JP5401384B2 - Search device and search method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a search device and a search method for searching for information stored in a database, and more particularly to a search device and a search method for performing a narrow search by adding a new search condition to an existing search condition.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a search device that searches information stored in a database is known. A user performs a search by specifying a search condition in order to obtain information that meets the user's request. The search device presents information that satisfies the search condition specified by the user to the user. If there are too many search results, the user adds a new search condition with an AND condition, and conversely, if there are too few search results, the search condition combined with the AND condition is reduced. (Including the case where the original AND condition is changed to the OR condition), a desired amount of search results can be obtained by performing a repeated search.

  In order to make it easier to find information that meets the user's request from among a large number of information extracted as a result of the search, the user's characteristics and preferences are grasped, and the score that is highly consistent with the user's characteristics and preferences is high There is also known a search apparatus that displays search results in order from the information with the highest score (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  20A to 20C are examples of search screens in a conventional search device. 20A to 20C show examples of search screens for searching for a desired restaurant from a database storing restaurant information. The search device first presents a search screen as shown in FIG. 20A or 20B to the user. In the search screen of FIG. 20A, the user can input a genre, a place, a price, and a keyword as search conditions for a restaurant. In the example of FIG. 20A, “Chinese” is selected for the genre and “Shinjuku” is selected for the location. In the search screen of FIG. 20B, it is possible to first select which attribute is designated. When the user selects any one of “Choose genre”, “Choose place”, and “Choose price” on the search screen of FIG. 20B, corresponding specific attributes are presented to the user. For example, when “select genre” is selected, genres such as “Japanese food”, “French”, “Chinese”, “Italian”, etc. are presented as specific attributes corresponding thereto. The user can select any of these attributes as a search condition.

  FIG. 20C is a screen that presents a result of performing a search by specifying a search condition on the screen of FIG. 20A. In FIG. 20A, since “Chinese” is specified for the genre and “Shinjuku” is specified for the place, information satisfying these conditions is displayed on the screen of FIG. 20C. In the example of FIG. 20C, since 145 pieces of information match this search condition, these pieces of information are extracted from the database and displayed on the display screen.

  Here, since there are too many 145 search results, the user feels it troublesome to look at each one. Therefore, the search device is provided with a button for performing a narrow search on the search result display screen, thereby enabling the narrow search. The user can obtain a desired amount of search results by repeating the narrow search and gradually adding AND conditions.

JP 2008-226156 A

  While a user tries to obtain information that meets his / her request when searching, it may not be clear what attributes he / she has to satisfy. For example, in the above restaurant search example, the user wants to search for a restaurant in Shinjuku, but there is too much information in such a search condition, so there is no particular restriction on the genre. In order to reduce the amount of information, the genre may be designated as “Chinese”. That is, the user performs a search by specifying a search condition, and if the amount of information corresponding to the search condition is too large, the user performs a further refinement search and adds an AND condition. Only information that satisfies all the search conditions that are combined under conditions may not necessarily be information that the user desires.

  Nevertheless, in the conventional search device, as the user increases the search condition, the number of pieces of information corresponding to the search condition also decreases, so the information presented to the user also decreases. Therefore, if the user adds too many conditions as search conditions, there is no information that satisfies all of these conditions, and no search results can be obtained, or there is extremely little information that satisfies all of these conditions, and a sufficient amount The search results for could not be obtained.

  In such a case, the search condition newly added by the user becomes useless, and the user deletes a part of the existing search condition and adds another new search condition. It was necessary to perform another search under conditions and adjust the amount of search results. Moreover, as described above, such a search condition is not necessarily a search condition suitable for searching for information requested by the user.

  Such a problem occurs not only when searching for a restaurant but also when a user does not clearly specify a search target to be searched for, for example, searching for a product when shopping or searching for a website.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and realizes a search with a wide spread or a change in viewpoint without reflecting the user's intention without increasing the burden on the user. Provided is a search device and a search method.

  One aspect of the present invention is a search device that searches for an item from a database, and the search device includes a first search condition designated by a user and a search using the first search condition. , A search condition list storage unit for storing the second to nth search conditions specified in a stepwise manner for the narrow search together with the specified order, and the first to nth search Generated by the search expression generator that generates a refined search expression in which conditions are combined with an AND condition, and generates a relaxed search expression that excludes a part of the search condition from the AND condition, and the search expression generator A search execution unit that performs a refinement search using the refinement search expression and performs a relaxation search using the relaxation search expression generated by the search expression generation unit; and the refinement by the search execution unit Eyes extracted as a result of search And a result screen generation unit that generates a result screen that displays items extracted as a result of the relaxation search so that there is no duplication of items, and the search expression generation unit includes the (n-1) th search condition. Is excluded from the AND condition, and a search expression obtained by combining the nth search condition added last and the first to (n-2) th search conditions with the AND condition is generated as the relaxed search expression. .

  With this configuration, not only items that satisfy all the search conditions specified by the user in the refined search process, but also the search conditions specified by the user, even though the search conditions specified by the user are included by the relaxed search, completely match Since it is possible to present items that are not yet displayed and have not yet been presented in the process of the refinement search, it is possible to give the user a “notice” effect.

  In the above search device, the search expression generation unit excludes the (n−1) th to n−kth search conditions from the AND condition of the narrowed search expression, and adds the nth th A search expression obtained by combining a search condition and first to (n−k−1) th search conditions with an AND condition is generated as the relaxed search expression by incrementing k by 1 sequentially from 1.

  With this configuration, the search expression is gradually relaxed, and the user obtains from a search result relatively close to the search condition specified by the user to a search result relatively far from the search condition specified by the user. be able to.

  In the above search device, the search expression generation unit may calculate the relaxed search expression when the number of items extracted as a result of performing a narrow search using the narrow search expression is less than a predetermined minimum number. Generate.

  With this configuration, if there are not enough refinements (addition of search conditions) in the refined search, a large number of items that satisfy all the search conditions specified by the user are extracted, and the search using the relaxed search expression is not performed. While prompting the user to narrow down, if the user makes the narrowing conditions too strict, a relaxed search is automatically performed. Therefore, the user can add a search condition in the narrow search without being conscious of whether only the result of the narrow search is presented or whether the result of the relaxed search is also presented.

  In the above search device, the search expression generation unit increases the k by 1 sequentially from 1 until the number of items extracted as a result of the search by the relaxation search expression is equal to or greater than the minimum number, Generate a search expression.

  This configuration reduces the user's disappointment that the refinement search operation was wasted because at least the minimum number of items is displayed even when the user-specified refinement conditions are too strict. it can.

  In the above search device, the result screen generation unit separately displays the condition corresponding items extracted by the narrowed search and the suggested items extracted only by the relaxed search but not extracted by the narrowed search. Generate a result screen.

  With this configuration, the user can distinguish and recognize items satisfying all the search conditions specified by the user and items obtained by relaxing the search conditions after the search device reflects the user's intention.

  In the above search device, the result screen generation unit generates the result screen for displaying the condition applicable item and the proposed item together with attributes of each item. When the item displayed as the attribute of the proposed item is specified as a new search condition, the search condition list storage unit is configured so that the search condition not included in the proposed item for which the new search condition is specified The search expression generation unit generates a broad search expression that combines the new search condition and the search condition remaining in the search condition list storage unit with an AND condition, and the search execution unit includes: A search is performed using the spread search formula.

