JP2001043229A - Device and method for data base retrieval guidance - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten time required for data retrieval by outputting data based on a related character string by providing the data from a database as a result of retrieval of the database on the basis of the related character string. SOLUTION: A related word dictionary reference mechanism 8 retrieves and extracts a related character string related to the character string of a first retrieval condition. Besides, a keyword converting mechanism 9 acquires and outputs a related character string for which the character string of the first retrieval condition is converted to a keyword. Then, a different solution selecting mechanism 7 outputs the related character string, which is provided from the related word dictionary reference mechanism 8 or keyword converting mechanism 9, related to the character string of the first retrieval condition to a data base retrieving mechanism 3 and based on the inputted related character string, the database retrieving mechanism 3 retrieves the database and outputs the result on a picture display device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a database search guidance apparatus and method. In particular, the present invention relates to a database search guidance device that obtains another solution by continuing a search using a different keyword related to the keyword when a search is performed using a certain keyword but there is no matching data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional database search system,
The database is searched based on search conditions input by a user using this system. Then, as a result of the search, if one or more data matching the search condition is recorded in the database, the recorded data is output. When data matching the search condition is not recorded in the database, an answer of "none" indicating that there is no corresponding record is output.

[0003] When data matching the search condition is not recorded in the database, that is, when the answer of "None" is output, the user of the system searches again by changing the search condition. Will be. That is,
If the search conditions are not specified properly, trial and error will be repeated until matching data is obtained.

An example of such a conventional database search system is shown in FIG. This figure 5
1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional database search system. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 1 denotes a search client, to which a user of the system inputs database search conditions. A personal computer is used as the search client 1. Reference numeral 2 denotes a search condition receiving mechanism, to which a database search condition input to and output from the search client 1 is input.

[0005] Reference numeral 3 denotes a database search mechanism to which the search conditions of the database output from the search condition receiving mechanism 2 are input. Then, the database search mechanism 3 into which the database search conditions are input converts the input search conditions into an appropriate database search language (SQL). The search condition receiving mechanism 2 that outputs the input database search conditions to the database search mechanism 3 includes an interface.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a data holding mechanism, which is a database for holding data. The data holding mechanism 5 corresponds to a memory or a magnetic disk device. The data holding mechanism 5 is accessed by the database search mechanism 3. Reference numeral 4 denotes a screen display mechanism, on which a result obtained when the database search mechanism 3 accesses the data holding mechanism 5 is displayed.

Next, the operation of the conventional database search system shown in FIG. 5 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the conventional database search system. In FIG. 6, in step (hereinafter referred to as A) 1, a user of the system inputs a character string as a search condition from the search client 1. When A1 ends, the process proceeds to A2. In A2, the search condition receiving mechanism 2 receives a character string input from the search client 1. When A2 ends, the process proceeds to A3.

At A3, the database search mechanism 3 receives the character string from the search condition receiving mechanism 2 and replaces it with a database search language. When A3 ends, the process proceeds to A4.
In A4, the database search mechanism 3 executes the data holding mechanism 5 based on the character string replaced with the database search language.
Search for. When A4 is completed, the process proceeds to A5. In A5, the database search mechanism 3 calculates the number of data corresponding to a predetermined character string, that is, the number of hits, as a result of searching the data holding mechanism 4. If the number of hits is 1 or more, the process proceeds to A6, and if it is 0, the process proceeds to A7.

At A6, the database search mechanism 3 creates all the data obtained by the search in a list. This A
When 6 is completed, the process proceeds to A8. At A7, the database search mechanism 3 creates a "no match" or "no hit" message indicating that nothing was obtained by the search. This A
When 7 is completed, the process proceeds to A8. At A8, the screen display mechanism 4
The data relating to the list or message created and input by the database search mechanism 3 is converted into data for screen display. When A8 ends, the process proceeds to A9. In A9, the screen display mechanism 4 causes the list or the message converted into the data for screen display to be displayed on the screen of the search client 1. When A9 ends, a series of processes ends.

