JP2004157668A - Retrieval system, retrieval method and retrieval program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a retrieval system, a retrieval method and a retrieval program, relating to a retrieval result display technology in character retrieval or image retrieval, and allowing an operator to extract a page including a retrieval key and to easily visually recognize arrangement or the like of an object fit for the retrieval key in the page. <P>SOLUTION: This retrieval system has: a retrieval key specification means 111; a retrieval means 112 extracting the page including the object fit for the retrieval key from a retrieval target; a reduced simplified image generation means 113 generating a reduced simplified image characterized such that a portion of the object can be distinguished from other portions; and a reduced simplified image display means 115 having a function for displaying the reduced simplified image generated by the reduced simplified image generation means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a search result display technique in a character search or an image search, and relates to a search system that enables an operator to extract a page including a search key and easily visually recognize an arrangement of objects matching the search key on the page. Method and search program.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various search result display techniques have been employed in a search system and search method for words, sentences, images, and the like. In many of these display technologies, when there are many objects that match the search key (usually, the same word as the search key), a document containing many such objects is preferentially displayed in a list or displayed as an auxiliary. Some or all of the text including the object is displayed as general information.
[0003]
For example, in a search by a search engine on the web, a list of URLs corresponding to the search keys and auxiliary sentences including the search keys are displayed for each list on a web browser. The operator reads out the web page of the listed URL, for example, further searches for the predetermined word or the like using the search function of the web browser, and arrives at the word or the like corresponding to the search key on the web page. it can.
[0004]
When a document (file) including a predetermined word or the like (search key) is searched in a computer, for example, the documents including the word or the like are listed. The operator activates the listed document using a predetermined application (usually an application linked to the listed file), and further uses, for example, a search function on the application to input the predetermined word or the like. By searching, a word or the like corresponding to the search key on the document can be reached.
[0005]
However, for example, in a search by a search engine on the web, only a partial sentence containing a word that matches the search key is displayed as auxiliary information, so that the operator cannot immediately reach the target article or the like. In some cases, it is necessary to read the web page corresponding to the listed URL.
[0006]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a technique for displaying search results to an operator using visual information, as described in [Patent Document 1] and [Patent Document 2]. According to the technique of [Patent Document 1], the readability of a thumbnail image is eliminated, but the position of a search word (a character string that matches a search key) is not reflected in the thumbnail image. The operator cannot visually recognize how the search terms are arranged in the retrieved document.
[0007]
Further, in the technique of [Patent Document 2], a graph showing the relation between characteristic words is displayed at the same time as the search result, and the connection between the search result and other documents is visually conveyed. The operator cannot visually recognize how the words are arranged.
[0008]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2000-293541
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-11-85786
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, even if a document with an image attached to the description of the word or the like meaning of the search key is included in the list, the document is not listed at the top of the search result list. Not necessarily. Also, regardless of whether or not an image is attached to the explanation of the word or the like that the search key means, it may be better to know where the search target word appears in the paragraph of the document. In addition, a document having a well-arranged layout is often easier to read than a document having a complicated layout. However, [Patent Document 1] and [Patent Document 2] do not consider this.
[0010]
In addition, information sharing has been promoted due to the development of the Internet and groupware seen in recent years. For this reason, for example, articles on websites often have documents of similar article content, and for example, documents extracted when a search is performed using a certain search key may have the same information value. More. In a conventional search on the web, if the number of pages in one document is large, the frequency of appearance of a word or the like corresponding to the search key (appearance density: for example, the number of words included in a document having a predetermined number of characters) is low. If the total number of occurrences of the word corresponding to the search key as a whole is large, this document is listed at the top of the search list, but such a search result does not necessarily reflect the intention of the operator. Absent.
[0011]
An object of the present invention is to specify the position of an object matching a search key in a document so that the appearance frequency of the object can be visually recognized at a glance, and to use the object in the document based on the appearance position of the object in a paragraph. An object of the present invention is to provide a search system, a search method, and a search program that enable us to guess and determine the document content.