  With this configuration, it is possible to delete a part of the search conditions and perform a search with a new search formula without the user performing an operation for deleting the search conditions.

  In the search device according to the present invention, the result screen generation unit generates a result screen for displaying the item corresponding to the condition and the proposed item by scroll display, and the search device is for the user to perform a scroll operation of the scroll display. The scroll operation unit and the scroll operation unit that causes the operation unit to display the proposed item when the display is changed from the display of the condition corresponding item to the display of the proposed item by the scroll display. And a repulsive force generating unit for generating the repulsive force to be prevented.

  By this configuration, the limit by the search condition specified by the user is assumed to be a mountain or a wall, and the scroll operation unit is operated to overcome this mountain or break the wall and exceed the limit by the condition specified by the user. It is possible to give the user a feeling of displaying the search result.

  Another aspect of the present invention is a search method for searching for an item from a database. The search method includes a first search condition specified by a user and a search using the first search condition. A search condition list storage step for storing the second to nth search conditions specified in a stepwise manner for the refined search together with the specified order; and the first to nth search A refined search step for performing a refined search using a refined search expression obtained by combining conditions with an AND condition, and when the number of items extracted as a result of the refined search is less than a predetermined minimum number The number of items extracted as a result of the search using a relaxed search expression in which the nth search condition added at the end and the 1st to n−k−1th search conditions are combined with an AND condition. Is more than the minimum number The k is incremented one by one from 1 until the relaxation search step for performing the relaxation search, the condition corresponding item extracted by the narrowed search, and the relaxed search are extracted only, and the extracted by the narrowed search A display step for separately displaying the proposed items that have not been displayed.

  With this configuration, if there are few items that satisfy all of the search conditions specified by the user during the refined search process, the search conditions specified by the user are completely included in the relaxed search while including the search conditions specified by the user. Since the item that does not match the item and has not yet been presented in the process of the refinement search can be presented, the effect of “awareness” can be given to the user. In addition, since the search expression is gradually relaxed, the user can gradually obtain from a search result relatively close to the search condition designated by the user to a search result relatively distant from the search condition designated by the user. Can do. In addition, when there is not enough narrowing (addition of search conditions) in the narrow search, a large number of items that satisfy all the search conditions specified by the user are extracted, and the search using the relaxed search formula is not performed. When the user urges narrowing down and the user makes the narrowing down conditions too strict, a relaxed search is automatically performed. Further, the user can add search conditions in the narrowed search without being conscious of whether only the result of the narrowed search is presented or the result of the relaxed search is also presented. Furthermore, even when the narrowing-down conditions specified by the user are too strict, items of at least the minimum number of items are displayed, which can reduce the user's disappointment that the narrow-down search operation was useless.

  According to the present invention, not only items satisfying all the search conditions specified by the user in the process of the refined search, but also the search conditions specified by the user are completely included in the relaxed search while including the search conditions specified by the user. Items that do not match and that have not yet been presented in the refined search process can be presented without increasing the burden on the user and reflecting the user's intention. Search and a search with different viewpoints.

The block diagram which shows the structure of the search device in the 1st Embodiment of this invention The figure which shows the narrowing-down search formula in the case of designating the search condition 1 in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the narrowing-down search formula in the case of specifying the search conditions 1 and 2 in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the narrowing-down search formula in the case of specifying the search conditions 1-n in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. Venn diagram showing a set satisfying three search conditions in the first embodiment of the present invention Venn diagram showing the case where the first search condition is designated in the first embodiment of the present invention Venn diagram showing items to be presented when the second search condition is newly added in the first embodiment of the present invention Venn diagram showing items presented when the third search condition is newly added in the first embodiment of the present invention The figure which shows the relaxation search when the search conditions to exclude in the 1st Embodiment of this invention are one The figure which shows the relaxation search expression when the search conditions to exclude in embodiment of this invention are two The figure which shows the relaxation search formula when the search conditions to exclude in the 1st Embodiment of this invention are k pieces. The figure which shows the search result obtained when the relaxation search in the 1st Embodiment of this invention is performed The figure for demonstrating the result screen in the 1st Embodiment of this invention Venn diagram showing the relationship between a set of items that match each search condition and a set of items arranged in the condition corresponding area in the first embodiment of the present invention Venn diagram showing the relationship between a set of items that match each search condition and a set of items arranged in the first area in the first embodiment of the present invention Venn diagram showing the relationship between a set of items that match each search condition and a set of items arranged in the second area in the first embodiment of the present invention Venn diagram showing the relationship between a set of items that match each search condition and a subset of items arranged in the second area in the embodiment of the present invention The figure which shows the example of a display of the result screen of the search performed with the search condition 1 in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows a mode that an additional search condition is selected from the attribute of the item currently displayed on the result screen in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the example of a display of the result screen of the search performed with the search conditions 1 and 2 in the 1st Embodiment of this invention The figure which shows a mode that an additional search condition is selected from the attribute of the item currently displayed on the result screen in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the example of a display of a result screen at the time of searching by adding the search conditions 3 in the 1st Embodiment of this invention The figure which shows the example of a display of a result screen at the time of searching by adding the search conditions 3 in the 1st Embodiment of this invention Operation flow diagram of search device in first embodiment of the present invention Flow chart of relaxed search display process in the first embodiment of the present invention The figure which shows a mode that the operation of the breadth search in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention is performed. The figure which shows the search condition list in the case of performing the breadth search in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the result of having performed the breadth search in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention The block diagram which shows the structure of the search device in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. External view showing a configuration of a joystick in the third embodiment of the present invention The figure which shows the relationship between the screen frame in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention, and the display of a search result The figure which shows the relationship between the scroll direction and the direction of repulsion in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the relationship between the display of a search result, and the repulsion when scrolling from the condition applicable area in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention, and displaying a non-condition applicable area on a screen frame The figure which shows the relationship between the display of a search result, and a repulsive force when scroll-displaying from the condition non-corresponding area in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention, and displaying a condition applicable area on a screen frame FIG. 6 is an external view showing a configuration of a ball-type scroll operation unit according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows the result screen at the time of arrange | positioning the search result in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention to the vertical direction one-dimensionally The figure which shows the result screen at the time of arrange | positioning the search result in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention two-dimensionally (in planar shape) The figure which shows the example of the search screen at the time of searching a desired restaurant from the database which memorize | stored the information of the restaurant in the conventional search device The figure which shows the example of the search screen at the time of searching a desired restaurant from the database which memorize | stored the information of the restaurant in the conventional search device The figure which shows the screen which shows the result of having specified the search condition in the conventional search device, and having performed the search

  Hereinafter, a search device and a search method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a search device according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the search device 10 of the present embodiment is connected to a database 50. The search device 10 is a device that searches information stored in the database 50. Hereinafter, each piece of information stored in the database 50 is referred to as an “item”. Each item has a plurality of attributes, and a search is performed based on these attributes. For example, when restaurant information is stored in the database 50, information on one restaurant is an item, and the location, genre, price, etc. of the restaurant are attributes of the restaurant. In this specification, when an item has an attribute A, the item is also said to belong to a group A.