[0010]

As described above, in the conventional database search system, the data recorded in the database is determined based on whether or not the search condition entered by the user of the system exactly matches the search condition. Was being searched. For this reason, if no data matching the search condition was found, the result was not obtained. Therefore, the user of this system has to repeatedly input a new search condition until data that matches the input search condition is detected. That is, a user of the conventional database search system has a high possibility of repeating trial and error of data search using the search client 1, and is liable to cause a very large time loss.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and searches data recorded in a database based on whether or not a search condition entered by a user matches the search condition itself. Instead, data that substantially matches the search condition is output as a search result based on a predetermined criterion, thereby reducing the possibility of trial and error in data search and shortening the time required for data search. The purpose is to obtain a database search guidance device.

[0012]

A database search guidance apparatus according to the present invention comprises: an input unit for inputting a character string; a search unit for searching a database based on the character string input to the input unit; If the result of the database search based on the column does not result in data based on the character string from the database, the character string is input and a conversion unit that outputs a related character string related to the character string, and the search unit includes a conversion unit. An output unit for performing a database search based on the related character string output from the database, and outputting data when the data based on the related character string is obtained from the database as a result of the database search based on the related character string. It is.

Further, in the database search guidance apparatus according to the present invention, the conversion unit has a related term dictionary in which a plurality of character strings are recorded in association with each other, and when a certain character string is input, the related term dictionary is added to the related term dictionary. The different character strings associated with each other are output as related character strings.

Further, in the database search guidance apparatus according to the present invention, the conversion unit has a keyword conversion rule set in advance, and generates and outputs a related character string based on the keyword conversion rule from the input character string. .

Further, in the database search guidance apparatus according to the present invention, when the specific character string is input, the conversion unit outputs a different character string associated with the specific character string from the database as a related character string. Is what you do.

According to the database search guidance method of the present invention, an input step in which a character string is input to an input unit, a first search step of searching a database based on the character string in the search unit, and a method based on the character string A conversion unit that outputs a related character string related to the character string when the data based on the character string is not obtained from the database as a result of the database search; and a search unit that searches the database based on the related character string by the search unit. A second search step of performing a search of the database based on the related character string,
An output step of outputting data at the output unit when data based on the related character string is obtained from the database.

Further, in the database search guidance method according to the present invention, in the conversion step, a plurality of character strings possessed by the conversion unit are associated with each other and recorded based on the input of a certain character string. The related character string recorded in association with the dictionary is output.

Further, in the database search guidance method according to the present invention, in the conversion step, a related character string is generated and output from the input character string based on a keyword conversion rule preset in the conversion unit.

Further, in the database search guidance method according to the present invention, in the conversion step, a related character string associated with the input specific character string is output from the database.

[0020]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of a database search guidance apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the database search guidance device according to the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 6 denotes an alternative solution generation mechanism, and a database search mechanism 3
, And exchanges data with the database search mechanism 3.

Note that the search client 1 corresponds to an input unit, the database search mechanism 3 corresponds to a search unit, the alternative solution generation mechanism 6 corresponds to a conversion unit, and the screen display device 4 corresponds to an output unit. Also, in FIG. 1, the same or corresponding parts as those in the conventional example shown in FIG. 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted, and the parts different from FIG.

Next, the alternative solution generating mechanism 6 of the database search guidance apparatus of the present embodiment shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the alternative solution generation mechanism 6 of the database search guidance device of the present embodiment. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 7 denotes another solution selection mechanism, which is connected to the database search mechanism 3. Reference numeral 8 denotes a related term dictionary reference mechanism, which is connected to the alternative solution selection mechanism 7.
The related term dictionary reference mechanism 8 is used for the search client 1
The term related to the character string that is the search condition input in is extracted.

Reference numeral 9 denotes a keyword conversion mechanism, which is connected to the alternative solution selection mechanism 7. The keyword conversion mechanism 9 converts a character string that is a search condition input to the search client 1 using an appropriate function. Reference numeral 10 denotes a corresponding term indicating mechanism, which is connected to the alternative solution selecting mechanism 7. The corresponding term designating mechanism 10 converts a character string as a search condition input to the search client 1 into a term specified in advance.

