JP2013050884A - Information browsing method, information browsing system, server device, and client device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently identify browsing information intended by a user from among pieces of browsing information prepared in advance on the basis of intuitive keywords with a small number of characters.SOLUTION: A client device 110 transmits to a server device 120 a character string that is input through an operation unit 140. A server device extracts one or more first candidate words that are words including the character string or words each having a synonymous relationship with the words, and the first candidate words being objects or predicates, extracts a second candidate word that has an object-predicate relationship with each of the first candidate words, associating the second candidate word with the first candidate word, and transmits to the client device one or more combinations of the first candidate words and the second candidate word. The client device displays the combinations, and transmits to the server device one combination selected in response to a selection input made by a user. The server device identifies browsing information on the basis of the selected one combination.

Description

  The present invention relates to an information browsing method, an information browsing system, a server device, and a client device for browsing information desired by a user.

  With the recent paperless operation, for example, product manuals (instruction manuals) are often provided as electronic data instead of or in addition to paper media. Electronic manuals based on electronic data take advantage of the random access to the electronic data that make up the electronic manual, and jump to the page shown in the table of contents simply by selecting the table of contents itself. Provides users with a variety of functions, including a search function that searches for text on manual locations, a link function to connect to sites with detailed browsing information, and a printing function that prints the desired browsing information in a layout that makes it easy to grasp can do.

  In recent years, with the spread of network infrastructure such as the Internet and LAN (Local Area Network), necessary information can be easily acquired through a network. For example, a user can use a client device to access a Web site of a server device through the Internet and use an electronic manual provided by the server device, a so-called online manual. Such an online manual can hold an enormous amount of information for browsing within the server device, and the user can install a web browser without installing special software on the personal computer owned by the user. It is possible to use online manuals easily.

  However, from the viewpoint of product liability law (PL law) and user-friendly, the content of electronic manuals continues to increase, and the user takes time to reach the desired browsing information. Was invited. For example, even when referring to a table of contents in an electronic manual, if it is not possible to grasp which item the desired browsing information corresponds to or is related to many items, the desired browsing information It had to be checked one by one to see if

  In addition, in the method of searching for text through keywords, a large number of browsing information candidates are extracted when a keyword corresponding to a superordinate concept is searched, and the candidates must be confirmed one by one. On the other hand, when a search is performed using a keyword corresponding to a subordinate concept, there is a problem in that no browsing information candidate is extracted. Furthermore, although there are images of desired actions, such as objects and predicates, general keywords as described in the target electronic manual may not be conceived.

  Therefore, a list menu in which a plurality of candidate objects are collected and a list menu in which a plurality of predicate candidates are collected have an upper / lower hierarchical structure, and an appropriate two keywords are selected from a plurality of options related to a combination of two keywords. A technique for obtaining a desired result by selecting a combination is disclosed (for example, Patent Document 1). Moreover, in patent document 1, the other input support is also performed based on selection of one of an object and a predicate.

JP 2000-029595 A

  However, in the technique of Patent Document 1, in order to specify desired browsing information, first, an object and a predicate must be selected from the list menu. The more items in the list menu, the more selection is made. Inviting time-consuming results. Also, since the relationship between the object and the predicate is irregular, even if the object is appropriate, the corresponding predicate is inappropriate or the predicate is appropriate, the corresponding object is inappropriate There was a thing. In addition, when a predicate is specified first and an object that can be selected for that predicate is displayed, the object is displayed in the lower right corner of the display unit for the predicate, and the object is not realized visually as a sentence. It was difficult to understand the relationship between and predicates.

  In view of such a problem, the present invention is an information browsing method capable of efficiently specifying appropriate browsing information desired by a user from a plurality of browsing information prepared in advance based on intuitive keywords with a small number of characters. An object of the present invention is to provide an information browsing system, a server device, and a client device.

  In order to solve the above problems, in the information browsing method of the present invention in which a client device connected to a server device via a communication network browses browsing information from the server device, the client device is input via an operation unit. And the server device extracts one or a plurality of first candidate words corresponding to the object or predicate, which are words including the character string or words having a synonym relation with the word. Each of the first candidate words and a second candidate word having a relationship between the object and the predicate are extracted and associated with the first candidate word, and the server device includes one or more first candidate words and second candidate words. To the client device, the client device displays one or more combinations of the first candidate word and the second candidate word, and displays one or more first candidate words and the first candidate word. The combination of the first candidate word and the second candidate word selected from the combination with the candidate word according to the user's selection input is transmitted to the server device, and the server device selects the selected first first The browsing information is specified based on a combination of the candidate word and the second candidate word.

  The client device may position the word corresponding to the predicate on the right side of the display unit from the word corresponding to the object for one or more combinations of the first candidate word and the second candidate word received from the server device. .

  The server device uses a matrix table composed of a plurality of object groups in which words corresponding to objects having a synonym relationship are grouped and a plurality of predicate groups in which words corresponding to predicates having a synonym relationship are grouped. 1. Guidance information is uniquely identified based on the object group and the predicate group indicated by the combination of the first candidate word and the second candidate word, and browsed based on the identified guidance information using the browse information group Information may be specified.

  In order to solve the above problem, in the information browsing system of the present invention in which the client device browses the browsing information through the server device, the client device transmits the character string input via the operation unit to the server device, and the server device 1 or a combination of the first candidate word and the second candidate word selected from the combination of the first candidate word and the second candidate word received according to the user's selection input to the server device A client transmission control unit for transmitting, and a display unit for displaying a combination of one or more first candidate words and second candidate words received from the server device. A first candidate word extraction unit that extracts one or more first candidate words that are synonymous with the word and correspond to an object or predicate; Each of the first candidate words, a second candidate word extraction unit that extracts a second candidate word having a relationship between the object and the predicate, and associates the second candidate word with the first candidate word, and one or more first candidate words and second A server transmission control unit that transmits a combination of candidate words to the client device, and a browsing information specifying unit that specifies browsing information based on the selected combination of the first candidate word and the second candidate word. It is characterized by providing.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the server device of the present invention is a word including a character string received from a client device or a word having a synonym relation with the word, and one or a plurality of first items corresponding to an object or a predicate. A first candidate word extracting unit that extracts candidate words, one or a plurality of first candidate words, a second candidate word that is a relationship between an object and a predicate, and a second candidate word that is associated with the first candidate word From an extraction unit, a server transmission control unit that transmits a combination of one or more first candidate words and second candidate words to the client device, and one or more combinations of the first candidate words and second candidate words A browsing information specifying unit that specifies browsing information based on a combination of a first candidate word and a second candidate word selected in accordance with a user's selection input.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the client device of the present invention is a word including a character string input via the operation unit or a word having a synonym relation with the word, and one or more corresponding to an object or a predicate A first candidate word extracting unit for extracting the first candidate word, and each of the one or more first candidate words, a second candidate word having a relationship between the object and the predicate, and associating with the first candidate word 2 candidate word extraction units, a display unit that displays a combination of one or more first candidate words and second candidate words, and a combination of one or more first candidate words and second candidate words. A browsing information specifying unit that specifies browsing information based on a combination of the first candidate word and the second candidate word selected in response to the selection input.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently identify appropriate browsing information desired by a user from a plurality of previously prepared browsing information based on intuitive keywords with a small number of characters.

It is the functional block diagram which showed the electrical structure of the information browsing apparatus in 1st Embodiment. It is the functional block diagram which showed the electric constitution of the client apparatus. It is the functional block diagram which showed the electric constitution of the server apparatus. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating a part of browsing information group. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating a part of browsing information group. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating an object group group. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating a predicate group group. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating a matrix table. It is explanatory drawing which showed the image of the determination process of an object group specific | specification part. It is explanatory drawing which showed an example of the input process of the object and predicate by a user. It is explanatory drawing which showed another example of the input process of the target object and predicate by a user. It is explanatory drawing which showed another example of the input process of the target object and predicate by a user. It is explanatory drawing which showed another example of the input process of the target object and predicate by a user. It is explanatory drawing which showed another example of the input process of the target object and predicate by a user. It is explanatory drawing which showed another example of the input process of the target object and predicate by a user. It is explanatory drawing which showed another example of the input process of the target object and predicate by a user. It is explanatory drawing which showed the other example of the matrix table. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the operation | movement process of a browsing information specific | specification part. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the operation | movement process of a browsing information specific | specification part. It is the sequence figure which showed the whole flow of the information browsing method. It is explanatory drawing which shows the input screen of a display part.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The dimensions, materials, and other specific numerical values shown in the embodiments are merely examples for facilitating the understanding of the invention, and do not limit the present invention unless otherwise specified. In the present specification and drawings, elements having substantially the same function and configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted, and elements not directly related to the present invention are not illustrated. To do.