[0012]
Another object of the present invention is to provide a search system, a search method, and a search program that allow an operator to select a more valuable document from search results by displaying document layout information.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A search system according to the present invention includes a search key designating unit having a function of designating a search key, and a search unit for extracting, from a search target, a page including a character, a character string, or an object as an image that matches the search key. A reduced simplified image generating means for generating a reduced simplified image which is an image relating to a page extracted by the search means and wherein the object part is characterized so as to be distinguishable from other parts; and And a reduced simplified image display unit having a function of displaying the reduced simplified image generated by the generating unit (hereinafter, this search system is referred to as a “first mode”).
[0014]
According to the present invention, by displaying a reduced simplified image of a page including an object that matches the search key, the position of the object on the page is known, so that it is easy to determine whether the document is more useful.
[0015]
Further, the search system of the present invention includes a search key specifying means having a function of specifying a search key for narrowing down, and a character, a character string or an object for narrowing down as an image which matches the search key has already been extracted. An image relating to a page including a narrowing-down search unit that is extracted at least once from a certain page and a narrowing-down object extracted by the narrowing-down search unit, wherein the narrowing-down object portion is distinguished from other portions. A reduced simplified image generating means for generating a reduced simplified image that is capable of being identified as an object part that matches the search key in the search before the refinement, and a reduced size generated by the reduced simplified image generating means. A reduced simplified image display unit having a function of displaying a simplified image (hereinafter, referred to as a simplified simplified image display means). The search system is referred to as a "second aspect").
[0016]
In the refined search, by characterizing an object that matches the refined search key so that it can be distinguished from other parts, the position of the object can be understood and displayed.
[0017]
In the first aspect and the second aspect, it is possible to provide a layout analysis unit capable of detecting a position of the object on the page, and the reduced simplified image generation unit is configured to perform a process based on the position data of the object detected by the layout analysis unit. The reduced simplified image can be generated.
[0018]
In the first mode and the second mode, the key designating means or the key designating means for narrowing down may have a function of designating a plurality of key elements for AND search, OR search or AND / OR combined search. Then, the reduced simplified image generating means can be characterized so that the respective object portions corresponding to the respective key elements can be distinguished from each other.
[0019]
In the first mode and the second mode, it is possible to further include a page / document display unit for displaying a page related to the reduced simplified display image specified by the predetermined instruction unit in a normal size.
[0020]
In the first mode and the second mode, when there are a plurality of pages extracted by the search section, the reduced simplified image display section can display all or a part of the extracted pages side by side.
[0021]
In the first mode and the second mode, when there are a plurality of pages extracted by the search means, the reduced simplified image display means displays the pages related to the same document by a page jump method, a page turning method, or a page scroll method. Can be displayed. Here, the page turning method is a display method in which the extracted documents are displayed in the page order including the page not including the object, and the page jump method is a display method in which only the page including the object is displayed. The scroll method is a method of displaying a portion not displayed on the display unit by scrolling.
[0022]
The search method of the present invention includes: a search key obtaining step of receiving a search key; a search target extraction step of extracting a page including a character, a character string, or an object as an image matching the search key from the search target; A reduced simplified image generating step of generating a reduced simplified image, which is an image relating to the page extracted in the search target extracting step, wherein the object part is characterized so as to be distinguishable from other parts; And a reduced image display step of displaying (hereinafter, this search method is referred to as a “third mode”).
[0023]
Further, the search method of the present invention includes a search key specifying step for narrowing down having a function of specifying a search key for narrowing down, and a search object that is a character, a character string, or an image matching the search key is already set. A narrowing search step of extracting at least once from the extracted page; and an image of a page including the narrowing object extracted in the narrowing search step, wherein the narrowing object portion is another image. A reduced simplified image generating step of generating a reduced simplified image characterized in that it can be identified as a part and can be identified as an object part that matches the search key in the search before the narrowing-down search. A reduced simplified image display step with a function to display the generated reduced simplified image Characterized by comprising a preparative (hereinafter, this search method is referred to as "fourth aspect").
