JP2002082973A - System and method for retrieving information, device and method for supplying retrieval information, device and method for displaying retrieval information, and recording medium recording the retrieval information displaying method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information retrieval system and method that can easily grasp a retrieval result and can speedily obtain the retrieval result and to provide a retrieval information supplying device and method, a retrieval information displaying device and method, and a recording medium recording the method. SOLUTION: The retrieval results r1 to r20 and a message m1, which are transmitted from an information retrieval server through a network, are displayed on a first management area R1 by making icon pictures IP1 to IP20 and IPn, which include associated information associated with the retrieval results r1 to r20 and the message m1, which are made to correspond to each other. When a user performs an operation for moving one or plural icon pictures IP1 to IP20 and IPn, which are displayed on the first management area R1, to a second management R2, the icon picture associated with the icon picture which is moved is displayed on the second management area R2. When the icon picture in the second management area R2 is clicked to right, associated information is displayed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information retrieval system and method for retrieving specific information from information distributed via a network such as the Internet or information stored in a database, and a retrieval retrieved based on a retrieval request. Search information providing apparatus and method for providing information via a network such as the Internet, search information display apparatus and method for displaying search information provided via a network,
And a recording medium for recording the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, a communication environment via a network such as the Internet has been developed, and various kinds of information are distributed via the network. Taking the Internet as an example, the Internet is configured by interconnecting a router and a server, but the number of servers connected to the Internet keeps increasing year by year, and various information distributed from the server ( Content) is enormous. In order for a user to receive various information distributed via the Internet, a user inputs a character string called a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) from a terminal device such as a so-called personal computer connected to the Internet, or a server. It is necessary to access the server by directly specifying an IP (Internet Protocol) address uniquely assigned to the server.

[0003] Here, the user of the terminal device generally tends to access specific information on a limited specific server. For this reason, a function called a so-called bookmark is known so that such information can be accessed with a small operation procedure. Here, the bookmark function refers to the specification of information distributed via a network as one character string or one image (icon),
The user uses the character string or the like as a key and selects and specifies the character string so that the specified information can be accessed. In other words, when the Internet is compared to a book, the bookmark is a function of a bookmark. By using this function,
The information can be accessed more quickly than when a character string such as a URL is input to specify the information.

[0004] Further, the Internet is connected to an information search server that searches for information required by a user from a vast amount of information provided from a server connected to the Internet, and provides the search result to the user. When a user searches for necessary information using the information search server, the user first inputs a search character string to the terminal device and issues a search request to the information search server.
When a search request is sent over the Internet,
The information search server searches the database using the search character string as a key, and transmits the search result to the terminal device that has issued the search request, thereby providing the search result to the user.

[0005] Normally, a search result provided to a user is a URL for specifying information that matches a search character string specified by the user, or a summary of the information represented by character information. Since the information in the database searched by the information search server is constantly updated to the latest information, newly distributed information can be searched. Therefore, in order for the user to quickly obtain new information via the Internet, it is necessary to first access the information search server using the bookmark function, and then perform an operation of inputting a search character string.

[0006] The above technology is not only implemented in personal computers, but is also widely applied in the field of home appliances. In particular, a digital television is configured to be able to connect to a network such as the Internet in addition to simply receiving a broadcast. A user can use the digital television as a terminal device to use the bookmark function described above or to connect to the Internet. The required information can be quickly accessed by using the provided information search server.

[0007]

In the case where information is searched using the above-mentioned information search server, a browsing program called a browser is used. When searching for information using a browser, the user first starts the browser, accesses the information search server using the bookmark function, and specifies a certain search character string to obtain a search result. At this time, when there are many search results, the number of search results displayed on the browser at one time is, for example, about 20. If the search result currently displayed on the browser does not include the user's desired information,
It is necessary to request information search results from the information search server and display them on the browser.

[0008] If the user exits the browser after obtaining the search result, to obtain information regarding another search result, the browser is started again to access the information search server and to search the search character string. The input has to be performed, which is troublesome. In addition, when the information required by the user is included in the first 20 search results obtained from the information search server, the user does not often feel inconvenience.
However, for example, if the information required by the user is included in the search results after the 100th search result, the operation of requesting the information search server for the next 20 search results is performed at least four times by the user. It may be necessary to perform this operation every time a browser is started and a search is performed. In such a case, there is a problem that the operation of the user becomes complicated and the convenience is extremely deteriorated.

[0009] Conventionally, if a bookmark is set for information specified by a search result obtained by performing a search once, access to the information for which the bookmark has been set becomes easy. However, when a bookmark is not set, it is necessary to perform a search again to obtain a search result and then set a bookmark, which causes a problem that the operation becomes complicated. HTML (HyperText Markup Langu
age) format, you can save the search results. However, it is necessary to display the contents of the search results stored in the file using a browser or the like. There was a problem that was not.

[0010] The present invention has been made in view of such problems of the prior art, and an information retrieval system and method capable of easily grasping a retrieval result and quickly obtaining the retrieval result. It is an object to provide a search information providing apparatus and method, a search information display apparatus and method, and a recording medium for recording the method.

[0011]

Hereinafter, in the examples shown in this section, for ease of understanding, each constituent element of the present invention will be described with typical reference numerals shown in the drawings of the embodiments. The configuration of the present invention or each component requirement is not limited to those restricted by these reference numerals.

[Information Retrieval System and Information Retrieval Method] In order to solve the above problems, an information retrieval system of the present invention is connected to a network (N1) and receives a retrieval request transmitted via the network (N1). The database (D) is searched for the search result (r1 to r2).
0, m1), and the search results (r1 to r2) by the information search server (32).
0, m1) containing an icon image (I
An icon image generation server (34) for generating P1 to IP20, IPn, ip, ip1 to ip3), connected to the network (N1), transmitting the search request to the information search server (32), The icon images (IP1 to IP20, IPn, i) corresponding to the search results (r1 to r20, m1) for the search request.
p, ip1 to ip3 (10, 1)
2, 14, 16).

According to the present invention, a search request is transmitted from the terminal device via the network (E1), and the search request is searched in the database to obtain a search result (E1).
5) An icon image including related information related to the search result is generated (E10), and the icon image is displayed on the terminal device in correspondence with the search result corresponding to the search request (E14). Therefore, the search result can be easily grasped by associating the icon image that recalls the contents of the search result in an external appearance or an idea with the search result.

In the information retrieval system according to the present invention, the terminal device (10, 12, 14, 16) may include an instruction input unit (70, 95) for inputting an instruction of a user, and the terminal device may not display the related information. The icon images (IP1 and IP2)
0, IPn) and the search results (r1 to r20, m1) in correspondence with each other and displayed in the first management area (R1), and the instruction input means (70, 9).
When an instruction to move the icon images (IP1 to IP20, IPn) displayed in the first management area (R1) is input from 5), the icon images (IP1 to IP2) are input.
0, IPn) related icon images (ip, ip1 to
and a second management area control means (74) for displaying (ip3) in the second management area (R2, R20), wherein the second management area control means (74) includes the instruction input means (70, 9).
When a predetermined instruction is input from 5), the icon image (i) displayed in the second management area (R2, R20) is displayed.
It is characterized by performing control for displaying related information related to (p, ip1 to ip3).

