JPS62151922A - Information registration and retrieval device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To output information that an operator wants at a comparatively early stage by sorting information in the order of high frequency irrespective of the order at the time of registration. CONSTITUTION:A frequency order sorting part 17 rearranges registration information specifying information outputted from an information retrieval part 16 in the order of frequency added to said registration information. Whenever retrieval and registration are carried out, a frequency information control part 19 calculates the retrieval frequency regarding each registration information stored in an information memory part 14, and transmits it as frequency information updating information to a frequency information updating part 20. Based on the frequency information updating information transmitted from a frequency information control part 19, said part 20 updates frequency information regarding each registration information stored in the information memory part 14. A frequency information adding part 21 transmits a frequency information initial value to be added when a registration is newly made to an information registration part 13.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information registration and retrieval device for registering and retrieving information such as documents and images.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, large-capacity storage devices such as optical disks have become available at low cost, and devices for registering and searching information such as documents and images are being actively developed. Below, a conventional device for registering and searching a large amount of documents and the technology used therein will be explained.

When document information is registered in a large-capacity storage device such as an optical disk, an identifier that uniquely determines a certain document, such as a document serial number, is stored in pairs with the document and information, and when searching for a document, the document It is widely practiced to specify the above-mentioned identifier added to a document and extract the corresponding document information. However, when the amount of document information increases, the method of specifying an identifier that uniquely determines a document becomes clearly inconvenient. This is because the user must remember a pair of an identifier that uniquely determines a document and document information related thereto.

Therefore, instead of an identifier that uniquely determines a document, a word or phrase indicating the content of the document is stored in correspondence with the document, and when the user specifies the word or phrase, the corresponding word or phrase is stored along with the document. A common method is to extract information.

The above-mentioned words and phrases are called ordinary keywords, and the above-mentioned search method is called ordinary keyword search.

In the case of a keyword search, it is rare that a certain keyword uniquely specifies a certain document, so usually a plurality of pieces of document information are searched using one keyword. Therefore, it is common practice to assign a plurality of keywords to one piece of document information, and to designate a plurality of keywords when searching, thereby reducing the number of related document information. A conventional information registration and retrieval device having these functions is, for example, the photoelectronic file device Panafile 1000 manufactured by Matsushita Densen Co., Ltd., and the above-mentioned functions are described in detail in the instruction manual for the product.

The configuration and operation of the information registration and search device as described above will be explained below. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a conventional information registration and search device. Reference numeral 1 in the figure denotes a registration information input section, which is used to input information such as document information to be registered in an information storage section, which will be described later. - For example, if the document information is in the form of image information, a scanner input device or the like is used as the registration information input section 1. Reference numeral 2 denotes a registration key input section for inputting a registered keyword in the form of a code to be stored in an information storage section to be described later along with the information input from the registration information input section 1.

This may be, for example, a kana keyboard specified in JISC-6233 or a kanji conversion device. Reference numeral 3 denotes an information registration section, which additionally stores the registration information output from the registration information input section 1 and the registration keyword output from the registration key input section 2 as a pair in a storage section. Reference numeral 4 denotes an information storage unit that stores registered information and registered keywords output from the information registration unit 3 as a pair. For example, a magnetic disk device or an optical disk device is used as the information storage unit 4. The information storage section 4 is also referred to by an information search section, which will be described later. Reference numeral 6 denotes a search key input section for inputting a search keyword that should match the registered keyword stored in the information storage section 4 in the form of a code. This may be, for example, a kana keyboard specified in JIS C-6233 or a kana-kanji conversion device. Reference numeral 6 denotes an information search unit that searches the information storage unit 4 for a registered keyword that matches the search keyword output from the search key input unit 5, and if there is a matching registered keyword, retrieves the registered information associated with the registered keyword. Outputs the specified information. As the information specifying the registration information, for example, the start address of the area in the information storage unit 4 where the registration information is stored is used. Here, a plurality of pieces of registration information designation information may be output for one search keyword. On the other hand, if there is no matching registered keyword, the information search unit 6 outputs information to that effect. Reference numeral 7 denotes an information output unit, which retrieves the registration information specified by the registration information designation information outputted by the information search unit 6 from the information storage unit 4, and temporarily stores it or stores it in another state such as visual information. Convert. Further, when the information search section 6 outputs information indicating "no match", it outputs the information that a published keyword matching the search keyword could not be searched in the information storage section 4.