  The user can obtain desired browsing information through electronic search, not limited to the electronic manual (online manual) as described above, but a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) for identifying a question and obtaining appropriate browsing information for the question. Various search modes are conceivable. Here, the browsing information is information about contents and circumstances in a predetermined technical range such as an arbitrary technical field or an arbitrary product type, thereby causing knowledge or appropriate judgment to be generated for the user. Therefore, the search target of the browsing information of this embodiment is limited to a predetermined technical range.

  In the present embodiment, for example, an online manual of a digital video camera will be described as an example. However, the present embodiment is not limited to this, and the above-described FAQ and other various browsing forms and search forms are used. Can be applied.

(Information browsing system 100)
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic relationship of the information browsing system 100. The information browsing system 100 includes a communication network 102, a client device 110, and a server device 120. The communication network 102 includes the Internet, a LAN, a dedicated line, and the like, and connects the client device 110 and the server device 120 respectively.

  The client device 110 is an electronic device that can use a Web browser, such as a personal computer, a notebook personal computer, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a mobile phone, and the like. The client device 110 includes a browser program and the music stored in the server device 120. Various information such as still images and moving images can be acquired through a Web browser. In the present embodiment, the client device 110 aims to obtain desired browsing information using an online manual held in the server device 120.

  The server device 120 manages various websites, and various types of online manuals managed by the server device 120 itself through the Web browser of the client device 110 in response to an information acquisition request for acquiring a Web page by the client device 110. A simple web page. Here, the Web site refers to a group of Web pages under the domain that identifies the server device 120. Specific configurations of the client device 110 and the server device 120 are as follows.

(Client device 110)
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the client device 110. The client device 110 includes an operation unit 140, a display unit 142, a client memory 144, a client communication unit 146, and a client control unit 148.

  The operation unit 140 includes a keyboard, a pointing device, a cross key, a joystick, a jog dial, a touch panel, a voice recognition (voice input) device, and the like. The operation input or voice input of the user 112 (hereinafter, including voice input is simply an operation input). For example, when browsing information extraction (search) is attempted, a word corresponding to an object and a word corresponding to a predicate, or a character input of a part of such a word is directly accepted. Hereinafter, a word input as an object is referred to as a “target word”, and a word input as a predicate is referred to as a “predicate word”.

  The display unit 142 is configured by a liquid crystal display, an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display, or the like, and displays a web page provided from the server device 120 through a web browser or displays various images. In this embodiment, when accessing a predetermined Web site, a Web page provided from the server device 120 through the Web browser of the client device 110 itself (for example, XML (eXtensible Markup Language) by the PHP / JavaScript program of the server device 120) The user 112 implements various processes related to the Web page by operating a UI (User Interface) in the Web page through the operation unit 140. In addition, the display unit 142 displays, for example, a target word, a predicate word, or a part of the word input through the operation unit 140 and is used for confirming an input result, or extracted by performing this embodiment. Display words and browsing information.

  The client memory 144 is configured by a storage medium such as an HDD (Hard disk drive), a flash memory, and a RAM, and an OS (Operating System), a control program, a browser program, a communication processing program, etc. used by a client control unit 148 described later. , Information such as a document downloaded together with a Web page from the server device 120 through a Web browser is held. Note that the HDD is precisely a device, but in the present description, it is treated as synonymous with other storage media for convenience of explanation.

  The client communication unit 146 performs communication connection with the server apparatus 120 through the communication network 102 using a protocol such as TCP / IP. The client control unit 148 is configured by a semiconductor integrated circuit including a central processing unit (CPU), a ROM in which programs are stored, a RAM as a work area, and the like, and works in cooperation with the client memory 144 and other electronic circuits. Manage and control the entire device 110. The client control unit 148 also functions as a client transmission control unit 150 and a client reception control unit 152.

  The client transmission control unit 150 accesses the server device 120, and according to the content of the Web page provided from the server device 120, the word (target word) input as an object through the operation unit 140 and the predicate are input. Send a word (predicate word). Here, in order to identify the target word and the predicate word, as a preceding stage, a character string input via the operation unit 140, one or a plurality of first candidate words and second candidate words received from the server device 120, The combination of the first candidate word and the second candidate word selected according to the selection input from the user is sequentially transmitted to the server apparatus 120. The character string, the first candidate word, and the second candidate word will be described in detail later. Further, the client transmission control unit 150 transmits the answer selected according to the question from the server device 120 to the server device 120. The client reception control unit 152 receives the one or more combinations of the first candidate word and the second candidate word from the server device 120, and supports the target word or predicate word specifying process. In addition, the client reception control unit 152 receives the question and the option, displays the question and the option on the display unit 142, and causes the user 112 to select the option. Further, the client reception control unit 152 receives browsing information from the server device 120 and causes the display unit 142 to display the browsing information.

(Server device 120)
FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the server device 120. The server device 120 includes a server memory 160, a server communication unit 162, and a server control unit 164.

  The server memory 160 is configured by a storage medium such as an HDD, a flash memory, or a RAM, and an OS, a control program, a Web server program, a communication processing program, an online manual processing program, a Web browser used by a server control unit 164 described later Information such as an online manual and FAQ that can be provided to the client apparatus 110 is held. Here, as an online manual or FAQ, a browsing information group including a plurality of browsing information, an object group group including a plurality of object groups obtained by grouping words corresponding to objects having a synonym relationship, a predicate having a synonym relationship A predicate group group including a plurality of predicate groups obtained by grouping words corresponding to, and a matrix table for uniquely identifying guidance information for guiding to browsing information based on the object group and the predicate group are held. . Since the browsing information group, the object word group group, the predicate group group, and the matrix table are preconditions for understanding the present embodiment, the configuration will be briefly described first.

  4 and 5 are explanatory diagrams for explaining a part of the browsing information group 200. FIG. The browsing information group 200 is formed in a tree structure having a plurality of browsing information 202 as branches and, as an upper hierarchy, a selection 204 for guiding the browsing information 202 as a trunk. For example, in a hierarchy other than the lowest hierarchy (browsing information 202) of the tree structure in FIG. 4, a question 206 and an option 204 composed of a plurality of answers of the question 206 are shown. For the question 206 “Do you want to save?”, An option 204 “Optical disk” or “External HDD” is prepared. When the user 112 selects one answer from the prepared options 204, the prepared question 206 is presented in the lower hierarchy belonging to the option 204, and the user 112 sequentially selects the questions 206 in the lower hierarchy. By selecting 204, the desired browsing information 202 can be browsed finally. Further, the data position of the question 206 and the option 204 can be specified by a file name such as “image_cpy.xml” in FIG. 4 and a directory “opt” in the file.

  In such browsing information group 200, the lower hierarchy is divided into a plurality of files and held for each option 204 for the question 206 corresponding to the highest hierarchy (not shown). Therefore, the tree structure shown in FIG. 4 also corresponds to a part of the browsing information group 200, and is called only when “video storage” is selected in the option 204 of the highest hierarchy. The tree structure of the browsing information group 200 can be represented by, for example, a PAD (Problem Analysis Diagram) as a means for indicating an algorithm or program processing, as shown in FIG. Further, when the tree structure of the browsing information group 200 is described in the markup description language XML, it can be expressed as shown in FIG.

  If such a browsing information group 200 is prepared, the user 112 appropriately selects the question 206 at the highest hierarchy, and further appropriately answers the question 206 in the browsing information group 200 as shown in FIG. 4 (selects the option 204). ), The desired browsing information 202 can be obtained. However, in general, the hierarchy of the tree structure is deep (many), and the user 112 has to select many options 204 until reaching the desired browsing information 202 at the lowest hierarchy, which takes time and effort. In addition, if the reached browsing information 202 of the lowest hierarchy is not what is desired, the question 206 of the highest hierarchy is repeated again, and a desired browsing is selected by consciously selecting an option 204 different from the previous one. Information 202 must be found.

  Further, even if a question 206 or an option 204 corresponding to one hierarchy higher than the browsing information 202 that can directly derive the desired browsing information 202 is thought as a keyword, the question 206 provided in a hierarchy other than the highest hierarchy of the browsing information group 200. There is no means for directly designating the option 204 and the option 204, and the user 112 still has to make a selection from the question 206 at the highest level, and it takes time and effort to extract the desired browsing information 202.

  Therefore, in the information browsing system 100 according to the present embodiment, on the assumption that the above-described browsing information group 200 already exists or that the browsing information group 200 is newly generated later, Using the predicate group group, the browsing information 202 is efficiently browsed by the user 112 by the narrowing process via the matrix table (shortcut to the desired option 204 or the browsing information 202 by the matrix table), and the narrowing process The purpose of this is to specify browsing information intuitively and easily from a small number of keywords.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the object group group 208. As described above, the object group is a group of words corresponding to objects having a synonym relationship. In the vertical direction in FIG. 6, the object group 210 is associated with the object number 212. Are lined up. In the horizontal direction in FIG. 6, a representative word 214 (corresponding to the synonym 1) of the object group 210, for example, “still image”, and one or a plurality of words that are synonymous with any word in the object group 210. Words, for example, “snapshot”, “photo”, and “frame” are juxtaposed. Note that the number of synonyms in the object group 210 is not limited.

