JP3338137B2 - Document search device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a document search apparatus for searching a document registered in a database or the like based on a keyword.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, when searching for a necessary document from a large number of documents registered in a database or the like, one or more words are given as keywords, and a document search is performed based on the keywords. As shown in FIG. 8, a display screen for inputting a keyword in an apparatus for searching a database using a keyword in this type has a matrix form (format) in which keyword input frames are arranged in both vertical and horizontal directions.

When a user inputs an arbitrary character string into the keyword input boxes arranged in a matrix,
For example, the relationship between the keywords arranged horizontally (columns) is defined as an OR condition (or AND condition), and the relationship between the keywords arranged vertically (rows) is defined as an AND condition (or OR condition).
Perform a search as a logical relationship.

Normally, the logical relationship of the keyword input frame in the row direction and the column direction is fixed by the system, and it is also fixed whether the logical relationship in the row direction or the column direction has priority.
Further, due to the screen width at the time of display (the screen at the time of display is generally wider), it is possible to input more keywords in the row direction than in the column direction.

[0005]

As described above, in the conventional document retrieval apparatus having a matrix-shaped keyword input frame, the logical relationship between the keyword input frames arranged in a matrix is fixed and can be displayed on one screen. Keyword input boxes were also limited.

Therefore, for example, in a system in which the relationship between keyword input frames arranged in a row direction is AND logic, when a user wants to perform an OR search with more keywords,
Many keywords must be arranged in the column direction. In this case, a procedure for scrolling the screen horizontally to input a keyword in the column direction occurs.

[0007] In addition, after performing an AND search between a plurality of keywords, it is desired to perform an OR search between the same keywords, or conversely, after performing an OR search between a plurality of keywords, A
To perform an ND search, it was necessary to re-enter the same keyword at different positions in the keyword input boxes arranged in a matrix.

In such a case, the operability is poor, which hinders a smooth search operation by the user. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a document search device that allows a user to perform a smooth search operation.

[0009]

According to the present invention, there is provided information on a logical relation between keywords in a row direction and a column direction of a matrix of a keyword input frame, and which one of a row and a column is given a higher priority. Is selectable, a search logical expression is created based on the information specified by the user, and a search is executed in accordance with the search logical expression, thereby improving search efficiency.

[0010]

[Action] The row direction of the matrix-like keyword input frame,
By allowing the user to specify the logical relationship between keywords at the time of a search in the column direction, the user can select either a search method that places importance on the AND search or a search method that places importance on the OR search, thereby performing an efficient search.

When it is desired to perform a search using different logic using the same word, it is not necessary to re-enter the keyword, and the logical relationship between the keywords at the time of the search in the direction of each of the rows and columns of the matrix is changed. Simply, the search becomes executable. Thereby, the interface with the user is improved, and the search efficiency is greatly improved.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the document search device according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the document search device includes a control device 1, an input device 2, a display device 3, and an external storage device 4.

The control device 1 is composed of a CPU, a memory and the like, controls the entire document search device, and has a functional configuration shown in FIG. The input device 2 includes a keyboard and the like. The display device 3 displays text data and a screen for inputting a search keyword. The external storage device 4 stores a database and the like, and stores a large amount of document data to be searched.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control device 1 comprises a processing unit 22 and a buffer unit 24. The processing unit 22 includes an initialization unit 201, a row direction logical relationship setting unit 2,
02, a column direction logical relationship setting unit 203, a search logic priority row direction setting unit 204, a key input unit 205, a search logical expression generation unit 206, a search unit 207, and a display unit 208. The buffer unit 24 includes the search logical expression buffer unit 21
1 and a work buffer unit 212.

The initialization unit 201 initializes each buffer in the buffer unit 24 when executing the database search process, and sets various information of the system necessary for the search.

A row direction logical relationship setting unit 202 sets whether the logical relationship between keywords input to the keyword input boxes arranged in the same column of the matrix in the row direction is set as an AND or OR logical relationship to generate a search logical expression. I do. The row direction logical relationship setting unit 202 makes settings in accordance with the user's designation input from the key input unit 205.

The column direction logical relationship setting section 203 sets whether the logical relationship between keywords input in the keyword input boxes arranged in the column direction on the same row of the matrix is to be used as an AND or OR logical relationship to generate a search logical expression. I do. The column-direction logical relationship setting unit 203 performs setting in accordance with a user's designation input from the key input unit 205.

The search logic priority direction setting unit 204 sets which of the keyword input frames arranged in a matrix direction, the row direction or the column direction, gives priority to the logical relationship between keywords, and sets the search logical expression to be generated. Search logic priority direction setting unit 20
4 performs setting according to the user's designation input from the key input unit 205.

