JP2002259427A - User-preference-reflected-type retrieval method, implementation device therefor, processing program therefor and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique that can effectively and efficiently perform retrieval when retrieving the information that a user desires to have from a wealth of information. SOLUTION: This user-preference-reflected-type retrieval method which retrieves the information that the user desires to have from a wealth of information has a step of inputting a retrieval request from the user, a step that refers to the index database which stores an index with which pointer information for a retrieval target entity and a phrase describing the purpose of use of the retrieval target have been paired, and retrieves the index containing the retrieval key designated by the retrieval request to output the phrase, a step of producing a menu screen for presenting the outputted phrase, a step of displaying the produced menu screen, a step of accepting a phrase selected from the menu screen displayed, and a step that retrieves the pointer corresponding to the accepted phrase from the index database to output it.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a user preference reflection type search apparatus for easily searching for information desired by a user from a vast amount of information, and more particularly, to a use purpose of information to be searched for for each information. Is presented to the user in order to derive the optimal information that satisfies the user's search request better by applying it to the user, and this is applied to a user preference reflection type search device that can be used as a new search key. It is about effective technology.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a system for searching and providing information, an enormous amount of information is managed in a database.
For this reason, it is extremely difficult for a user of the system to efficiently retrieve desired information, that is, information suitable for the user's interest and purpose, from such a huge amount of information. Therefore, in recent years, an information providing service system for providing information corresponding to the interests and purposes of the user by registering information corresponding to the interests and purposes of the user in advance has been established. A conventional method using a user's interest and purpose for a search is disclosed in
No. 5364, a product information search method disclosed in
There is a user preference reflection database device disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 112. The product information search method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-295364 discloses a method of adding a color and a type of a product, a user's preference sensation, a user's age, and the like to a search target. It is possible to perform a search using a user's preference sensation, a user's age, and the like as a search key. Also,
In the user preference reflection database device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 6-223112, an attribute (a color or a type of a product, a user's preference or age, etc.) added to a search target is presented to a user as a search result. This makes it possible to effectively and efficiently search for optimal information that can better satisfy a user's search request.

[0003]

In the conventional search method,
In order to derive optimal information that can better satisfy a user's search request, the number of search keys to be input may be increased. However, if the search key is increased, the search conditions will be strengthened. Therefore, the number of cases where search results corresponding to the search conditions cannot be found even if they are actually input increases, and eventually the search conditions are re-entered. And the search becomes inefficient. For example, in a keyword search, if a search is performed using one keyword, the number of search results may be enormous. In such a case, further narrowing down is performed by adding a keyword, but there is a problem that a search result corresponding to the search condition cannot be found. The above problem cannot be avoided without devising the correspondence between the search conditions and the number of search targets actually searched by the search conditions.

Further, the above-described conventional search method is intended to provide a means for performing a search using a color or type of a product, a user's preference, a user's age, or the like as a search key. Since it is configured to add additional registered attributes such as color and type, user's preference sensation and user's age, information other than registered attributes such as product color and type, taste and age, etc. It is difficult to use as a user's interest and purpose, and therefore, it does not have a function corresponding to a short-term change in the user's interest and purpose.

As described above, the conventional search method described above can determine which search key is an effective search key in searching for optimal information that better satisfies a user's request. However, there is a disadvantage that it is difficult to perform an effective and efficient search reflecting the interest and purpose of the user. Further, by giving attributes to the interests and purposes of the user, there is a disadvantage that expressions relating to the interests and purposes of the user are limited to only certain attributes.

In recent years, with the spread of i-mode terminals,
Interest in information gathering activities using terminals having key input devices such as mobile phones is increasing, and the start of BS digital broadcasting can be expected to increase opportunities for information gathering activities using remote controls such as TVs. . Since the operability of such a key input device is restricted, there is a problem that it is difficult to input a search intention accurately and perform an efficient search as compared with an information search using a PC.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem and to provide a technique capable of performing an effective and efficient search when searching for information desired by a user from a vast amount of information. is there. Another object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of supporting keyword input in a terminal having limited operability.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided a user preference reflecting type search apparatus for searching for information desired by a user from a vast amount of information, using a phrase describing a purpose of use of a search target. It searches for pointer information to the target entity.

In the present invention, first, the purpose of use for each search target is estimated, and an index in which pointer information to the search target entity and a phrase describing the use purpose of the search target are stored in an index database. .