  The search device 10 designates a search condition, a search execution instruction, an input unit 11 for scrolling a screen, a search processing unit 12 for performing a search process, and a search condition. A display unit 13 for displaying a screen for displaying a search result and a screen for displaying a search result (result screen).

  The input unit 11 has a keyboard and a mouse (not shown). The user makes a desired input such as a search condition to the desired search processing unit 12 by using these in combination. The input unit 11 may be a touch panel that realizes keyboard and mouse functions by software.

  The search processing unit 12 includes a search condition list storage unit 121, a search expression generation unit 122, a search execution unit 123, and a result screen generation unit 124. The search condition list storage unit 121 stores the search conditions first input by the user using the input unit 11 and the search conditions added later in the specified order. The search formula generation unit 122 generates a search formula based on the user input obtained from the input unit 11, the search result by the search execution unit 123, and the order of the search conditions stored in the search condition list storage unit 121. The generated search expression is passed to the search execution unit 123. The search execution unit 123 searches the information from the database 50 using the search formula given from the search formula generation unit 122 and outputs the result to the result screen generation unit 124. The result screen generation unit 124 arranges items included in the search result obtained from the search execution unit 123 by a predetermined method, generates a result screen, and outputs the result screen to the display unit 13. The display unit 13 is a monitor that displays the result screen obtained from the result screen generation unit 124.

In the present embodiment, the user performs a search by specifying a search condition, and when the number of items extracted as a result of the search is large, a new search condition is added using an AND condition and the search is performed again. (Hereinafter, a step-by-step search in which search conditions are added by AND conditions in this way is referred to as “narrow search”). When the number of items extracted as a result of the refinement search is greater than a predetermined number C _min (hereinafter referred to as “minimum number”), the search device 10 matches all search conditions specified by the user. To the user as a search result. When the user adds search conditions and the number of items extracted as a result falls below the minimum number C _min , the search device 10 includes items that match all the search conditions specified by the user, An item (hereinafter referred to as “suggested item”) that does not completely match the condition specified by the user but is related to the condition specified by the user (hereinafter referred to as “proposed item”) is presented to the user.

The above-mentioned minimum number C _min is the number of items to be proposed when the number of items that match the search condition falls below in the process of the refined search. It is a parameter that indicates the degree of emphasizing the search condition designated by the user. That is, as the minimum number C _min increases, the proposed item is presented more actively, and as the minimum number C _min decreases, a search result that emphasizes the search condition specified by the user is presented.

When the minimum number C _{min is set} to zero, no proposed item is presented. On the other hand, when the minimum number C _min is set to a value equal to or greater than the total number of items stored in the database, the proposed item is always presented. The minimum number C _min may be set as a fixed value in the search device 10 or may be changed by the user in the search device 10. In particular, when the user is not familiar with the search target, or when the user's desired conditions are not clearly defined, if the minimum number C _min is increased and the proposed item is actively presented, The search results are obtained from a point of view that is not noticed and is effective.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a narrowing search formula. FIG. 2A shows a case where the search is performed by specifying the search condition 1 which is the first search condition. FIG. 2B shows the search condition 2 as the second search condition in addition to the search of FIG. 2A. FIG. 2C shows a case where the search condition is repeatedly added until the nth search condition n is added. In a narrow search, when a new search condition is added to an existing search condition, the new search condition is added to the existing search condition with an AND condition.

  In the present invention, one “search condition” refers to a condition specified or added to one search, and is not limited to one specifying one condition. When conditions are specified using conditions such as AND, OR, NOT, etc. for one search, the specified conditions are collectively referred to as one search condition. For example, when searching for a restaurant, a condition of “price = 2000 yen or more and price = less than 3000 yen” is specified in the initial search, or a search is performed by adding the above conditions in a subsequent refinement search. This “price = 2000 yen or more and price = less than 3000 yen” is one search condition. Further, when a search is performed by specifying or adding a condition “place = Shibuya or place = Shinjuku”, this “place = Shibuya or place = Shinjuku” is one search condition. Similarly, when a search is performed by specifying or adding a condition “place = Shibuya and genre = Chinese”, this “place = Shibuya and genre = Chinese” is one search condition. In the case of performing a search by specifying or adding the condition “2000 yen or more”, of course, “2000 yen or more” is one search condition. However, in the present embodiment, in order to simplify the description, it is assumed that each search condition is a condition that designates only one condition.

The search device 10 according to the present embodiment performs a narrowed search as described above, and presents a proposed item when the number of items in the search result is less than the minimum number C _min. Assumes the following user psychology:
(1) The user designates or adds important search conditions that do not want to be compromised first.
(2) The user is paying attention to the newly added search condition as a new starting point.
(3) When there is no item extracted as a result of the search or the number of cases is extremely small, the search operation is wasted if the display of “Not applicable” or the display of an extremely small number of cases is displayed. I felt that it was.
(4) The user wishes to present the proposed item when there are no items extracted as a result of the search or the number of items is extremely small, but the item that has already been presented in the process of the refined search I feel that I do not want to present the same item again.

  The search device 10 performs a search based on user psychology (1) to (4) and presents a suggested item. In other words, the user psychology (1) to (4) can be satisfied by the proposal item being presented by the search device 10 of the present embodiment. For this purpose, the search processing unit 12 of the search device 10 has a configuration described below.

When the user inputs a search condition via the input unit 11, the search condition list storage unit 121 stores the search condition. In the search condition list storage unit 121, the first search condition (search condition 1) specified first and the second search condition added in the course of the narrow search after searching with the search condition 1 are added. The n th to n th search conditions (search condition 2 to search condition n) are stored together with the information of the order. The search expression generation unit 122 performs an AND condition on all the search conditions added step by step from the user and stored in the search condition list storage unit 121 until the search result by the search execution unit 123 falls below the minimum number C _min. The search expression combined in step (hereinafter referred to as “restricted search expression”) is generated and output to the search execution unit 123. The search execution unit 123 searches the database 50 using the refined search formula given from the search formula generation unit 122 to obtain a search result.

The search execution unit 123 checks whether or not the number of items extracted as a result of the refinement search is less than the minimum number C _min , and if the number of extracted items is the minimum number C _min or more, The extracted item is output to the result screen generation unit 124. When the number of extracted items is less than the minimum number C _min , the search execution unit 123 outputs the extracted items to the result screen generation unit 124 and the search formula generation unit 122 with the search condition Request a relaxed search expression (hereinafter referred to as “relaxed search expression”).

In response to a request from the search execution unit 123, the search expression generation unit 122 generates a relaxation search expression and outputs it to the search execution unit 123. Upon receiving the relaxed search expression, the search execution unit 123 searches the database 50 again using this (hereinafter, this search is referred to as “relaxed search”), obtains a search result, and sends it to the result screen generation unit 124. Output. And the search execution part 123 confirms whether the number of the items in the result of a relaxation search is less than the minimum number _Cmin . When the number of items in the result of the relaxed search is still below the minimum number C _min , the search execution unit 123 requests the relaxed search expression with the search conditions further relaxed from the search expression generation unit 122 again. . In this way, the search execution unit 123 repeats the relaxation search until the number of items in the search result becomes _{equal to} or greater than Cmin.

