user terminal 20 includes an input unit such as a keyboard for inputting information, a transmitting unit for transmitting information input by the input unit to the server, and a receiving unit for receiving information transmitted from the server. Part.

Examples of the user terminal 20 include a computer terminal having a communication function (which can be connected to the Internet), a mobile phone, and a PDA. That is, as long as the terminal can be connected to the Internet, its type is not limited.

Next, the server 2 according to the embodiment of the present invention
The hardware configuration of No. 4 will be described. The hardware configuration of the server 24 is substantially the same as the hardware configuration of the above-described terminal shown in FIG. That is, the server 24
ROM 10 for storing programs and data, and ROM 1
0, which executes the program stored in C.
A RAM 12 for temporarily storing programs and data processed by the PU 11, a hard disk 13 for storing programs and data processed by the CPU 11, a CPU 1
An interface 14 for transmitting and receiving communication data via the network 1 in accordance with a command from the user terminal 2;
A display device 12 for displaying the processing result of the CPU 11 at 0;
An input device 1 for inputting various data is connected via a BUS 17. Note that the display device and the input device 1 are not limited as long as they perform their own functions as described in the first embodiment.

Further, a plurality of databases are constructed in the hard disk 13 as shown in FIG. The plurality of databases in the present embodiment include a postal code information database 3 in which information on existing postal codes is stored, an address code information database 18 in which information on existing address codes is stored, and There is a postal code correspondence information database 5 for storing postal address codes, and an address code correspondence information database 19 for storing postal codes corresponding to address codes.

With such a hardware configuration, the CPU 11 of the server 24 transmits and receives information from the user terminal 20 via the Internet 21 and the interface 14. In consideration of these configurations, a method for the server 24 to search for an address code based on the postal code transmitted from the user terminal 20 will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, the postal code transmitted from the user terminal 20 shown in FIG. 5 is received via the interface 14 (S20). Then, the zip code is stored in the server 24.
Is searched from the postal code information database 3 constructed in the hard disk 13 (S21). Next, an address code corresponding to the searched zip code is extracted from the zip code corresponding information database 5 (S22).

Next, address information corresponding to the extracted address code is detected from the address information database 7 (S2).
3). The address information database 7 stores address information corresponding to an address code. The stored address information includes prefectures, municipalities,
Area codes of telephone numbers, maps, and the like can be given.

Then, after detecting the address information corresponding to the extracted address code, the information is transmitted to the user terminal 20. When transmitting, when displaying the address code extracted based on the input postal code and the corresponding address information (S24), the input postal code, the address code extracted based on the postal code, and the corresponding address code are displayed. When displaying the address information (S25), when displaying only the address information corresponding to the extracted address code (S2).
6) is conceivable. These display contents can be freely selected by the server 24 side.
Of course, the user terminal 20 may be selectable.

Through such a process, a postal code can be searched for a corresponding address code from the postal code via the Internet 21, and further, address information corresponding to the postal code and the address code can be obtained.

Next, a method for searching for a postal code based on the address code transmitted from the user terminal 20 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, the address code transmitted from the user terminal 20 shown in FIG. 5 is received via the interface 14 (S30). Then, the address code is searched from the address code information database 18 constructed in the hard disk 13 of the server 24 (S31). Next, the postal code corresponding to the searched address code is extracted from the address code correspondence information database 19 (S32).

Next, address information corresponding to the extracted postal code is detected from the address information database 7 (S3).
3). The address information database 7 stores address information corresponding to postal codes. As described above, the stored address information includes not only prefectures and municipalities but also area codes of telephone numbers and maps.

Then, after detecting the address information corresponding to the extracted postal code, the information is transmitted to the user terminal 20. When transmitting to the user terminal 20, when displaying the postal code extracted based on the input address code and the corresponding address information (S34), the input address code, the postal code extracted based on the postal code, and the postal code are displayed. When displaying address information corresponding to the number (S3
5) There may be a case where only the address information corresponding to the extracted postal code is displayed (S36).

Through such a process, a postal code corresponding to the address code can be retrieved from the address code, and further, address information corresponding to the address code and the postal code can be obtained.

