JPH10334091A - Postal code and address converter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simultaneously execute conversion of a postal code to an address and conversion of an address to a postal code with a high conversion rate by using a single dictionary. SOLUTION: When a postal code or an address is inputted from an input part 23, the address corresponding to the inputted postal code or the postal code corresponding to the inputted address is selected from among the addresses or the postal codes stored in a postal code dictionary part 26 of a postal code conversion part 25, converted and outputted from a printing part 28 or a display part 29. Since one address word to be used only in conversion of the postal code to the address and the other address word used only in conversion of the address to the postal code are distinctively stored in the postal code dictionary part 26, the address or the postal code is converted by using the optimal address of a single dictionary part 26.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a postal code / address converting apparatus which is applicable to a Japanese word processor, a DTP, a portable terminal device, etc., and is capable of converting a postal code and an address.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known an apparatus for converting an input postal code into an address corresponding to the postal code. Also,
Conversely, a device that converts an input address into a postal code corresponding to the address is known. FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the postal code / address conversion apparatus 1 according to the related art. The entire operation of the postal code / address conversion apparatus 1 is controlled by the control unit 2 according to a predetermined operation program. The postal code and address conversion process is performed by the postal code conversion unit 5 including the postal code dictionary unit 6a that stores the postal code data 10 and the address data 11 as shown in FIG. . Postal code dictionary 6
In a, address data is stored as kanji data. The sentence buffer 7 temporarily stores input sentence data.

The zip code data input from the input unit 3 is given to a zip code conversion unit 5 and compared with the zip code data 10 of a zip code dictionary unit 6a to obtain corresponding address data 11.
Is selected and converted. The kana data representing the address data input from the input unit 3 is provided to a kana-kanji conversion unit 4 and converted into kanji data, and then provided to a postal code conversion unit 5 to receive address data in a postal code dictionary unit 6a. 11 and the corresponding postal code data 10 is selected and converted. The converted address data and postal code data are output by being printed by the printing unit 8 or displayed on the display unit 9.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a postal code dictionary 6b used in place of the postal code dictionary 6a. The dictionary unit 6b stores the postal code data 10 and the address data 11 in association with each other as in the case of the dictionary unit 6a, but the address data 11 is the prefectural data 12, the municipal data 13, and the municipal data. The data 14 is classified into a plurality of layers.

[0005] In the postal code address conversion apparatus having such a dictionary section 6b, at the time of postal code conversion of an address, first, a prefectural display screen 15 showing prefectural data 12 as shown in FIG. Is done. The operator selects a desired prefecture from the prefectures displayed on the display screen 15. Next, a city / county display screen 16 as shown in FIG. 21B showing the city / county data 13 corresponding to the selected prefecture is displayed, and the operator selects one of the cities / counties displayed on the display screen 16. To select the desired city. Similarly,
A municipal town display screen showing the municipal town data 14 corresponding to the selected city / county is displayed, and the operator selects a desired municipal town from the municipal towns displayed on the display screen. As a result, the address is specified, and the corresponding postal code data 10 is selected.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-59465 discloses a zip code / address conversion apparatus capable of converting a zip code into an address and converting an address into a zip code. JP-A-2-2890
JP-A-41, JP-A-4-252354 and JP-A-7-160701 disclose a zip code / address conversion device capable of converting zip codes of addresses. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-284664 discloses an address input device for retrieving a higher address from an input address.

[0007]

The postal code is a number determined for each predetermined postal zone when performing postal services. For example, a postal code of "9600624" is assigned to a postal zone of "1-chome, Hobara-cho, Date-gun". A zip code is defined. Therefore, the postal code / address conversion apparatus has a dictionary in which the postal code data 10 of “9600624” is associated with the address data 11 of “1 Hobocho, Date-gun”. In a conventional postal code address conversion device having such a dictionary, it is not possible to convert a postal code to a desired postal code without correctly inputting "1-chome, Hobara-cho, Date-gun" at the time of postal code conversion of an address. For example, if the user inputs "Hitawara-cho, Date-gun" or "1-2, Hobara-cho, Date-gun", it cannot be converted to the desired postal code.

