JP2022148873A - Information retrieval device, information retrieval method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To obtain desired explanation information by using the input of other information that assists retrieval even if part of information on a headword is unknown at the time of dictionary retrieval.SOLUTION: An information retrieval device includes: a dictionary data storage area 22b in which explanation information corresponding to multiple types of narrowing-down information is stored; a key input unit 14 that inputs a first type (character) of narrowing-down information including a symbol indicating that part of contents is unknown; a voice input unit 16 that inputs a second type (voice) of narrowing-down information different from the first type of narrowing-down information input by the key input unit 14; and a control unit 21 that obtains a corresponding candidate for explanation information by searching the dictionary data storage area 22b based on the character narrowing-down information and voice narrowing-down information that have been input.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to an information retrieval device, an information retrieval method and a program.

In existing electronic dictionaries, even if part of the spelling is unknown, it is possible to search using wildcards [*]. In addition to searching by wildcards, techniques for jump-searching other words having similar phonetic symbols have been proposed. (For example, Patent Document 1)

JP 2010-040045 A

When part of the spelling of a word in a foreign language to be looked up is unknown, but the pronunciation of the word is memorized, the desired word is retrieved from the dictionary for the foreign language by utilizing the contents of the pronunciation. A method was required.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to provide other information that assists the search even if part of the headword information is lacking when searching a dictionary. To provide an information retrieval device, an information retrieval method, and a program capable of acquiring desired explanatory information using the input of .

According to one aspect of the present invention, a display control unit for displaying a first input area in which a first type of narrowing-down information can be input as a search condition for searching information from a predetermined storage unit; a determination unit that determines whether information indicating that the first type of narrowing-down information input to the region is incomplete is attached to the first type of narrowing-down information,
The display control unit adds information indicating that the first type of narrowing-down information is incomplete to the first type of narrowing-down information input to the first input area by the determining unit. is determined, a second input area is displayed in which a second type of narrowing-down information can be input as an additional search condition.

According to the present invention, even if part of the entry word information is missing during a dictionary search, it is possible to acquire desired explanatory information by using other information that assists the search. .

1 is a diagram showing the external configuration of an electronic dictionary according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of an electronic circuit of the electronic dictionary according to the same embodiment; FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing processing contents up to display of search target English word candidates in the first operation example according to the embodiment; FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating screen transition of dictionary search in the first operation example according to the embodiment; The figure which illustrates a part of the content of the phonetic symbol table used in the 1st operation example which concerns on the same embodiment. FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing processing contents up to display of search target kanji candidates in the second operation example according to the embodiment; FIG. The figure which shows the example of a screen display in the 2nd example of operation|movement which concerns on the same embodiment.

An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an electronic dictionary will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[Constitution]
FIG. 1 is a front view showing the external configuration of an electronic dictionary 10 according to the embodiment. Note that this embodiment is configured not only as an electronic dictionary 10 described below, but also as a tablet-type PC (Personal Computer) equipped with a dictionary function, a smartphone, an electronic book, a portable game machine, a server on a communication network. and so on.

The electronic dictionary 10 comprises a foldable case in which a body case 11 and a lid case 12 can be opened/closed via a hinge portion 13 . [Home] key 14a, function designation key 14b, character input key 14c, [decision] key 14d, [return] key 14e, [BOX] key 14f, cursor movement A key input section 14 (hardware keys) including a key 14g, a [shift] key 14h, etc., an audio output section (including a speaker) 15, an audio input section (including a microphone) 16, and the like are provided.

A touch panel type display unit 17 is provided on the surface of the lid case 12 . The touch panel type display unit 17 has a structure in which a touch position detection device for detecting a position touched by the user of the electronic dictionary 10 with a pen or fingers and a display device are integrated, and a transparent touch panel is provided on a backlit liquid crystal screen. are laminated.

A [Home] key 14a of the key input unit 14 is a key for causing the key input unit 14 to display a home screen. Although not shown, a plurality of icons registered according to initial settings of the electronic dictionary 10 or user operations are displayed. Each icon is a drawing or symbol for realizing a function corresponding to the notation of the icon. For example, it includes an application icon that directly activates a function (application) that uses dictionary content or learning content, and a group icon that displays a list screen of icons of a plurality of functions belonging to one category.

