JP3469528B2 - Vehicle information search device, vehicle information search method, and vehicle information search system - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle information retrieval system, and more particularly, to a vehicle information retrieval device and a vehicle information retrieval method capable of improving retrieval suitability of vehicle information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional vehicle information retrieval system, particularly an online used vehicle information retrieval system utilizing a network such as the Internet, a manufacturer name (Toyota, Nissan, Honda, etc.) is selected through a retrieval screen of a retrieval terminal device. After that, the car name (Corolla, Sprinter,
By selecting (mark 2 etc.) and further specifying price, equipment, mileage, etc. as other conditions, a vehicle (used car) can be searched.

That is, when the searcher selects one from the manufacturer names displayed on the search screen of the search terminal device, the vehicle names belonging to the selected manufacturer are displayed in a list. The searcher selects one or more from the car names displayed in the list and further specifies other conditions. As a result, the search condition data is transmitted from the search terminal device to the search control device having the database, and the search for identifying the vehicle is executed.

By the way, the vehicle name includes a grouped name (group name) and a name given to each model (model name). For example, the group name "Corolla" is model name "Corolla sedan", "Corolla F
"X", "Corolla Levin" and the like.

However, in the case where a general consumer (general user) is a searcher, it is difficult to recognize a vehicle by performing a search in consideration of the model name even if the user is not interested in the vehicle type. Especially, as the model name, "Accord S
When a symbol is used, such as “iR”, the difficulty of recognition is further increased.

[0006] When searching for "Corolla Levin", if the car name is specified by the group name "Corolla", the unnecessary "Corolla sedan" will also be searched, so the model name "Corolla Levin" should be specified. preferable. However, if the model names are displayed in a list, the number of lists increases, and the search operation becomes extremely complicated, such as a searcher visually searching the list or scrolling the list.

Further, a searcher such as a general user who has a weak recognition of a car name may recognize "Corolla Levin" by the name "Corolla". As described above, a searcher who does not know the model name well even if he / she can specify the vehicle model conceptually often specifies “Corolla” as the search target vehicle name when searching for “Corolla Levin”. further,
In addition to the vehicle name given by the manufacturer, there are also cases in which common names formed in the market (for example, GTR, Hachiroku, etc.) are in widespread use.

On the other hand, simply saying "Corolla" is often recognized as "Corolla sedan", and in some cases it is better to treat the group name in the same order as the model name. Also,
Those who deal with vehicle parts and equipment such as parts suppliers, maintenance companies, and refueling companies often use the group name rather than the model name because many common parts are used in the vehicle group. In other words, vehicle information (data) is often first extracted in groups from the database.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a searcher who does not know the model name of a vehicle well.
A vehicle information search device, a vehicle information search method, and a vehicle information search system capable of obtaining a high search relevance ratio, that is, capable of obtaining a result in which a searcher occupies a high proportion of all search results. To provide.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle information search device, a vehicle information search method and a vehicle information which enable efficient vehicle identification in vehicle information search and vehicle part information search with an associated database structure. To provide a search system.

[0011]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the first vehicle information retrieval device of the present invention comprises a vehicle name input means for inputting a vehicle name as a retrieval condition; vehicle type as key information. A vehicle information database that stores the vehicle information that has been saved;
A model name table that stores a model name of a vehicle and the vehicle model in association with each other; a model name table search unit that searches the model name table for the vehicle name input as a search condition; a search of the model name table Vehicle information database searching means for searching the vehicle information database for the vehicle information related to the vehicle type corresponding to the model name of the result; search result list displaying means for displaying a list of search results of the vehicle information database; Vehicle selecting means for allowing a searcher to select a specific vehicle based on a list display; model name table updating means for updating the model name table by associating the model of the selected specific vehicle with the input vehicle name With.