In the prior art apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-59465, the postal code address conversion and the address postal code conversion are performed using a single dictionary. In addition, the simplification can be achieved, and the dictionary can be easily maintained. However, the above-mentioned
-59465, JP-A-2-289041,
JP-A-4-252354, JP-A-7-16070
No. 1 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. Sho 62-284664, the devices of the prior art include “town”, “article”, “chome”,
Because we do not consider addresses written in various forms, such as the presence or absence of specific address terms such as `` large '' and `` character '', substitution of Kanji numerals and arithmetic numerals and substitution of variant characters,
The above-described inconvenience occurs, resulting in a low conversion rate. In addition, it is necessary to input an address in a form stored in a dictionary, which is inconvenient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a postal code / address conversion apparatus capable of performing both postal code address conversion and postal code postal code conversion at a high conversion rate using a single dictionary.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided a storage means for storing a zip code and an address in association with each other, a designation means for designating a zip code or an address, and a zip code designated by the designation means. A conversion unit that converts the address to the corresponding address stored in the storage unit, or the address specified by the specification unit to a corresponding postal code stored in the storage unit; Output means for outputting a postal code, wherein in the storage means, one address term used only at the time of postal address conversion of the postal code and the other address term used only at the time of postal code conversion of the address are separately stored. Is a postal code address conversion device.

According to the present invention, when the postal code is specified by the specifying means, the address corresponding to the specified postal code is stored in the storage means in the storage means in a manner distinguished by one address term. The address is searched and converted. The converted address is output from the output means. When the address is specified by the specifying means, the postal code corresponding to the specified address is stored in the postal code corresponding to the address stored in the storage means by the other address term in the storage means. Searched from and converted. The converted postal code is output from the output means. In the storage means, one address term used only at the time of postal code conversion of the address and the other address term used only at the time of postal code conversion of the address are separately stored, so a single storage means is used. However, it is possible to convert to an address or a zip code at a high conversion rate using an optimal address for each conversion.

Further, according to the present invention, when the postal code is converted into an address, the address corresponding to the designated postal code is selected from the addresses stored in the storage means using the one-way address term. And converting the postal code corresponding to the specified address from the postal code corresponding to the address stored in the storage means using the other address term when converting the postal code of the address. It is characterized by.

According to the present invention, when the postal code is specified by the specifying means, the conversion means sets the address corresponding to the specified postal code in the one of the addresses stored in the storage means. Choose from addresses using address terms,
Convert. When an address is specified by the specifying means,
The conversion means selects and converts a postal code corresponding to a designated address from postal codes corresponding to an address using the other address term in the addresses stored in the storage means. Therefore, an address or a postal code can be searched at a high conversion rate using an optimum address for each conversion while using a single storage unit.

According to the present invention, a storage means for storing a postal code and an address in association with each other, a specifying means for specifying a postal code or an address, and a postal code specified by the specifying means are stored in the storage means. Converting means for converting the address specified by the specifying means to the corresponding postal code stored in the storage means, and outputting the address or postal code converted by the converting means. Output means, and the storage means,
A postal code / address conversion apparatus characterized by having a multi-level storage unit that stores a postal code and an address in association with each other.

According to the invention, when the postal code is specified by the specifying means, the address corresponding to the specified postal code is stored in the address stored in the storage section of the storage means by the conversion means. Searched from and converted. When the address is specified by the specifying means, the postal code corresponding to the specified address is searched for from the postal code stored in the storage unit of the storage means and converted. . The storage unit includes a multi-level storage unit that stores a postal code and an address in association with each other,
By a method using an optimal storage unit of a single storage unit having the storage unit, it is possible to perform postal code address conversion and postal code postal code conversion at a high conversion rate.

Further, according to the present invention, when the postal code is converted into an address, the prefectural state and the postal code corresponding to the prefectural state are stored in association with each other using the first hierarchical storage unit. Is selected and converted, and the address following the converted prefecture is used by using the storage units of the second and subsequent hierarchies in which the address following the prefecture and the postal code corresponding to the address are stored in association with each other. When converting the postal code of the address, the postal code corresponding to the prefecture of the designated address is selected and converted using the storage unit of the first hierarchy,
A postal code corresponding to an address following the prefecture of the designated address is selected and converted by using the storage units in the second and subsequent hierarchies.

According to the invention, when the postal code is specified by the specifying means, the converting means converts the prefecture of the address corresponding to the specified postal code using the first hierarchical storage unit. The converted address following the prefecture is converted using the second and subsequent hierarchical storage units. When the address is specified by the specifying means, the converting means converts the postal code corresponding to the prefecture of the specified address using the first hierarchical storage unit, and converts the postal code corresponding to the prefecture of the specified address. The postal code corresponding to the address is converted using the second and subsequent hierarchical storage units. Therefore, the postal code address conversion and the address postal code conversion can be performed at a high conversion rate by a method using the optimal storage unit of a single storage unit having the storage unit.

According to the present invention, there is provided a storage means for storing a postal code and an address in association with each other, a specifying means for specifying a postal code or an address, and a postal code specified by the specifying means being stored in the storage means. Converting means for converting the address specified by the specifying means to the corresponding postal code stored in the storage means, and outputting the address or postal code converted by the converting means. Output means, and the conversion means,
A postal code / address conversion apparatus characterized in that at the time of postal code conversion of an address, a designated address and an address stored in the storage means are converted by performing a predetermined editing process.