By using the related term dictionary reference mechanism 8, the keyword conversion mechanism 9, or the corresponding term designating mechanism 10, data matching the search condition itself input from the user of the search client 1 is searched from the database. When there is no search condition, a new search condition replacing the search condition is output. When a new search condition is extracted from the related term dictionary reference mechanism 8, the keyword conversion mechanism 9, or the corresponding term designating mechanism 10, the database search mechanism 3 outputs data based on the new search condition, Similar data that is a solution is searched and extracted. The alternative solution generation mechanism 6 includes an alternative solution selection mechanism 7, a related term dictionary reference mechanism 8, a keyword conversion mechanism 9, and a corresponding term designating mechanism 10.

Next, the operation of the database search guidance apparatus according to the present invention shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the database search guidance apparatus according to the present invention. FIG.
In step A5, the database search mechanism 3 calculates the number of data corresponding to a predetermined character string, that is, the number of hits, as a result of searching the data holding mechanism 4. If the number of hits is 1 or more, the process proceeds to A6, and if it is 0, the process proceeds to B1. In step (hereinafter referred to as B) 1, the database search mechanism 3 converts the character string serving as a search condition into another solution generation mechanism 6.
Output to Then, the alternative solution generation mechanism 6 to which the data on the character string is input outputs a related character string related to the character string to the database search mechanism 3 based on a predetermined condition.

At B2, the database search mechanism 3 receives the related character string output from the alternative solution generation mechanism 6. When B2 ends, the process proceeds to B3. In B3, the database search mechanism 3 replaces the related character string received from the alternative solution generation mechanism 6 with a database search language. When B3 ends, the process proceeds to B4. B4 database search mechanism 3
Searches the database which is the data holding mechanism 5 based on the related character string replaced with the database search language. When B4 ends, the process proceeds to A6.

The operation of the database search guidance apparatus of this embodiment shown in FIG.
6, and operations A8 to A9 are the same as those in the conventional example shown in FIG. 6, and the description thereof is omitted, and operations different from those of the conventional database search system are described.

Next, the operation of the alternative solution generation mechanism 6 of the database search guidance apparatus of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the alternative solution generation mechanism 6 of the database search guidance device of the present embodiment. In FIG. 4, in step (hereinafter referred to as C) 1, the alternative solution selection mechanism 7 of the alternative solution generation mechanism 6 selects a mechanism that is a search condition conversion method for acquiring an alternative solution. The selection of this mechanism may be specified in advance by the user of the database search guidance device, or may be automatically selected according to the search condition items.

When a mechanism for searching for a related term of a character string of a search condition is selected to select a mechanism for obtaining such another solution, the process proceeds to C2, and a mechanism for performing keyword conversion of the character string of the search condition is set. When selected, the process proceeds to C3, and when a mechanism for searching for the corresponding term of the character string of the search condition is selected, the process proceeds to C4. In C2, the related term dictionary reference mechanism 8 searches for and extracts a related character string associated with the character string that is the initial search condition. When C2 ends, the process proceeds to C5. At C3, the keyword conversion mechanism 9 acquires and outputs a related character string obtained by converting the character string as the initial search condition into a keyword. When C3 ends, the process proceeds to C5.

At C4, the corresponding term designating mechanism 10 searches for and extracts a related character string associated with the character string that is the initial search condition. When C4 ends, the process proceeds to C5. C5
The alternative solution selecting mechanism 7 outputs the related character string related to the character string as the initial search condition obtained from the related term dictionary reference mechanism 8, the keyword conversion mechanism 9, or the corresponding term designating mechanism 10 to the database search mechanism 3. I do. When C5 ends, the operation of the alternative solution generation mechanism 6 ends. The database search mechanism 3 searches the database based on the input related character string, and causes the screen display device 4 to output the result. The mechanism may be selected from a single mechanism or a plurality of mechanisms.

