JPH08287078A - Device for supporting selection of keyword - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To easily select a necessary keyword. CONSTITUTION: When a display request is inputted from an input device 24 to a data processor 28, a keyword is extracted from a keyword storing part 24, feature information is extracted from a feature information storing part 54 and a keyword/feature information correspondence part 46 allows each keyword to correspond to feature information related to the keyword. The keyword and the feature information of which correspondence is set up are outputted to a display indication part 36 and display based upon a specified display form is indicated by the indication part 36. Thereby each keyword and feature information to be a decision reference for selecting the keyword are simultaneously displayed on the screen of an output device 26.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a keyword selection support device for supporting information retrieval using keywords, and more particularly, when retrieving data such as documents, images and music using keywords. The present invention relates to a keyword selection support device that enables quick and easy selection of necessary and sufficient keywords for search.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there are roughly two methods adopted for information retrieval using keywords. First
The method is a method of searching from keywords registered for each record, as is often used for searching documents such as papers. The second method is also called a free word search, and is a method of performing a full text search using free keywords.

However, it is difficult for the conventional search method to quickly select an appropriate keyword, and various methods have been proposed.

For example, as one approach, there is a method of recording keywords used in the past and displaying the recorded keywords in a list for reuse. If it is not a free word search, that is, if the number of keywords is finite, list all the keywords that can be used so that you can select the required keyword from the list or select by matching from the beginning of the entered characters. A method of interactively narrowing down possible keywords is also being considered. And as a user interface used when selecting a keyword from a list, in addition to the one in which a keyword is given an ID (Idetification) number and selected by a number, as in a character terminal, as in a graphic terminal, A list box is displayed and selected, or a combination of a text box and a drop-down list with a scroll bar, that is, a combo box is often used.

When a keyword is searched using the combo box, a button on the right side of the text box displayed as an image is designated, a drop-down list is displayed, and the keywords sorted by a specific method are displayed together with the list. To be done. Then, when the keyword in the list is clicked with the mouse pointer, or the return key is operated by designating the keyword with the cursor using the direction keys or the like, the designated keyword is input in the text box. Then, by executing the search command, the keyword displayed in the text box is output to the information search device.

On the other hand, as another approach, for example, when at least one keyword is input, a thesaurus is used to search for a synonym or an upper word or a lower word of the input keyword, thereby selecting an appropriate keyword from among them. There is a method of selecting a keyword. In this case, in addition to synonyms, broader terms, and lower terms, the number of records that include the keyword in the entire search target, historical information such as who used the keyword in what form, and the past one month, Various related information such as frequency information such as how many times the keyword is used can be used at the same time. However, this method has a problem that it takes time to input a keyword from the search result of the thesaurus. Therefore, as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-14176, there has been proposed a system in which the thesaurus search results regarding synonyms are automatically sent to a search device.

As another approach, for example, when it is not a free word search, that is, when a keyword is registered for each record, after performing a keyword search at least once, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1
As described in Japanese Patent No. 43647, there has been proposed a method in which a keyword registered in a record of a search result is used as a candidate for a keyword for the next narrowing down. Further, as a method for supporting which keyword should be selected from the keywords thus obtained, for example, as described in JP-A-2-158870, the obtained search result record is A method of presenting a plurality of keywords by narrowing it down to half has been proposed. Similarly, as a method for supporting which keyword should be selected, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-1436
As described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 47, a method has been proposed in which the presence frequency of a keyword registered in a record of obtained search results is displayed on the screen.

Further, as a technique related to this kind of technique, there is JP-A-1-233517.

[0009]

In the prior art, a method of simply displaying a list of registered keywords in a selectable form or a method of retrieving and displaying information related to the entered keyword from a thesaurus is adopted. However, there are the following problems. That is, in the former method, although the keyword can be specified quickly, it may not be possible to know whether the specified keyword is appropriate or not, and the criterion for selecting the keyword is displayed. There wasn't. In the latter case, although the criteria for keyword selection can be displayed, there is a problem in that the search takes time and the work of entering the search results is complicated and leads to input errors. It is an issue to perform promptly and to support correct keyword input.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a keyword selection support device which can easily select a required keyword.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, (a) a keyword storing means for storing a plurality of keywords, and (b) a characteristic information storing means for storing characteristic information related to the plurality of keywords. And (c) keyword feature information correspondence means for selecting a keyword stored in the keyword storage means and feature information stored in the feature information storage means to associate the keyword with the feature information.
(D) A display instructing means for instructing the display of the keyword and the characteristic information associated by the keyword characteristic information associating means, and (e) a screen in which the keyword and the characteristic information instructed by the display instructing means are designated by a designated display form. Display means for displaying an image on top, (g) keyword designating means for designating a keyword displayed on the screen of the display means, and (h)
A keyword selecting means for selecting a keyword designated by the keyword designating means from among the keywords designated by the display designating means, and (i) a keyword for the keyword selected by the keyword selecting means is displayed in a specific display area of the displaying means. The keyword selection support device is provided with a keyword display instruction means for instructing display.