A second vehicle information retrieval device of the present invention is a vehicle name input means for inputting a vehicle name as a retrieval condition; a retrieval condition input means for inputting a retrieval condition other than the vehicle name; and a vehicle model as a key. A vehicle information database that stores vehicle information as information; a model name table that stores a model name of a vehicle and the vehicle model in association with each other; the vehicle name input as a search condition is searched from the model name table Model name table search means; when a search result is obtained from the model name table, the vehicle information related to the vehicle type corresponding to the model name in the search result of the model name table is searched from the vehicle information database. If no search result is obtained from the model name table, the vehicle information matching the search condition other than the input vehicle name is used as the vehicle information data. A vehicle information database searching means for searching from a vehicle; a search result list displaying means for displaying a list of search results of the vehicle information database; a vehicle selecting means for allowing a searcher to select a specific vehicle based on the list display; The model name table updating means for updating the model name table by associating the model of the specified vehicle with the input vehicle name.

According to a third vehicle information retrieval apparatus of the present invention, in the first or second vehicle information retrieval apparatus, at least one of a maker name, a vehicle model and an year model included in the vehicle information is key information. And a vehicle parts information display means for retrieving the vehicle parts information from the parts database and displaying the vehicle parts information in a selectable manner by the searcher.

A first vehicle information retrieval method of the present invention is a vehicle information database for storing vehicle information with a vehicle type as key information, and a model name table for storing a vehicle model name and the vehicle type in association with each other. A first step of inputting a car name as a search condition; a second step of searching the model name table for the car name input as a search condition; a search result of the model name table A third step of searching the vehicle information database for the vehicle information related to the vehicle type corresponding to the model name; a fourth step of displaying a list of search results of the vehicle information database; based on the list display Fifth step of allowing a searcher to select a specific vehicle; the model of the specific vehicle selected and the input vehicle name are associated with each other. And a sixth step of updating the table.

The second vehicle information retrieval method of the present invention is a vehicle name database for storing vehicle information with vehicle type as key information, and a model name table for storing a model name of a vehicle and the vehicle type in association with each other. A first step of inputting a vehicle name as a search condition; a second step of inputting a search condition other than the vehicle name; and the vehicle name input as a search condition from the model name table A third step of searching; when the search result is obtained from the model name table, the vehicle information related to the vehicle type corresponding to the model name in the search result of the model name table is searched from the vehicle information database However, if no search result is obtained from the model name table, the vehicle information matching the search condition other than the input vehicle name is acquired as the vehicle information database. A fourth step of retrieving from; fifth that lists the search results of the vehicle information database
A sixth step of allowing a searcher to select a specific vehicle based on the list display; and updating the model name table by associating the model of the selected specific vehicle with the input vehicle name And a seventh step of

A third vehicle information retrieval method of the present invention is the first or second vehicle information retrieval method described above, wherein at least one of a maker name, a vehicle model, and an year model included in the vehicle information is key information. And further includes a parts database in which the vehicle parts information is stored so as to be searchable; and a step of searching the parts database for the vehicle parts information and displaying the vehicle parts information in a selectable manner.

The first vehicle information retrieval system of the present invention is
A vehicle name input means for inputting a vehicle name as a search condition; a vehicle information database for storing vehicle information with a vehicle model as key information; a model name table for storing a vehicle model name and the vehicle model in association with each other Model name table searching means for searching the model name table for the vehicle name input as a search condition; and the vehicle information related to the vehicle model corresponding to the model name in the search result of the model name table, Vehicle information database searching means for searching from the vehicle information database; search result list displaying means for displaying a list of search results of the vehicle information database; vehicle selecting means for allowing a searcher to select a specific vehicle based on the list display; A model for updating the model name table by associating the selected model of the specific vehicle with the input vehicle name Table updating means; the vehicle name inputting means, the search result list displaying means, and the vehicle selecting means are provided in the search terminal device; the vehicle information database, the model name table, the model name table searching means, The vehicle information database searching means and the model name table updating means are provided as IPs to the search terminal device.
It is provided in the search control device connected through the communication network.