According to the present invention, the icon image is displayed in the first management area in a state where the icon image is associated with the search result and the related information is not displayed (E14), and the moving instruction of the icon image displayed in the first management area is issued. Is input (E1
In 5), an icon image related to the icon image displayed in the first management area is displayed in the second management area, and when a predetermined instruction is given, the icon image related to the icon image displayed in the second management area is displayed. The related information is displayed (E22).

Further, in the information search system according to the present invention, the second management area control means (74) controls the second management area (R).
2, R20), the icon images (ip, ip1 to ip)
When 3) is displayed, further information is obtained from the information search server (32) and the second management area (R2, R2
0) displayed on the icon image (ip, ip1 to ip)
Related information processing means (8) as related information related to 3)
2) is provided.

According to the present invention, when the icon image is displayed in the second management area in response to an instruction to move the icon image displayed in the first management area, further information is obtained from the information search server to acquire the information. 2 is related information related to the icon image displayed in the management area (E16 to E2).
0). Therefore, it is possible to quickly obtain necessary information on search results. Further, by using the related information itself as the information on the search result, the information on the search result can be obtained more quickly.

[Search Information Providing Apparatus and Search Information Providing Method] The search information providing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a network (N
An information search server (32) that is connected to 1) and searches the database (D) for a search request transmitted through the network (N1) to obtain search results (r1 to r20, m1); , Icon images (IP1 to IP20, IP1) containing relevant information related to the search results (r1 to r20, m1) by the information search server (32).
an icon image generation server (34) for generating n, ip, ip1 to ip3);
2) corresponds to the icon images (IP1 to IP20, IPn, i) corresponding to the search results (r1 to r20, m1).
p, ip1 to ip3) are transmitted via the network (N1).

According to the present invention, the search is performed on the database in response to the search request transmitted via the network, the search result is obtained (E5), and the icon image including the relevant information related to the search result is generated. Then, the icon image is transmitted via the network in accordance with the search result (E13).

Further, in the search information providing apparatus according to the present invention, the icon image generation server (34) may be configured such that, when a request for transmitting related information is made via the network (N1) and the information search server (32). Is the icon image (IP1 to IP20, IPn, ip, ip1 to ip3)
Is transmitted via the information search server (32) and the network (N1).

According to the present invention, a request for transmitting related information is made via the network (E16), and further related information other than the related information included in the icon image is transmitted via the network (E20).

[Search Information Display Apparatus and Search Information Display Method] The search information display apparatus of the present invention comprises a network (N
1), transmits a search request to the network (N1), and transmits the search request to the network (N1).
The search results (r1 to r20, m1) corresponding to the search request transmitted via the
0, m1) containing an icon image (I
P1 to IP20, IPn, ip, ip1 to ip3) are displayed in association with each other.

According to the present invention, when a search request is transmitted from the terminal device to the network (E2), an icon image including the search result and related information related to the search result is transmitted via the network (E13). ), And these are displayed in association with each other (E14).

Further, the search information display device of the present invention includes an instruction input means (70, 95) for inputting an instruction of a user and the icon image (IP1 to IP1) without displaying the related information.
IP20, IPn) and the search results (r1 to r20, m
1) a first management area control means (64) for displaying the information in the first management area (R1) in association with the instruction input means (7).
0, 95), the icon images (IP1 to IP20, IPn, ip,
When a movement instruction of (ip1 to ip3) is input, an icon image (ip, ip1 to ip3) related to the icon image (IP1 to IP20, IPn) is displayed in the second management area (R2, R20). 2 management area control means (7
And 4) the second management area control means (74).
However, when a predetermined instruction is input from the instruction input means (70, 95), the second management area (R2, R20)
Icon images (IP1 to IP20, IP
It is characterized by performing control to display related information related to (n, ip, ip1 to ip3).

According to the present invention, the icon image is displayed in the first management area in association with the search result without displaying the related information (E14), and the moving instruction of the icon image displayed in the first management area is issued. Is performed (E15), an icon image related to the icon image displayed in the first management area is displayed in a second management area different from the first management area, and a predetermined instruction is input (E21). ), Related information related to the icon image displayed in the second management area is displayed (E22).

Also, in the search information display device of the present invention, the second management area control means (74) may control the second management area (R
2, R20), the icon images (ip, ip1 to ip)
When 3) is displayed, further information is obtained via the network (N1) and the second management area (R2, R2
0) displayed on the icon image (ip, ip1 to ip)
Related information processing means (8) as related information related to 3)
2) is provided.

According to the present invention, when the icon image is displayed in the second management area, the information is further acquired and is set as the related information related to the icon image displayed in the second management area.

[Recording Medium] The recording medium according to the first aspect of the present invention searches the database (D) in response to a search request transmitted via the network (N1) and obtains search results (r1 to r20). , M1), and icon images (IP1 to IP20, IPn, i) including relevant information related to the search results (r1 to r20, m1).
p, ip1 to ip3), and the icon images (IP1 to IP20, IPn, ip, ip1 to ip) corresponding to the search results (r1 to r20, m1).
And 3) transmitting the program via the network (N1).

Here, the recording medium according to the first aspect of the present invention stores the icon images (IP1 to IP1) when a request for transmitting related information is made via the network (N1).
In addition to the related information included in IP20, IPn, ip, ip1 to ip3), further related information is stored in the network (N
Recording a program further comprising the step of transmitting via 1).

The recording medium according to the first aspect of the present invention is mainly connected to a network, and the recorded contents are read by a server that provides search information.

A recording medium according to a second aspect of the present invention includes a step of transmitting a search request from a terminal device (10, 12, 14, 16) to a network (N1), and a step of transmitting a search request via the network (N1). Icon images (IP1 to IP20, IPn, ip, i) including search results (r1 to r20, m1) for the transmitted search request and related information related to the search results (r1 to r20, m1)
p1 to ip3) and displaying them in association with each other.

The recording medium according to the second aspect of the present invention stores the icon images (IP1 to IP20, IPn, i
p, ip1 to ip3) includes displaying the icon image (IP1 to IP2) without displaying the related information.
0, IPn) and the search results (r1 to r20, m1) are displayed in the first management area (R1) in association with each other, and an instruction input provided in the terminal device (10, 12, 14, 16) is provided. The icon images (IP1 to IP1) displayed in the first management area (R1) from the means (70, 95).
20, IPn), the icon image (ip, ip1 to ip3) related to the icon image (IP1 to IP20, IPn) is different from the first management area (R2, R20). Second management area (R2, R
20) and the instruction input means (7).
0, 95) to display related information related to the icon images (ip, ip1 to ip3) displayed in the second management area (R2, R20). It is characterized by recording a program having the same.