According to the invention, when the postal code is specified by the specifying means, an address corresponding to the specified postal code is selected from the addresses stored in the storage means by the conversion means. Is converted. When the address is specified by the specifying means, the postal code corresponding to the specified address is selected from the postal codes stored in the storage means and converted by the converting means. Here, the conversion means converts the designated address and the address stored in the storage means by performing a predetermined editing process. Therefore, even if the designated address does not match the stored address, the postal code can be selected by matching the address by the editing process. Therefore, the conversion efficiency is improved, and the convenience of the postal code address conversion device is significantly improved.

Further, in the present invention, the editing process is a process of skipping a specified address term in a specified address and an address stored in the storage means.

According to the present invention, at the time of postal code conversion of an address, a process of skipping a specified address term in a designated address and a stored address is performed as the editing process. For example, certain address terms such as town, street, chome, large section, type, west entry, east entry, up and down are skipped. Therefore, even when the address specified by such an address term does not match the stored address, the address can be matched and the postal code can be selected by the skipping process, thereby improving the conversion efficiency. , Convenience is improved.

Further, the invention is characterized in that the editing process is a process of replacing a specific address term in a designated address and an address stored in the storage means with a predetermined specific address term. I do.

According to the present invention, at the time of postal code conversion of an address, a process of replacing a specified address term in a designated address and a stored address with a predetermined specific address term is performed as the editing process. Is done. For example, a process of replacing arithmetic numerals with Chinese numerals, a process of replacing “ga” and “ga” with “ga”, and a process of replacing “no” and “no” with “no” are performed. Therefore, even if the address specified by such an address term and the stored address do not match, the replacement process can match the address and select the postal code, improving the conversion efficiency, Convenience is improved.

In the present invention, the editing process is a process of replacing a specific character in a designated address and an address stored in the storage means with a predetermined variant character in one direction or two directions. There is a feature.

According to the present invention, at the time of postal code conversion of an address, a specific character in a designated address and a stored address and a predetermined variant character are unidirectionally or bidirectionally processed as the editing process. Replacement processing is performed. For example, one-way replacement of "island" with "shima", "maki"
The two-way replacement process between “Firefly” and “Maki” and the two-way replacement process between “Firefly” and “Firefly” are performed. Therefore, even if the address specified by such an address term and the stored address do not match, the replacement process can match the address and select the postal code, improving the conversion efficiency, Convenience is improved.

[0026]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a postal code / address conversion apparatus 21 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The postal code / address conversion device 21 includes a control unit 2
2. It comprises an input unit 23, a kana-kanji conversion unit 24, a postal code conversion unit 25, a text buffer 27, a printing unit 28, a display unit 29, and a cursor pointer 30. Control unit 2
2 controls the overall operation of the postal code / address conversion apparatus 21 in accordance with a predetermined operation program.
U (central processing unit). The input unit 23
For example, it is realized by a keyboard and a postal code or a pseudonym representing an address is input. The kana data representing the address input from the input unit 23 is provided to a kana-kanji conversion unit 24 and converted into kanji data.

The postal code conversion unit 25 includes a forward conversion unit 25.
a and a reverse conversion unit 25b. Forward converter 2
5a executes an operation of a process of converting the postal code input from the input unit 23 into an address (hereinafter, referred to as a "forward conversion process"). The reverse conversion unit 25b executes an operation of converting an address input from the input unit 23 and converted to kanji data by the kana-kanji conversion unit 24 into a postal code (hereinafter, referred to as “reverse conversion process”). I do. Further, the postal code conversion section 25 includes a postal code dictionary section 26 used at the time of the forward conversion processing and the reverse conversion processing. The postal code dictionary section 2
6 stores a postal code and an address in association with each other.

The postal code conversion section 25 can appropriately perform a conversion process for handling a 3 and 5 digit postal code and a conversion process for handling a 7 digit postal code. It is also possible to convert between 3- and 5-digit postal codes and 7-digit postal codes. For such a conversion process involving 3 and 5 digits and 7 digits, the postal code dictionary unit 26 stores a 3 and 5 digit postal code corresponding to each other and a 7 digit zip code. It may have a dictionary section. Alternatively, a single dictionary unit storing a 3-digit and 5-digit postal code and a 7-digit postal code may be used.

The sentence buffer 27 stores the kana-kanji conversion processing by the kana-kanji conversion processing section 24 and the postal code conversion section 2
5 is used at the time of executing a postal code / address conversion process or the like, and temporarily stores text data such as a postal code and an address. The printing unit 28 prints and outputs sentence data such as the input postal code and address and the converted address and postal code. The display unit 29 is realized by, for example, a CRT (cathode ray tube), and displays and outputs sentence data such as the input postal code and address and the converted address and postal code. The display unit 2 is moved by the cursor pointer 30.
9 indicates a predetermined position in the sentence data displayed.