Next, a search request from a user is input, the index database is referred to, an index including the search key specified in the search request is searched, and the phrase is output. A menu screen for presenting a phrase is created and displayed on the user device.

When the user selects a phrase suitable for his / her interest and purpose on the displayed menu screen, the selected phrase is used as a new search key and pointer information (URL: Uniform Resource Lo
cators), and transmits the pointer information to the user device.

As described above, in the present invention, the color and type of the product,
Rather than performing searches by increasing attributes such as user preferences and age, search for phrases that indicate the interests and purposes of general users, present them to users, and allow users to After selecting a phrase suitable for the purpose, pointer information corresponding to the phrase selected by the user is output, so that a search suitable for the user's interest and purpose can be performed.

In the present invention, the phrase may be searched using a result (URL or the like) of a full-text search for the search target entity as a search key. Even when a large number of search results are output by the full-text search, by presenting a phrase corresponding to the full-text search result, a search suitable for the interest and purpose of the user can be performed. Alternatively, the presence or absence of a particle in a search request input by a user may be determined, and whether to perform the full-text search may be determined according to the determination result.

As described above, according to the user preference reflecting type search apparatus of the present invention, the pointer information to the search target entity is searched using the phrase describing the purpose of use of the search target, so that a large amount of information It is possible to perform an effective and efficient search when searching for the information desired by the user from.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (Embodiment 1) A user preference reflecting type search apparatus according to Embodiment 1 for performing an information search using a phrase indicating the interest and purpose of a general user will be described below.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a user preference reflecting type search apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the user preference reflecting type search device 100 of the present embodiment has an index database 10. The index database 10 stores pointer information (URL) to the search target entity.
Etc.) and a phrase that is created for each search target and that indicates a phrase indicating the interest and purpose of a general user.

The user preference reflecting type search device 100
It has an input processing unit 20, a display processing unit 30, an information search processing unit 40, a menu creation processing unit 50, a menu selection processing unit 60, and an information search processing unit 70.

The input processing unit 20 is a processing unit for inputting a search request from a user. The display processing unit 30 is a processing unit that displays the menu screen and the search result created by the menu creation processing unit 50. The information search processing unit 40 is a processing unit that refers to the index database 10, searches for an index including the search key specified in the search request, and outputs the phrase.

The menu creation processing section 50 is a processing section for creating a menu screen for presenting a phrase reflecting the interest and purpose of a general user based on the result output from the information search processing section 40. The menu selection processing unit 60
A processing unit that receives a phrase selected as a new search key from the displayed menu screen. The information search processing unit 70 is a processing unit that searches the index database 10 for pointer information corresponding to the phrase received as the new search key and outputs the pointer information.

The user preference reflecting type search apparatus 100 functions as an input processing unit 20, a display processing unit 30, an information search processing unit 40, a menu creation processing unit 50, a menu selection processing unit 60, and an information search processing unit 70. The program is C
After being recorded on a recording medium such as a D-ROM and stored on a magnetic disk or the like, it is loaded into a memory and executed. The recording medium for recording the program is CD-R.
A recording medium other than the OM may be used. In addition, the program may be installed in the information processing apparatus from the recording medium and used, or the recording medium may be accessed through a network to use the program.

As shown in FIG. 1, the user preference reflecting type search apparatus 100 of this embodiment is connected to a PC (Performance
sonal Computer) and a user-side device such as a television or a mobile phone that can be connected to a network.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the index database 10 of the present embodiment. In FIG. 2, W registered in the index database 10 in the present embodiment
Pointer information (URL, etc.) to the search target entity, which is information existing on the WW (World Wide Web), and a phrase created for each piece of information indicating a general user's interest and purpose are paired. An example is shown.

In the example of FIG. 2, the interest and purpose of a general user are expressed as a phrase. In the example of the first column of FIG. The page you want to refer to when you
Is used, and the phrase “play tennis in Kyoto” is registered in the index database 10.

