JP6069926B2 - Search system, program, and search method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a search system , a program, and a search method suitable for use in searching for materials.

  There are already known systems for performing the reservation of books stored in a library through the Internet. For example, Patent Literature 1 specifies the materials that can be rented earliest among materials held in a plurality of libraries according to the designation of the user, and includes information on the library that holds the rented materials and the library that receives the materials. A technique for registering reservation data in a database common to a plurality of libraries is disclosed.

  In addition, a technique for confirming a book using code information affixed to a book cover is already known. For example, Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for recognizing a document ID by reading a book in a library or a bar code attached to a magazine, and checking a collection based on the recognized document ID.

  On the other hand, a library has a mechanism called a billing symbol for identifying books. The billing symbol uniquely identifies a book based on subject classification, author, volume, etc. A label with a call sign is affixed to the back cover of the book, and the book is placed in the library in the order according to the call sign, making it easy to find the target book. In recent years, it has become possible to obtain a request symbol for a retrieved book by accessing the library via the Internet and retrieving the book.

  By the way, even if the target book can be searched from the library collection via the Internet, in order to actually browse the searched book, it is necessary to go to the library and search the library. At this time, by using the above-described billing symbol, it is possible to easily find the placement position of the target book.

  However, conventionally, it has been necessary to copy the billing symbol obtained by the search to a library by copying it on paper, which has been a problem for the user. In addition, there is a possibility that a description error occurs when copying the billing symbol, and in this case, there is a problem that it becomes difficult to find the target book.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to make it easier to search for books.

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention provides facility information indicating a facility for storing the material, identification information for identifying the material stored in the facility, and a material including the placement position of the material. Storage means for storing the attribute information in advance in association with each other, transmission means for transmitting an image including identification information together with facility information indicating the facility where the material identified by the identification information is stored, and transmitted by the transmission means Extraction means for extracting identification information from the image, search means for searching attribute information associated with the identification information from the storage means based on the identification information extracted by the extraction means, and the facility information transmitted together with the image; , attribute information retrieved by the search means, possess a presenting means for presenting the image transmission source identification information is characterized in that a call number of books.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to search for books more easily.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an example of a book search system according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a billing symbol. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an example of a collection according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an example of the book information DB according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of functions of the server according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an example of a terminal device according to the embodiment. FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram illustrating functions of an example of a terminal device in which an application according to the embodiment is installed. FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a process flow according to the embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of an attribute information list display screen that displays an attribute information list according to the embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a presentation information screen according to the embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data storage method for the book information DB according to the embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a search system and a program will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an example of a book search system according to the embodiment.

(Embodiment)
A server 11 and a terminal device 20 are connected to the network 10. The network 10 is, for example, the Internet, and TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) is applied as a communication protocol. The network 10 may be a network cloud that includes a plurality of computers connected to each other via a network and is externally a network group in which only input / output is shown as a black box with the inside hidden.

  A plurality of libraries 30 </ b> A and 30 </ b> B are further connected to the network 10. These libraries 30 </ b> A and 30 </ b> B are actually Web sites operated by each library as an actual facility (building) and are constructed on a Web server (not shown) connected to the network 10. It is assumed that the libraries 30A and 30B as Web sites are also included in the library facilities of the operation main body as an entity. Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, a library and a website by the library are collectively referred to as a library as a facility.

  A library is a facility that stores books (literatures), music, videos, and other materials in a prescribed manner, and includes public libraries, private libraries, university libraries, school libraries, and the like. Libraries can lend some or all of the stored materials to users. Identification information is given to each material stored in the library.

  A billing symbol can be used as the identification information. The request symbol is used to identify a book stored in the library based on a classification symbol for classifying the book in accordance with the Japan Decimal Classification established by the Japan Library Association. FIG. 2 shows an example of the billing symbol 40. In this example, the request symbol 40 includes the above-described classification symbol 40A indicating the subject of the book placed in the upper row, the author symbol 40B showing the author name or acceptance order placed in the middle row, and the number of volumes placed in the lower row, It consists of a volume symbol 40C indicating the year or the like.

