JP2010267075A - Apparatus and method for processing information, program, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically select an appropriate search engine. <P>SOLUTION: An information processing apparatus includes a search engine identification means for identifying the kind of a search relating to an input search query according to the input search query and identifying a search engine based on the kind of the search; a data source selection means for selecting a data source based on association information associating the search engine with a data source containing a plurality of contents, and on the search engine identified by the search engine identification means; and a determination means for determining the search engine that requests the search from a plurality of search engines identified by the identification means, based on whether or not the kind of the search relating to the search engine for which the plurality of search engines are identified by the search engine identification means overlaps, and on whether or not the data source identified by the data source selection means overlaps. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, a program, and a storage medium.

  An integrated search technology that performs search by integrating a plurality of search engines is used. For example, a meta search service for simultaneously searching a plurality of search sites on the Internet and integrating the results, a system for cross-searching an in-company database, and the like have already been put into practical use. In the integrated search, the search result depends on how the search is executed using a plurality of search engines. Therefore, in order to obtain an appropriate result, it is necessary to select an appropriate search execution method. As a conventional technique for this, for example, Patent Document 1 proposes a method in which a user specifies search conditions relating to a plurality of search engines. In this method, the user designates a search engine used for the search and a logical operation method between them, thereby obtaining a desired search result.

JP 2002-024265 A

  In the meta search on the Internet, the data source where the content desired by the user is located is a whole set of websites, and the data source to be searched by the search engine is a subset of websites. Here, if a subset of Web sites to be searched by each search engine is sufficiently wide, it can be considered that a single data source called the entire set of Web sites is a search target in terms of execution. As described above, when the data source to be searched by the search engine and the data source where the content desired by the user is located can be both known or known to the user, the user can specify how to combine the search engines. Expected to improve search results.

  However, when the data source to be searched by the search engine or the data source where the desired content is located is unknown, it is difficult for the user to specify an optimal combination of search engines. For example, consider an integrated search that searches for content distributed on various networks including the Internet and an intranet. In such a case, since the user generally cannot know where the desired content is located on the network, the integrated search is required to perform a wide search. At the same time, it is required to efficiently acquire desired content from a large amount of distributed content.

  However, for users who do not have prior knowledge about the location of content, specifying a data source to be searched cannot be an effective means. Furthermore, it is not possible to link knowledge about the data source to be searched by each search engine with the location of the content. Therefore, it is impossible to expect the user to appropriately select a data source or a search engine used for the search so as to obtain a desired content, or to appropriately specify a logical operation method between the search engines. The prior art based on the prior knowledge of the user has a problem in this respect.

  Furthermore, it is useless to execute the same search for each of a plurality of search engines that search for a common data source. In such a case, the results obtained are also the same, and the effect of integrating a plurality of engines cannot be obtained. Therefore, it is desirable to limit the search engines used for the search to avoid wasting communication bandwidth and machine resources. However, the conventional technology that allows the search engine specified by the user to execute the search does not meet such demands. It was difficult.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object thereof is to automatically select an appropriate search engine.

Therefore, the present invention specifies one or more search types related to the search query based on the input search query, and specifies one or more search engines based on the search type; 1 or based on association information associating a search engine with a data source including a plurality of contents to be searched by the search engine and one or more search engines specified by the search engine specifying means The data source selection means for selecting a plurality of data sources, whether or not the search types related to the search engines for which the plurality of search engines are specified by the search engine specifying means are duplicated, and specified by the data source selection means. From the plurality of search engines specified by the specifying means based on whether or not the data sources overlapped. Having a determination means for determining a search engine requesting.
With this configuration, an appropriate search engine can be automatically selected.
The present invention may be an information processing method, a program, and a storage medium.

  According to the present invention, an appropriate search engine can be automatically selected.

1 is a diagram (part 1) illustrating an example of a system configuration of a system that performs an integrated search; FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the module structure of an integrated search apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of an integrated search apparatus. FIG. 2 is a diagram (part 2) illustrating an example of a system configuration of a system that performs an integrated search; It is a flowchart which shows an example of the registration process of a search engine. It is a figure which shows the structure of the data which a search engine management part stores. It is a figure which shows the structure of the data which a data source management part stores. It is a figure which shows the structure of the data which a search engine = data source matching management part stores. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a search process. FIG. 3 is a diagram (part 3) illustrating an example of a system configuration of a system that performs an integrated search; 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of storage data in an integrated search device 101. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a search result integration process.