  The search expression generation unit 122 generates a relaxed search expression as follows based on the user psychology (1) to (4). 3A to 3D are Venn diagrams for explaining the concept of relaxed search expression generation. When there are three search conditions in the narrow-down search and there are three sets that satisfy the search conditions, the relationship between these sets is usually expressed mathematically as shown in FIG. 3A. In the Venn diagram of FIG. 3A, there are a set of items satisfying all three search conditions, a set of items satisfying any two of them, and a set of items satisfying any one of them. A set of items satisfying all the search conditions is expressed as a portion where three circles overlap. Of course, the user is interested in a set of items that satisfy all the conditional expressions in the item search.

  In the present embodiment, the proposed item is presented in consideration of the circumstances in which the three circles in the Venn diagram of FIG. FIG. 3B shows a case where search condition 1 which is the first search condition is designated. In this case, a set A of items satisfying the search condition 1 is obtained. Naturally, the user is interested in the set A of items satisfying the search condition 1 that is focused on at that time.

  FIG. 3C shows a case where search condition 2 as the second search condition is newly added. In this case, a set C of items satisfying the search conditions 1 and 2 is obtained. At this point, the user is interested in the item set C that satisfies both the search condition 1 and the search condition 2. If there is no item that satisfies the user in the set C, the user does not correspond to the newly added search condition 2, and even if the past search condition 1 is discarded rather than the set B that satisfies the search condition 1. It is considered that attention is paid to the set D in which the search condition 2 is selected. This is because, at this stage, the user is interested in the newly specified search condition 2 and wants to compare whether or not the set D of items obtained as a result of discarding the past search condition 1 is valuable. On the other hand, the items in the set B do not satisfy the new search condition 2 being noticed, and moreover, they have already appeared in the set A in FIG. 3A. For this time-series reason in the narrowing search, it can be said that the set B is not worth presenting to the user when the search of FIG. 3C is performed. Therefore, at this stage, it is appropriate to present the set D as a proposal item.

  FIG. 3D shows a case where search condition 3 is further added. The user is most interested in the items in the set F that satisfy all three search conditions. The user is further considered to be interested in the sets E and G to which items satisfying the search condition 3 which is the search condition of interest at this time and partially satisfying the previous condition. Next, it is considered that the set H to which the item satisfying the attention condition but to which the user has to make a considerable compromise belongs is also interested. The set H is a set of items obtained when the search condition 3 of interest is selected until the user has compromised all the search conditions 1 and 2 which are existing search conditions that the user has as a fixed concept. That's why. Conversely, the sets H, I, and J to which items that do not satisfy the condition of interest already belong to the set A in FIG. 3B and the set B in FIG. 3C, and these sets are presented to the user. It can be said that it is not worthy. Therefore, at this stage, it is appropriate to present the sets E, G, and H as suggested items.

  Thus, in this embodiment, adopting the concept of giving priority to newly added search conditions and the concept of not presenting items that have already been considered in consideration of the time series of search as proposed items, A set surrounded by a thick line in FIGS. 3B, 3C, and 3D is presented to the user as a search result. Hereinafter, a specific method for generating a relaxation search formula for this purpose will be described.

4A to 4C are diagrams showing relaxation search expressions. FIG. 4A shows a relaxed search formula when the number of items that match all the search conditions specified by the user falls below the minimum number C _min . The search expression generation unit 122 excludes the search condition n-1 added immediately before the search condition n last added by the user from the AND condition, and sets the search condition n and the search condition 1 to the search condition n-. A relaxed search expression in which 2 are combined with an AND condition is generated.

  Thus, instead of excluding the search condition n added last from the AND condition, the search condition n-1 added immediately before is excluded from the AND condition. ) And (3) are taken into consideration. That is, the search condition n added last by the user is a search condition that the user is newly paying attention at that time. If a search result that ignores the search condition n is output, the user seems to have been denied his / her selection. I feel it. In addition, since the search by the search expression excluding the search condition n added at the end from the AND condition has already been performed in the process of the narrow search, when the search result is presented again, the user I feel that the operation of adding n was useless.

  In addition, as a search condition to be excluded, for example, the search condition n-1 added immediately before the search condition n added last is selected instead of the search condition 1 specified first. 1) is taken into consideration. In other words, the search condition on the search condition list, that is, the search condition added earlier in the narrowed search is the search condition that the user considers to be more important. Therefore, among the search conditions excluding the search condition n added last, the search condition added last, that is, the search condition n-1, is sequentially excluded from the AND condition.

FIG. 4B shows a relaxed search expression that is generated when the number of extracted items is still below the minimum number C _min as a result of performing a search with the search condition n-1 excluded from the AND condition. . In FIG. 4B, in addition to the search condition n-1, the search condition n-2 added immediately before is also excluded from the AND condition, and the search condition n and the search conditions 1 to n-3 are ANDed. A relaxed search expression combined with conditions is generated.

As described above, when the number of items that match all the search conditions specified by the user falls below the minimum number C _min , the search condition n-1 immediately before the search condition n added last is sequentially applied. The relaxation search is performed while excluding the search condition added most recently except for the search condition n one by one, and this relaxation search is repeated until the number of items in the search result becomes equal to or greater than C _min .

  FIG. 4C shows a generalized relaxation search expression. FIG. 4C shows a relaxed search formula when the number of search conditions to be excluded is increased by one and the k search conditions are excluded. As shown in FIG. 4C, when k search conditions are excluded, the search condition n and the search condition n−k to the search condition n−1 out of the search condition 1 to the search condition n are excluded. A relaxed search expression is generated by combining the conditions 1 to 1 with the AND condition.

As described above, the search execution unit 123 increases the search condition to be excluded one by one (increase k by one) until the number of items obtained as a result of the relaxed search becomes the minimum number C _min or more. ) Repeat the relaxation search. FIG. 5A is a diagram showing search results obtained when a relaxed search is performed while increasing the search conditions to be excluded one by one. The smallest set G _{k = 0} is a set of items extracted as search results when all search conditions specified by the user are specified by AND conditions (when k = 0), that is, all searches specified by the user A set of items that satisfy a condition. The set G _{k = 1} is a set of items extracted as search results when one search condition is excluded (when k = 1), and the set G _{k = 2} excludes two search conditions This is a set of items extracted as a search result in the case of (when k = 2). When the number of search result items is equal to or greater than the minimum number C _min (hereinafter, the number of search conditions excluded at this time is m), the search execution unit 123 ends the relaxed search.

When the set G _{k = 0} , G _{k = 1} ,... Is input from the search execution unit 123, the result screen generation unit 124 receives the set G _{k = 0} , G _{k = 1} , Generate a result screen using. As apparent from FIG. 5A, the set _{G k = 0} is included in the set _{G k = 1,} the set _{G k = 1} are included in the set _{G k = 2,} the set _{G k = m-1} is It is included in the set G _{k = m} . That is, the set G _{k = 1} includes items that overlap with the set G _{k = 0} , and the set G _{k = 2} includes items that overlap with the set G _{k = 1.} In the set G _{k = m} , items overlapping with the set G _{k = m−1} are included. Therefore, when items included in G _{k = 0} , G _{k = 1} , G _{k = 2} ,... G _{k = m} are displayed in order as they are, some items are displayed redundantly. Therefore, the result screen generation unit 124 sets G _{k = 0} , G _{k = 1} , G _{k = 2} ,... G _{k of} a plurality of search results obtained by performing the relaxation search while increasing the search conditions to be excluded. _{= M} , duplicate items are presented to the user as search results when searching in a situation where the search conditions to be excluded are the fewest.