That is, according to the first aspect of the invention, when the display instructing means instructs the keyword and the feature information to be displayed, the specified keyword is associated with the feature information related to the keyword, and the correspondence is performed. Display the attached keywords and characteristic information on the display screen of the display means,
After that, when a keyword on the display screen is instructed by the keyword specifying means, the specified keyword is selected from the keywords instructed by the display instructing means and displayed in a specific display area of the display means. There is.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, (a) keyword characteristic information storage means for storing a plurality of keywords in association with characteristic information relating to each keyword; and (b) characteristic information relating to these plurality of keywords. And (c) a keyword feature information selecting means for selecting a specified keyword and feature information from the keyword feature information storing means, and (d) a keyword and feature information selected by the keyword feature information selecting means. (E) a display instructing means for instructing display on the screen, (e) a display means for displaying an image of the keyword and the feature information instructed by the display instructing means on the screen in a designated display form, and (f) on the screen of the display means. The keyword designating means for designating the keyword displayed on the screen and the keyword designated by the (g) keyword designating means are displayed. Keyword selecting means for selecting from among the keywords instructed by the means, and (h) keyword display instructing means for instructing the display of the keyword selected by the keyword selecting means in a specific display area of the display means. It is equipped in the selection support device.

That is, according to the second aspect of the invention, when the display instructing means gives an instruction to display the keyword and the characteristic information, the designated keyword and the characteristic information associated with the keyword are selected and displayed. When the keyword on the display screen is instructed by the keyword designating means, the designated keyword is selected from the keywords instructed by the display instructing means, and the specific display of the display means is performed. The feature is that it is displayed in the area.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the keyword selection support device is provided with the display form designating means for designating the display form for the keyword and the feature information designated by the display designating means.

That is, according to the third aspect of the present invention, when the display form is designated by the display form commanding means when displaying the keyword and the feature information, the keyword and the feature information are displayed in the designated display form. It has a feature.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the characteristic information storage means stores characteristic information relating to at least one of the number of elements of the search set searched by each keyword and the ratio of the search set to the entire search target. It is characterized by being.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the keyword feature information storage means stores feature information relating to at least one of the number of elements of the search set searched by each keyword and the ratio shown in the entire search target of the search set for each keyword. It is characterized by being stored in association with.

[0019]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to embodiments.

FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a keyword selection support device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, the data communication system includes a plurality of terminal devices 10, 12,
14, 16, the communication device 18, and the databases 20 and 22, and each terminal device 10-16 is connected via the communication device 18, and each terminal device 10-16 is
An input device 24, an output device 26, a data processing device 28, and a storage device 30 are provided as the keyword selection support device (note that the keyword selection support device is shown only for the terminal 10).

The input device 24 is composed of, for example, a keyboard and a mouse as keyword designating means and scroll designating means, and is connected to the data processing device 28. The output device 26 is, for example, a CRT (C
an athode ray tube), a display device such as a liquid crystal display device, and the treatment result of the data processing device 28 is displayed on the display screen. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, when a combo box is used, a text box P ₁ , a dropdown button P ₂ , a list box P ₃ , and a scroll bar P ₄ are displayed on the display screen of the output device 26. It is like this. The text box P ₁ serves as a keyword display area for displaying the selected keyword, and the drop-down button P ₂
Is a display area for selecting a list, list box P ₃ is a list display area for displaying a list, and scroll bar P ₄ is a scroll operation display area for scrolling the information in list box P ₃ . It is supposed to be displayed.

The data processing device 28 includes an input / output control unit 3
2, display form designation section (display form designation means) 3
4, display instruction unit (display instruction unit) 36, keyword selection unit (keyword selection unit) 38, keyword input unit (keyword input unit) 40, keyword transmission unit 42, data search unit 44, keyword feature information corresponding unit (keyword feature) Information handling means) 46, keyword characteristic information registration unit 4
8. The storage device 30 comprises a keyword storage unit (keyword storage means).
52, a characteristic information storage unit (characteristic information storage unit) 54, a data storage unit 56, and a search history storage unit 58.