FIG. 2 shows display screens 31a and 31b displayed on the display unit 29 for simply explaining the forward conversion process.
It is a figure which shows an example of each. The postal code data 32 input from the input unit 23 is displayed on a display screen 31a of the display unit 29 as shown in FIG.
After the input postal code, a cursor 33 is displayed by the cursor pointer 30.

Next, execution of the forward conversion process is designated by using a predetermined conversion key or the like provided in advance in the postal code address conversion device 21, and the input postal code is stored in the postal code stored in the postal code dictionary unit 26. When converted by the conversion unit 25, the converted address data 34 is displayed on the display screen 31b as shown in FIG. After the converted address, the cursor 33 is displayed.

FIG. 3 shows display screens 35a and 35b displayed on the display unit 29 for simply explaining the inverse conversion processing.
It is a figure which shows an example of each. The kana data representing the address input from the input unit 23 is converted to kanji data by the kana kanji conversion unit 24. The input address data 36 is displayed on the display screen 35a of the display unit 29 as shown in FIG. The cursor 33 is displayed after the input address.

Next, the execution of the reverse conversion process is specified by a predetermined conversion key or the like provided in the postal code address conversion device 21 in advance, and the input address is added to the postal code stored in the postal code dictionary unit 26 by the postal code. When converted by the conversion unit 25, the postal code data 37 converted as shown in FIG. 3B is displayed on the display screen 35b. After the converted postal code, the cursor 33 is displayed.

The example shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is an example of a conversion process for handling a 7-digit postal code, and the 7-digit mode is designated when the process is performed. For example, the 7-digit mode is designated by a predetermined key provided in the postal code address conversion device 21 in advance. As shown in FIG. 2, at the time of forward conversion, the number of digits of the input postal code may be acquired to determine whether it is 3 or 5 digits or 7 digits, and the digit mode may be set. Also, in the case of a conversion process for handling a 3-digit and 5-digit postal code, a mode is designated in the same manner, and the postal code and the address are converted.

FIG. 4 shows one example of display screens 38a to 38c displayed on the display unit 29 for simply explaining the batch conversion process of 3 and 5 digit postal codes to 7 digit postal codes. FIG. As shown in FIG. 4A, the display screen 38a displays name data 39,
The postal code data 40a and the address data 41 are displayed. The postal code data 40a has three and five digits.

Next, execution of the conversion process of the postal code digit number is designated using a predetermined conversion key or the like provided in the postal code address conversion device 21 in advance. Thereby, the display screen 38b for notifying the conversion of the number of digits of the postal code as shown in FIG.
Is displayed. Then the postal code is 3 and 5 digits to 7
The postal code is converted into digits, and a display screen 38c showing the postal code in seven digits as shown in FIG. 4C is displayed.

Even if there are a plurality of postal code data 40a, as described above, three to five digits to seven
It can be converted to a digit zip code at once. That is, the 3- and 5-digit postal code data 40a is sequentially extracted from the dictionary unit, and the corresponding 7-digit postal code data is searched. Also, the process of converting a 7-digit postal code into a 3- and 5-digit postal code is performed in the same manner.

The above description is the basic operation of the postal code address conversion device 21. In the following first to fifth embodiments, characteristic operations of the device 21 will be described.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a postal code address conversion operation of the postal code address conversion device 21 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the first embodiment, in the postal code dictionary unit 26 that stores a postal code and an address in association with each other,
One address term used only during forward conversion and another address term used only during reverse conversion are stored separately.

That is, in the dictionary address data 45 of the postal code dictionary section 26, the one address term of the data 45 is specified by a pair of first identification information 46, and the other address term of the data 45 is a pair of second address information. Designated by the identification information 47 and stored respectively. The address term specified by the first identification information 46 is used only at the time of forward conversion in which the postal code is specified and converted to the address, and the address term specified by the second identification information 47 is specified by the address and the postal code. It is used only at the time of reverse conversion to convert to a number.

Therefore, at the time of forward conversion, dictionary address data 48 using the address term specified by the first identification information 46 is used.
Also, dictionary address data 48 that does not use the address term specified by the second identification information 47 is used. At the time of inverse conversion, dictionary address data 49 not using the address term specified by the first identification information 46 and dictionary address data 49 using the address term specified by the second identification information 47 are used.