Further, the recording medium according to the second aspect of the present invention further acquires information when the icon image (ip, ip1 to ip3) is displayed in the second management area (R2, R20). It is characterized in that a program is recorded which further has a step of making the relevant information related to the icon image (ip, ip1 to ip3) displayed in the second management area (R2, R20).

The recording medium according to the second aspect of the present invention is mainly connected to a network, and the recorded contents are read by a terminal device that makes a search request to a server that provides search information.

[0035]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an information retrieval system and method according to an embodiment of the present invention; Will be described.

[Information Retrieval System] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of an information retrieval system according to one embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 10 is a personal computer,
12 is a digital television, 14 is a PDA (Personal Dat
a Assistance) and 16 are mobile phones, which constitute a terminal device. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the personal computer 10 and the digital television 12 are connected to a network N1 such as the Internet, and the PDA 14 and the mobile phone 16 are connected to a network via a base station 20, a network N2, and a network connection device 22. It is connected to N1. Reference numeral 30 denotes an information search site in which the information search server 32, the icon image generation server 34, and the database device D are mutually connected via a LAN (Local Area Network) network N3.

The personal computer 10, the digital television 12, and the information search server 32 provided in the information search site 30 can communicate with each other via a network N 1. The provided information search server 32 can communicate with each other via the base station 20, the line network N2, the network connection device 22, the network N1, and the like.
The configuration shown in FIG. 1 is merely for facilitating the understanding of the present invention, and the connection form between each of the terminal devices and the information search site 30 and the network N1 is shown in FIG. It is not limited to things. The communication means between each terminal device and the information search site 30 is not particularly limited, and may be a telephone line, a dedicated line, a radio wave, an optical communication, or a combination thereof.

The terminal device is a personal computer 10, a digital television 12, a PDA 1 shown in FIG.
4 and the mobile phone 16, and may be any of a terminal device installed indoors and a portable terminal device. In the following description, a case in which the personal computer 10 is used to access the information search site 30 via the network N1 will be described for ease of understanding. Personal computer 10
Is a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or MPU (Micro Proces
sor Unit), RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM
(Read Only Memory) or a storage device such as a hard disk, an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse, a CRT (Cathod
A display device such as a Ray Tube or a liquid crystal display device, and a communication interface such as a modem, a terminal adapter, or a router.

Further, a CD-ROM device, a DVD (registered trademark) device, a hard disk device, a magneto-optical disk device,
It has an external storage device such as a flexible disk device, a semiconductor storage device such as a RAM disk, an IC card memory device, or a magnetic tape device. These external storage devices
This is a device for reading a program recorded on a portable information recording medium into the personal computer 10. The storage device in the personal computer 10 stores at least an operating system (OS) and an HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) browsing program (browser or the like) to enable communication via the network N1. .

The information search server 32 is connected to the network N1
In response to a search request transmitted via the server, a search is performed in the database device D to obtain a search result. This search result is configured to include a URL indicating the location of information (content) provided from a server (not shown) via the network N1 or information representing an outline of the information as character information. Further, for example, in the case where personal information of men and women who want to meet each other is stored in the database D, the database D includes information representing an outline of the stored personal information as character information or image information.

The icon image generation server 34 generates an icon image including related information related to the search result by the information search server 32. The details of the icon image including the related information will be described later. The information search server 32
The information stored in the database device D is updated to the latest information. In FIG. 1, for easy understanding, the information retrieval server 32 and the icon image generation server 3
4 and the database device D are connected to each other via a network N3, but the information search server 32, the icon image generation server 34, and the database device D are all configured by one server. May be.

The information search server 32 and the icon image generation server 34 are composed of, for example, general-purpose computers.
The general-purpose computer includes a CPU or MPU, a storage device such as a RAM or a ROM, a hard disk, an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse, a display device such as a CRT or a liquid crystal display element, and a communication interface such as a modem, a terminal adapter, or a router. . Further, a CD-ROM device, D
An external storage device such as a VD (registered trademark) device, a hard disk device, a magneto-optical disk device, a flexible disk device, a semiconductor storage device such as a RAM disk, an IC card memory device, or a magnetic tape device is provided. The information search server 32 stores at least an OS and an HTTP server program in a storage device in order to enable communication via the network N1.

[Search Information Providing Apparatus and Icon Image] Next, a search information providing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the example shown in FIG.
2. The icon image generation server 34 and the database device D constitute a search information providing device. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of the information search server 32 and the icon image generation server 34 provided in the search information providing device.
Each function shown in FIG. 2 shows only a function directly related to the present invention. Each function shown in FIG. 2 may be realized in the form of hardware by forming a logic circuit in the information search server 32 and the icon image generation server 34,
A program for realizing each function is stored in a storage device, and C
The PU may execute the program. Furthermore, the icon image generation server 34 may read the contents of a recording medium such as a CD-ROM in which the program is recorded and execute the program.

As shown in FIG. 2, the information retrieval server 32
Is configured to include a communication unit 40, a search request analysis unit 42, a search unit 44, a search result acquisition unit 46, and a synthesis unit 48. The icon image generation server 34 includes a search result analysis unit 50, a related information creation unit 52, and an icon image creation unit 5
4, an image information acquisition unit 56 and a related information acquisition unit 58. The communication unit 40 included in the information search server 32 performs communication control performed via the network N1. The search request analysis unit 42 analyzes a search character string and search conditions included in the search request transmitted via the network N1 and outputs the result to the search unit 44. The search unit 44 searches the database device D based on the search character string or search condition output from the search request analysis unit 42. The search result acquisition unit 46 acquires the search result output from the search unit 44 and temporarily stores the search result. The combining unit 48 combines the search result stored in the search result acquiring unit 46 with the icon image created in the icon image generation server 34 to create, for example, an HTML file. Here, the synthesizing unit 48 synthesizes the search result and the icon image as described above. In addition to the above, the synthesizing unit 48 executes the batch moving button for collectively moving the icon image to a second management area described later and the personal computer 10. A button for downloading a program may be included.

Here, the structure of the information stored in the database device D will be briefly described. FIG. 3 is a diagram conceptually showing the structure of information stored in the database device D. The information stored in the database device D is classified according to the genre of the information, and each genre is hierarchically subdivided and stored. Normal,
The database configured for information retrieval has a structure in which various types of information are hierarchically classified, and the number of layers is subdivided into about four layers. In the example shown in FIG.
As one, they are classified into genres such as "business", "education", and "computer". Also, the first level D
The genre of “computer” in the first hierarchy is the second hierarchy D
2 are classified into genres such as "game", "music", "software", and "hardware". Further, the genre of "hardware" in the second hierarchy D2 is subdivided into a third hierarchy D3, and is classified into genres such as "parts", "notebooks", "personal computers", and "PDAs".
Similar classifications are made for other genres.

