JP2015219666A - Information search apparatus, information search program, and information search method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information search apparatus and the like for searching information having a hierarchical structure, which can search information managed in association with the hierarchical structure by switches or sensors smaller in number than a conventional general system.SOLUTION: When operation of a switch or a sensor showing any of two opposite directions is detected, information being selected is switched to adjacent information in the same hierarchy. When the state in which operation of the switch or the sensor is not detected continues for a prescribed time, the information being selected is automatically switched to information associated with a lower hierarchy. When operation showing a direction in which there is no adjacent information is detected in the state that information at one of both ends in the same hierarchy is selected, the information being selected is switched to information in a higher hierarchy with which the information is associated.

Description

  The present invention relates to an information search apparatus, an information search program, and an information search method for searching for information having a hierarchical structure.

  Most of large-scale information is managed as information having a hierarchical structure (for example, see Non-Patent Document 1). Huge information such as address information is often managed with a hierarchy of prefectures, cities, towns, etc., and computer files are managed by classifying folders into folders according to their contents. It is normal. In this way, a large amount of information is often managed by being classified into hierarchies, and search and browsing can be performed while following the hierarchical structure.

  A file on a computer is information having a large hierarchical structure, and various systems for searching for a file using the hierarchical structure are used on a daily basis. For example, if there is a folder for each prefecture, and there is a city folder in each folder, to search for city information, first open the folder for the prefecture, then select the city folder in that folder. The method of searching and browsing by stepping up the hierarchy step by step is widely used.

  For example, select “Hokkaido” from the list of prefectures shown in FIG. 1 to display a list as shown in FIG. 2, select “A” from the list, and display a list as shown in FIG. By repeating the display operation, the place name “Rikubetsu-cho, Ashoro-gun, Hokkaido” can be searched. 1 to 3, the information of the lower hierarchy is displayed on the right side of the upper hierarchy. However, as shown in FIG. 4, there is a method of expressing information having a hierarchical structure by shifting the line head position for each hierarchy. It's being used.

  When tracing information with a hierarchical structure using the method described above, a personal computer that can use a graphical interface system such as a window or menu selects information directly using a pointing device such as a mouse or touch panel or a keyboard. However, in an environment in which a pointing device or a keyboard cannot be used, a method of tracing information having a hierarchical structure using a switch such as a small keyboard with a small number of keys, a special sensor, or the like is widely used. For example, by using the up, down, left, and right arrow keys, selecting information on the same level with the up and down arrow keys, and instructing movement between different levels with the left and right arrow keys, search and browsing as described above can be performed. Can be done. A rotary dial can be used instead of the up and down arrow keys, and various sensors can be used.

  When searching for information having a hierarchical structure, if a large amount of information is associated with a lower layer of one information, all information in the lower layer of the information cannot be displayed on the same screen. In some cases, it is required to scroll and display information in the same hierarchy. In order to reduce the trouble of scrolling operations, when a certain amount of time has passed since selection of information at a higher level displayed on one divided screen, it is displayed on another divided screen. Further, an invention has been disclosed in which information associated with a lower hierarchy of the information is automatically scrolled and displayed (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2007-310985 A

Glossary of “tree structure (hierarchical structure)”, web dictionary / IT glossary binary, [search April 12, 2014], Internet <http://www.weblio.jp/content/hierarchical structure>

  In order to search and browse information having a hierarchical structure by the above-described method, there are at least two operations for selecting information in the same hierarchy in order to move the arranged information in both directions. The operation for moving between different levels requires at least two switches or sensors in total to move to higher and lower levels. However, when the number of such switches and sensors increases, the operability deteriorates. In particular, when a device to be operated is small, such as a mobile phone or a remote controller of an electronic device, The need to reduce the number increases.

  According to the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1, although there is an effect that the information in the lower hierarchy is automatically switched to a state that can be easily browsed without performing an operation for moving between the hierarchies. Since a predetermined operation is separately required to move to a hierarchy (paragraphs 0011, 0013, etc. of Patent Document 1), the number of switches or sensors required to move between different hierarchies cannot be reduced. Conceivable.

