JPH05128158A - Information retrieval system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain sufficient retrieval result with a simple input operation by a user with little experience in generating a retrieval equation. CONSTITUTION:An input/output control part 3 which inputs the response against a retrieval question and inquiry in natural language inputted by a keyboard 1 or outputs a retrieval equation, retrieval answer and inquiry to a display device 2, a retrieval equation generating part 4 which generates a retrieval equation by referring to a retrieval term dictionary 8 in which term's synonymy, relation and hierarchy are related with each other based upon the inputted retrieval question, a retrieval execution part 5 which retrieves a data base 6 using the retrieval equation to obtain a retrieval answer and a retrieval equation re-generating part 7 in which answer numbers and the inquiry whether that answer numbers are proper or not are displayed in the display device 2 and when the answer indicating that the answer numbers are large or small is obtained, a retrieval equation is re-generated are provided. The retrieval equation re-generating part 7 contains an addition/deletion part (a), a word conversion part (b) and an operator conversion part (c).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information retrieval device,
To be more specific, a function to automatically create a search formula from the natural language sentence entered as a search question and to automatically recreate the search formula based on the information from the user that the number of answers retrieved is large or small. The present invention relates to a provided information search device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional information search apparatus, a system reads a term or a search expression entered by a searcher, and a search process is performed on a database using the term or the search expression. In this case, it is the searcher's own work to create the search expression, but since the created search expression or the keywords used for it greatly affect the search results, the search expression is prepared by an expert who is familiar with the search strategy. Had to create.

[0003]

As described above, in the conventional information retrieval apparatus, the retrieval formula is left up to the retriever. Therefore, if the user is not skilled in the retrieval strategy, the demand can be met and the effect can be obtained. There was an inconvenience that a certain search formula could not be created. Further, when no matching information is obtained, there is a disadvantage that the question itself has to be changed or the search formula has to be reassembled.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to improve the disadvantages of the prior art, and in particular, an information retrieval apparatus capable of obtaining a sufficient retrieval result by a simple input operation even if the user is not skilled in the retrieval formula preparation. To provide.

[0005]

The information retrieval apparatus of the present invention is capable of inputting a search question in a natural language sentence typed with a keyboard or a response to an inquiry from the system, or from a created search formula, search answer or system. Boolean operator by referring to the input / output control unit that outputs the inquiry of the question to the display device, and the search term dictionary that stores the synonyms / relations / hierarchies of the terms related to the search question in the input natural language sentence. A search formula creation part that creates a search formula that uses is searched, and a database is searched using the created search formula to obtain the corresponding search answers, and the number of answers and an inquiry as to whether the number of answers is appropriate are output. The search execution section, the number of answers obtained by the search execution section, and an inquiry as to whether or not this number of answers is appropriate are displayed on the display device. Automatically and a search expression re-creation unit to re-create the search expression in the case of Tsu. The search expression re-creation unit refers to the search term dictionary to add or reduce words in the search expression, and the word conversion to replace the terms in the search expression by referring to the search term dictionary. And an operator conversion unit that converts an operator by paying attention to a predetermined character in the input natural sentence. The structure described above is intended to achieve the above-mentioned object.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a search question in a natural language sentence typed with a keyboard 1 or a response to an inquiry from the system is input, or a created search formula, search answer or inquiry from the system is displayed on the display device 2 A Boolean operator is used by referring to the input / output control unit 3 which outputs to and the search term dictionary 8 in which the synonyms / relations / hierarchies of terms are related and stored based on the input search question in the natural language sentence. A search expression creating unit 4 that creates a search expression, and a search that searches the database 6 using the created search expression to obtain a corresponding search answer and outputs the number of answers and an inquiry as to whether or not the number of answers is appropriate. When the number of answers obtained by the execution unit 5 and the search execution unit 5 and an inquiry as to whether or not the number of answers is appropriate are displayed on the display device 2 and the number of answers is large or small, there is a reply. And a search expression recreating unit 7 for automatically re-create a search expression.