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

<Embodiment 1>
FIG. 1 is a diagram (part 1) illustrating an example of a system configuration of a system that performs an integrated search. An integrated search apparatus 101, which is an example of an information processing apparatus (computer), receives a search request from a user, instructs a plurality of search engines to execute a search, and integrates search results acquired from the respective search engines. . The search engines 102 to 104 search for contents included in the data sources 105 to 107. There may be attribute search, full-text search, and the like in the search engine, but the type of this embodiment is not limited. Similarly, a data source may include a database, a file server, etc., but its type is not limited. The number of data sources to be searched by each search engine is not limited to one, and a plurality of search engines may search for the same data source. In addition, parallel distribution represented by MapReduce may be performed inside each search engine.

  The integrated search device and each search engine are connected by communication means 108, and each search engine and data source are connected by communication means 109. Here, various means can be applied to the communication means 108 and 109 according to the connection method between the integrated search device and the search engine and the connection method between the search engine and the data source. For example, a communication network such as the Internet or a LAN, a bus in a computer system, and an API of a computer program.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a module configuration of the integrated search device.
The search engine management unit 201 registers and stores search engines that can be used by the integrated search device. The method for registering a search engine is not defined by this embodiment. The data source management unit 202 acquires and stores data source specifying information for identifying a data source to be searched by each search engine registered in the search engine management unit 201. The search engine = data source association management unit 203 associates and manages the information stored in the search engine management unit 201 and the data source management unit 202 in an integrated manner. The data source relationship verification unit 204 determines whether or not the search engines registered in the search engine management unit 201 based on the data source identification information managed by the data source management unit 202 search for common content. Validate.

  The common search query setting unit 205 receives a search query input from a user. The individual search query generation unit 206 uses each search engine registered in the search engine management unit 201 based on the search query input by the user in the common search query setting unit 205 and the verification result of the data source relationship verification unit 204. Generate corresponding search query. The individual search execution unit 207 requests each search engine registered in the search engine management unit 201 to execute a search using the individual search query, and acquires the search result. In FIG. 2, the common search query setting unit 205 and the individual search query generation unit 206 are shown as being one each, but may be configured to be separated for each search engine. The search result integration unit 208 integrates the search results acquired by the individual search execution unit 207. The input / output management unit 209 manages a user interface for inputting a search query and displaying a search result.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the integrated search device.
The CPU 301 executes an OS (Operating System) and various application programs to control each unit of the integrated search device. The ROM 302 stores fixed data of programs executed by the CPU 301 and calculation parameters. A RAM 303 provides a work area for the CPU 301 and a temporary storage area for data. The ROM 302 and the RAM 303 are connected to the CPU 301 via the bus 304. An input device 305 such as a keyboard, a display device 306 such as a CRT and a liquid crystal display, and an external storage device 307 such as a hard disk device, MO, and CD-ROM are connected to the bus 304 via an interface 308. The bus 304 is connected to a network via the communication unit 309.
When the CPU 301 executes processing based on the program, the above-described module configuration and processing according to a flowchart described later are realized.

Subsequently, processing of each module in the present embodiment will be described.
[First system configuration]
Here, for simplicity, the system configuration shown in FIG. 4 is used. FIG. 4 is a diagram (part 2) illustrating an example of a system configuration of a system that performs an integrated search. The system configuration in FIG. 4 corresponds to the system configuration having only two search engines and one data source in the system configuration shown in FIG. Both the search engine 1 and the search engine 2 are intended to search the data source 1. In addition, it can be accessed by a Web protocol, and the access URL is http: // search. aaa. net /
http: // search. bbb. net /
Shall have. Furthermore, it is assumed that both are search engines that perform full-text search. On the other hand, the data source 1 can be accessed by a Web protocol, and the access URL is http: // xxx. yyy. com /
Shall have.

With the above system configuration, search engine registration processing will be described first with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the user manually registers a search engine for the sake of simplification of description. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of search engine registration processing.
First, the search engine management unit 201 designates the search engine access URL and the type of the search engine that the user has instructed via the input / output management unit 209 using the input device 305 or the like. Register (S501). When the search engine registration is instructed, the search engine management unit 201 issues a unique search engine ID and stores it (S502). FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a structure of data stored in the search engine management unit. Reference numeral 601 denotes a search engine ID. Reference numeral 602 denotes an access URL. Reference numeral 603 denotes a search engine type.

