JP2009037501A - Information retrieval apparatus, information retrieval method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable even a person, who is not a specialist of a database, to easily add or change an API (Application Program Interface) of a new information retrieval service while securing the flexibility in addition or change of the API. <P>SOLUTION: An information retrieval apparatus 1 previously stores interface information of an information retrieval service provided by an information providing server apparatus 2 in a retrieval service IF resource information storage part 21, and when receiving a user retrieval request from a user terminal 3, refers to the interface information by a retrieval target specification part 15 and judges whether the information retrieval service can provide a retrieval item, a retrieval condition and a keyword included in the user retrieval request or not. Thereby, in the case of adding a new information retrieval service to the information retrieval apparatus 1, the new information retrieval service can be added only by previously adding the interface information of the information retrieval service in the retrieval service IF resource information storage part 21 without requiring a change of a program. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information search apparatus, an information search method, and a program suitable for using a plurality of information search services on the Internet WEB.

  In recent years, various information search services have been provided by many content providers on the Internet WEB. There are many similar information provided by the information search. When a general user wants to use these multiple information search services, the user accesses each site that provides each information search service separately, and inputs necessary search parameters and search conditions. Information retrieval needs to be performed. Such an operation feels troublesome for general users.

  Therefore, in order to simplify the operation, there is an information search service that enables use of a plurality of information search services through a single user interface. For example, a certain WEB site uses a plurality of existing information search services provided by a plurality of content providers to provide a service for searching store information such as restaurants and restaurants from a telephone number. In addition, other WEB sites provide a service for searching blogs of a plurality of blog sites at once using a plurality of blog search engines published on the WEB.

  In such an information search service, an API (Application Program Interface) provided by the existing information search service is mashed up, thereby making it possible to use the plurality of existing information search services. Note that these information search services are all purpose-oriented information search services, which specify a fixed information search condition and obtain a fixed search result.

Patent Document 1 discloses an example of a method that generally realizes a cross-sectional search of a plurality of databases using a single user interface. According to Patent Document 1, the information search apparatus centrally manages information resources such as schema information and access information of a search target database, and when a search request is received, the information specified in the search request is assigned to the item specified by the search request. The database to be searched is specified based on the search, and the specified database is searched.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-143539

  By the way, in the conventional information search service that mashes up APIs of a plurality of information search services, the mashup function is realized by the structure and logic of a program adapted to each API. Therefore, it can be said that optimizing and improving the execution performance of the program is easy to achieve, but on the other hand, the structure and logic of the program, as well as the type and number of search items and search conditions to be set, etc. At that time, it tends to depend on a known API.

  Therefore, in the conventional information search service that mashes up the API, when trying to add a new information search service API or expand search items and search conditions, the structure and logic of the program will be greatly increased. Therefore, it takes a lot of man-hours and costs to implement the change.

  On the other hand, in a system for searching a plurality of databases disclosed in Patent Document 1, even if a new database to be searched is added, it is not necessary to change its own program. Schema information and access information that depends on the database must be set in detail. However, the information can be set only by an expert who has a high level of knowledge about the database or a database administrator.

  Also, in the search process, column names for the data items specified in the search contents and search conditions of the search request are searched, and for all tables connected in a searchable relation from all the combinations, the search is performed. Extract combinations that include all column names. For this reason, when the number of specified data items and the number of registered databases increase, there is a problem that explosion of combinations occurs and processing performance is significantly deteriorated.

  As described above, the conventional technique for searching across a plurality of databases cannot cope with changes such as adding a new database or a new information search service API without changing the processing program. There was a problem that the processing program was not flexible. Further, in order to ensure the flexibility, there is a problem that operations that can only be performed by database specialists and managers such as setting of schema information of the database are required, and further, the performance of search processing is deteriorated.

  In view of the above prior art, the present invention has flexibility to add or change APIs of new information retrieval services, and can easily add or change even if it is not a database expert. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information search apparatus, an information search method, and a program.

  The invention according to claim 1 is an information search device connected to a plurality of information providing server devices each providing an information search service and a user terminal used by a user via a communication network. ) Interface information storage means for storing in advance interface information necessary for using the information search service for each of the information search services; and (2) a user transmitted from the user terminal via the communication network. A user search request receiving means for receiving a search request; and (3) referring to the interface information stored in the interface information storage means based on a search item, a search condition, and a keyword included in the received user search request. And a search service special function for specifying an information search service that matches the user search request. Means, (4) search service request generation means for generating a search service request for requesting use of the specified information search service based on the interface information of the specified information search service, and (5) the generated search service Search service request transmitting means for transmitting a request to the information providing server device that provides the specified information search service; and (6) a search returned from the information providing server device in response to the transmitted search service request. Search result receiving means for receiving a result; (7) user search result extracting means for extracting a user search result corresponding to a search item included in the user search request from the received search result; and (8) the extraction. And a user search result transmitting means for transmitting the user search result to the user terminal.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, a plurality of information providing server devices each providing an information search service and a user terminal used by a user are connected via a communication network, and include a processing unit and a storage unit. An information search method in an information search apparatus, wherein the processing unit stores (1) interface information necessary for using the information search service for each information search service in the storage unit in advance. (2) a user search request step for receiving a user search request transmitted from the user terminal via the communication network; (3) a search item, a search condition, and a keyword included in the received user search request. And the user search request with reference to the interface information stored in the storage unit. A search service specifying step for specifying a suitable information search service; and (4) search service request generation for generating a search service request for requesting use of the specified information search service based on the interface information of the specified information search service. (5) a search service request transmission step for transmitting the generated search service request to the information providing server device that provides the specified information search service; and (6) responding to the transmitted search service request. A search result receiving step for receiving a search result returned from the information providing server device; and (7) a user for extracting a user search result corresponding to a search item included in the user search request from the received search result. A search result extracting step; and (8) extracting the user search result extracted from the user. And executes the user search result transmission step of transmitting to The terminal.