In addition, in the example of the first row in FIG. 2, a use purpose such as "I want to know a place where tennis can be played in Kyoto" can be considered. In such a case, by adding a plurality of usage purposes to one data, all possible usage purposes can be handled. In the present embodiment, in addition to the phrase, the title to be searched is also registered in the index database 10 as a pair with the URL.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a phrase using the word separation according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 also shows pointer information (URL and the like) to the search target entity, which is information existing on the WWW registered in the index database 10 in this embodiment, and the interest and purpose of a general user created for each piece of the information. FIG. 3 shows an example of an index paired with a phrase indicating "". The difference from FIG. 2 is that "phrase" in FIG. 2 is divided for each part of speech in FIG. In the following, a description will be given of a user preference reflection type search process using the phrases of FIGS.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the user preference reflection type search processing of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the user preference reflecting type search apparatus 100 of the present embodiment is shown.
Performs a process of searching for pointer information to a search target entity using a phrase describing the purpose of use of the search target.

In the present embodiment, a user who seeks desired information from a vast amount of information inputs a search key for searching for information to the user device, and reflects the search request to the user preference. It is transmitted to the type search device 100.

In step 401, the input processing unit 20 of the user preference reflecting search device 100 checks whether a search request from the user has been received from the user device, and receives a search request including a search key. If so, the search request is input and the process proceeds to step 402.

In step 402, the information retrieval processing unit 40
With reference to the index database 10, an index including the search key specified by the search request is searched, and the phrase is output to the menu creation processing unit 50.

In step 403, the menu creation processing section 50
Creates a menu screen for presenting a phrase reflecting the interest and purpose of a general user based on the result output from the information search processing unit 40 or the identification information of the phrase portion received from the user-side device. .

In step 404, the display processing unit 30 transmits the menu screen created by the menu creation processing unit 50 to the user device, and displays the menu screen on the user device.

Upon receiving the menu screen from the user preference reflecting search device 100, the user-side device accepts the selection of the entire phrase or the segmented phrase portion from the user, and selects the entire selected phrase or the phrase. The identification information indicating the portion is transmitted to the user preference reflecting search device 100.

At step 405, the menu selection processing section 60
Checks whether the identification information of the entire phrase or the phrase portion selected from the menu screen displayed on the user side device is received from the user side device, and receives the identification information of the entire phrase or the phrase portion. If yes, go to step 406.

In step 406, it is checked whether or not the selected phrase is specified by the content of the received identification information, and the received identification information indicates a part of the phrase, and the phrase selected by the user is determined. If is not specified yet, the process returns to step 403.
Further, when the received identification information indicates the entire phrase, or when the phrase selected by the user is specified by the identification information of the phrase part received so far, the phrase is replaced with a new phrase. It is accepted as a search key and the process proceeds to step 407.

In step 407, the information search processing unit 70
Pointer information corresponding to the phrase received as the new search key is searched from the index database 10 and the search result is output to the display processing unit 30.

In step 408, the display processing unit 30 transmits the pointer information, which is the search result received from the information search processing unit 70, to the user device. The user device receives the pointer information from the user preference reflecting search device 100, accesses a Web site indicated by the URL of the pointer information, and displays the information of the Web site on the user device.

For example, when the user inputs the keyword “tennis” as a search key to the user device, the user device sends a search request including the search key “tennis” to the user preference reflecting search device 100. Send to

In step 401, the input processing unit 20 of the user preference reflecting search device 100 receives a search request including the search key "tennis" from the user and proceeds to step 402. In step 402, the information search processing unit Reference numeral 40 refers to the index database 10 of FIG. 2 or FIG. 3 to search for an index including the search key “tennis”, and to perform a menu creation process for the entire phrase such as “I want to play tennis in Kyoto” or the phrase that is divided and written. Output to the unit 50.

In step 403, the menu creation processing section 50
Is for presenting a phrase that reflects the interests and purposes of general users based on the entire phrase or the phrase that is output from the information search processing unit 40, such as “I want to play tennis in Kyoto”. Create a menu screen.

FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of the menu screen of this embodiment. FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a menu screen created based on the phrase searched from the index database 10 of FIG. 2 by the search key “tennis”.

In step 404, the display processing unit 30 transmits the created menu screen to the user's device, and the user selects "Kyoto" as a phrase considered to be most closely related to the information desired by the user. And want to play tennis ", and use this as a new search key.

At step 405, menu selection processing section 60
Receives the identification information of the phrase “I want to play tennis in Kyoto” selected by the user device from the user device and proceeds to step 406. In step 406, the received identification information indicates the entire phrase. The phrase is accepted as a new search key and
Proceed to 7.

