JP2000112991A - Device for information retrieval, method therefor and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information retrieval device, an information retrieval method and a storage medium which are enabled to efficiently display information of the retrieval result in an area displaying the result. SOLUTION: This information retrieval device has an input part 101 for inputting a retrieval condition, an information storage part 107 for storing individual information of a detection object, a degree of correspondence calculation part 103 which compares the individual information stored in the information storage part 107 with the retrieval condition inputted from the input part 101 and calculates a degree of coincidence for satisfying the retrieval condition, a scale display part 104 which decides and displays a display interval and a display position of the scale for indicating a change in the degree of coincidence, and a retrieval result display part 105 which decides the display position of information that meets the retrieval condition based on the degree of coincidence and displays it.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information search apparatus, an information search method, and a storage medium, and more particularly, to an information search apparatus, an information search method, and a storage method suitable for performing information search and display on a computer or the like. Regarding the medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a search condition is given, a storage device storing information to be searched is searched, a degree of coincidence between each piece of information and the search condition is obtained, and information is obtained based on the obtained degree of match. There is a method of displaying as search results. In the prior art, for example, as shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 08-339375, search result information is displayed in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional space, and a search result with a higher degree of matching is displayed closer to the origin of the space. Therefore, a method of displaying the search results by visually recognizing the degree of coincidence of the search results has been adopted.

[0003]

However, in the above-described conventional method, the distance on the display, which is indicated by the number of dots on the display, and the rate of change in the degree of coincidence are fixed. It was not possible to efficiently display the information of the search result in a limited area for displaying the search result in accordance with the distribution of the matching degree. That is, as many search results as possible cannot be displayed by effectively using the limited area for displaying the search results. For example, when there is not much information with a high degree of coincidence, information is hardly displayed near the origin, and information is displayed only at the end of the search result display area.

In the above-described conventional method, when a lot of information having a high degree of coincidence exists, a lot of information is displayed near the origin, and the pieces of information overlap with each other, so that the information of the highest degree of coincidence which is most desired to be seen is obtained. There was a problem that it became hard to see.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides an information search apparatus, an information search method, and a storage medium that can efficiently display information of a search result in a search result display area. That is the primary purpose.

Further, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and the interval of displaying scales is widened in a section where the number of information to be displayed is large, and the display interval of the scale is increased in a section where the number of information to be displayed is small. Information that can be narrowed, and information of the search result can be efficiently displayed in the area where the search result is displayed, and information that can be prevented from overlapping each other in a section with a large amount of information to be difficult to see is displayed. A second object is to provide a search device, an information search method, and a storage medium.

[0007]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information retrieval apparatus for retrieving and displaying information, the degree of coincidence being a degree satisfying information retrieval conditions. , A scale display control means for displaying a scale indicating a change in the match degree, and a search result display control means for displaying information satisfying a search condition based on the match degree. .

[0008] To achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 2 provides a search condition input means for inputting search conditions,
An information storage unit that stores individual information to be searched, wherein the matching degree calculation unit stores the individual information stored in the information storage unit and a search condition input from the search condition input unit. Comparing and calculating a degree of coincidence that is a degree satisfying a search condition, the scale display control means determines and displays a display interval and a display position of a scale indicating a change in the degree of match, and the search result display control means includes: The display position of information that satisfies the search condition is determined and displayed based on the degree of coincidence.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the present invention, the scale display control means individually determines a display interval of each scale, and the search result display control means controls the scale display. The display position of information that satisfies the search condition is determined based on the scale display interval and the degree of coincidence determined by the control means.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the scale display control means determines a scale display interval based on the number of information to be displayed between adjacent scales. Features.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the present invention, the search result display control means radially displays information satisfying the search condition, centering on a point where the degree of coincidence is a perfect match. The scale display control means determines the radius of the scale based on the number of pieces of information to be displayed between adjacent scales and the radius of the adjacent scale, and scales a circle centered on a point at which the degree of coincidence is a perfect match. Is displayed.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 6, wherein the scale display control means sets the minimum value of the degree of coincidence of the information displayed by the search result display control means and the size of the information display area. The display interval of the scale is determined based on this.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 7, further comprising a grouping means for grouping individual information displayed by the search result display control means, wherein the scale display control means is provided. , Determine the scale display interval based on the number of groups displayed between adjacent scales,
The search result display control means determines and displays a display position so that information belonging to each group grouped by the grouping means is displayed close to each other.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention as set forth in claim 8, the search result display control means displays information that satisfies the search condition on the basis of a straight line having a perfect match. The scale display control means determines the display intervals of the scales based on the number of pieces of information to be displayed between adjacent scales, and displays a straight line having a perfect match as a scale.

[0015] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 9 is characterized in that it can be applied to search for information such as images, documents, videos, and sounds.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is characterized in that the present invention is applicable to an information processing apparatus such as a computer.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information retrieval method applied to an information retrieval apparatus for retrieving and displaying information. A degree-of-match calculating step of calculating a degree, a scale display control step of displaying a scale indicating a change in the degree of match, and a search result display control step of displaying information satisfying a search condition based on the degree of match. I do.

To achieve the above object, the present invention according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention has a search condition input step of inputting a search condition, and the matching degree calculating step stores individual information to be searched. The individual information stored in the information storage means is compared with the search condition input in the search condition input step, and a degree of coincidence, which is a degree of satisfying the search condition, is calculated. Is determined and displayed, and in the search result display control step, a display position of information satisfying a search condition is determined and displayed based on the degree of matching.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the scale display control step, the display interval of each scale is individually determined, and in the search result display control step, the scale display is performed. The display position of information that satisfies the search condition is determined based on the scale display interval and the degree of coincidence determined in the control step.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, in the scale display control step, the display interval of scales is determined based on the number of information to be displayed between adjacent scales. Features.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention as set forth in claim 15, in the search result display control step, information satisfying the search condition is radially displayed centering on a point where the degree of coincidence is a perfect match. In the scale display control step, the radius of the scale is determined based on the number of information to be displayed between adjacent scales and the radius of the adjacent scale,
It is characterized in that a circle centered on a point where the degree of coincidence is a perfect match is displayed as a scale.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, in the scale display control step, the minimum value of the degree of coincidence of the information displayed in the search result display control step and the size of the information display area are set. The display interval of the scale is determined based on this.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 17 has a grouping step of grouping individual information displayed in the search result display control step, and the scale display control step includes: Determining the scale display interval based on the number of groups to be displayed between adjacent scales, and in the search result display control step,
The display position is determined and displayed so that information belonging to each group grouped in the grouping step is displayed close to each other.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention as set forth in claim 18, in the search result display control step, information satisfying the search condition is displayed on the basis of a straight line having a perfect match. In the scale display control step, the display intervals of the scales are determined based on the number of pieces of information to be displayed between adjacent scales, and a straight line having a perfect match is displayed as a scale.

To achieve the above object, the present invention described in claim 19 is characterized in that it can be applied to search for information such as an image, a document, a video, and an audio.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is characterized in that it can be applied to an information processing apparatus such as a computer.

[0027] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 21 is a computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing an information search method applied to an information search apparatus for searching and displaying information. And
The information search method includes a matching degree calculating step of calculating a matching degree that is a degree satisfying the information search condition, a scale display control step of displaying a scale indicating a change in the matching degree, and satisfying the search condition based on the matching degree. And a search result display control step of displaying information.

To achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 22, further comprising a search condition input step of inputting a search condition, wherein the matching degree calculating step stores individual information to be searched. The individual information stored in the information storage means is compared with the search condition input in the search condition input step, and a degree of coincidence, which is a degree of satisfying the search condition, is calculated. Is determined and displayed, and in the search result display control step, a display position of information satisfying a search condition is determined and displayed based on the degree of matching.

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention according to claim 23, in the scale display control step, display intervals of individual scales are individually determined, and in the search result display control step, the scale display control step is performed. The display position of information that satisfies the search condition is determined based on the scale display interval and the degree of coincidence determined in the control step.

According to a twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention, in the scale display control step, the display interval of the scales is determined based on the number of information to be displayed between adjacent scales. Features.

According to a twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention, in the search result display control step, information that satisfies the search condition is radially displayed around a point where the degree of coincidence is a perfect match. In the scale display control step, the radius of the scale is determined based on the number of information to be displayed between adjacent scales and the radius of the adjacent scale,
It is characterized in that a circle centered on a point where the degree of coincidence is a perfect match is displayed as a scale.

According to a twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention, in the scale display control step, a minimum value of a degree of coincidence of information displayed in the search result display control step and a size of an information display area are set. The display interval of the scale is determined based on this.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 27 has a grouping step of grouping individual information displayed in the search result display control step, and the scale display control step includes: Determining the scale display interval based on the number of groups to be displayed between adjacent scales, and in the search result display control step,
The display position is determined and displayed so that information belonging to each group grouped in the grouping step is displayed close to each other.

To achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 28, wherein in the search result display control step, information satisfying the search condition is displayed on the basis of a straight line whose degree of coincidence is a perfect match. In the scale display control step, the display intervals of the scales are determined based on the number of pieces of information to be displayed between adjacent scales, and a straight line having a perfect match is displayed as a scale.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention described in claim 29 is characterized in that it can be applied to retrieval of information such as images, documents, videos, sounds and the like.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 30 is characterized in that it can be applied to an information processing apparatus such as a computer.

[0037]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the concept of an information search device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The information search device according to the embodiment of the present invention includes an input unit 101, a coincidence calculation unit 103, a scale display unit 104, and a search result display unit 1.
05, a storage unit 106 having an information storage unit 107, and a display unit 108.