[0008] In the search formula creating unit 4, the user uses the keyboard 1
When a user inputs a search question in a natural language sentence by pressing, the search question input via the input / output control unit 3 is received, and an example of each term in the input search question is shown in FIG. As described above, referring to the search term dictionary 8 in which synonyms / relations / hierarchies of terms are stored in association with each other, the synonymous relationship and the related relationship are traced, and the related terms are also combined by the OR operator to create a search expression. To create.

Further, the retrieval formula recreating section 7 is, specifically,
The word addition / reduction unit 7A that adds or reduces the terms in the search formula by referring to the search term dictionary 8 and the word conversion unit 7B that replaces the terms in the search formula by referring to the search term dictionary 8 are input. It is configured to include an operator conversion unit 7C that converts an operator by paying attention to a predetermined character in a natural sentence. Then, the word addition / reduction unit 7A, the word conversion unit 7B, and the operator conversion unit 7C display on the display device 2 the number of answers obtained by the search execution unit 5 and an inquiry as to whether or not the number of answers is appropriate. As a result, when the user replies that the number of responses is large or small, the search formula created from the input / output control unit 3 is input, and the search formula is recreated as follows. ing.

That is, the word addition / reduction unit 7A refers to the search term dictionary 8 to search the terms in the search expression for a term lower in the hierarchical relationship when increasing the number of search responses. When the terms in the expression are combined with the OR operator to reduce the number of search answers, the terms having the synonymous relationship and the related relationship are deleted from the search expression. The word conversion unit 7B uses the search term dictionary 8
With reference to, when increasing the number of search responses, the term in the search formula is replaced with a term located higher in the hierarchical relationship, and when reducing the number of search responses, a term located lower is replaced. In the expression of the search question in the input natural language sentence, the operator conversion unit 7C pays attention to the particles "to" and "ya" indicating the parallelism of the term, and when increasing the number of search answers, The AND operator is changed to the OR operator, and when the number is reduced, the OR operator is changed to the AND operator.

Next, referring to FIG. 2 and referring to FIG. 2, an explanation will be given of the operation of the information retrieval by the retrieval apparatus of this embodiment constructed as described above, referring to FIG. Here, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of the search term dictionary 8, and terms are related by concept. In FIG. 2, −− indicates a hierarchical relationship, == indicates a synonymous relationship, and ˜ indicates a related relationship. Further, FIG. 3 is an example of a dialogue between the user and the device when the device is operated. Here, “S” indicates an inquiry from the device (system), and “U” indicates the correspondence of the user (user).
This dialogue is performed via the display screen (not shown) of the display device 2.

As an initial state, an inquiry from the system "Please enter a question" is displayed on the display screen. In response to this inquiry, the user presses the keyboard 1 and inputs the search question “information regarding information collection and information management” in natural text. This search question is displayed on the display screen and simultaneously input to the input / output control unit 3.

Next, this search question is input to the search expression creating unit 4. Here, in the search term dictionary 8, as shown in FIG. 2, “information collection” and “material collection” have a relational relationship, and “information management” and “documentation” have a synonymous relationship. A search expression that combines each term with an OR operator and uses a Boolean operator based on the input search question " (Information collection OR material collection) AND
(Information management OR documentation) ”. The created search formula is sent to the input / output control unit 3 and output to the display device 2. As a result, on the display screen, "Search formula (information collection OR material collection) AND
Search in (Information Management OR Documentation) . Is displayed.

Next, the created search formula is used by the search execution unit 5
The search execution unit 5 searches the database 6 using the created search formula and obtains an answer. Then, the number of answers (20 here) and an inquiry as to whether or not the number of answers is appropriate, that is, an inquiry for prompting a proper judgment that the number of answers is large or small are sent to the input / output control unit 3. And is output to the display device 2.
As a result, "20 hits were found on the display screen.
How about the number of responses? "1: good, 2: large, 3: small" is displayed.