  FIG. 5B is a diagram for explaining a result screen generated by the result screen generation unit 124. In the result screen, an area for displaying an item extracted as a search result is divided into a condition applicable area and a condition non-applicable area. In the condition corresponding area, items that match all the search conditions specified by the user are displayed. Proposed items are displayed in the condition non-applicable area.

Here, as described above, the if condition unmatched area, all of the items included in the set G _{k = 1,} all of the items included in the set G _{k = 2,} all included in the ...... set G _{k = m} When the item is displayed, some items are displayed in duplicate. Therefore, the result screen generation unit 124 generates a result screen using the set G _{k = 0} , the set G _{k = 1} , the set G _{k = 2} ,..., The set G _{k = m} as follows.

なお、第０エリア（ｋ＝０）は、条件該当エリアである。 First, all items included in G _{k = 0} are arranged in the condition corresponding area. Next, a first area is set at a position closest to the condition applicable area in the condition non-applicable area, and the first area is included in the set G _{k = 1} , but is not included in the set G _{k = 0.} Items included in the difference set D _{k = 1} of no items are arranged. Similarly, in the condition non-corresponding area, the second area, the third area,... The m-th area are provided in the direction away from the condition corresponding area, and the difference sets D _{k = 2} and D _{k = 3} are provided in each area. ... Place items included in D _{k = m} . In general, the difference set D _{k of} items arranged in the k-th area is expressed as follows using the set G.

The 0th area (k = 0) is a condition corresponding area.

6A to 6C are Venn diagrams showing the relationship between a set of items that match each search condition and a set of items arranged in each area of the result screen. 6A to 6C show cases where n = 3 and m = 2. As illustrated in FIG. 6A, the difference set D _{k = 0} is a set of items that satisfy all of the search conditions 1 to 3. As shown in FIG. 6B, the difference set D _{k = 1} is a set obtained by subtracting a set of items satisfying all of the search conditions 1 to 3 from a set of items satisfying the search conditions 1 and 3. As shown in FIG. 6C, the difference set D _{k = 2} is a set obtained by subtracting a set of items satisfying the search condition 1 from a set of items satisfying the search condition 3.

The difference sets D _{k = 2 to} D _{k = m} displayed in the second area to the m-th area, respectively, may include items that satisfy the search condition excluded from the AND condition in the relaxed search expression. Referring to FIG. 6C, the difference set D _{k = 2} includes those satisfying the search condition 2. FIG. 6D is a diagram illustrating a subset D _{k = 2 (1)} that satisfies the search condition 2 and a subset D _{k = 2 (2)} that does not satisfy the search condition ₂ in the difference set D _{k = 2} .

The result screen generation unit 124 divides the subset D _{k = 2 (1)} and the subset D _{k = 2 (2)} , and satisfies the search condition 2 excluded from the AND condition D _{k = 2 ( 1)} is arranged closer to the first area than the subset D _{k = 2 (2)} that does not satisfy the search condition 2.

When k = 3, there may be an item that satisfies the search condition n-1, the search condition n-2, or both in the difference set D _{k = 3. In} this case, A subset D _{k = 3 (1)} that satisfies both is placed closest to the second area, and then a subset D _{k =} that satisfies either the search condition n−1 or the search condition n−2. _{3 (2)} and D _{k = 3 (3)} are arranged, and a subset D _{k = 3 (4)} that satisfies neither the search condition n-1 nor the search condition n-2 is arranged at the farthest position from the second area. To do.

In general, there may be an item that satisfies any of the search conditions n-1 to n-k + 1 in the search condition list in the difference set _Dk . In this case, in this case, the search condition A subset D _{k (1)} that satisfies all of n−1 to search condition n−k + 1 is arranged close to the upper area, and then, search condition n−1 to search condition n− in the search condition list Subsets D _{k (2)} , D _{k (3)} ,... D _{k (k−1)} satisfying the k−2 search conditions of k + 1 are arranged, and the search is performed at the closest location to the lower area. A set that does not satisfy any of the conditions n−1 to n−k + 1 is arranged. In this way, in each area, the one that includes more search conditions that have been specified or added by the user can be arranged at a position closer to the upper area.

7A to 7F are diagrams illustrating display examples of the result screen. With reference to FIGS. 7A to 7F, a display example in the narrowing search, a narrowing operation method, and a display example of the proposed item when the relaxation search is performed will be described. Here, in the description of FIGS. 7A to 7F, the minimum number of cases C _min = 50.

FIG. 7A shows a display example of the result of the search performed under the search condition 1 first designated by the user. In this example, the user has specified a condition that the search condition 1 has the attribute A (belongs to the group A). As a result, as shown in FIG. 7A, all items of group A having attribute A are extracted and placed in the condition corresponding area. As specific contents of each displayed item, a group to which the item belongs (attributes that the item has) is displayed. In the example of FIG. 7A, the number of items obtained when a search is performed under the search condition 1 is 124, which is larger than the minimum number C _min = 50. Not.

  When there are too many items belonging to the group A shown in FIG. 7A, that is, items satisfying the search condition specified by the user, the user performs the search by adding the search condition 2 using the AND condition. At this time, the search condition 2 to be added by the AND condition can be selected from the attributes of the displayed item, that is, the group to which it belongs.

  FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating a state in which additional search conditions are selected from the displayed item attributes. In FIG. 7B, for item 4, for example, in addition to group A, groups B, F, H, and K are displayed. The user selects and designates, for example, group B as an attribute to be added next as a search condition from these attributes. Specifically, when the input unit 11 includes a mouse, the pointer is clicked with the group B, and when the input unit 11 is configured with a touch panel, the group B is touched. Note that the user can specify attributes that are not included in the displayed item in a normal specification box (not shown).

FIG. 7C shows a display example of a result screen obtained as a result of adding the attribute B as a search condition. In this case, items satisfying the search condition 1 (belonging to group A) and the search condition 2 (belonging to group B) are displayed in the condition corresponding area. The number of items displayed in the area corresponding to the condition is smaller than the number of items when the search is performed only with the search condition 1 in FIG. 7A. However, since the number of items (83) extracted by this narrowing search still does not fall below the minimum number C _min = 50, the condition non-corresponding area is not included in the result screen.

FIG. 7D is a diagram illustrating a manner in which a search condition is added by selecting an attribute included in any of the displayed items in the same manner as FIG. 7B. In the example of FIG. 7D, the attribute F included in the item 1 is added as the search condition 3. FIG. 7E and FIG. 7F show display examples of a result screen when a search is performed with search condition 3 added. When a refinement search is performed with search condition 3 added, items that satisfy all of search conditions 1 to 3 are searched. However, the number of such items is only 7, and the minimum number C _min is less than 50. become. Therefore, a relaxation search is performed, and the proposed item is displayed in the condition non-applicable area.

  In order to display the proposed item, the search execution unit 123 first performs a relaxation search with k = 1, and the resulting item is output to the result screen generation unit 124. FIG. 7E is an example of the result screen generated by the result screen generation unit 124 at this time. Items obtained by the refinement search to which the search condition 3 is added are arranged in the condition corresponding area (0th area). In the first area of the condition non-applicable area, items other than the items displayed in the condition applicable area (the 0th area) among the items obtained by the relaxation search performed with k = 1 are displayed.