The function of each section will be described in detail.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a keyboard including character keys, function keys, and the like, and inputs search conditions to the control unit 102. The control unit 102 is composed of a microprocessor, compares individual information of a search target stored in the information storage unit 107 of the storage unit 106 with search conditions, and matches the individual information with the query ( Quer
y) is calculated, the display interval and the display position of the scale indicating the change of the match are determined and displayed on the scale display unit 104, and the search result display unit 105 satisfies all or part of the search conditions. Is determined from the degree of coincidence, and the information is output to the display unit 108 and displayed. The information storage unit 107 of the storage unit 106 stores individual information to be searched. The display unit 108 displays information based on the control of the control unit 102.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of the information search device according to the embodiment of the present invention. An information search device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a CPU 201, an RO
M202, RAM 203, CD-ROM drive 20
4, CD-ROM 205, HD (hard disk) drive 206, keyboard 207, display 208,
The configuration includes a mouse 207, a printer 210, and a control bus 211. It should be noted that the configuration shown in FIG. 2 is an example and is not limited to the illustrated configuration.

The structure of each part will be described in detail.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a central control device, which executes processing shown in flowcharts of FIGS. ROM 202 is
This is a read-only memory, and stores a control procedure program 401 as shown in FIG. RA
M203 is a read / write memory at any time, and as shown in FIG. 6 described later, an information search program 603,
Image database 604, matching area data 605, matching image data 606, radius increment data 607, arrangement angle data 608, similar image buffer 609, similar image information 6
10, distribution information 611, group information 612, screen information 613, and the like.

The CD-ROM drive 204 has a CD-R
It controls reading of the information search program and the like from the OM 205. The CD-ROM 205 stores an information search program and the like. The HD drive 206 controls writing / reading of data to / from the HD. Keyboard 207
Has character keys, function keys, and the like, and is used for various inputs. The display 208 is a CPU 2
The display is performed based on the control of 01. The mouse 207 is used for inputting a coordinate position on the display 208. The printer 210 performs printing on a recording medium. Control bus 211
Is a common signal path to which the above components are connected.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing how a program or the like is supplied from a CD-ROM 205, which is a storage medium of the information search device according to the embodiment of the present invention, to a computer system (information search device). The information search program or the like stores the CD-ROM 205 in the computer system 300.
Is supplied by inserting it into a CD-ROM drive 204. Thereafter, an information retrieval program or the like can be loaded from the CD-ROM 205 into the RAM 203 and executed. Alternatively, an information search program or the like is temporarily stored in the HD of the HD drive 206 from the CD-ROM 205, and when the information search program is operated, the information is read from the HD.
It is also possible to load the program into the AM 203 and execute it.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of the ROM 202 of the information search device according to the embodiment of the present invention. A control procedure program 401 and the like are stored in a storage area 400 of the ROM 202 of the information search device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of a CD-ROM 205 as a storage medium of the information search device according to the embodiment of the present invention. The storage area 500 of the CD-ROM 205 of the information search device according to the embodiment of the present invention includes an information search program 501, an image database 502 as related data, a match area data 503, and a match image data 50.
4, radius increment data 505, arrangement angle data 506 and the like are stored.

FIG. 6 shows an information search program 501 stored in the CD-ROM 205 of the information search apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, and an image database 502, matching area data 503, and matching image data 504, which are related data. , Radius increment data 505, arrangement angle data 506
Is a conceptual diagram showing the memory map 600 in a state where the memory map 600 is loaded into the RAM 203 and becomes executable. In an executable state, the information search program 603, the image database 604, the matching area data 605, the matching image data 606, the radius increment data 607, and the arrangement angle data 60
8, similar images buffer 609, similar image information 610, distribution information 611, group information 612, and screen information 61 are used as memories used by the information search program.
Area 3 is secured and initialized.

FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 show an information search program 603 in the information search apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a screen displayed on the display 208, and an operation of performing an image search using the information search program 603.

In FIG. 7, reference numeral 701 denotes a query (Que).
ry) is a query box for inputting “red apple” as a query. Reference numeral 702 denotes a search button for instructing a search. When the search button 702 is clicked using the mouse 209, the image database 604 is searched by the query stored in the query box 701. The search result is displayed in the displayed search result display area.

The search result display area 703 is, for example,
It is a square area of 0 dots and 600 dots horizontally. 70
Squares such as 4 and 705 indicate searched images. The size of each image is displayed by, for example, 60 dots vertically and 60 dots horizontally. 7 to 9 do not show actual images for convenience of explanation. Also, as in 704, numbers such as “ID: 234” in the square are
The image ID of the image No. 4 is “234”. A hatched circle area 706 is a matching area for displaying an image that completely satisfies the search condition. The image displayed in the matching area 706 is an image that completely satisfies the search condition.

The broken-line circles 707 and 708 are scales for indicating the degree of satisfying the search condition. In the present embodiment, the degree of satisfying the search condition is represented by the similarity. When the condition is completely satisfied, the similarity is 1.0. When the condition is not satisfied at all, the similarity is 0.
become. Reference numeral 707 denotes a scale of the similarity 0.9.
8 is a scale of the similarity 0.8. Match region 706
Indicates that the similarity is 1.0. In the present embodiment, a scale is displayed at every 0.1 degree of similarity. As can be seen, the similarity decreases as the distance from the center of the search result display area 703 increases. That is, the higher the degree of the image satisfying the search condition, the higher the search result display area 7
The image which is displayed near the center of 03 and has a lower degree of satisfying the search condition is displayed farther from the center of the search result display area 703.

Image IDs "567", "765", "8"
The image of “51” is overlapped little by little. This indicates that these images are similar to each other and form one group. The image indicated by 705 and the image indicated by 711 are connected by a straight line indicated by 710. This straight line is called a group connection line. Thus, even if they do not overlap, the images connected by a straight line are similar and indicate that they form one group. In each group, a straight line always extends from one image toward the center of the search result display area 703. This straight line is called a representative line. An image having a representative line is referred to as a representative image.

For example, an image 711 is a representative image and has a representative line 709. The representative image indicates that the similarity is the highest among the groups. In each group, the center distance between the representative image and the other images indicates the degree of similarity with the representative image. If the similarity with the representative image is high, the image ID is “5”.
Unlike the images of “67”, “765”, and “851”, the group connection lines are not displayed, and the images are displayed overlapping. Here, as shown in the image 704, even a single image is regarded as forming a group, and a representative line is displayed. Reference numeral 712 denotes a previous screen button for displaying an image having a higher similarity than the image displayed in the search result display area 703.

In FIG. 7, the query "red apple"
Search result display area 70 when a search is performed for
3, no image having a higher similarity than the image displayed here exists, and the triangle of the previous screen button 712 is displayed as a white background. Reference numeral 713 denotes a next screen button for displaying an image having a lower similarity than the image displayed in the search result display area 703. Since the next screen exists, the triangle of the next screen button 713 is displayed as a black background.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state of the display 208 after the next screen button 713 is clicked using the mouse 209 in the state of FIG. 801, 80
2 and 803 are similarities of 0.8, 0.7 and 0.6, respectively.
It is a scale indicating. The distance between the scale 802 and the scale 803 is the scale between the scale 801 and the scale 802 because no image is displayed in the area between the two scales.
Is smaller than the distance between. Also, scale 801
The intervals between the graduations and the size of the matching area inside are smaller than those in FIG. 7 because no image is displayed therein. The previous screen button 712 has a triangle displayed on a black background because there is an image with a high similarity, and the next screen button 713 has a triangle displayed on a white background since there is no image with a lower similarity. I have.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a state of the display 208 after the image 711 is clicked using the mouse 209 in the state of FIG. Search result display area 7
When the image displayed in 03 is clicked using mouse 209, an image similar to the clicked image is searched, and the search result is displayed in search result display area 703. Also, the query box 701 is cleared because there is no query for the search result. Instead, the image of 711 from which the search is performed is displayed in the matching area. At this time, the image 711 is displayed in a double frame to distinguish it from the case where the image is searched by a query. Also,
The interval between the scales is narrower than the state shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the image database 604 read into the RAM 203 of the information search device according to the embodiment of the present invention. Image database 6
In the field 04, a plurality of items are stored, each of which corresponds to the image ID and the name and description of the image file corresponding to the image ID as one item. For example, in the figure, as one item, an image ID “0”, an image file “00000000.jpg”, and a description “a
"red apple" is stored correspondingly.

The image ID is a number for identifying an image stored in the image database, and numbers are assigned to images in ascending order from 0 in the order stored in the image database. Therefore, the maximum value of the image ID stored in the image database matches the value obtained by subtracting 1 from the number of images stored in the image database. The image file is information indicating a storage location of a file of image data registered in the main image database. Accordingly, an image can be displayed on the display 208 by obtaining image data from the image file. The description is a description describing the corresponding image, and the information search program 603 searches the image display 208 for a desired image using the description. Each item is sorted in ascending order by image ID.

FIG. 11 shows matching area data 6 read into RAM 203 of the information search device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of 05. Match area data 605
Stores data for changing the size of the matching area as indicated by 706 in FIG. 7 according to the number of images displayed in the matching area. The matching area data is a one-dimensional array as shown in FIG. 11, and the number of images displayed in the matching area corresponds as a subscript of the array, and the number of dots of the radius of the matching area as an element of the array. Is stored. The correspondence between the number of images displayed in the matching area and the size of the radius of the matching area is determined in advance so that the images displayed in the matching area can be displayed without overlapping each other.