In response to this inquiry, the user "3:
When "Short" is selected by tapping the keyboard 1, the input is received, and the input / output control unit 3 sends the search formula created above to the search formula recreating unit 7. The respective parts constituting the search formula recreating unit 7 recreate the search formula as follows.

That is, the word addition / deletion unit 7A refers to the search term dictionary 8 and searches the lower terms by tracing the hierarchical relationship between "information collection" and "documentation". Here, "data collection" is selected for "information collection", "information arrangement" is selected for "documentation" (see FIG. 2), and they are combined by OR operators. As a result, in the word addition / reduction section 7A,
" (Information collection OR data collection OR material collection)
AND (Information Management OR Documentation OR
Information organization) ”is created as a search formula.

The word conversion unit 7B refers to the search term dictionary 8 and searches for a term having a higher hierarchy by following the hierarchical relationship. Here, "management", which is the upper layer of "documentation", which has a synonymous relationship with "information management"
However, similarly, “collection” is selected for “information collection” (see FIG. 2), and as a result, the search expression “ collection AND management ” is created.

In the operator conversion unit 7C, paying attention to the particle "to" in the question expression "About materials concerning information collection and information management" keyed from the keyboard 1, the search expression created in the search expression creation unit 4 The AND operator of is changed to the OR operator, and the search formula “ information collection OR material collection OR
Create " OR OR Documentation ".

Next, the search formula created by the search formula recreating unit 7 and the inquiry about the selection of the search formula are sent to the input / output control unit 3 and output to the display device 2. As a result, the following search formula was created on the display screen.
(Information collection OR data collection OR material collection) AND
(Information management OR documentation OR information
Arrangement) , 2: Collection AND management , 3: Information collection O
R Material collection OR Information management OR Documentary
® down, the display of which should you choose? "It is made.

On the other hand, when the user selects "3", "Search formula information collection OR material collection " is displayed on the display screen.
OR information management Search in OR documentation . Is displayed, and the search is executed by the search execution unit 5 in the same manner as before, and the number of responses and an inquiry as to whether or not the number of responses are appropriate are sent to the input / output control unit 3, and the display screen shows , "70 hits. How about the number of answers? 1: Good, 2: Large, 3: Small" is displayed. On the other hand, if the user selects "1: good",
The search answer is displayed on the screen.

Next, the operation at the time of another search will be described using the example of the dialog between the user and the apparatus shown in FIG.

It is assumed that, in response to an inquiry from the system "Please enter a question", "about information system or information retrieval system" is input to the input / output control unit 3. Based on the input search question, the search formula creating unit 4 refers to the search term dictionary 8 and performs the search formula " information system OR information processing system " in the same manner as before.
OR Computer System OR Information Retrieval System "
Is created, and the created search formula is sent to the input / output control unit 3 and output to the display device 2. As a result, the search screen information system OR information processing system is displayed on the display screen.
System OR computer system OR information retrieval system
Search with. Is displayed.

Next, the search execution unit 5 searches the database 6 using the created search formula to obtain an answer. Then, the number of responses (100 here) and an inquiry as to whether or not the number of responses is appropriate are sent to the input / output control unit 3 and output to the display device 2. As a result, "100 hits. How about the number of answers? 1: Good, 2: Large, 3: Small" is displayed on the display screen.

In response to this inquiry, the user "2:
If "many" is selected, this input is received, and the input / output control unit 3 sends the search formula created above to the search formula recreating unit 7. The respective parts constituting the search formula recreating unit 7 recreate the search formula as follows.

In the word addition / reduction section 7A, the search term dictionary 8
Refer to "Information system", "Information retrieval system"
Synonymous relationship for each, to remove the terms of the relevant relationships, "Information System OR Information Search cis as a search expression
System ”(see Figure 2).