[0024]
In the reduced simplified image generation step in the third mode and the fourth mode, a layout analysis process capable of detecting the position of the object on the page extracted by the search means is executed, and the position data of the object detected by the layout analysis process is executed. , The reduced simplified image can be generated.
[0025]
The third and fourth aspects may further include a page / document display step of displaying a page relating to the reduced simplified display image specified by the predetermined instruction means in a normal size.
[0026]
In the third mode and the fourth mode, in the reduced image display step, when there are a plurality of pages extracted by the search means, all or a part of the extracted pages can be displayed side by side.
[0027]
In the third aspect and the fourth aspect, in the reduced image display step, when there are a plurality of pages extracted by the search means, pages related to the same document are displayed by a page jump method, a page turning method, or a page scroll method. can do.
[0028]
The search program of the present invention can be configured to include the steps in the third and fourth aspects.
[0029]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
1 to 8 are explanatory diagrams showing a first embodiment of the present invention.
1, the search system 1 includes a computer main body 11, an input device (keyboard) 12, a display 13, a database 14, and a CD-ROM drive 15.
[0030]
In the computer main body 11 of FIG. 1, only a CPU 1101 and a memory (ROM or RAM) 1102 in which a search program and the like are stored are shown for convenience of explanation. In the present embodiment, various programs used for search (hereinafter, collectively referred to as “search programs”) may be stored in the ROM or may be read in the RAM. Documents to be searched are stored in the database 14, and each document is managed by a unique ID.
[0031]
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the search system 1 of FIG. In FIG. 2, the computer main body 11 includes a search key designation unit 111, a search unit 112, a reduced simplified image generation unit 113, a reduced simplified image display unit 114, a layout analysis unit 115, a page / document display unit 116, And a search key specifying means 117 for narrowing down and a search means 118 for narrowing down.
[0032]
The search key specification unit 111 has a function of specifying a search key (character, character string, or image). Here, a character is a character or a symbol, and a character string is a group of characters. The search key designating means 111 is a program for displaying, for example, a dialog box or an input window on the display 13 shown in FIG. 1 and acquiring a search key from the operator via the input device 12.
[0033]
As shown in FIG. 3A, the search key can be designated by a character such as a character or a symbol or a character string. Further, the search key can be designated by an image as shown in FIG. In FIG. 3A, the search key may be specified by “AND” (logical product) or “OR” (logical sum). Further, in FIG. 3A, an image search may be performed using a word meaning a figure such as “crescent” or “turtle shell”.
[0034]
The search unit 112 searches a document in the database 14 and searches for a page containing a character, a character string, or an object as an image (hereinafter, “matching object”) matching the search key, and searching for a document group. Extract from Information on the extracted page (document ID, information on the number of pages in the document, etc.) is temporarily stored in the memory 1102 (RAM).
[0035]
The reduced simplified image generation unit 113 generates an image of the page extracted by the search unit 112. When generating the reduced simplified image, characters on the page can be represented by a common figure (dot or the like) or a character string can be represented by a line. In this case, the reduced simplified image may be generated as a bitmap image, or may be generated as a vector image (an image displayed by a script or a draw-based image).
[0036]
Further, the reduced simplified image generation unit 113 can also represent characters on a page with a small font. The image on the page can be expressed by reducing the image, or the image portion can be expressed by a rectangle or the like. In a document such as an HTML document that does not have a page concept, a simplified reduced image is generated using a predetermined number of lines (one region corresponding to a predetermined print range) as one page.
[0037]
Further, the reduced simplified image generating means 113 generates a reduced simplified image in which the adapted object portion is characterized so as to be distinguishable from other portions. Specifically, for example, when a document is created with black characters on a white background, the object portion can be expressed in red and a thick line.
[0038]
The layout analysis unit 114 detects the position of the object matching the search key on the page including the object when the reduced simplified image generation unit 113 generates the reduced simplified image. This detection is performed, for example, by calculating information such as the number of lines (line spacing) of the page, the character spacing of displayed fonts, and the type of font. When a document contains an image, the image can be represented by a rectangle or the like.