For example, from FIG. 11, when the number of images displayed in the matching area is 0, the radius of the matching area is 30 dots, when the number is 1, the number is 60 dots, and when the number is 2, the number is 90 dots. It can be seen that when there are three, the number is 120 dots.

FIG. 12 shows matching image data 6 read into RAM 203 of the information search device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of 06. Matching image data 606
Stores the coordinates of the center of the image displaying the image with the similarity of 1.0 displayed in the matching area 706 of FIG. 7 in association with the number of images displayed in the matching area. That is, one coordinate is displayed when one image is displayed in the matching area, two coordinates are displayed when two images are displayed, and three coordinates are displayed when three images are displayed. The same number of coordinates are stored in correspondence with the number of images displayed in the matching area. Each coordinate stores the coordinates when the center of the matching area is the origin, the horizontal direction on the right side of the screen is the x-axis, and the vertical direction on the upper side is the y-axis. The coordinates of each image are determined in advance so that the coordinates displayed in the matching area are displayed without overlapping each other.

For example, from FIG.
When displaying two images, the position of the coordinate (0, 0)
Coordinates (0,35), (0,-
When three images are displayed at the position 35), the coordinates (0, 35), (45, -35), (-45, -35)
It can be seen that the information to be displayed at the position is stored.

FIG. 13 shows radius increment data 6 read into RAM 203 of the information search device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of 07. Radius increment data 607
Is used to determine the interval between the scales such as 707 and 708 in FIG. The interval between the scales is determined by the number of images displayed between the two scales. Therefore, the radius increment data 607 stores a plurality of items corresponding to the number displayed between the scales and the interval between the scales, and the items are sorted in ascending order according to the number.
As for the interval between the scales, the increment of the radius from the scale which is 0.1 larger than the target scale is stored as the number of dots.

For example, from FIG. 13, when the number of images is 0, a scale with a larger 30 dot radius is displayed, and when the number of images is 1 or more and 4 or less, a 60 dot radius is increased. The scale is displayed and the number of images is 5
In the case where the number is not less than 10 and not more than 10, it can be seen that a scale with a larger 90 dot radius may be displayed.

FIG. 14 shows arrangement angle data 60 secured in RAM 203 of the information search device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
8 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of FIG. Arrangement angle data 608
Is used to determine the position of the representative image to be displayed in the search result display area. The arrangement angle data 608 defines the angle at which the representative image is displayed when the angle in the horizontal right direction from the center of the search result display area is 0 degree. The arrangement angle data 608 is a one-dimensional array in which the display angles of the representative images are stored according to the order in which the representative images are displayed from the top of the array.

For example, from FIG. 14, the first representative image to be displayed is displayed in the direction of 90 degrees, and the second representative image is displayed at 270 degrees,
It can be seen that the first is displayed in the direction of 180 degrees and the fourth is displayed in the direction of 0 degrees.

FIG. 15 shows a similar image buffer 6 secured in the RAM 203 of the information search device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of the embodiment 09. Similar image buffer 60
9 stores the result of searching the image database 604. For one image of the searched result, the image I
D and the similarity are stored in association with each other. Each searched image is stored in descending order according to the similarity. The degree of similarity takes a value from 1.0 to 0.0 as described above, and a larger value means a higher degree of similarity, indicating that 1.0 completely matches.

For example, from FIG. 15, image ID “0”,
Three images “456” and “789” are searched with a similarity of 1.0, and an image with an image ID “123” is searched for a similarity of 0.95.
It can be seen that the search was performed in step 2.

FIG. 16 shows similar image information 610 secured in RAM 203 of the information search device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of FIG. The similarities of all the images stored in the image database 604 with other images are calculated, and the obtained similarities are stored as a similar image list in association with each image. Each similar image list is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, similar image information is stored in ascending order from the top of similar image information in order from the similar image list corresponding to image ID0. The structure of each similar image list is exactly the same as the structure of the similar image buffer 609 shown in FIG.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the distribution information 611 secured in the RAM 203 of the information search device according to the embodiment of the present invention. The distribution information 611 is for storing the distribution of the number of images existing between each scale when displaying the search result. (T101) and (T102) are the distribution information and the image ID “99”, respectively, when the search is performed using “red apple” as a query.
9 shows distribution information when an image similar to “9” is retrieved. From (T101), there are three images having similarity 1.0, five images having similarity smaller than 1.0 and 0.9 or more, and similarity smaller than 0.9 and 0.8 or more. It can be seen that there are eight images.

FIG. 18 shows group information 612 secured in RAM 203 of the information search device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of FIG. The group information 612 is used to group images into groups. The image stored in the group information 612 stores an image other than the representative image. The image ID, the image ID of the representative image of the group to which the image belongs, and the similarity between the image and the representative image are associated. Stored.

For example, from FIG. 18, the image ID “345”
Belong to the group represented by the image ID “876”, the image having the image ID “345” and the image ID “876”.
It can be seen that the similarity of the representative image is 0.928.
Each image stored in the group information 612 is stored in ascending order by the representative image ID.

FIGS. 19 and 20 show screen information 6 secured in RAM 203 of the information retrieval apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a thirteenth embodiment. The screen information 613 is for storing information of each screen to be displayed in the search result display area with respect to the search result, and includes the number of screens necessary to display all the search results and the display on each screen. The range of the screen, the layout of the scale of each screen, and the like can be obtained. (T201) and (T202) respectively show screen information when a search is performed using “red apple” as a query, and screen information when an image similar to the image ID “999” is searched.

The screen information 613 stores, for each screen, the subscripts of the array of the distribution information 611 for indicating the image to be displayed and the scale width of the scale in association with each other. The scale width of the scale starts from the matching area, that is, the radius of the scale having the similarity of 1.0, and the width between adjacent scales, that is, the difference between the radii, is sequentially stored by the number of dots. "-1" is stored for the scale not displayed next to the screen.

For example, from (T201), the first screen contains an image corresponding to the suffix 0 of the array of the distribution information 611,
That is, it is understood that the display is started from the image having the similarity of 1.0. Also, the size of the radius of the matching area on the first screen is 1
The scale of 20 dots and the similarity of 0.9 has a radius 90 dots larger than the matching area, and the scale of the similarity 0.8 has a radius of 90 dots larger than the scale of 0.9 and has a similarity of 0.9. It can be seen that the scale after 7 is not displayed. Further, the next screen is the subscript 3 of the array of the distribution information 611.
It can be seen that the display is started from an image corresponding to, that is, an image smaller than the similarity 0.8.

In the first screen, the size of the radius of the matching region is 30 dots, the scale of the similarity 0.9 is larger than the radius of the matching region by 30 dots, and the scale of the similarity 0.8 is 0. The radius of the graduation of .9 is 30 dots larger than that of the graduation of 0.9, the graduation of the similarity 0.7 has a radius of 90 dots larger than the graduation of the similarity 0.8, and the graduation of the similarity 0.6 is 0.7. The radius is 90 dots larger than the scale of,
It can be seen that the scale of the similarity 0.5 has a radius 90 dots larger than the scale of the similarity 0.6, and that the scale after the similarity 0.4 is not displayed.

The correspondence between the components in the claims and the components in the information search apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is as follows. The search condition input unit corresponds to the input unit 101, and the information storage unit is the storage unit 106.
, The coincidence calculation means corresponds to the coincidence calculation section 103 of the control section 102, the scale display control means corresponds to the scale display section 104 of the control section 102, and the search result display control means Search result display unit 1 of control unit 102
05 corresponds to the grouping function of the control unit 102.

Next, the operation of the information search program of the information search apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. FIG. 21 and FIG. 22 are flowcharts showing an information search method in the information search device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

First, in step S 101, the information search program 501 stored in the CD-ROM 205 of the information search device, the image database 502 of the related data, the matching area data 503, and the radius increment data 50
5. The arrangement angle data 506 is stored in the CD-ROM drive 20.
4 is loaded into the RAM 203, and areas for the similar image buffer 609, similar image information 610, distribution information 611, group information 612, and screen information 613 are secured in the RAM 203.

Next, in step S102, control is transferred to the information search program 501, and the information search program 501 performs initialization necessary for performing a search. That is, the image database 604 is searched using all the individual images stored in the image database 604, and the search result is stored in the similar image information 610. Details of this processing will be described later with reference to FIGS.

Next, in step S103, the process branches according to the event that occurs. Keyboard 20
If an event occurs that the character key is pressed by using 7, the process branches to step S104. If an event of clicking the OK button 702 shown in FIG. 7 using the mouse 209 has occurred, the process branches to step S105. FIG.
If an event of clicking on an image such as 704 or 705 in the middle with the mouse 209 has occurred, step S10
Branch to 6. If an event occurs that the next screen button 713 shown in FIG. 7 is clicked using the mouse 209, the process branches to step S107. If an event occurs that the previous screen button 712 shown in FIG. 7 is clicked using the mouse 209, the process branches to step S108.

Step S104 is processing when a query is input. The character pressed in step S103 is fetched and displayed in the query box 701 shown in FIG. Upon completion of the process, the process advances to step S103. Step S105 is processing in a case where an instruction to perform a search using the query displayed in the query box 701 is issued. In step S105, the query box 70
Branch depending on whether or not a query is input to 1. That is, if a character exists in the query box 701,
Since an image can be searched using a query, the process proceeds to step S109 to perform a search using the query. If there is no character in the query box 701, it is not possible to perform a search using a query.
Proceed to and perform a search using the randomly selected image.