As described above, the search execution unit 123 outputs the result of the relaxation search of k = 1 to the result screen generation unit 124, while confirming the number of the extracted items. In this example, the number of items obtained as a result of the relaxation search with k = 1 is 28, which is still below the minimum number C _min = 50, so the relaxation search is performed with k = 2.

FIG. 7F is an example of a result screen generated by the result screen generation unit 124 at this time. In this example, the number of items obtained as a result of the relaxation search with k = 2 is 56, and the minimum number C _min = 50 or more, so the relaxation search ends with this k = 2. In order to display the result of the relaxation search of k = 2, the second area is set as the condition non-applicable area. In the second area, items obtained by excluding items displayed in the condition corresponding area (0th area) or the condition non-corresponding area among the items obtained by the relaxation search performed with k = 2 are included. Is displayed.

In general, the search execution unit 123 performs a relaxed search until the number of items extracted by the relaxed search is equal to or greater than the minimum number C _min (in this case, k = m), and the extracted item is the result each time. Output to the screen generator 124. Then, in the m-th area, among the items obtained by the relaxation search performed as k = m, any of the condition corresponding area (0th area) and the condition non-corresponding area from the first area to the m−1 area Items other than the displayed item will be displayed.

  The operation of the search device 10 configured as described above will be described. FIG. 8 is an operation flowchart of the search device 10. First, the search device 10 receives a search condition from the user via the input unit 11, and adds this search condition to the search condition list (step S71). When the search condition is added to the search condition list, the number n of search conditions stored in the search condition list storage unit 121 is incremented (step S72). Note that the initial value of n is 0. Therefore, when the user first specifies the search condition, n = 1 is set in step S72. Next, it is determined whether or not n = 1, that is, whether or not the user has not yet added a search condition and only the first specified search condition (step S73).

If n = 1 (YES in step S73), search expression generation unit 122 generates a search expression using the search conditions at that time, and search execution unit 123 performs a search using the search expression and generates a result screen. The unit 124 generates a screen for displaying the search result in the search execution unit 123 (step S74). On the other hand, when n = 1 is not satisfied in step S73, that is, when the user has already added a search condition for narrowing search (NO in step S73), the search expression generation unit 122 sets k = 0 ( (Initial value) is generated (that is, a search expression in which all search conditions in the search condition list are combined with an AND condition is generated), and the search execution unit 123 performs a search using the search expression, and the search A set G _{k = 0} of items obtained as a result of is obtained (step S75).

Next, the number _{C k} of items extracted result of a search to determine whether below the minimum number _{C min} (step S76). If C _k <C _min (YES in step S76), the value of k is incremented (step S77). Next, it is determined whether or not k <n, that is, whether or not the relaxation search has been performed to the maximum (step S78). If the relaxed search has not been performed to the maximum (YES in step S78), the process proceeds to a relaxed search process (step S79) in which the relaxed search is performed and the result is displayed.

When relaxed Serving process ends, the process returns to step S76, the number C _k of the result extracted items relaxation search to determine whether below the minimum number C _min. The loop from step S76 to step S79 is repeated. When C _k ≧ C _min is satisfied in step S76 (NO in step S76), k is reset to 0 (step S80), and the process returns to step S71. Wait for input. If k = n in step S78, that is, if the relaxation search is performed to the maximum (NO in step S78), k is reset to 0 (step S80), and the process returns to step S71. Return and wait for user input.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the relaxed search display process. In the relaxed search display process, first, the search expression generation unit 122 ANDs the first to n−k−1th and nth search conditions among the n search conditions in the search condition list. A relaxation search expression combined under conditions is generated (step S81). Next, the search execution section 123 performs a search in its relaxed search expression, obtain a set _{G k} of items (step S82). Then, when the search execution unit 123 outputs the set G _k as a search result to the result screen generation unit 124, the result screen generation unit 124 obtains the difference set D _k using the above equation (1), and the difference A result screen for displaying items belonging to the set _Dk is generated and output to the display unit 13 (step S83). The display unit 13 displays the result screen (step S84).

  According to the search device 10 of the first embodiment, when there are few items that satisfy all of the search conditions specified by the user in the process of the narrow search, the search conditions specified by the user are included by the relaxed search. Since an item that does not completely match the search condition designated by the user and that has not yet been presented in the process of the refined search can be presented, the effect of “awareness” can be given to the user. In addition, since the search expression is gradually relaxed, the user can gradually obtain from a search result relatively close to the search condition designated by the user to a search result relatively distant from the search condition designated by the user. Can do.

  In addition, when there is not enough narrowing (addition of search conditions) in the narrow search, a large number of items that satisfy all the search conditions specified by the user are extracted, and the search using the relaxed search formula is not performed. When the user urges narrowing down and the user makes the narrowing down conditions too strict, a relaxed search is automatically performed. Further, the user can add search conditions in the narrowed search without being conscious of whether only the result of the narrowed search is presented or the result of the relaxed search is also presented. Furthermore, even when the narrowing-down conditions specified by the user are too strict, items of at least the minimum number of items are displayed, which can reduce the user's disappointment that the narrow-down search operation was useless.

In the above embodiment, the search execution unit 123 performs a relaxed search while increasing k by 1 until the number of items extracted by the relaxed search is _{equal to} or greater than the minimum number C _min , and the result screen generating unit 124. Finds the difference sets _{Dk = 1} to _{Dk = m} using the set Gk _{= 0} , _{Gk = 1} ,... Gk _{= m,} and displays a search screen including the condition applicable area and the condition non-applicable area. However, the relaxation search may be performed while increasing k in accordance with the user's operation.

For example, in the case where the search result is scrolled and displayed, the search execution unit 123 sets k = 1 to perform a relaxed search when all the area corresponding to the condition is displayed by the scroll operation and further the scroll operation is performed to see the continuation. The result screen generation unit 124 obtains the difference set D _{k = 1} to be displayed in the first area of the condition non-applicable area and generates a display screen to be displayed in the first area. When a scroll operation is performed to display the continuation, the search execution unit 123 performs a relaxation search with k = 2, and the result screen generation unit 124 obtains a difference set D _{k = 1} in the second area. The proposed item may be presented step by step, such as generating a display screen to be displayed in the second area.

Further, the search execution unit 123 first performs a relaxation search while increasing k by 1 until the number of items extracted by the relaxation search is equal to or greater than the minimum number C _min, and sets G _{k = 0} , G _{k = 1} ,... G _{k = m} is obtained, and the result screen generation unit 124 obtains the difference sets D _{k = 1 to} D _{k = m} step by step according to the user's operation, and the difference sets are obtained as described above. The result screen may be generated so as to be displayed step by step by such a user operation.

  In the above embodiment, when the number of items extracted as a result of the refinement search is less than the minimum number, the search device 10 does not completely match the condition specified by the user but satisfies the condition specified by the user. Although related items (suggested items) have been presented, the proposed items may always be presented by performing a refined search regardless of the number of search results in the refined search.