The word conversion unit 7B refers to the search term dictionary 8 and searches for a term having a lower hierarchy by tracing a relational relationship with each of the "information system" and the "information retrieval system". Here, "guidance system" and "management information system" are selected for "information system", "literature search system" is selected for "information search system", and " guidance system OR management information system " is selected as the search formula.
"Stem OR Document Retrieval System " is created.

In the operator conversion unit 7C, paying attention to the particle "ya" in the query expression keyed from the keyboard 1, the OR operator in the search expression generated by the search expression creating unit 4 is changed to the AND operator. , " (Information system OR Information processing system
OR computer system AND information retrieval system)
Create a search expression.

Next, the search formula created by the search formula recreating unit 7 and a query for selecting the search formula are sent to the input / output control unit 3, and the display screen displays "the following search formula. Was created 1: Information system OR information retrieval system
2、2 : Information system OR Management information system OR
Literature retrieval system , 3: " (Information system OR information
Processing system OR Computer system AND Information retrieval
System) , which do you want to select? ”Is displayed.

On the other hand, when the user selects "1", the "Search type information system OR information " is displayed on the display screen.
Search in the search system . Is displayed, and the search is executed by the search execution unit 5 in the same manner as before, and the number of responses and an inquiry as to whether or not the number of responses are appropriate are sent to the input / output control unit 3, and the display screen shows , "45 hits. How about the number of answers? 1: Good, 2: Many,
"3: Few" is displayed. On the other hand, when the user selects "1: good", the search answer is displayed on the screen.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
The user does not need to be skilled in a search strategy because the device automatically creates a search formula suitable for the user by simply typing the search question in a natural language sentence and executing the search. In addition, the number of responses to the search is presented to the user, and if the user selects either the number of responses retrieved is large or the number of responses retrieved is small, the device automatically sets the retrieval formula to obtain the optimal number of responses. By recreating and presenting it to the user,
Even if the searcher creates a search formula that does not match the question, or if the desired answer is not obtained, there is no need to rebuild the search formula.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The search expression creation unit automatically creates a search expression from the natural language sentence entered as the search question, and the search execution unit executes the search using this created search expression. Since it is only necessary to be able to enter questions in natural language, even those who are not skilled in search strategies can easily use them, and moreover, the number of answers of the executed search is presented to the user, and the number of answers searched by the user is displayed. If you select either a large number or a small number, the search formula re-creation unit will automatically re-create the search formula and present it to the user to obtain the optimum number of answers. Even if you can't get it, you don't have to re-create the search formula, and as a result, you can get enough search results even if you are not skilled in the search strategy and are easy to operate. Equipment It can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of contents of a search term dictionary of FIG.

3 to 4 are diagrams showing examples of interaction between a user and the device in the device of the embodiment of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 keyboard 2 display device 3 input / output control unit 4 search expression creating unit 6 database 5 search executing unit 7 search expression recreating unit 7A word addition / reduction unit 7B word conversion unit 7C operator conversion unit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An input / output control unit for inputting a search question in a natural language sentence typed with a keyboard or a response to an inquiry from the system, or for outputting a created search formula, search answer or inquiry from the system to a display device. And creating a search expression using a Boolean operator by referring to the search term dictionary in which the synonyms, relationships, and hierarchies of terms are associated with each other based on the entered search question in the natural language sentence. Part, a search execution part that searches the database using the created search formula to obtain the corresponding search answers, and outputs the number of answers and an inquiry as to whether or not the number of answers is appropriate, and the search execution part Inquiries about the number of answers given and whether the number of answers is appropriate are displayed on the display device. As a result, if there is a large or small number of answers, the search formula is automatically A search formula recreating unit for recreating, and the search formula recreating unit refers to the search term dictionary and adds or reduces a term in the search formula; and the search term dictionary. It is characterized in that it is configured to include a word conversion unit that replaces a term in a search expression by reference and an operator conversion unit that converts an operator by focusing on a predetermined character in the input natural sentence. Information retrieval device.