The second vehicle information retrieval system of the present invention is
A vehicle name input means for inputting a vehicle name as a search condition; a search condition input means for inputting a search condition other than the vehicle name; a vehicle information database for storing vehicle information with vehicle type as key information; A model name table that stores a model name and the vehicle model in association with each other; a model name table search means that searches the model name table for the vehicle name input as a search condition; and a search result from the model name table If obtained, the vehicle information related to the vehicle type corresponding to the model name in the search result of the model name table is searched from the vehicle information database, and if no search result is obtained from the model name table, Vehicle information database searching means for searching the vehicle information database for the vehicle information that matches the search conditions other than the input vehicle name Search result list displaying means for displaying a list of search results of the vehicle information database; vehicle selecting means for allowing a searcher to select a specific vehicle based on the list display; model of the selected specific vehicle and the input A model name table updating means for updating the model name table in association with the vehicle name; a search for the vehicle name input means, the search result list display means, the vehicle selection means, and the search condition input means. Provided in a terminal device; a search for connecting the vehicle information database, the model name table, the model name table search means, the vehicle information database search means, and the model name table update means to the search terminal device through an IP communication network Provided in the control device.

The third vehicle information retrieval system of the present invention is
In the first or second vehicle information retrieval system,
A parts database that is provided in the search control device and that stores the vehicle part information such that at least one of the manufacturer name, the vehicle model, and the year model included in the vehicle information can be searched as key information; provided in the search terminal device Further, the vehicle part information display means for searching the vehicle part information from the part database and displaying the vehicle part information in a selectable manner by the searcher.

The fourth vehicle information retrieval system of the present invention is
In the first, second, or third vehicle information search system, the search control device is a WWW server computer, the search terminal device is a personal computer equipped with a WWW browser, and the IP communication network is the Internet. is there.

[0021]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. [Configuration of Vehicle Information Retrieval System] Referring to FIG. 1, a vehicle information retrieval system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a retrieval control device (server) 2, a retrieval terminal device (WEB client) 3, and an IP ( Internet Protocol) communication network 4.

The search control device 2 is a server computer, and is a WWW (World Wide Web) server (hereinafter, WE).
B server) 5, database 6, CGI
(Common Gateway Interface) interface section (hereinafter, sometimes simply referred to as CGI) 7. The database 6 has a vehicle database 61, a model name table 62, a manufacturer name table 63, a model database 64, and a parts database 65, which will be described in detail later.

The search terminal device 3 is a personal computer equipped with a WWW browser, and is used by searchers such as general users, parts suppliers, maintenance companies, refueling companies, manufacturers, and dealers to search for vehicle information or vehicle part information. use.

The IP communication network 4 is the Internet in this example, and is HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer).
The search terminal device 3 as a WEB client can search the vehicle control information or the vehicle part information from the search control device 2 as a server according to the Protocol). Note that I
The P communication network 4 may be a network capable of transmitting information in packet form according to the IP protocol,
Any kind of backbone network can be used.

More specifically, the vehicle database 61 in the database 6 of the search control device 2 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (A), as the vehicle information, a product number, a model, a maker name (maker code), a model name, a price, and the like are stored. Here, the model is key information when searching the vehicle database 61.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the model name table 62 stores, as vehicle information, a maker name (maker code), a model name, a model (plurality), a data classification, and the like. In the model name table 62, it is important that the model name and the vehicle information of the model are associated with each other. Here, the data classification is a flag (0/1) for indicating whether the model name is a formal name or an unofficial name created by a searcher performing a search input. The model name table 62 may separately include a table portion that statically holds the official name and a table portion that stores the dynamically created non-official name and official name.

The maker name table 63 in the database 6 stores a maker name and a maker code as vehicle information, as shown in FIG. 2 (C). As shown in FIG. 2D, the model database 64 stores vehicle specification information such as model, year, manufacturer name (manufacturer code) as vehicle information.

Further, the parts database 65 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (E), as the vehicle information and the vehicle part information, a maker name, model, year, part code, part number, and the like are stored. Here, the manufacturer name, model, and year as vehicle information are key information when searching the parts database 65.

WEB server 5 in search control device 2
Has a model name table search unit 51 that searches a model name table 62 for a car name input as a search target from a car name input unit 31 (described in detail later) in the search terminal device 3.