In the above embodiment, when the number of items extracted as a result of the narrowing search is less than the minimum number, the search device 10 performs a relaxed search by increasing k by 1, and is extracted as a result of the relaxed search. When the number of items reaches the minimum number C _min or more, the relaxed search is terminated. However, if the number of items extracted as a result of the refined search is less than the minimum number, the relaxed search is performed. Regardless of the number of cases, the relaxation search may be performed while gradually increasing k from 1 to a predetermined fixed value (including the maximum value).

  In the above embodiment, the condition screen and the condition non-corresponding area are provided on the result screen, and the items satisfying all the search conditions specified by the user (condition matching items) and the proposed items are clearly displayed separately. However, it is not necessary to clarify the boundary between the condition applicable item and the proposed item.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the search device 20 according to the present embodiment, a configuration and operation for performing a refined search when a refined search is performed and the number of items extracted as a result of the refined search is less than the minimum number C _min is as follows. This is the same as the embodiment. The search device according to the present embodiment performs a spread search using the presented suggested items.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which the spread search operation of the present embodiment is performed on the result screen of FIG. 7F displayed in the same manner as in the first embodiment. As described in the first embodiment, with respect to the search screen of FIG. 7F, the user clicks or touches an attribute (group to which each item belongs) of each item displayed on the search screen, New search conditions for refined search can be added.

  In the present embodiment, when the user clicks or touches a new attribute included in a certain item, particularly in an area not applicable to the condition, the search expression generation unit 122 generates a search expression for a new spread search. In the example of FIG. 10, the user designates the group M included in the item 29 displayed in the condition non-applicable area. Then, the search condition list storage unit 121 is included in the search condition of the specified new group M and the item 29 and is included in the search condition list at that time (that is, specified or added in the past). Group F and group B search conditions are left, and the search conditions for group A, which are search conditions that are listed in the current search condition list but are not included in item 29, are deleted from the search condition list. To do. The search expression generation unit 122 combines a search condition for the designated new group M with the search condition for the remaining group F and the search condition for the group B using an AND condition (hereinafter, “broad search”). Is generated and passed to the search execution unit 123.

Thereafter, the search execution unit 123 performs a search in the same manner as in the first embodiment by using a search formula, and the search is relaxed when the number of items extracted as a result of the search is less than the minimum number C _min. Search and display search results.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a spread search formula. As shown in FIG. 11, when items are presented separately in a condition applicable area and a condition non-applicable area as a result of the relaxation search, if a new search condition is specified in the condition non-applicable area, the specified condition is specified. Among the search conditions (search condition 4) and the search conditions (search conditions 1 to 3) stored in the search condition list storage unit 121, the search condition (search condition) included in the item including the newly specified search condition 2 and 3) are left, and the search condition (search condition 1) not included in the item is deleted from the search condition list. The search expression generation unit 14 generates a spread search expression based on the search condition list, and the search execution unit 123 performs a search using the search expression.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a result of a search performed using the spread search formula of FIG. The condition corresponding area includes a group (group M) corresponding to the newly specified search condition (search condition 4) and an item (item 29) including the newly added search condition, and Items belonging to the groups (groups B and F) corresponding to the search conditions (search conditions 2 and 3) listed in the search condition list are displayed. Since the number of items extracted as a result of the search by the spread search formula is less than the minimum number, items included in the difference sets D _{k = 1} and D _{k = 2} are also displayed on the result screen in the condition non-applicable area. It is displayed.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the user does not have to manually correct the search condition list himself and delete some search conditions or add new search conditions. Also, a part of the search conditions can be deleted from the search condition list to perform a search from a new viewpoint.

  In the example of FIG. 10, the group M is also displayed as the item 7 and the item 9, and when the user pays attention to the group M, the group M included in these items is specified as a new search condition. You can also However, when the group M of the item 7 is designated, since the item 7 is displayed in the condition applicable area, a normal narrowing search is performed, and the result screen showing the result displays the group in the condition applicable area. Items included in any of A, B, F, and M are displayed.

  On the other hand, when the group M of the item 9 is designated, since the item 9 is displayed in the condition non-corresponding area, the search condition not included in the item 9 is deleted from the search condition list. In the example of FIG. 10, since the item 9 does not include the group B, the search condition 2 is deleted from the search condition list, and in the broad search, the broad search formula in which the search conditions 1, 3, and 4 are combined with the AND condition. Is generated.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the search device according to the third embodiment. The search device 20 of the third embodiment includes a repulsive force generator 14 in addition to the configuration of the search device 10 of the first embodiment. The input unit 11 includes a joystick in addition to the keyboard and the mouse. The joystick is provided with a repulsive force applying mechanism for applying a repulsive force to the tilting operation, and the repulsive force generating unit 14 generates a control signal for applying a repulsive force to the repulsive force applying mechanism of the joystick. Control the grant mechanism. The joystick functions as a scroll operation unit used to scroll and display the result screen.

  FIG. 14 is an external view showing the configuration of the joystick. As described with reference to FIG. 5B and the like, when the extracted items are displayed one-dimensionally in the horizontal direction on the result screen, the user scrolls the screen by tilting the joystick 111 left and right. be able to.

  FIG. 15A is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a screen frame and search result display. In the example of FIG. 15A, search results closer to the search conditions specified by the user are arranged on the left. When the user tilts the joystick 111 to the left, the search result moves to the left (relatively the screen frame FR moves to the right), and when the user tilts the joystick 111 to the right, the search result moves to the right ( The screen frame FR relatively moves to the left). A reference line RL is set near the center of the screen frame FR.

  FIG. 15B is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a scroll direction and a repulsive force direction. When the user tilts the joystick 111 to the left to move the search result to the left and the boundary between the condition applicable area and the condition non-applicable area reaches the reference line RL of the screen frame FR, the repulsive force generation unit 14 On the other hand, the direction in which the condition non-corresponding area prevents the operation of the joystick 111 for moving to the left beyond the reference line RL, that is, the reference line RL of the screen frame FR enters the condition non-corresponding area from the condition corresponding area. Therefore, a control signal for generating a repulsive force in a direction that hinders the operation of the joystick 111 (right direction in the case of FIG. 14B) is sent. The repulsive force applying mechanism of the joystick 111 receives this control signal and applies the repulsive force. When the user tilts the joystick 111 further to the left against this repulsive force, overcoming this repulsive force, the reference line RL of the screen frame FR enters the condition non-appropriate area from the condition applicable area, Move to the left from the reference line RL.

  As described above, the first area, the second area,..., The mth area are provided in the condition non-applicable area. A repulsive force is similarly generated at the boundary between these areas. That is, when the reference line RL of the screen frame FR enters the second area from the first area, the repulsive force generator 14 repels the joystick 11 in a direction that prevents the operation of the joystick 111 for the entry. Is generated.

  FIG. 16A is a diagram showing the relationship between the search result display and repulsion when scrolling from the condition applicable area and displaying the condition non-applicable area on the screen frame FR, and FIG. 16B shows from the condition non-applicable area It is a figure which shows the relationship between the display of a search result, and a repulsion when scrolling display and displaying a condition applicable area on the screen frame FR. 16A and 16B, the horizontal axis indicates the position of the reference line RL of the screen frame FR, and the vertical axis indicates the repulsive force F.