  The invention according to claim 5 is a program for causing a computer to execute the information search method according to claim 3.

  According to the invention of claim 1, claim 3 or claim 5, the information search device according to the invention stores in advance interface information necessary for using the information search service published on the WEB. When the user search request is received from the user terminal and stored in the means, the search service specifying means refers to the interface information, and the information search service includes the search items and search conditions included in the user search request. Then, by determining whether or not it is possible to provide a keyword, an information search service to be searched is specified.

  Therefore, when adding a new information search service, it is not necessary to change the program of the information search apparatus, and it is only necessary to add the interface information of the information search service to the interface information storage means in advance. That is, it can be said that the program in the information search apparatus according to the present invention has flexibility.

  Further, since the interface information stored in the interface information storage means includes only information related to the API of the information search service, knowledge about the database is not required when adding or changing the interface information. . Therefore, even those who do not have advanced database knowledge can add or change interface information.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the information search device according to claim 1, wherein the interface information storage means associates each of the information search services with search items provided by the information search service. A name, a name of a search condition required by the information search service, and a synonym corresponding to each of the name of the search item and the name of the search condition are stored as a part of the interface information. To do.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the information search method according to claim 3, wherein the processing unit associates with each of the information search services in the interface information storage step, and the information search service is The name of the search item to be provided, the name of the search condition required by the information search service, and the synonym corresponding to each of the name of the search item and the name of the search condition are part of the interface information. It memorize | stores in a memory | storage part, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  The invention according to claim 5 is a program for causing a computer to execute the information search method according to claim 4.

  According to the invention of claim 2, claim 4 and claim 5, the interface information has a synonym corresponding to the name of the search item provided by the information search service and the name of the search condition. It can be said that the name of the search item or the name of the search condition input by is flexible.

  In the information search apparatus, the information search method and the program of the present invention, it is possible to ensure flexibility with respect to addition and change of API of a new information search service, and the addition is possible even if it is not a database expert. Changes can be made easily.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an overall configuration of an information search apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention and a system to which the information search apparatus is applied. As shown in FIG. 1, an information search device 1 according to the present embodiment is connected to a communication network 4 such as the Internet, and further, an information providing server device 2 and a user terminal 3 are connected to the communication network 4. Yes.

  Here, the user terminal 3 is composed of a normal personal computer or the like, and has a program such as a Web browser. In FIG. 1, only one user terminal 3 is shown, but usually a large number of user terminals 3 are connected to the communication network 4.

  The information providing server device 2 is a computer owned by a content provider or the like, and provides various information to the user terminal 3 or the like via the communication network 4. In the present embodiment, the information providing server device 2 particularly includes an information search service program 201, and provides a predetermined information search service to the user terminal 3 and the like by executing the information search service program 201. To do.

  Such content providers, that is, the information providing server device 2 provides an information search service in the actual Internet world. That is, a large number of information providing server devices 2 that provide various information search services are connected to the communication network 4. Then, a general user can select and use the information search service appropriately and individually through the Web browser of the user terminal 3 or the like.

  In many cases, the API of the information search service program 201 provided in the information providing server device 2 is disclosed. In this case, the information search service program 201 can be executed from a program such as another information providing server device 2 and the search result can be received.

  Next, before describing the configuration of the information search apparatus 1, an outline of an information search procedure by the information search apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an information search procedure by the information search apparatus 1.

  As shown in FIG. 2, upon receiving a search request transmitted from the user terminal 3 (step S1), the information search device 1 selects an information search service as appropriate based on the received search request, and selects the selected information. A search service request for requesting execution of the information search service is transmitted to the information providing server device 2 that provides the search service (step S2). In general, only a single search request is transmitted from the user terminal 3, but the information search apparatus 1 can select a plurality of information search services when there are a plurality of information search services that match the search request. A search service request is individually transmitted to each of the plurality of information providing server apparatuses 2 provided.

  Next, the information search device 1 receives the search result returned from the information providing server device 2 in response to the search service request (step S3), and the user search request is received from the search result. The information of the search item included in is extracted as a search result for the user, and the search result for the user is transmitted to the user terminal 3 (step S4).