  The present invention has been made to cope with such problems, and it is possible to search information managed in association with a hierarchical structure by using a smaller number of switches or sensors than a conventional general method. Another object of the present invention is to provide an information search apparatus, an information search program, and an information search method for searching for information having a hierarchical structure.

  The present invention that solves such a problem is an information search device for searching for information having a hierarchical structure, and information to be searched is managed in association with the hierarchical structure, and is in one of two opposite directions. A detection means for detecting that an operation in one direction has been performed from a switch or a sensor for performing an operation indicating the operation, and the detection means detects an operation in one direction with one information selected. Then, when there is other information adjacent in the one direction on the same layer as the one information, the first switching means for switching the selected information from the one information to the other information, If the information is selected and the state in which the detection means does not detect an operation continues for a predetermined time, if information belonging to a lower hierarchy is associated with the one information, the information being selected is Other information belonging to the hierarchy A second switching means for changing Ri is information retrieval apparatus comprising: a.

  According to the present invention configured as described above, a switch or sensor capable of performing operations indicating two opposite directions is used for movement between pieces of information on the same layer, while an operation of the switch or sensor is required. Therefore, it is possible to search for information managed in association with a hierarchical structure by using a smaller number of switches or sensors than in the conventional general method because movement to a lower hierarchy is realized with the passage of a predetermined time as a trigger. Is possible.

  In addition, the shape and structure of the “switch” in the present invention are not particularly limited, and by assigning two predetermined keys on the keyboard in addition to dedicated switches respectively associated with two directions, It is also possible to use a key that functions as a switch for use in an operation indicating two directions. Similarly, the “sensor” may be any one that can identify two operations by the user, and the shape and structure thereof are not particularly limited.

  Further, according to the present invention, when any information at both ends of the same hierarchy is selected and the detection unit detects an operation in a direction in which no adjacent information exists, an upper hierarchy of the hierarchy exists. In this case, it is possible to provide third switching means for switching the selected information to other information belonging to the upper hierarchy. The third switching means, as other information belonging to the upper layer for switching the selected information, information in the upper layer associated with information in the same layer, or information in the same layer It is also possible to select one of the information adjacent to the information in the higher hierarchy associated with the information in the direction in which the detection means detects the operation.

  With this configuration, movement to an upper layer is also realized by operation of a switch or sensor used for movement between information in the same layer, so that not only movement to a lower layer but also movement to an upper layer Operation is also possible with a smaller number of switches or sensors than the conventional general scheme. Furthermore, since the information at both ends of the hierarchy is selected, the user moves to a higher hierarchy by an operation in the direction where there is no information adjacent to the same hierarchy, so the user is less aware of moving to the upper hierarchy. It is also possible to perform a search as if moving information arranged in a line.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that the second switching means selects any information at both ends of the lower hierarchy as other information belonging to the lower hierarchy for switching the information being selected. You can also.

  In this way, when moving to the lower hierarchy, if the configuration is such that the information is moved to the information at both ends of the hierarchy, the user moves the information arranged in a line without being aware of the movement to the lower hierarchy. Search with sense is possible.

  The present invention further comprises output means for arranging and outputting information included in a hierarchy to which the selected information belongs to a display device in a state in which the selected information is specified, and the output means includes the When the second switching means switches the information being selected to other information belonging to the lower hierarchy, the information included in the sorted lower hierarchy is replaced with the one information selected before the switching and the one information. It may be inserted between any information adjacent to and output to a display device.

  With this configuration, information in the lower hierarchy is displayed in a form inserted between two pieces of information in the upper hierarchy, so that the user is aligned in a line without much awareness of the hierarchical structure. The search can be performed as if necessary information is selected from the information.

  The present invention can also be specified as an information search program that operates in the information search apparatus according to the present invention.