  For example, books stored in a library are placed with a label with a billing symbol 40 written on the back and arranged according to the order of the billing symbols. The user can know the approximate position of the book in the library based on the billing symbol 40.

  The libraries 30A and 30B have collection database (DB) 31A and 31B in which information about each book to be stored is stored. FIG. 3 shows an exemplary configuration of the collection DBs 31A and 31B (referred to as the collection DB 31A). In the example of FIG. 3, for each book, the presence / absence of inventory, the location, that is, the placement position, the reservation information, the presence / absence of an electronic book in which the book is converted into data, and a summary of the contents are identified. Items are associated. The location is coordinate information that can be used to determine which shelf on which shelf in the library is located.

  In the collection DB 31A, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is associated with each item. This URL indicates the address of the Web page on the network 10 when the content of the corresponding item is presented to the network 10. By accessing each URL via the network 10, information on items corresponding to the URL can be referred to.

  Based on the information stored in the collection DBs 31A and 31B, the libraries 30A and 30B perform searches, rental reservations, request for copying, browsing electronic books, presentation of content summaries, etc. via the network 10 for the books to be stored. Have been able to do.

  The terminal device 20 can communicate with the network 10 by wireless or wired. The terminal device 20 can perform an operation in accordance with a command received via the network 10, and can display an image received via the network 10 on a UI (user interface) including a display device and an input device. Data can be transmitted to the network 10 in accordance with the display or user operation performed on the UI.

  In addition, the terminal device 20 has an imaging function, and can image a subject in response to an imaging instruction operation on the UI. The terminal device 20 can transmit a captured image obtained by imaging toward the network 10.

  The personal computer 21 is connected to the network 10 and can communicate with the libraries 30 </ b> A and 30 </ b> B via the network 10.

  The server 11 is connected to a book information database (DB) 12 and can perform a search process according to the embodiment on the book information DB 12 in accordance with a request received via the network 10. FIG. 4 shows an example of the configuration of the book information DB 12. In the embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 4A, for the book information DB 12, for each book, facility information indicating a facility where the book is stored, a billing symbol 40 for the book, and a book attribute Stored in association with information.

  The facility information is not particularly limited as long as it can identify the facility where the books are stored, and library information such as the name of the library, the URL of the library website, or the name of the university if the library is a university library is used. Can do. Since the book request symbol 40 may be partially different for each library (for example, the volume symbol 40C), information indicating the library where the book is stored needs to be associated with the request symbol 40.

  Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 4B, in the embodiment, in the book information DB 12, an attribute information list including one or more attribute information can be associated with one billing symbol 40. The attribute information list includes, for example, a plurality of attribute information related to the book, such as information corresponding to the details and summaries of the book, information corresponding to the placement position of the book, information corresponding to the book reservation status, and the like.

  In the embodiment, as the attribute information of the book, a URL for accessing the attribute information as an entity via the network 10 is used, and the attribute information list is a URL list of each attribute information. This URL corresponds to the URL of each item associated with the book identification information described with reference to FIG.

  In the example of FIG. 4B, the book of the billing symbol 40 # 1 is stored in a library (eg, library 30A) indicated by the library information #m, and the URL # m1 and URL are respectively stored for the billing symbol 40 # 1. It is shown that an attribute information list including 4 pieces of attribute information accessed by # m2, URL # m3, and URL # m4 is associated. It is assumed that each URL # m1, URL # m2, URL # m3, and URL # m4 is a Web site having a lower structure with respect to the library 30A in which a book of the associated billing symbol 40 # 1 is stored.

  Similarly, the book of the billing symbol 40 # 2 is stored in a library (for example, library 30B) indicated by the library information #n, and the URL # n1, URL # n2, and URL # n3 are associated with the billing symbol 40 # 2, respectively. It is shown that an attribute information list including three pieces of attribute information accessed by is associated. Also in this case, it is assumed that each URL # n1, URL # n2, and URL # n3 is a Web site having a lower structure with respect to the library 30B in which a book of an associated billing symbol 40 # 2 is stored.