  As described above, the information search device 1 itself does not have an information search function, but information requested by the user terminal 3 by using the information search service of the information providing server device 2 through the communication network 4. Perform a search. Such an information retrieval method is often called a mashup method.

  Provision of an information search service using such a mashup method brings many advantages to the user. For example, the user can acquire search results obtained by a plurality of information search services at a time only by transmitting a single search request from the user terminal 3 to the information search apparatus 1. That is, the user can obtain more search results without taking time and effort.

  Next, referring to FIG. 1 again, the configuration of the information search apparatus 1 for realizing the above-described mashup type information search will be described. Here, as shown in FIG. 1, the information search apparatus 1 includes a processing unit 10, a storage unit 20, an input / output IF (Interface) unit 30, a communication IF unit 40, and the like.

  The processing unit 10 includes a so-called CPU (Central Processing Unit) and the like, and when the CPU executes a predetermined program, the search service IF resource information management unit 11, the user access control unit 12, the search request analysis unit 13. Functional blocks such as a search target narrowing unit 14, a search target specifying unit 15, a search result extracting unit 16, and a search service access unit 17 are realized.

  The storage unit 20 includes a RAM (Random Access Memory), a hard disk device, and the like, stores a program executed by the CPU, and stores information necessary for the CPU to execute the predetermined program. If necessary, memorize it. In the present embodiment, the most important information stored in the storage unit 20 is search service IF resource information to be described later, but a part of the storage unit 20 in which the search service IF resource information is stored is stored. The search service IF resource information storage unit 21 is called.

  The input / output IF unit 30 is connected to an administrator terminal 50 including a display device and a keyboard, and controls interfaces such as the connected display device and keyboard. The communication IF unit 40 includes a so-called network interface card (NIC) or the like, is connected to the communication network 4, and controls an interface with the communication network 4.

  In FIG. 1, the search service IF resource information storage unit 21 is an information search service to be searched by the information search device 1 itself among the information search services provided by the information providing server device 2 connected to the communication network 4. Interface information necessary for using the information retrieval service (hereinafter referred to as retrieval service IF resource information).

  The search service IF resource information management unit 11 manages search service IF resource information stored in the search service IF resource information storage unit 21. That is, when registering a new information search service as a search target, the search service IF resource information management unit 11 sets search service IF resource information for the information search service based on information input from the administrator terminal 50. It is generated and registered in the search service IF resource information storage unit 21. In addition, when deleting an already registered information search service or changing the registered content, the search service IF resource information management unit 11 performs a search service IF based on information input from the administrator terminal 50. The search service IF resource information registered in the resource information storage unit 21 is appropriately deleted or changed.

  Since the search service IF resource information is information based on the API of the information search service to be searched, an API of a new information search service is provided in the information providing server device 2 or the provided API is changed. When deleted or changed, the administrator of the information search apparatus 1 inputs information for registering, deleting or changing search service IF resource information from the administrator terminal 50 as necessary.

  The user access control unit 12 stores a search request (hereinafter referred to as a user search request) from the user transmitted from the user terminal 3 in a temporary storage area of the storage unit 20. Further, the user access control unit 12 is obtained from the information providing server device 2, extracted by the search result extraction unit 16, and stored in a temporary storage area of the storage unit 20 (hereinafter referred to as user search). Result)) to the user terminal 3.

  The search request analysis unit 13 analyzes the syntax of the user search request received by the user access control unit 12 and stored in the temporary storage area of the storage unit 20, and is necessary for information search such as search items, search conditions, and keywords. Extract information. Here, the search item is composed of one or more data items, the search condition is composed of a set of one or more data items and their condition values, and the keyword is composed of zero or more arbitrary character strings. Shall be.

  When one or more keywords are specified in the user search request, the search target narrowing unit 14 determines the search service IF resource information of the information search service registered in the search service IF resource information storage unit 21. The service summary field of the search service IF table 211 (described later) is searched in full text, and if the keyword is not included in the service summary field, the information search service is excluded from the search target. That is, the search target narrowing unit 14 refers to the search service IF resource information storage unit 21. When the keyword is included in the field of the service outline, the information search service to be searched by the information search device 1 If the keyword is not included, it is excluded from the information search service to be searched by the information search apparatus 1.

  When no keyword is specified in the user search request, the search target specifying unit 15 responds to all information search services whose interface information is registered in the search service IF resource information storage unit 21 or the user search request. When a keyword is specified, for each information search service narrowed down by the search target narrowing unit 14, can the information search service provide information on the search item specified by the user search request? The information search service is determined as a search target for the information search service determined to be available. Details of the specifying process will be described later.

  The search service access unit 17 uses the information search service with respect to the information providing server device 2 that provides the information search service for the information search service specified by the search target specifying unit 15. A request is generated, and the generated search service request is transmitted to the information providing server device 2. Further, the search service access unit 17 receives the search result returned from the information providing server device 2 in response to the transmitted search service request, and stores the received search result in the temporary storage area of the storage unit 20.