The operation of the conventional information registration and search device configured as described above will be described below.

Registration operation (]) Oopaque inputs information to be registered from the registration information input section 1.

(2) The input information is temporarily stored in an internal buffer A (not shown) of the information registration section 3.

(3) Next, the operator inputs a registered keyword from the registration key input section 2.

(4) The inputted registered keyword is temporarily stored in the internal buffer B (not shown) of the information registration section 3 in the form of a code.

(5) Next, the information registration unit 3 refers to the information storage unit 4 and obtains the start address C of the area where information is to be stored.

Further, the information registration section 3 sequentially transfers the contents of internal buffers A and B to address C and subsequent addresses of the information storage section 4 (end of registration operation).

Search operation (6) The operator inputs a search keyword from the search key input section 6.

(7) The input search keyword is temporarily stored in the internal buffer D (not shown) of the information search unit 6 in the form of a code.

(8) Next, the information search unit 6 checks whether the code information in the registered keyword area associated with each registered information stored in the information storage unit 4 matches the code information in the internal buffer D. . If the code information in the registered keyword area associated with certain registered information matches the code information in the internal buffer D, the address ADH of the storage area of the registered information is sent to the information output unit 7. , is stored in an internal buffer E (not shown) of the information output unit 7.

The above matching determination is made for all registered information in the information storage section 4. If no match is found as a result of performing the above matching check on all the registered information in the information storage section 4, an information number uniquely indicating that fact is sent to the information output section 7. and stores it in the internal buffer E of the information output section 7.

(9) Next, the information output section 7 outputs the internal buffer E (A
DH or No) is read and the next processing is performed.

- When the content of the internal buffer E is ADH, the information output unit 7 extracts the registered information from address ADH onward in the information storage unit 4, converts it into visual information and outputs it, or outputs the registered keyword accompanying the registered information. Take it out and output this.

If a plurality of ADHs are stored in the internal buffer E, the above process is repeated for each ADH.

・If the contents of internal buffer E are NO 91・-.

The information output unit 7 outputs information to the effect that "corresponding information was not retrieved" as visual information.

(End of search operation) In the above search operation, when a plurality of applicable registration information is found in (8), the output order in (9) is the order in which they are normally stored in the information storage unit 4.

A specific example of the operation of the conventional information registration and search device that operates as described above will be described next.

(In Now, let's consider a case where operator X registers materials related to the search device. In response to operator
Perform operation 5).

0η By repeating this series of procedures, a large number of registered information is stored in the information storage unit 4. "Search device" is assigned as a registered keyword to all of this registered information, and furthermore, "patent", "telephone number", "timetable", "seat reservation", "magnetic disk", "microfilm", "electronic" are assigned as the registered keyword. It is assumed that unique registered keywords such as "file" and "optical disc" are assigned.

10 pesos (a) Next, when Operator X is developing a search device using an optical disk, he tries to search for materials related to this device using this device. Here, the "search device" is input by the operation (6).

α - At this time, according to the steps (7) to (9), the information output section 7 displays the registered information with the registered keyword "search device" attached. If there is a plurality of pieces of registered information associated with the registered keyword, only the pieces of information that can be displayed at one time are displayed on the information output section 7. The output order in this case is the order stored in the information storage section 4.

σ→ However, the registered information output in (to) is all the registered information that is accompanied by the registered keyword "search device", and includes patents and telephone numbers in addition to materials related to the optical disc desired by operator X.

timetables, seat reservations, magnetic disks, microfilm,
It also includes matters related to electronic files. Moreover, if the order stored in the information storage unit 4 is the above-mentioned order of registration of the a items, the material regarding the optical disk will be outputted last among these materials.11A-7.