Next, the operation of the related term selection mechanism 8 of the alternative solution generation mechanism 6 of the database search guidance apparatus of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 2 will be described. First, in order to operate the related term dictionary reference mechanism 8, it is necessary to prepare a predetermined dictionary in the database which is the data holding mechanism 5, and this dictionary has a mutual relation between a plurality of character strings. It is the record and setting that was made. in this way,
By providing the data holding mechanism 5 with a predetermined dictionary,
When a character string of a certain search condition is input to the related term selection mechanism 8, a related character string associated with the character string is extracted from the dictionary of the data holding mechanism 5 and output.

For example, when “mobile phone” and “mobile communication” or “mobile terminal” are associated with each other in the related term dictionary, which is the dictionary, the character string “mobile phone” as the initial search condition is used. If the matching data is not obtained from the data holding mechanism 5, the database search guidance device continues to output the character string "mobile communication" or the character string "mobile terminal" associated with the character string "mobile phone". The holding mechanism 5 is searched and attempts to acquire matching data.

When there are a plurality of related character strings, the search processing may be repeated using the related character strings in order until matching data is obtained, or the search processing for all the related character strings is completed. The search processing may be repeatedly executed until the search is performed. In other words, the search processing may be terminated when matching data is obtained, and the obtained search result may be output, or the search result obtained after the search processing on all related character strings is completed. May be output.

Next, the operation of the keyword conversion mechanism 9 of the alternative solution generation mechanism 6 of the database search guidance apparatus of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 2 will be described. A character string as a search condition is input to the keyword conversion mechanism 9 from the database search mechanism 3 via the alternative solution selection mechanism 7. Then, the keyword conversion mechanism 9 performs a conversion process on the character string based on a predetermined rule, and creates and extracts a similar character string similar to the character string. The predetermined rule for performing the conversion process and the keyword conversion rule are as follows.
It is set in the keyword conversion mechanism 9 in advance.

For example, a product type name or the like often indicates a new type name for a similar product by changing the suffix of a character string indicating the type name. As a keyword conversion rule, the feature of the inflection in a character string indicating such a type name is used as a keyword conversion rule. Create a column, search the database again,
Attempt to get matching data.

Next, the operation of the corresponding term indicating mechanism 10 of the alternative solution generating mechanism 6 of the database search guidance apparatus of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 2 will be described. A character string as a search condition is input to the corresponding term indicating mechanism 10 from the database search mechanism 3 via the alternative solution selecting mechanism 7. Then, the corresponding term indicating mechanism 10 extracts and outputs a specific character string associated with the predetermined character string, that is, the above-described related character string. Note that a jump from a predetermined character string to a specific character string is specified in advance in the corresponding term indicating mechanism 10 or the data holding mechanism 5.

For example, it is assumed that the user of the database search guidance apparatus has input a name or the like relating to a certain product to the search client 1 as a search condition character string. However, if the data relating to the product has been completely deleted from the database due to the suspension of the production of the product, matching data cannot be obtained with the character string. Therefore, the character string is input to the corresponding term indicating mechanism 10.

Based on such circumstances, the corresponding term indicating mechanism 10 preliminarily stores a product of the character string and a substitute product of the product of the character string or a new product corresponding to the product of the character string in the character string. Corresponding term indicating mechanism 1
When the character string is input to 0, the corresponding term indicating mechanism 10 generates a character string such as a name of a substitute for the product of the character string or a new product corresponding to the product of the character string, that is, a related character string. Is extracted. As described above, the database search mechanism 3 having obtained the related character string from the corresponding term indicating mechanism 10 searches the database again based on the related character string, and tries to obtain matching data.

As described above, the related term dictionary reference mechanism 8, the keyword conversion mechanism 9, and the corresponding term designating mechanism 10
With this alternative solution generation mechanism, the user of the database search guidance apparatus can search for a search condition similar to the search condition, that is, a related character string, even if no data is obtained with the search condition specified by the user. Based searches make it easier to get valid answers.