  The search result extraction unit 16 extracts the information of the search item specified by the user search request from the search result returned from the information providing server device 2 and stored in the temporary storage area, and the extracted information is used as the user search result. As a temporary storage area of the storage unit 20.

  In the description of the configuration of the information search apparatus 1 described above, the search service IF resource information storage unit 21 corresponds to an interface information storage unit in the claims. The user access control unit 12 corresponds to a user search request receiving unit and a user search result transmitting unit in the claims. The search target narrowing unit 14 and the search target specifying unit 15 correspond to a search service specifying unit in the claims. The search result extraction unit 16 corresponds to a user search result extraction unit in the claims. The search service access unit 17 corresponds to search service request generation means, search service request transmission means, and search result reception means in the claims.

  Next, details of the search service IF resource information stored in the search service IF resource information storage unit 21 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the search service IF resource information includes a search service IF table 211, a request parameter table 212, a request parameter synonym table 213, a response field table 214, a response field synonym table 215, and the like. .

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the search service IF table 211. The search service IF table 211 is a table that stores information for identifying the information search service, interface information, and the like for the information search service to be searched by the information search apparatus 1 itself. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 3, the search service IF table 211 includes a search service ID, a search service name, a service outline, a request URL (Uniform Resource Locator), and a protocol field.

  Here, in the search service ID field, identification information of the information search service provided from the information providing server device 2 is stored. In the search service name field, the name of the information search service is displayed. An overview of the search contents provided by the information search service includes information indicating the location address of the information providing server device 2 and the information search service in the request URL field, and search from the request URL in the protocol field. Information indicating how to obtain the result is stored.

  Note that the information search service shown in FIG. 3 is fictitious, and therefore the search service name and request URL do not actually exist.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the request parameter table 212. The request parameter table 212 is a table that stores information related to request parameters required when the search service access unit 17 generates a search service request. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the request parameter table 212 includes search service ID, parameter ID, parameter name, and necessity fields. In this embodiment, the request parameter corresponds to the name of the search condition.

  Here, the search service ID field contains the information search service identification information, the parameter ID field contains the request parameter identification information, and the parameter name field contains the name of the request parameter on the API (that is, The name of the search condition, which is written in English here), the information indicating the necessity of setting the parameter (for example, “required” or “optional”) is stored in the necessity field, respectively. The

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the request parameter synonym table 213. The request parameter synonym table 213 stores synonyms of request parameters (names of search conditions written in English). Therefore, the request parameter synonym table 213 includes a parameter ID field and a synonym field as shown in FIG.

  Here, the parameter ID field contains request parameter identification information, and the synonym field contains a synonym corresponding to the parameter name (name of the search condition written in English) specified in the parameter ID field. Are stored respectively.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the response field table 214. The response field table 214 is a table that stores information on response fields that constitute search results received by the search service access unit 17. Therefore, the response field table 214 includes a search service ID, a field ID, a field name, and an XPath field, as shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the response field corresponds to the name of the search item.

  Here, the search service ID field contains identification information of the information search service, the field ID field contains response field identification information, and the field name field contains the name of the response field on the API ( In other words, the XPath field stores the XPath where the information specified by the field name is stored in the search result information. In the present embodiment, the search result information is assumed to be information described in XML (Extensible Markup Language).

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the response field synonym table 215. The response field synonym table 215 is a table that stores synonyms of the response field (name of search item written in English). As shown in FIG. 7, the response field synonym table 215 includes field IDs and synonym fields.

  Here, the field ID field has the response field identification information, and the synonym field has the synonym corresponding to the field name (name of the search condition written in English) specified in the field ID field. Are stored respectively.

  Next, the flow of information search processing in the information search apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. Here, FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of an information search process flow in the information search apparatus 1, and FIG. 9 is an example of a detailed process flow of a search target specifying process in the information search process of FIG. It is a figure.

  As illustrated in FIG. 8, the processing unit 10 first receives information appropriately input from the administrator terminal 50 as processing of the search service IF resource information management unit 11, and newly searches the search service IF resource information. Generate, delete, or modify. That is, the processing unit 10 registers the interface information about the information search service to be searched at that time, that is, the search service IF resource information in the search service IF resource information storage unit 21 (step S01).

  Next, the processing unit 10 receives a user search request transmitted from the user terminal 3 as a process of the user access control unit 12 (step S02), and stores the received user search request in a temporary storage area of the storage unit 20. To do. Next, the processing unit 10 analyzes the syntax of the user search request stored in the temporary storage area of the storage unit 20 as the processing of the search request analysis unit 13 (step S03), and searches items, search conditions, keywords, etc. Extract information required for information retrieval.

  Next, the processing unit 10 determines whether or not a keyword is specified in the user search request as processing of the search target narrowing unit 14 (step S04). If a keyword is specified (Yes in step S04), the processing unit 10 refers to the search service IF resource information, and the specified keyword is displayed in the service summary field of the search service IF table 211. It is determined whether or not the keyword is included. If the keyword is not included, the information search service is excluded from the search target, and the information search service to be searched is narrowed down (step S05). If no keyword is specified (No in step S04), the processing unit 10 skips the process in step S05.

