JPH10105560A - Method and device for retrieving data base - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten time for retrieval by utilizing the frequency of inputs to retrieval condition items for each user and to improve operability when inputting retrieval conditions. SOLUTION: When a user ID is inputted from an input device 1, a retrieval order determining means 4 reads an input frequency table 10 corresponding to that user ID. The input frequency table 10 records the frequency of inputting to the retrieval condition items for that user. An auxiliary retrieving means 5 retrieves a data base 11 with the prescribed number of high-order retrieval condition items having high input frequency in the input frequency table 10 as keys and the auxiliary retrieved result 12 classifying retrieval object data for each value of keys is prepared. Based on the input frequency table 10, the retrieval condition items on a retrieval condition item input picture are rearranged in order from the highest input frequency by an input picture shaping means 6. When the user inputs the retrieval conditions on the retrieval condition item input picture, a retrieving means 9 finds relevant data by retrieving the auxiliary retrieved result 12 and outputs these data to an output device 14. Besides, an input frequency table preparing means 8 updates the input frequency table 10 for the next time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a database search technique, and more particularly to a database search method and apparatus for searching a database for data satisfying search conditions input by a user and outputting the data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this type of database search apparatus, when a search condition includes a logical product of a plurality of keys,
A device has been devised to reduce the search time as much as possible. An example of a conventional database search apparatus is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-1.
No. 05223. The database search device described in this publication stores the number of appearances of data having the same key in advance together with the content of the key, searches from the key with the least number of occurrences, and narrows down the data early. , To shorten the search time.

[0003]

In the prior art, if the number of appearances of data having the same key is not unevenly distributed, a reduction in search time cannot be expected. The reason is that it is not possible to effectively narrow down data by using a key having a small number of occurrences. For this reason, there is a demand for a technique that can shorten the search time as much as possible by other means.

An object of the present invention is to reduce a search time in a database search in which a user selects and inputs an arbitrary search condition by utilizing a user's input frequency of search condition items up to the present.

Another object of the present invention is to improve the operability of selecting a search condition item on a search condition item input screen.

[0006]

The present invention rearranges search condition items on a search condition item input screen in descending order of input frequency based on an input frequency table in which the user's input frequency for each search condition item is recorded. In addition, a preliminary search is basically performed using a search condition item with a high input frequency as a key.

More specifically, a database for searching and outputting data satisfying a search condition input for a search condition item selected by a user among a plurality of search condition items on a search condition item input screen. In the search method, the database is searched using, as a key, a predetermined number of search condition items having a high input frequency in an input frequency table in which input frequencies of individual search condition items by the user are recorded, and a search is performed for each key value. Creating a preliminary search result in which the target data is classified; rearranging the search condition items on the search condition item input screen in descending order of the input frequency based on the input frequency table; The preliminary search based on a search condition input for a search condition item selected by the user among the search condition items With Search results, characterized in that it comprises a step of updating the input frequency table in accordance with the search condition item selected by the user, and outputting to an output device search results.

[0008] Further, in a database search device for searching and outputting from a database data satisfying a search condition input for a search condition item selected by a user among a plurality of search condition items on a search condition item input screen. An input frequency table for each user that records the input frequency of each search condition item by the user, and a predetermined number of search condition items having a high input frequency in the input frequency table corresponding to the user performing the current search are used as keys. Preliminary search means for searching the database and creating a preliminary search result in which data to be searched is classified for each key value, and inputting search condition items in descending order of input frequency based on an input frequency table corresponding to the user performing the current search An input screen shaping means for rearranging search condition items on the screen, and a user interface among a plurality of search condition items on the search condition item input screen. Search means for searching for the preliminary search result based on the search condition input for the search condition item selected by the user, an output device for outputting the search result of the search means, and a user on the search condition item input screen Input frequency table creating means for updating the corresponding input frequency in the input frequency table of the user according to the search condition item selected by the user.

In general, even if a plurality of search condition items are prepared on the search condition item input screen, it is often the case that only a part of the search condition items is selected in each search. At this time, the selection tendency of the search condition item differs for each user,
If viewed only from individual users, it can be predicted to some extent from the selection tendency up to now. In other words, a search condition item having a higher input frequency in the past is more likely to be selected this time. Therefore, based on an input frequency table that records the input frequencies of individual search condition items by the user, a database is searched using a predetermined number of search condition items having a high input frequency as a key, and a search object is searched for each key value. If a preliminary search result in which data is classified is created, the search time after the user actually inputs the value of the search condition can be reduced.