Further, even when the search condition itself input by the user of the database search guidance apparatus does not match and data cannot be obtained, another solution that provides appropriate guidance, that is, a search process based on a related character string is performed. Done,
The user of the apparatus can input a next search condition or a more optimal search condition, easily take further action, and suppress a time loss required for search time.

[0041]

As described above, the database search guidance device according to the present invention comprises: an input unit for inputting a character string; a search unit for searching a database based on the character string input to the input unit; As a result of searching the database based on the character string, if data based on the character string is not obtained from the database, the conversion unit that inputs the character string and outputs a related character string related to the character string, An output unit for performing a database search based on the related character string output from the unit and outputting data when the data based on the related character string is obtained from the database as a result of the database search based on the related character string. Even if the user of this database search guidance device does not match any data with the search conditions specified by himself, Similar search condition to the condition, i.e. the search based on related character string, a valid response or, more likely to give a different solution to be suitable guidance, easily shorten the time loss required for the search time.

According to the database search guidance method of the present invention, an input step of inputting a character string to the input unit, a first search step of searching the database based on the character string by the search unit, and a method based on the character string A conversion unit that outputs a related character string related to the character string when the data based on the character string is not obtained from the database as a result of the database search; and a search unit that searches the database based on the related character string by the search unit. A second search step of performing a search of the database based on the related character string,
When the data based on the related character string is obtained from the database, the output unit outputs the data in the output unit. Even if they do not match, search conditions similar to the search conditions,
In other words, a search based on the related character string will provide a valid answer,
It is easy to obtain another solution that provides appropriate guidance, and it is easy to reduce the time required for search time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a database search guidance device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of an alternative solution generation mechanism 6 of the database search guidance device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of the database search guidance device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of the alternative solution generation mechanism 6 of the database search guidance device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional database search system.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of a conventional database search system.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 search client, 2 search condition receiving mechanism, 3
Database search mechanism, 4 screen display mechanism, 5 data holding mechanism, 6 alternative solution generation mechanism, 7 alternative solution selection mechanism, 8
Related term dictionary reference mechanism, 9 Keyword conversion mechanism, 10
Corresponding term indicating mechanism.

Claims (8)

[Claims] An input unit for inputting a character string; a search unit for searching a database based on the character string input to the input unit; and a search result of the database based on the character string; When data based on a character string is not obtained from the database, the character string is input, and a conversion unit that outputs a related character string related to the character string, and the search unit is output from the conversion unit. An output unit that performs a search of the database based on the related character string, and that outputs the data when the data based on the related character string is obtained from the database as a result of searching the database based on the related character string. A database search guidance device, comprising: 2. A conversion unit having a related term dictionary in which a plurality of character strings are associated with each other and recorded, and when a certain character string is input, a different character string associated with the related term dictionary is converted into a related character string. The database search guidance apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data is output as a column. 3. The database according to claim 1, wherein a keyword conversion rule is set in advance, and the conversion unit generates and outputs a related character string based on the keyword conversion rule from the input character string. Search guidance device. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when a specific character string is input, the conversion unit outputs a different character string associated with the specific character string as a related character string from a database. The described database search guidance device. 5. An input step of inputting a character string to an input unit, a first search step of searching a database based on the character string by a search unit, and a result of searching the database based on the character string A conversion step of outputting a related character string related to the character string in a conversion unit when data based on the character string is not obtained from the database; and a conversion unit of the database based on the related character string in the search unit. A second search step of performing a search, and an output step of outputting the data at an output unit when data based on the related character string is obtained from the database as a result of searching the database based on the related character string. A database search guidance method characterized by having. 6. In the conversion step, a plurality of character strings included in the conversion unit are associated with each other and recorded, and based on an input of a certain character string, the related characters recorded in association with the relevant term dictionary are recorded. 6. The database search guidance method according to claim 5, wherein a column is output. 7. The database search guidance according to claim 5, wherein, in the conversion step, a related character string is generated and output from the input character string based on a keyword conversion rule preset in the conversion unit. Method. 8. The database search guidance method according to claim 5, wherein in the conversion step, a related character string associated with the input specific character string is output from the database.