Further, in this embodiment, it is assumed that image information that externally or conceptually represents the contents of each genre in each hierarchy created in the database device D is stored in the database storage device D. . This image information is used when generating an icon image. Note that the image information used when generating the icon image does not necessarily need to be stored in the database device D, and may be stored in the information search server 32, the icon image generation server 34, or a server (not shown) connected to the network N1. It may be stored. The data format of the image information is
BMP format, GIF (Graphics Interchange Format)
Format, JPEG (Joint Photographic coding Experts
Group) format, and other TIFF (Tagged
Image File Format).

Returning to FIG. 2, the icon image generation server 34
The search result analysis unit 50 provided in the information search server 3
The search result stored in the second search result acquisition unit 46 is read, and the contents of the search result are analyzed. For example, when there are a plurality of search results and the hierarchy and classification of each search result are different, the hierarchy and classification to which each search result belongs are determined by analyzing. The analysis result in the search result analysis unit 50 is output to the related information creation unit 52 and the image information acquisition unit 56. The related information creating unit 52 creates related information to be included in the icon image. The related information included in the icon image may be arbitrary information. However, in the present embodiment, a URL specifying information obtained by the search is used as related information in the related information creating unit 52 in order to facilitate understanding of the invention. Assume that it is generated.

The image information acquisition section 56 acquires image information from the database device D based on the analysis result output from the search result analysis section 50. In the present embodiment, for the sake of simplicity, the image information acquisition unit 56 acquires image information based on the hierarchy and classification of the search results analyzed by the search result analysis unit 50 from the database device D. I do. The icon image creation unit 54 creates an icon image based on the related information created by the related information creation unit 52 and the image information acquired by the image information acquisition unit 56. Further, when the related information transmission request is transmitted via the network N1 and the communication unit 40 of the information search server 32, the related information acquisition unit 58 reads the related information requested by the transmission request from the database device D. The read related information is transmitted to the network N1 via the communication unit 40 of the information search server 32.

Here, the icon image will be described in detail. The icon image is an image indicating the content of the search result to be provided, and the content of the information can be grasped at a glance. Moreover, in the present embodiment, the icon image includes related information in the image information. However, as described later, in the first management area of the personal computer 10, no related information is displayed, and only the image information of the icon image is displayed.

The method by which the icon image creating section 54 creates an icon image from the image information and the related information is not particularly limited, but in the present embodiment, for example, is performed as follows. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a format of image information in which related information is embedded. Here, a case where the image information is an image in the GIF format will be described. The format of image information is GIF
The format is not limited, and a JPEG format or the like may be used.

As shown in FIG. 4, the icon image includes a plurality of fields FA1 to FA6. The field FA1 is a field in which information indicating a start portion of the icon image is stored. Here, since the case where the image information is in the GIF format is considered,
The field FA1 stores a character string “GIF” for identifying that the icon image is image information in the GIF format and its version. The field FA3 stores color scheme table image data. here,
The color scheme image data is image data in which pixels are arranged in order from left to right and from top to bottom. Further, in the present embodiment, since the case where the image information is in the format of the GIF format is considered, the color combination table type image data is encoded using the variable length code LZW algorithm.

The field FA5 is a field provided for storing the comment extension part, and includes text information which does not become graphic information in the GIF data stream. This can include any annotations about graphics, production names or descriptions, or any other non-control or graphic data. The field FA6 is a field for storing information indicating an end portion indicating that the data stream of the icon image has ended, and means that other parameter information and the like do not follow. Field F
Information other than the above-described information is stored in a field FA2 provided between A1 and the field FA3 and a field FA4 provided between the field FA3 and the field FA5. For example, information including parameters defining a region of the display device necessary for displaying an icon image, such as a screen width, a screen height, and a color resolution, is stored.

The related information RE1 is stored as it is or after being subjected to a process such as encryption in the field FA5 in which the comment extension part is stored, and is collected as one piece of image information. As a result, as a result, the icon image as a data stream can include related information therein. In the above description, the case where the image information is created in the GIF format has been described as an example. However, even if the image information is in another format, the related information is recorded in an area separated from the image information. It does not matter if it is done.

Next, another method in which the above-described icon image creating section 54 creates an icon image from image information and related information will be described. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating another example of the format of the image information in which the related information is embedded. Also in the example described with reference to FIG. 5, a case will be described in which the image information is image information in a GIF format. The format of the image information is not limited to the GIF format, but may be a JPEG format or the like.

As shown in FIG. 5, the icon image includes a plurality of fields FB1 to FB6. The field FB1 is a field in which information indicating the start portion of the icon image is stored as described above. Here, a case is considered in which the image information is in the GIF format, so that the icon image is
'GI for identifying image information in IF format
The character string F 'and its version are stored. Field FB3 stores color scheme image data. Here, the color scheme image data is image data in which pixels are arranged in order from left to right and from top to bottom. However, in the case of this example, the image data contains the related information RE.
2 is mixed with the image information IM1 by using a digital watermarking technique so that the related information is visually invisible as it is and the image information is created by the icon image creating unit 54 so that the image information becomes visible as it is. Is done. The image data created in this way is
A field FB5 encoded using the variable-length code LZW algorithm is a field provided for storing an annotation extension, and includes text information that does not become graphic information in the GIF data stream.
Although this field is not particularly required in this example, it can be freely used by the information provider if necessary. The field FB6 is a field for storing information indicating an end portion indicating that the data stream of the icon image has ended, and means that other parameter information or the like does not follow. The field FB2
And the field FB4 is the field FA2 shown in FIG.
And the field FA4.
In the example shown in FIG. 5, the case where the image information is in the GIF format has been described as an example, but the image information may be in another format.

As described above, the icon image contains the related information, the icon information is combined with the retrieval result by the combining unit 48 shown in FIG. 2, and a file including the above-described batch move button, for example, An HTML file is created. Then, the contents of this file are transmitted to the personal computer 10 via the network N1.

[Search Information Display Apparatus] Next, a search information display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. In the example shown in FIG.
0, the digital television 12, the PDA 14, or the mobile phone 16 realizes a search information display device. In the present embodiment, a case where the search information display device is embodied by a personal computer 10 will be described as an example, but the digital television 12, the PDA 14, and the like shown in FIG.
It can be realized by providing the mobile phone 16 with functions similar to the functions described below. Note that the search information display device according to the present embodiment is a GUI (Graphical User Interface).
Is provided.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the search information display device according to one embodiment of the present invention. Each functional block shown in FIG. 6 shows only functions directly related to the present invention. Personal computer 10
Is, as described above, a CPU or MPU, RAM, RO
M or a storage device such as a hard disk, an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse, a display device such as a CRT or a liquid crystal display device, and a communication interface such as a modem, a terminal adapter, or a router. External storage device. The storage device has O
S and an HTTP browsing program (a browser or the like) are stored.