In step 407, the information search processing unit 70
Pointer information corresponding to the phrase "I want to play tennis in Kyoto" accepted as the new search key is searched from the index database 10, and the search result "U
A pair of “RL” and “title” is output to the display processing unit 30, and in step 408, the display processing unit 30
L and a title are transmitted to the user device.

When the user performs an input operation using a user device whose operability is restricted, such as a portable terminal or a TV remote control, the phrase written in FIG. 3 is used. Thus, the input load of keywords can be reduced.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a menu screen using the break text of this embodiment. FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a menu screen created based on the phrase searched from the index database 10 of FIG. 3 by the search key “tennis”.

In the case where the index database 10 shown in FIG.
03, the menu creation processing unit 50
A menu screen that can receive items that have been fragmented from, and present items that reflect the interests and purposes of general users. Example 601 is created.

A user-side device such as a television which can be connected to a network receives and displays an example menu screen 601 from the user preference reflecting type search device 100, and selects, for example, "Kyoto" Is received from the user by operating the remote controller or the like, the identification information indicating the selected phrase portion "Kyoto" is transmitted to the user preference reflecting search device 100.

In step 405, menu selection processing section 60
Receives the identification information of the phrase portion "Kyoto" selected by the user side device from the user side device and proceeds to step 406. In step 406, the received identification information indicates a part of the phrase. Since the phrase selected by the user has not yet been specified, the process returns to step 403.

In step 403, the menu creation processing section 50
Updates the menu screen as shown in the menu screen example 602 in FIG. 6 using the search result output from the information search processing unit 40 and using the search result including the phrase part “Kyoto” received from the user side device. Then, the contents of the options of other items are changed according to the contents of the item selected on the menu screen.

Upon receiving the menu screen example 602 from the user preference reflecting search device 100, the user side receives "Kyoto" and then "Tennis" from the user as a selection of the parted phrase. Then, the identification information indicating the selected phrase portion "tennis" is transmitted to the user preference reflecting type search device 100.

At step 405, menu selection processing section 60
Receives the identification information of the phrase portion “tennis” selected by the user side device from the user side device and proceeds to step 406. In step 406, the phrase portions “Kyoto” and “ Since the phrase selected by the user is specified as "I want to play tennis in Kyoto" by the identification information of "tennis", the phrase is accepted as a new search key, and the routine proceeds to step 407.

In step 407, the information search processing unit 70
Pointer information corresponding to the phrase "I want to play tennis in Kyoto" accepted as the new search key is searched from the index database 10, and the search result "U
A pair of “RL” and “title” is output to the display processing unit 30, and in step 408, the display processing unit 30
L and a title are transmitted to the user device.
In the same manner as described above, even when the user performs an input operation using a mobile phone, the input load of the keyword can be reduced by using the separated phrases in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a menu screen using break-out on the mobile phone of the present embodiment. As shown in a menu screen example 701 in FIG. 7, when the user inputs the search key “tennis” to the user-side device, which is a mobile phone, the input processing unit 20 of the user preference reflecting type search device 100 in step 401 Upon receiving a search request including the search key “tennis” from the user, the process proceeds to step 402 and proceeds to step 40.
In step 2, the information search processing unit 40 refers to the index database 10 in FIG. 3 and searches for an index including the search key "tennis" to search for "Kyoto", "de", "tennis", "wo", and "want". And the like, and outputs the written phrase to the menu creation processing unit 50.

In step 403, the menu creation processing section 50
Creates the contents of the pull-down menu as shown in a menu screen example 702 based on the divided phrases output from the information search processing unit 40.

In this menu screen example 702, when a selection of, for example, “Kyoto” is accepted by a key operation of the mobile phone, the menu creation processing unit 50 determines in step 403 the search result output from the information search processing unit 40. The contents of the pull-down menu are displayed on the menu screen example 703 using the phrase including the phrase portion "Kyoto" received from the user side device.
And the contents of the options of other items are changed according to the contents of the item selected on the menu screen.

In the menu screen example 703, when the selection of "tennis" is received after "Kyoto", the process proceeds from step 405 to step 406, where the identification information of the phrase parts "Kyoto" and "tennis" received so far is used. , "I want to play tennis in Kyoto" is accepted as a new search key, and the pair of "URL" and "Title" is output to the display processing unit 30 in step 407, and the display processing unit 3 is output in step 408.
0 transmits the pair of “URL” and “title” to the user side device as in a menu screen example 704.