  In addition, each URL # m1, URL # m2, URL # m3, and URL # m4 of each attribute information included in the attribute information list, and each URL # n1, URL # n2, and URL # n3 are associated with each other. Symbol 40 information may be included. By doing so, for example, the library 30A can return information corresponding to the associated billing symbol 40 based on the received URL # m1, URL # m2, URL # m3, and URL # m4.

  A user DB 13 can be further connected to the server 11. In the user DB 13, for example, identification information (user ID) of a user who uses this book search system and attribute information of the user are stored in association with each other.

  FIG. 5 is an exemplary functional block diagram illustrating functions of the server 11. The server 11 includes a reception unit 100, an extraction unit 101, a search unit 103, a presentation unit 104, and a control unit 110. In FIG. 5, the book information DB 12 and the user DB 13 are shown to be included in the server 11 as the database (DB) 102. The control unit 110 controls the overall operation of the server 11.

  The receiving unit 100 receives data transmitted via the network 10. For example, the captured image transmitted from the terminal device 20 is received by the receiving unit 100.

  The extraction unit 101 performs known character recognition processing on the captured image received by the reception unit 100, recognizes the character image included in the captured image, and extracts the billing symbol 40 from the recognized character image. For example, the extraction unit 101 compares the character information shown in the recognized character image with the format of the billing symbol 40 and determines whether or not the character information is the billing symbol 40.

  The search unit 103 searches the book information DB 12 based on the billing symbol 40 extracted by the extraction unit 101, and outputs the facility information and the attribute information list associated with the billing symbol 40 as a search result.

  The presentation unit 104 presents the attribute information list of the search results obtained by the search unit 103 to the terminal device 20. When the attribute information list includes a plurality of attribute information, the presentation unit 104 can present all the plurality of attribute information.

  The server 11 may be configured by a general computer device including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a storage device such as a hard disk drive. it can. Further, the server 11 is not limited to being configured by a single computer device, and may be configured to operate in a distributed manner on a plurality of computer devices, for example.

  The reception unit 100, the extraction unit 101, the search unit 103, the presentation unit 104, and the control unit 110 described above are realized by a search program that operates on the CPU. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and some or all of the receiving unit 100, the extracting unit 101, the searching unit 103, the presenting unit 104, and the control unit 110 may be realized using individual hardware that cooperates with each other. The search program for executing the search process according to the embodiment is provided by being recorded in a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD or a DVD in an installable or executable format file.

  Furthermore, a search program for executing the search process according to the embodiment may be provided by being stored on a computer connected to a communication network such as the Internet and downloaded via the communication network. Further, a search program for executing the search processing according to the embodiment may be provided or distributed via a communication network such as the Internet.

  The search program for executing the search processing according to the embodiment has, for example, a module configuration including the above-described units (reception unit 100, extraction unit 101, search unit 103, presentation unit 104, and control unit 110). As actual hardware, for example, the CPU reads the search program from the storage device and executes it, so that the above-described units are loaded onto the main storage device (for example, RAM), and the respective units are generated on the main storage device. ing.

  FIG. 6 shows an exemplary configuration of the terminal device 20. In the terminal device 20 illustrated in FIG. 6, a CPU 402, a ROM 403, a RAM 404, and a display control unit 405 are connected to a bus 401. In addition, a storage 407, a data I / F 408, an input unit 409, a communication unit 410, and an imaging unit 412 are connected to the bus 401. The storage 407 is a storage medium capable of storing data in a nonvolatile manner, and is a nonvolatile semiconductor memory such as a flash memory, for example. Not limited to this, a hard disk drive may be used as the storage 407.

  The CPU 402 controls the entire terminal device 20 using the RAM 404 as a work memory in accordance with programs stored in the ROM 403 and the storage 407. The display control unit 405 converts the display control signal generated by the CPU 402 into a signal that can be displayed by the display unit 406 and outputs the converted signal.

  The storage 407 stores programs and various data to be executed by the CPU 402 described above. The data I / F 408 inputs data from the outside. As the data I / F 408, for example, an interface such as USB (Universal Serial Bus) or IEEE 1394 (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 1394) can be applied.