For example, an address term "chome" of the dictionary address data "1-chome, Hobara-cho, Date-gun" is specified by being sandwiched between a pair of first identification information "<,>". In addition, “3” of “Shinei 3, Chigusa-ku, Nagoya-shi” is designated by being sandwiched between a pair of second identification information “<<, >>”.

When the zip code is input, a display screen 50a showing the zip code data 51 of "96000624" and the zip code data 52 of "464059" is displayed as shown in FIG. 6A. Is done. When the conversion process to the address is executed, the postal code “960062”
In the dictionary address data corresponding to "4", "Hobara-cho, Date-gun"
Since the first identification information "<", "1-chome" on the one side and the first identification information ">" on the other side, the converted address data 53 of "1-chome, Hobara-cho, Date-gun" is shown in FIG. ) Is displayed on the display screen 50b. Postal code "46"
Since the dictionary address data corresponding to “40859” is “Shinei, Chigusa-ku, Nagoya-shi”, one of the second identification information “<<”, “3” and the other second identification information “>>”, “Chigusa, Nagoya-shi” The converted address data 54 of “Shinei-ku” is shown in FIG.
Is displayed on the display screen 50b as shown in FIG.

When the address is entered, as shown in FIG. 7A, the inputted address data 56 of "1-2, Hobara-cho, Date-gun" and the inputted address data of "3-chome Shinei, Chigusa-ku, Nagoya-shi". 57 is displayed. When the conversion process to the postal code is executed, the input address data up to the address "1 Hobara-cho, Date-gun" is collated with the dictionary address data. Then, the converted postal code data 58 of "9600624" is displayed on the display screen 55b as shown in FIG. 7B. The input address data up to the address "Shinei 3 in Chikusa-ku, Nagoya-shi" and the dictionary address data are collated. Then, the converted postal code data 59 of "464059" is displayed on the display screen 55b as shown in FIG. 7B.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a postal code address conversion operation performed by the postal code conversion unit 25 of the postal code address conversion device 21 of the first embodiment. In step a1, characters indicating an address or a postal code are entered in the input unit 23.
Is entered from

At step a2, it is determined whether or not to execute the forward conversion processing. For example, the determination is made based on a designation from a predetermined forward conversion key. When performing the forward conversion processing, the process proceeds to step a3, and it is determined whether or not the mode is the seven-digit mode. When the mode is the seven-digit mode, the process proceeds to step a4, where the conversion process is performed using the dictionary unit 26 for seven digits. The input address and the dictionary address stored in the dictionary unit 26 are sequentially collated one by one, and in step a5, it is determined whether the dictionary address is one of the first identification information “<”. .
If it is the first identification information "<", step a6
The address term specified between the pair of first identification information “<,>” is deleted and collated.

At step a5, one of the first identification information "<"
If not, and when the processing in step a6 is completed, the process proceeds to step a7, where the dictionary address is stored in the second
It is determined whether or not the identification information is “<<”. The second of the other
If the identification information is "<<", the process proceeds to step a8, where the address term is skipped to the other second identification information ">>" for collation. When the second identification information is not "<<" in step a7 and when the processing of step a8 is completed, the process proceeds to step a9, where the search result is displayed and the postal code address conversion operation is completed.

When the mode is not the 7-digit mode in step a3,
That is, in the case of the 3 and 5 digit mode, step a19
The search result by the conversion operation executed by using the dictionary unit 26 for 3 and 5 digits is displayed, and the postal code address conversion operation is ended.

In step a10 where it is determined in step a2 that the forward conversion process is not to be performed, it is determined whether or not to perform the inverse conversion process. For example, the determination is made based on a designation from a predetermined reverse conversion key. When the inverse conversion process is performed, the process proceeds to step a11. When the inverse conversion process is not performed, the process returns to step a1.

At step a11, the process skips the prefecture of the input address and proceeds to step a12. The operation of converting by skipping the prefectures will be described in detail in the second embodiment.

At step a12, it is determined whether or not the mode is the seven-digit mode. When the mode is the seven-digit mode, the process proceeds to step a13, where the conversion process is performed using the dictionary unit 26 for seven digits.
The input postal code and the postal code stored in the dictionary unit 26 are sequentially collated one by one, and a step a14 is performed.
Then, it is determined whether or not the corresponding dictionary address is the first identification information “<”. If it is the first identification information “<”, the process proceeds to step a5, and the address term is skipped to the other first identification information “>” for collation.

When it is determined in step a14 that the first identification information is not "<" or when the processing in step a15 is completed, the process proceeds to step a16, and the corresponding dictionary address is the one second identification information "<<". Determine whether or not. If it is the second identification information "<<", the process proceeds to step a17, where the address term specified between the pair of second identification information "<<, >>" is deleted and collated.
When it is determined in step a16 that the second identification information is not "<<" and when the processing in step a17 is completed, the process proceeds to step a9, where the search result is displayed and the postal code address conversion operation is completed.