[0039]
The reduced simplified image display means 115 displays the reduced simplified image generated by the reduced simplified image generation means 113 on a predetermined window as illustrated in FIGS. 4 (A), (B), 5 (A), and (B). Can be displayed.
[0040]
The reduced simplified image display means 115 can display the page (normally, a plurality of pages) extracted by the search means 112 by a page jump method as shown in FIG. They can be displayed side by side as shown. In FIG. 4A, a “jump” button and a “return” button are provided so that the next page of the document relating to the reduced simplified image is not displayed, and the display jumps to the page where the object appears next. .
[0041]
Further, the reduced simplified image display means 115 mutually connects the pages extracted by the search means 112 by radio buttons for selecting “per page” and “one document” as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. It can be configured to be switchable. FIG. 5A shows a display window similar to that shown in FIG. 4B with radio buttons added. However, in FIG. 5A, instead of the “jump” button and the “return” button, a “previous page” button and a “next page” button for displaying in a page turning mode are provided.
[0042]
In FIG. 5B, a radio button is added to the display window of FIG. 4A, but only each page including an object of one document is displayed. When the search is executed, a screen shown in FIG. 5A is displayed as a search result (in this case, a radio button of "per page" is specified by default). When one of a plurality of documents is selected and the “one document” button is pressed, the display is switched to the display of FIG. 5B, and when the “per page” button is pressed in this state, FIG. The display switches to.
[0043]
In FIG. 5B, when the “next page” button is pressed, a reduced simplified image of the next page is displayed regardless of whether or not there is an object on the next page. As shown.
[0044]
As described above, a page break does not exist in the HTML document, and a portion that is assumed to be separated as one page at the time of printing is treated as a page break.
[0045]
The page / document display means 116 can display the page of the reduced simplified display image specified by the pointing means such as the mouse pointer in a normal size.
[0046]
That is, it is started by a browser capable of reading the format of the document stored in the database 14 or application software (for example, a specific word processor application software or image creation application software). This application may be included in the above-described search program, or may be application software other than the search program. For example, when a page related to the reduced simplified display image is displayed by application software other than the search program, format information (for example, a so-called “extension” added to a file, so-called “extension”) and page information ( Information on the page number of the corresponding document) can be attached, and an application can be linked to the format information.
[0047]
4A, 4B, 5A, and 5B, a "normal display" button and a "refinement button" are provided in addition to the area where the reduced simplified image is displayed. When the "normal display" button is pressed, the HTML sentence corresponding to the displayed thumbnail image is displayed in a normal size, and when the "refinement button" is pressed, a search key for narrowing down as shown in FIG. An input field (here, a dialog box) for designating is displayed on the display 13 shown in FIG.
[0048]
The search key specifying means 117 is a function for the operator to specify a search key (character, character string or image) for the search. Is displayed on the display 13 shown in FIG. 1, and the reduced simplified image generation means 113 acquires a search key for narrowing down from the operator via the input device 12 shown in FIG.
[0049]
The narrowing-down search unit 118 can extract a narrowing-down object as a character, a character string, or an image that matches the narrowing-down search key at least once from the page from which the narrowing-down object has already been extracted. Note that, as described above, the information regarding the page already extracted is temporarily stored in the memory (RAM) 1102. The refinement object retrieved by the refinement retrieval means 118 is also temporarily stored in the memory (RAM) 1102.