The function designation key 14b of the key input unit 14 is a key for directly designating dictionary contents written on each key. Function designation keys 14b include a [multiple dictionaries] key that dares not specify the category of dictionary content, and keys that specify the same category ([National] key, [Old Japanese] key, [Kanwa] key, [English-English] key, etc.). , a [content list] key for displaying a list of dictionary contents, and a [learning notebook] key, which is one category of tools.

Further, when the keys of the key input unit 14 are operated continuously after the [Shift] key 14h is operated, they are not written without a frame on the key top, but are written with a frame. functions as a key. For example, when the [Delete] key is operated after the [Shift] key 14h is operated, it functions as a [Set] key instead of the [Delete] key.

In FIG. 1, [English-English-Japanese dictionary] is selected, and three word input tags (ABC) 41A, an example sentence input tag 41B, and a phrase input tag are displayed in the headword input unit 41 located in the upper part of the touch panel type display unit 17. The word input tag 41A of 41C is shown selected by a touch operation. A character string [t*m] (first type of narrowing-down information) serving as a headword is entered in the character string input section 41D (first input area) immediately below it. The character string input section 41D further includes a voice input button 41E for inputting headwords by voice, a [handwriting] button 41F for simultaneously inputting handwritten characters, and [abc] for inputting another word. A button 41G and a [Search] button 41H for executing a search using an entered headword are displayed aligned on the right side, and touch operations for each are enabled.

On the lower side of the headword input section 41, [when the number of characters is known but the spelling is unknown], the symbol [?] is entered instead of the character. ], and when [when both the number of characters and the spelling are unknown], enter the symbol [*] in the part where the spelling of several consecutive characters is unknown.

As described above, the character string input section 41D shows a state in which an English word [t*m] including a symbol [*] indicating that both the number of characters and the spelling are unknown is input according to the guide message.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the electronic circuit of the electronic dictionary 10. As shown in FIG.
The electronic circuit of the electronic dictionary 10 includes a control section (CPU: Central Processing Unit) 21 which is a computer. The control section 21 controls the operation of each section of the circuit according to a control program pre-stored in the storage section 22 such as a flash ROM. The number of processors such as CPUs may be one or two or more.

Note that at least one of the control program and later-described dictionary data may be read from an external recording medium 23 such as a memory card by the recording medium reading unit 24 and stored in the storage unit 22 , or may be stored in the storage unit 22 via the communication unit 25 . It is also possible to store in the storage unit 22 those downloaded from a web server or the like on a network (not shown).

The control unit 21 is connected to a storage unit 22, a recording medium reading unit 24, and a communication unit 25 via a data bus and a control bus. Connect the display unit 17 .

The storage unit 22 stores a system program that controls the overall operation of the electronic dictionary 10, a communication program that communicates with an external device via the communication unit 25, a search processing program storage area 22a, and a dictionary data storage area 22b. , a search history storage area 22c, a work data storage area 22d, etc., are secured for storing programs and data for executing various functions of the electronic dictionary 10. FIG.

The search processing program storage area 22a stores various dictionary contents (English-English dictionary/English-Japanese dictionary/Japanese-English dictionary/English-English dictionary/Japanese dictionary/encyclopedia) stored as dictionary data in the dictionary data storage area 22b (predetermined storage unit). /...), a control program for searching and displaying descriptive information such as a user-desired headword and translations, word meanings, usage examples, and explanations corresponding to the headword, and inputs other than character input of headwords. This is an area for storing various table storage areas 22a1 and the like used when executing a search according to the information.
In the search history storage area 22c, when the headwords and their description information are displayed as the search results according to the search according to the user's operation, the headwords to be searched are stored as the search history together with the information of the number of searches. be done.

In the work data storage area 22d, various data acquired or generated by the control unit 21 and data input according to user operations are stored in accordance with the control of the operation of each circuit unit according to the control program by the control unit 21. Data is temporarily stored (held) as needed.

The communication unit 25 wirelessly connects to similar external devices such as electronic dictionaries that exist in the vicinity based on, for example, the BLE (Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy) standard, which is one of wireless PAN (Personal Area Network) technologies. In addition, it wirelessly connects to a web server or the like on an external network (not shown) via a wireless router or the like to download a control program or the like.

[motion]
Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
[First operation example]
In this operation example, the search operation executed by the control unit 21 will be described when the user of the electronic dictionary 10 further inputs the pronunciation of an English word whose spelling is unknown from the state shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the processing contents until the control unit 21 displays candidates of English words to be searched in accordance with the program stored in the search processing program storage area 22a. At the beginning, the control unit 21 causes the character string input unit 41D (first input area) of the touch panel display unit 17 to be displayed, and input characters such as [t*m] (first type of narrowing-down information). Accept (step S101). That is, the control unit 21 functions as a display control unit that displays a first input area in which the first type of narrowing information can be input as a search condition for searching information from a predetermined storage unit.