  An information search program according to the present invention is an information search program for searching for information having a hierarchical structure, and has two opposite directions to an information search apparatus that manages information to be searched in association with the hierarchical structure. A detection process for detecting that an operation in one direction has been performed from a switch or a sensor for performing any operation, and an operation in one direction by the detection process with one information selected. When there is other information adjacent in the one direction on the same layer as the one information, a first switching process for switching the information being selected from the one information to the other information, When a state where one information is selected and an operation by the detection process is not detected continues for a predetermined time, if information belonging to a lower layer is associated with the one information, the information being selected is displayed. Is information retrieval program, characterized in that to execute a second switching process for switching to other information pertaining to serial lower layer, the.

  The information search program according to the present invention can be specified as an information search program corresponding to each configuration of the information search apparatus according to the present invention.

  The present invention can also be specified as an information search method executed by the information search apparatus according to the present invention.

  An information search method according to the present invention is an information search method for searching for information having a hierarchical structure, and an information search device that manages information to be searched in association with a hierarchical structure in two opposite directions. A detection process for detecting that an operation in one direction has been performed from a switch or a sensor for performing any operation, and the information search apparatus performs the detection process with one information selected. When an operation in one direction is detected, if there is other information adjacent to the one direction in the same hierarchy as the one information, the selected information is switched from the one information to the other information. When the first switching process and the information search apparatus continue for a predetermined time in a state where one information is selected and no operation by the detection process is detected, information belonging to a lower hierarchy is included in the one information. Associated When on, the information retrieval method characterized by comprising a second switching process for switching the information of the selected other information belonging to the lower layer, the.

  The information search method according to the present invention can also be specified as an information search method corresponding to each configuration of the information search device according to the present invention.

  According to the present invention, it becomes possible to efficiently search information managed in association with a hierarchical structure by using a smaller number of switches or sensors than a conventional general method, and operation of an electronic device such as a personal computer. Can be expected to improve significantly.

It is a figure which shows the 1st example by which a part of place name list managed in association with the hierarchical structure was displayed. It is a figure which shows the 2nd example in which a part of place name list managed in association with the hierarchical structure is displayed. It is a figure which shows the 3rd example by which a part of place name list managed in association with the hierarchical structure is displayed. It is a figure which shows the 4th example by which a part of place name list managed in association with the hierarchical structure was displayed. It is a figure which shows an example of the system configuration | structure for implementing the information search device concerning this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the processing flow of the information search program concerning this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the information managed in association with a hierarchical structure. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a first example in which part of information having the hierarchical structure illustrated in FIG. 7 is displayed on a display device. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a second example in which part of information having the hierarchical structure illustrated in FIG. 7 is displayed on a display device. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a third example in which part of information having the hierarchical structure illustrated in FIG. 7 is displayed on a display device. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a fourth example in which part of information having the hierarchical structure illustrated in FIG. 7 is displayed on a display device. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a fifth example in which part of information having the hierarchical structure illustrated in FIG. 7 is displayed on a display device. It is a figure which shows the 6th example by which some information which has the hierarchical structure illustrated in FIG. 7 was displayed on the display apparatus. It is a figure which shows the 7th example by which some information which has the hierarchical structure illustrated in FIG. 7 was displayed on the display apparatus. It is a figure which shows the 8th example by which some information which has the hierarchical structure illustrated in FIG. 7 was displayed on the display apparatus.

  Embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. The following description shows an example of the embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the embodiment shown here.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of a system configuration for implementing the information search apparatus according to the present invention. This example corresponds to a case where the present invention is applied to a search function of a personal computer used in a stand-alone manner. However, the present invention also includes a server and a network terminal connected via a network. The present invention can also be applied to a combination, a remote controller of an electronic device such as a television, a mobile phone, a portable music player, or the like.