α frame In order to exclude unnecessary materials from these materials and search only for materials related to optical disks, Operator
Enter two search keywords.

OQ At this time, according to the steps (7) to (9), the information output section 7 displays only the registered information that is accompanied by the registered keywords "search device" and "optical disk" desired by operator X.

07) In the above series of operations, among the registered information having the registered keyword "search device", the one having the registered keyword "optical disk" has been searched twice, and the other information has been searched once.

(b) Next, another operator Y, like operator X, attempts to search for materials related to a search device using an optical disk using this device, and inputs "search device" through the operation (6).

0 groan At this time, according to the steps (7) to (9), the information output unit 7 contains, in addition to the materials regarding the optical disc desired by operator Y, patents, telephone numbers, 1 timetables, and seat reservations.

All registered information with the registered keyword "search device" is displayed, including information related to magnetic disks, microfilm, and electronic files. Moreover, if the order stored in the information storage unit 4 is the registration order of 0◇ above, the material related to the optical disk will be output last among these materials.

(1) If operator Y does not know the existence of the registered keyword "optical disc", he will not be able to redo the search like the above-mentioned 0-yen search, and will have no choice but to sequentially check the registered information that is output in the last area. Registered information having the registered keyword "optical disc" is never output in preference to other registered information.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention As explained in the above-mentioned specific example, in the conventional information registration and search device, when a plurality of registered information having associated registered keywords that match the inputted search keyword are retrieved, The output order is the order of registration 13.

It depends only on the order and cannot be changed after registration. Therefore, if there are many results of a search for registered information that has a registered keyword that matches the input search keyword, including those that are unnecessary for the operator, the operator will sequentially process all the registered information that is output. Unless confirmed, the desired information cannot be retrieved.

In view of the above-mentioned problems that conventional information registration and search devices had, the present invention allows each registered information to have accompanying information indicating how frequently that information has been searched since registration. , when multiple pieces of registered information are searched that have registered keywords that match the input search keyword, the frequency information is sorted in descending order of the value of the frequency information, regardless of the order in which they were registered. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information registration and retrieval device that outputs registered information with priority and can easily output information desired by an operator at a relatively early stage.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides an information storage that stores as part of the information the frequency with which each registered piece of information is retrieved. a search key input section for inputting conditions that the information to be searched should satisfy; and an information search section for searching the information storage section for information corresponding to the search key input from the search key input section. , a frequency order sorting section for sorting each searched information in order of frequency information stored therein in descending order of search frequency; and each information in the information storage section according to the order sorted by the frequency order sorting section. an information output unit that outputs the information, a frequency information control unit that counts the search frequency of each piece of information in the information storage unit each time a search is performed and calculates a new search frequency of each piece of information, and control from the frequency information update unit. This constitutes an information registration and retrieval device including a frequency information update section that updates frequency information in each piece of information in the information storage section.

According to the above-described configuration, the present invention outputs the searched information in descending order of search frequency when there is a plurality of pieces of searched information, and the results of the search operation are fed back in the order in which subsequent search results are output. This makes it possible to search for information easily.

Example An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a registration information input section for inputting information such as document information to be registered in an information storage section to be described later. 12 is a registration key input section; registration information input section 1;
A registered keyword to be stored in the information storage unit, which will be described later, is input in the form of a code along with the information input from 1. 13
is an information registration section, and the registration information is the output of the registration information input section 11.

A registered keyword that is the output of the registered key input section 12.

and a frequency information initial value which is the output of a frequency information adding section, which will be described later, are additionally stored as a pair in an information storage section, which will be described later. Reference numeral 14 denotes an information storage unit that stores registration information output from the registration information input unit 11, registration keywords output from the registration key input unit 12, and initial frequency information output from a frequency information addition unit (described later) or a frequency information initial value (described later). A large number of pairs of three items updated by the frequency information updating unit are stored.