The data processing device 28 processes various data in response to a command from the input device 24 and outputs the processing result to the output device 26, or the data in the databases 20 and 22 via the communication device 18. Is searched and the search result is stored in the data storage unit 56, or information regarding the search history is stored in the search history storage unit 58. When a keyword and its characteristic information are input from the input device 24, the keyword characteristic information registration unit 48 classifies the keyword according to the characteristic information, stores the classified keyword information in the keyword storage unit 52, and The information is stored in the characteristic information storage unit 54 in association with the keyword.

Information relating to various keywords is stored in the keyword storage unit 52, and information that assists in selecting each keyword, that is, characteristic information that serves as a judgment reference is stored in advance in the characteristic information storage unit 54. ing. As the characteristic information, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, the number of elements of the search set searched by each keyword (all the searched data), the ratio of the search set to the entire search target (the number of hits), the past The usage frequency for a certain period, similar keywords similar to each keyword, and similarity between each keyword are set. The number of hits indicates the number of hits or the ratio of hits when the databases 20 and 22 are searched using one or more conditions using a keyword. For example, if the keyword of ID1 is the keyword "personal computer", this "personal computer"
As the characteristic information related to, "13 out of 123 items corresponding to all data, used 10 times this month, similar keyword is personal computer, similarity between personal computer and personal computer is 1" is displayed in a table format.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. First, when the user operates the input device 24 and inputs a command for displaying a keyword in front of the display screen as shown in FIG. 2, various keywords are selected from the keyword storage unit 52 and characteristic information storage is performed. Characteristic information regarding each keyword is selected from the unit 54 (step S101). When each keyword and each feature information are selected, each keyword is associated with each feature information in the keyword feature information correspondence unit 46, and the associated keyword and feature information are output to the display instruction unit 36. (Step S102). The display instruction unit 36 determines whether the designation from the display form designation unit 34 is a tabular form. At this time, if it is a tabular display form and uses a combo box (step S103: Y), an image using the combo box is displayed on the screen of the output device 26 as shown in FIG. (Step S105).

On the other hand, when the display format is different from that of the combo box (step S103: N), the display form is changed to the designated display form as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 (step S104). FIG. 5 shows a display example using a list box, and FIG. 6 shows a list selector P ₃ , a scroll bar P ₄ , a record selector P ₅ , a command button P ₆ , and list selection buttons B ₁ , B. ₂ shows a display form with ₂ and B ₃ . Further, FIG. 7 shows a list box P ₃ and a scroll bar P.
₄ shows an example of a display form provided with list selection buttons B ₁ , B ₂ and B ₃ . And FIG. 5 to FIG.
When any one of the display forms shown in is designated, the keyword and the characteristic information are displayed in the designated display form.

After the image as shown in FIG. 2 is displayed,
It is determined whether or not a keyword is designated by the user (step S106). As there is no object of the keyword on the display screen, when the keyword is not specified by the pointer or cursor (step S106: N), it is determined whether or not the scroll bar P ₄ is designated (step S107). When the scroll bar P ₄ is designated (step S107: Y), a scroll operation for displaying another keyword and the characteristic information related to this keyword in the list box P ₃ is executed (step S1).
08), and the process returns to step 106.

On the other hand, when the user designates the target keyword with the pointer or the cursor (step S106: Y), the designated keyword is selected by the keyword selecting section 38 and the selected keyword is sent to the keyword sending section 42. Yes (step S10
9). When the target keyword is selected by the keyword selection unit 38, the selected keyword is displayed in the text box P ₁ (step S110). Further, when the keyword is sent to the keyword selection unit 42, this keyword is transferred to the data search unit 44, the data search unit 44 searches the data in the data storage unit 56, and the database is also sent via the communication device 18. 20,
The data in 22 is searched (step S111). Information related to the search, such as the search result and the search condition, is stored in the search history storage unit 58 as the search history. After that, it is determined whether or not the characteristic information is updated (step S112), and when it is determined that the characteristic information needs to be updated (step S112: Y), the keyword characteristic information registration unit 48 causes the data in the data storage unit 56, Search history information in the search information storage unit 58, databases 20, 22
The stored information in the keyword 52 and the characteristic information storage unit 54 is updated using the data in the above. In this case, the keyword storage unit 52 is automatically updated by using the information in the search history storage unit 58 or the databases 20 and 22 and by using a program for registering a certain number of items in descending order of frequency of use. To do. In addition, the feature information storage unit 54
Is updated by the search history storage unit 58 or the database 2
This is automatically performed by using a program that rewrites necessary information by using the information of 0 and 22. If it is determined that the characteristic information does not need to be updated (step S112: N), the process of this routine ends.