[0050]
In the narrowing-down, the reduced simplified image generation unit 113 applies to the page including the narrowing-down object extracted by the narrowing-down search unit, the narrowing-down object part can be identified from other parts, and the search key in the search before the narrowing-down is performed. A reduced simplified image that is characterized so that it can be identified as an object part conforming to. FIG. 6A is a display example of a search result when the search key is “natural language”, and FIG. 6B is a display example of a narrowed search result when the search key for narrowing is “syntax analysis”. . Object parts that match the search key for parsing “syntax analysis” are represented in blue so that they can be identified as other parts and also object parts that match the search key “natural language” (for example, displayed in red). It is characterized by:
[0051]
The flow of the entire search process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
When receiving the search key from the search key designating unit 111 (S101), the search unit 112 extracts a page including an object matching the search key from the database 400 (S102). If there is no page containing an object that matches the search key, the process ends. If there is, after the extraction or in parallel with the extraction process, the reduced simplified image generation unit 113 extracts one from the extracted document. (S103, S104). The layout analysis unit 114 detects a character string equivalent part and an image part (S105), and the reduced simplified image generation unit 113 generates a reduced simplified image in which the character string part is represented by a straight line and the image part is represented by a rectangular figure. (S106). This reduced simplified image generation process is performed for all the extracted documents (S107). At this time, the object portion that matches the search key is characterized by a color or the like so that it can be easily distinguished from other portions. The reduced simplified image display means 115 displays the reduced simplified image on a predetermined window (S108).
[0052]
The flow of the entire narrowing-down process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
Upon receiving the narrowing search key from the narrowing search key specifying unit 117 (S201), the narrowing search unit 117 extracts a page including an object matching the narrowing search key from the document group that has already been extracted. (S202). If there is no page containing an object that matches the search key, the process ends. If there is, after the extraction or in parallel with the extraction process, the reduced simplified image generation unit 113 extracts one from the extracted document. (S203, S204). The layout analysis unit 114 detects a character string equivalent part and an image part (S205), and the reduced simplified image generation unit 113 generates a reduced simplified image in which the character string part is represented by a straight line and the image part is represented by a rectangular figure. (S206). This reduced simplified image generation processing is performed for all newly extracted documents (S207). At this time, the object portion that matches the search key for narrowing down is characterized by a color or the like so that it can be easily distinguished from other portions (so that it can be distinguished from the object portion already characterized and expressed by the search). .
[0053]
The reduced simplified image display means 115 displays the reduced simplified image on a predetermined window, and performs normal display of the document when the operator designates display of a normal image.
[0054]
9 to 12 are explanatory diagrams showing a second embodiment of the present invention.
9, the search system 2 includes a computer main body 31, a terminal device 3 including an input device (keyboard) 32, a display 33, and a search server 4 including a database 400. The server 4 is connected via the Internet 200.
[0055]
The computer main body 31 includes a CPU 3101 and a memory (ROM or RAM) 3102 in which a search key designation program and the like are stored. The search key designation program and the like may be stored in the ROM or may be read in the RAM.
[0056]
The search server 4 includes a CPU 4101 and a memory (ROM or RAM) 4102 in which a search program and the like are stored. The search program may be stored in the ROM or may be read in the RAM. In the present embodiment, the document stored in the database 400 includes a sentence (character string) such as HTML and an image image such as JPEG. When the browser of the terminal device 3 supports the display of a vector image, the browser can also display the vector image as in the first embodiment. It should be noted that a document created in a specific format such as PDF (Portable Document Format) can be used as a search target document.
[0057]
FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram showing the search system 3 of FIG. In FIG. 10, the terminal device 3 includes a search key specifying unit 311, a reduced simplified image display unit 312, a page / document display unit 313, a narrowing-down search key specifying unit 314, and a communication unit 315. Reference numeral 4 includes a search unit 411, a reduced simplified image generation unit 412, a layout analysis unit 413, a search unit for narrowing down 414, and a communication unit 415. In the present embodiment, the search key designation unit 311, the reduced simplified image display unit 312, the page / document display unit 313, and the search key designation unit for narrowing down 314 of the terminal device 3 are included in the functions of the installed browser. ing. As described above, in the HTML document, a simplified reduced image is generated using a predetermined number of lines (one unit corresponding to a predetermined print range) as one page.
[0058]
The search key designating means 311 has a function of designating a search key (character or character string). Here, the character is a character or a symbol as described in the first embodiment, and the character string is a group of characters. The search key designating means 311 is a program for displaying a dialog box or an input window on the display 33 and acquiring a search key from the operator via the input device 32, for example. In the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the search key can be specified by a character such as a character or a symbol or a character string (see FIG. 3A). It may also be possible to specify with "AND" (logical product) or "OR" (logical sum). Also, in the second embodiment, similar to the first embodiment, in the case of image retrieval, image retrieval may be performed using words that are meant by figures such as “crescent moon” and “turtle shell”. It is also possible to support image search (see FIG. 3B).