For example, a magnetic disk device or an optical disk device is used. A search key input section 15 is used to input a search keyword in the form of a code as a clue for retrieving registered information stored in the information storage section 14. 1
Reference numeral 6 denotes an information search unit that searches the information storage unit 14 for registered information that has a registered keyword that matches the search keyword output from the search key input unit 15, and if the corresponding registered information exists, it searches for the registered information. Outputs information specifying registration information. As the specification information, for example, the start address of the area in the information storage section 14 in which the registration information is stored is used. Here, a plurality of pieces of registration information designation information may be output for the input search keyword. Further, if there is no matching keyword, the information search unit 16 outputs information to that effect. Reference numeral 17 denotes a frequency order sorting unit which sorts the registration information designation information outputted from the information search unit 16 in descending order of the value of frequency information added to the registration information. 1817, -; is an information output unit that retrieves the registration information specified by each registration information designation information from the information storage unit 14 according to the order sorted by the frequency order sorting unit 17, and temporarily stores it. or convert it into other states, such as visual information. Further, when the information search unit 16 outputs information indicating “no match”, it outputs that a registered keyword matching the search keyword could not be searched in the information storage unit 14. Reference numeral 19 denotes a frequency information control section, which calculates the search frequency for each registered information stored in the information storage section 14 every time a search or registration is performed, and sends it as frequency information update information to a frequency information update section to be described later. Reference numeral 2o denotes a frequency information update unit that updates frequency information for each piece of registered information stored in the information storage unit 14 based on frequency information update information sent from the frequency information control unit 19. Reference numeral 21 denotes a frequency information addition unit that sends to the information registration unit 13 an initial value of frequency information to be added when new registration is performed.

The operation of the information registration and search device of the present invention configured as described above will be described below.

18 Beno registration operation (Re-operator inputs information to be registered from the registration information input section 11.

(2) The input information is temporarily stored in an internal buffer P (not shown) of the information registration section 13.

(3) Next, the operator inputs a registered keyword from the registration key input section 12.

(4) The inputted registration keyword is temporarily stored in the internal buffer Q (not shown) of the information registration section 13 in the form of a code.

(5) The information registration unit 13 refers to the information storage unit 14 and obtains the start address R of the area where information is to be stored.

Furthermore, the information registration section 13 sequentially transfers the contents of its internal buffers P and Q together with the frequency information initial value sent from the frequency information adding section 21 to address R and thereafter of the information storage section 14. (End of registration operation) Search operation (6) The operator inputs a search keyword from the search key input section 15.

(7) The search keyword entered above is in code form 19
,, .

The information is temporarily stored in an internal buffer S (not shown) of the information search unit 16.

(8) The information search unit 16 searches the information storage unit 14 for registered information that has a registered keyword that matches the search keyword temporarily stored in the internal buffer S, and if the corresponding registered information exists, Information storage unit 14 in which the registration information is stored as information specifying the registration information
The start address ADH of the area within is temporarily stored in an internal buffer T (not shown) of the frequency order sorting section 17. here,
A plurality of pieces of registration information designation information ADH may be output for the input search keyword.

Further, if there is no matching keyword, the information search unit 16 temporarily stores information No. to that effect in the internal buffer T. If the corresponding registration information exists, proceed to (9). Otherwise, proceed to 00.

(9) The frequency order sorting unit 17 selects the starting address AD of the area in the information storage unit 14 that is temporarily stored in the internal buffer T.
H is followed to obtain frequency information associated with each registered information. Further, the AT1/S ADRs in the internal buffer T are rearranged in descending order of the value of the frequency information.

The αQ information output section 18 reads out the contents of the internal buffer T of the frequency order sorting section 17 and performs the following processing.

- If the content of internal buffer T is ADH, information output unit 18
reads out the ADH one by one from the beginning, extracts the registration information specified by this from the information storage section 14, and temporarily stores it or converts it into other state such as visual information.

- If the content of the internal buffer T is No, the information output unit 18 outputs that a registered keyword matching the search keyword could not be searched in the information storage unit 14.