As described above, according to the user preference reflecting type search apparatus of the present embodiment, since the pointer information to the search target entity is searched using the phrase describing the use purpose of the search target, a huge amount of information is obtained. It is possible to perform an effective and efficient search when searching for the information desired by the user from among.

According to the user preference reflecting type search device of the present embodiment, the contents of the options of other items are changed in accordance with the contents of the item selected on the menu screen. Can support keyword input.

(Embodiment 2) A user preference reflecting search apparatus according to Embodiment 2 for performing full-text search and information search using phrases indicating the interests and purposes of general users will be described below.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a user preference reflecting type search device 800 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8, the user preference reflection type search device 800 of the present embodiment has a full-text search database 801. The full-text search database 801 is a database that stores information that enables a full-text search to be performed on a search target entity.

The user preference reflecting search device 800 has a full-text search processing unit 802. Full-text search processing unit 80
A processing unit 2 performs a full-text search on the search target entity of the full-text search database 801 using a search key specified by a search request from a user.

A program for causing the user preference reflecting type search device 800 to function as the full-text search processing unit 802 is C
After being recorded on a recording medium such as a D-ROM and stored on a magnetic disk or the like, it is loaded into a memory and executed. The recording medium for recording the program is CD-R.
A recording medium other than the OM may be used. In addition, the program may be installed in the information processing apparatus from the recording medium and used, or the recording medium may be accessed through a network to use the program. Here, the user preference reflecting type search device 80 of the present embodiment
Other configurations of 0 are the same as those of the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the user preference reflection type search processing of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9, the user preference reflecting type search device 800 of the present embodiment is shown.
Performs a process of searching for pointer information to the search target entity using a phrase describing the purpose of use of the search target, using a full-text search together.

In the present embodiment, a user who seeks desired information from a vast amount of information inputs a search key for searching for information to the user device, and reflects the search request to the user preference. It is transmitted to the type search device 800.

In step 401, the input processing unit 20 of the user preference reflecting search device 800 checks whether a search request from the user has been received from the user device, and receives a search request including a search key. If yes, the search request is input and the process proceeds to step 901.

In step 901, the full-text search processing unit 802
Performs a full-text search on the search target entity of the full-text search database 801 using the search key specified by the search request from the user, and obtains a large number of search results. Each of the search results is a URL or the like, which is a full-text search database 801.
Is an ID that can uniquely determine the information registered in. The information search processing unit 40 searches the index database 10 using this ID (URL or the like).

In step 402, the information search processing section 40
With reference to the index database 10, an index including information such as a URL obtained by the full-text search is searched, and the phrase is output to the menu creation processing unit 50.

In step 403, the menu creation processing section 50
Creates a menu screen for presenting a phrase reflecting the interest and purpose of a general user based on the result output from the information search processing unit 40 or the identification information of the phrase portion received from the user-side device. .

In step 404, the display processing unit 30 transmits the menu screen created by the menu creation processing unit 50 to the user device, and displays the menu screen on the user device.

Upon receiving the menu screen from the user preference reflecting search device 800, the user device receives the selection of the entire phrase or the segmented phrase portion from the user, and selects the entire selected phrase or the phrase. The identification information indicating the portion is transmitted to the user preference reflecting search device 800.

At step 405, menu selection processing section 60
Checks whether the identification information of the entire phrase or the phrase portion selected from the menu screen displayed on the user side device is received from the user side device, and receives the identification information of the entire phrase or the phrase portion. If yes, go to step 406.

In step 406, it is checked whether or not the selected phrase is specified by the content of the received identification information, and the received identification information indicates a part of the phrase, and the phrase selected by the user is determined. If is not specified yet, the process returns to step 403.
Further, when the received identification information indicates the entire phrase, or when the phrase selected by the user is specified by the identification information of the phrase part received so far, the phrase is replaced with a new phrase. It is accepted as a search key and the process proceeds to step 407.

At step 407, the information retrieval processing unit 70
Pointer information corresponding to the phrase received as the new search key is searched from the index database 10 and the search result is output to the display processing unit 30.

At step 408, the display processing unit 30 transmits the pointer information, which is the search result received from the information search processing unit 70, to the user device. The user device receives the pointer information from the user preference reflecting type search device 800, accesses a Web site indicated by the URL of the pointer information, and displays the information of the Web site on the user device.