Further, the WEB server 5 has a function of searching the vehicle name database 62 for vehicle information corresponding to the vehicle model corresponding to the model name obtained as a result of searching the model name table 62, and the result of searching the model name table 62. If the model name cannot be obtained, a function of searching the vehicle database 61 for vehicle information that matches the search conditions other than the vehicle name input from the search condition input unit 34 (described in detail later) in the search terminal device 3 is provided. It has a vehicle information database search unit 52 to be executed. The vehicle information database search unit 52 also has a function of searching the model database 64 for searching vehicle part information described later.

The WEB server 5 further includes the search terminal device 3
The model name table updating unit 53 that updates the model name table 62 by associating the model of the vehicle selected by the vehicle selecting unit 33 (described in detail later) with the vehicle name input from the vehicle name input unit 31. .

The CGI interface unit 7 in the search control device 2 is a program that controls the interface between the WEB server 5 and the database 6 (strictly speaking, the control program of the database 6). After executing the search process in the database 6, the CGI interface unit 7 returns the search result for returning a response to the search terminal device 3 to the WEB server 5 in the HTML document format.

The search terminal device 3 has a vehicle name input section 31 for inputting a vehicle name as a search condition and a search result list display section for displaying a list of vehicle information search results by the vehicle information database search section 52 in the search control device 2. 32. The search terminal device 3 also includes a vehicle selection unit 33 that allows a searcher to select a specific vehicle from the vehicle list displayed on the search result list display unit 32. The search terminal device 3 further includes a search condition input unit 34 for inputting search conditions other than the vehicle name.

[Operation of Vehicle Information Retrieval System] (First Vehicle Information Retrieval Process) Next, the first vehicle information retrieval process in the vehicle information retrieval system 1 having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. 8 will also be described.

In the search terminal device 3 as a WEB client, the searcher uses the search condition input screen 8 (see FIG. 5) which constitutes the car name input section 31 to search for the car name in the car name column as a search condition. While inputting the manufacturer name, the vehicle information search button is clicked to instruct (request) the search control device 2 as the server to execute the search through the IP communication network 4. In this example, "Carola", which is the vehicle group name, is entered as the vehicle name, and the manufacturer name "Toyota" is entered (step S31 in FIG. 3). Note that the manufacturer name may be displayed and a list may be selected.

WEB server 5 in search control device 2
Receives the vehicle information including the vehicle name transmitted from the search terminal device 3 in the WEB form through the IP communication network 4 as a vehicle information search request. When the WEB server 5 receives the vehicle information as the vehicle information search request, the WEB server 5 executes preprocessing for unifying the notational fluctuations. In this pre-processing, a character string list is created for each space character (□) of vehicle information (manufacturer's name and car name) as shown in FIG. Unify the shaking.

The search control device 2 and the search terminal device 3 transmit and receive vehicle information regarding a search request and a search result (response) through the IP communication network 4, but in the following description, the intervention of the IP communication network 4 is omitted. To do.

The manufacturer name table search unit 50 constituting the WEB server 5 uses the manufacturer name "Toyota" in the character string.
Is searched for in the manufacturer name table 63. If the maker name does not exist, the model name table search unit 51 uses the remaining character strings (car name “carola”)
The model name table 62 is searched without limiting the manufacturer. On the other hand, when the manufacturer name exists, the model name table search unit 51 displays the remaining character string (car name "carola").
With respect to, the model name table 62 is searched by limiting the manufacturer, that is, based on the manufacturer code. At the time of this search, the model name table search unit 51 appropriately executes a fuzzy search, a prefix match search, or the like (S32).

The WEB server 5 and the database 6
Means that various kinds of information are transmitted and received via the CGI interface unit 7, but the description of the intervention of the CGI interface unit 7 is omitted unless it is particularly limited.

The WEB server 5 of the search control device 2 searches the database 6 for a list of vehicle models corresponding to the model name and sends it to the search terminal device 3. For this purpose, the model name table search unit 51 searches the model name table 62 by the model name to list the vehicle types. The vehicle information database retrieval unit 52 obtains vehicle information corresponding to each model listed from the vehicle database 61, supplements the transmitted document, and transmits it to the retrieval terminal device 3 in the HTML document format (S33, S34). At this time, the model database 6
Other vehicle specification information may be supplemented from 4 and transmitted.