0]) The contents of the internal buffer T of the frequency order sorting unit 17 are A
In the case of DH, proceed to (a). The contents of internal buffer T are N
If o, the search operation ends.

(B) The frequency information control unit 19 relatively increases the value of the frequency information for each registered information that has been searched compared to the value of the frequency information for each registered information that has not been searched. The frequency information value for each registered information in the unit 14 is controlled and sent to the frequency information update unit 2o as frequency information update information.

The frequency information update section 20 updates the value of frequency information for each piece of registered information in the information storage section 14 in accordance with the frequency information update information sent from the frequency information control section 19 .

(End of search operation) A specific example of the operation of the information registration and search device of the present invention that operates as described above will be described in the case where an operator registers and searches for materials related to the search device. Here, to simplify the explanation, the maximum number of registered keywords that can be added to each registered information and the number of search keywords that can be set in one search is set to two, and two search keywords are set. When the search condition is searched, the search condition satisfies those AND conditions.

Registration operation (1) The storage state of the information storage unit 14 is now as shown in FIG. 2(a).
Suppose that it is as shown in . In the same figure, column U is 226
−Document number that can uniquely identify the registered information,■
The column shows the registered keyword given to the registered information, W
The column indicates a pointer to the area where registered information is actually stored, and the X column indicates search frequency information for the registered information.

(2) An operator considers registering materials related to a new search device using an optical disk.

At this time, the operator inputs the relevant material from the registration information input section 11.

(3) Furthermore, the operator inputs two registered keywords, "search device" and "optical disc", from the registration key input section 12.

(4) The information registration unit 13 additionally registers the frequency information initial value sent from the frequency information addition unit 21 in the information storage unit 14. Here, it is assumed that a constant value of 0 is input as the initial value of the frequency information, regardless of previous registrations or searches.

(5) As a result of the above operations, the storage state of the information storage section 14 changes as shown in FIG. 2 0)). (End of registration operation) Search operation 23, . . . (6) After registering the above-mentioned material, the operator desires to search for the material at a later date.

(7) The operator inputs the search keyword "search device" from the search key input section 15.

(8) At this time, the information search unit 16 searches the information storage unit 14 for registered information that has a registered keyword that matches the search keyword “search device”. All registered information will be searched.

(9) The frequency order sorting unit 17 sorts the retrieved pieces of registered information in descending order of the frequency information value.

In this case, the frequency information of all the registered information of document numbers 1 to 8 is equal to 0, so the sorted result is, for example, 1.2, 3,
The order is 4, 5, 6, 7.8.

00 After the information output unit 18 outputs that the number of corresponding registered information is 8, it outputs the registered information of document number 1 to the information storage unit 1.
4 and display it as visual information.

In order to increase the value of the frequency information of all registered information in ~8, the frequency information for these registered information is uniformly set to a constant value of 1.
Frequency information update unit 2o updates frequency information such as adding
shall be sent to. The frequency information update unit 2o updates the value of frequency information for each registered information in the information storage unit 14 according to the frequency information update information sent from the frequency information control unit 19.

As a result, the storage state of the information storage section 14 changes as shown in FIG. 2(c).

@ The operator determines that the search results include unnecessary information, and selects the "search device" from the search key input section 16.
In addition, enter a new search keyword of "optical disc".

- α [phase] At this time, the information search unit 16 is a "search device"
The information storage unit 14 is searched for registered information having the two search keywords "optical disk" as registered keywords. In this case, only the registered information of document number 8 is searched.

0→ Since the searched registration information is unique, the output of the frequency order sorting section 17 is also the same, and the information output section 18261,
- outputs that there is only one piece of registered information, then retrieves the registered information of document number 8 from the information storage unit 14 and displays it as visual information.

Q'5 The frequency information control unit 19 selects the retrieved document number 8.
Frequency information update information that adds a constant value 1 to the frequency information value of the registered information is sent to the frequency information update unit 2o, and in accordance with this, the frequency information update unit 20 updates the registered information of document number 8 in the information storage unit 14. Update the value of frequency information for. As a result, the storage state of the information storage section 14 changes as shown in FIG. 2(d).