In the above-described processing, the user uses the phrase written in the same manner as in the first embodiment to allow the user to use the portable terminal or the TV.
It is also possible to reduce the load of inputting keywords in a user-side device whose operability is restricted, such as a remote controller.

As described above, in the user preference reflecting type search apparatus of the present embodiment, when a large number of search results are output by full-text search, the search results are expressed using phrases indicating the interest and purpose of general users. Can be narrowed down, so that an effective and efficient search can be performed when searching for information desired by the user from a large number of information obtained by performing the full-text search.

As described above, according to the user preference reflecting type search apparatus of the present embodiment, since the pointer information to the search target entity is searched using the phrase describing the use purpose of the search target, a huge amount of information is obtained. It is possible to perform an effective and efficient search when searching for the information desired by the user from among.

Further, according to the user preference reflecting type search device of the present embodiment, the contents of the options of other items are changed in accordance with the contents of the item selected on the menu screen. Can support keyword input.

(Embodiment 3) A user preference reflecting type search apparatus according to Embodiment 3 for performing an information search using a phrase indicating the interest and purpose of a general user or an information search in combination with a full-text search will be described below. .

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a user preference reflecting type search apparatus 1000 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 10, a user preference reflecting type search apparatus 1000 of the present embodiment is shown.
Has a morphological analysis processing unit 1001 and a particle presence / absence determination processing unit 1002.

The morphological analysis processing unit 1001 performs a morphological analysis in response to a search request from a user. The particle presence / absence determination processing unit 1002 is a processing unit that determines the presence / absence of a particle based on the result of the morphological analysis and determines whether to perform the full-text search.

The user preference reflection type search device 1000 includes a morphological analysis processing unit 1001 and a particle presence / absence determination processing unit 1002.
It is assumed that a program for functioning as is recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, stored on a magnetic disk or the like, and then loaded into a memory and executed. The recording medium for recording the program may be a recording medium other than the CD-ROM. In addition, the program may be installed in the information processing apparatus from the recording medium and used, or the recording medium may be accessed through a network to use the program. Here, the other configuration of the user preference reflecting type search device 1000 of the present embodiment is the same as that of the second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the user preference reflection type search processing of this embodiment. FIG.
As shown in FIG.
00 performs a process of searching for pointer information to a search target entity using a phrase describing the purpose of use of the search target or a process using a full-text search in accordance with the presence or absence of a particle in the search key.

In the present embodiment, a user who seeks desired information from a vast amount of information inputs a search key for searching for information to the user side device, and reflects the search request to the user preference. It is transmitted to the type search device 1000.

In step 401, the input processing unit 20 of the user preference reflecting search device 1000 checks whether a search request from the user has been received from the user device, and receives a search request including a search key. If yes, the search request is input and the process proceeds to step 1101. Step 110
In step 1, the morphological analysis processing unit 1001 performs morphological analysis on the search key in the input search request, and performs part-of-speech decomposition in the search key.

In step 1102, the particle presence / absence determination processing unit 1
In step 002, it is determined from the result of the morphological analysis whether a particle is included in the search key. If no particle is included, the process proceeds to step 1103.

In step 1103, the full-text search processing unit 802
Performs a full-text search on the search target entity of the full-text search database 801 using the search key specified by the search request from the user, and obtains a large number of search results. Each of the search results is a URL or the like, which is a full-text search database 801.
Is an ID that can uniquely determine the information registered in.

At step 402, the information search processing unit 40
With reference to the index database 10, an index including the search key specified by the search request or an index including information such as a URL obtained by the full-text search is searched, and the phrase is output to the menu creation processing unit 50.

In step 403, menu creation processing section 50
Creates a menu screen for presenting a phrase reflecting the interest and purpose of a general user based on the result output from the information search processing unit 40 or the identification information of the phrase portion received from the user-side device. .

In step 404, the display processing unit 30 transmits the menu screen created by the menu creation processing unit 50 to the user device, and displays the menu screen on the user device.

The user device receiving the menu screen from the user preference reflecting search device 1000 accepts the selection of the entire phrase or the segmented phrase portion from the user, and selects the entire selected phrase or the phrase. User preference reflecting search device 1000 using identification information indicating a part
Send to

At step 405, menu selection processing section 60
Checks whether the identification information of the entire phrase or the phrase portion selected from the menu screen displayed on the user side device is received from the user side device, and receives the identification information of the entire phrase or the phrase portion. If yes, go to step 406.

