JPH0442366A - Data retrieving device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily make correspondence even when the kinds of stored data are increased by forming relation itself as a means to limit the relation between the stored data at a minimum, and separately controlling the execution, order or combination. CONSTITUTION:Each relation retrieving means (i)7i prepares only the irreducibly minimum relation among the several kinds of the relation between the stored data. In this case, when the number of the kinds of the stored data is defined as (n), the number of the kinds of the irreducibly minimum relation to be prepared is normally n-1. A retrieval control means 8 takes out the stored data while controlling the execution, order or combination of the respective relation retrieving means (i)7i according to the request of a user. Thus, the device can be obtained to enable the retrieval corresponding to the complicated relation only by relating one of the stored data up to the moment even when the kinds of stored data are increased.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Field of Application] This invention relates to an image search device, etc. that stores and manages accumulated data such as images and figures as a database, and searches and retrieves appropriate accumulated data in response to a request. , relates to a data retrieval device using a computer system.

[Conventional Technique #I] Figure 3 is illustrated in, for example, the information processing society journal "Information Processing JVo1.
．． 28. No. 6 (June 1987), pp. 740-
FIG. 42 is a block configuration diagram showing a conventional image retrieval device based on the configuration shown in FIG.

In the figure, (11,), (12), (13).

..., (1j) such as (in) is an accumulated data input means i for inputting accumulated data such as images and figures using a scanner etc.
, (21), (22), (23),...

(2j) such as (2n) are the accumulated data input means 1 (l).
Accumulated data memory j, (3) stores the accumulated data input in step i), and (3) is used to input figures and images as examples, or input them in menu format or command format as a search request when searching the accumulated data. (4) is a search request memory that stores the search request inputted by the search request input means (3); (5) is a search request memory that stores the search request inputted by the search request input means (3); (6) displays the accumulated data retrieved by the related search means (5) on a CRi' display or the like; This is a search result output means.

Next, the operation of this conventional example will be explained. .

For example, images and figures that are accumulated data as shown in FIG.
(2j). That is, the accumulated data 1 of +a+ in FIG. 4 is inputted from the accumulated data input means 1 (11) and stored in the accumulated data memory 1 (21), and
) is inputted from the accumulated data input means 2 (12) and stored in the accumulated data memory 2 (22);
(13) Accumulated data memory 3 (23)
The accumulated data 4.5 of H is inputted and stored in the same manner as shown in FIG. 4(d).

And, between each of the above accumulated data, there is a related search means (5).
The relationship shown in FIG. 5 is added in advance using a pointer or the like.

On the other hand, the user of this image search device may, for example, search for "Drawing Z
Assume that the user has a search request of ``I want to search for an image showing a symbol I'Jf adjacent to symbol S] in 1. The user sends such a search request as shown in Fig. 4tb+
The search request input means (
3), further input the symbol S1 as shown in FIG. 4(c) in the form of an example from the search request input means (3), and finally, in command format etc. A request to search for an image showing a symbol is inputted from the search request input means (3) and is stored in the search request memory (4) as a search request.

Next, the related search means (5) searches for accumulated data that satisfies the search request by tracing the relationships as shown in FIG. 5 based on the search requests stored in the search request memory (4). In this example, first, as the symbols included in the specified drawing Z1, the symbols included in the specified drawing Z1 are
is taken out according to the relationship shown in Figure 5.

Next, as a symbol adjacent to the designated symbol S], fdl in FIG. 4 is extracted according to the relationship shown in FIG. 5 limited between tcL Cd) and fC) in FIG. Then, as an image related to FIG. 4(d), FIG. 4(Zl) is extracted based on the relationship shown in FIG. 5. The retrieved image is displayed on a CRT display or the like by the search result output means (6).

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Since the conventional device is configured as described above, when performing a search corresponding to a complex relationship as in the above example, as shown in FIG. All possible related hairs must be prepared, and if the types of accumulated data increase,
There were functional and performance problems, such as the need to check whether there is a relationship with all the accumulated data up to that point and make the association.

This invention was made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and even when the types of stored data increase, it is possible to create complex relationships by simply making one association with the previously stored data. 4) The purpose is to obtain a device that can perform searches according to the following criteria.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The data search device according to the present invention minimizes the relationship between each stored data and searches the stored data according to the relationship. and search control means for extracting stored data by controlling the execution, order and combination of the above-mentioned related search means in accordance with a user's search request.