  Next, the processing unit 10 processes all the information search services registered in the search service IF resource information storage unit 21 or the information search services after being narrowed down in step S05 as the processing of the search target specifying unit 15. Referring to the search service IF resource information, it is determined whether or not the information search service can provide information on a search item specified by the user search request, and the information search determined to be possible to provide For the service, the information search service is specified as a search target (step S06). Details of this processing will be described with reference to FIG.

  Next, as the processing of the search service access unit 17, the processing unit 10 generates a search service request for using the information search service for the information search service specified as the search target in step S06 (step S06). S07), the generated search service request is transmitted to the information providing server device 2 that provides the information search service (step S08). Furthermore, the processing unit 10 receives the search result returned from the information providing server device 2 in response to the transmitted search service request (step S09), and stores the received search result in the temporary storage area of the storage unit 20.

  Here, when there are a plurality of information search services to be searched, as many search service requests as that number are transmitted to the information providing server device 2, and the information providing server device 2 that provides the plurality of information search services. The result returned from is received as appropriate.

  Next, as the processing of the search result extraction unit 16, the processing unit 10 receives information on the search item specified by the user search request from the search result received and stored in the temporary storage area of the storage unit 20. (Step S10), and the extracted information is stored in the temporary storage area of the storage unit 20 as a user search result. Next, the process part 10 transmits the user search result stored in the temporary storage area of the memory | storage part 20 to the user terminal 3 as a process of the user access control part 12 (step S11).

  Next, with reference to FIG. 9, details of step S <b> 06 (search target specifying process) will be described. In the search target specifying process, for the information search service registered in the search service IF resource information storage unit 21, it is determined whether or not the API includes the search item and the search condition included in the user search request. If all of them are included, the search target is set. If not, the search target is excluded.

  The processing unit 10 refers to the response field synonym table 215 and, when the name of the search item included in the user search request exists in the synonym field, acquires the field ID corresponding to the name of the search item. (Step S21). Next, the processing unit 10 refers to the response field table 214 and acquires a record having the field ID acquired in step S21 (that is, a record including the field name and XPath) (step S22).

  Next, based on the processing results of step S21 and step S22, the processing unit 10 can retrieve information including field names and XPaths for all search item names included in the user search request. For the service, the information search service is excluded from search targets (step S23).

  Next, the processing unit 10 refers to the request parameter synonym table 213, and when the name of the search condition included in the user search request exists in the synonym field, the parameter corresponding to the name of the search condition ID is acquired (step S24). Next, the processing unit 10 refers to the request parameter table 212 and acquires a record having the parameter ID acquired in step S24 (that is, a record including the parameter name and the necessary degree) (step S25).

  Next, based on the processing results of step S24 and step S25, the processing unit 10 can retrieve information including parameter names and necessary degrees for all search condition names included in the user search request. For the service, the information search service is excluded from search targets (step S26).

  Next, with reference to the request parameter table 212, the processing unit 10 includes a parameter name having a necessary level of “required” in the parameter names of records for all search condition names acquired up to step S26. If there is no information search service, the information search service is excluded from search targets (step S27). That is, when the search condition that the information search service is “essential” is not provided by the user search request, the information search service cannot execute the information search. Exclude from search.

  And the process part 10 specifies the information search service which was not excluded by the above process as an information search service of search object.

  Subsequently, based on the search service shown in FIGS. 3 to 7 and IF resource information, the information search process performed when a search request is input from the user terminal 3 is performed along the process flow of FIGS. Furthermore, it demonstrates concretely with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user search request input from the user terminal 3, where (a) is an example of a search request when there is no keyword, and (b) is a user search when there is a keyword. It is an example of a request. That is, in (a), “shop name”, “address”, “phone number”, and “reputation” are searched on the condition that “nearest station” is “Yokohama station”. Also, in (b), “restaurant” is set as a keyword, so “store name”, “address”, “phone number” on the condition of “restaurant” whose “closest station” is “Yokohama Station”. , Search for "reputation".

  Hereinafter, (A) a case where a keyword is included in a user search request from the user terminal 3 and (B) a case where there is no keyword will be described separately.

(A) When there is a keyword in the user search request The processing unit 10 of the information search apparatus 1 first registers search service IF resource information as shown in FIGS. 8 step S01). Here, as shown in the search service IF table 211 of FIG. 3, three information search services “Gourmet guidance”, “Convenience store search”, and “Bookstore search” are registered.

  Next, the processing unit 10 receives a user search request as shown in FIG. 10A from the user terminal (step S02 in FIG. 8), and analyzes the syntax of the search request (step S03 in FIG. 8). As a result of the analysis, the processing unit 10 includes four data items (hereinafter referred to as search item names) whose search items are “store name”, “address”, “telephone number”, and “reputation”. It recognizes that it is composed of a set of conditions of a data item “Nearest station” (hereinafter referred to as a search condition name) and a condition value “Yokohama station”.

  Next, since no keyword is specified, the processing unit 10 does not narrow down search targets (No in step S04 in FIG. 8).