[0010] Also, since the search condition items on the search condition item input screen are rearranged in descending order of input frequency, items that are frequently selected by the user are collected in a portion near the top of the screen. Therefore, it is not necessary to move the cursor over a wide range in order to select a search condition item, and operability is improved.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, an example of a database search device to which the present invention is applied is an input device 1 such as a keyboard.
A control device 15 composed of a CPU or the like operated by a program; a storage device 16 such as a main storage or an external storage for storing information; and an output device 14 such as a CRT display.
And

The control device 15 includes an input frequency table creating means 8 for recording the input frequency of the search condition items input from the input device 1 for each user, and a search order determining means for rearranging the search condition items in descending order of the input frequency. 4, an input screen shaping means 6 for displaying the sorted search condition items, a preliminary search means 5 for performing a search in advance using some of the most frequently input search condition items as keys, and a search condition by the user. And an input control means 2 and an output control means 13 for controlling input and output between these means and the input device 1 and the output device 14.

The storage device 16 stores an input frequency table 10 for each user which records search condition items and the number of times of input, a database 11 such as a relational database storing search target data, and a preliminary search result 12. Remember.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described.
This will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

When a user uses the present database search device, first, the user inputs his / her user ID from the input device 1. The input user ID is input into the control device 15 by the input control means 2 (101), and is supplied to the search order determination means 4. The search order determining means 4 stores the input frequency table corresponding to the input user ID in the storage device 16.
Is checked (102), and if it is stored, the input frequency table 10 is read (103), and the input frequency of each search condition item recorded in the input frequency table 10 is referred to. Arrange search condition items in descending order of frequency (1
04). The rearranged search condition items are supplied to the preliminary search means 5 and the input screen shaping means 6.

The preliminary search means 5 selects some of the most frequently used search condition items from the supplied search condition items, searches the search target database 11 using them as a key, and, for each key value, A preliminary search result 12 in which search target data is classified is created and stored in the storage device 16 (10
5). The number of the most frequently used search condition items is determined in advance.

On the other hand, the input screen shaping means 6 shapes the supplied search condition items in correspondence with the item names on the search condition item input screen (106), and outputs them to the output device 14 through the output control means 13 (106). 108). Thereby, a search condition item input screen in which the search condition items are arranged in descending order of the input frequency is presented to the user.

When the user performs a search for the first time,
Since the input frequency table of the user does not yet exist, the preliminary search is not performed, and thus the preliminary search result 12 is not created. The input screen shaping means 6 creates a search condition item input screen in which the search condition items are arranged in a predetermined order (107), and outputs the output device 14 through the output control means 13.
(108).

Thereafter, when the user sequentially selects arbitrary search condition items with a cursor on the search condition item input screen displayed on the output device 14 and inputs search conditions,
The input search condition is supplied to the input frequency table creation means 8 and the search means 9 through the input control means 2 (10).
9).

The input frequency table creating means 8 updates the number of inputs of the currently input search condition item in the input frequency table 10 corresponding to the previously input user ID (110).
When the user performs a search for the first time, the input frequency table of the user has not been created yet. At this time, an input frequency table in the initial state corresponding to the user ID is created in the storage device 16, and the input frequency is updated in accordance with the current selection of the search condition item.

On the other hand, the search means 9 searches the preliminary search results 118 created in the storage device 16 using the input search conditions, and extracts data meeting the conditions (112). The search result is output to the output device 14 through the interface 13 (114). When the user performs a search for the first time, since the preliminary search result 12 has not been created, the search means 9 detects that the preliminary search result 12 has not been created (111) and returns to the original database 1
1 (113), and outputs the search result to the output device 14 through the output control means 13 (11).
4).

In the flowcharts of FIGS. 2 and 3, the display of the search condition item input screen and the input of the search condition are performed after the completion of the preliminary search, but these can be performed independently. Alternatively, the display of the search condition item input screen and the process of inputting the search condition may be performed in parallel with the preliminary search process.

[0024]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1, 4 and 5. FIG.

For example, the input device 1 through the input control means 2
When "Kensaku" is input as a user ID from (step 201), the input frequency table 10 with the user ID "Kensaku" is read from the storage device 16 into the search order determining means 4 (202). In the input frequency table 10 read at this time, as shown in FIG.
It is assumed that the number of inputs is recorded as 7, 0, 10, and 4 for the search condition items 3 and 4, respectively. Since the search condition items are rearranged by the search order determining means 4 in descending order of frequency, in this example, the search condition items are arranged in the order of 3, 1, 4, and 2, as indicated by reference numeral 301 in FIG.

Next, the preliminary search means 5 selects the top two search condition items 3, 1 having a high input frequency, and stores the correspondence between the data and the search condition items 1, 2, 3, 4 in FIG. Database 11 composed of Tables 1 to 4 as shown
, A search is performed using the search condition item 3 and the search condition item 1 as keys, and a preliminary search result 12 is created (204). At this time, the search condition item 3 has three possible values X, Y, and Z, and the search condition item 1 has three possible values a, b, and c.
In other words, as shown in Table A of FIG. 4, Table A which collects data satisfying (item 3, item 1) = (X, a), and (X, b) as shown in Table B of FIG. Table B that collects different data
(X, c), (Y, a),
(Y, b), (Y, c), (Z, a), (Z, b),
A total of nine types of tables corresponding to (Z, c) are created.