When the model name corresponding to the car name cannot be retrieved from the model name table 62 in the above processing step S32, vehicle information corresponding to retrieval conditions other than the car name is extracted regardless of the model. Output. Further, when the manufacturer name is specified in the processing procedure S32, the manufacturer is limited and extracted.

The search control device 2 formats the search results (vehicle list) by the series of processes described above into an HTML document format and sends it to the search terminal device 3. HTM of this search result
An example of an L-format document is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

In the example of FIG. 7, when "carora" is input as the search target vehicle name in the search terminal device 3, the search control device 2 sets the search target vehicle name "carola" in the HREF section of each link of the vehicle list. It is added as a query parameter. Further, in the example of FIG. 8, when “carola” is input as the search target vehicle name in the search terminal device 3,
In the search control device 2, the search target vehicle name "carora" is ja
It is embedded in the HTML document as a va variable so that the URL query is dynamically formed when the searcher clicks each link in the vehicle list.

The search terminal device 3 receives the search result (vehicle list) in the search control device 2, and the search result list display section 3
It is displayed by 2 (step S40 in FIG. 4). When the searcher clicks the vehicle link of “Product number 30001” in the vehicle list displayed by the search result list display unit 32, the search terminal device 3 requests the URL (Universa
l Resource Locator) 10 is transmitted to the search control device 2 (S41).

The WEB server 5 of the search control device 2 receives "ITEMID = 30001 &C" in the received URL 10.
Using the parameter "AR = carora" as a parameter, the CGI interface unit 7 is requested to process the URL query "aaa.cgi" (S42). The CGI interface unit 7 determines that the product number of this URL query “aaa.cgi” is “3.
It is recognized that the vehicle name "0001" and the retrieved and input vehicle name is "Carola" (S43).

If the vehicle name is not an empty character string, the model name table updating unit 53 associates the relevant vehicle name "Carola" with the model "E-FV2" of the identified vehicle, and newly adds it to the model name table 62. Register as a record. As a result, the manufacturer name (manufacturer code) "01 (Toyota compatible code)", the model name "Carola", the model "E-FV2", and the data classification "1" are registered in the model name table 62 ( S44).

In the processing procedure S33, when the vehicle information corresponding to each model is obtained from the vehicle database 61 and the transmitted document is replenished and transmitted to the search terminal device 3 in the HTML document format, in the processing procedure 44, Since it is determined to be an empty character string, the subsequent processing is not executed.

After the URL query is recognized in the processing step S43, the vehicle information database searching unit 52 searches the vehicle database 61 for the product number "3000".
The vehicle information corresponding to "1" is extracted and transmitted to the search terminal device 3 in the HTML document format (S45).

(Second Vehicle Information Retrieval Process) Next, the second vehicle information retrieval process in the vehicle information retrieval system 1 having the above-mentioned configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 to 8. . It should be noted that the second vehicle information search process will be described only for the process different from the first vehicle information search process described above.

In the second vehicle information retrieval processing,
As shown in FIG. 2F, an item of “score” for holding information indicating the reference frequency is added to the model name table 62 for an informal name.

The WEB server 5 of the search control device 2 searches the database 6 for a list of vehicle models corresponding to the model name in the above processing steps S32, S33, S34 and sends it to the search terminal device 3. For this purpose, the model name table search unit 51 searches the model name table 62 with the specific model name to list the vehicle types. The vehicle information database search unit 52 obtains other vehicle specification information corresponding to each model from the vehicle database 61 and supplements the transmitted document,
It is transmitted to the search terminal device 3 in the HTML document format.

In this processing, when it is identified that the retrieved model name is not the official name based on the flag ("1") of the "data division", the model name is transmitted to the retrieval terminal device 3 as an HTML document. (Change processing procedure 1).