When the search engine registration is completed, the search engine management unit 201 requests the data source management unit 202 to acquire data source information (S503). Upon receiving the request, the data source management unit 202 acquires data source specifying information. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the acquisition source of the data source specific information is each search engine, and the data source management unit 202 accesses using HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol).
The data source management unit 202 acquires search engine registration data from the search engine management unit 201 (S504), accesses the access URL, and acquires data source identification information from the search engine. Subsequently, the data source management unit 202 checks whether or not data source identification information having the same data source description as the acquired data source identification information is already stored (S505). If not stored, the data source management unit 202 issues a unique data source ID and stores it (S506). If it is stored, the data source management unit 202 acquires the data source ID (S507). FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the structure of data stored in the data source management unit. Reference numeral 701 denotes a data source ID. Reference numeral 702 denotes a data source description. In the present embodiment, a URL is also used for the data source description.

After storing the data source specifying information, the data source management unit 202 requests the registration to the search engine = data source association management unit 203 by specifying the search engine ID and the data source ID (S508). Here, the data source ID is either issued in S506 or acquired in S507. The search engine = data source association management unit 203 stores the specified search engine ID and data source ID as a set (S509). FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the structure of data stored in the search engine = data source association management unit.
This completes the description of the search engine registration process.

Next, the search process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of search processing.
First, the common search query setting unit 205 designates a common search query that the user instructs using the input device 305 or the like via the input / output management unit 209 (S901). here,
Search keyword = "Camera"
Is specified. Next, the common search query setting unit 205 analyzes the input search query and determines the type of search engine that needs to request a search (S902). Here, since only a keyword is specified as the common search query, the common search query setting unit 205 determines that the search type is a full-text search. Subsequently, the common search query setting unit 205 requests the search engine management unit 201 for information on a search engine whose search engine type is a full-text search (S903).

The search engine management unit 201 acquires data whose search type is a full-text search from stored search engine registration data (S904), and returns this to the common search query setting unit 205. Here, two registration data of the search engine 1 and the search engine 2 are returned.
For example, the process of the common search query setting unit 205 in S902 to S904 is a process of specifying a search engine (search engine specification).
The common search query setting unit 205 extracts the search engine ID from the acquired registration data of the search engine, and searches the search engine = data source association management unit 203 for the data source that is the search target of the search engine ID. Information is requested (S905). The search engine = data source association management unit 203 acquires the data source ID associated with the designated search engine ID from the stored data (S906), and sends this to the common search query setting unit 205. return. Here, 001 and 002 are designated as the search engine IDs, and since both are associated with the data source ID 001, the data source ID 001 is selected, and the common search query setting unit 205 sets the data source ID as the data source ID. Get only 001.
For example, the process of the common search query setting unit 205 in S905 and S906 is a process of selecting a data source (data source selection).

Subsequently, the common search query setting unit 205 determines a search engine that actually requests the search. First, the common search query setting unit 205 performs search engine duplication determination based on the search engine type (S907). Here, the search engine types of the search engine 1 and the search engine 2 are both determined to be full-text search.
Next, the common search query setting unit 205 specifies the acquired data source ID and requests the data source relationship verification unit 204 to make a determination in order to determine duplication of data sources (S908). Here, since only 001 is acquired as the data source ID, it is determined that the search engine 1 and the search engine 2 use a common data source as a search target (S909). Based on the above determination results, the common search query setting unit 205 allows the search engine 1 and the search engine 2 to share both the search engine type and the data source, and the search is executed only by one of the search engines. It turns out that the necessary search results can be obtained. Therefore, the common search query setting unit 205 determines to request the search from the search engine 1 having the smaller search engine ID, among the search engines 1 and 2 (S910). Here, the common search query setting unit 205 simply determines the search engine based on the value of the search engine ID. However, the common search query setting unit 205 selects the search engine according to the past access frequency, the load of the search engine, and the like. May be.

Next, the common search query setting unit 205 requests the individual search query generation unit 206 to generate an individual search query corresponding to the search engine 1 (S911). The individual search query generation unit 206 acquires the common search query and the search engine ID (001) of the search engine requesting the search from the common search query setting unit 205, and generates a search query for each search engine corresponding to the search engine. To do. Here, only the keyword is specified as the common search query, so the individual search query is the same as the common search query. Search keyword = "Camera"
It becomes. The individual search query generation unit 206 returns the pair of the generated individual search query and the search engine ID to the common search query setting unit 205.