Control unit 21 determines whether or not at least a part of the spelling is unknown, depending on whether or not "?" and "*" are included in the input character string (step S102). That is, the control unit 21 determines whether information indicating that the first type of narrowing-down information is incomplete is attached to the first type of narrowing-down information input to the first input area. It functions as a determination unit that
If the input character string is "t*m", it is determined that "*" is included (YES in step S102), and the control unit 21 places the voice input unit 42 (second input area) is displayed (step S103). The voice input unit 42 displays a speaker mark 42A at the head position, and determines whether or not the user intends to perform voice input based on whether or not the user touches this mark (step S104).

When the speaker mark 42A is touch-operated (YES in step S104), the control unit 21 accepts voice input by the voice input unit (step S105), assuming that the user intends to perform voice input.

The control unit 21 sends a series of voice data input at a certain sound pressure or higher from the voice input unit 16 to the work data storage area 22d for buffer storage. Convert to data (step S106).

Based on the time-series data of the phoneme, the control unit 21 refers to the phonetic symbol table stored in the various table storage area 22a1 and searches for the corresponding phonetic symbol (step S107).

FIG. 5 illustrates part of the contents of the phonetic symbol table stored in the various table storage area 22a1. Pronunciations represented by kana and corresponding phonetic symbols are listed, and as shown, in many cases, a plurality of phonetic symbols correspond to one kana.

The control unit 21 derives pronunciation candidates using one or more phonetic symbols obtained for each kana of each phoneme, then refers to similar pronunciation tables stored in the table storage area 22a1, and outputs the derived results. It is displayed on the voice input unit 42 (step S108).

FIG. 4A shows a character string of kana notation [term] corresponding to the voice input by the voice input unit 42 based on the content voice-inputted by the user of the electronic dictionary 10 (second type of narrowing-down information). is a diagram illustrating a state in which is displayed.

After that, the control unit 21 waits for an instruction to search for a word by repeatedly judging that the [Enter] key 14d of the key input unit 14 is operated (step S109).

When it is determined in step S109 that the [Enter] key 14d has been operated (YES in step S109), control unit 21 searches for a word based on input conditions including at least character input (step S110).

When there is a character string input [t*m] and a voice input [term], the control unit 21 selects the first letter [t] and the last letter is [m] with any number of characters but some characters in between. Further, the control unit 21 narrows down the word candidates based on the inspection result, assuming that the pronunciation corresponds to [term] in katakana notation.

Note that [? ], search for word candidates taking into consideration the number of characters.

The control unit 21 displays a list of word candidates on the touch panel type display unit 17, the number of which is reduced by narrowing down when there are a plurality of input conditions, and which is highly likely to be desired by the user (step S111). The process of FIG. 3 ends. When a candidate in the list display is selected, the mode shifts to a state in which explanation information of the candidate word is displayed. FIG. [term ¹ (noun)] and [term ² (verb)] are displayed, indicating a state in which the leading word [term ¹ (noun)] is tentatively selected as a default. On the right side 44 of the screen, part of the descriptive information of the tentatively selected word [term ¹ (noun)] is displayed within the displayable range.

Also, in step S102, if it is determined that neither "?" If it is determined that the speaker mark 42A of the voice input unit 42 is not touch-operated and the user does not intend to perform voice input (NO in step S104), the control unit 21 proceeds directly to step S110 to Perform a word search with only strings.

In particular, in step S104, when it is determined that the speaker mark 42A of the voice input unit 42 is not touch-operated and the user does not intend to perform voice input, it is determined that part of the input character string is unknown. Although there are "?" Therefore, there is a high possibility that other words that are unlikely to be desired by the user will also be listed as candidates at the same time.

In the first operation example, the phonetic symbol table and the analogous pronunciation table are used to obtain pronunciation candidates written in kana characters for the pronunciation input by voice. It is also conceivable to dare to set multiple results. For example, a search may be made for a candidate corresponding to obtaining a plurality of kana notation [term] [time] as a result for pronunciation [term]. In this way, it allows for subtle individual differences in the original pronunciation, such as [ei] being pronounced [ai] ([gate [gate]] being pronounced [gaito] by some British people). to perform a search.