  Next, the processing unit 10 acquires a field ID corresponding to the name of the search item of the user search request from the response field synonym table 215 (see FIG. 7) (step S21 in FIG. 9), and further, the response field table A record having the acquired field ID is acquired from 214 (see FIG. 6) (step S22 in FIG. 9).

  Incidentally, the processing unit 10 acquires field IDs “1001”, “2001”, and “3001” by referring to the response field synonym table 215 (FIG. 7) by “store name”. Further, by referring to the response field table 214 (FIG. 6), three records shown in FIG. 11A are acquired using these field IDs.

  Similarly, the processing unit 10 acquires three records shown in FIG. 11B from the “address”, and acquires three records shown in FIG. 11C from the “phone number”. From FIG. 11D, two records shown in FIG.

  As described above, for information search services with search service IDs “1” and “2”, records including field names and XPaths are acquired for the names of all search items included in the user search request. Include in search target. For the information search service with the search service ID “3”, a record including the field name and “XPath” for “reputation” is not acquired from the names of all search items included in the user search request. It excludes from object (step S23 of FIG. 9).

  Next, the processing unit 10 acquires a parameter ID corresponding to the name of the search condition of the user search request from the request parameter synonym table 213 (see FIG. 5) (step S24 in FIG. 9), and further, the request parameter table A record having the acquired parameter ID is acquired from 212 (see FIG. 4) (step S25 in FIG. 9).

  Incidentally, by referring to the request parameter synonym table 213 (FIG. 5), parameter IDs “102”, “202”, and “302” are acquired by “nearest station”. Furthermore, with these parameter IDs, the request parameter table 212 (FIG. 4) is referred to, and three records shown in FIG. 11 (e) are acquired.

  In this case, for any information search service, there is no information search service to be excluded because the record including the parameter name and the necessity level is acquired for the name of the search condition included in the user search request. (Step S26 in FIG. 9).

  In the processing so far, the information search services having the search service IDs “1” and “2” remain as search targets. Therefore, the processing unit 10 refers to the request parameter table 212 (FIG. 4), and acquires “station” as the parameter name whose necessity is “essential” for the information search service whose search service ID is “1”. At this time, the parameter name “station” is included as a parameter name corresponding to all search items included in the user search request (see FIG. 11E). Therefore, the processing unit 10 does not exclude the information search service whose search service ID is “1” from the search target. Further, the processing unit 10 refers to the request parameter table 212 (FIG. 4), and knows that there is no parameter name having the required level “required” for the information search service with the search service ID “2”. Therefore, the processing unit 10 does not exclude the information search service whose search service ID is “2” from the search target (step S27 in FIG. 9).

  As described above, the processing unit 10 identifies the information search services having the search service IDs “1” and “2” as the information search services to be searched (step S06 in FIG. 8).

  Next, the processing unit 10 generates a search service request for using the specified information providing service (step S07). For this purpose, the processing unit 10 first acquires a request URL and a protocol by referring to the search service IF table 211. Then, the processing unit 10 generates the following search service request including the condition value “Yokohama Station” of the user search condition.

For an information search service with a search service ID “1” (“Gourmet Guidance”):
http://www.gourumet.jp/Search?station=For the information search service ("convenience store search") whose search service ID is "2": Yokohama Station:
http://www.conbeni.jp/Search?station=Yokohama Station The Japanese character code “Yokohama Station” is URL-encoded as “% B2% A3% C9% CD% B1% D8”.

  Next, the processing unit 10 transmits the generated search service request to the information providing server device 2 (step S08 in FIG. 8), and then receives a search result returned from the information providing server device 2 (FIG. 8). 8 step S09). FIGS. 12 and 13 are diagrams showing examples of search results returned from the information providing server device 2. FIG. 12 shows a search for an information search service (“Gurume Guidance”) whose search service ID is “1”. FIG. 13 shows an example of the search result of the information search service (“convenience store search”) with the search service ID “2”. Here, the search result is described in XML.

  Next, the processing unit 10 extracts information on a search item from the received search result using XPath (step S10 in FIG. 8). 14A and 14B are diagrams showing an example of extracting search item information from the search results. FIG. 14A shows search item information extracted from the search results of FIG. 12, and FIG. 14B shows search result information of FIG. The search item information extracted from.

  Next, the processing unit 10 transmits the search item information shown in FIG. 14 to the user terminal 3 as a user search result (step S11 in FIG. 8). As described above, the user obtains the user search result for the user search request.

(B) In the case where there is a keyword in the user search request In this case as well, the processing unit 10 first registers search service IF resource information as shown in FIGS. Step S01).

  Next, the processing unit 10 receives a user search request as shown in FIG. 10B from the user terminal (step S02 in FIG. 8) and analyzes the syntax of the search request (step S03 in FIG. 8). As a result of the analysis, the processing unit 10 includes four data items (hereinafter referred to as search item names) whose search items are “store name”, “address”, “telephone number”, and “reputation”. It is composed of a set of conditions including a data item “Nearest station” (hereinafter referred to as a search condition name) and a condition value “Yokohama station”, and recognizes that the keyword is “restaurant”.