Further, the model name table updating section 53 of the WEB server 5 determines in the above-mentioned processing step S44 that the vehicle name is not the empty character string, the vehicle type "E-FV2" specified as the corresponding vehicle name "Carola". The model name table 62 is searched by associating with. As a result, when the model name is retrieved, the score in the model name table 62 is updated.
On the other hand, when the model name is not retrieved, it is registered as a new record in the model name table 62 (change processing procedure 2).

It is more effective for the search control device 2 to arrange the search results (vehicle list) in the order of model name scores when shaping the search results (vehicle list) in the HTML document format. In addition, in the above-mentioned change processing procedure 1, even a formal name may be treated in the same manner as an unofficial name.

In the second vehicle information retrieval processing,
Since the output mode can be controlled according to the score stored in the model name table 62, it is particularly effective when searching by group name.

(Vehicle Parts Information Retrieval Processing) Next, regarding the vehicle parts information retrieval processing in the vehicle information retrieval system 1 having the above-mentioned configuration, FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 5, FIG. 6, and FIG. It will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2E, the parts database 65 of the database 6 stores the manufacturer name, model, year, parts code, and parts part number as vehicle information.

In the search terminal device 3 as a WEB client, the searcher uses the search condition input screen 8 (see FIG. 5) that constitutes the car name input section 31 to search for a car name in the car name column as a search condition. While inputting the manufacturer name, clicking the vehicle part information search button, the search control device 2 as a server is instructed (requested) through the IP communication network 4. In this example, "Carola", which is the vehicle group name, is entered as the vehicle name, and the manufacturer name "Toyota" is entered (step S9 in FIG. 9).
1). Note that the manufacturer name may be displayed and a list may be selected.

WEB server 5 in search control device 2
Receives the vehicle information including the vehicle name transmitted from the search terminal device 3 in the WEB form through the IP communication network 4 as a vehicle information search request. When the WEB server 5 receives the vehicle information as the vehicle information search request, the WEB server 5 executes preprocessing for unifying the notational fluctuations. In this pre-processing, a character string list is created for each space character (□) of vehicle information (manufacturer's name and car name) as shown in FIG. Unify the shaking.

It should be noted that the search control device 2 and the search terminal device 3 transmit and receive vehicle information regarding a search request and a search result (response) through the IP communication network 4, but in the following description, the intervention of the IP communication network 4 is omitted. To do.

The manufacturer name table search unit 50 constituting the WEB server 5 uses the manufacturer name "Toyota" in the character string.
Is searched for in the manufacturer name table 63. If the maker name does not exist, the model name table search unit 51 uses the remaining character strings (car name “carola”)
The model name table 62 is searched without limiting the manufacturer. On the other hand, when the manufacturer name exists, the model name table search unit 51 displays the remaining character string (car name "carola").
With respect to, the model name table 62 is searched by limiting the manufacturer, that is, based on the manufacturer code. At the time of this search, the model name table search unit 51 appropriately executes fuzzy search or prefix match search (S92).

The WEB server 5 and the database 6
Means that various kinds of information are transmitted and received via the CGI interface unit 7, but the description of the intervention of the CGI interface unit 7 is omitted unless it is particularly limited.

The model name table search unit 51 sends a list of model names that match (hit) the car name "Carola" as a search result to the search terminal device 3 in the HTML document format (S93). FIG. 10 shows an example of a transmission HTML document format including the model names “Corolla”, “Corolla FX”, “Corolla Levin”, and “Corolla 2” obtained by this search.

The search terminal device 3 receives the list of model names as the search result in the HTML document format and displays it in the search result list display section 32. When the searcher selects (clicks) the desired model name based on this model name list, the vehicle selection unit 33 validates this selection (S94). The search terminal device 3 transmits the selected specific model name to the search control device 2 in the HTML document format.

The WEB server 5 of the search control device 2 searches the database 6 for a list of vehicle models corresponding to this specific model name and sends it to the search terminal device 3. For this purpose, the model name table search unit 51 uses the model name table 6
Search for 2 by the specific model name and list the vehicle types. The vehicle information database search unit 52 obtains other vehicle specification information corresponding to each model from the model database 64, supplements the document to be transmitted, and transmits it to the search terminal device 3 in the HTML document format (S95). The model names "E-FV1" and "E-FV" corresponding to the specific model name "Corolla" obtained by this search
FIG. 11 shows an example of a transmission HTML document format including "2" and "E-FV3".