Each of the functions shown in FIG. 6 may be realized in the form of hardware by forming a dedicated logic circuit in the personal computer 10 separately from the above-described configuration. Store in storage device, CPU
May be realized by executing this program. Furthermore, the icon image generation server 34 may read the contents of an information recording medium such as a CD-ROM on which the program is recorded, and execute the program. As shown in FIG. 6, the personal computer 10 includes a search information input unit 60, a communication unit 62, a first management area control unit 64,
Icon image storage unit 66, display unit 68, instruction input unit 7
0, an instruction determination unit 72, a second management area control unit 74, a related information extraction unit 76, a related information storage unit 78, a related information display control unit 80, and a related information processing unit 82.

The search information input section 60 is provided for inputting a character string to be searched or a search instruction, and is realized by, for example, an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse and a browser. The function of the search information input unit 60 will be specifically described with reference to an example. A search character string input from a keyboard is input according to a user operation in a search character string input field of a search character string input screen displayed by a browser. Function.

The communication unit 62 includes, for example, hardware such as a modem and a terminal adapter, and a TCP / IP (Transmis
This is realized by software such as a program that controls communication according to a communication protocol such as sion control protocol (Internet Protocol). The communication unit 62 is connected to the network N1, transmits a search character string input from the search information input unit 60 as a search request, and transmits a search result and a related result transmitted via the network N1 in response to the search request. Upon receiving the icon image including the information, the first management area control unit 64 and the icon image storage unit 6
Output to 6. As will be described in detail later, when a request for related information is output from the related information processing unit 82, a related information request signal is output to the information search server 32 via the network N1, and the obtained related information is output. Is output to the related information processing unit 82. When the search information display device is realized by the PDA 14 or the mobile phone 16, the communication unit 62
It may be configured to include an antenna.

The first management area control unit 64 communicates with the communication unit 6
2 is for controlling the display of the icon image including the search result and the related information output from the server 2 and is realized by, for example, a browser. Specifically, the first management area control unit 64
Generates a first management area (window) on a display device such as a CRT provided in the personal computer 10 and displays an icon image and a search result in the generated first management area in association with each other. When there are a plurality of search results and icon images, display control is performed such as displaying them in a line. At this time, when displaying the icon image, the first management area control unit 64 displays only the image information of the icon image.

The icon image storage section 66 temporarily stores the icon image output from the communication section 62, and is realized by a storage device such as a RAM. The display unit 68
It controls display of a display device provided in the personal computer 10, and includes a first management area generated by the first management area control unit 64, a second management area generated by the second management area control unit 74, and related information display. The display control of the related information display area generated by the control unit 80 is performed. Specifically, the size of the display area of the display device is limited, and the first management area,
The second management area and the related information display area may protrude from the display area of the display device. In this case, the user cannot visually recognize the protruding portion, and the convenience is deteriorated. Therefore, the display unit 68 performs control to change the shape of the related information area so that the related information display area fits within the display screen of the display device, for example.

The instruction input unit 70 is used by a user to input various instructions to the personal computer 10 and is realized by a mouse, a keyboard, a dial, a handle, a stick, a touch panel, and the like, and an OS.
The instruction determination unit 72 determines an instruction input from the instruction input unit 70. For example, when the instruction input unit 70 has a mouse having two click buttons, the moving amount of the mouse, the pressing of the left click button, and the instruction by pressing the right click button are determined. Further, in the present embodiment, the case where a GUI is provided is described as an example. Therefore, it is determined whether any operation instruction such as a selection operation, a drag operation, and a drop operation of various icons provided in the GUI is performed. to decide.

The second management area control unit 74 controls the display of the second management area (window) and performs a predetermined operation (for example, a right click operation) on the icon image displayed in the second management area. When the instruction determining unit 72 determines that the instruction has been performed, the control unit 70 controls the related information display control unit 80. Here, the icon displayed in the second management area is displayed in the second management area when the user performs an operation of moving the icon image displayed in the first management area to the second management area. Here, the personal computer 10
Has a GUI, the operation of moving the icon image displayed in the first management area to the second management area is
Preferably, the operation is a drag-and-drop operation. The predetermined operation on the icon image displayed in the second management area is, for example, an operation of right-clicking on the icon image.

The related information extracting section 76 extracts related information from the icon images stored in the icon image storing section 66. There is no particular limitation on the timing of extracting the related information, but it may be performed when the instruction determining unit 72 determines that an instruction to move the icon image displayed in the first management area to the second management area has been made. It is suitable. The related information storage unit 78 stores the related information extracted by the related information extracting unit 78. The related information extraction unit 76 is realized by a CPU and a program stored in a storage device, and the related information storage unit 78 is realized by a storage device such as a RAM. The related information display control unit 80 controls the display of the related information stored in the related information storage unit 78 in the related information display area under the control of the second management area control unit 74.

The related information processing section 82 determines that the user has issued an instruction to update the related information or an instruction to execute various processes according to the related information (for example, an instruction to execute an application or an instruction to access a URL embedded in the related information). When the instruction determination unit 72 makes a determination or when the user issues an instruction to move the icon image to the second management area, the related information stored in the related information storage unit 78 is updated and various processes are performed according to the instruction content. I do. Here, “update” means that the related information stored in the related information storage unit 78 is changed to completely new related information,
And the meaning of adding new related information to the related information stored in. Note that, in the present embodiment, the related information processing unit 82 updates the related information also when the user issues an instruction to move the icon image to the second management area. This is because, in order to simplify the description, a case where the related information extracted from the icon image includes only the URL is taken as an example.

The configuration of the search information display device according to one embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to FIG.
May be realized in the personal computer 10 in advance. Further, the content of a recording medium storing a program for realizing each functional block shown in FIG. 6 may be read into the personal computer 10 to realize each functional block.

When each of the above-described first management area control units 64 includes a browser in a state where each functional block is not realized in the personal computer 10 in advance, the search result for the search request and And an icon image are displayed in the first management area. However, at least the second management area control unit 74, the related information extraction unit 76, the related information storage unit 78, the related information display control unit 8
0 and a functional block corresponding to the related information processing unit 82 are not incorporated in the personal computer 10. Therefore, an operation of moving the icon image displayed in the first management area to the second management area cannot be performed. In such a case, when the information search server 32 transmits the icon image including the search result and the related information, in addition to these, download (D / D) which downloads a program for realizing each function via the network N1.
L) If a button is added and transmitted, a program for realizing each of the above functions can be immediately obtained via the network N1 when the user clicks the D / L button. Is preferred.