[0059]
The search key specified by the search key specification unit 311 is passed to the search unit 411 of the search server 4 via the communication unit 315, the Internet 200, and the communication unit 415. The search unit 411 searches a document in the database 400 and extracts a page including a character, a character string, or an object as an image that matches the search key from the search target. Information on the extracted document (document ID, information on the line in the document, etc.) is temporarily stored in a memory (RAM) 4102.
[0060]
The reduced simplified image generator 412 generates a reduced simplified image in the same manner as when the reduced simplified image generator 113 of the first embodiment generates a reduced simplified image. That is, the layout analysis unit 413 detects the position of the object in the document, and the reduced simplified image generation unit 412 generates a reduced simplified image based on the detected information. Display ranks can be assigned to the generated simplified reduced images. When a reduced simplified image is displayed in document units (see FIG. 11 (A)), the display order is assigned in the document unit, and when a reduced simplified image is displayed for each page (see FIG. 11 (B)), the display is performed. The ranking is given on a per page basis. The display order can be determined by the number of objects matching the search key appearing in one document or one page. When the number of extracted documents or pages is large, the number of displayed documents or pages can be limited. Also in this case, for example, it is possible to determine whether to extract a document including the object based on the number of objects that match the search key and appear in one document or one page.
[0061]
For example, the reduced simplified image generation unit 412 obtains a document text and an image specified by the document ID from the database 400, creates an image of the document while reproducing the layout information by the layout analysis unit 413, and further generates, for example, a reduced simplified image ( For example, a thumbnail image of 48 × 64 pixels) is created. The layout analysis unit 413 analyzes the HTML tag to determine, for example, what line and character in the text portion the object appears in, and what the font size of the character constituting the line is, when creating the reduced simplified image. By doing so, the position of the object can be detected. The layout analysis unit 413 can convert this to correspond to the reduced simplified image and calculate the appearance position of the object on the reduced simplified image.
[0062]
The reduced simplified image generation unit 412 can also represent characters on a document with a common figure (dot or the like) or a character string with a line. In addition, characters on the document can be displayed in a small font, and the appearance position of the object on the reduced simplified image is drawn in a characteristic figure (for example, a red horizontally long rectangle).
[0063]
In the present embodiment, the image included in the document is an image of JPEG or the like. However, when the browser of the terminal device 3 supports the display of the vector image, the image is included in the vector image as in the first embodiment. You can also. For example, the reduced simplified image generating means 412 extracts a character string of a search key “natural language”, a URL of a document, and a character string of a “TITLE” tag of a searched HTML document, and generates a “BODY” part. Is represented by a horizontal line, and the image is represented by a rectangle. Here, the object (character string “natural language”) is represented by a thick line.
[0064]
The reduced simplified image data is returned to the reduced simplified image generation unit 312 of the terminal device 3 via the communication unit 41, the Internet 200, and the communication unit 317.
[0065]
The reduced simplified image display means 312 displays the returned reduced simplified image on the display 33. As illustrated in FIGS. 11A and 11B, the reduced simplified image display unit 312 can display the reduced simplified image generated by the reduced simplified image generation unit 412 on a predetermined window.
[0066]
In these displays, the document title is described in the reduced simplified image. When there are a plurality of pages extracted by the search unit 411, the reduced simplified image display unit 312 can display the pages in a scrolling manner as shown in FIG. 9A, or as shown in FIG. 9B. Extracted pages can be displayed side by side.
[0067]
FIGS. 11A and 11B show a case where a search is performed using the search key “natural language” by the search unit 411 and a plurality of documents are extracted. FIG. 11A shows a case where the reduced simplified image display unit 312 displays this document as one document, and FIG. 11B shows a case where it is displayed for each page. FIG. 12A is an enlarged view of the second reduced simplified image from the upper left of FIG. 11B, and FIG. 12B shows a corresponding portion of the document related to the reduced simplified image.