On the other hand, when the image as shown in FIG. 2 is displayed, if there is no keyword to be selected among the keywords and the scroll bar P ₄ is not designated (step S107: N), the input device is selected. It is determined whether or not a keyword is input from 24 (step S
114). When no keyword is input (step S114: N), the process of this routine is ended, and when a keyword is input (step S114: N).
Y), a keyword is input by the keyword input unit 40 (step S115), and the input keyword is output to the keyword selection unit 38 and the characteristic information search unit 50. After that, it is determined whether or not the characteristic information of the input keyword needs to be displayed (step S116). When the characteristic information needs to be displayed (step S116: Y), the characteristic information search unit 50 causes the characteristic information storage unit to display. The feature information in 54 is searched, and the feature information regarding the input keyword is displayed (step S117). On the other hand, when it is not necessary to display the characteristic information (step S116: N), the input keyword is output to the keyword sending unit 42 (step S118). After that, similarly to the case where the keyword is designated, a search for data regarding the inputted keyword is executed (step S111).

According to this embodiment, the characteristic information, which is the criterion for selecting each keyword, is displayed at the same time as each keyword, so that the target keyword can be easily selected. Further, since the keyword can be selected from the keyword list, it becomes possible to display the information related to the keyword at high speed and input the keyword without error, as compared with the method of inputting the thesaurus search result. Furthermore, since the number of hits is displayed as the characteristic information, when selecting a keyword, it is possible to avoid selecting a keyword with 0 or too many hits, that is, an inappropriate keyword, and the search result is You can predict whether it will be the case before searching.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

In this embodiment, instead of the keyword feature information correspondence unit 46 shown in FIG. 1, a selection unit 60 as a keyword feature information selection means is provided, and instead of the feature information storage unit 54 in the keyword storage unit 52, the keyword A feature information storage unit 62 is provided, and a transmission keyword storage unit 64 is provided instead of the data storage unit 56 and the search history storage unit 58. The keyword feature information storage unit 62 is used as a selection unit 60, a keyword feature information registration unit 48, and a feature. The transmission keyword storage unit 64 is connected to the information retrieval unit 50, and the transmission keyword storage unit 64 is connected to the keyword selection unit 38 and the keyword transmission unit 42. Other configurations are similar to those of FIG.
The same or corresponding parts as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

The keyword characteristic information storage unit 62 stores, as information relating to various keywords, each keyword and characteristic information relating to each keyword in association with each other. That is, the keyword feature information storage unit 62
Stores information in which the keyword storage unit 52 and the characteristic information storage unit 54 shown in FIG. 1 are integrated. The information stored in the keyword characteristic information storage unit 62 is the selection unit 6
The information about the selected keyword and the feature information selected with 0 is output to the display instruction unit 36. When the display form designating section 34 designates a display form using a combo box, the output device 2
An image as shown in FIG. 2 is displayed on the screen of 6. At this time, when the user designates the target keyword with the pointer or the cursor, the designated keyword is displayed in the text box P ₁ .

On the other hand, when a plurality of target keywords are designated by the pointer or the cursor, information regarding each keyword, for example, mutual relation information indicating in what form the search is used, is temporarily stored in the keyword storage unit 64. At the same time, it is transferred from the keyword sending unit 44 to the data search unit 44. The mutual relationship information is a symbol associated with each keyword, and each symbol can be used for generating a search expression. For example, according to an operation from the input device 24, the keyword selection unit 38
Then, the three keywords "PC", "Word Processor", and "Mail" become ("PC" or "Word Processor"
In addition, when selected by performing a search of "mail"), these data are stored in the transmission keyword storage unit 64 according to the definition of the mutual relationship information, as shown in FIG. That is, for example, (1,
1), (1, 2), (2, 1), as shown in FIG. 10, "PC, (1, 1)", "Word processor,
Information about the three keywords is stored in the form of a pair of (1, 2) ”and“ mail, (2, 1) ”.

When the transmission keyword storage unit 64 stores the mutual relationship information regarding the selected keyword, the data retrieval unit 44 retrieves the data regarding the selected keyword. That is, the data search unit 44
Is a database 2 for transmitting keywords and mutual relation information transmitted from the keyword transmitting unit 42 via the communication device 18.
0, 22 is supplied to generate a search expression and search data. Information about the search such as the search result and the search condition is stored in the database 2 as a search history.
It is stored in 0 and 22.