  The input unit 409 includes an input device that accepts user input. The user can issue an instruction to the terminal device 20 by operating the input device according to the display on the display unit 406, for example. Note that it is preferable that the input device that receives user input is configured integrally with the display unit 406 and configured as a touch panel that outputs a control signal corresponding to the pressed position and transmits the image of the display unit 406.

  The communication unit 410 communicates with the network 10 using a predetermined protocol. The imaging unit 412 includes an optical system, an imaging device, and a control drive circuit for the optical system and the imaging device. The imaging unit 412 performs predetermined processing on a signal output from the imaging device and outputs the image data. The imaging unit 412 executes functions such as imaging and zooming according to an instruction by a user operation on the input unit 409. The captured image obtained by the imaging unit 412 is transmitted to the communication unit 410 via the bus 401, for example, and is transmitted to the server 11 via the network 10 according to a command from the CPU 402.

  The terminal device 20 is installed with an application that performs a series of processes from transmission of a captured image to display of presentation information and selection of the displayed presentation information. FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram showing functions of an example of the terminal device 20 in which this application is installed. The terminal device 20 includes a reception unit 420, a transmission unit 421, an imaging processing unit 422, an input unit 423, a presentation unit 424, and a control unit 430.

  The imaging processing unit 422 controls the imaging operation by the imaging unit 412 and acquires a captured image. The transmission unit 421 has address information on the network 10 of the server 11 in advance, for example, and performs transmission processing to the server 11 via the network 10. The captured image acquired by the imaging processing unit 422 is transmitted to the server 11 by the transmission unit 421. The receiving unit 420 receives information transmitted from the server. For example, information presented from the presentation unit 104 of the server 11 is received by the reception unit 420.

  The input unit 423 processes user input to the input unit 409 as hardware. The presentation unit 424 passes a prepared UI image to the display control unit 405 and causes the display unit 406 to display a screen based on the UI image. In addition, the presentation unit 424 generates a display screen based on the information received by the receiving unit 420, for example, presented from the presentation unit 104 of the server 11, and displays the display screen on the display unit 406 via the display control unit 405. Information presentation by the presentation unit 424 can be performed not only by display but also by voice.

  The control unit 430 controls the overall operation of the terminal device 20. In addition, the control unit 430 can execute a function embedded in a website accessed according to the URL. For example, when accessing the website according to the URL, the control unit 430 can call a browser application installed in the terminal device 20 and cause the browser application to execute a function embedded in the website.

  The reception unit 420, transmission unit 421, imaging processing unit 422, input unit 423, presentation unit 424, and control unit 430 described above are realized by a terminal program that operates on the CPU 402. The terminal program is configured to be stored on a computer connected to the network 10 and provided by being downloaded via the network 10. The terminal program may be configured to be provided or distributed via the network 10. It is also conceivable to provide the terminal program by storing it in the ROM 403 in advance.

  The terminal program is not limited to this, and may be provided by being recorded in a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD or a DVD in a file that can be installed or executed. In this case, for example, the terminal program is supplied to the terminal device 20 via an external drive device connected to the data I / F 408.

  The terminal program has, for example, a module configuration including the above-described units (reception unit 420, transmission unit 421, imaging processing unit 422, input unit 423, presentation unit 424, and control unit 430). The CPU 402 reads out the terminal program from the storage 407 and executes it, for example, so that the above-described units are loaded on the main storage device (for example, the RAM 404), and the respective units are generated on the main storage device.

  Referring to FIG. 1, in such a system, the user accesses, for example, a library 30 </ b> A via the network 10 and searches for a desired book using a personal computer 21 that can be connected to the network 10. Based on the search result transmitted from the library 30A, the personal computer 21 displays a search result screen 22 including a billing symbol image 41 (an enlarged image is shown as an image 41 ′) that is an image of the billing symbol 40 of the book. . The user images the billing symbol image 41 displayed on the search result screen 22 using the terminal device 20.