When the model name corresponding to the car name cannot be retrieved from the model name table 62 in the above processing step S92, vehicle information corresponding to retrieval conditions other than the car name is extracted regardless of the model. Output. Further, when the maker name is specified in the processing step S92, the maker is limited and extracted. The vehicle name received by the search control device 2 is included in the output information of this processing result.

The search result list display section 32 of the search terminal device 3
Displays a model list (including other vehicle specification information) corresponding to the received model name "Corolla". When the searcher selects a specific model “E-FV2” based on the display of the model list, the vehicle selection unit 33 validates this selection. The search terminal device 3 transmits the URL 9 including the selected specific model to the search control device 2 (S96).

The search control device 2 receives the URL 9 including the specific model “E-FV2” selected by the search terminal device 3. The CGI interface unit 7 is based on the query “ccc.cgi” of this URL 9 and has a model of “E-FV”.
It is determined that it is "2" (S97).

The model name table updating section 53 associates the determined specific model "E-FV2" with the received vehicle name (model name) "Carola" and stores them in the model name table 62 as a new record for updating. . At this time, a flag “1” indicating that the data category is an unofficial name is set (S98).

The search control device 2 formats the search result (vehicle list) by the series of processes described above into an HTML document format and sends it to the search terminal device 3 (S99). After that, in the vehicle part information search, the searcher is made to input the narrowing-down conditions such as the year or the part of the vehicle from the search terminal device 3, and the WEB server 5 of the search control device 2 searches the database 6 under the input conditions. To do. As a result, the WEB server 5 transmits the vehicle part information obtained from the parts database 65 to the search terminal device 3. The searcher can specify a desired vehicle part based on the list of vehicle part information displayed on the search terminal device 3.

When the vehicle parts information retrieval service is provided only to experts such as automobile repair companies, it can be expected that the hit rate based on the official name is high. Therefore, only the official name is processed. May be. in this case,
In the above processing step S95, when only the official name is searched and the model name table 62 is not searched,
“Not applicable” is displayed on the search terminal device 3 so that the subsequent processing is not executed.

[Modification] In the vehicle information search system according to the above-described embodiment, each search unit 50, 51, 52 constituting the WEB server 5 performs not only a perfect match search but also an ambiguous search or a proper match search at the time of search. A prefix match search or the like may be executed.

[0072]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Even if the searcher does not know the vehicle model name well, it is possible to obtain a high search precision rate, that is, in the entire search result,
It is possible to obtain a result in which the searcher intends to have a high proportion of the data.

Further, according to the present invention, the vehicle identification in the vehicle information retrieval and the vehicle part information retrieval can be efficiently performed by the associated database structure.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle information search system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the database in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining vehicle information search processing.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining vehicle information search processing.

5 is a diagram showing a search condition input screen of the search terminal device in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining processing for unifying fluctuations in notation of character strings.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an HTML document as a search result.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of an HTML document as a search result.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining vehicle part information search processing.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an HTML document as a search result.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of an HTML document as a search result.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Vehicle information search system 2 Search control device 3 Search terminal device 4 IP communication network 5 WEB server 6 database 7 CGI interface section 31 Vehicle input section 32 Search result list display section 33 Vehicle selection section 34 Search condition input section 50 Manufacturer name table search section 51 Model name table search section 52 Vehicle Information Database Search Section 53 Model name table update section 61 Vehicle database 62 Model name table 63 Manufacturer name table 64 type database 65 parts database

Front page continuation (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 17/30-17/30 419 G06F 17/60 504