[0068]
11A and 11B, similarly to FIGS. 4A, 5B, 5A, and 5B, a “normal display” button is displayed in addition to the area where the reduced simplified image is displayed. , And a “narrowing down button” are provided. When the “normal display” button is pressed, the HTML sentence corresponding to the displayed thumbnail image is displayed in the normal size. That is, the page / document display unit 313 can read out the document related to the reduced simplified display image from the database 400 and display it.
[0069]
When the “refinement button” is pressed, an input field (here, a dialog box) for specifying a search key for refinement as shown in FIG. 3C is displayed on the display 33 of the terminal device 3 shown in FIG. Is done. The narrowing-down search key specified by the narrowing-down search key designating means 316 is a search key related to the search performed before the narrowing-down (if the narrowing-down is a plurality of narrowing-downs, the search key and the search key already performed). The inspection keys for all the narrowed searches are passed to the narrowing search unit 414 of the search server 4 via the communication unit 315, the Internet 200, and the communication unit 415. The narrowing-down search unit 414 performs a search again by using the received search key “AND” and extracts a document. For the extracted document, the reduced simplified image generation unit 412 generates a reduced simplified image. When the reduced simplified image generation unit 412 generates the reduced simplified image, the objects that respectively match the plurality of search keys are displayed by being characterized by different colors or the like so that each object portion can be identified.
[0070]
These reduced simplified images are transferred to the reduced simplified image display means 312 of the terminal device 3 via the communication means 415, the Internet 200, and the communication means 315, and displayed again on the display 33 of the terminal device 3.
[0071]
FIG. 10 shows a case where the reduced simplified image generation means (reference numeral 412 in the figure) and the layout analysis means (reference number 413 in the figure) are provided in the search server 4, but these are provided in the terminal device 3. be able to. In this case, the terminal device 3 receives the document extracted by the search from the search server 4 and generates a reduced simplified image. In this case, the extracted document (or a predetermined number of documents when the number of extracted documents is large) is downloaded to the terminal device 3 to generate a reduced image, and then the document can be discarded. For the remaining documents, the URL can be saved and a reduced simplified image can be created when a request for displaying the reduced simplified image is made.
[0072]
【The invention's effect】
By specifying the position of the object that matches the search key in the document, the appearance frequency of the object can be seen at a glance, and the use of the object in the document can be estimated from the appearance position of the object in the paragraph, Document contents can be determined.
[0073]
Also, by displaying the document layout information, the operator can select a more valuable document from the search results.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a system diagram for explaining a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the computer main body shown in FIG.
3A is a diagram illustrating a dialog for specifying a character when a search key is a character, and FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating a dialog for specifying the character when the search key is an image.
FIG. 4A is an explanatory diagram showing an example in which pages extracted by a search unit are displayed by a page jump method, and FIG. 4B is an explanatory diagram showing a case where pages extracted by a search unit are displayed side by side. It can also be specified by image.
FIG. 5A is an explanatory diagram showing an example in which pages extracted by a search unit are displayed by a page turning method, and FIG. 5B is an explanatory diagram showing a case where the pages extracted by the search unit are displayed side by side; It can also be specified by image.
6A is a diagram illustrating a display example of a search result when the search key is “natural language”, and FIG. 6B is a display example of a narrowed search result when the search key for narrowing is “syntax analysis”; FIG.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of the entire search process.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of the entire refined search process.
FIG. 9 is a system diagram for explaining a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram of the computer main body shown in FIG.
11A is a diagram illustrating a display example when a reduced simplified image is displayed in document units, and FIG. 11B is a diagram illustrating a display example when a reduced simplified image is displayed for each page.
12A is a diagram illustrating an example of a case where a reduced simplified image is enlarged, and FIG. 12B is a diagram illustrating a corresponding portion of a document related to the reduced simplified image.