Step S106 is a process performed when an instruction is given to search using a specific image. An image ID corresponding to the clicked image is obtained and stored in the comparison source ID. The comparison source ID is secured in the RAM 203.
When the process is over, the process advances to the step S111. Step S1
07 is a process when an instruction to display the next screen of the search result is given. Details of this processing will be described later with reference to FIG. Step S108 is processing in a case where an instruction to display the screen before the search result is given. Details of this processing will be described later with reference to FIG. Step S109 is processing for searching the image database 604 using the character string stored in the query box 701 and displaying the search result on the display 208. For details of this processing, see FIG.
5. It will be described later with reference to FIG. Upon completion of the process, the process advances to step S103.

Step S110 is performed in the image database 6
04, an image is selected at random, and the image ID for the selected image is stored in the comparison source ID. The comparison source ID is
Allocated in the RAM 203. When the process is over, the process advances to the step S111. Step S111 is equivalent to step S10
6 or a process of displaying an image similar to the image selected in step S110 on the display 208. A similar image has already been obtained in step S106 or step S11.
Since the image data is stored in the similar image buffer 609 at 0, the processing of searching for a similar image is not particularly performed. Details of this processing will be described later with reference to FIG. Upon completion of the process, the process advances to step S103.

FIG. 23 and FIG. 24 are flow charts for explaining the search initialization process in step S102. In this processing, various necessary initializations are performed. Further, a similar image is searched for all the individual images stored in the image database 604, and the search result is referred to as similar image information 6
Stored in 10. Hereinafter, the details of this process will be described.

In step S201, various initializations are performed. That is, information such as the similar image buffer 609, similar image information 610, distribution information 611, group information 612, and screen information 613 secured in the RAM 203 is initialized. Further, other initialization is performed as necessary. Upon completion of the processing, the process advances to step S202. Step S20
In 2, the comparison source ID indicating the comparison source image has an initial value of 0.
Is stored. The comparison source ID is secured in the RAM 203. Upon completion of the process, the process advances to step S203. In step S203, a description of the comparison source image is stored in the query buffer to search for an image similar to the comparison source image. A description corresponding to the comparison source ID is obtained from the image database 604 and copied to the query buffer.
The query buffer is secured in the RAM 203. Upon completion of the process, the process advances to step S204.

In step S204, the initial value 0 is stored in the comparison source ID indicating the comparison source image. Comparison source ID
Are secured in the RAM 203. Upon completion of the processing, the process advances to step S205. In step S205, a similarity between the image indicated by the comparison source ID and the image indicated by the comparison destination ID is calculated. The degree of similarity is calculated from the description for the image corresponding to the comparison source ID and the description for the image corresponding to the comparison destination ID. Comparison source ID
The description for the image corresponding to is stored in the query buffer. The description corresponding to the comparison destination ID can be obtained from the image database 604. Since the method of obtaining the similarity between two sentences is generally performed in the field of information retrieval, a detailed description thereof will not be given here, but the maximum value of the similarity is 1.0 and the minimum value of the similarity is Normalization is performed to be 0.0. Step S if similarity is obtained
Proceed to 206.

Step S206 determines whether the similar image buffer 6
In step 09, it is determined whether the image indicated by the comparison destination ID can be stored, and the process branches depending on the determination result. If the similar image buffer 609 is not full, it is determined that the image can be stored unconditionally. Similar image buffer 60
If 9 is full, the similarity value of the item at the end of the similar image buffer is compared with the similarity value calculated in step S205, and if the similarity value calculated in step S205 is larger, the value can be stored. Is determined. It is determined that the data cannot be stored unless it is larger. If it is determined that the image can be stored, the process proceeds to step S207. If it is determined that the image cannot be stored, the process proceeds to step S208.

Step S207 is processing for storing the comparison destination ID in the similar image buffer 609 in association with the similarity calculated in step S205. Similar image buffer 6
09 are stored in such a way that the items are sorted in descending order by similarity. When the similar image buffer 609 is full, the last item in the similar image buffer 609 is discarded. Upon completion of the process, the process advances to step S208. Step S208 is a process of counting up the value of the comparison destination ID by 1 and changing the comparison destination image to the next image in the image database 604. When the processing is completed, step S2
Go to 09. Step S209 is processing to branch depending on whether all the images in the image database 604 have been compared with the comparison source image. If the value of the comparison destination ID is larger than the value of the last image ID stored in the image database 604, all the images have been compared, and the process proceeds to step S210. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S205.

In step S210, the value of the comparison source ID is set to 1
This is a process of counting up only, and changing the comparison source image to the next image in the image database 604. Upon completion of the process, the process advances to step S211. Step S211,
This is a branching process depending on whether similar images have been obtained for all the images in the image database 604.
If the value of the comparison source ID is larger than the value of the last image ID stored in the image database 604, the processing has been performed for all the images, and therefore, step S10 is performed.
The search initialization process 2 is ended. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S203.

FIGS. 25 and 26 are flow charts for explaining the query search process in step S109. In this processing, the image database 604 is searched using the query stored in the query box 701, and the search result is displayed on the display 208. Hereinafter, the details of this process will be described.

In step S301, the character string stored in the query box 701 is copied to the query buffer. The query buffer is secured in the RAM 203. Upon completion of the process, the process advances to step S302. In step S302, an initial value 0 is stored in a comparison destination ID indicating a comparison destination image. The comparison destination ID is secured in the RAM 203. Upon completion of the process, the process advances to step S303.
In step S303, the similarity between the sentence stored in the query buffer and the description of the image corresponding to the comparison destination ID is calculated. The description for the image corresponding to the comparison destination ID can be obtained from the image database 604. Since the method of obtaining the similarity between two sentences is generally performed in the field of information retrieval, a detailed description thereof will not be given here, but the maximum value of the similarity is 1.0 and the minimum value of the similarity is Normalization is performed to be 0.0. After the similarity is obtained, the process proceeds to step S304.

Step S304 is performed in the similar image buffer 6
In step 09, it is determined whether the image indicated by the comparison destination ID can be stored, and the process branches depending on the determination result. If the similar image buffer 609 is not full, it is determined that the image can be stored unconditionally. Similar image buffer 60
When 9 is full, the similarity value of the item at the end of the similar image buffer is compared with the similarity value calculated in step S303, and if the similarity value calculated in step S303 is larger, the value can be stored. Is determined. It is determined that the data cannot be stored unless it is larger. If it is determined that the image can be stored, the process proceeds to step S305. If it is determined that the image cannot be stored, the process proceeds to step S306.

Step S305 is processing for storing the comparison destination ID in the similar image buffer 609 in association with the similarity calculated in step S303. Each item in the similar image buffer is stored so as to be sorted in descending order by similarity. If the similar image buffer 609 is full,
The last item in the similar image buffer is discarded. Upon completion of the process, the process advances to step S306. Step S306
Is a process of counting up the value of the comparison destination ID by 1 and changing the comparison destination image to the next image in the image database 604. Upon completion of the processing, the process advances to step S307. Step S307 is processing to branch depending on whether all images in the image database 604 have been compared with the query. If the value of the comparison destination ID is the image database 60
If the value is larger than the value of the last image ID stored in step S4, it means that all the images have been compared.
Proceed to 308. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S303.

Step S308 determines whether the similar image buffer 6
This is a process of determining a screen configuration for displaying the search result from the search results stored in the search result 09, and outputting information of the determined screen configuration to the screen information 613. Details of this processing will be described later with reference to FIG. Upon completion of the process, the process advances to step S309. Step S309 is processing to substitute 0 for the screen number to display the first screen of the search result. The screen number is secured in the RAM 203.
Upon completion of the process, the process advances to step S310. Step S3
Reference numeral 10 denotes processing for displaying the search result on the display 208 based on the screen configuration stored in the screen information 613 and the search result stored in the similar image buffer 609. Details of this processing will be described later with reference to FIGS. When the processing ends, the query search processing in step S109 ends.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart for explaining the similarity search processing in step S111. In this process,
An image similar to the image stored in the comparison source ID is obtained from the similar image information 610, and the similar image is displayed on the display 208. Hereinafter, the details of this process will be described.

In step S401, the character string stored in the query buffer is cleared, the query box 701 is cleared, and displayed on the display 208.
Upon completion of the process, the process advances to step S402. Step S4
In 02, a similar image list for the image ID stored in the comparison source ID is obtained from the similar image information 610, and the contents of the similar image list are copied to the similar image buffer 609. Upon completion of the process, the process advances to step S403. In step S403, a screen configuration for displaying the search result is determined from the search results stored in the similar image buffer 609, and the information on the determined screen configuration is displayed as screen information 613.
This is the process of outputting to. Details of this processing will be described later with reference to FIG. Upon completion of the process, the process advances to step S404.

Step S404 is a process of substituting 0 for the screen number in order to display the first screen of the search result. The screen number is secured in the RAM 203. Upon completion of the processing, the process advances to step S405. Step S405
Is a process for displaying the search result on the display 208 based on the screen configuration stored in the screen information 613 and the search result stored in the similar image buffer 609. Details of this processing will be described later with reference to FIGS. When the processing is completed, the similarity search processing in step S111 is completed.

FIG. 28 is a flow chart for explaining the processing for displaying the next screen in step S107. This processing is
This is a process of displaying a screen next to the search result displayed on the display 208. Hereinafter, the details of this process will be described.

In step S501, the process branches depending on whether the next screen exists. The item corresponding to the value obtained by adding 1 to the value stored in the screen number is the screen information 61.
If it exists in step S3, it is determined that the next screen exists, and the process proceeds to step S502. If it does not exist in the screen information 613,
It is determined that the next screen does not exist, and the process of displaying the next screen in step S107 ends. Whether an item corresponding to the value obtained by adding 1 to the value stored in the screen number exists in the screen information 613 is determined by determining whether the display start value of the corresponding item is -1.
Can be determined. If it is -1, it is determined that it does not exist, and if it is not -1, it is determined that it exists.