In step 406, it is checked whether the selected phrase is specified by the content of the received identification information, and the received identification information indicates a part of the phrase, and the phrase selected by the user is determined. If is not specified yet, the process returns to step 403.
Further, when the received identification information indicates the entire phrase, or when the phrase selected by the user is specified by the identification information of the phrase part received so far, the phrase is replaced with a new phrase. It is accepted as a search key and the process proceeds to step 407.

At step 407, the information search processing unit 70
Pointer information corresponding to the phrase received as the new search key is searched from the index database 10 and the search result is output to the display processing unit 30.

In step 408, the display processing unit 30 transmits the pointer information, which is the search result received from the information search processing unit 70, to the user device. The user device receives the pointer information from the user preference reflecting search device 1000, accesses a Web site indicated by the URL of the pointer information, and displays the information of the Web site on the user device.

In the above-described processing, the user uses the phrase written in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and
It is also possible to reduce the load of inputting keywords in a user-side device whose operability is restricted, such as a remote controller.

As described above, in the user preference reflecting type search apparatus of the present embodiment, when a search key from a user includes a particle, the search processing described in the first embodiment is performed, and the search key is used. If no particle is included, the search processing described in the second embodiment is performed. Therefore, when searching for information desired by the user from a large number of pieces of information obtained by performing full-text search, input contents of a search key are used. Therefore, it is possible to perform an effective and efficient search by properly using the search processing of the first embodiment or the second embodiment.

As described above, according to the user preference reflecting type search apparatus of the present embodiment, since the pointer information to the search target entity is searched using the phrase describing the use purpose of the search target, a huge amount of information is obtained. It is possible to perform an effective and efficient search when searching for the information desired by the user from among.

Further, according to the user preference reflecting type search device of the present embodiment, the contents of the options of other items are changed in accordance with the contents of the item selected on the menu screen, so that the terminal having limited operability. Can support keyword input.

[0100]

According to the present invention, since the pointer information to the search target entity is searched using the phrase describing the purpose of use of the search target, when searching for the information desired by the user from a vast amount of information. In addition, it is possible to perform an effective and efficient search, and it is possible to prevent the inefficiency of the database search by increasing the number of search keys to be input and strengthening the search conditions. Further, in the present invention, the contents of the options of other items are changed in accordance with the contents of the item selected on the menu screen. Therefore, the input of a keyword is performed on a terminal having limited operability such as a portable terminal or a TV remote control. It is possible to help.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a user preference reflecting search device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an index database 10 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a phrase that uses line breaks according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a user preference reflecting search process according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a menu screen according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a menu screen using the break text according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a menu screen using break text on the mobile phone according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a user preference reflecting search device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a user preference reflecting search process according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a user preference reflecting type search device according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a user preference reflecting search process according to the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

100: user preference reflection type search device, 10: index database, 20: input processing unit, 30: display processing unit
40 ... information search processing unit, 50 ... menu creation processing unit, 6
0: Menu selection processing unit, 70: Information search processing unit, 60
1 and 602: Menu screen examples, 701 to 704: Menu screen examples, 800: User preference reflecting search device, 80
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Full text search database, 802 ... Full text search processing part, 1000 ... User preference reflection type search device, 1001 ...
Morphological analysis processing unit, 1002 ... Particle presence / absence determination processing unit.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Shinji Abe 2-3-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Within Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Yoshinobu Tomura 2--3, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo No. 1 Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation F term (reference) 5B075 ND03 NK02 NK32 PP02 PP14 PP24 PQ02 PQ42 QM07 QP01 UU40

Claims (16)