  In this way, by configuring a group of words corresponding to objects having a synonym relationship, a large number of words can be associated as synonyms with any object group 210 of the object group group 208. The total number (variations) of words included in the group 208 can be easily increased, and the probability that browsing information can be extracted for any target word input by the user 112 is increased. Moreover, the capacity | capacitance and processing load of the server memory 160 can be suppressed by the structure which groups several synonyms and prepares the browsing information 202 with respect to the grouped group.

  The object group group 208 also includes an item of object frequency 216 indicating the frequency with which each word in the object group 210 is used for the search. The object frequency 216 is used for searching for objects in descending order of search frequency in an object group specifying unit 170 described later.

  FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the predicate group group 218. The predicate group is a group of words corresponding to predicates having a synonym relationship, and the predicate group 220 is arranged in association with the predicate number 222 in the vertical direction in FIG. In the horizontal direction in FIG. 7, the representative word 224 of the predicate group 220, for example, “shooting”, and one or more words that are synonymous with any of the words in the predicate group 220, for example, “recording”, “Record” and “REC” are juxtaposed. Note that the number of synonyms in the predicate group 220 is not limited.

  As described above, the grouping of the words corresponding to the predicates having the synonym relationship enables the association of a large number of words as synonyms with any one of the predicate groups 220 in the predicate group group 218. The total number (variations) of words included in the group 218 can be easily increased, and the probability that browsing information can be extracted for any predicate word input by the user 112 increases. Moreover, the capacity | capacitance and processing load of the server memory 160 can be suppressed by the structure which groups several synonyms and prepares the browsing information 202 with respect to the grouped group. The predicate group group 218 also has an item of a predicate frequency 226 indicating the frequency with which each word in the predicate group 220 is used for the search. The predicate frequency 226 is used by the predicate group specifying unit 172 described later to search for predicates in descending order of search frequency.

  FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the matrix table 228. In the matrix table 228, a plurality of object groups 210 arranged in the vertical direction in FIG. 8 (only the representative word 214 of the object word group 210 is shown in FIG. 8) and a plurality of objects arranged in the horizontal direction in FIG. The predicate group 220 (in FIG. 8, only the representative word 224 of the predicate group 220 is shown) is a two-dimensional array, and is browsed based on one object group 210 and one predicate group 220. One guide information 230 for guiding to the information 202 is derived.

  For example, when the target word is included in the target word group 210 of the representative word “still image” and the predicate word is included in the predicate group 220 of the representative word “photographing”, as shown in FIG. The guide information “L-0001” shown at the intersection of the two matrices is extracted. The guidance information “L-0001” is direct link information (indicated by an array element attached with “L-” in FIG. 8) that directly specifies the browsing information 202, and the user 112 receives the guidance information “L-”. By “0001”, the browsing information 202 can be browsed directly without going through the question 206 or the option 204 of the browsing information group 200.

  However, depending on the combination of the object group 210 and the predicate group 220, a plurality of pieces of browsing information 202 may be candidates, and one piece of browsing information 202 may not be specified. Regarding such an object group 210 and predicate group 220, an indirect link that shifts to a narrowing process for specifying the browsing information 202, which is different from the direct link information described above, at the place where both matrices intersect on a two-dimensional array. Information (indicated by array elements with “S-” in FIG. 8) is shown as guide information 230. As described above, when the guide information 230 is indirect link information, the user 112 cannot directly browse the browsing information 202, but directly moves to an arbitrary question 206 in a relatively lower hierarchy of the browsing information group 200. Thus, the browsing information 202 can be efficiently obtained via the minimum number of questions 206 and options 204. Such a narrowing process via the matrix table 228 will be specifically described in the operation of the browsing information specifying unit 180 described later.

  Returning to FIG. 3, the server communication unit 162 establishes communication connection with the client device 110 through the communication network 102 using a protocol such as TCP / IP. The server control unit 164 is configured by a semiconductor integrated circuit including a central processing unit (CPU), a ROM storing a program, a RAM as a work area, and the like, and works in cooperation with the server memory 160 and other electronic circuits. Manage and control the entire device 120. The server control unit 164 includes a server reception control unit 166, a server transmission control unit 168, an object group specifying unit 170, a predicate group specifying unit 172, a first candidate word extracting unit 174, a second candidate word extracting unit 176, guidance. It also functions as an information identification unit 178, a browsing information identification unit 180, a frequency update unit 182, a re-input promotion unit 184, and a synonym registration unit 186.

  The server reception control unit 166 receives the target word and the predicate word from the client device 110 and transmits them to the object group specifying unit 170 and the predicate group specifying unit 172, or the first candidate word selected by the client device 110 And the second candidate word are received to identify the object group 210 and the predicate group 220. Further, the server reception control unit 166 receives an answer to the option 204 from the client device 110 and transmits it to the browsing information specifying unit 180. The server transmission control unit 168 transmits to the client device 110 one or more combinations of the first candidate word and the second candidate word extracted by the first candidate word extraction unit 174 and the second candidate word extraction unit 176 described later. To do. In addition, when the guide information specifying unit 178 specifies the indirect link information as the guide information 230, the server transmission control unit 168 transmits the question 206 and the options 204 for narrowing down the browsing information 202 to the client device 110. Further, the server transmission control unit 168 transmits the browsing information 202 specified by the browsing information specifying unit 180 to the client device 110.

  The object group specifying unit 170 determines which of the object groups 210 in the object group group 208 includes the object word input as the object. At this time, the object group specifying unit 170 determines whether or not the words in the object group group 208 match the object words in descending order of the object frequency 216 that is the search frequency of each word in the object group group 208. And the object word group 210 including the object word is specified.

  FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an image of determination processing of the object group identification unit 170. When the user 112 inputs a target word through the operation unit 140 of the client device 110 and the server reception control unit 166 receives the target word, the target group specifying unit 170 first does not get stuck in the frame such as the target word group 210. Referring to the object frequency 216 of all the words in the object group group 208, the words corresponding to the objects are extracted in descending order of the object frequency 216. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, since the object frequency 216 of the word “still image” in the object group 210 having the object number 212 of “1” is “220”, the object group 216 is the maximum. The identifying unit 170 determines whether the word “still image” matches the target word. When the target word is different from the word “still image”, the target word group specifying unit 170 determines whether the word “moving image” having the highest target frequency 216 after the word “still image” matches the target word.

  Then, the object group specifying unit 170 repeats the determination process in descending order of the object frequency 216 as shown in FIG. 9 until the object word matches any word in the object group group 208, and the matching word If there is an object number 212 of the object word group 210, for example, if the object word is “photograph”, the object information “1” indicating the object group group 210 including “photograph” as a synonym is provided as guidance information. The data is transmitted to the specifying unit 178. If no matching word is found, the object group specifying unit 170 determines that the object word is not included in the object group group 208 and ends the determination process.

  The object frequency 216 described above is a cumulative result of using the word in the past, but also indicates the possibility that the word will be used in the future. Accordingly, the object group specifying unit 170 can efficiently find the object group 210 by searching for the object group 210 including the object words in descending order of the object frequency 216, so that the user 112 Can obtain the desired browsing information at an early stage.

  Here, the object group identification unit 170 receives the input of the object word, and once extracts the words to be compared in the descending order of the object frequency 216. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, FIG. A table in which words are arranged in descending order of the object frequency 216 such as 9 may be created in advance. In this case, the frequency update unit 182 to be described later updates the object frequency 216 in the table and sorts the search order.

  The predicate group specifying unit 172 determines which of the plurality of predicate groups 220 in the predicate group group 218 includes the predicate word input as the predicate, and the predicate frequency 226 that is the search frequency of each word in the predicate group group 218. Are determined in descending order, and the predicate group 220 including the predicate word is specified.

  When the user 112 inputs a predicate word through the operation unit 140 of the client device 110 and the server reception control unit 166 receives the predicate word, the predicate group specifying unit 172 starts with a predicate group group, like the object group specifying unit 170. With reference to the predicate frequencies 226 of all the words in 218, words corresponding to the predicates are extracted in descending order of the predicate frequencies 226, and it is determined whether or not the extracted words match the predicate words. Therefore, the predicate group specifying unit 172 can quickly find the predicate group 220 by searching for the predicate group 220 including the predicate words in descending order of the predicate frequency 226, and the browsing information desired by the user 112. Can be obtained early.

  FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a target word and predicate input process by the user 112. For example, the server device 120 displays, on the display unit 142 of the client device 110, an input screen 232 that is a GUI (Graphical User Interface) that prompts input of a target word and a predicate as shown in FIG. The user 112 inputs the target word in the target word box 234 and the predicate word in the predicate box 236 displayed on the display unit 142 through the operation unit 140 of the client device 110, and selects and determines the confirmation button 238. In the present embodiment, not only keywords are simply listed, but also a specific operation (object and predicate) desired by the user 112 is input, and the browsing information 202 is searched accordingly.

  For example, when referring to an online manual of a digital video movie, when the user 112 desires to acquire information related to playback of a captured video, the user 112 displays the object box on the input screen 232 as shown in FIG. “Movie” is input to 234, and “play” is input to the predicate box 236. Then, a sentence “reproduce (want to play) a moving image” is formed by the target word and the predicate word. In response to the input from the user 112, the target word group specifying unit 170 searches the target word “video” input in the target word box 234 from the target word group group 208 in descending order of the target word frequency 216, and predicate group The identifying unit 172 searches the predicate group group 218 for the predicate “replay” input in the predicate box 236 in descending order of the predicate frequency 226.

  As another input means, as shown in FIG. 10C, a sentence including a target word and a predicate word can be directly input into a sentence box 240 of the input screen 232. When the user 112 inputs, for example, a sentence “I want to play a video” in the sentence box 240 of the input screen 232 and selects and decides the confirm button 238, the object group specifying unit 170 and the predicate group specifying unit 172 are input. The target word and the predicate word are extracted from each sentence. Specifically, the object group specifying unit 170 searches the entered sentence “wo” or “ni” from the input sentence, and when “ha” or “ni” exists, the previous word is set as the object word. To do. Further, the predicate group specifying unit 172 searches the input sentence for the auxiliary verb “tai” or “desired” to which the verb is added, and when “tai” or “desired” exists, the previous word is used as the predicate. To do.

  In this way, by simply searching for case particles and auxiliary verbs, the object and predicate are extracted, so that analysis processing such as syntax analysis and morphological analysis is not required, and the processing load can be reduced.

  In the above example, for example, when you want to play back video data of a movie, you do not know how to handle the storage medium or storage device, or you do not know how to play it In addition, it functions effectively as a means of knowing it.

  However, the user may not always come up with the exact combination of the target word and the predicate word, but may come up with only one of the target word or the predicate word, or even a part of the target word or predicate word. is there. In view of this, the server device 120 supports input of target words and predicate words in the client device 110 through the first candidate word extraction unit 174 and the second candidate word extraction unit 176.

  The first candidate word extraction unit 174 extracts one or more words corresponding to the object or predicate from the object group group 208 or the predicate group group 218, including the character string transmitted from the client device 110, and the representative thereof. Let the word be the first candidate word. The second candidate word extraction unit 176 extracts, for each first candidate word, one or more first candidate words extracted by the first candidate word extraction unit 174 and second candidate words that have a relationship between the object and the predicate. To do. The operation is shown below.

  FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 are explanatory diagrams showing other examples of the target word and predicate word input processing by the user 112. For example, it is assumed that the user does not come up with a desired specific target word or predicate word, but only understands that it is related to “DVD”. At this time, it is assumed that the character string “D” is input to the text box 240 of the input screen 232 as shown in FIG. However, here, even one character is treated as a character string. Then, the client transmission control unit 150 transmits the input character string “D” to the server device 120 when the character string “D” is input.

  The first candidate word extraction unit 174 of the server device 120 includes one or more words corresponding to the object or predicate including the character string “D” or starting from the character string “D”. It identifies from the predicate group group 218 and extracts the representative word as the first candidate word. Assume that representative words “DVD recorder”, “DVD”, and “DVD writer” are registered as objects including the character string “D”, and there is no corresponding word as a predicate. Therefore, the first candidate word extraction unit 174 extracts the representative words “DVD recorder”, “DVD”, and “DVD writer” as the first candidate words.

  The second candidate word extraction unit 176 includes one or more second candidate words that have a relationship between the object word and the predicate, respectively, as representative words as one or more first candidate words extracted by the first candidate word extraction unit 174. To extract. Specifically, when the first candidate word is an object, a predicate that can be combined with the object as the second candidate word is the second candidate word, and when the first candidate word is a predicate, A candidate word that can be combined with the predicate is set as a second candidate word.

  Here, since the first candidate words are the target words “DVD recorder”, “DVD”, and “DVD writer”, referring to the matrix table 228 shown in FIG. 8, “DVD recorder” is selected as the second candidate word. The representative words “save” and “forward” of the predicate group 220 in which the guide information 230 or the browsing information 202 is set at the intersection of the object word group 210 as the representative word and the matrix are extracted. Similarly, as the second candidate word, the representative words “save”, “predicate group 220 in which the guide information 230 or the browsing information 202 is set where the matrix intersects with the object group 210 having“ DVD ”as a representative word. The representative words “save” and “forward” of the predicate group 220 in which the guide information 230 or the browsing information 202 is set where the matrix intersects with the object group 210 whose representative word is “transfer” or “DVD writer” are extracted. Is done.

  Then, the server transmission control unit 168 performs “DVD recorder storage”, “DVD recorder transfer”, “DVD storage”, which are combinations of one or a plurality of first candidate words and second candidate words extracted as described above. , “DVD transfer”, “DVD writer storage”, and “DVD writer transfer” are all transmitted to the client device 110 together with their attributes (objects and predicates), and the candidate selection on the input screen 232 shown in FIG. In the box 242, all combinations of the first candidate word and the second candidate word are displayed. The order of such combinations may be determined based on the frequency of the object group group 208 and the predicate group group 218, but the order may be arbitrarily determined, such as the order of the Japanese alphabet. However, here, one or more first candidate words are represented in the candidate selection box 242 by being left-justified.

  At this time, for the combination of the first candidate word and the second candidate word, the client device 110 positions the word corresponding to the predicate on the right side of the display unit 142 from the word corresponding to the object as shown in FIG. . In this way, continuity between the object and the predicate is ensured, and the user can grasp the combination of the object and the predicate as a series of sentences, and whether or not the object and the predicate are the words desired by the user. Can be understood intuitively and easily.

  The user 112 selects one or more first candidate words and second candidate words from a combination of one or more first candidate words and second candidate words in the candidate selection box 242 through the operation unit 140 of the client device 110. When a combination, for example, the combination “DVD writer storage” indicated by hatching in FIG. 11C is selected, the combination is displayed in the sentence box 240. When the user 112 selects and decides the confirm button 238, the client transmission control unit 150 determines the combination of the selected first candidate word and the second candidate word as a target word (here, “DVD writer”) and a predicate word. (Here, “save”) is transmitted to the server apparatus 120. The server device 120 identifies the target word and the predicate word through such input support.

  Since both the target word and the predicate word are representative words, it is not necessary to specify the object group 210 and the predicate group 220 through the object group specifying unit 170 and the predicate group specifying unit 172. What is necessary is just to specify the object group 210 and the predicate group 220 as representative words.

  Further, when the user 112 inputs more character strings, the combinations of the first candidate word and the second candidate word that are extracted along with it are narrowed down. For example, when the user inputs “VD LA” as shown in FIG. 12B following the character string “D” shown in FIG. 12A (that is, when the user inputs the character string “DVD LA”). The combinations of the first candidate word and the second candidate word are limited to two sets of “DVD writer storage” and “DVD writer transfer”. At this time, the client transmission control unit 150 transmits the character string to the server device 120 every time a new character string is input. However, until “La” is input, it cannot be distinguished from other words, so the display remains the same as in FIG. As shown in FIG. 12C, the user 112 can select one desired combination from the two options. Thus, the user can narrow down the selection range by the character string.

  FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 are explanatory diagrams showing another example of the target word and predicate input process by the user 112. For example, in the state of FIG. 13A equivalent to FIG. 11A, the user 112 “finds” in the sentence box 240 of the input screen 232 as shown in FIG. 13A through the operation unit 140 of the client device 110. Suppose you enter a character string that looks like “see”. The first candidate word extraction unit 174 includes one or more words corresponding to the object or predicate including the character string “see” or starting from the character string “see” as the object group group 208 and the predicate group group 218. And the representative word of the object group 210 or the predicate group 220 including the word is extracted. It is assumed that there is no word corresponding to the object including the character string “see”, and representative words “reproduce” and “search” are registered as predicates as shown in FIG. Then, the first candidate word extraction unit 174 extracts the representative words “reproduction” and “search” as the first candidate words.

  If the second candidate word extraction unit 176 determines that the one or more first candidate words extracted by the first candidate word extraction unit 174 are predicates, the second candidate word extraction unit 176 selects a second candidate word corresponding to the object of the first candidate word. Extract. Here, since the first candidate words are the predicates “reproduction” and “search”, the predicate group 220 of the matrix table 228 shown in FIG. 8 is referred to, and the predicate groups 220 “reproduction” and “ The representative words “still image”, “moving image”, “SD”, and “video” of the target object in which the guide information 230 or the browsing information 202 is set at the intersection of “search” and the matrix are extracted.