  The common search query setting unit 205 passes the set of the acquired individual search query and the search engine ID to the individual search execution unit 207 and requests execution of the search (S912). The individual search execution unit 207 acquires an access URL of the search engine corresponding to the designated search engine ID from the search engine management unit 201 (S913). Subsequently, the individual search execution unit 207 accesses the acquired access URL, requests execution of the search with the specified individual search query (S914), and acquires a search result from the search engine (S915). It is assumed that HTTP is used for transmission / reception of search requests and results. Here, since the data source 1 is accessible by the Web protocol, it is assumed that a list of content URLs is acquired as a search result.

Next, the individual search execution unit 207 returns the acquired search results to the common search query setting unit 205, and then the common search query setting unit 205 hands over the search results to the search result integration unit 208 to request integration of the search results. (S916). Here, since only one search engine has executed the search, the search result integration unit 208 delivers the result obtained without doing anything to the input / output management unit 209 (S917). Finally, the input / output management unit 209 displays the search result on the display device 306 (integrated result display) (S918).
As described above, when there are a plurality of search engines that perform the same search for the same data source, the integrated search apparatus 101 can automatically select any one search engine and execute the search. it can. As a result, it is possible to reduce consumption of machine resources of network traffic and search engines.

[Second system configuration]
Subsequently, search processing will be described based on the system configuration of FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram (part 3) illustrating an example of a system configuration of a system that performs an integrated search.
In FIG. 10, search engine 1 (1001) is a full-text search engine, search engine 2 (1002) is an attribute search engine, and data source 1 is a search target. The search engine 3 (1003) is a full-text search engine and the data source 2 is a search target. FIG. 11 shows a storage data configuration in the integrated search apparatus 101 in a state where these search engines are registered. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of storage data in the integrated search device 101. 11a is search engine registration data. 11b is data source registration data. 11c is search engine = data source association data.

Next, the search process will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. Since the basic processing flow conforms to the processing described in the first system configuration, only the differences will be described here. FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the search result integration process.
First, the user inputs a common search query. Here, search keyword = “camera” AND creation date ≧ 2008/01/01
Is specified. The common search query setting unit 205 determines the type of search engine that needs to request a search for the common search query. Here, since the search condition for the search keyword is specified, the common search query setting unit 205 determines that the search is a full-text search. The common search query setting unit 205 determines that the search is attribute search because the search condition for the date attribute is specified (S902).

Subsequently, the search engine management unit 201 acquires search engines 1 to 3 as registration data of a search engine having a full-text search as a search engine type and search engine registration data having an attribute search as a search engine type (S904). The common search query setting unit 205 receives it. Subsequently, the common search query setting unit 205 acquires the data sources 1 and 2 as the data sources to be searched by each search engine from the search engine = data source association management unit 203 (S905 and S906).
Next, the common search query setting unit 205 determines (or determines) a search engine that actually requests a search. The common search query setting unit 205 requests a search to both the search engine 1 and the search engine 2 because the search engine types are different and a common data source is a search target. Further, the common search query setting unit 205 requests the search because the search engine 3 and the search engine 1 have the same search engine type but different data sources (S907 to S910).

Next, the individual search query generation unit 206 generates an individual search query in response to a request from the common search query setting unit 205. Here, the individual search query generation unit 206 searches the search engine 1 and the search engine 3 for search conditions for full-text search. Search keyword = “camera”
And the search condition for the attribute search for the search engine 2 creation date and time ≧ 2008/01/01
Is generated (S911). The common search query setting unit 205 requests the individual search execution unit 207 to execute a search using these individual search queries (S912), and the individual search execution unit 207 causes the search engines 1 to 3 to execute the search. The search result is acquired (S913 to S915). In this configuration as well, the search result is acquired as a list of content URLs.
Subsequently, the search result integration unit 208 integrates the search results. The individual search execution unit 207 returns the acquired search results to the common search query setting unit 205, and the common search query setting unit 205 passes the search results and the common search query to the search result integration unit 208 to request integration of the search results. (S916).

Then, the search result integration unit 208 determines whether or not it is necessary to perform a logical product between search results of search engines that search for a common data source (S1201, S1202). Here, since the logical product of the full text search condition and the attribute search condition is specified in the common search query, it is necessary to take the logical product. In addition, since the search engine 1 and the search engine 2 corresponding to each condition have a common data source as a search target, it is possible to take a logical product. Therefore, the search result integration unit 208 obtains a first integration result by taking the logical product of the search results of the search engine 1 and the search engine 2 (S1203). On the other hand, since the search engine 3 does not share a data source with other search engines, it is impossible to perform a logical product with the results of other search engines. Therefore, the search result integration unit 208 obtains a final integration result by performing a logical sum with the first integration result (S1204).
That is, the search result integration unit 208 determines based on the search query whether or not it is designated to perform a logical product between search results of search engines that search for a common data source. Then, the search result integration unit 208 determines an integration method for the search results acquired by the acquisition unit (integration method determination) based on the determination result, integrates the search results, and obtains a final integration result. Get.