  Although information to be searched is displayed on the display device 1, a display of a personal computer can be used. The storage device 2 is used as a hierarchical information database, and information to be searched is stored in association with a hierarchical structure. The information processing device 3 receives a command input from an input device such as the U key 5 or the D key 6, performs a calculation process such as searching for information stored in the storage device 2, and displays the calculation result on the display device 1. It is a computer with the function to output to. The timer 4 is used for measuring a predetermined time in the arithmetic processing in the information processing apparatus 3, but the physical configuration is not particularly limited, and is provided as, for example, a partial function of a computer constituting the information processing apparatus 3. What should be done. The U key 5 and the D key 6 send a predetermined signal to the information processing apparatus 3 by a user operation. For example, a dedicated key may be provided for each, or a predetermined key on a computer keyboard may be assigned. It is good.

  When executing the search process in the information processing device 3, the information search program according to the present invention is read into the main memory provided in the information processing device 3, the information to be searched is called from the storage device 2, and the CPU By performing arithmetic processing, processing based on the processing flow illustrated in the flowchart of FIG. 6 is executed. The switching instruction of the information to be selected is detected by an operation of the user pressing the U key 5 or D key 6, and the elapse of time that triggers movement to a lower layer is measured by the timer 4. The calculation result in the information processing device 3 is output to the display device 1.

  In such a system configuration, if the present invention is applied to a combination of a server and a network terminal, a storage device 2 used as a hierarchical information database, a search processing function in the information processing device 3, and a timer 4 are provided on the server side. The command detected by the network terminal by the operation of the U key 5 or the D key 6 is transmitted to the server, the calculation processing result at the server is received by the network terminal, and is output to the display device 1.

  In the case of application to a remote controller of an electronic device such as a television, the storage device 2, the information processing device 3, and the timer 4 are all incorporated in the remote controller, and the display device 1, the U key 5, and the D key 6 are provided. The display may be provided on the surface of the remote controller, but the display device 1 may be a display such as a television.

  Based on the above system configuration, the processing flow of the information search program according to the present invention will be described below according to the flowchart of FIG. In addition, as a specific example of information displayed by the search process, an example in which the information related to the store list shown in FIG. 7 is displayed as shown in FIGS.

  When the information search program according to the present invention is started in the information processing apparatus 3, information on the highest hierarchy among the information associated with the hierarchical structure to be searched is arranged as a default screen on the display apparatus 1. (S1).

  For example, if the store list information shown in FIG. 7 is stored in the storage device 2 in association with the hierarchical structure as a search target, the screen shown in FIG. Is output. In FIG. 8, among the information displayed here, “stationery store” is colored and selected, but what information is displayed as the selected information on the default screen is particularly limited. For example, information at a predetermined position such as information at the top of the arranged information may be displayed as being selected, or selected last when the previous search is finished. It may be displayed that the selected information is being selected.

  Next, a standby state is entered until an operation for switching the selected information, such as by pressing the U key 5 or D key 6, is accepted, and when the operation is performed, the processing after S6 in the flowchart is performed. If there is no operation, i.e., a state in which no operation is accepted continues for a predetermined time, the processes after S3 in the flowchart are executed (S2).

  The determination of the continuation of the predetermined time in S2 is made by measuring the elapsed time from the previous operation or the like with the timer 4. There is no particular limitation on the starting point of the continuation of the predetermined time, but for example, the previous key operation time of the user may be adopted as the starting point.

  When an operation of pressing the U key 5 or the D key 6 is detected, the selected information is the information at the end of the same hierarchy, and there is no information adjacent in the direction indicated by the pressed key. If this is not the case (S6), the selected information is switched to information adjacent in the direction indicated by the pressed key (S9).

  For example, when it is detected that the “stationery store” is selected as shown in FIG. 8 and the D key 6 indicating the lower direction is pressed, the “medicine” is selected as shown in FIG. When it is detected that the D information 6 has been pressed continuously, the selected information is switched to the state in which “grocery store” is selected as shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, when it is detected that the U key 5 indicating the upper direction is pressed from the state where “grocery store” is selected as shown in FIG. 10, the state where “medicine” is selected as shown in FIG. When it is detected that the currently selected information is switched and the U key 5 is further pressed, the selected information is switched to the state where “stationery store” is selected as shown in FIG.