The key input unit 205 inputs a character string serving as a search keyword for searching for a desired document from a large number of documents in a database stored in the external storage device 4 from the input device 2. The input search keywords are displayed in predetermined keyword input frames arranged in a matrix on the display screen.

The search logical formula generation unit 206 includes a logical relationship between keywords set in the row logical relationship setting unit 202, the column logical relationship setting unit 203, and the search logical priority direction setting unit 204, and a row or column. In accordance with the priority direction, a search logical expression for the keyword input to the keyword input box is generated and stored in the search logical expression buffer unit 211 in the buffer unit 24.

The search unit 207 includes a search logical expression buffer unit 2
The search logical expression stored in the external storage device 4 is read out from the database stored in the external storage device 4 according to the search logical expression.

The display unit 208 causes the display device 3 to display a screen for inputting a search keyword, including a keyword input by the user, a search keyword input frame in a matrix, and the like, and the results of a search performed by the search unit 207. .

The search logical expression buffer 211 stores the search logical expression generated by the search logical expression generator 206. The work buffer 212 is for temporarily storing a search keyword input from the input device 2, data obtained by a search process of the database by the search unit 207, and the like.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. First, the initialization unit 201 stores the buffer unit 2 required for document search.
4 while initializing each of the buffers 210 and 211.
The system is initialized (step A301).

The display unit 208 causes the display device 3 to display a search keyword input screen in which keyword input frames are arranged in a matrix as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the screen for inputting a search keyword includes buttons for [row attribute] and [column attribute] for setting a logical relationship between keywords in a search in each direction of row and column. A [priority] button is provided for setting in which direction the logical relationship between keywords in the row or column is prioritized.

By selecting the [row attribute] button and the [column attribute] button, the designation of the logical relationship (AND, OR) with respect to the keyword input frame of each row or column is alternately switched, and the designation becomes possible. I have. The specified logical relationship is displayed in an attribute column following each button.

The priority of the logical relationship between the keywords in the row or column can be selected by selecting the [Priority] button, so that the priority in the row direction and the priority in the column direction are alternately switched. And can be specified. The specified priority information is displayed in a display field following the [Priority] button.

When a screen for inputting a search keyword is displayed, a row direction logical relationship setting unit 202 is started. The row direction logical relationship setting unit 202 determines whether the row direction relationship of the keyword input boxes arranged in a matrix is a logical relationship of AND or OR according to the specification from the user using the [row attribute] button. (Step A302).

Also, the column direction logical relationship setting unit 202 is activated to determine whether the column direction relationship of the keyword input frames arranged in a matrix is an AND or OR logical relationship by using the [column attribute] button. The setting is made in accordance with the designation from the user who made the request (step A303).

The search logic priority direction setting unit 204 is activated, and the user designates the logical relationship between the keywords in the row direction or the column direction of the matrix of the keyword input frame by the user using the [priority] button. (Step A304).

Here, a search keyword can be entered. When the characters of the search keyword are input by operating the input device 2, the key input unit 205
Character data is input as a search keyword and stored in the work buffer 212. As a result, a search keyword is input and displayed in a predetermined keyword input frame on the search keyword input screen (step A305).

Next, the search logical expression generation unit 206 is started. The search logical formula generation unit 206 calculates the logical relationship between the keywords in the row direction and column direction of the keyword input frames arranged in a matrix stored in the row direction logical relationship setting unit 202 and the column direction logical relationship setting unit 203. A search logical expression is generated in accordance with the information and the information stored in the search logical priority direction setting unit 204 indicating which one of the keywords in the row direction and the column direction has a higher priority (step A306).

The search logical expression generator 206 generates a search logical expression according to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, the search logical expression generation unit 206 determines whether the logical relationship between the keywords in the row direction or the column direction of the designated keyword input box is to be prioritized by the row logical relationship setting unit 202 and the column logical relationship setting unit 203. (Step B410).

When the logical relationship in the row direction is prioritized, the logical relationship in the row direction (AN
D or OR) (step B420),
As shown in FIG. 4, a specified logical relationship is set between keywords existing in the same column in the row direction (step B430,
B431).

Next, the logical relationship in the column direction (AND or O)
R) (step B440), a search logical expression is generated as shown in FIG. 4 (steps B450 and B450).
451).

On the other hand, if the logical relationship in the column direction is prioritized, the logical relationship (AND or OR) in the column direction specified by the user is determined (step B42).
1) As shown in FIG. 4, a specified logical relationship is established between keywords existing in the same row in the column direction (step B4).
32, B433).