0. Assume that this operator wishes to search for the same content at a later date. The operator selects “ from the search key input section 16.
When only one search keyword "search device" is input, the corresponding registered information is all the registered information of document numbers 1 to 8, but as a result of sorting by the frequency order sorting unit 17, the value of the frequency information is 2. The registration information of document number 8 is the first, and the output order is, for example, 8, 1.2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
．． 7 in order.

α force The above result is different from the case of 00, information output section 2
6.7 Registration information of document number 8 desired by the operator is displayed with priority at 18. In this case as well, the frequency information control unit 19
The frequency information is updated by the frequency information update unit 20, and the storage state of the information storage unit 14 is finally changed as shown in FIG.
)become that way.

(End of search operation) As mentioned above, in this embodiment, since the search information is held as search information for each registered information, the operator inputs the two search keywords "search device" and "optical disk" to register document number 8. Even if a search is performed by inputting only the search keyword "search device" after searching only for information, priority is given to outputting the registered information of document number 8, which was searched first, from among multiple search results. I can do it. Generally, information that is searched frequently is considered to be more important than information that is not searched frequently, so according to the information registration and search device of this embodiment, the information in the search results is sorted from important information regardless of the order in which it is registered. Since the search results are output sequentially, the operator can check the search results very efficiently.

In this embodiment, a constant 0 is given as the initial value of the frequency information at the time of new registration, and a constant 1 is added to all of the registered information searched for updating the frequency information. Various methods can be considered for this, as described below.

How to update frequency information (1) Uniformly add a constant to each piece of information retrieved.

(2) Add points to each retrieved information by dividing it into equal parts so that the total sum is constant.

(3) A constant is uniformly added to each piece of information retrieved within a range that does not exceed the predetermined maximum score.

(4) Uniformly reduce the constant for each piece of information that is not retrieved.

(6) A combination of the above (1) to (4).

How to add frequency information during new registration (6) Give a constant.

(7) Give the specified maximum score.

(8) Give the average value of frequency information for all registered information at that time.

(9) The operator gives a desired initial value depending on the importance of the registered information.

Effects of the Invention In the information registration and search device of the present invention, each piece of registered information is accompanied by information indicating how frequently that information has been searched since registration, and information that matches the input search keyword is attached to each piece of registered information. When multiple pieces of registered information with a registered keyword are searched, the information is sorted in descending order of the value of the frequency information, regardless of the order in which it was registered, so that the registered information with the highest search frequency is prioritized and output. , even if there are a large number of search results, unnecessary information that is not frequently searched can be suppressed from being output, and the information desired by the operator can be output at a relatively early stage, which has a practical effect. It's thick.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an information registration and retrieval device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the storage state of an information storage unit in the same embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a conventional information registration search device 29. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a search device. 14... Information storage unit, 16... Search key input unit, 16... Information search unit, 17...
... Frequency order sorting section, 18... Information output section, 1
9... Frequency information control unit, 20... Frequency information updating unit, 21... Frequency information addition unit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] an information storage unit that stores the frequency with which each registered piece of information is searched as part of the information; a search key input unit that inputs conditions that should be met by the information to be searched; and the search key input unit. an information search unit that searches the information storage unit for information corresponding to a search key input from the information storage unit; and an information search unit that searches the information storage unit for information corresponding to a search key input from the information storage unit, and sorts each searched information in order of frequency information stored therein in descending order of search frequency. an information output unit that outputs each piece of information in the information storage unit in accordance with the order sorted in the frequency order sort unit; and an information output unit that counts the search frequency of each piece of information in the information storage unit each time a search is performed. and a frequency information update section that updates frequency information in each piece of information in the information storage section under control from the frequency information control section. An information registration and retrieval device characterized in that the retrieved information is output in order of search frequency, and the results of the search operations are fed back in the order of output of subsequent search results.