[Information Search Method, Search Information Providing Method, and Search Information Display Method] Next, the operation of the information search system, search information providing apparatus, and search information display apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention in the above-described configuration. That is, the information search method, the search information providing method, and the search information display method will be described in detail. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an information search method, a search information providing method, and a search information display method according to an embodiment of the present invention. First, the user performs an operation of inputting a search character string from a search screen displayed on the display device of the personal computer 10. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the search screen.

The search screen shown in FIG. 8 includes a search character string input field C1 for inputting a search character string, and a search button for instructing a search for information relating to the search character string input to the search character string input field C1. B1 and the first hierarchy D1 shown in FIG.
Genre information K1 is displayed. By selecting any of the genre information K1, information on the subdivided genre can be traced. in this way,
In the present embodiment, as a method of searching for information, there are a method of searching for information by inputting a search character string in the search character string input field C1 and a method of searching for information by tracing the genre information K1. The search information is information including these search character strings and genre information K1 specified by the user. still,
In the following description, a case where a user inputs a search character string as search information will be described as an example.

Now, when the user inputs a search character string in the search character string input field C1 and clicks the search button B1, search information is input to the search information input section 60 in FIG. 6 (E
1) The input search information is output from the search information input unit 60 to the communication unit 62, and the network N1 is used as a search request.
Is transmitted to the information search server 32 via (E2). The search request is sent to the information search server 32 via the network N1.
Is transmitted to the information search server 32, the communication unit 40 included in the information search server 32 converts the transmitted search request into the search request analysis unit 4
Output to 2. The search request analysis unit 42 analyzes the search request (E3), extracts a search character string included in the search request, and outputs it to the search unit 44. The search unit 44 includes the search request analysis unit 4
The database device D is searched based on the search character string output from 2 to obtain necessary information. The information output from the search unit 44 is obtained by the search result obtaining unit 46 as a search result and is temporarily stored (E5).

Next, the search result analysis unit 50 obtains the search result temporarily stored in the search result obtaining unit 46 and analyzes the search result (E7). For example, search result analysis unit 5
0 analyzes which hierarchy and classification in the database device D the search result belongs to. Next, the related information creating unit 5
2 creates related information according to the analysis result of the search result analysis unit 50 (E8). Here, for simplicity,
It is assumed that the related information creating unit 52 creates a URL specifying information obtained by the search as related information. Next, the image information acquisition unit 56 acquires image information from the database device D based on the analysis result output from the search result analysis unit 50 (E9). Here, it is assumed that the image information acquisition unit 56 acquires image information from the database device D based on the hierarchy and classification of the search result analyzed by the search result analysis unit 50.

When the related information is created by the related information creating unit 52 and the image information is acquired by the image information acquiring unit 56, the icon image creating unit 54 creates an icon image based on the related information and the image information ( E10). The method of creating the icon image is the method described with reference to FIG. 4 or FIG. The created icon image is output to the combining unit 48 included in the information search device 32 (E11). Synthesis unit 48
Combines the search result stored in the search result acquisition unit 46 with the icon image created in the icon image generation server 34 to create a file in, for example, an HTML format (E12). Here, as described above, the synthesizing unit 48 includes a collective movement button for instructing to move all the icon images displayed in the first management area to the second management area,
It is preferable to include a download (D / L) button for downloading a program for realizing each function shown in FIG. The synthesized search results and icon images, etc.
The search request is transmitted to the personal computer 10 that is the source of the search request via the communication unit 40 and the network (E1).
3).

The communication section 62 shown in FIG. 6 outputs the received search result, the icon image, and the like to the first management area control section 64. The first management area control unit 64 associates the search result output from the communication unit 62 with the icon image, sets a display layout, and outputs the display layout to the display unit 68.
It is displayed on the display screen of the personal computer 10 (E14). At this time, the icon image output from the communication unit 62 is stored in the icon image storage unit 66. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a search result, an icon image, and the like. In FIG. 9, 90 is a personal computer 10
2 shows a display area of a display device provided in the display device. In this display area 90, a first management area R1 and a second management area R2 are displayed.

In the example shown in FIG. 9, in the first management area R1, 20 search results r1 to r20 and icon images IP1 to IP20 corresponding to these search results r1 to r20, respectively.
20, a message m1 displayed to obtain the next 20 search results, and an icon image IPn corresponding to the message m1 are displayed. Each search result r1 to r2
When the user moves the mouse cursor C to the position where 0 is displayed and left-clicks, the user can access the home page specified by the URL included in the search result. Here, it should be noted that, for the icon images IP1 to IP20 and the icon image IPn, only the image information related to the icon image is displayed, and the related information is not displayed. Further, in the example shown in FIG. 9, a batch movement button B10 for instructing to move all the icon images displayed in the first management area R1 to the second management area R2.
A download (D / L) button B11 for downloading a program for realizing each function shown in FIG. 6 is displayed in the first management area R1.

While the search result and the icon image are displayed in the first management area R1, the user operates the mouse to move one or more of the icon images IP1 to IP20 and IPn to the second management area R2. When an instruction is given (E
15), to that effect, the instruction determining unit 72 to the second management area control unit 74, the related information extracting unit 76, and the related information processing unit 82
Output to In the personal computer 10 having a GUI, it is preferable that the movement instruction is performed by a drag-and-drop operation according to a user's instruction. In this operation, the mouse cursor C is moved to a position where an icon image (IP20 in the example shown in FIG. 9) for performing the movement instruction is displayed, and the mouse cursor C is moved by operating the mouse while holding down the left mouse button. This is an operation of moving the mouse to the inside of the second management area R2 and releasing the left mouse button.

When a movement instruction is given, the second management area control unit 74 sets the icon images IP1 to IP
20 or any one or more of the IPn is stored in the icon image storage unit 6.
6 and displayed in the second management area 20.
Further, the related information extracting unit 76 extracts related information included in any or a plurality of the icon images IP <b> 1 to IP <b> 20 and IPn for which the movement instruction has been issued, and stores the related information in the related information storage unit 78. Here, the related information processing unit 82 reads out the related information (here, only the URL) stored in the related information storage unit 78, and sends a signal requesting the related information specified by the URL to the communication unit. 62. Communication unit 62
Transmits a related information request to the search server 32 via the network N1 (E16).

Upon receiving the related information request, the communication section 40 shown in FIG. 2 outputs a related information request signal to the related information obtaining section 58 in the icon image generation server 34 (E1).
7). Upon receiving the related information request signal, the related information acquisition unit 58 reads and acquires the related information requested by the transmission request from the database device D (E18), and transmits the read related information to the communication unit 40 of the information search server 32. (E19). The communication unit 40 transmits the related information output from the related information acquisition unit 58 to the personal computer 10 via the network N1 (E20).