  Then, the server transmission control unit 168 performs “still image reproduction”, “moving image reproduction”, “SD reproduction”, which are combinations of one or more first candidate words and second candidate words extracted as described above. “Video Playback”, “Still Image Search”, “Movie Search”, “SD Search”, and “Video Search” are all transmitted to the client device 110 together with their attributes (objects and predicates), as shown in FIG. In addition, all combinations of the first candidate word and the second candidate word are displayed in the candidate selection box 242 of the input screen 232.

  The user 112 selects one or more first candidate words and second candidate words from a combination of one or more first candidate words and second candidate words in the candidate selection box 242 through the operation unit 140 of the client device 110. When a combination “SD search” indicated by hatching in FIG. 13C is selected, the combination is displayed in the sentence box 240. When the user 112 selects and decides the confirm button 238, the client transmission control unit 150 determines the combination of the selected first candidate word and the second candidate word as a target word (here, “SD”) and a predicate word (“SD”). Here, it is transmitted to the server apparatus 120 as “search”. The server device 120 identifies the target word and the predicate word through such input support.

  Further, when the user 112 inputs more character strings, as shown in FIG. 14, the combinations of the first candidate word and the second candidate word extracted along with it are narrowed down as in FIG. For example, when the user inputs “tsu” as shown in FIG. 14B after the character string “see” shown in FIG. 14A (that is, when the user inputs the character string “see”), The combinations of the first candidate word and the second candidate word are limited to four sets of “still image search”, “moving image search”, “SD search”, and “video search”. As shown in FIG. 14C, the user 112 can select one desired combination from the four options. Thus, the user can narrow down the selection range by the character string.

  For convenience of explanation, FIGS. 11 to 14 show examples in which only one representative word of the object group 210 or the predicate group 220 is extracted as the first candidate word based on the input character string. Needless to say, when a word including a character string is included in both the object group 210 and the predicate group 220, any representative word of the object group 210 and the predicate group 220 may be the first candidate word.

  Moreover, although the example which displays simply the combination of a 1st candidate word and a 2nd candidate word in the candidate selection box 242 was demonstrated using FIGS. 11-14, a 1st candidate word and a 2nd candidate word are shown. It is also possible to display with different display modes.

  FIG. 15 and FIG. 16 are explanatory diagrams showing other examples of the target word and predicate input process by the user 112. When the server transmission control unit 168 transmits one or more combinations of the first candidate word and the second candidate word to the client device 110, the client device 110 transmits the first candidate word and the second candidate word, Corresponding to the object and the predicate, both are displayed on the display unit 142 in different display modes. In this way, the object and the predicate are distinguished. To change the display mode, make the characters different in size, emphasize one, make the font different, underline one, make the background image or background color different, or make the decoration of the frame different It is possible to adopt various means such as adding an index such as an arrow on one side, changing the relative position such as up and down, inserting a space or an index in between.

  In addition, in order to grasp which part of the combination of the object and the predicate displayed in the candidate selection box 242 the character string input by the user 112 in the sentence box 240 corresponds to the character string input by the user 112. The representative words related to the included words may be displayed differently from other words. For example, the server transmission control unit 168 transmits information indicating which is the first candidate word together with the combination of the first candidate word and the second candidate word, and the client device 110 corresponds to the first candidate word. Highlight the word you want. Then, the display of FIG. 11 (c) becomes as shown in FIG. 15 (a), and the size of the characters “DVD recorder”, “DVD”, and “DVD writer” corresponding to the input “D”. Is larger than the predicate and is highlighted. Thus, the user 112 can visually and intuitively grasp the word indicated by the character string input by the user 112, and can easily specify a desired object or predicate.

  Here, all characters of the words “DVD recorder”, “DVD”, and “DVD writer” corresponding to the input “D” are highlighted, but as shown in FIG. Only the input character string “D” can be highlighted. Thus, the user 112 can easily grasp the relationship between the character string input by the user 112 and the word displayed in the candidate selection box 242.

  If the character string input by the user 112 is “see” as shown in FIG. 13B, the words “see” and “find” including “see” as shown in FIG. 15C. The words “play” and “search” are highlighted. With this configuration, the user 112 can easily grasp the correspondence between the word including the character string input by the user 112 and the representative word.

  Here, the object size and the predicate are distinguished by using the character size or the emphasized character. However, as described above, the display mode can be varied by various means. For example, as shown in FIG. 16 (a), the background of the corresponding word (here, the object) is shaded, or as shown in FIG. 16 (b), the corresponding word has a color that stands out from other words. It is possible to

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 11 to 16, in the candidate selection box 242, one or more words corresponding to predicates corresponding to the first candidate word and the second candidate word are equivalent to the object. It is located on the right side of the display unit 142 from the word to be displayed. Thus, in both cases where the first candidate word corresponds to the object and the first candidate word corresponds to the predicate, the continuity between the object and the predicate is further increased, and the user can Can be grasped as a series of sentences, and it is possible to intuitively and easily grasp whether or not the object and the predicate are words desired by the user.

  In addition, since the object and the predicate are clearly separated, even if there are a plurality of objects and predicates as the first candidate word, the attribute can be easily determined, and the object and the predicate It is possible to avoid an erroneous setting due to a recognition error.

  Returning to the description of FIG. 3, the guidance information specifying unit 178 uses the matrix table 228 shown in FIG. 8, or is specified by the object group specifying unit 170 and the predicate group specifying unit 172, or first candidate word extraction Guided based on the object group 210 and the predicate group 220 having the first candidate word and the second candidate word selected by the user 112 and selected by the user 112 as representative words. Information 230 is specified. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, when “moving image” is input as the target word and “reproduction” is input as the predicate word, the guidance information specifying unit 178 determines that the object group specified by the object group specifying unit 170 Based on the “representative word: moving image” and the predicate group “representative word: reproduction” specified by the predicate group specifying unit 172, guidance information shown at the intersection of both groups on the matrix table 228 shown in FIG. “L-0005” (direct link information) is specified. Also, as shown in FIG. 12, when “DVD writer storage” is selected by the user 112 as a combination of the first candidate word and the second candidate word, the guidance information specifying unit 178 displays the target word “DVD writer”. Based on the object group 210 having the representative word and the predicate group 220 having the predicate “save” as the representative word, the guidance information “where the two groups intersect on the matrix table 228 shown in FIG. "S-0006" (indirect link information) is specified.

  Thus, the operability and the search efficiency can be improved by the configuration in which the guide information 230 is specified only by inputting two words such as the target word and the predicate word. In addition, since the guide information specifying unit 178 uses the matrix table 228 to specify one guide information 230, the guide information specifying unit 178 automatically selects desired browse information from browse information candidates as compared with the conventional technique in which a plurality of results are detected. There is an advantage that you do not have to look for.

  Further, the guide information specifying unit 178 can derive the guide information 230 more quickly using the object number 212 of the object group 210 and the predicate number 222 of the predicate group 220.

  FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the matrix table. 17 is different from the matrix table 228 in FIG. 8 in that the object number 212 indicating a plurality of object word groups 210 is arranged in the vertical direction and the predicate number indicating the plurality of predicate groups 220 in the horizontal direction. 222, and a guide number 248 indicating one guide information 230 is derived from an object number 212 indicating one object group 210 and a predicate number 222 indicating one predicate group 220. As described above, in the matrix table 246 in FIG. 17, all the guide information 230 is replaced with simple numerical values.

  Here, the guidance information specifying unit 178 adds the object number 212 and the predicate number 222, and derives the guidance number 248 based on the addition result. The object number 212 is expressed by a numerical value of 1 to 999, and the predicate number 222 is expressed by a numerical value of 1000 units, so that each numerical value is unique so that the value obtained by adding both is a unique value. become. Therefore, the guide number 248 can be uniquely derived by a simple procedure such as adding the object number 212 and the predicate number 222, and the processing load can be reduced.

  When the object group specifying unit 170 cannot specify the object group 210, or when the predicate group specifying unit 172 cannot specify the predicate group 220, that is, when one of the groups cannot be specified, the guidance information specifying unit 178 The guide information 230 is specified only by the object group 210 or the predicate group 220 that can be specified. This is because when one group is specified, the search target range can be narrowed at least without searching the browsing information 202 from the entire range of the browsing information group 200. This is because it is possible to move to a lower-layer option 204 that is not a hierarchy.

  Therefore, the guide information specifying unit 178 shifts to the option 204 on the browse information group 200 that can acquire the browse information 202 corresponding to every word of the other group that could not be specified, assuming one group that could be specified. Indirect link information (indicated by “wild card” in FIG. 8 or in the wild card matrix 250 indicated by “999” or “999000” in FIG. 17) is provided as guide information 230 (or guide number 248). ).