  Next, since there is a keyword (Yes in step S04 in FIG. 8), the processing unit 10 narrows down the search target by the keyword (step S05 in FIG. 8). In other words, the service summary field of the search service IF table 211 (see FIG. 3) is searched in full text using the keyword value “restaurant”, and the search target is narrowed down to the information search service that hits “restaurant”. In this example, the search target is narrowed down to “Gourmet guidance” with the search service ID “1”.

  Next, the processing unit 10 acquires the field ID corresponding to the name of the search item of the user search request from the response field synonym table 215 (see FIG. 7) for the narrowed down information search service (see FIG. 9). Further, a record having the acquired field ID is acquired from the response field table 214 (see FIG. 6) (step S22 in FIG. 9).

  Incidentally, the processing unit 10 acquires field IDs “1001”, “2001”, and “3001” by referring to the response field synonym table 215 (FIG. 7) by “store name”. At this time, since the search target is only the information search service with the search service ID “1”, the field ID “1001” with the search service ID “1” is referred to the response field table 214 (FIG. 6). Then, one record shown in FIG.

  Similarly, the processing unit 10 acquires one record shown in FIG. 15B from the “address”, and acquires one record shown in FIG. 15C from the “phone number”. From FIG. 15D, one record shown in FIG.

  In this case, for the information search service with the search service ID “1”, records including field names and XPaths are acquired for the names of all search items included in the search request. . Therefore, there is no information search service to be excluded from search targets (step S23 in FIG. 9).

  Next, the processing unit 10 acquires a parameter ID corresponding to the name of the search condition of the user search request from the request parameter synonym table 213 (see FIG. 5) (step S24 in FIG. 9), and further, the request parameter table A record having the acquired parameter ID is acquired from 212 (see FIG. 4) (step S25 in FIG. 9).

  Incidentally, the processing unit 10 acquires parameter IDs “102”, “202”, and “302” by referring to the request parameter synonym table 213 (FIG. 5) based on “nearest station”. At this time, since the search target is only the information search service with the search service ID “1”, the parameter ID “102” with the search service ID “1” is referred to the request parameter table 212 (FIG. 4). Then, one record shown in FIG.

  In this case, for the information search service with the search service ID “1”, since the record including the parameter name and the necessity level is acquired for the name of the search condition included in the user search request, the information to be excluded There is no search service.

  Next, the processing unit 10 refers to the request parameter table 212 (FIG. 4), and acquires “station” as the parameter name having the necessary level “required” for the information search service whose search service ID is “1”. At this time, the parameter name “station” is included as a parameter name corresponding to all search items included in the user search request (see FIG. 11E). Therefore, the processing unit 10 does not exclude the information search service whose search service ID is “1” from the search target. (Step S27 in FIG. 9).

  As described above, the processing unit 10 identifies the information search service having the search service ID “1” as the information search service to be searched (step S26 in FIG. 9).

  Next, the processing unit 10 generates a search service request for using the specified information providing service (step S07 in FIG. 8). For this purpose, the processing unit 10 first acquires a request URL and a protocol by referring to the search service IF table 211. Then, the processing unit 10 generates the following search service request including the condition value “Yokohama Station” of the user search condition.

For an information search service with a search service ID “1” (“Gourmet Guidance”):
http://www.gourumet.jp/Search?station=Yokohama Station The Japanese character code “Yokohama Station” is URL-encoded as “% B2% A3% C9% CD% B1% D8”.

  Next, the processing unit 10 transmits the generated search service request to the information providing server device 2 (step S08 in FIG. 8), and then receives a search result returned from the information providing server device 2 (FIG. 8). 8 step S09). In this case, since the information search service to be searched is only “Gourmet guidance”, the search result is as shown in FIG.

  Next, the processing unit 10 extracts information on a search item from the received search result using XPath (step S10 in FIG. 8). FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example in which search item information is extracted from a search result.

  Next, the processing unit 10 transmits the search item information shown in FIG. 16 to the user terminal 3 as a user search result (step S11 in FIG. 8). As described above, the user obtains the user search result for the user search request.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the information search apparatus 1 registers information related to APIs of a plurality of information search services disclosed on the WEB in the search service IF resource information storage unit 21, thereby An information search service that matches the user search request from the terminal 3 is appropriately selected, a predetermined information search service is requested to the selected information search service, and search results obtained as a result are collected. It transmits to the user terminal 3 as a user search result. Therefore, the user can receive search results from a plurality of information search services only by transmitting a single user search request to the information search apparatus 1.

  In this embodiment, the administrator of the information search apparatus 1 needs to register information related to the API for the information search service published on the WEB in the search service IF resource information storage unit 21. Registration does not require advanced knowledge of the database, but only basic knowledge of XML. Even when registering a new API for an information search service, it is not necessary to change the processing flow in the information search apparatus 1. In other words, the information search program of the information search apparatus 1 ensures the flexibility of adding a new information search service API.