  Note that the keys used for switching the information being selected in the same hierarchy are described here as the U key 5 for switching to information adjacent in the upward direction and the D key 6 for switching to information adjacent in the downward direction. However, these are not particularly limited as long as an operation indicating either one of the two opposite directions can be detected. For example, the opposing directions may be the left and right directions instead of the up and down directions. It is possible to determine which direction is indicated by detecting the pressing of a switch such as a predetermined key, or to indicate any direction by detecting the position where the rotary dial or the like is pressed by a sensor. It is good also as judging operation.

  After executing the process of switching the selected information to the adjacent information in the same hierarchy, until the search process by the information search program according to the present invention is completed (S5), the system waits for the next operation (S2). Will return.

  On the other hand, when a certain information is being selected and a state in which the operation of pressing the U key 5 or D key 6 is not detected continues for a predetermined time, information in a lower hierarchy is associated with the selected information. (S3) The selected information is switched to information associated with the next lower hierarchy (S4). Here, which information associated with the lower layer is selected is not particularly limited, but information at the extreme end in the direction opposite to the direction in which the key operation is performed, for example, indicates the downward direction. When the D key 6 is pressed, if the information at the uppermost position is selected in a state where the information on the lower layer is arranged, the user can be notified even if the selected information is switched to the lower layer. Since the switching is performed while giving the feeling of moving the information arranged in a line, this is a preferable form.

  For example, when “grocery store” is selected as shown in FIG. 10 and a state in which an operation of pressing the U key 5 or D key 6 is not detected continues for a predetermined time, as shown in FIG. Since other information is associated with the lower hierarchy of the “store”, the information is displayed as shown in FIG. 11, and the selected information is switched to the state where one of the “sake shops” is selected. . As shown in this figure, the information associated with the lower hierarchy is inserted between the selected “grocery store” and the “clothing store” adjacent in the direction indicated by the D key 6, and the D key is included. If the “Liquor store” at the extreme end in the direction opposite to the direction shown in FIG. 6 is automatically selected, the user can search as if moving the information arranged in a line. Is possible and suitable.

  In a state where certain information is being selected, even if a state in which the operation of pressing the U key 5 or D key 6 is not detected continues for a predetermined time, information in the lower layer is not associated with the selected information. In (S3), the selected information is not switched, and until the search processing by the information search program according to the present invention is completed (S5), the process returns to the state of waiting for the next operation (S2). .

  For example, as shown in FIG. 7, even if the state where the operation of pressing the U key 5 or D key 6 is not detected continues for a predetermined time in a state where “medicine” is selected as shown in FIG. Since no other information is associated with the lower hierarchy of “”, the state where “medicine” is selected continues as it is.

  When an operation of pressing the U key 5 or the D key 6 is detected and the selected information is the information at the end of the same hierarchy, and there is no information adjacent in the direction indicated by the pressed key (S6) ), If the information of the upper layer is associated with the selected information (S7), the selected information is switched to one of the information of the upper layer (S8). There is no particular limitation on which information in the upper hierarchy is selected, but information in the upper hierarchy associated with information in the same hierarchy or information in the same hierarchy is associated. It is preferable to select any information adjacent in the direction indicated by the pressed key with respect to the information in the upper layer.

  For example, when an operation of pressing the U key 5 is detected from the state where “Sakeya” at the top of the same hierarchy is selected as shown in FIG. 11, it is associated with the hierarchy one level above “Sakeya”. If the selected information is switched to the “grocery store”, the switching is performed while giving the user a sense of moving the information arranged in a line.