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] 1. Vehicle name input means for inputting a vehicle name as a search condition; Search condition input means for inputting a search condition other than the vehicle name; Vehicle information for storing vehicle information with a vehicle model as key information A database; a model name table that stores a model name of a vehicle and the vehicle model in association with each other ;; a model name is searched from the model name table based on the vehicle name input as a search condition;
Model name table search means for obtaining the vehicle type stored in association with each other ; the model name as a search result from the model name table
If the vehicle type of the corresponding is obtained, the vehicle information associated with the obtained the vehicle model retrieved from the vehicle information database, the model name from the model name table
If but can not find, the vehicle information database retrieval means and for retrieving the vehicle information that matches the search conditions other than the car name that is the input from the vehicle information database; search results list that lists the search results of the vehicle information database Display means; vehicle selection means that enables selection input of a specific vehicle based on the list display; model of the selected specific vehicle and the input vehicle name are registered in the model name table in association with each other And a vehicle name information retrieving device including: 2. A parts database in which vehicle parts information is stored in a searchable manner by using at least one of a maker name, a vehicle model, and an year model included in the vehicle information as key information; and the vehicle parts information from the parts database. The vehicle information search device according to claim 1 , further comprising: vehicle part information display means for searching and displaying the information in a selectable manner. 3. A vehicle information database for storing vehicle information using a vehicle type as key information, and a model name table for storing a vehicle model name and the vehicle type in association with each other; a vehicle name as a search condition. A second step of inputting a search condition other than the vehicle name; a second step of inputting a search condition other than the vehicle name; a model name search from the model name table based on the vehicle name input as a search condition Name and
A third step of obtaining the vehicle type stored in association therewith ; the model name as a search result from the model name table
If the vehicle type of the corresponding is obtained, the vehicle information associated with the obtained the vehicle model retrieved from the vehicle information database, the model name from the model name table
If but can not find, the fifth that lists the search results of the fourth step and ;; the vehicle information database to search for the vehicle information that matches the search conditions other than the car name that is the input from the vehicle information database A sixth step that enables selection input of a specific vehicle based on the list display; and a model of the selected specific vehicle and the input vehicle name are registered in the model name table in association with each other And a seventh step of: 4. A parts database storing vehicle parts information that can be searched using at least one of a maker name, a vehicle model, and an year model included in the vehicle information as key information, further comprising: a parts database from the parts database. The vehicle information retrieval method according to claim 3 , further comprising a step of retrieving information and displaying the information in a selectable manner. 5. Vehicle name input means for inputting a vehicle name as a search condition; Search condition input means for inputting a search condition other than the vehicle name; Vehicle information for storing vehicle information with a vehicle model as key information A database; a model name table that stores a model name of a vehicle and the vehicle model in association with each other ;; a model name is searched from the model name table based on the vehicle name input as a search condition;
Model name table search means for obtaining the vehicle type stored in association with each other ; the model name as a search result from the model name table
If the vehicle type of the corresponding is obtained, the vehicle information associated with the obtained the vehicle model retrieved from the vehicle information database, the model name from the model name table
If but can not find, the vehicle information database retrieval means and for retrieving the vehicle information that matches the search conditions other than the car name that is the input from the vehicle information database; search results list that lists the search results of the vehicle information database Display means; vehicle selection means that enables selection input of a specific vehicle based on the list display; model of the selected specific vehicle and the input vehicle name are registered in the model name table in association with each other A model name table updating means for providing the vehicle name input means, the search result list display means, the vehicle selecting means, and the search condition input means in a search terminal device; the vehicle information database, the model name table , The model name table searching means, the vehicle information database searching means, and the model name table updating means Vehicle information retrieval system provided in the search control device connected through the IP communication network to the search terminal device. 6. A parts database which is provided in the search control device and which stores vehicle part information such that at least one of a maker name, a vehicle model, and an year model included in the vehicle information can be searched as key information. The vehicle information search system according to claim 5 , further comprising: a vehicle part information display unit that is provided in a search terminal device, and that searches the vehicle part information from the parts database and displays it in a selectable manner. Wherein said search control unit is a WWW server computer, the search terminal device is a personal computer equipped with a WWW browser, and the IP communication network or claim 5 is the Internet
6. The vehicle information retrieval system described in 6 .