Next, the logical relationship in the row direction (AND or O)
R) (step B441), a search logical expression is generated as shown in FIG. 4 (steps B452 and B452).
453).

The search logical expression generation unit 206 stores the search logical expression generated as described above in the search logical expression buffer unit 211, for example, as shown in FIG. here,
An example of a search logical expression will be described.

For example, the line numbers of the keyword input boxes arranged in a matrix are A, B, C,..., The column numbers are a, b, c,. , Ab, Ac,... Ba, Bb, Bc. Here, to simplify the explanation, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, four keyword input frames Aa, Ab, Ba, and Bb are used as representatives, and input keywords respectively input are described as α, β, γ, and δ. In this case, as shown in FIG. 7, there are eight patterns (pattern 1 to pattern 8) of combinations of search logical expressions.

As shown in FIG. 7, by arbitrarily specifying the row attribute, the column attribute, and the priority direction of the logical relationship, even if the keyword input in the keyword input box is the same, a different logical relationship can be obtained. Can be set.

When a search logical expression is stored in the search logical expression buffer unit 211, the search unit 207 is started. Search part 2
07 reads out a search logical expression stored in the search logical expression buffer unit 211, and executes a search for a corresponding document from a database of documents stored in the external storage device 4 according to the search logical expression (step A307). .

The result searched by the search unit 208 is
The output is displayed on the display device 3 by the display unit 208 (step A308). In addition, when searching for documents,
If the search is to be performed without changing the specified logical relationship as described above, the search for the document is performed by the predetermined logical relationship by inputting the search keyword in the predetermined keyword input box as it is (step A309, A305
~).

In step A309, when the priority of the logical relationship between the keywords in the row and column directions of the input line or the logical relationship between the keywords in the row and column directions is changed, A logical relationship is specified using the [Row Attribute] button, [Column Attribute] button, and [Priority] button as described above (steps A310 and A30).
2), if the desired document has not been searched, the search process is terminated.

In the above-described embodiment, the logical relationship in the row direction, the logical relationship in the column direction, and the direction in which the logical relationship is prioritized have been described as being sequentially specified. It is possible.

As described above, by making it possible to arbitrarily specify the logical relationship between keywords in the row and column directions of the keyword input frames arranged in a matrix, importance is placed on AND search or OR search. You can select either of the search methods.

Also, when performing a search with different logic using the same word, without re-inputting the keyword,
The search can be executed only by changing the logical relationship between the keywords in the search in the directions of the rows and columns of the matrix.

[0047]

As described above, according to the present invention, a logical relationship can be set in any direction with respect to a search keyword input in a keyword input box arranged in a matrix, so that an interface with a user can be provided. It is improved and can greatly improve the search efficiency.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a document search device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of a control device 1 shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a document search process according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing for generating a search logical expression during the document search processing of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a search keyword input screen in which keyword input frames are arranged in a matrix in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of storing a search logical expression in a search logical expression buffer unit 211 according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of a search logical expression that can be generated in the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional keyword input frame.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Control device, 2 ... Input device, 3 ... Display device, 4 ... External storage device, 201 ... Initialization unit, 202 ... Row direction logical relationship setting unit, 203 ... Column direction logical relationship setting unit, 204 ... Search logic priority Line direction setting unit, 205: key input, 206: search logical expression creation unit, 207: search unit, 208: display unit, 2
11: Search logical expression buffer unit, 212: Work buffer unit.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Yukio Nakamoto 1381 Shinmachi, Ome-shi, Tokyo Toshiba Computer Engineering Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Toshihiro Ozaki 1381 Shinmachi, Ome-shi, Tokyo Toshiba Computer Engineering Stock In-company (72) Inventor Kenichi Nogami 1381 Shinmachi, Ome-shi, Tokyo Toshiba Computer Engineering Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-1-239628 (JP, A) JP-A-5-28190 (JP, A) (58) Fields surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 17/30

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A document search apparatus for inputting a keyword consisting of an arbitrary character string for performing a document search from a keyword input frame arranged in a matrix on a display screen. And a logical relationship setting unit configured to set a logical relationship of the matrix array in a row direction and a column direction based on an instruction input from the input unit. A search logical priority direction setting unit that sets which of the logical relationships in the row direction or the column direction of the matrix arrangement is prioritized, based on the logical relationship setting unit, and the search logical priority direction setting unit. A search logical expression generating means for generating a search logical expression based on the contents, and a search logical expression generated by the search logical expression The brute keyword document search apparatus characterized by comprising a search means for performing document retrieval.