On the other hand, in the input screen shaping means 6, as indicated by reference numeral 302 in FIG.
A search condition item input screen in which search condition items are arranged in the order of 1, 4, and 2 is created, and the output device 1 is output through the output control means 13.
4 is displayed (205).

Thereafter, assuming that the user inputs "item 3 = X, item 1 = a, item 4 = 40 or less" as a search condition, this is input by the input control means 2 (206), and an input frequency table is prepared. In the means 8, the input frequency table 10 having "Kensaku" as the user ID is updated, and as shown in FIG. 5 (2
07).

In the search means 9, the table A corresponding to item 3 = X and item 1 = a from the preliminary search results 12
Is selected, and the table A is searched under the condition of “item 4 = 40 or less”, and D1 is obtained as a search result (208). Then, the output control means 13 outputs the search result D1 to the output device 1
4 (209).

If the search condition items selected by the user are exactly the same as item 1 and item 3 in the case of the preliminary search, the contents of any table corresponding to the values of items 1 and 3 specified by the user Everything is a search result. For example, in the above example, the user selects only item 3 as a search condition item,
When X is specified as the value, the data in Table A is the search result. If a part of the search condition item selected by the user matches the preliminary search, data having the value of the unmatched search condition item from all the tables having the value of the matched search condition item is deleted. Search for. For example, in the above example, if the user selects item 3 and item 4 as search condition items, and their respective values are X, 40 or less, the search condition items in the nine types of tables constituting the preliminary search result 3
Are searched for data in which the value of item 4 is 40 or less from three tables in which the value of X is X. Furthermore, when there is no search condition item that matches the search condition item selected by the user in the search condition items used for the preliminary search, the search is executed for all the preliminary search results. In this case, the original database 11 may be searched instead of the search for the preliminary search result.

In the above example, two search condition items are used as a predetermined number of search condition items having a high input frequency in the input frequency table, but the number is not limited to two. . In addition, the total number of times the user has performed a search is also recorded in the input frequency table, and a search condition item in which the value of the number of times of input for the total number is larger than a predetermined value is used as a search condition item for the preliminary search. Is also good.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

For a user who frequently performs a search by always selecting a specific search condition item, the search time after the user inputs the search condition can be reduced. The reason is that a preliminary search is performed using the search condition item that has been frequently input as a key.

In the case of a user who frequently selects a specific search condition item to perform a search, the operability at the time of inputting the search condition is improved. The reason is that, since the search condition items on the search condition item input screen are rearranged in descending order of the input frequency, the moving range of the cursor for selecting the search condition items is narrowed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a database search device to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a part of an operation flow from input of a user ID to output of a search result in the database search device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the rest of the flow of operation from input of a user ID to output of a search result in the database search device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a part of an operation flow from input of a user ID to output of a search result in the database search device of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the remaining part of the operation flow from the input of the user ID to the output of the search result in the database search device of the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Input device 2 ... Input control means 4 ... Search order determination means 5 ... Preliminary search means 6 ... Input screen shaping means 8 ... Input frequency table preparation means 9 ... Search means 10 ... Input frequency table 11 ... Database 12 ... Preliminary search result 13 output control means 14 output device 15 control device 16 storage device

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A search condition item on a search condition item input screen is rearranged in descending order of input frequency based on an input frequency table in which a user input frequency for each search condition item is recorded. A database search method characterized by performing a preliminary search using an item as a key. 2. A database search method for searching and outputting from a database data satisfying a search condition input for a search condition item selected by a user among a plurality of search condition items on a search condition item input screen. The database is searched using a predetermined number of search condition items having a high input frequency as a key in an input frequency table in which input frequencies of individual search condition items by the user are recorded, and search target data is searched for each key value. Creating a classified preliminary search result; rearranging search condition items on a search condition item input screen in descending order of input frequency based on the input frequency table; and a plurality of search condition items on a search condition item input screen. Search the preliminary search result based on the search condition input for the search condition item selected by the user And a step of updating the input frequency table according to a search condition item selected by a user, and a step of outputting a search result to an output device. 3. A database search device for searching a database for data satisfying a search condition input for a search condition item selected by a user among a plurality of search condition items on a search condition item input screen, and outputting the data. An input frequency table for each user that records the input frequency of each search condition item by a user, and a predetermined number of search condition items having a high input frequency in the input frequency table corresponding to the user who performs a search this time are used as keys. Preliminary search means for searching the database and creating a preliminary search result in which data to be searched is classified for each key value, and inputting search condition items in descending order of input frequency based on an input frequency table corresponding to a user who searches this time Input screen shaping means for rearranging the search condition items on the screen; and a user among a plurality of search condition items on the search condition item input screen. Search means for searching the preliminary search result based on the search condition input for the search condition item selected by the user, an output device for outputting the search result of the search means, and a user on the search condition item input screen. An input frequency table creating means for updating a corresponding input frequency in an input frequency table of the user according to a selected search condition item.