The search result integration unit 208 delivers the final integration result to the input / output management unit 209 (S917). Finally, the input / output management unit 209 displays the search result on the display device 306.
As described above, the integrated search apparatus 101 automatically selects a search engine for executing a search when a plurality of search engines target a plurality of data sources, and performs a search result according to the relationship between the data sources. Can be integrated. Thereby, even if a user does not have prior knowledge about a search engine or a data source, an integrated search can be efficiently performed only by specifying a common search query.
The above is the description of the first embodiment.

<Embodiment 2>
In the first embodiment, a data source to which only a part of the common search query can be applied as a search condition is also set as a search target. In this case, the search is performed under conditions that are looser than the conditions specified by the user, and the search results may include noise.
When there is a data source searched using only a part of the common search query, the integrated search apparatus 101 of the present embodiment makes an inquiry to the user in advance and the user instructs execution of the search. As long as you search those data sources.

<Embodiment 3>
In the second embodiment, when only a part of the common search query can be applied as a search condition, the user is inquired in advance.
The integrated search apparatus 101 according to the present embodiment determines a search engine that requests execution of a search only for data sources that can be searched using all the search conditions specified in the common search query. To do.

<Embodiment 4>
In addition to the processing of the third embodiment, the integrated search device 101 of the present embodiment displays, together with the search result, that a searchable data source exists if only a part of the common search query is used. .

<Embodiment 5>
In the above-described embodiment, the user manually performs a search engine registration method in the search engine management unit 201. However, in this embodiment, the search engine management unit 201 automatically registers a search engine using service discovery. I do. The search engine management unit 201 uses an existing protocol such as UDDI or SSDP, or any other means as a method for performing service discovery. Here, UDDI is an abbreviation for Universal Description, Discovery and Integration. SSDP is an abbreviation for Simple Service Discovery Protocol. Further, the search discovery inquiry destination may be a search engine or a device other than the search engine.

<Embodiment 6>
In the above-described embodiment, the data source description has been described using the data source URL. However, the federated search apparatus 101 of the present embodiment may use a description method according to the type of data source, such as a UNC (Universal Naming Convention), a database name, or a list of content identifiers.

<Embodiment 7>
In the above-described embodiment, the data source ID is used for the data source duplication determination. However, the federated search apparatus 101 of this embodiment may use a method of comparing character strings such as URL and UNC, a method of comparing elements of a set of content identifiers, and the like.

<Eighth embodiment>
In the embodiment described above, a single URL is used for the data source description, and the relationship between the data sources is determined as equivalent or independent depending on whether the URLs match. In addition to this, the integrated search apparatus 101 of this embodiment also determines the relationship between duplication and inclusion. For example, if the data source description of data source 1 is http: // xxx. yyy. net /
And the data source description of the data source 2 is http: // xxx. yyy. net / AAA /
In the case, the integrated search apparatus 101 determines that the data source 1 includes the data source 2 based on the relationship between these URLs.

For example, if the data source description of the data source 1 is http: // xxx. yyy. net /
http: // ABC. DEF. com /
And the data source description of the data source 2 is http: // xxx. yyy. net /
http: // LMN. OPQ. com /
In this case, http: // xxx. yyy. Since net / exists in both, the integrated search apparatus 101 determines that the data source 1 and the data source 2 have an overlapping relationship.

<Ninth Embodiment>
In the above-described embodiment, the data source specifying information is acquired from the search engine. However, a server for managing data source identification information may be provided outside the search engine, and the integrated search apparatus 101 of this embodiment may acquire the data source identification information from the server.

<Embodiment 10>
In the above-described embodiment, HTTP is used for acquiring data source specifying information, transmitting a search execution request, and acquiring search results. However, the integrated search apparatus 101 of this embodiment may use any other protocol.

<Other embodiments>
The object of the above-described embodiment is achieved by the following. That is, a storage medium (or recording medium) in which a program code of software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is recorded is supplied to the system or apparatus. Then, the central processing means (CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium recording the program code constitutes the above-described embodiment.