  Alternatively, in FIG. 11, information such as “alcohol store” associated with a lower hierarchy of “grocery store” is inserted between “grocery store” and “clothing store”. If the switching to the selection is performed by detecting an operation of pressing the U key 5 not from the “medicine store” adjacent in the upward direction but from the “clothing store” adjacent in the downward direction, It is also possible to insert information such as “Liquor store” between “Grocery store” and “Powder store” adjacent to the upper direction, and press U key 5 while “Liquor store” is selected on the assumption If the operation to be performed is detected, the user is more likely to switch the selected information to the “pharmaceutical store” that is adjacent to the “food store” that is adjacent to the “grocery store” that is associated with the hierarchy one level higher than the “alcohol store” Gives the feeling of moving the information arranged in a row It becomes desirable to the eye.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 11, when the operation of pressing the D key 6 is detected twice in succession from the state where “alcohol” is being selected, the information being selected is “dry food store”, “fresh food store”. To the state shown in FIG. If an operation of further pressing the D key 6 is detected from this state, it is not a “grocery store” associated with a hierarchy one level higher than the “fresh food store”, but a “clothing item” adjacent to the lower direction. It is preferable to switch the currently selected information to “shop” in order to give the user a sense of moving the information arranged in a line.

  In this way, when the selected information is switched to the “clothing store”, the information of the hierarchy to which the “fresh food store” belongs may be displayed continuously, but the necessary and sufficient information is displayed. In order to keep the state being displayed, as shown in FIG. 13, it is preferable to switch to a screen on which the lower layer is not displayed and output to the display device 1.

  Even if an operation of pressing the U key 5 or the D key 6 is detected, the information being selected is the information at the end of the same hierarchy, and there is no information adjacent in the direction indicated by the pressed key ( S6) When the information of the upper level is not associated with the selected information (S7), for example, an operation of pressing the D key 6 in the state where “clothing store” is selected as shown in FIG. 13 is detected. However, as shown in FIG. 7, it is not possible to move from the “clothing store” to the upper hierarchy (however, the display may be switched to the “shop list” which is also the title), the information being selected Without switching, the process returns to the state of waiting for the next operation (S2) until the search process by the information search program according to the present invention is completed (S5).

  As shown in FIG. 7, when the state where “clothing store” is being selected as shown in FIG. 13 and the operation of pressing the U key 5 or D key 6 is not detected continues for a predetermined time, Since “clothes store” is associated with other information in the lower hierarchy, such information is displayed as shown in FIG. 14, and “shoe store” at the top is selected. (S2 to S4 in FIG. 6).

  Furthermore, in the state where “fresh food store” is being selected as shown in FIG. 12, the state where the operation of pressing the U key 5 or D key 6 is not detected continues for a predetermined time, as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 15, since the “fresh food store” is associated with other information at a lower level, such information is displayed together, and the “fish shop” at the top is displayed. It will be in the selected state (S2-S4 of FIG. 6). In this way, even when displaying a lower hierarchy, it is possible for the user to arrange the newly displayed lower hierarchy information between the information displayed in the previous stage and display it in a line. It is preferable to give a sense of moving the information.

  In the present invention, how the selected information is used is not particularly limited. For example, the selected information may be used for specifying a folder or a file in the file system, or another window may be provided on the display device 1. Detailed information, video, and the like regarding the information selected by opening may be output. If the present invention is applied to a TV or video remote controller, the hierarchical structure as shown in FIGS. 8 to 15 and the program name are output to the TV screen as information being selected. The selected program may be played back. If the case is applied to a portable music player, the display of the main body outputs the album structure and the music title as the hierarchical structure as shown in FIGS. 8 to 15 and the information being selected, and corresponds to the selected music The music to be played may be played and output to a speaker or earphone.