  The terminal device 20 transmits a captured image obtained by capturing the billing symbol image 41 to the server 11 via the network 10 together with facility information indicating the library 30A. When the server 11 receives the captured image and the facility information transmitted from the terminal device 20, the server 11 performs character recognition processing on the received captured image and extracts the billing symbol 40 included in the billing symbol image 41. Then, the server 11 searches the book information DB 12 based on the extracted billing symbol 40 and facility information, and acquires an attribute information list corresponding to the billing symbol 40 as a search result. The server 11 transmits the search result to the terminal device 20.

  The terminal device 20 causes the display unit 406 to display the attribute information list of the received search results. By selecting a desired attribute information list based on the display on the display unit 406, the user can confirm detailed information, reservation status, placement position in the library 30A, and the like regarding the searched book.

  FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a process flow according to the embodiment. First, a user accesses a library to be used (library 30A) using the personal computer 21 or the like, searches for a desired book using the search system of the library 30A, and a request symbol 40 of this book is displayed. The obtained billing symbol image 41 is acquired (step S10). The user images the acquired billing symbol image 41 using the terminal device 20 (step S11). The terminal device 20 transmits the captured image obtained by capturing the billing symbol image 41 to the server 11 via the network 10 together with the facility information, that is, the library information indicating the library 30A (SEQ100).

  The billing symbol image 41 is not limited to being transmitted to the server 11 as a captured image. For example, the terminal device 20 is used to access the library 30A to obtain a billing symbol image 41 that is an image of the billing symbol 40 of a desired book, and the billing symbol image 41 is cut out by image processing on the terminal device 20, You may transmit to the server 11 with facility information.

  When the server 11 receives the captured image and facility information transmitted from the terminal device 20 in SEQ100, in step S20, the server 11 performs character recognition processing on the received captured image to recognize a character image included in the captured image. The billing symbol 40 is extracted from the recognized character image (step S20). The server 11 searches the book information DB 12 based on the facility information and the extracted billing symbol 40, and obtains attribute information (attribute information list) associated with the extracted billing symbol 40 for the library 30 </ b> A indicated in the facility information. Obtain (step S21). The server 11 transmits the acquired attribute information to the terminal device 20 as a search result of the book information DB 12 (SEQ101).

  Depending on how the billing symbol image 41 is captured in the captured image transmitted from the terminal device 20, the character recognition result may include an error in step S20 described above. For example, the server 11 can once present the result of character recognition for the captured image to the terminal device 20 and prompt the user to determine whether the billing symbol 40 has been correctly extracted. Thereby, the situation where the information of the book different from a desired book is acquired by incorrect character recognition can be prevented.

  When receiving the attribute information that is the search result of the server 11, the terminal device 20 displays a screen indicating the received attribute information on the display unit 406 (step S12). FIG. 9 shows an example of an attribute information list display screen 500 displayed on the display unit 406 for displaying an attribute information list as a search result. In the example of FIG. 9, the attribute information list includes four attribute information, and the display areas 510A, 510B, 510C, and 510D corresponding to the number of attribute information included in the attribute information list include each attribute included in the attribute information list. Information (URL) is associated and items corresponding to each attribute information are displayed.

  In the example of FIG. 9, in each display area 510A to 510D, corresponding attribute information, that is, information based on the title of the website accessed according to each URL is displayed as an item corresponding to each attribute information. That is, the common book name “information communication white paper” is displayed in display areas 510A and 510B. At the same time, the attribute information name “material detail page” is displayed as an item in the display area 510A, and the URL (URL # m1) of the material detail page of the book in the library 30A is associated with it. Similarly, in the display area 510B, an attribute information name “location confirmation page” is displayed as an item, and a URL (referred to as URL # m2) where map information indicating the placement position of the book in the library 30A is presented. Attached.

  In the display areas 510C and 510D, the names of the websites “abcd” and “efgh” where the book can be browsed and purchased are displayed as items, respectively, and the URLs of the websites are associated with the URLs (URL # respectively). m3 and URL # m4).

  For example, when receiving the attribute information list as a search result from the server 11, the terminal device 20 accesses each Web site according to each attribute information, that is, URL included in the attribute information list. Then, title information is acquired from each accessed Web site and is displayed in each of the display areas 510A to 510D. The title information corresponding to each attribute information may be acquired in advance on the server 11 side, and the acquired title information may be associated with each attribute information and stored in the book information DB 12. In this case, the server 11 transmits the search result for the captured image to the terminal device 20 further including each title information corresponding to each attribute information.