When registering keywords and characteristic information, based on the keywords and characteristic information input from the input device 24, the keyword characteristic information registration unit 48 uses the data and search history in the databases 20 and 22. ,
The data and information in the keyword characteristic information storage unit 62 are updated. The keyword feature information storage unit 62 is updated automatically by using a program that uses the information in the databases 20 and 22 to register a fixed number of items in descending order of frequency of use and rewrites necessary information. Done.

In the present embodiment, since the keyword and the characteristic information serving as a criterion for selecting the keyword are simultaneously displayed on the display screen of the output device 26, the target keyword can be easily selected. Also, since the number of hits is displayed as the characteristic information, when selecting a keyword, it is possible to avoid selecting a keyword with 0 or too many hits, that is, an inappropriate keyword, and how many search results are returned. Can be predicted before search.

Further, according to the present embodiment, even in the search in which the keywords are combined by logical sum or logical product, by including the similarity between the keywords in the feature information,
The number of search results can be predicted to some extent before the search. For this reason, it is possible to quickly perform a search without performing an unnecessary search.

[0039]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, since the keyword and the characteristic information serving as a criterion for selecting the keyword are displayed at the same time, the target keyword can be easily selected. be able to.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the keyword and the characteristic information serving as a criterion for selecting the keyword are displayed at the same time, the target keyword can be easily selected.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the keyword and the characteristic information can be displayed in an arbitrary form.

According to the invention described in claim 4, it is possible to avoid selecting an inappropriate keyword and predict how many retrieval results will be obtained before retrieval.

According to the invention of claim 5, it is possible to avoid selecting an inappropriate keyword and predict how many retrieval results will be obtained before retrieval.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram showing an overall configuration of a keyword selection support device in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a display example when a combo box is used.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration of a characteristic information storage unit.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the device shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display example when a list box is used.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display example of a display form provided with a record selector.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining another display example in the list format.

FIG. 8 is a block configuration diagram showing an overall configuration of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining how to define a mutual relationship between keywords.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration of a transmission keyword storage unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 12, 14, 16 Terminal device 20, 22 Database 24 Input device 26 Output device 28 Data processing device 32 Input / output control unit 34 Display form designation unit 36 Display instruction unit 38 Keyword selection unit 40 Keyword input unit 42 Keyword transmission unit 44 Data search unit 46 Keyword feature information correspondence unit 48 Keyword feature information registration unit 50 Feature information search unit 52 Keyword storage unit 54 Feature information storage unit 56 Data storage unit 58 Search history storage unit 60 Selection unit 62 Keyword feature information storage unit 64 Send keyword Memory

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A keyword storage unit for storing a plurality of keywords, a characteristic information storage unit for storing characteristic information related to the plurality of keywords, a keyword stored in the keyword storage unit and the characteristic information storage unit. Keyword feature information correspondence means for selecting the stored feature information and associating the keyword with the feature information, and a display for instructing display of the keywords and feature information matched by the keyword feature information correspondence means An instructing unit, a display unit for displaying an image of the keyword and the feature information instructed by the display instructing unit on a screen in a designated display form, and a keyword designating unit for designating the keyword displayed on the screen of the display unit. , The keyword designated by the keyword designating means is designated by the display designating means. And a keyword display instruction means for instructing the keyword selected by the keyword selection means to display in a specific display area of the display means. Keyword selection support device. 2. A keyword characteristic information storage unit for storing a plurality of keywords in association with characteristic information related to each keyword, a characteristic information storage unit for storing characteristic information related to the plurality of keywords, and the keyword characteristic. Keyword characteristic information selecting means for selecting a specified keyword and characteristic information from the information storage means, display instructing means for instructing display of the keyword and characteristic information selected by the keyword characteristic information selecting means, and the display instructing means Display means for displaying the keyword and the characteristic information designated by the above on the screen in a designated display form, a keyword designating means for designating the keyword displayed on the screen of the display means, and the keyword designating means. Is the selected keyword among the keywords instructed by the display instructing means? A keyword selection support device, comprising: keyword selection means for selecting from among the above; and keyword display instruction means for instructing display of a keyword selected by the keyword selection means in a specific display area of the display means. . 3. The keyword selection support device according to claim 1, further comprising display form designating means for designating a display form for the keyword and the feature information designated by the display designating means. 4. The feature information storage means stores feature information relating to at least one of the number of elements of the search set searched by each keyword and the ratio of the search set to the entire search target. The keyword selection support device according to claim 1. 5. The keyword characteristic information storage means stores characteristic information relating to at least one of the number of elements of a search set searched for each keyword and the ratio of the entire search target of the search set in association with each keyword. The keyword selection support device according to claim 2, wherein