  As illustrated in FIG. 16A, when the condition corresponding area shifts to the condition non-corresponding area, a large repulsive force is generated when the reference line RL enters the condition non-corresponding area from the condition corresponding area. Specifically, the repulsive force is gradually increased as the boundary line approaches the condition non-applicable area, and the repulsive force is set to zero when the reference line RL enters the condition non-applicable area. A repulsive force is also generated when straddling each area within a condition non-applicable area (that is, when the value of k increases). In this case, the repulsive force when moving from a condition corresponding area to a condition non-applicable area Also generates a small repulsive force.

  In this way, when shifting from the condition applicable area to the condition non-applicable area, by generating repulsive force, assuming the restriction by the search condition specified by the user as a mountain or wall, by applying force to the joystick 111, It is possible to give the user a feeling of overcoming the mountain or destroying the wall and displaying a search result that exceeds the limit according to the conditions specified by the user. Thereby, the user can perform an operation of browsing the search result with an intuitive interpretation.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 16B, when the reference line RL enters the condition-corresponding area from the condition non-corresponding area, and when the reference line RL shifts to the stricter condition in the condition non-corresponding area, no repulsive force is generated. This is because, as described above, the repulsive force on the joystick 111 has the effect of giving the user the feeling of overcoming the limit of the search conditions specified by himself and destroying the wall. This is because there is no need to give such a feeling to the user when scrolling in a direction that matches the conditions.

  Further, the scroll operation unit is not limited to a joystick, and may be, for example, a ball type as shown in FIG. In the case of a ball-type scroll operation unit, the user scrolls the screen by rotating the ball. The repulsive force generator 14 generates a repulsive force with respect to the rotational motion of the ball.

  Furthermore, the scroll operation unit is not limited to a physical force applied by the user such as a joystick or a ball, and the repulsive force is not limited to a physical repulsive force. For example, when the input unit 11 is a touch panel, when scrolling is realized by sliding a portion where the search result is displayed with a finger, the scroll amount of the search result is reduced with respect to the slide amount of the finger with respect to the touch panel. Thus, the user may feel a pseudo repulsive force. Similarly, when scrolling the screen by pointing the arrow on the screen with the mouse, the user can feel a pseudo repulsive force by slowing down the scroll speed at the boundary between the condition applicable area and the condition non-applicable area. Also good. The repulsive force of the present invention includes a pseudo repulsive force as well as a physical repulsive force.

  In the above embodiment, the search results are arranged one-dimensionally (in a straight line) in the horizontal direction on the result screen, but the arrangement method of the search results on the result screen of the present invention is not limited to this. The third embodiment can be similarly applied to the case where the search results are arranged one-dimensionally in the vertical direction for scroll display, and furthermore, when the search results are two-dimensionally arranged for scroll display. Can be applied similarly. FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a result screen when search results are arranged one-dimensionally in the vertical direction. FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a result screen when search results are two-dimensionally (planarly) arranged. Also in the case of such a result screen, as described above, repulsive force can be generated when the reference line of the screen frame FR shifts from the condition applicable area to the condition non-applicable area.

  The search device of the above embodiment can be applied to search for any items such as music, movies, books, destinations, websites, etc. in addition to restaurant searches. The item attributes can also be arbitrarily set according to the content of the item, such as price, keyword (for example, “beautiful night view” for restaurants), tag, genre, distance, popularity, and the like.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention has an excellent effect that it is possible to realize a wide search or a search with a different viewpoint without increasing the burden on the user and reflecting the user's intention. The present invention can be applied to a search device that performs a narrow search by adding a new search condition to a condition.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10, 20 Search apparatus 11 Input part 12 Search process part 121 Search condition list memory | storage part 122 Search formula production | generation part 123 Search execution part 124 Search screen generation part 13 Display part 14 Repulsive force generation part 50 Database

Claims (8)

A search device for searching items from a database,
After the first search condition specified by the user and the search using the first search condition, the second to nth search conditions specified in a stepwise manner for the refined search, A search condition list storage unit for storing together with a specified order;
A search expression generation unit that generates a refined search expression obtained by combining the first to nth search conditions with an AND condition, and generates a relaxed search expression in which a part of the search condition is excluded from the AND condition; ,
A search execution unit that performs a narrowed search using the narrowed search formula generated by the search formula generation unit and performs a relaxed search using the relaxed search formula generated by the search formula generation unit; ,
A result screen generation unit that generates a result screen that displays items extracted as a result of the narrow search by the search execution unit and items extracted as a result of the relaxation search so that there is no duplication of items;
The search expression generation unit excludes the (n-1) th search condition from the AND condition, and adds the last added nth search condition and the first to (n-2) th search conditions as an AND condition. A search apparatus that generates the search expression combined in step 1 as the relaxation search expression.   The search expression generation unit excludes the (n−1) th to n−kth search conditions from the AND condition of the refined search expression, and adds the nth search condition and the first search condition added last. 2. The search expression obtained by combining the (n−k−1) th search conditions from AND with an AND condition is generated as the relaxed search expression by increasing k by 1 sequentially from 1. The described search device.   The search formula generation unit generates the relaxed search formula when the number of items extracted as a result of performing a narrow search using the narrow search formula is less than a predetermined minimum number. The search device according to claim 1 or 2.   The search expression generation unit generates the relaxed search expression by increasing k by 1 sequentially from 1 until the number of items extracted as a result of the search by the relaxed search expression is equal to or greater than the minimum number. The search device according to claim 3.   The result screen generation unit generates a result screen for separately displaying the condition corresponding items extracted by the narrow search and the suggested items extracted only by the relaxation search and not extracted by the narrow search. The search device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The result screen generation unit generates the result screen for displaying the condition applicable item and the proposal item together with attributes of each item,
When the item displayed as the attribute of the proposed item is designated as a new search condition,
The search condition list storage unit deletes a search condition that is not included in the proposed item in which the new search condition is specified,
The search expression generation unit generates a spread search expression that combines the new search condition and the search condition left in the search condition list storage unit with an AND condition,
The search apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the search execution unit performs a search using the spread search formula. The result screen generation unit generates a result screen for displaying the item corresponding to the condition and the proposed item by scroll display,
The search device includes:
A scroll operation unit for a user to perform a scroll operation of the scroll display;
The scroll display causes the operation unit to generate a repulsive force that hinders the scroll operation of the scroll operation unit that displays the proposal item when the display proceeds from the display of the condition-corresponding item to the display of the proposal item. The retrieval apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: a repulsive force generating unit. In a search device including a search condition list storage unit, a search execution unit, and a result screen generation unit , a search method for searching for an item from a database,
After the search using the first search condition specified by the user and the search using the first search condition, the search condition list storage unit starts from the second specified step by step for a narrow search. A search condition list storage step for storing the nth search condition together with a specified order;
A search refinement step in which the search execution unit performs a refinement search using a refinement search expression obtained by combining the first to nth search conditions with an AND condition;
When the number of items extracted as a result of the refinement search performed by the search execution unit falls below a predetermined minimum number, the nth search condition added last and the first to n-th items are added. Using a relaxed search expression obtained by combining the k-1th search conditions with an AND condition, the k is incremented by 1 in order from 1 until the number of items extracted as a result of the search is equal to or greater than the minimum number, A relaxation search step for performing a relaxation search;
The result screen generation unit displays a condition corresponding item extracted by the refinement search and a suggested item that is extracted only by the relaxation search and not extracted by the refinement search; and
The search method characterized by including.

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