[Claims] In a user preference reflecting search method for searching for information desired by a user from a vast amount of information, a step of inputting a search request from a user, pointer information to a search target entity, and A step of referring to an index database storing an index paired with a phrase describing a use purpose of a search target, searching for an index including a search key specified in the search request, and outputting the phrase; and Creating a menu screen for presenting the displayed phrase, displaying the created menu screen, receiving a phrase selected from the displayed menu screen, and responding to the received phrase. Searching and outputting pointer information to be performed from the index database. User preferences reflect search method to butterflies. 2. A step of performing a full-text search on a search target entity using a search key specified by the search request, searching an index including information obtained by the full-text search, and outputting the phrase. 2. The user preference reflecting type search method according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: performing a morphological analysis on the search request; and determining whether to perform the full-text search by determining presence / absence of a particle based on a result of the morphological analysis. A user preference reflecting search method according to claim 2. 4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of changing the content of an option of another item according to the content of an item selected on the menu screen. User preference reflecting search method. 5. An input processing unit for inputting a search request from a user in a user preference reflecting type search device for searching for information desired by a user from a vast amount of information, and pointer information to a search target entity. A first index for searching an index including a search key specified by the search request by referring to an index database storing an index in which a phrase describing the purpose of use of the search target is described. An information search processing unit, a menu creation processing unit for creating a menu screen for presenting the output phrase, a display processing unit for displaying the created menu screen, and a menu selected from the displayed menu screen. A menu selection processing unit for receiving the received phrase, and searching the index database for pointer information corresponding to the received phrase. User preferences reflected type retrieval device, characterized in that it comprises a second information retrieval processing section for outputting Te. 6. A full-text search processing unit for performing a full-text search on a search target entity using a search key specified by the search request, wherein an index including information obtained by the full-text search is retrieved by the first information search. 6. The user preference reflecting search device according to claim 5, wherein the processing unit searches and outputs the phrase. 7. A morphological analysis processing unit that performs a morphological analysis on the search request, and a particle presence / absence determining processing unit that determines whether or not to perform the full-text search by determining the presence or absence of a particle based on the result of the morphological analysis. The user preference reflecting type search device according to claim 6, further comprising: 8. The menu creation processing unit according to claim 5, wherein the menu creation processing unit changes the content of the option of another item in accordance with the content of the item selected on the menu screen. The user preference reflection type search device according to any one of the above. 9. A program for causing a computer to function as a user preference reflecting type search device for searching a user for desired information from a vast amount of information, an input processing unit for inputting a search request from a user, Referencing an index database storing an index pairing pointer information to the search target entity and a phrase describing the purpose of use of the search target, and searching for an index including the search key specified in the search request. A first information search processing unit that outputs the phrase, a menu creation processing unit that creates a menu screen for presenting the output phrase, a display processing unit that displays the created menu screen, A menu selection processing unit for receiving a phrase selected from the displayed menu screen, and a pointer corresponding to the received phrase; Program for causing a computer to function the data information as the second information search processing unit and outputting the retrieved from the index database. 10. A full-text search processing unit for performing a full-text search on a search target entity using a search key specified by the search request, and searching for an index including information obtained by the full-text search and outputting a phrase thereof 10. The program according to claim 9, wherein the program causes a computer to function as a processing unit that performs the processing. 11. A morphological analysis processing unit for performing a morphological analysis on the search request, and a particle presence / absence determining processing unit for determining the presence / absence of a particle based on the result of the morphological analysis and determining whether to perform the full-text search. The program according to claim 10, which causes a computer to function. 12. The menu creation processing section according to claim 9, wherein the menu creation processing section changes the content of an option of another item in accordance with the content of the item selected on the menu screen. The program described in any one of the above. 13. A computer-readable recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to function as a user preference reflecting type search device for searching for information desired by a user from a vast amount of information is recorded. An input processing unit for inputting a search request, and an index database storing an index paired with pointer information to a search target entity and a phrase describing a purpose of use of the search target, are referred to, and are designated by the search request. A first information search processing unit that searches for an index including a search key and outputs the phrase, a menu creation processing unit that creates a menu screen for presenting the output phrase, and the created menu screen And a menu selection unit for receiving a phrase selected from the displayed menu screen. A computer-readable program for causing a computer to function as a second information search processing unit that searches for and outputs pointer information corresponding to the received phrase from the index database and outputs the information; recoding media. 14. A full-text search processing unit that performs a full-text search on a search target entity using a search key specified by the search request, and searches an index including information obtained by the full-text search and outputs a phrase thereof. 14. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 13, wherein a program for causing a computer to function as a processing unit that performs the processing is recorded. 15. A morphological analysis processing unit for performing a morphological analysis on the search request, and a particle presence / absence determining processing unit for determining the presence / absence of a particle based on the result of the morphological analysis and determining whether to perform the full-text search. 15. A program for causing a computer to function is recorded.
2. A computer-readable recording medium according to claim 1. 16. The method according to claim 13, wherein the menu creation processing section changes the contents of options of other items according to the contents of an item selected on the menu screen. A computer-readable recording medium according to any one of the preceding claims.