Step S502 is processing for adding 1 to the value of the screen number in order to display the next screen currently displayed. Upon completion of the processing, the process advances to step S503.
In step S503, the screen indicated by the screen number is displayed on the display 20 based on the screen configuration stored in the screen information 613 and the search result stored in the similar image buffer 609.
8 is a process of displaying the information. Details of this processing will be described later with reference to FIGS. When the processing is completed, step S1
The next screen display process of 07 is ended.

FIG. 29 is a flow chart for explaining the process of displaying the previous screen in step S108. This processing is
This is a process of displaying the screen before the search result displayed on the display 208. Hereinafter, the details of this process will be described.

In step S601, the process branches depending on whether the previous screen exists. If the value of the screen number is not 0, it is determined that the previous screen exists, and step S6 is performed.
Go to 02. If the value of the screen number is 0, it is determined that the previous screen does not exist, and the process of displaying the previous screen in step S108 ends. Step S602 is processing to count down the value of the screen number by 1 in order to display the previous screen currently displayed. Upon completion of the process, the process advances to step S603.

Step S 603 is a process for displaying a screen indicated by a screen number on the display 208 based on the screen configuration stored in the screen information 613 and the search result stored in the similar image buffer 609. Details of this processing will be described later with reference to FIGS. When the processing is completed, the processing for displaying the previous screen in step S108 is completed.

FIG. 30 is a flow chart for explaining the processing for determining the screen configuration in steps S308 and S403. This processing is processing for determining a screen configuration on which a search result is to be displayed based on information stored in the similar image buffer 609, and outputting information on the screen configuration to the screen information 613. Hereinafter, the details of this process will be described.

In step S 701, the distribution status for the similarity of the images stored in the similar image buffer 609 is checked, and the distribution status is stored in the distribution information 611. First, the number of image IDs having a similarity of 1.0 is obtained from the similar image buffer 609 and stored in the distribution information 611.
The number of image IDs having a similarity smaller than 0 and having a similarity of 0.9 or more is obtained from the similar image buffer 609 and stored in the distribution information 611.
The number of image IDs stored in 09 is obtained and stored in the distribution information 611. Upon completion of the processing, the process advances to step S702.

Step S702 determines whether the similar image buffer 6
09 are grouped according to the degree of similarity to each other, and the grouping result is referred to as group information 61.
2 is stored. Details of this processing will be described later with reference to FIGS. When the processing is completed, step S70
Proceed to 3. Step S703 is processing for determining the scale to be displayed on each screen and storing the determined result in the screen information 613. Details of this processing are shown in FIGS.
Will be described later. When the processing is completed, the processing for determining the screen configuration ends.

FIGS. 31 and 32 are flow charts for explaining the grouping process in step S702. Hereinafter, the details of this process will be described.

In step S801, 0 is substituted for the buffer item indicating each item in the similar image buffer 609 so that the buffer item indicates the first item of the similar image buffer. Buffer items are reserved in the RAM 203. Upon completion of the processing, the process advances to step S802.
In step S802, a similar image list corresponding to the image ID in the similar image buffer 609 indicated by the buffer item is obtained from the similar image information 610. The similar image information 610 has an array of similar image lists as shown in FIG. 16, and the suffix of the array is an image ID, so that a corresponding similar image list can be easily extracted. Upon completion of the processing, the process advances to step S803.

In step S803, in step S8
Substituting 0 into a list item indicating each item in the similar image list extracted in 02 so that the list item indicates the first item of the similar image list. List item is RA
Secured in M203. When the processing is completed, step S8
Go to 04. In step S804, the process branches depending on whether the similarity of the item in the similar image list indicated by the list item is equal to or greater than a specified value or smaller than the specified value. If the value is equal to or more than the specified value, the process proceeds to step S805. If the value is smaller than the specified value, the process proceeds to step S809. The specified value is, for example, 0.
Set to 8.

In step S805, the process branches depending on whether or not the image ID indicated by the list item exists in an item in the similar image buffer at the head side of the item indicated by the buffer item. That is, if there is an image ID that matches the image ID of the item in the similar image list indicated by the list item among the items in the similar image buffer corresponding to a value smaller than the value of the buffer item, the process proceeds to step S80.
6 and if not, the flow branches to step S807.

In step S806, the image ID corresponding to the buffer item and the image ID corresponding to the list item
Is stored in the group information 612. The image ID corresponding to the buffer item is stored in the storage area of the image ID of the group information 612, the image ID corresponding to the list item is stored in the storage area of the representative image ID of the group information 612, and the similarity corresponding to the list item is displayed in the group information 612. Are stored in the storage area of the similarity of. Upon completion of the processing, the flow branches to step S809.

In step S807, the value of the list item is counted up by 1, and the next item in the similar image list extracted in step S802 is pointed to.
Upon completion of the processing, the process advances to step S808. Step S8
At 08, the process branches depending on whether the item pointed to by the list item is valid. If not valid, step S8
Since the processing has been performed on all valid items in the similar image list extracted in step 02, the process proceeds to step S809. If it is valid, the process still needs to be performed, so step S8
Go to 04. In step S809, the value of the buffer item is counted up by one, and the similar image buffer 60 is counted.
Point to the next item in 9. Upon completion of the process, the process advances to step S810.

In step S810, the process branches depending on whether the item pointed to by the buffer item is valid. If it is not valid, the process has been performed on all valid items in the similar image buffer 609, and the process advances to step S811. If it is valid, the process proceeds to step S802 because the process still needs to be performed. In step S811, the effective items stored in the group information 612 are set to the representative image I.
Sort in ascending order according to the value of D. When the processing ends, the grouping processing in step S702 ends.

FIG. 33 and FIG. 34 are flow charts for explaining the process of determining the display scale in step S703. Hereinafter, the details of this process will be described.

In step S901, initialization necessary for determining a display scale is performed. That is, 0 is stored in the screen number, and 0 is stored in the start area. The screen number is the number of the screen on which the search result is displayed, and the start area means the number of the area where the display of the image is started on each screen. Here, the area indicates a space between adjacent scales. The area number is the distribution information 6
It also corresponds to the suffix of the 11 array. The screen number and the start area are secured in the RAM 203. Also, screen information 61
The value of each element such as the display start and scale width of 3 is initialized to -1. Upon completion of the processing, the process advances to step S902.

In step S902, 0 is substituted for the area number and the scale radius. The area number and the scale radius are secured in the RAM 203. The area number corresponds to a subscript of the distribution information 611, and the area number for the matching area 706 is set to 0, the number for the area between the similarity 1.0 and 0.9 is set to 1, and the similarity is similarly set. The numbers are assigned in ascending order. The scale radius is set in the search result display area 70.
This is a value that represents the radius of the scale displayed in 3 by the number of dots. Upon completion of the process, the process advances to step S903. In step S903, branching is performed based on the result of comparison between the area number and the start number. If the value of the area number is smaller than the value of the start number, no image is displayed in the area corresponding to the area number, and the process advances to step S904. If the value of the area number is equal to or more than the value of the start number, the image of the area corresponding to the area number is displayed. The display proceeds to step S906.

In step S904, the increment of the radius of the area indicated by the area number is stored in the screen information 613. When the area number is 0, the radius increment is obtained by using the matching area data 605, and when the area number is other than 0, the radius increment is obtained by using the radius increment data 607. Here, since the region number is smaller than the value of the start region, no image is displayed in this region, that is, since the number of images to be displayed is 0, the increment of the radius is shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 0
It can be seen that the number of dots is 30 in both cases of 0 and 0.

If no character string exists in the query box 701, the similar image buffer 609 stores the comparison source I
An image similar to the image ID stored in D is stored, and if the start area is other than 0, the image of the comparison source is not known unless the image indicated by the comparison source ID is displayed. . Therefore, only in this case, one image indicated by the comparison source ID is displayed in the matching area 706. Therefore, in this case, when the area number is 0, the increment of the radius is the coincidence area data 60 shown in FIG.
5 indicates that the number of dots is 60 dots.

When the increment of the radius is determined, the screen information 61
The radius increment is stored in the scale width corresponding to the screen number and area number of No. 3. For example, in the query box 701, "r
If “screen” is stored and the value of the screen number is 1, in this processing, as shown in (T201) of FIG. 19, the scale width for the area corresponding to the similarity from 1.0 to 0.8 Are respectively stored as 30.
In this processing, the determined increment is added to the scale radius. Upon completion of the processing, the process advances to step S905. In step S905, the value of the area number is incremented by 1 in order to process the area next to the area indicated by the area number. Upon completion of the process, the process advances to step S903.

In step S906, the increment of the radius of the area indicated by the area number is determined. The radius increment is
It can be obtained from the matching area data 605, the radius increment data 607, the distribution information 611, and the area number. Using the distribution information 611, the number of images to be displayed in the area indicated by the area number is obtained. When the area number is 0, the matching area data 605 is used. When the area number is not 0, the radius increment data 607 is used. Then, an increment of the radius corresponding to the number of images to be displayed in the area is obtained.

For example, in the query box 701, “red
If “apple” is stored, the distribution information 611
Is as shown in (T101) in FIG. 17, so that, for the region numbers 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, 3, 5, 8, 6, 0, and 5 Is displayed, and the matching area data 60 shown in FIG.
5 and the radius increment data 607 shown in FIG.
, It can be seen that the radius increment of each region is 120, 90, 90, 90, 30, 90.