  In addition, by executing the program code read by the central processing means of the system or apparatus, an operating system (OS) or the like operating on the system or apparatus performs actual processing based on the instruction of the program code. Do some or all. The case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing is also included.

  Furthermore, it is assumed that the program code read from the storage medium is written to a memory provided in a function expansion card inserted into the system or apparatus or a function expansion unit connected thereto. After that, based on the instruction of the program code, the CPU of the function expansion card or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing. It is.

  When the above-described embodiment is applied to the storage medium, the storage medium stores program codes corresponding to the flowcharts described above.

According to each embodiment mentioned above, even when a user cannot have prior knowledge about a search engine or a data source, a combined search can be performed by appropriately combining a plurality of search engines. Therefore, the user can easily find desired data. In particular, it is expected to be effective when searching for content distributed in a plurality of data sources such as the Internet and an intranet using a plurality of search engines.
Furthermore, when there are multiple search engines of the same type that search for a common data source, it is possible to limit the search engines that perform searches without prior knowledge of the user. The effect of reducing the load is expected.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, but the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims.・ Change is possible.
For example, what can be implemented combining each embodiment mentioned above may be implemented combining arbitrarily.

101 Integrated search device, 301 CPU

Claims (8)

Search engine specifying means for specifying one or more search types related to the search query based on the input search query, and specifying one or more search engines based on the search type;
1 or based on association information associating a search engine with a data source including a plurality of contents to be searched by the search engine and one or more search engines specified by the search engine specifying means A data source selection means for selecting a plurality of data sources;
Based on whether or not the search types related to the search engines for which a plurality of search engines are specified by the search engine specifying means are duplicated and whether or not the data sources specified by the data source selection means are duplicated Deciding means for deciding a search engine that requests a search from among a plurality of search engines specified by the specifying means;
An information processing apparatus. Generating means for generating a search query for each search engine according to the search engine determined by the determining means based on the input search query;
A request unit that passes a search query for each search engine generated by the generation unit to each corresponding search engine and requests execution of the search;
Obtaining means for obtaining a search result in each search engine requested to execute the search by the request means;
Search result integration means for integrating the search results acquired by the acquisition means;
Integrated result display means for displaying the search results integrated by the search result integration means;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:   Based on the input search query, it is determined whether or not the logical product is specified between the search results of search engines that search for a common data source, and based on the result of the determination, The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an integration method determination unit that determines an integration method of search results acquired by the acquisition unit. A search engine specifying step in which the information processing device specifies one or more search types related to the search query based on the input search query, and specifies one or more search engines based on the search type;
The information processing apparatus, associating information associating a search engine with a data source including a plurality of contents to be searched by the search engine, and one or a plurality of search engines specified in the search engine specifying step; A data source selection step of selecting one or more data sources based on
In the information processing apparatus, whether or not the search types related to the search engines for which a plurality of search engines have been specified in the search engine specifying step overlaps, and the data sources specified in the data source selection step overlap. A determination step of determining a search engine that requests a search from among the plurality of search engines specified in the specifying step based on whether or not
An information processing method comprising: The information processing apparatus generates a search query for each search engine according to the search engine determined in the determination step based on the input search query;
The information processing apparatus, a request step for requesting execution of a search by passing a search query for each search engine generated in the generation step to each corresponding search engine;
The information processing apparatus obtains a search result in each search engine requested to execute a search in the request step;
A search result integration step in which the information processing apparatus integrates the search results acquired in the acquisition step;
An integrated result display step in which the information processing apparatus displays a search result integrated in the search result integration step;
The information processing method according to claim 4, further comprising:   The information processing apparatus determines, based on the input search query, whether or not a logical product is specified between search results of search engines that search for a common data source, and the determination The information processing method according to claim 5, further comprising an integration method determination step for determining an integration method for the search results acquired in the acquisition step based on the result of the acquisition. Computer
Search engine specifying means for specifying one or more search types related to the search query based on the input search query, and specifying one or more search engines based on the search type;
Data for selecting one or a plurality of data sources based on association information that associates a search engine with a data source including a plurality of contents, and one or a plurality of search engines specified by the search engine specifying means Source selection means;
Based on whether or not the search types related to the search engines for which a plurality of search engines have been specified by the search engine specifying means are duplicated, and whether or not the data sources specified by the data source selection means are duplicated Determining means for determining a search engine that requests a search from among a plurality of search engines specified by the specifying means;
Program to make it work.   A computer-readable storage medium storing the program according to claim 7.

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