[Explanation of symbols]
1, 2 search system
3 Terminal device
4 search server
11,31 Computer body
12,32 input device
13,33 Display
14,400 databases
15 CD-ROM drive
111, 311 search key designation means
112,411 Search means
113,412 Reduced simplified image generation means
114,413 Layout analysis means
115, 312 Reduced simplified image display means
116,313 page / document display means
117,314 Search key specifying means for narrowing down
118,414 Search means for narrowing down
315,415 Communication means
200 Internet
1101, 3101, 4101 CPU
1102, 3102, 4102 Memory

Claims (13)

A search key specifying means having a function of specifying a search key;
Search means for extracting from the search target a page containing a character, a character string, or an object as an image that matches the search key,
A reduced simplified image generating means for generating a reduced simplified image, which is an image relating to a page extracted by the searching means, wherein the reduced simplified image is characterized so that the object part can be distinguished from other parts;
A reduced simplified image display means having a function of displaying the reduced simplified image generated by the reduced simplified image generation means,
A retrieval system comprising: A search key specifying means having a function of specifying a search key for narrowing down,
A narrowing-down search means for extracting a narrowing-down object as a character, a character string, or an image matching the search key at least once from a page from which a narrowing-down object has been already extracted;
An image relating to a page including a narrowing object extracted by the narrowing search means, wherein the narrowing object part can be identified from other parts, and matches the search key in the search before the narrowing. Said reduced simplified image generating means for generating a reduced simplified image characterized so that it can be identified as a part,
A reduced simplified image display means having a function of displaying the reduced simplified image generated by the reduced simplified image generation means,
A retrieval system comprising: A layout analysis unit configured to detect a position of the object on the page, wherein the reduced simplified image generation unit generates the reduced simplified image based on the position data of the object detected by the layout analysis unit. The search system according to claim 1. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a page / document display unit that displays a page of the reduced simplified display image specified by the predetermined instruction unit in a normal size. Search system. The search according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, when there are a plurality of pages extracted by the search means, the reduced simplified image display means displays all or a part of the extracted pages side by side. system. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reduced simplified image display means displays a page related to the same document by a page jump method, a page turning method, or a page scroll method when there are a plurality of pages extracted by the search means. The search system according to any one of 1 to 4. A search key acquisition step for receiving a search key;
A search target extraction step of extracting a page including a character, a character string, or an object as an image matching the search key from search targets
A reduced simplified image generating step of generating a reduced simplified image which is an image of the page extracted in the search target extracting step, wherein the reduced reduced image is characterized so that the object portion can be distinguished from other portions;
A reduced image display step of displaying the reduced simplified image;
A search method comprising: A search key specifying step for narrowing down having a function of specifying a search key for narrowing down;
A narrowing-down search step of extracting a narrowing-down object as a character, a character string, or an image matching the search key at least once from the page from which the narrowing-down object has already been extracted;
An image corresponding to a page including the narrowing-down object extracted in the narrowing-down search step, wherein the narrowing-down object portion can be distinguished from other portions, and matches the search key in the search before the narrowing-down search The reduced simplified image generating step of generating a reduced simplified image characterized so that it can be identified as a part;
A reduced simplified image display step having a function of displaying the reduced simplified image generated in the reduced simplified image generation step;
A search method comprising: In the reduced simplified image generation step, a layout analysis process capable of detecting the position of the object on the page extracted by the search unit is executed, and the reduced simplified image is generated based on the position data of the object detected by the layout analysis process. 9. The retrieval method according to claim 7, wherein 10. The page / document display step of displaying a page relating to the reduced simplified display image specified by a predetermined instruction means in a normal size, further comprising: retrieval method. In the reduced image display step, when there are a plurality of pages extracted by the search unit, all or a part of the extracted pages are displayed side by side, or displayed by a page turning method or a page jump method. The search system according to any one of 7 to 10. 12. The method according to claim 7, wherein in the reduced image display step, when there are a plurality of pages extracted by the search unit, pages related to the same document are displayed by a page jump method or a page turning method. Search system. A search program for performing each step of the method according to claim 7.

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