1 Display device 2 Storage device 3 Information processing device 4 Timer 5 U key 6 D key

Claims (11)

An information retrieval apparatus for retrieving information having a hierarchical structure,
Information to be searched is managed in association with the hierarchical structure,
Detecting means for detecting that an operation in one direction is performed from a switch or a sensor that performs an operation indicating one of two opposite directions;
When the detection means detects an operation in one direction with one information selected, if there is other information adjacent to the one direction in the same hierarchy as the one information First switching means for switching the information from the one information to the other information;
When a state where one information is selected and the detection means does not detect an operation continues for a predetermined time, if information belonging to a lower layer is associated with the one information, the information being selected is A second switching means for switching to other information belonging to the lower hierarchy;
An information retrieval apparatus comprising: In a state where any information at both ends of the same hierarchy is selected, when the detection means detects an operation in a direction where there is no adjacent information, if an upper hierarchy of the hierarchy exists, The information search apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a third switching unit that switches information to other information belonging to the upper hierarchy. The third switching means, as other information belonging to the upper layer for switching the selected information, information in the upper layer associated with information in the same layer, or information in the same layer The information search apparatus according to claim 2, wherein information that is adjacent in a direction in which the detection unit detects an operation is selected from the information in the higher hierarchy associated with the information. The second switching means selects any information at both ends of the lower hierarchy as the other information belonging to the lower hierarchy for switching the information being selected. The information search device described in 1. In a state in which the information being selected is clearly indicated, it comprises output means for aligning and outputting the information included in the hierarchy to which the information being selected belongs to a display device,
When the output means switches the information currently selected by the second switching means to other information belonging to the lower hierarchy, the information included in the sorted lower hierarchy is selected before switching. 5. The information search apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information search apparatus is inserted between the information and any information adjacent to the one information and output to a display device. An information retrieval program for retrieving information having a hierarchical structure,
In the information search device that manages the information to be searched in association with the hierarchical structure,
A detection process for detecting that an operation in one direction is performed from a switch or a sensor that performs an operation indicating one of two opposite directions;
When an operation in one direction is detected by the detection process in a state where one information is selected, if there is other information adjacent to the one direction in the same hierarchy as the one information, it is being selected. A first switching process for switching the information from the one information to the other information;
When a state where one information is selected and a state in which an operation by the detection process is not detected continues for a predetermined time, if information belonging to a lower hierarchy is associated with the one information, the information being selected is A second switching process for switching to other information belonging to the lower hierarchy;
An information retrieval program characterized by causing When the information search apparatus detects an operation in a direction in which there is no adjacent information in the state where any information at both ends of the same hierarchy is selected, an upper hierarchy of the hierarchy exists. The information search program according to claim 6, wherein a third switching process for switching selected information to other information belonging to the upper hierarchy is executed. In the third switching process, as the other information belonging to the upper hierarchy for switching the information being selected, the information in the upper hierarchy associated with the information in the same hierarchy, or the information in the same hierarchy The information search program according to claim 7, wherein information that is adjacent in a direction in which an operation is detected by the detection processing is selected as information in the upper hierarchy associated with the information. 9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein, in the second switching process, any information at both ends of the lower hierarchy is selected as other information belonging to the lower hierarchy for switching information being selected. Information retrieval program described in. In the state in which the information being selected is clearly indicated, the information processing apparatus executes an output process for arranging and outputting information included in the hierarchy to which the information being selected belongs to a display device,
In the output process, when the information processing apparatus switches the information currently selected by the second switching process to other information belonging to the lower hierarchy, the information included in the arranged lower hierarchy is changed before switching. The information search program according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the information search program is inserted between the selected information and any information adjacent to the one information, and is output to the display device. . An information search method for searching for information having a hierarchical structure,
An information search apparatus that manages information to be searched in association with a hierarchical structure detects that an operation in one direction has been performed from a switch or sensor that performs an operation indicating one of two opposite directions. Detection process,
When the information search apparatus detects an operation in one direction by the detection process in a state where one information is selected, other information adjacent to the one direction in the same hierarchy as the one information If there is, a first switching process for switching the currently selected information from the one information to the other information;
When the information search apparatus is in a state in which one information is selected and a state in which an operation by the detection process is not detected continues for a predetermined time, when information belonging to a lower hierarchy is associated with the one information, A second switching process for switching selected information to other information belonging to the lower hierarchy;
A method for retrieving information, comprising: