JP2004348554A - Retrieval keyword information providing device, method, and program for same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique that makes the trend information easy to retrieve from the ranking of the key words. <P>SOLUTION: This technique uses a means to tabulate the number of usage of each retrieval keyword from the keyword retrieval log-in information and to obtain the data representing the correlations between the retrieval keyword groups on a retrieval keyword information providing device which sends the tabulation results to the user clients, a means to extract the retrieval keywords group strong in the above correlations in the tabulation results sent from the user clients, and a means to send the information including the retrieval keyword group strong in the above correlation to the user clients. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a distribution service for distributing multimedia contents such as music, movies, news articles, and Web documents (hereinafter, multimedia contents are simply referred to as contents) to general users via a network such as the Internet. The present invention relates to a search keyword information display technology that is applied to a portal service or the like that introduces a homepage, and that provides a user who uses these services by visualizing a use state of a search keyword input by a keyword search.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a keyword search has been used as a means for searching for contents published on a network such as the Internet. Then, it is considered that the keyword itself input by the user represents the user's needs, and this is used as a trend index, and the number of times of use for every input search keyword is totaled on a weekly basis. There is a technology that provides trend information such as which events are currently of interest to the world by publishing them to users in a list format in the order of the ranking (reference: http://www.lycos.co.jp). / 50 / (URL as of March 20, 2003)). In the present technology, by selecting a search keyword displayed in a list format, a keyword search result based on the selected search keyword is displayed.
[0003]
Note that there are techniques disclosed in Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2 as conventional techniques related to search.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-10-320419
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-10-218881
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the above-described prior art has the following problems.
[0007]
For example, there was an event such as "A sumo wrestler has retired this month" .As a trend, public attention is focused on this event, and "Sumo" is displayed in the top ranking of use counts in order to search for information on this retirement Noticed that there was an event from this sumo wrestling that a sumo wrestler retired this month, and to search for information on this event, he selected "sumo wrestling" in the ranking display. I do.
[0008]
However, in the prior art, the keyword search based on this "sumo wrestling" is simply executed, and the search results include information about the event that the user originally searched for, "a wrestler with a sumo wrestling retired this month". However, a lot of information unrelated to desired information such as “numbering” and “approach” simply related to “sumo” is included.
[0009]
For this reason, the information about the event "the sumo wrestler with a sumo retired this month" is buried in other information, and the user searches for the event "the sumo wrestler with a sumo retired this month". There is a problem that it becomes difficult to find the information of the information.
[0010]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and has as its object to provide a technique that makes it easy for a user to search trend information from a search keyword ranking.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The above object is to provide a search keyword information providing apparatus that counts the number of times of use for each search keyword from log information of a keyword search and transmits data indicating the degree of association between the search keyword groups to a search keyword information providing apparatus that transmits the count result to a user client. Means for extracting, from data representing the degree of relevance, a search keyword group transmitted from the user client and having a high degree of relevance to the search keyword selected from the aggregation result; and a search keyword group having a high degree of relevance. Means for transmitting information including the following to the user client.
[0012]
According to the present invention, the user client can receive a search keyword having a high degree of relevance to the search keyword selected from the aggregation result, so that the search range can be appropriately narrowed, and desired information can be obtained. Makes it easier to search.
[0013]
The information including the search keyword group having a high degree of relevance includes selection restriction information that enables a user client to select only one search keyword from the search keyword group, and an AND search operator. Can be.
[0014]
According to the present invention, the user in the user client can easily execute an AND search, and can efficiently search for desired information.
[0015]
In addition, the information including the search keyword group having a high degree of relevance includes a search condition setting screen on which a user can set an arbitrary search condition between the search keyword selected from the aggregation result and the search keyword group. May be included.
[0016]
According to the present invention, the user in the user client can easily set an arbitrary search condition, so that desired information can be efficiently searched.
[0017]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The difference between the embodiments is in the setting of the search condition.
[0018]
In the first embodiment, on a search condition setting screen displayed after a search keyword is arbitrarily selected from a search keyword ranking list displayed on a user client, a selected search keyword and a related keyword group are displayed. This is an embodiment in which a search condition for performing an AND search with one arbitrarily selected related keyword is set.
[0019]
On the other hand, in the second embodiment, on the search condition setting screen displayed after a search keyword is arbitrarily selected from the search keyword ranking list displayed on the user client, the selected search keyword and the related keyword group are displayed. This is an embodiment in the case where the search condition is set freely.
[0020]
Note that the “search keyword” in this specification means “word” and does not include a search formula (for example, “sumo and retirement”).
[0021]
In both the first embodiment and the second embodiment, since there was an event that a sumo wrestler has retired this month, public attention was focused on this event as a trend, and in order to search for information regarding this retirement. "Sumo" is displayed at the top of the use frequency ranking, and we noticed that there was an event from this "sumo" that "a sumo wrestler has retired this month", and as information on this event, a news article on this event It is assumed that is searched. However, in the present embodiment, text information that is a news article is treated as a search target. However, the search target of the present invention is not limited to text information, and multimedia data such as text, audio, images, and moving images are used. It is intended for general people.
[0022]
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram common to the first and second embodiments of the present invention.
[0023]
The system includes a user client 101 for referring to access information for content and a search keyword, a content providing server 103 for providing an entity of the content, and an access for providing access information created from log information of a search keyword log to the user client 101. It comprises an information providing server 104 (also referred to as a search keyword information providing device) and a search engine 110 for performing a search based on a search request from access information provided to the user client 101. The search engine 110 is a server having a search engine function. The user client 101 has a Web browser function, for example, and is configured to be able to transmit and receive information to and from each server.
[0024]
The access information providing server 104 includes a search keyword log information processing unit 106 and a search keyword log information processing unit that store information including a search keyword input or selected on a plurality of user client terminals as log information via the search engine 110. Using the log information stored in 106, the total number of times of use of the search keyword in a predetermined period (for example, one week) and the strength of the degree of association between the search keywords (hereinafter, referred to as the degree of correlation) are calculated. Access information tally processing unit 107, a tally result storage unit 108 for storing tally result data (total number of times of use) of the search keyword log tallyed by the access information tally processing unit 107, and an access information tally processing unit Using the degree of correlation between the search keywords calculated in 107, the user client 101 In the displayed search keyword ranking, a search condition creation processing unit 109 for selecting a keyword having a high degree of relevance to the search keyword selected by the user and creating search condition information, a communication processing unit for performing communication processing with the user client 101 105.
[0025]
Note that the user client 101, the content providing server 103, the access information providing server 104, and the search engine 110 are connected via the Internet network 102, respectively, but this is not limited to the Internet network. Alternatively, a network may be used.
[0026]
First, a description will be given of a process of creating search condition information common to the first and second embodiments.
[0027]
As described above, the access information aggregation processing unit 108 uses the log information stored in the search keyword log information processing unit 106 to aggregate the number of times of use of the search keyword in a predetermined period and calculate the degree of correlation between each search keyword. Do. A search keyword ranking similar to that of the related art can be displayed on the user client 101 by using the total number of times of use of the search keyword.
[0028]
The degree of correlation between the search keywords is created, for example, as matrix-type data as shown in FIG. The search condition creation processing unit 109 receives the correlation degree data between the matrix-type search keywords shown in FIG. 2, and extracts the search keyword selected by the user from the search keyword ranking displayed on the user client 101 from the correlation degree data. A search is made, and the top N keywords having a high degree of correlation (the higher the value of the degree of correlation, the higher the degree of association) are selected. Instead of selecting the top N items, a keyword having a value of a predetermined degree of correlation or more may be selected. The same applies to the second embodiment. Note that “highly related” means that, as described above, the degree of correlation is equal to or higher than a predetermined rank in comparison with others (corresponding to the top N cases), and the degree of correlation is equal to or higher than a predetermined value. And so on.
[0029]
As a result, search condition information including the search keyword selected by the user and the top N search keywords having a high degree of correlation is created.
[0030]
For the creation of the matrix type correlation degree data, a method described in JP-A-10-320419 is used, and a detailed description of the calculation method is omitted. That is, all search keywords stored in the search keyword log information processing unit 106 and included in the log information of search keywords input or selected on a plurality of user client terminals so far are compared with other search keyword log information. A correlation coefficient with a certain search keyword is calculated using a method described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-320419. Note that the search keyword log information processing unit 106 includes a log including information (search user information, search time, search formula, and the like) necessary for creating correlation data by the method described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-320419. Create and store information.
[0031]
Instead of creating the above-mentioned correlation data in the access information providing server 104, the configuration may be such that the created correlation data is acquired from another server.
[0032]
Hereinafter, processing of the system at the time of user use in each of the first embodiment and the second embodiment will be described with reference to the sequence chart of FIG.
[0033]
(Processing when user is used in Embodiment 1)
When the user presses a processing start button displayed on the user client 101, message data requesting a search keyword ranking list is transmitted from the user client 101 to the access information providing server 104 (S101).
[0034]
Upon receiving this message data, the access information providing server 104 reads out a totaling result of the number of times of use of the search keyword stored in the totaling result storage unit 108 for a predetermined period, and reads the totaling result via the communication processing unit 105. The data is transmitted to the user client 101 as search keyword list display data (S102, S103).
[0035]
The user client 101 that has received the search keyword list display data displays the search keyword list display data as a search keyword ranking (S104, S105). FIG. 4 shows a search keyword ranking display screen 401.