  For example, it is assumed that the user 112 inputs the target word “photo” and the predicate “copy” through the operation unit 140 of the client device 110. In the object group group 208 of FIG. 6, the word “photo” exists in the object group 210 of the object number 1, but the word “copy” does not exist in the predicate group group 218 of FIG. Here, the guide information specifying unit 178 specifies guide information “S-0050” prepared in the wild card matrix 250 of the target word group 210 including the target word “photo” in FIG. A search through 250 is called a wild card search.)

  With this configuration, the user 112 can directly move to any question 206 that is not the highest hierarchy of the browsing information group 200, so that the browsing information 202 can be efficiently transmitted via the minimum number of questions 206 and options 204. Can be obtained.

  The browsing information specifying unit 180 specifies the browsing information 202 using the browsing information group 200 based on the guidance information 230 specified by the guidance information specifying unit 178. As described above, the guide information 230 includes direct link information that directly browses the browsing information 202 and indirect link information that shifts to a narrowing process for specifying the browsing information 202. The guide information 230 is also associated with index information indicating whether the guide information 230 is direct link information or indirect link information.

  The browsing information identification unit 180 first determines whether the index information associated with the guidance information 230 identified by the guidance information identification unit 178 is direct link information or indirect link information. Then, if the index information is direct link information, the browsing information specifying unit 180 specifies the browsing information 202 based on the direct link information. If the index information is indirect link information, the browsing information specifying unit 180 proceeds to a narrowing process, and the option by the user 112 is selected. The browsing information 202 is specified through a new selection input 204.

  18 and 19 are explanatory diagrams for explaining the operation process of the browsing information specifying unit 180. In particular, FIG. 18A shows the direct link information group 252 and FIG. 18B shows the indirect link. An information group 254 is shown. Based on the index information (indicated by “type” in FIG. 18), the browsing information specifying unit 180 jumps to a predetermined movement / control destination if it is direct link information, and may be indirect link information. For example, a predetermined file is called.

  For example, when “still image” is specified as the target word and “shooting” is specified as the predicate word, and the guide information specifying unit 178 specifies the guide information “L-0001” in the matrix table 228 of FIG. 180 recognizes that the guide information 230 is direct link information based on the index information (the type is “L”), and refers to the direct link information group 252 in FIG. Jump to “Web page of still image shooting method” (“http://www.jvc.com/webman/photo_rec.html”) through URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of the Web page corresponding to “L-0001”. In this way, the browsing information can be browsed by the user 112.

  Further, as described above, the browsing information group 200 is formed in a tree structure, and the indirect link information is information linked to an option 204 corresponding to the trunk of the tree structure. For example, when “video” is input as the target word and “save” is input as the predicate word, and the guide information specifying unit 178 specifies the guide information “S-0003” in the matrix table 228 of FIG. Understands that the guide information is indirect link information based on the index information (type is “S”), refers to the indirect link information group 254 shown in FIG. -"Video saving scenario" ("image_cpy_xml" XML file) corresponding to -0003 "is called. Such an XML file corresponds to the PAD of FIG. Therefore, the browsing information identification unit 180 executes the narrowing-down process from the question 206 “Which media should be stored” in FIG. Further, when “DVD” is input as the target word and “save” is input as the predicate word and the guide information “S-0004” is specified, the browsing information specifying unit 180 corresponds to the guide information “S-0004”. The “scenario for saving to DVD disc” (dvd of “image_cpy_xml”) is called, and the narrowing process is executed from the question 206 “Which do you use” in FIG.

  Here, indirect link information is used, as described above, a plurality of pieces of browsing information 202 are candidates depending on the combination of inputted target words and predicate words, and one piece of browsing information 202 cannot be specified. In this case, this is to narrow down which browsing information 202 should be browsed by a further question 206.

  For example, in the example of the guidance information “S-0004” described above, it can be grasped that the user 112 desires the browsing information 202 related to saving to the DVD disc, but the browsing information 202 belonging to the user 112 is as shown in FIG. If there are a plurality of items and all the browsing information 202 is presented and the user 112 is individually confirmed, time and effort of the user 112 is spent. Here, the browsing information specifying unit 180 shifts to an appropriate option 204 for presenting one browsing information 202 and efficiently specifies the browsing information 202 by the minimum narrowing process, thereby enabling the user 112 to be early. Desired browsing information 202 can be obtained.

  Further, indirect link information can be linked to any option 204 of the browsing information group 200 later and easily without changing the browsing information group 200 itself that is the link destination. it can. Accordingly, the guide information 230 can be provided innumerably regardless of the number of the options 204 and the browsing information 202 in the browsing information group 200. Therefore, the object group group 208 without increasing the information amount of the browsing information group 200. It becomes possible to increase the information of the predicate group group 218 and the matrix table 228. Further, since all the guide information 230 of the matrix table 228 is linked to the browsing information group 200, it is not necessary to create a separate question 206 or option 204 for each guide information 230, and avoid unnecessary expansion of the data amount. It becomes possible.

  In this way, when the browsing information 202 can be directly derived by the target word and the predicate word, the operation is performed in this way, and when further narrowing is required, from the question 206 and the option 204 of the appropriate hierarchy of the browsing information group 200 The narrowing-down process can be started and browsing information can be specified quickly and reliably.

  When the matrix table 246 shown in FIG. 17 is used, the guide information 230 is indicated by a guide number 248 that is a simple numerical value obtained by adding the object number 212 and the predicate number 222, and the direct link information group 252 shown in FIG. The indirect link information group 254 is represented by one table as shown in FIG. Here, since the next process can be uniquely specified by the guide number 248, the processing load can be reduced.

  When the browsing information specifying unit 180 specifies the browsing information 202, the browsing information specifying unit 180 displays an image representing the specified browsing information 202 on the display unit 142 of the client device 110.

  When the browsing information specifying unit 180 causes the browsing information 202 to be displayed on the display unit 142 of the client apparatus 110 and a process related to the browsing information 202 is completed, the frequency update unit 182 performs the current processing in the object group group 208. The object frequency 216 of the word corresponding to the used object and the predicate frequency 226 of the word corresponding to the predicate used in the current process in the predicate group group 218 are updated (incremented).

  When the guidance information identification unit 178 cannot identify the guidance information 230, that is, the re-input promotion unit 184 does not include the target word in the target group 208 and the predicate exists in the predicate group 218. If not, the display unit 142 of the client device 110 displays an image prompting the user 112 to re-input with another target word and another predicate word.

  The synonym registration unit 186 is a case where the object group identification unit 170 cannot identify the object group 210 or the predicate group identification unit 172 cannot identify the predicate group 220. As described above, the guidance information identification unit 178 However, when the guidance information 230 is specified only by the group of the object group 210 or the predicate group 220 that can be specified, and the browsing information 202 is specified by the browsing information specifying unit 180, the one that can be specified in the matrix table 228 If there is guide information 230 that guides the specified browsing information 202 from one or a plurality of guide information 230 of the group, a group that could not be specified indicating the guide information 230 is extracted, and a synonym of the group As a result, a word that could not be specified is newly registered.

  Specifically, for example, when “photograph” is input as the target word and “copy” is input as the predicate word, the target word “photo” is included in the target word group 208, but the predicate “copy” is At that time, it is not included in the predicate group group 218. Therefore, only the object group 210 or the predicate group 220 that can be identified by the guidance information identification unit 178, here, the object group 210 including the object word “photo” (the group of “representative word: still image”). , The guide information “S-0050” indicating the wild card search is specified, and the browsing information specifying unit 180 specifies the browsing information “Web page of still image capturing method”. That is, it is assumed that the predicate “copy” is not included in any predicate group 220, but the browsing information 202 is specified only from the target word “photo”.

  Here, the synonym registration unit 186 includes one or a plurality of guidance information 230 (in FIG. 8) of the group that can be specified in the matrix table 228, here, the object word group 210 (the group of “representative word: still image”). 256)), it is determined whether or not there is guidance information 230 for guiding the specified browsing information “Web page for still image capturing method”, particularly direct link information. Here, since the guidance information “L-0001” that is direct link information is equal to the browsing information “Web page of still image shooting method” specified by the guidance information specifying unit 178, the synonym registration unit 186 displays the guidance information “L-0001”. The group that could not be identified indicating the information “L-0001”, here, the predicate group “representative word: photographing” is extracted, and “copy”, which is the unidentified predicate, is registered as a synonym of the group. To do.