If the mode is not the 7-digit mode in step a12, that is, if the mode is the 3- or 5-digit mode, step a
Then, the process proceeds to step S18, where the search result obtained by the conversion process executed using the dictionary unit 26 for 3 and 5 digits is displayed, and the postal code / address conversion operation ends.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the postal code dictionary unit 26 stores the first and second address terms used only during forward conversion and the other address terms used only during reverse conversion. Since the information is stored by being distinguished by the second identification information 46, 47, the optimal address is used for each of the forward conversion and the reverse conversion while using the single postal code dictionary unit 26.
Addresses or postal codes can be converted with a high conversion rate.

It should be noted that the one address term and the other address term are not limited to the above-mentioned terms, and other terms may be replaced by the first term.
The identification information 46 and the second identification information 47 may be used separately.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a postal code address conversion operation of the postal code address conversion device 21 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is characterized in that the postal code dictionary unit 26 has a multi-level storage unit that stores postal codes and addresses in association with each other.

First, the case of forward conversion will be described with reference to FIG. For example, when the postal code “6300000” is input, the first two digits “6” of the postal code input with reference to the primary index 61 which is the storage unit.
3 "and the dictionary first postal code data 64. In the primary index 61, prefecture identification information 62, dictionary prefecture data 63, dictionary first postal code data 64, and secondary index addresses 65 are stored in association with each other. The prefecture is specified by the dictionary prefecture data 63 corresponding to the matched dictionary first postal code data 64.

Furthermore, the secondary index address 65 corresponding to the matched dictionary first postal code data 64 points to 2
With reference to the next index 66, three digits “000” following the first two digits “63” of the input postal code are compared with the dictionary second postal code data 67. In the secondary index 66 serving as the storage unit, the dictionary second postal code data 67 and the city / county data table address 68 are stored in association with each other. The dictionary second postal code data 67 is a three-digit postal code following the dictionary first postal code data 64.

Further, referring to the city / county data table 69 indicated by the city / county data table address 68 corresponding to the matched dictionary second postal code data 67, the last two digits of the input postal code “00” and the dictionary city The county data and the third postal code data 70 are collated. The city / county data table 69 serving as the storage unit stores dictionary city / county data and third postal code data 70. The address following the prefecture is specified by the matched dictionary city / county data and the third postal code data 70.

Next, the reverse conversion will be described with reference to FIG. For example, when the address of "Nara-shi, Nara" is input, the prefectural department is skipped and the city / county department is extracted. Then, the first two characters of the extracted city and county are stored in the character index data 71 of the character index 71 as the storage unit.
Check with 2. In the character index 71, character notation data 72 and city / county notation index address 73 are stored in association with each other.

Further, data is extracted with reference to the city / county notation index 74 indicated by the city / county notation index address 73 corresponding to the matched character notation data 72. That is, in the city / county notation index 74 as the storage unit, the prefecture identification information 75, the city / county notation data 76, and the secondary index address 77 are stored in association with each other, and these data are extracted. The prefecture identification information 75 corresponds to the prefecture identification information 62, and the dictionary first postal code data 64 is specified from the primary index 61.

Further, the dictionary second postal code data 67 is specified by referring to the secondary index 66 indicated by the extracted secondary index address 77, and the dictionary third postal code is further referred to by the city / county data table 69. The number data 70 is specified.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a postal code / address conversion operation executed by the postal code converter 25 of the postal code / address converter 21 of the second embodiment. Step b1
Then, the character input from the input unit 23 is fetched. In step b2, the input character is compared with the dictionary state data 63 of the primary index 61. In step b3, it is determined whether the comparison results match. If they match, the process proceeds to step b4, skipping the character string that matches the input character, that is, skipping the prefectural department, and proceeding to step b5.

In step b5, a comparison process is performed on the input characters for the city and county. That is, at the time of forward conversion, as described with reference to FIG.
The comparison process is performed using the data table 69 and the city / county data table 69. At the time of the reverse conversion, the character index 71, the city / county notation index 74, the secondary index 66, and the city / county data table 69 are stored as described in FIG. The comparison process is performed using the comparison. In step b6, it is determined whether the address or the postal code matches. If they match, the process proceeds to step b7, where the matching address or postal code is extracted, and the conversion operation ends.