  In the example of FIG. 9, four pieces of attribute information are displayed on the attribute information list display screen 500. However, in practice, there may be a case where a lot of attribute information associated with one billing symbol 40 exists. In this case, display areas 510A to 510D for displaying each attribute information are displayed in the attribute information list display screen 500. There is a possibility of being unable to fill. As a display method in such a case, for example, it is conceivable that the display areas 510A to 510D can be scrolled in the attribute information list display screen 500 in accordance with a user operation. In addition, the items to be displayed can be limited.

  The user designates a desired item based on the display contents of the display areas 510A to 510D displayed on the attribute information list display screen 500. Thereby, URL corresponding to each display area 510A-510D is designated (step S13). Here, it is assumed that “location check page” in display area 510B is selected as an item, and URL # m2 is designated. The terminal device 20 communicates with the library 30A, and accesses the URL #mx (in this case, URL # m2) corresponding to the designated item via the network 10 (SEQ102).

  When the library 30A receives access to the URL # m2 from the terminal device 20, the library 30A performs processing according to the item corresponding to the URL # m2, and creates presentation information for the terminal device 20 (step S30). In this example, based on the billing symbol 40 included in the URL # m2 corresponding to the selection of “location confirmation page”, map information indicating the placement position of the book indicated by the billing symbol 40 in the library 30A is presented. Create as information. The created presentation information is transmitted from the library 30A to the terminal device 20 (SEQ103).

  Upon receiving the presentation information transmitted from the library 30A, the terminal device 20 displays a screen based on the received presentation information on the display unit 406 (step S14). FIG. 10 shows an example of the presentation information screen 501 displayed on the display unit 406. In this example, as described above, the map information indicating the arrangement position of the book indicated by the billing symbol 40 is transmitted as the presentation information. Therefore, in the example of FIG. 10, on the presentation information screen 501, a map image in which the placement position 522 of the book indicated by the billing symbol 40 is indicated by “× (cross mark)” on the map in the library 30A. 520 is displayed.

  As an example, the library 30A prepares a map image of each floor in the library 30A as a building in advance. This map image includes images of the shelves 521, 521,... On which books are arranged for each floor. The library 30A obtains the coordinates where the book of the billing symbol 40 is placed based on the billing symbol 40 included in the URL # m2, and the map image has a predetermined position at a position corresponding to the obtained coordinate. A map image 520 is created by adding a symbol (“×” in the example of FIG. 9). For each book, a map image showing the placement position may be created and prepared in advance.

  Depending on the item selected based on each of the display areas 510A to 510D displayed on the attribute information list display screen 500 by the user, the terminal device 20 to the library 30A according to the presentation information transmitted from the library 30A in SEQ103. May be able to send requests to For example, if the selected item is the reservation status of the book indicated by the billing symbol 40 or electronic book browsing, a request for reservation or an electronic book browsing request is transmitted from the terminal device 20 to the library 30A. it can.

  That is, the user inputs a request by operating the terminal device 20 according to the presentation information displayed on the terminal device 20 (step S15). The terminal device 20 transmits the input request to the library 30A (SEQ104). The library 30A responds to the transmitted request (step S31), and transmits the result of the request to the terminal device 20 (SEQ105). For example, when the request from the terminal device 20 is an application for reservation of a book indicated by the billing symbol 40, the library 30A searches the book DB 31A for the reservation status of the book and determines whether or not the reservation is possible based on the search result. 20 is transmitted. The terminal device 20 receives the request result and performs display based on the received request result (step S16).

  In addition, the process of step S13-step S16 in the terminal device 20 can be repeatedly performed, switching the item to designate with respect to the search result of one claim symbol 40. FIG.

  As described above, according to the embodiment, the image of the acquired billing symbol 40 is captured and transmitted to the server 11, whereby the placement position of the book can be grasped, and the book search operation in the actual library can be performed. It becomes easy.