When no character string exists in the query box 701 and 999 is stored in the comparison source ID,
Since the distribution information 611 is as shown in (T102) of FIG. 17, for the region numbers 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 1, 3, 4, 2, 3, , And zero images are displayed, and by using the matching area data 605 shown in FIG. 11 and the radius increment data 607 shown in FIG. Is 60, 60, 60, 60, 60, 6
It can be seen that it is 0. When the processing is completed, step S90 is performed.
Proceed to 7.

In step S907, the process branches depending on whether the area indicated by the area number can be displayed in the search result display area. Step S9 to the value of the scale radius
If the value obtained by adding the increment of the radius obtained in step 06 is larger than half of the size 600 dots of the search result display area, the area indicated by the area number cannot be displayed in the search result display area, and the process proceeds to step S910. If it is less than half of 600 dots, it can be displayed and the process proceeds to step S908. For example, when the distribution information 611 is as shown in (T101) in FIG. 17, when the screen number is 0 and the area number is 2, the scale radius value is 300, and the process proceeds to step S908. If the screen number is 0 and the area number is 3, the value of the scale radius is 390, so that step S9 is performed.
Proceed to 10.

In step S908, step S906
Is stored in the screen information 613. For example, when the distribution information 611 is as shown in (T101) of FIG.
19, as shown in (T201) of FIG. 19, the scale widths for the regions having similarities of 1.0 to 0.8 for the screen number 0 are 120, 90, and 90, respectively.
Are 90, 30, and 9 respectively, for the scale widths for the regions having similarities of 0.7 to 0.5 with respect to the screen number 1.
0 is stored. Also, the distribution information 611 corresponds to (T
102), the screen information 613 includes, as shown in (T202) of FIG. 20, a scale width for an area whose similarity with respect to a screen number 0 is 1.0 to 0.6. , Respectively, 60, 60, 60, 60, 6
0 and 60 are stored. In this process, the determined increment of the radius is added to the scale radius. Upon completion of the processing, the process advances to step S909.

In step S909, the value of the area number is incremented by 1 in order to process the area next to the area indicated by the area number. Upon completion of the processing, the process advances to step S906. In step S910, the process branches depending on whether all the images stored in the similar image buffer 609 have been processed. Distribution information 611
If the values of the elements subsequent to the area indicated by the area number are all 0, the processing has been performed for all the images, and the display scale determination processing in step S703 ends. If not, the process advances to step S911 to display an image that has not been processed on the next screen. In step S911, first, the value of the start area is substituted for the start area corresponding to the screen number of the screen information 613. Then, the value of the screen number is incremented by 1 to process the next screen.
Also, the value of the area number is substituted for the start area. Upon completion of the processing, the process advances to step S902.

FIGS. 35 and 36 show steps S310,
Step S405, step S503, and step S6
13 is a flowchart for describing search result display processing of No. 03. This processing is for displaying the screen indicated by the screen number on the display 208 based on the information of the screen configuration stored in the screen information 613 and the information of the image stored in the similar image buffer 609 and the image database 604. It is. Hereinafter, the details of this process will be described.

In step S1001, the scale is displayed in the search result display area 703 using the scale width in the screen information 613 for the designated screen number. Similarity 1.
The value of the scale width is -1 in order from the scale width corresponding to 0.
Until the radius of the scale is added, a circle centered on the center of the search result display area 703 is displayed for each radius of the scale. The inside of the scale having the similarity of 1.0 is painted in gray. Upon completion of the processing, the process advances to step S1002.

In step S1002, the matching area 706
Is displayed with an image of similarity 1.0. Image I for an item with similarity 1.0 from the top of similar image buffer 609
D is obtained, and the image I is obtained from the image database 604.
An image file corresponding to D is obtained, and the image file is displayed in the matching area 706. The coordinates for displaying the image file are determined using the matching image data 606 and the matching area 706.
The coordinates corresponding to the number of images to be displayed are obtained. Also,
If there is no character string in the query box 701, the edge of the image indicated by the comparison source ID is displayed as a double frame as shown in FIG. In this case, the image represented by the comparison source ID is always set to the similarity buffer 1.0 by setting the similarity to 1.0.
Is stored inside. When the processing is completed, step S10
Go to 03.

Step S1003 is a process of acquiring, from the similar image buffer 609, the first image ID other than the similarity of 1.0 as the image ID to be displayed. Upon completion of the process, the process advances to step S1004. Step S10
At 04, the process branches depending on whether the target image is a representative image. Image ID of the target image
Is stored as the image ID of the group information, it is determined that the image is not the representative image, and the process advances to step S1005. If it is not stored as an image ID, it is determined that the image is a representative image, and the process advances to step S1007.

In step S1005, the image ID to be displayed is changed to the next image ID in the similar image buffer. Upon completion of the processing, the process advances to step S1006.
In step S1006, the process branches depending on whether to end the image display. When all the images in the similar image buffer 609 have been processed, or when the scale width of the area where the target image is displayed is -1, it is determined that the display of the image is to be ended, and the step is performed. S1011
Proceed to. If not, the process proceeds to step S1004 assuming that the image is still displayed.

In step S1007, the display position of the image to be displayed, that is, the representative image is determined. First, the direction of the coordinates of the center of the image to be displayed from the center of the search result display area 703 is determined using the arrangement angle data 608. By using the arrangement angle data 608, the direction from the center can be uniquely determined depending on the number of the representative image to be displayed. Next, a distance from the center of the search result display area 703 of the coordinates of the center of the image to be displayed to the coordinates of the center of the image to be displayed is determined using the screen information 613. The distance from the center of the search result display area 703 to the area where the image is displayed is obtained by accumulating the corresponding scale width of the screen information 613 from the area of 1.0 from the specified screen number and the similarity of the image to be displayed. Can be obtained by
Since the scale width of the area can be obtained from the screen information 613, the distance from the center in the area can be obtained from the scale width and the similarity.

For example, the screen information 613 corresponds to (T2
In the state of 01), when an image having a similarity of 0.56 is displayed when the screen number is designated as 1, it is understood that this image is displayed in the area of 0.5, and the search result display area is displayed. The distance of the area from the center of 703 to 0.5 is 1.
By adding a scale width of 0.6 from a scale width of 0, it can be seen that 30 + 30 + 30 + 90 + 30 = 210 dots. The distance from the center in the area of 0.5 is 90 × (0.6-0.56) /0.1=36 dots because the scale width of the area of 0.5 is 90 dots. It turns out that it is. Therefore, in this case, the distance from the center of the search result display area 703 to the center of the image having the similarity of 0.56 is 210 + 36 = 246 dots. In this manner, the angle and the distance from the center of the search result display area 703 can be obtained, so that the position where the image is displayed can be determined. Upon completion of the processing, the process advances to step S1008.

Step S1008 is a process for displaying a representative line from the center of the search result display area 703 to the display position obtained in step S1007. However, the matching area 7
At 06, the representative line is not displayed. Upon completion of the process, the process advances to step S1009. Step S1009
Is a process of displaying all the images of the group to which the representative image of interest belongs except for the representative image. The image of the group to which the representative image belongs can be obtained using the group information 612. The value of the representative image ID in the group information 612 is the image I of the representative image to be displayed.
All the images corresponding to the image ID equal to the value of D are to be displayed.

The distance from the center of the search result display area 703 to each image to be displayed can be obtained from the similarity of each image in the similar image buffer 609 in the same manner as in step S1007. The distance from the display position of the representative image to the display position of each image is determined by the group information 61.
2 can be determined. For example, from the representative image ID and the image ID of the image to be displayed, a corresponding similarity is obtained from the group information 612, and a value obtained by subtracting the similarity from 1.0 is multiplied by 500.
In addition, each image is displayed so as to alternate between the counterclockwise side and the clockwise side of the representative line with the search result display area 703 as the center in the order of similarity with the representative image.

As described above, the distance from the center of the search result display area 703 and the center of the representative image can be obtained, and it is possible to determine which of the lines connecting the two points should be displayed. The position at which each image is displayed can be determined.
When the display position of each image is determined, a line connecting the center of each image and the center of the representative image is displayed, and each image is displayed in ascending order of similarity with the representative image. By displaying the images in this order, when the images overlap, the image having a higher similarity to the representative image is less likely to be blocked by other images. Upon completion of the processing, the process advances to step S1010. In step S1010, a representative image is displayed at the position determined in step S1007. In this way, since the representative image is displayed last in the group, it is possible to prevent the representative image having the highest similarity in the group from being obstructed by other images. Upon completion of the processing, the process advances to step S1005.

In step S1011, the previous screen button 7
12 and a next screen button 713 are displayed. If the designated screen number is 0, the previous screen does not exist, so the triangle of the previous screen button 712 is displayed on a white background. If the screen number is not 0, the previous screen exists, and the triangle of the previous screen button 712 is a black background. indicate. If the value of the start area of the screen information 613 for the screen number obtained by adding 1 to the designated screen number is −1, there is no next screen, so the next screen button 713
Is displayed on a white background, and if it is not -1, the next screen exists, so the triangle of the next screen button 713 is displayed on a black background. When the processing is completed, the processing of the search result display is ended.

As described above, according to the information search device of the embodiment of the present invention, the input unit 101 for inputting search conditions, the information storage unit 107 storing individual information to be searched, The matching degree calculating unit 103 compares the individual information stored in the information storage unit 107 with the search condition input from the input unit 101 and calculates the degree of matching that satisfies the search condition. Scale display section 104 for determining and displaying scale intervals and display positions
And a search result display unit 105 for determining and displaying a display position of information that satisfies the search condition based on the degree of coincidence, and has the following effects.