In step b 3, the character input from the input unit 23 and the dictionary state data 63 of the primary index 61
When the comparison result with does not match, and step b
If the address or the postal code does not match in step 6, the conversion operation ends.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, at the time of forward conversion, the prefecture is selected using the first index 61 which is the storage unit of the first hierarchy that stores the postal code in association with the prefecture. 2 is a second or later hierarchical storage unit that stores the postal code and the address following the prefecture in association with each other.
Using the next index 66 and the city / county data table 69, an address following the converted prefecture is selected and converted. On the other hand, at the time of the reverse conversion, the postal code corresponding to the prefecture of the specified address is selected and converted by using the primary index 61 which is the storage unit of the first hierarchy, and converted to the address following the prefecture of the specified address. The corresponding postal code is selected and converted using the character index 71, the city / county notation index 74, the secondary index 66, and the city / county data table 69, which are the second and subsequent hierarchical storage units. The postal code dictionary unit 26 includes a multi-level storage unit that stores a postal code and an address in association with each other, and a method using an optimal storage unit of a single postal code dictionary unit 26 having the storage unit. Forward conversion and inverse conversion can be performed at a high conversion rate.

The number of storage units in a plurality of layers is not limited to the number described above, but may be set to another number.

FIG. 11 is a view for explaining the conversion operation of the postal code / address conversion apparatus 21 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The postal code address conversion device 21 according to the third embodiment includes:
At the time of reverse conversion, the input address and the address stored in the postal code dictionary section 26 are converted by performing a predetermined editing process, and specifically, the input address and the address are stored. It is characterized in that a specific address term in the address stored in the postal code dictionary section 26 is skipped and converted.

For example, FIG.
As shown in (A), formal address data 81 of "Kita21-jo-Nishi, Kita-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido" is stored,
There is a case where the specific address term of “jo” is omitted and “Kita 21 West, Kita-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido” is input. In this embodiment, even in such a case, in order to obtain a desired postal code, in the present embodiment, "jo", which is a specific address term of the address stored in the postal code dictionary unit 26, is skipped, and "Hokkaido" is read. The address data 82 of "Northwest of Kita-ku, Sapporo" is used.

For example, the postal code dictionary section 26 stores the official address data 83 of "Higashishiokoji-cho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto-shi" as shown in FIG. ", And the address data 84 of" Nishiiri Higashishiokoji-machi, which is located at Shijogyo-ku, Kyoto-shi Karasuma-dori Shichijo 7-jo, "may be input. Even in such a case, in the present embodiment, in order to obtain a desired postal code, the specific address term of “Karasuma-dori Nanajo descending west entrance” of the input address data 84 is skipped, and “Kyoto City Higashishiokoji-cho, Shimogyo-ku ”is used.

In addition, specific address terms such as “town”, “chome”, “large”, “character”, “toiri” and “up” of the input address data and the stored address data are read. Used to be skipped. It should be noted that other specific address terms may be skipped.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the reverse conversion operation of the postal code / address conversion apparatus 21 of the third embodiment.
In step c1, the input character, that is, the address is captured. In step c2, the prefectural department is skipped as in the second embodiment. In step c3, it is determined whether or not the input character is "Kyoto City". If it is not "Kyoto City", the process proceeds to step c4, where the input character is compared with the character stored in the postal code dictionary unit 26, and a matching character in the postal code dictionary unit 26 is searched.
Proceed to step c8. If it is "Kyoto City", the process proceeds to step c5, where the characters up to "ku" are read and the process proceeds to step c6. In step c6, "West entrance", "East entrance",
The process proceeds to step c7 while skipping the characters up to “up” or “down”. In step c7, a dictionary search is performed in the same manner as in step c4, and the process proceeds to step c8.

At step c8, it is determined whether or not the input character is "". If it is not "article", the process proceeds to step c11. If it is "jo", the process proceeds to step c9, and skips the character of "jo" and proceeds to step c10. In Step c10, Step c
A dictionary search is performed in the same manner as in step 4, and the process proceeds to step c11. In step c11, it is determined whether or not the input character is "town". If it is not "town", the process proceeds to step c14. If it is "town", the process proceeds to step c12, and the character "town" is skipped and step c12 is executed.
Proceed to 13. In step c13, a dictionary search is performed in the same manner as in step c4, and the process proceeds to step c14.

At step c14, it is determined whether or not the input character is "large". If not, the process proceeds to step c17. If it is "large", the process proceeds to step c15, skips the character of "large" and proceeds to step c16. In step c16,
A dictionary search is performed in the same manner as in step c4, and the flow advances to step c17. In step c17, it is determined whether or not the input character is a "character". If it is not "character", the obtained address is converted to a postal code and the operation is terminated. If it is "character", the process proceeds to step c18,
The character "" is skipped and the process proceeds to step c19. In step c19, a dictionary search is performed as in step c4. Thereafter, the obtained address is converted into a postal code, and the operation is terminated.