[Second operation example]
In this operation example, when the user of the electronic dictionary 10 selects the kanji dictionary and handwrites a kanji whose radical is partly unknown on the touch panel display unit 17, the input of the reading character string is also performed. The following describes the operation of displaying kanji candidates by pressing the A predetermined symbol [? ] shall be used.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the contents of the process until the control unit 21 displays candidate kanji characters to be searched in accordance with the program stored in the search processing program storage area 22a. At the beginning, the control unit 21 causes the touch panel type display unit 17 to display the handwriting input unit 52 (first input area) to accept handwritten character input (step S201). That is, the control unit 21 functions as a display control unit that displays a first input area in which the first type of narrowing information can be input as a search condition for searching information from a predetermined storage unit.

When the [Recognize] button written together is operated after the handwriting input, the control unit 21 executes character analysis processing for the input Chinese characters (step S202).

According to the analysis result, the control unit 21 adds the symbol [? ] is included (step S203). That is, the control unit 21 determines whether information indicating that the first type of narrowing-down information is incomplete is attached to the first type of narrowing-down information input to the first input area. It functions as a determination unit that

The symbol [? ] is not included (NO in step S203), the control unit 21 displays a list of candidates for kanji with a high degree of similarity on the touch panel display unit 17 based on the result of the character analysis (step S208). , the process of FIG. 6 is completed.

When any one of the candidates of kanji characters displayed in the list on the touch panel display section 17 is touch-operated, the explanation information about the kanji character is read from the dictionary data storage area 22b and displayed on the touch panel display section 17. FIG.

Also, in step S203, the symbol [? ] is included (YES in step S203), the control section 21 displays the reading character string input section 51 (second input area) on the touch panel type display section 17 to display the kanji character It automatically shifts to the state of inputting the reading for (step S204).

In this input state, the control unit 21 accepts character input to the reading character string input unit 51 (step S205).

When the [Enter] key 14d is operated after character input, the control unit 21 inserts symbols [*] [? ] is included (step S206).

symbol[*][? ] is not included (NO in step S206), the control unit 21 extracts the symbol [?] from the reading input character and the result of character analysis. ] excluding the radicals, kanji candidates with a high degree of similarity are narrowed down (step S209).

Then, the narrowed-down Chinese character candidates are displayed in a list on the touch panel type display unit 17 (step S208), and the process of FIG. 6 is completed.

In step S206, symbols [*] [? ] is included (YES in step S206), the control unit 21 replaces the symbols [*] [? Characters excluding ] and their positions, and the symbol [? ] excluding the radicals, kanji candidates with a high degree of similarity are narrowed down (step S207).

FIG. 7 shows that the handwriting input unit 52 has a symbol [? ] is input, and then the reading [*yu] is input in the displayed reading character string input section 51 .

When there are such two inputs, the control unit 21 selects kanji characters with the reading ending of [Yu] in the kanji dictionary data stored in the dictionary data storage area 22b that have a [fish] bias. After executing the process of narrowing down the candidates (step S207), the narrowed-down kanji candidates are displayed in a list on the touch panel display unit 17 (step S208), and the process of FIG. 6 is completed.

In this way, in addition to the handwriting input of kanji containing a symbol indicating that a part of the radical is unknown, the input of the reading of a part of the radical is combined to narrow down the kanji candidates. The search for kanji candidates can be performed more efficiently than when part of the radical is unknown.

[Effects of Embodiment]
As described in detail above, according to the present embodiment, even if part of the entry word information is lacking during a dictionary search, desired explanatory information is obtained by inputting other information that assists the search. It becomes possible to

In this embodiment, a headword is obtained by combining two of the character input by operating the key input unit 14, the voice input by the voice input unit 16, and the handwritten character input by the touch panel type display unit 17. Since information is input, the existing hardware structure of an information retrieval device such as an electronic dictionary can be dealt with without any additional load.

In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be variously modified in the implementation stage without departing from the scope of the invention. Moreover, each embodiment may be implemented in combination as much as possible, and in that case, the combined effect can be obtained. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments include inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriately combining a plurality of disclosed constituent elements. For example, even if some constituent elements are deleted from all the constituent elements shown in the embodiments, the problems described in the column of problems to be solved by the invention can be solved, and the effects described in the column of effects of the invention is obtained, the configuration from which this constituent element is deleted can be extracted as an invention.