The related information received by communication section 62 is output to related information processing section 82. The related information processing unit 82 updates the related information stored in the related information storage unit 78 based on the related information output from the communication unit 62. Here, the related information stored in the related information storage unit 78 is U
Since there is only RL, the related information processing unit 82 performs a process of replacing the related information stored in the related information storage unit 78 with the related information output from the communication unit 62.

After the above processing is completed, the user operates the mouse to move the mouse cursor to a position where the icon image displayed in the second management area R2 is displayed, and performs a specific operation (for example, right-click). (E21), related information related to the icon image arranged at the position where the mouse cursor is displayed is displayed. In this process, when the user performs a mouse movement and right-click operation, the instruction determining unit 72 in FIG. 6 determines that a specific operation (right-click) has been performed on the icon image, and a signal indicating that operation is performed. Is output to the second management area control unit 74.

The second management area control unit 74 includes an instruction determination unit 72
Related information display control unit 80 based on a signal output from
Control. Here, the second management area control unit 74
Since a signal indicating that a right-click operation has been performed on the icon image displayed in the management area has been input, the second management area control unit 74 associates relevant information related to the icon image on which the right-click operation was performed. It reads out from the information storage unit 78 and outputs a control signal for performing display control. The related information display control unit 80 reads the relevant information from the related information storage unit 78 based on the control signal output from the second management area control unit 74, and outputs the relevant information to the display unit 68.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of how related information is displayed. In FIG. 10, when the user
5 is operated to move the mouse cursor C to the position where the icon image ip displayed in the second management area R2 is displayed and press the right-click button 96b, and FIG.
As shown by 0, related information is displayed in the related information display area R3. In the example shown in FIG. 10, the related information display area R
3 shows related information RE10 including four pieces of related information. Through the above operation, the user can obtain the related information related to the icon image ip.

For example, when the URL is included in the related information displayed in the related information display area R3,
The user operates the mouse 95 to move the mouse cursor C to a position where the related information is displayed (in the example shown in FIG. 10, a position where “related information d” is displayed), and performs a predetermined operation ( For example, when an operation of pressing the left click button 96a) is performed, the instruction determining unit 72 illustrated in FIG. 6 determines that a specific operation (left click) has been performed on the related information, and outputs a signal indicating that to the related information. Output to the information processing unit 82. The related information processing unit 82 outputs to the communication unit 62 an access request for the URL included in the related information on which the left click operation has been performed from the related information storage unit 78. Communication unit 62
Transmits an access request to the information specified by the URL via the network N1 to acquire the corresponding information, and outputs the result to, for example, the first management area control unit 64. When the first management area control unit 64 performs processing such as layout setting of the information and outputs the information to the display unit 68, the acquired information is displayed on the display device.

Incidentally, the display format of the related information displayed in the related information display area R3 is not only that a plurality of pieces of related information are displayed in a list form as shown in FIG. 10, but also a hierarchical form as shown in FIG. The display format may be used. In this case,
The related information itself is also formed hierarchically. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of related information displayed in a hierarchical format. In FIG. 11, marks denoted by reference numerals M1 to M3 in the figure are marks indicating that there is lower layer related information. In the example illustrated in FIG. 11, the first layer DR1 to the third layer DR3 are illustrated, and the related information of the second layer DR2 is a layer related to “related information b” in the first layer. The related information of the layer DR3 is a layer related to “related information b1” in the second layer. The number of layers of related information and the number of related information provided in each layer are set for each related information. When the related information is displayed in a hierarchical manner, it is preferable that the related information be hierarchized in the order of the search. For example, when the search results shown in FIG. 9 are obtained, the related information on the first to twentieth search results r1 to r20 and the related information for searching for “next 20” Is displayed on the first level, and the related information on the 21st to 40th search results and “next 2
For example, related information for searching for “0” is displayed on the second layer.

The case where the related information is displayed hierarchically has been described above, but the icon image itself displayed in the second management area R2 may be displayed hierarchically. FIG.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which icon images displayed in the second management area R2 are displayed hierarchically. In FIG.
R20 is a second management area in which a plurality of management areas corresponding to the second management area R2 in FIG. 9 are superimposed, and each management area is identified by a tab. In the example illustrated in FIG. 12, a second management area R20 including four management areas with tabs T1 to T4 is illustrated.

The user operates the mouse to operate the tabs T1 to T4.
Is selected, the contents of the management area with the selected tab are displayed. In the example shown in FIG. 12, the contents of the management area with the tab T4 are displayed, and three icon images ip10 to ip12 are displayed in the management area.
Is displayed. When the user performs a specific operation (for example, right-click operation) on any of the icon images ip10 to ip12, the related information included in each icon image is displayed as described above. In the case where the second management area 20 shown in FIG. 12 is provided, when the icon image is moved from the first management area R1 to the second management area R20, the order differs in the order in which the icon images are searched. It is preferable to move to the management area. By classifying the icon images for each management area in this manner, search history and search results for each search are not mixed, which is convenient for organizing search results.

The information retrieval system and method, the retrieval information providing device and method, the retrieval information display device and method, and the recording medium for recording the method according to one embodiment of the present invention have been described above. Has been described in order to facilitate understanding of the present invention,
It is not intended to limit the invention. Therefore, each element disclosed in the above embodiment is intended to include all design changes and equivalents belonging to the technical scope of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the first management area R1 and the second management areas R2, R2
Although the same icon image is displayed in 0, the icon images displayed in the second management areas R2 and R20 may be different from the icon images displayed in the first management area R1. At this time, these icon images are related to such an extent that the appearance and idea of the icon images displayed in the second management areas R2 and R20 are the same or similar to the appearance and idea of the icon images displayed in the first management area R1. What is necessary is just to have the property.

In this case, the second management area R1
When an instruction to move to the management areas R2 and R20 is issued, the personal computer 10 may access the information search site 30 and acquire image icons to be displayed in the second management areas R2 and R20. Second management area R
2. The icon image displayed on R20 may be a large image or a finer image than the icon image displayed on the first management area R1. The information amount of the icon image and the related information transmitted from the information search server 32 to the personal computer 10 is appropriately set according to the communication environment. For example, if the communication speed is 64 kb
If it is less than about ps (Bit Per Second), the amount of information of the icon image and the related information is reduced as much as possible. Do not invite. If the communication speed is as high as about 1 Mbps, the operability is further improved by increasing the amount of icon images or related information transmitted at one time. Further, not only by including the URL in the related information, but also by using the search result itself as the related information, for example, the search result can be promptly obtained without starting the browser. At this time,
Not only the search result alone may be used as the related information, but other information may be included in the related information.

Further, in the above embodiment, the case of searching for general information having a genre such as “business”, “education”, “politics”, “culture” and the like has been described as an example. The present invention may be applied to a case where a search for information is performed. For example, personal information of men and women who want to meet each other is stored in the database D in FIG. 1, and if a user specifies a desired condition, a matchmaking partner of the desired condition can be searched. In this case, if the image information of the face photograph of the man and woman is included in the icon image and the profile is included in the icon image as the related information, the face and profile of the partner can be known before the matchmaking.