  As another means for registering the predicate word that could not be specified, the synonym registration unit 186 uses the group that can be specified in the matrix table 228, here the object group 210 (the group of “representative words: still images”). One or a plurality of groups that could not be identified, showing all the guidance information 230, in the example of FIG. 8, the predicate groups “representative word: photographing”, “representative word: reproduction”, and “representative word: search” are extracted. Then, a video prompting selection of the extracted predicate group is displayed on the display unit 142 of the client device 110. The synonym registration unit 186 then selects a predicate that could not be specified as a synonym of the predicate group 220 selected by the user 112 through the selection input through the operation unit 140 of the client device 110, for example, the predicate group “representative word: photographing”. Register "Copy". At this time, if the user 112 determines that the corresponding predicate group 220 does not exist, registration of the predicate that could not be specified is not executed.

  In this way, the synonym registration unit 186 registers words for which the object group 210 or the predicate group 220 could not be specified as synonyms of groups having the same part of speech. Therefore, even if one of the object group 210 or the predicate group 220 cannot be specified, the browsing information 202 is provided to the user 112 using the wild card search by the guide information specifying unit 178, and the word that cannot be specified is appropriately selected. It becomes possible to register to a group. In this way, when the same word is input next time, a group can be specified without using a wild card search, and the browsing information 202 can be acquired in a short processing load and in a short time.

  In addition, since a new word is registered in the group, the registered word is not limited to the guide information 230 specified by the guide information specifying unit 178, but is multiplied in the matrix table 228 with the object word group 210 or the predicate group 220. The influence is exerted on all of the plurality of combinations, and the search object can be expanded.

  However, since such registration affects the next search, registration should not be performed such that unintended browsing information 202 is extracted. Therefore, the synonym registration unit 186 limits registration according to one or more predetermined conditions among the following three conditions, and registers only words that satisfy the conditions.

  (1) The synonym registration unit 186 registers a word that cannot be specified when some kanji in the word that cannot be specified are equal to some kanji of any of the synonyms in the extracted group. . For example, when “imaging” is input as a predicate, the kanji “Shoot” in the synonym “Shoot” in the extracted predicate group 220 is equal to the kanji “Shoot” of the predicate “Imaging”. “Imaging” is registered in the predicate group 220 including the synonym “imaging”.

  (2) The synonym registration unit 186 further replaces a word that could not be identified among the target word and the predicate word with an arbitrary word in the extracted group, and causes the display unit 142 to display the word. In response to the approval input of the user 112 (input indicating approval), the word that could not be specified is registered. For example, in the above-described example, the user 112 inputs “photograph” as “photograph”, but replaces the predicate word “photograph” that could not be identified with the representative word “photograph” of the extracted predicate group 220. Then, an image representing a sentence “photographing” is displayed on the display unit 142 of the client apparatus 110, and an inquiry is made as to whether or not the sentence “photographing a photograph” is a sentence desired by the user 112, When there is an approval input from the user 112 through the operation unit 140 of the client device 110, the synonym registration unit 186 registers the predicate “copy” in the predicate group 220 whose representative word is “photographing”.

  Here, an arbitrary word to be replaced is a representative word of each group. The representative word may be a predetermined word in the object group 210 or the predicate group 220, or a word having the maximum object frequency 216 or predicate frequency 226 may be used as the representative word each time.

  (3) The synonym registration unit 186 further accumulates the words that could not be specified as registration candidates as the synonyms of the extracted group, and the cumulative number of words that could not be specified for one group was determined in advance. If the number is exceeded, the words that could not be identified are registered. For example, when the above-mentioned predicate “copy” is used in the search many times, the number of times used for the search is accumulated, and when the cumulative number exceeds 20 times, for example, the predicate “copy” Registered in the predicate group 220. Further, the cumulative number is retained as the predicate frequency 226 as it is.

  As described above, in the information browsing system 100 of the present embodiment, a plurality of pieces of browsing information prepared in advance by specifying a sentence (target word and predicate word) desired by the user based on an intuitive keyword with a small number of characters. Thus, it is possible to efficiently specify appropriate browsing information desired by the user.

  In addition, even when only one or a part of an object and a predicate can be conceived as a keyword, a predicate for the object or a predicate can be obtained through the accumulated object group group 208 and predicate group group 218. Since the complete word for the object and further a part of the word is complemented and candidates for combinations of the object and the predicate are displayed, a desired sentence can be easily specified. At this time, since the combinations of the object and the predicate extracted as candidates are extracted only as combinations previously set as the guide information 230 in the matrix table 228, the user 112 passes the candidate selection box 242 through the candidate selection box 242. The browsing information 202 can be reliably referred to only by selecting a combination of the first candidate word and the second candidate word.

  Hereinafter, the flow of information browsing processing between the client device 110 and the server device 120 in the information browsing system 100 will be briefly described.

(Flow of information browsing process by client device 110 and server device 120)
FIG. 20 is a sequence diagram showing the overall flow of the information browsing method. Here, it is assumed that the user tries to obtain the browsing information 202 regarding writing of the DVD, but does not know the detailed object. Further, it is assumed that the client device 110 uses the online manual of the server device 120 through a Web browser.

  When the user 112 attempts to access the Web site of the server device 120 by operating the client device 110, the client transmission control unit 150 of the client device 110 makes a request for obtaining browsing information to the server device 120 (S260). In response to the information acquisition request, the server transmission control unit 168 of the server device 120 transmits the input screen 232 illustrated in FIG. 11A as a Web page to the client device 110 (S262), and the client device 110 performs input. The screen 232 is displayed on the display unit 142 (S264).

  When the user 112 inputs the character string “D”, which is a part of “DVD writer”, into the text box 240 of the input screen 232 through the operation unit 140 of the client device 110 (S266), the client transmission control unit 150 The input character string is transmitted to the server device 120 (S268), and the first candidate word extraction unit 174 of the server device 120 is a word including the character string “D” or a word having a synonym relationship with the word, One or a plurality of first candidate words (for example, the object words “DVD recorder”, “DVD”, “DVD writer”) corresponding to the word or predicate are extracted (S270), and further, the first candidate word extraction unit 174 Each of the extracted one or more first candidate words and one or more second candidate words (for example, predicate “save”, “transfer” ") Is extracted (S272). The server transmission control unit 168 transmits one or more combinations of the first candidate word and the second candidate to the client device 110 (S274).

  In the Web page of the client apparatus 110, as shown in FIG. 11B, a candidate selection box 242 is displayed on the input screen 232, and there are a plurality of combinations “DVD” of the first candidate word and the second candidate word “DVD”. “Recorder save”, “DVD recorder transfer”, “DVD save”, “DVD transfer”, “DVD writer save”, and “DVD writer transfer” are included (S276). At this time, the combination of the first candidate word and the second candidate word is displayed with different display modes. When the user wants to further narrow down the keyword, the user adds a character string (S278).

  A combination of the first candidate word and the second candidate word in the candidate selection boxes 242 to 1, for example, the predicate “DVD writer” indicated by hatching in FIG. When “Save” is selected (S280), the client transmission control unit 150 transmits the combination of the selected first candidate word and second candidate word to the server device 120 (S282), and the guidance information specifying unit of the server device 120 Reference numeral 178 denotes a target word group 210 whose representative word is a word corresponding to an object of the first candidate word and the second candidate word, and a word corresponding to a predicate of the first candidate word and the second candidate word The guide information 230 is specified using the matrix table 228 on the basis of the predicate group 220 having the representative word (S2). 4).

  At this time, if either one of the object group 210 or the predicate group 220 is not specified, the guide information specifying unit 178 is based on only the group that can be specified from the object group 210 or the predicate group 220. The guide information 230 is specified using the wild card search.

  Subsequently, the browsing information specifying unit 180 specifies the browsing information 202 based on the specified guide information 230 (S286). At this time, if the specified guidance information 230 is direct link information such as “L-0005” specified from the target word “video” and the predicate “replay”, the browsing information 202 can be directly specified. For example, if the link information is indirect link information such as “S-0006” specified from the target word “DVD writer” and the predicate word “save”, the browsing information specifying unit 180 shifts the browsing information group 200 transferred by the indirect link information. 21 and the option 204 form an input screen 232 as shown in FIG. 21, and the server transmission control unit 168 transmits the input screen 232 as a Web page to the client apparatus 110 (S288). The client reception control unit 152 of the client apparatus 110 receives the input screen 232 and causes the display unit 142 to display the input screen 232 (S290), and the user 112 selects an option check box 258 corresponding to the option 204 from the input screen 232 through the operation unit 140. The client transmission control unit 150 of the client device 110 transmits the answer of the option 204 corresponding to the selected option check box 258 to the server device 120 (S292). For convenience of explanation, it is assumed that the browsing information specifying unit 180 specifies indirect link information such as “S-0003” (calling a video storage scenario) from the target word “video” and the predicate “storage”. . When the user 112 selects the option 204 “optical disk” for “Which media should be stored” corresponding to the question 206 on the input screen 232 in FIG. 21, the server apparatus 120 uses the “optical disk” in the XML file. In the input screen 232 of the client apparatus 110, “DVD or Blu-ray, which disc?” Corresponding to the question 206 and “DVD” and “BD” corresponding to the option 204 are displayed on the input screen 232. Let Similarly, when the option 204 “DVD” is selected by the user, the server device 120 displays “which one to use” corresponding to the question 206, and when the option 204 “DVD writer” is selected, The device 120 displays the question 206 "How do you do it?" By repeating such exchanges between the server device 120 and the client device 110, it is possible to finally specify one piece of browsing information 202.