  Also, in the request parameter synonym table 213 and the response field synonym table 315 of the search service IF resource information storage unit 21, a number of synonyms for the search condition names and search item names are set. Can do. Therefore, when the user sets a user search request on the user terminal 3, it is not necessary to match the name of the search condition, the name of the search item, and the number of settings thereof to the name and number determined by the information search service.

  In the present embodiment, the information search apparatus 1 specifies an information search service that matches the name of the search condition, the name of the search item, and the number of settings included in the user search request, and the search result by the specified information search service is displayed as the user. Transmit to terminal 3. Therefore, the user can transmit a user search request from the user terminal 3 regardless of the name of the search condition, the name of the search item, and the number of settings.

The figure which showed the example of the whole structure of the information retrieval apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention, and the system to which the information retrieval apparatus is applied. The figure which showed the example of the procedure of the information search by the information search device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which showed the example of the structure of the search service IF table. The figure which showed the example of the structure of the request parameter table. The figure which showed the example of the structure of the request parameter synonym table. The figure which showed the example of the structure of the response field table. The figure which showed the example of the structure of the response field synonym table. The figure showing the example of the information search processing flow in the information search device concerning the embodiment of the present invention. The figure which showed the example of the detailed process flow of the specific process of search object. The figure which showed the example of the user search request | requirement input from a user terminal. The figure which showed the example (when there is no keyword) of the record of the response field table acquired by the name of the search item of a user search request, and the record of the request parameter table acquired by the name of search conditions. The figure which showed the example of the search result of the information search service whose search service ID is "1". The figure which showed the example of the search result of the information search service whose search service ID is "2". The figure which showed the example (when there is no keyword) which extracted the information of the search item from the search result. The figure which showed the example (when there exists a keyword) of the record of the response field table acquired by the name of the search item of a user search request, and the record of the request parameter table acquired by the name of search conditions. The figure which showed the example (when there is a keyword) which extracted the information of the search item from the search result.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Information search apparatus 2 Information provision server apparatus 3 User terminal 4 Communication network 10 Processing part 11 Search service IF resource information management part 12 User access control part 13 Search request analysis part 14 Search object narrowing part 15 Search object specific | specification part 16 Search result Extraction unit 17 Search service access unit 20 Storage unit 21 Search service IF resource information storage unit 30 Input / output IF unit 40 Communication IF unit 50 Administrator terminal 201 Information search service program 211 Search service IF table 212 Request parameter table 213 Request parameter synonym Table 214 Response field table 215 Response field synonym table

Claims (5)

An information search device connected to a plurality of information providing server devices each providing an information search service and a user terminal used by a user via a communication network,
Interface information storage means for storing in advance interface information necessary for using the information search service for each of the information search services;
User search request receiving means for receiving a user search request transmitted from the user terminal via the communication network;
Based on the search item, search condition, and keyword included in the received user search request, the interface information stored in the interface information storage means is referenced to identify an information search service that matches the user search request. A search service identification means to
Search service request generating means for generating a search service request for requesting use of the specified information search service based on the interface information of the specified information search service;
Search service request transmission means for transmitting the generated search service request to the information providing server device that provides the specified information search service;
Search result receiving means for receiving a search result returned from the information providing server device in response to the transmitted search service request;
User search result extraction means for extracting a user search result corresponding to a search item included in the user search request from the received search result;
User search result transmission means for transmitting the extracted user search result to the user terminal;
An information retrieval device comprising: The interface information storage means includes
Corresponding to each of the information search services, the name of the search item provided by the information search service, the name of the search condition required by the information search service, the name of the search item and the name of the search condition The synonym corresponding to each is memorize | stored as a part of said interface information. The information search device of Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned. An information search method in an information search apparatus that is connected to a plurality of information providing server apparatuses that respectively provide an information search service and a user terminal that is used by a user via a communication network and includes a processing unit and a storage unit. And
The processing unit is
An interface information storage step for storing in advance in the storage unit interface information necessary for using the information search service for each of the information search services;
A user search request step for receiving a user search request transmitted from the user terminal via the communication network;
A search for identifying an information search service that matches the user search request with reference to the interface information stored in the storage unit based on a search item, a search condition, and a keyword included in the received user search request Service identification steps;
A search service request generating step for generating a search service request for requesting use of the specified information search service based on the interface information of the specified information search service;
A search service request transmission step of transmitting the generated search service request to the information providing server device that provides the specified information search service;
A search result receiving step of receiving a search result returned from the information providing server device in response to the transmitted search service request;
A user search result extraction step for extracting a user search result corresponding to a search item included in the user search request from the received search result;
A user search result transmission step of transmitting the extracted user search result to the user terminal;
An information retrieval method characterized by executing The processor is
In the interface information storing step,
Corresponding to each of the information search services, the name of the search item provided by the information search service, the name of the search condition required by the information search service, the name of the search item and the name of the search condition The synonym corresponding to each is memorize | stored in the said memory | storage part as a part of said interface information. The information search method of Claim 3 characterized by the above-mentioned.   The program for making a computer perform the information search method of Claim 3 or Claim 4.

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