[0091]

As described above, according to the present invention,
There is an effect that the search result can be easily grasped and the search result can be obtained quickly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an information search system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an information search server 3 provided in the search information providing device.
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of a second and icon image generation server.

FIG. 3 is a diagram conceptually showing a structure of information stored in a database device D.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a format of image information in which related information is embedded.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating another example of a format of image information in which related information is embedded.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of a search information display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an information search method, a search information providing method, and a search information display method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a search screen.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a search result, an icon image, and the like.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of how related information is displayed.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of related information displayed in a hierarchical format.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a state in which icon images displayed in a second management area R2 are displayed hierarchically.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Personal computer (terminal device) 12 ... Digital television (terminal device) 14 ... PDA (terminal device) 16 ... Mobile telephone (terminal device) 32 ... Information search server 34 ... Icon image generation server 64 ... 1st management area control part (First management area control means) 70 ... instruction input section (instruction input means) 74 ... second management area control section (second management area control means) 82 ... related information processing section (related information processing means) 95 ... mouse ( Instruction input means) D: Database device (database) IP1 to IP20, IPn: Icon image ip, ip1 to ip3: Icon image N1: Network R1: First management area R2, R20: Second management area r1 to r20, m1 search results

Claims (21)

[Claims] 1. An information search server which is connected to a network and searches a database in response to a search request transmitted through the network to obtain a search result; and an information search server which relates to the search result by the information search server. An icon image generation server for generating an icon image including related information, connected to the network, transmitting the search request to the information search server, and displaying the icon image in association with the search result for the search request An information retrieval system, comprising: 2. The terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising: an instruction input unit configured to input an instruction from a user; A management area control unit, and a second display unit that displays an icon image related to the icon image in the second management area when an instruction to move the icon image displayed in the first management area is input from the instruction input unit. 2 management area control means, wherein the second management area control means, when a predetermined instruction is input from the instruction input means, related information related to the icon image displayed in the second management area 2. The information retrieval system according to claim 1, wherein control for displaying is performed. 3. When the second management area control unit displays the icon image in the second management area, the information is further acquired from the information search server to display the icon image displayed in the second management area. 3. The information retrieval system according to claim 2, further comprising a related information processing unit that sets related information related to the information. 4. A step of transmitting a search request from a terminal device via a network, a step of searching a database for the search request to obtain a search result, and an icon including related information related to the search result. An information search method, comprising: generating an image; and displaying the icon image on the terminal device in association with the search result for the search request. 5. The step of displaying the icon image is a step of displaying the icon image and the search result in a first management area in association with each other without displaying the related information, and the terminal device is provided with the terminal device. When an instruction to move the icon image displayed in the first management area is input from an instruction input unit, an icon image related to the icon image is displayed in a second management area different from the first management area. Steps: When a predetermined instruction is input from the instruction input unit,
5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of displaying related information related to the icon image displayed in the second management area. 6. The method according to claim 6, further comprising, when the icon image is displayed in the second management area, further acquiring information and setting the information as related information related to the icon image displayed in the second management area. The information retrieval method according to claim 5, wherein 7. An information search server that is connected to a network and searches a database for a search request transmitted through the network to obtain a search result, and relates to the search result by the information search server. An icon image generation server that generates an icon image including related information, wherein the information search server transmits the icon image via the network in accordance with the search result. . 8. When a request for transmission of related information is made via the network and the information search server, the icon image generation server may further add related information other than the related information included in the icon image. The search information providing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the search information is transmitted via an information search server and the network. 9. A step of performing a search on a database for a search request transmitted via a network to obtain a search result; a step of generating an icon image including relevant information related to the search result; Transmitting the icon image via the network in accordance with a search result. 10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, when a request for transmitting related information is made via said network, transmitting further related information in addition to the related information included in said icon image via said network. 10. The search information providing method according to claim 9, wherein: 11. An icon image which is connected to a network, transmits a search request to the network, and includes a search result corresponding to the search request transmitted via the network and related information related to the search result. And a search information display device for displaying the search information in association with each other. 12. An instruction input means for inputting an instruction of a user, a first management area control means for displaying the icon image and the search result in a first management area in association with each other without displaying the related information. A second management area control means for displaying an icon image related to the icon image in the second management area when an instruction to move the icon image displayed in the first management area is input from the instruction input means; The second management area control means controls the display of related information related to the icon image displayed in the second management area when a predetermined instruction is input from the instruction input means. The search information display device according to claim 11, wherein the search information is displayed. 13. The second management area control means according to claim 2, wherein
When the icon image is displayed in the management area, the information processing apparatus further includes a related information processing unit that further obtains information via the network and sets the information as related information related to the icon image displayed in the second management area. Claim 1.
2. The search information display device according to item 2. 14. A step of transmitting a search request from a terminal device to a network, wherein a search result for the search request transmitted via the network and an icon image containing related information related to the search result are provided. Displaying the search information in association with each other. 15. The step of displaying the icon image is a step of displaying the icon image and the search result in the first management area in association with each other without displaying the related information, and the terminal device is provided with the terminal device. When an instruction to move the icon image displayed in the first management area is input from an instruction input unit, an icon image related to the icon image is displayed in a second management area different from the first management area. Steps: When a predetermined instruction is input from the instruction input unit,
The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of displaying related information related to the icon image displayed in the second management area. 16. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, when the icon image is displayed in the second management area, further acquiring information and setting it as related information related to the icon image displayed in the second management area. The search information display method according to claim 15, wherein 17. A step of performing a search of a database for a search request transmitted via a network to obtain a search result; a step of generating an icon image including related information related to the search result; Transmitting the icon image via the network in accordance with a search result. 18. A program recorded, further comprising a step of transmitting, via the network, related information other than the related information included in the icon image when a request for transmitting related information is made via the network. 18. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 17, wherein: 19. A step of transmitting a search request from a terminal device to a network, and a search result for the search request transmitted via the network and an icon image containing related information related to the search result. Recording a program having a step of displaying in association with a computer. 20. The step of displaying the icon image is a step of displaying the icon image and the search result in a first management area in association with each other without displaying the related information, and the terminal device is provided with the terminal device. When an instruction to move the icon image displayed in the first management area is input from an instruction input unit, an icon image related to the icon image is displayed in a second management area different from the first management area. Steps: When a predetermined instruction is input from the instruction input unit,
20. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 19, further comprising a step of displaying related information related to the icon image displayed in the second management area. 21. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program further comprising, when the icon image is displayed in the second management area, further acquiring information and setting the information as relevant information related to the icon image displayed in the second management area. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 20, wherein the recording medium is recorded.