  The server transmission control unit 168 of the server device 120 transmits the specified browsing information 202 to the client device 110 (S294), and the client reception control unit 152 of the client device 110 receives the browsing information 202 and displays it on the display unit 142. It is displayed (S296). In this way, the user 112 can browse the desired browsing information 202.

  The frequency update unit 182 of the server device 120 causes the client reception control unit 152 to display the browsing information 202 on the display unit 142, and when a series of processing related to the browsing information 202 is completed, the frequency update unit 182 performs the current processing in the object group group 208. The word object frequency 216 corresponding to the used object and the word predicate frequency 226 corresponding to the predicate used in the current process in the predicate group group 218 are updated (incremented) (S298).

  When the guide information specifying unit 178 specifies the guide information 230 using wild card search, the synonym registration unit 186 browses the one or more guide information 230 of the group that can be specified in the matrix table 228. If there is guide information 230 that guides the browsing information 202 specified by the information specifying unit 180, the group that cannot be specified indicating the guide information 230 is extracted, and the word that cannot be specified is registered as a synonym of the group. (S300).

  Based on an intuitive keyword with a small number of characters even by such an information browsing method, a user's desired sentence (target word and predicate word) is specified, and appropriate browsing information desired by the user from a plurality of browsing information prepared in advance. Can be efficiently identified.

  Here, since the client device 110 and the server device 120 exchange information through the communication network 102, a large number of samples can be acquired as new words by the synonym registration unit 186, and various variations can be formed. Therefore, even if the service provider side does not mainly accumulate data, the synonyms in the group automatically increase due to a large number of samples by a plurality of users 112, and the target words and predicate words become the target word group 210 and the predicate group 220. The probability that it exists in the inside increases, and the user 112 can browse the browsing information 202 more efficiently.

  In addition, even when only one or a part of an object and a predicate can be conceived as a keyword, a predicate for the object or a predicate can be obtained through the accumulated object group group 208 and predicate group group 218. Since the complete word for the object and further a part of the word is complemented and candidates for combinations of the object and the predicate are displayed, a desired sentence can be easily specified. At this time, since the combinations of the object and the predicate extracted as candidates are extracted only as combinations previously set as the guide information 230 in the matrix table 228, the number does not become enormous, and the user 112 can select the combination of the narrowed first candidate word and the second candidate word through the candidate selection box 242, and can reliably refer to the browsing information 202.

  In the above-described embodiment, the information browsing system 100 that provides the service of the present embodiment via the communication network 102 has been described. However, the client device 110 includes the object group specifying unit 170, the predicate group specifying unit 172, the first A candidate word extraction unit 174, a second candidate word extraction unit 176, a guidance information specification unit 178, a browsing information specification unit 180, a frequency update unit 182, a re-input promotion unit 184, and a synonym registration unit 186, a browsing information group 200, a purpose The word group group 208, the predicate group group 218, and the matrix table 228 are downloaded from the server apparatus 120 through the client communication unit 146, or installed from an arbitrary storage medium and used, and this embodiment is realized in a stand-alone manner. You can also.

  Further, a program that causes a computer to function as the client device 110 or the server device 120, or a computer-readable storage medium such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, an EPROM, an EEPROM, a CD, a DVD, or a BD that records the program. Is also provided. Here, the program refers to data processing means described in an arbitrary language or description method.

  As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment of this invention was described referring an accompanying drawing, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not limited to this embodiment. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the claims, and these are naturally within the technical scope of the present invention. Understood.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, it has been described that only representative words of words including the character string input in the candidate selection box 242 are displayed. However, in the category allowed by the information browsing system 100, not only the representative words, Combinations of the first candidate word and the second candidate word can be displayed for all the words included in the group.

  Note that each step in the browsing information editing method of the present specification does not necessarily have to be processed in time series in the order described in the flowcharts and sequence diagrams, and may include processing in parallel or by a subroutine.

  The present invention can be used for an information browsing method, an information browsing system, a server device, and a client device for browsing information desired by a user.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Information browsing system 110 ... Client apparatus 120 ... Server apparatus 140 ... Operation part 150 ... Client transmission control part 152 ... Client reception control part 166 ... Server reception control part 168 ... Server transmission control part 170 ... Object group identification part 172 ... Predicate group identification unit 174 ... 1st candidate word extraction unit 176 ... 2nd candidate word extraction unit 178 ... Guidance information identification unit 180 ... Browsing information identification unit 182 ... Frequency update unit 184 ... Re-input promotion unit 186 ... Synonym registration unit 200 ... Browsing information group 202 ... Browsing information 204 ... Option 206 ... Question 208 ... Object group group 210 ... Object group 218 ... Predicate group group 220 ... Predicate group 228 ... Matrix table 230 ... Guidance information 232 ... Input screen 240 ... Text box 242 … Candidate selection box

Claims (6)

A client device connected to a server device via a communication network is an information browsing method for browsing browsing information from the server device,
The client device transmits a character string input via the operation unit to the server device,
The server device is a word including the character string or a word having a synonym relation with the word, and extracts one or a plurality of first candidate words corresponding to an object or a predicate, and each of the first candidate words , Extracting a second candidate word that is a relationship between the object and the predicate and associating it with the first candidate word,
The server device transmits one or a plurality of combinations of the first candidate word and the second candidate word to the client device,
The client device displays the one or more combinations of the first candidate word and the second candidate word, and the user selects and inputs from the one or more combinations of the first candidate word and the second candidate word. A combination of the first candidate word and the second candidate word selected in accordance with is sent to the server device;
The server device specifies the browsing information based on the selected combination of the first candidate word and the second candidate word, and the information browsing method.   For the combination of the one or more first candidate words and second candidate words received from the server device, the client device positions a word corresponding to a predicate on the right side of the display unit from a word corresponding to an object. The information browsing method according to claim 1, wherein:   The server device includes a matrix table composed of a plurality of object groups in which words corresponding to objects having a synonym relationship are grouped and a plurality of predicate groups in which words corresponding to predicates having a synonym relationship are grouped. The guide information is uniquely identified based on the object group and the predicate group indicated by the combination of the first candidate word and the second candidate word, and the browsing information group is used. 3. The information browsing method according to claim 1, wherein browsing information is specified based on the information. An information browsing system in which a client device browses browsing information through a server device,
The client device is
A character string input via the operation unit is transmitted to the server device, and selected from one or a plurality of combinations of the first candidate word and the second candidate word received from the server device according to the selection input of the user A client transmission control unit configured to transmit a combination of the first candidate word and the second candidate word to the server device;
A display unit that displays a combination of the one or more first candidate words and second candidate words received from the server device;
With
The server device
A first candidate word extracting unit that extracts one or a plurality of first candidate words corresponding to an object or a predicate, which is a word including the character string or a word having a synonym relation with the word;
A second candidate word extraction unit that extracts each of the one or more first candidate words and a second candidate word that has a relationship between an object and a predicate, and associates the second candidate word with the first candidate word;
A server transmission control unit that transmits one or more combinations of the first candidate word and the second candidate word to the client device;
A browsing information specifying unit that specifies the browsing information based on the selected combination of the first candidate word and the second candidate word;
An information browsing system comprising: A first candidate word extraction unit that extracts one or a plurality of first candidate words corresponding to an object or a predicate, which is a word including a character string received from a client device or a word having a synonym relation with the word;
A second candidate word extraction unit that extracts each of the one or more first candidate words and a second candidate word that has a relationship between an object and a predicate, and associates the second candidate word with the first candidate word;
A server transmission control unit that transmits one or more combinations of the first candidate word and the second candidate word to the client device;
The browsing information is identified based on the combination of the first candidate word and the second candidate word, which is selected in accordance with the user's selection input from the one or more combinations of the first candidate word and the second candidate word. A browsing information identification unit to
A server device comprising: A first candidate word extraction unit that extracts one or a plurality of first candidate words corresponding to an object or a predicate, which is a word including a character string input via the operation unit or a word having a synonym relation with the word; ,
A second candidate word extraction unit that extracts each of the one or more first candidate words and a second candidate word that has a relationship between an object and a predicate, and associates the second candidate word with the first candidate word;
One or more display units for displaying a combination of the first candidate word and the second candidate word;
The browsing information is specified based on the combination of the first candidate word and the second candidate word, which is selected in accordance with the user's selection input from the one or more combinations of the first candidate word and the second candidate word. A browsing information identification unit to
A client device comprising:

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