[0036]
When the user selects one of the search keywords in the ranking, the selected search keyword is transmitted to the access information providing server 104 (S106). When the access information providing server 104 receives the transmitted search keyword (S107), the search condition creation processing unit 109 causes the search keyword selected from the ranking by the user and the top N search keywords having a high degree of correlation with the search keyword. Create search condition information consisting of When this process is completed, search condition data is created by adding selection restriction information and an AND search operator that allow only one of the N search keywords having a high degree of correlation to the created search condition information to be selected ( S108). Then, the search condition data is transmitted to the user client 101 (S109).
[0037]
As shown in FIG. 5, the search condition data received by the user client 101 is displayed as an AND search related keyword selection screen 502 in addition to the already displayed search keyword ranking display screen 501 (S110, S111). ).
[0038]
That is, when viewed from the user client 101, on the search keyword ranking display screen, from the displayed keyword "sumo wrestling", the user notices an event that "a sumo wrestler has retired this month" and searches for the news article. When "sumo" is selected (S106), an AND search related keyword selection screen including N related keywords having a high degree of correlation with "sumo" is displayed as a subwindow as shown in FIG. 5 (S111). .
[0039]
In the AND search related keyword selection screen, the user is allowed to select only one keyword related to "sumo" by the selection restriction information included in the search condition data. Then, an AND search between the selected keyword and “sumo” is performed by the search engine 110 by the AND search operator.
[0040]
That is, when the related keyword “retired” is selected from this screen, an AND search expression based on “sumo” and “retired” is transmitted to the search engine 110 as selected search condition data (S112). The search engine 110 executes a keyword search from the search expression that is the received selected search condition data, and transmits the search result data to the user client 104 (S113, S114). In the user client 104, the received search result data is displayed on the screen as shown in FIG. 6 (S115, S116).
[0041]
In this screen, when the user selects a link to an article desired to be viewed (S117), a message for requesting the corresponding article data is transmitted to the content providing server 103 corresponding to the link. Upon receiving the message (S118), the content providing server 103 distributes the corresponding article data to the user client 101 (S119). In the user client 101, the received content data is displayed on the screen (S120, S121).
[0042]
If there is no desired content in S117, the display returns to the search keyword list display in S105, and the above processing can be performed again.
[0043]
(Processing when user is used in Embodiment 2)
Since the processing flow of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, it will be described with reference to FIG.
[0044]
When the user presses a processing start button displayed on the user client 101, message data requesting a search keyword ranking list is transmitted from the user client 101 to the access information providing server 104 (S101).
[0045]
Upon receiving this message data, the access information providing server 104 reads out a totaling result of the number of times of use of the search keyword stored in the totaling result storage unit 108 for a predetermined period, and reads the totaling result via the communication processing unit 105. The data is transmitted to the user client 101 as search keyword list display data (S102, S103).
[0046]
In the user client 101 that has received the search keyword list display data, the search keyword list display data is displayed as the search keyword ranking shown in FIG. 4 as in the first embodiment (S104, S105).
[0047]
When the user selects one of the search keywords in the ranking, the selected search keyword is transmitted to the access information providing server 104 (S106). When the access information providing server 104 receives the transmitted search keyword (S107), the search condition creation processing unit 109 causes the search keyword selected from the ranking by the user and the top N search keywords having a high degree of correlation with the search keyword. Create search condition information consisting of When this process ends, a search operator or the like is added to the created search condition information, and search condition data is created so that a search condition setting screen described later can be displayed on the user client 101 (S108). Then, the search condition data is transmitted to the user client 101 (S109).
[0048]
The search condition data received by the user client 101 includes, as shown in FIG. 7, the selected search keyword 511, the top N related keywords 513 having a high degree of correlation, the check box 517 for selection, the search condition selection button 514, and the search condition. It is displayed as a search condition setting screen including a start button 512 and a search condition display box 516 (S110, S111).
[0049]
On the search condition setting screen, notice that the keyword "sumo wrestling" and "retired" was displayed, and that a sumo wrestler was retired this month, and pressed the check button for selection to search for that news article. Select the related keyword 1 "Retired" and the search condition selection button "AND", select the related keyword 2 "No." which is not related to this event and the search condition selection button "NOT", and click the search start button. When depressed, a search expression expressing the selected search condition is transmitted to the access information providing server 104 as selected search condition data (S112). In the process of setting the search condition on this screen, a search expression expressing the set search condition is displayed in an editable search condition display box. Instead of using the selection screen and the selection button to create search conditions, search conditions may be created by inputting search conditions in a search condition display box.
[0050]
The access information providing server 104 transmits the search expression that is the received selected search condition data to the search engine 110 (S112). Note that the user client 101 may transmit the selected search condition data to the search engine 110. The search engine 110 executes a keyword search from the search expression that is the received selected search condition data, and transmits the search result data to the user client 104 (S113, S114). At the user client 104, the received search result data is displayed on the screen as shown in FIG. 8 (S115, S116).
[0051]
In this screen, when the user selects a link to an article desired to be viewed (S117), a message for requesting the corresponding article data is transmitted to the content providing server 103 corresponding to the link. Upon receiving the message (S118), the content providing server 103 distributes the corresponding article data to the user client 101 (S119). In the user client 101, the received content data is displayed on the screen (S120, S121).
[0052]
If there is no desired content in S117, the display returns to the search keyword list display in S105, and the above processing can be performed again.
[0053]
The processing in access information providing server 104 in the present embodiment is executed by a program installed in access information providing server 104. This program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, for example, an FD (floppy (registered trademark) disk), an MO, a ROM, a memory card, a CD-ROM, a DVD, a removable disk, or the like, and is stored or distributed. It is possible to do. Further, the program can be provided through a network such as the Internet or e-mail.
[0054]
It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and applications are possible within the scope of the claims.
[0055]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when a user performs a keyword search using a search keyword ranked and displayed on a user client in a service that provides ranking information of a search keyword as trend information, The related keywords are presented to the user side, and the user can set the search conditions arbitrarily. Therefore, it is possible to narrow the search range focusing on the trend, and the user can efficiently use the trend information from the search keyword ranking. Will be able to search.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a matrix display of search keywords and correlation coefficients according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a processing flowchart when a user is used in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an example of search keyword ranking display according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a screen example when a search condition is set in the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a screen example of a search result according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a screen example when a search condition is set in Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a screen example of a search result according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
101 User Client 103 Content Providing Server 104 Access Information Providing Server 110 Search Engine 106 Search Keyword Log Information Processing Unit 107 Access Information Total Processing Unit 108 Total Information Storage Unit 109 Search Condition Creation Processing Unit 105 Communication Processing Unit 102 Internet Networks 401, 501 Search Keyword ranking display screen 502 AND search related keyword selection screen 511 Search keyword 512 Search start button 513 Related keyword 514 Search condition selection button 515 Search condition selection screen 516 Search condition display box 517 Check box for selection

Claims (10)

In a search keyword information providing apparatus that counts the number of times of use for each search keyword from log information of a keyword search and transmits the count result to a user client,
Means for acquiring data representing the degree of association between the search keyword groups;
Means for extracting, from data representing the degree of association, a search keyword group transmitted from the user client and having a high degree of association with the search keyword selected from the aggregation results,
Means for transmitting information including a group of search keywords having a high degree of relevance to a user client. 2. The information including a search keyword group having a high degree of relevance includes selection restriction information that enables a user client to select only one search keyword from the search keyword group, and an AND search operator. The described search keyword information providing device. The information including the search keyword group having a high degree of relevance is displayed by a user client on a search condition setting screen in which an arbitrary search condition can be set between the search keyword selected from the aggregation result and the search keyword group. 2. The search keyword information providing apparatus according to claim 1, including information to be displayed. A method of processing in a search keyword information providing apparatus that counts the number of times of use for each search keyword from log information of a keyword search and transmits the count result to a user client,
Obtaining data representing the degree of association between the search keyword groups;
Extracting a search keyword group transmitted from the user client having a high degree of relevance with the search keyword selected from the aggregation result from data representing the degree of relevance;
Transmitting the information including the group of highly relevant search keywords to a user client. The information including the search keyword group having a high degree of association includes selection restriction information that enables a user client to select only one search keyword from the search keyword group, and an AND search operator. The described method. The information including the search keyword group having a high degree of relevance is displayed by a user client on a search condition setting screen in which an arbitrary search condition can be set between the search keyword selected from the aggregation result and the search keyword group. 5. The method of claim 4, including information for displaying. The search keyword information providing device for counting the number of uses for each search keyword from the keyword search log information and transmitting the count result to the user client,
A procedure for acquiring data representing the degree of association between the search keyword groups,
A step of extracting, from the data representing the degree of association, a search keyword group having a high degree of association with the search keyword selected from the aggregation results transmitted from the user client;
Transmitting the information including the search keyword group having a high degree of association to the user client. The information including the search keyword group having a high degree of association includes selection restriction information that enables a user client to select only one search keyword from the search keyword group, and an AND search operator. The program described. The information including the search keyword group having a high degree of relevance is displayed by a user client on a search condition setting screen in which an arbitrary search condition can be set between the search keyword selected from the aggregation result and the search keyword group. 8. The program according to claim 7, including information to be displayed. A computer-readable recording medium storing the program according to claim 7.

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