  Similarly, since the attribute information of a book can be acquired by capturing an image of the billing symbol 40 and transmitting it to the server 11, the book search operation can be performed efficiently.

  Here, an example of a data storage method for the book information DB 12 will be described. The book information DB 12 can store each information manually. On the other hand, it is more preferable that each information can be automatically stored in the book information DB 12.

  FIG. 11 shows an example of a data storage method for the book information DB 12. The server 11 accesses, for example, the collection DB 31A of the library 30A via the network 10, and sequentially transfers the billing symbol 40 and the attribute information list (URL) associated with the billing symbol 40 from the collection DB 31A to the book information DB 12. Store. Each collection DB 31A, 31B, 31C,... Has map information indicating a map of each floor of each library. This map information need not be transferred to the book information DB 12.

  The above transfer process is preferably performed in a time zone in which communication traffic in the network 10 between the server 11 and the collection DB 31A (library 30A) is small, for example, at night. For example, the server 11 activates data transfer processing from the collection DB 31A at a predetermined time by a timer, and automatically executes this transfer processing by batch processing. The server 11 performs this transfer processing while associating with the library information in the book information DB 12 for each of the library DBs 31A, 31B, 31C,.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of components disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment.

10 Network 11 Server 12 Book Information DB
13 User DB
20 Terminal device 30A, 30B Library 31A, 31B, 31C Collection DB
40 Request Symbol 41 Request Symbol Image 100,420 Receiving Unit 101 Extraction Unit 102 Database 103 Search Unit 104 Presentation Unit 110, 430 Control Unit 421 Transmission Unit 422 Imaging Unit 423 Input Unit 424 Presentation Unit 500 Attribute Information List Display Screen 501 Presentation Information Screen

JP 2006-011835 A JP 2003-108704 A

Claims (9)

Storage means for storing in advance the facility information indicating the facility for storing the material, identification information for identifying the material stored in the facility, and attribute information of the material including the placement position of the material,
Transmitting means for transmitting an image including the identification information together with facility information indicating the facility in which the material identified by the identification information is stored;
Extraction means for extracting the identification information from the image transmitted by the transmission means;
Search means for searching the attribute information associated with the identification information from the storage means based on the identification information extracted by the extraction means and the facility information transmitted together with the image;
Presenting means for presenting the attribute information retrieved by the retrieval means to a transmission source of the image,
The search system, wherein the identification information is a billing symbol of a book. The storage means includes
The search system according to claim 1, wherein the attribute information is stored in association with the identification information as an attribute information list including a plurality of attribute information of the material. The storage means includes
The search system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the attribute information is stored as information indicating a position of an entity of the attribute information on a network. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising request means for making a request according to the attribute information toward a facility corresponding to the attribute information in accordance with a user operation for designating the attribute information presented by the presenting means. The search system according to any one of claims 3 to 3. The storage means includes
The search system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the identification information and the attribute information transferred from a facility that stores the material corresponding to the identification information are registered. A program for causing a computer to execute a search method,
The search method is:
A transmission step of transmitting an image including identification information for identifying materials stored in the facility to the search device together with facility information indicating the facility;
Presentation that presents attribute information including at least the placement position of the document in the facility, associated with the identification information, transmitted from the search device in accordance with the image transmitted in the transmission step and the facility information And having steps
The identification information is a billing symbol of a book. An input step for accepting a user operation for the attribute information presented in the presenting step;
The program according to claim 6, further comprising a requesting step of transmitting a request according to the attribute information to the facility in accordance with the user operation accepted in the input step. The program according to claim 6 or 7, further comprising an imaging step of capturing an image of a subject and acquiring the image. A search method executed by a computer capable of communicating with a search device,
The computer includes a transmission step of transmitting an image including the identification information for identifying the article to be stored in the facility, the search device with facility information indicating the facility,
Attribute information including at least a placement position of the material in the facility, which is associated with the identification information, transmitted from the search device according to the image and the facility information transmitted by the computer in the transmission step. Presenting step for presenting
The identification method is a billing symbol of a book.

Images