The invention described in the original claims of the present application is appended below.
[Claim 1]
a display control unit for displaying a first input area in which a first type of narrowing information can be input as a search condition for searching information from a predetermined storage unit;
a determination unit that determines whether information indicating that the first type of narrowing-down information is incomplete is added to the first type of narrowing-down information input to the first input area;
with
The display control unit adds information indicating that the first type of narrowing-down information is incomplete to the first type of narrowing-down information input to the first input area by the determining unit. When it is determined that the
An information retrieval device characterized by:
[Claim 2]
The determination unit determines whether information indicating that the second type of refinement information is incomplete is added to the second type of refinement information input to the second input area. ,
2. The information retrieval device according to claim 1, wherein:
[Claim 3]
The first type of narrowing information and the second type of narrowing information are information input by at least two of character input by keyboard operation, voice input, and handwritten character input,
3. The information retrieval device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that:
[Claim 4]
a display control step of displaying a first input area into which a first type of narrowing-down information can be input as a search condition for searching information from a predetermined storage unit;
a determination step of determining whether information indicating that the first type of refinement information is incomplete is attached to the first type of refinement information input to the first input area;
has
In the display control step, information indicating that the first type of narrowing-down information is incomplete is attached to the first type of narrowing-down information input to the first input area in the determining step. When it is determined that the
An information retrieval method characterized by:
[Claim 5]
A program executed by a computer installed in a device having a predetermined storage unit, the computer comprising:
a display control unit for displaying a first input area in which a first type of narrowing information can be input as a search condition for searching information from the storage unit;
a determination unit that determines whether information indicating that the first type of narrowing-down information is incomplete is added to the first type of narrowing-down information input to the first input area;
to make it work,
The display control unit adds information indicating that the first type of narrowing-down information is incomplete to the first type of narrowing-down information input to the first input area by the determining unit. When it is determined that the
A program characterized by

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10... Electronic dictionary 11... Main body case 12... Lid case 13... Hinge part 14... Key input part 14a... [Home] key 14b... Function designation key 14c... Character input key 14d... [Enter] key 14e... [Return] key 14f --- [BOX] key 14g --- Cursor movement key 14h --- [Shift] key 15 --- Voice output unit 16 --- Voice input unit 17 --- Touch panel type display unit 21 --- Control unit (CPU)
22 Storage section 22a Search processing program storage area 22a1 Table storage area 22b Dictionary data storage area 22c Search history storage area 22d Work data storage area 23 External recording medium 24 Recording medium reading section 25 Communication section 41 Headword input unit 41A Word input tag 41B Example sentence input tag 41C Phrase input tag 41D Character string input unit 41E Voice input button 41F [Handwriting] button 41G [abc] button 41H [Search] button 42... Voice input unit 51... Character string input unit 52... Handwriting input unit

Claims (5)

a display control unit for displaying a first input area in which a first type of narrowing information can be input as a search condition for searching information from a predetermined storage unit;
a determination unit that determines whether information indicating that the first type of narrowing-down information is incomplete is added to the first type of narrowing-down information input to the first input area;
with
The display control unit adds information indicating that the first type of narrowing-down information is incomplete to the first type of narrowing-down information input to the first input area by the determining unit. When it is determined that the
An information retrieval device characterized by: The determination unit determines whether information indicating that the second type of refinement information is incomplete is added to the second type of refinement information input to the second input area. ,
2. The information retrieval device according to claim 1, wherein: The first type of narrowing information and the second type of narrowing information are information input by at least two of character input by keyboard operation, voice input, and handwritten character input,
3. The information retrieval device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: a display control step of displaying a first input area into which a first type of narrowing-down information can be input as a search condition for searching information from a predetermined storage unit;
a determination step of determining whether information indicating that the first type of refinement information is incomplete is attached to the first type of refinement information input to the first input area;
has
In the display control step, information indicating that the first type of narrowing-down information is incomplete is attached to the first type of narrowing-down information input to the first input area in the determining step. When it is determined that the
An information retrieval method characterized by: A program executed by a computer installed in a device having a predetermined storage unit, the computer comprising:
a display control unit for displaying a first input area in which a first type of narrowing information can be input as a search condition for searching information from the storage unit;
a determination unit that determines whether information indicating that the first type of narrowing-down information is incomplete is added to the first type of narrowing-down information input to the first input area;
to make it work,
The display control unit adds information indicating that the first type of narrowing-down information is incomplete to the first type of narrowing-down information input to the first input area by the determining unit. When it is determined that the
A program characterized by

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