As described above, the user terminal 20 and the server 24
Is connected via the Internet 21, so that information on the postal code and the address code can be obtained without selecting a place or time. That is, according to the information search method of the present invention, it is possible to search for information by transmitting a registered postal code or address code from the user terminal 20 even when overseas.

Further, since the information on the postal code and the address code is stored in the database of the server 24, the information can be obtained without depending on the model and type of the user terminal 20.

[0073]

With the above arrangement, the present invention provides an information retrieval method and an information retrieval program which can always associate a zip code with an address code to determine the other information from one of them. It becomes possible.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an information search method and an information search program for improving the efficiency of delivery work of mails and deliveries.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an information search method and an information search program for preventing a postal code or an address code from being erroneously entered in various notification documents and deliverables.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a system configuration diagram according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a hardware configuration diagram according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an information search procedure according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an information search procedure according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an information search procedure according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of an information search procedure according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Input device (input means) 2 Terminal 3 Postal code information database 4 Search step 5 Postal code correspondence information database 6 Extraction step 7 Address information database 8 Detection step 9 Output step 10 ROM 11 Central processing unit (CPU) 12 RAM 13 Hard disk 14 Interface 15 Display device 16 Input device 17 Bus (BUS) 18 Address code information database 19 Address code correspondence information database 20 User terminal 21 Network (Internet) 22 Reception step 23 Transmission step 24 Server

Claims (7)

[Claims] A search step for searching a postal code input from a terminal having input means for inputting information from a postal code information database in which postal codes are stored; and a postal code searched from the postal code information database. An extraction step of extracting from a postal code correspondence information database in which address code information corresponding to is stored; a detection step of detecting address information corresponding to the extracted address code from an address information database in which address information is stored; An output step of outputting at least one of the extracted address code and the detected address information to the terminal having display means for displaying the information. 2. A search step for searching an address code input from a terminal having input means for inputting information from an address code information database in which address codes are stored; An extraction step of extracting from the address code correspondence information database in which the corresponding zip code is stored; a detection step of detecting the address information corresponding to the extracted zip code from the address information database in which the address information is stored; and displaying the information. An output step of outputting at least one of the extracted postal code and the detected address information to the terminal having a display means for performing the information search. A search step for searching a postal code input from the terminal from a postal code information database in which postal codes are stored, using a terminal having input means for inputting information; Extracting from a postal code corresponding information database in which address code information corresponding to the postal code retrieved from is stored, and detecting address information corresponding to the extracted address code from the address information database in which the address information is stored. And an output step of outputting at least one of the extracted address code and the detected address information to the terminal having display means for displaying information. 4. A search step for searching an address code input from the terminal from an address code information database storing address codes, using a terminal having input means for inputting information, and searching from the address code information database. Extracting from the address code correspondence information database in which the postal code corresponding to the extracted address code is stored, and detecting the address information corresponding to the extracted postal code from the address information database in which the address information is stored. And an output step of outputting at least one of the extracted postal code and the detected address information to the terminal having display means for displaying information. 5. A method for retrieving information using a server and a terminal interconnected via a network, comprising:
A receiving step in which the server receives the postal code input and transmitted from the terminal, and from a postal code information database in which the postal code is stored,
A retrieval step of retrieving the received postal code; an extraction step of extracting from a postal code correspondence information database in which an address code corresponding to the postal code retrieved from the postal code information database is stored; and an address in which the address information is stored. A detection step of detecting address information corresponding to the extracted address code from the information database; and a reply step of returning at least one of the extracted address code and the detected address information to the terminal. Information retrieval method to do. 6. A method for retrieving information using a server and a terminal interconnected via a network, comprising:
A receiving step in which the server receives an address code input and transmitted from the terminal; a search step of searching for the received address code from an address code information database in which the address code is stored; An extraction step of extracting the postcode corresponding to the address code from the stored address code correspondence information database; anda detection step of detecting the address information corresponding to the extracted postcode from the address information database in which the address information is stored. A reply step of returning at least one of the extracted postal code and the detected address information to the terminal. 7. The information retrieval method according to claim 5, wherein in the replying step, a zip code or an address code input and transmitted from the terminal is returned to the terminal.