In the above configuration, the distance on the display and the rate of change of the coincidence are changed in accordance with the distribution of the information of the search result with respect to the degree of coincidence, and a scale indicating the rate of change of the degree of coincidence is displayed. Therefore, there is an effect that the information of the search result can be efficiently displayed in the area for displaying the search result.

Further, the display distance between the individual scales is
By making it possible to change for each individual scale, it is possible to increase the scale display interval for sections with a large number of displayed information, and to narrow the scale display interval for sections with a small number of displayed information. , While efficiently displaying search result information in the search result display area,
There is an effect that it is possible to prevent information from overlapping each other in a section with a large amount of information to be displayed, thereby making it difficult to view.

[Other Embodiments] In the above embodiment, an example has been shown in which similar image information 610 is created each time in step S102 of FIG. 21, but similar image information is processed in advance by performing the same processing as step S102. It may be created, stored in the CD-ROM 205 as related data, and loaded into the RAM 203 in step S101.

In the above embodiment, the example in which the image database 502 is stored in the CD-ROM 205 has been described. However, the image database stored in the HD of the HD drive 206 may be handled.

In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which an information retrieval program and related data are directly loaded from the CD-ROM 205 to the RAM 203 and executed as an external storage device. And related data once in the HD drive 206
Is stored (installed) in the HD of the HD drive 206 when the information search program is operated.
D may be loaded into the RAM 203. The medium storing the information search program is a CD-R
In addition to OM, FD (floppy (registered trademark) disk),
It may be an IC memory card or the like. Further, the present information search program is stored in the ROM 202 and is configured to be a part of the memory map.
It is also possible to execute with.

Further, in the above embodiment, an example was described in which English was used as a language used as a query and an explanatory note. However, the present invention is not limited to only English and can be applied to any language including Japanese. It is a possible invention.

In the above embodiment, in step S111 of FIG. 22, in order to obtain an image similar to the specified image, the degree of similarity is calculated by using the explanatory text attached to the image. The present invention does not depend on the method of calculating the similarity. For example, the similarity may be calculated using information of the image itself, such as the brightness, color, and composition of the image.

Further, in the above embodiment, an example in which an image is searched as an information search target has been described, but the search target handled by the present invention is not limited to an image. For example, it is effective for various information searches such as documents, videos, and sounds. As an example of the search result displayed in the search result display area, when searching for an image, the image itself is displayed.
When searching for a document, the title or keyword of the document may be displayed instead of the image. In the case of a video, information representing the video, such as a title and a representative scene, may be displayed, or the video of each result may be reproduced.

Further, in the above embodiment, in order to determine the increment of the radius of the scale with respect to the value of the degree of coincidence of the scale,
Although the common radius increment data 607 is used, the radius increment data corresponding to each scale is prepared for each scale, and the radius increment data corresponding to the radius increment of each scale is determined. It may be used. Also, radius increment data corresponding to the radius of the scale is prepared for each radius value, and when determining the increment of the radius of each scale,
The radius increment may be determined using the radius increment data corresponding to the radius of the scale next to the center of the search result display area. By doing so, more search result information can be displayed in a limited area.

In the above embodiment, the radius increment data 607 is stored with the radius increment corresponding to the number of images displayed between adjacent scales. However, the radius increment data 607 is displayed between adjacent scales. The increment of the radius may be stored in correspondence with the number of representative images of the group to be performed. In this case, the distribution information 611 stores the number of representative images of the group existing between the scales, and the order of the distribution information creation in step S701 and the grouping process in step S702 in FIG. It is necessary to create distribution information after performing the above processing. By doing so, it is possible to display more search result information in a limited area.

In the above embodiment, the display interval between the scales is determined for each individual scale using the radius increment data 607 in order to determine the display interval between the scales. Determine the number of images to be displayed in the area or the number of representative images of the group, determine the images to be displayed in order from the image with the highest similarity, and display the minimum similarity value of the displayed image and the search result. The display intervals of the scales may be determined from the size of the area so that the display intervals of the respective scales are the same.

In the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, each scale is displayed as a circle centered on the center of the search result display area, and each scale is displayed as a concentric circle with the match area. Each image is displayed so as to be arranged radially from the center of the search result display area, with the similarity corresponding to the distance from the matching area, but the present invention is limited to the display method as described above. Not something. For example, as shown in FIG. 37, the matching area is a rectangular area on the left side of the search result display area indicated by 3001, and the scales are 3002 and 3003.
May be parallel lines to the left side, as shown by, and the distance of the perpendicular straight line from each image to the matching area may be displayed in accordance with the similarity of each image. In this case, as in the arrangement angle data 608, the arrangement position of each image is not specified by an angle with respect to the center of the matching area, but is instead specified by the distance from the upper side of the search result display area. The image of the search result can be displayed at a desired position in exactly the same procedure as shown in the embodiment. Even when the search results are displayed in this way, as shown in FIG. 37, the images of the search results can be grouped and displayed as in the above embodiment.

The present invention may be applied to a system constituted by a plurality of devices or to an apparatus constituted by a single device. A storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or an apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or the apparatus executes the program code stored in the storage medium. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by executing the reading.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS or the like running on the computer is actually executed based on the instructions of the program code. It goes without saying that a part or all of the above-described processing is performed, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into the memory provided on the function expansion board inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instructions of the program code, It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0155]

As described above, according to the information retrieval apparatus of the first and second aspects, the degree of coincidence, which is a degree satisfying the retrieval condition, is calculated, and the scale indicating the change of the degree of coincidence is displayed. Since the information that satisfies the search condition is displayed based on the matching degree, that is, the display distance and the rate of change of the matching degree are changed in accordance with the distribution of the search result information with respect to the matching degree. Since the scale indicating the rate of change of the degree is displayed, there is an effect that the information of the search result can be efficiently displayed in the area for displaying the search result.

According to the information retrieval device of the present invention, the display distance between the individual scales can be changed for each individual scale, so that the number of pieces of information to be displayed is large. In the section, the display interval of the scale is expanded, and in the section where the number of information to be displayed is small, the display interval of the scale can be narrowed, and the information of the search result can be efficiently displayed in the search result display area and displayed. There is an effect that information can be prevented from being difficult to see due to overlapping with each other in a section where there is a lot of information.

According to the information retrieval apparatus of the ninth and tenth aspects, information of a retrieval result, that is, information of an image, a document, a video, etc. can be efficiently displayed in an area for displaying the retrieval result, and is displayed. There is an effect that it is possible to prevent information from overlapping each other in a section with a large amount of information and making it difficult to view.

According to the information retrieval method of the present invention, the degree of matching that satisfies the search condition is calculated, and a scale indicating the change in the degree of matching is displayed.
Since the information that satisfies the search condition is displayed based on the matching degree, that is, the display distance and the rate of change of the matching degree are changed in accordance with the distribution of the search result information with respect to the matching degree. Since the scale indicating the rate of change of the degree is displayed, there is an effect that the information of the search result can be efficiently displayed in the area for displaying the search result.

According to the information retrieval method of the present invention, the display distance between individual scales can be changed for each individual scale, so that the number of pieces of information to be displayed is large. In the section, the display interval of the scale is expanded, and in the section where the number of information to be displayed is small, the display interval of the scale can be narrowed, and the information of the search result can be efficiently displayed in the search result display area and displayed. There is an effect that information can be prevented from being difficult to see due to overlapping with each other in a section where there is a lot of information.

Further, according to the information search method of the present invention, the information of the search result, that is, the information of the image, the document, the video, etc. can be efficiently displayed in the area for displaying the search result and displayed. There is an effect that it is possible to prevent information from overlapping each other in a section with a large amount of information and making it difficult to view.

According to the storage medium of the present invention, by reading and executing an information retrieval method from a storage medium by a computer, a coincidence which satisfies a retrieval condition is calculated, and a change in the coincidence is calculated. Is displayed, and the information that satisfies the search condition is displayed based on the degree of match. Since the scale is changed in accordance with the change and the scale indicating the rate of change of the matching degree is displayed, there is an effect that the information of the search result can be efficiently displayed in the area for displaying the search result.

According to the storage medium of the present invention, the information retrieval method is read out from the storage medium and executed by the computer, so that the display distance between the individual scales is changed for each individual scale. With this configuration, it is possible to increase the display interval of the scales in sections where the number of information to be displayed is large, and to narrow the display interval of scales in the section where the number of information to be displayed is small, and to display search results. There is an effect that the information of the search result can be efficiently displayed in the area, and it is possible to avoid that the information is overlapped with each other in a section having a large amount of information to be displayed, thereby making it difficult to view.

According to the storage medium of the present invention, the information retrieval method is read out from the storage medium by the computer and executed, so that the information of the retrieval result, that is, the image of the retrieval result can be efficiently displayed in the area displaying the retrieval result. In addition, it is possible to display information such as a document, a video, and the like, and it is possible to prevent information from overlapping each other in a section having a large amount of information to be displayed, thereby making it difficult to view.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating a concept of an information search device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of the information search device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a concept in which a program or the like is supplied from a CD-ROM as a storage medium of the information search device according to the embodiment of the present invention to a computer system (information search device).

FIG. 4 is an RO of the information search device according to the embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of M.

FIG. 5 is a CD of the information search device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of a ROM.