[Operation] In the present invention, each related search means minimizes the relationships between stored data, and the search control means controls the execution of each of the related search means and the order and combination thereof to achieve the optimal association. and search for stored data requested by the user. In other words, the association itself is made into a means so that the association between accumulated data is kept to a minimum, and its execution, order, and combination are separately controlled, so that even if the types of accumulated data increase, it can be easily handled. I did it like that.

[Example] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram showing an image retrieval device according to an embodiment, and the same reference numerals as those in the conventional example in FIG. 3 indicate the same or corresponding parts.
1), (72),...

(7j) such as (7n -1,) is a related search means i, which minimizes the relationship between each stored data and sets a related example for each stored data in order to search the stored data according to the relevant relationship;
(8) In accordance with the user's search request, the above-mentioned related search means j (7i) are executed and the order and combination thereof are controlled to find the optimal related example, and the stored data requested by the user is searched. This is a search control means for extracting data.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be explained.

Accumulated data input means; (lj) and accumulated data memory j
The operation (2j) is exactly the same as that of the conventional device, and for example, images and figures shown in FIGS. 4(al to (C1) are input and stored.

The operations of the search request input means (3) and the search request memory (4) are exactly the same as those of the conventional device. When you have the 4th
A drawing Z1 as shown in FIG. 4(b) and a symbol S as shown in FIG. This request is input in the form of a menu, command, etc., and is stored.

On the other hand, the association search means j-(7j,) prepares only the minimum necessary associations among the associations between the two-part stored data. The minimum required number of associations to be prepared here is usually n-1 when the number of types of accumulated data is n. In this example, there are four, as shown in FIG.

Next, in accordance with the search request stored in the search request memory (4), the search control means (8) searches for accumulated data that satisfies the request using a related search means as shown in FIG. In this example, first, in order to find the symbol included in the specified drawing Z1, the related search means 2 is executed and
el is retrieved, the related search means 2 and 3 are executed in this order, and the fdl in FIG. 4 is extracted, and the related search means 2, 3, and 4 are executed in this order. FIG. 4 [el is taken out. Next, in order to find the symbol adjacent to the designated symbol S1 among the extracted symbols in FIG. 4 (C1, (dl, +e+), the related search means 3 is executed and FIG. Then, in order to obtain an image showing the symbol shown by Fdl in FIG. 4, the related search means] is executed and fa+ in FIG. 4 is retrieved.

Finally, the extracted image shown in Figure 4 +a+ is
The search result output means (6) displays the search result on an external output device such as a CRT display or an XY plotter.

In addition, in the two-part embodiment, the accumulated data memory j (2j)
Although the accumulated data inputted into the memory is shown to be input from the accumulated data input means i (li) in one-to-one correspondence, it is inputted from a plurality of accumulated data input means 1 (lj) to one accumulated data memory i (2i). You may do so. Similarly, accumulated data may be input from one accumulated data input means j [1]) to a plurality of accumulated data memories j, (2j). Furthermore, accumulated data may be inputted to a plurality of accumulated data memories 1 (2i) from a plurality of accumulated data input means i, (1:i,).

In addition, in the second embodiment, the case where the stored data is a figure or an image is explained, but characters or numbers may exist as the stored data alone or in combination with a figure or an image.
- The same effect as in the above embodiment is achieved.

[Effect of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, in order to minimize the relationship between each stored data and search the stored data according to the relationship, the association is provided for each association, and the use ``According to the user's search request''. The number of associations that need to be prepared for the stored data can be reduced, and even if the types of stored data increase, it can be easily handled, and the function and performance can be improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram showing an image search device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the relationship between the related search means of the above embodiment and the accumulated data stored in the accumulated data memory, Figure 3 is a block configuration diagram showing a conventional example of an image search device, Figure 4 is a diagram showing examples of N images and figures that are stored takes, and Figure 5 is the relationship between the stored data shown in Figure 4. It is a figure showing a conventional example and each type. (1i) is an accumulated data input means, (21) is an accumulated data memory (accumulated data storage means), (3) is a search request input means, (4) is a search request memory, (6) is a search result output means, ( 71) is a related search means, and (8) is a search control means. In addition, in the figures, the same reference numerals indicate the same or equivalent parts. Agent Masuo Oiwa (2 idiots) (b)

Claims (1)

[Claims] An accumulated data storage means for storing accumulated data such as images and figures; an association search means provided for each association to minimize the relationships between each accumulated data and search the accumulated data according to the association; a search request input means for inputting a search request when performing a search; a search control means for extracting accumulated data by controlling the execution of each of the above-mentioned related search means and their order and combination according to the search request; A data retrieval device comprising: a search result output means for outputting search results.