FIG. 6 is a CD of the information search device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
-The information retrieval program stored in the ROM is RA
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of a memory map in a state where the memory map is loaded into M and becomes executable.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen configuration example of a first search result when a query search is performed by the information search device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a next screen configuration example of a search result of a query search in the information search device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen configuration example of a first search result when a similar search is performed by the information search device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 shows an R of the information search device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of an image database read into an AM.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an information retrieval apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of matching area data read into an AM.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an information retrieval apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of matching image data read into an AM.

FIG. 13 shows an R of the information search device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of radius increment data read into an AM.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an information retrieval apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of arrangement angle data secured in an AM.

FIG. 15 shows an R of the information search device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of a similar image buffer secured in the AM.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an information retrieval apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of similar image information secured in an AM.

FIG. 17 shows an R of the information search device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of distribution information secured in an AM.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an information retrieval apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of group information secured in an AM.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an information retrieval apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of screen information secured in an AM.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an information retrieval apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of screen information secured in an AM.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing an information search method in the information search device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing an information search method in the information search device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a search initialization method in the information search device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing a search initialization method in the information search device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing a query search method in the information search device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing a query search method in the information search device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing a similarity search method in the information search device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing a next screen display method in the information search device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing a previous screen display method in the information search device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart illustrating a screen configuration determining method in the information search device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing a grouping method in the information search device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing a grouping method in the information search device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing a display scale determination method in the information search device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart showing a display scale determination method in the information search device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing a search result display method in the information search device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 36 is a flowchart showing a search result display method in the information search device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 37 is an explanatory diagram showing a search result display area for explaining another method of displaying a search result in the information search device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 101 input unit 102 control unit 103 coincidence calculation unit 104 scale display unit 105 search result display unit 106 storage unit 107 information storage unit 108 display unit

Claims (30)

[Claims] 1. An information retrieval apparatus for retrieving and displaying information, comprising: a coincidence calculating means for calculating a degree of coincidence that satisfies an information retrieval condition; and a scale display for displaying a scale indicating a change in the degree of coincidence. An information search device comprising: a control unit; and a search result display control unit that displays information satisfying a search condition based on a degree of coincidence. 2. A search condition input means for inputting search conditions, and an information storage means for storing individual information to be searched, wherein the matching degree calculating means comprises an individual storage means for storing the individual information stored in the information storage means. Is compared with the search condition input from the search condition input means, and the degree of matching that satisfies the search condition is calculated. The scale display control means displays the scale display interval and display indicating the change in the degree of match. 2. The information search apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a position is determined and displayed, and the search result display control means determines and displays a display position of information satisfying a search condition based on the degree of matching. 3. The scale display control means individually determines display intervals of individual scales, and the search result display control means determines the display intervals of the scales based on the scale display control and the degree of coincidence determined by the scale display control means. 3. The information search device according to claim 1, wherein a display position of information satisfying a search condition is determined. 4. The information retrieval apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said scale display control means determines a display interval of the scales based on the number of pieces of information to be displayed between adjacent scales. 5. The search result display control means radially displays information that satisfies the search condition centering on a point where the degree of coincidence is a perfect match, and the scale display control means sets a position between adjacent scales. 5. The information retrieval method according to claim 4, wherein the radius of the scale is determined based on the number of pieces of information to be displayed and the radius of the adjacent scale, and a circle centered on a point where the degree of coincidence is perfectly matched is displayed as the scale. apparatus. 6. The scale display control means determines a scale display interval based on a minimum value of a degree of coincidence of information displayed by the search result display control means and a size of an information display area. The information retrieval device according to 1 or 2. 7. A grouping unit for grouping individual information displayed by the search result display control unit, wherein the scale display control unit is configured to display the information based on the number of groups displayed between adjacent scales. The display interval of the scale is determined, and the search result display control unit determines and displays the display position so that the information belonging to each group grouped by the grouping unit is displayed close to each other. The information retrieval apparatus according to claim 3, wherein 8. The search result display control means displays information that satisfies the search condition on the basis of a straight line whose degree of coincidence is a perfect match, and the scale display control means displays information between adjacent scales. The information retrieval apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a display interval of the scale is determined based on the number of pieces of information, and a straight line having a perfect match is displayed as the scale. 9. The information search apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information search apparatus is applicable to search for information such as an image, a document, a video, and an audio. 10. The information search device according to claim 1, wherein the information search device is applicable to an information processing device such as a computer. 11. An information retrieval method applied to an information retrieval apparatus for retrieving and displaying information, comprising: a coincidence degree calculating step of calculating a degree of coincidence that satisfies an information retrieval condition; An information search method, comprising: a scale display control step of displaying a scale to be displayed; and a search result display control step of displaying information satisfying a search condition based on the degree of coincidence. 12. A search condition input step of inputting a search condition, wherein in the matching degree calculation step, individual information stored in information storage means for storing individual information to be searched and the search condition input Comparing the search condition entered in the step and calculating the degree of coincidence which is a degree satisfying the search condition, in the scale display control step, the display interval and display position of the scale indicating the change in the degree of match are determined and displayed. 12. The information search method according to claim 11, wherein in the search result display control step, a display position of information satisfying a search condition is determined and displayed based on the degree of matching. 13. In the scale display control step, display intervals of individual scales are individually determined, and in the search result display control step, based on the display intervals and the degree of coincidence of the scales determined in the scale display control step. 13. The information search method according to claim 11, wherein a display position of information satisfying a search condition is determined. 14. The information retrieval method according to claim 13, wherein, in the scale display control step, a display interval of the scales is determined based on the number of pieces of information to be displayed between adjacent scales. 15. The search result display control step,
The information that satisfies the search condition is radially displayed around the point where the degree of coincidence is a perfect match, and in the scale display control step, based on the number of information to be displayed between adjacent scales and the radius of the adjacent scale. 15. The information retrieval method according to claim 14, wherein a radius of the scale is determined, and a circle centered on a point at which the degree of coincidence is a perfect match is displayed as the scale. 16. The scale display control step of determining a scale display interval based on a minimum value of a degree of coincidence of information displayed in the search result display control step and a size of an information display area. 11. The information search method according to 11 or 12. 17. A method according to claim 17, further comprising a grouping step of grouping individual information displayed in said search result display control step, wherein said scale display control step is based on the number of groups displayed between adjacent scales. A display interval of the scale is determined, and in the search result display control step, a display position is determined and displayed so that information belonging to each group grouped in the grouping step is displayed close to each other. 14. The information retrieval method according to claim 13, wherein: 18. The search result display control step,
Displaying information that satisfies the search condition on the basis of a straight line whose degree of coincidence is a perfect match, and in the scale display control step,
15. The information search method according to claim 14, wherein a display interval of the scales is determined based on the number of pieces of information to be displayed between adjacent scales, and a straight line having a perfect match is displayed as a scale. 19. The method according to claim 11, wherein the method is applicable to a search for information such as an image, a document, a video, and an audio.
8. The information search method according to any one of 8. 20. The information search method according to claim 11, wherein the information search method is applicable to an information processing apparatus such as a computer. 21. A storage medium readable by a computer storing a program for executing an information search method applied to an information search apparatus for searching and displaying information, the information search method comprising: A matching degree calculation step of calculating a matching degree that is a degree of satisfaction, a scale display control step of displaying a scale indicating a change in the matching degree, and a search result display control step of displaying information satisfying a search condition based on the matching degree. A storage medium characterized by having. 22. A search condition input step of inputting a search condition, wherein in the matching degree calculation step, individual information stored in an information storage means for storing individual information to be searched and the search condition input Comparing the search condition entered in the step and calculating the degree of coincidence which is a degree satisfying the search condition, in the scale display control step, the display interval and display position of the scale indicating the change in the degree of match are determined and displayed. 22. The storage medium according to claim 21, wherein in the search result display control step, a display position of information satisfying a search condition is determined and displayed based on the degree of matching. 23. In the scale display control step, display intervals of individual scales are individually determined, and in the search result display control step, based on the scale display intervals and the degree of coincidence determined in the scale display control step. 23. The storage medium according to claim 21, wherein a display position of information satisfying a search condition is determined. 24. The storage medium according to claim 23, wherein, in the scale display control step, a display interval of scales is determined based on the number of pieces of information to be displayed between adjacent scales. 25. In the search result display control step,
The information that satisfies the search condition is radially displayed around the point where the degree of coincidence is a perfect match, and in the scale display control step, based on the number of information to be displayed between adjacent scales and the radius of the adjacent scale. 25. The storage medium according to claim 24, wherein a radius of the scale is determined, and a circle centered on a point at which the degree of coincidence is perfectly matched is displayed as the scale. 26. The scale display control step, wherein a scale display interval is determined based on a minimum value of a degree of coincidence of information displayed in the search result display control step and a size of an information display area. 23. The storage medium according to 21 or 22. 27. A method according to claim 27, further comprising a grouping step of grouping individual information items displayed in said search result display control step, wherein said scale display control step is based on the number of groups displayed between adjacent scales. A display interval of the scale is determined, and in the search result display control step, a display position is determined and displayed so that information belonging to each group grouped in the grouping step is displayed close to each other. The storage medium according to claim 23, wherein 28. The search result display control step,
Displaying information that satisfies the search condition on the basis of a straight line whose degree of coincidence is a perfect match, and in the scale display control step,
25. The storage medium according to claim 24, wherein a display interval of the scales is determined based on the number of pieces of information to be displayed between adjacent scales, and a straight line having a perfect match is displayed as a scale. 29. The method according to claim 21, wherein the method is applicable to a search for information such as an image, a document, a video, and an audio.
9. The storage medium according to any one of items 8. 30. The storage medium according to claim 21, which is applicable to an information processing device such as a computer.