As described above, according to the third embodiment, for example, “town”, “jo”, “chome”, “large”,
"Letter", "west entrance", "east entrance", "up" and "down"
Since the conversion is performed by performing an editing process of skipping a specific address term such as an address, even if the address input by such an address term does not match the stored address, the address is skipped by the skipping process. You can select the postal code to match. Therefore, the conversion efficiency is improved, and the convenience of the postal code address conversion device 21 is significantly improved.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the conversion operation of the postal code / address conversion apparatus 21 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The postal code / address conversion device 21 of the fourth embodiment includes:
Similarly to the postal code address conversion device 21 of the third embodiment, at the time of reverse conversion, the input address and the postal code dictionary unit 2 are used.
6 is converted by applying a predetermined editing process to the address stored in the postal code 6. Specifically, the input address and the identification of the address stored in the postal code dictionary unit 26 are specified. Is replaced with a predetermined specific address term.

For example, FIG.
As shown in (A), formal address data 85 of "Kita 21-Jo-Nishi, Kita-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido" is stored. "May be used to input address data 86" North 21 West, Kita-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido ". In this embodiment, in order to obtain a desired postal code even in such a case, the input address data 86 has "21 (arithmetic numeral)".
Is replaced with "Niichi (Kanji)" and "Kita 21 West, Kita-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido" is used.

For example, the postal code dictionary section 26 stores the official address data 87 "Tsukushigaoka, Abashiri-shi, Hokkaido" as shown in FIG. Instead, the address data 88 and 89 may be input using “ga (hiragana)” or “ga (katakana)”. In this embodiment, in order to obtain a desired postal code even in such a case, the stored address data 87 "symbol" or the input address data 89
Is replaced by "ga (hiragana)" and "Tsukushigaoka, Abashiri-shi, Hokkaido" is used.

Further, for example, the postal code dictionary section 26 stores the official address data 90 "Kitanozawa, Minami-ku, Sapporo-shi" as shown in FIG. In some cases, address data 91 and 92 may be input using "no (hiragana)" or "no (kanji)". In this embodiment, the stored address data 90 is stored so that a desired postal code can be obtained even in such a case.
"No (Katakana)" and "No (Kanji)" in the input address data 92 are replaced with "No (Hiragana)", and "Kitanosawa, Minami-ku, Sapporo-shi" is used.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the reverse conversion operation of the postal code / address conversion apparatus 21 of the fourth embodiment.
In step d1, the input characters, that is, the address, are captured. In step d2, the prefectural department is skipped as in the second embodiment. In step d3, the input character is compared with the character stored in the postal code dictionary unit 26 to search for a matching character in the postal code dictionary unit 26, and the process proceeds to step c4. In step d4, it is determined whether there is a matched character. In some cases, the obtained address is converted to a postal code, and the operation is terminated. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step d5.

At step d5, it is determined whether or not the matched character is a numeral. If it is not a number, the process proceeds to step d8. If it is a number, step d6
Proceed to step d if it is an arithmetic numeral
Go to 7. In step d7, a dictionary search is performed in the same manner as in step d3, and the process proceeds to step d8.

At step d8, it is determined whether or not the matched character is "GA", "GA" or "GA". When it is not “GA”, “GA” or “GA”, the process proceeds to step d11. If it is "ga", "ga" or "ga", the process proceeds to step d9. If "ga" or "ga", the process is replaced with "ga" and the process proceeds to step d10. In step d10, a dictionary search is performed in the same manner as in step d3, and the process proceeds to step d11.

At step d11, it is determined whether or not the matched character is "no", "no" or "no". If it is not "no", "no" or "no", the obtained address is converted to a postal code and the operation is terminated.
If it is "NO", "NO" or "NO", the process proceeds to step d12, and if "NO" or "NO", the process is replaced with "NO" and the process proceeds to step d13. In step d13, a dictionary search is performed as in step d3. Thereafter, the obtained address is converted into a postal code, and the operation is terminated.

As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, the input address and the stored address are processed as described above, for example, by substituting arithmetic numerals with Chinese numerals.
Since the conversion process is performed by performing the process of replacing "ga" with "ga" and the process of replacing "no" and "no" with "no",
Even in the case where the address entered by such an address term does not match the stored address, the address can be matched and the postal code can be selected by the replacement process. Therefore, the conversion efficiency is improved, and the convenience of the postal code address conversion device 21 is significantly improved.

Note that specific address terms other than those described above may be replaced with predetermined specific address terms.

FIG. 15 is a view for explaining the conversion operation of the postal code / address conversion apparatus 21 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. The postal code / address conversion device 21 of the fifth embodiment includes:
Similarly to the postal code address conversion device 21 of the third and fourth embodiments, at the time of reverse conversion, the input address and the address stored in the postal code dictionary unit 26 are subjected to a predetermined editing process. Specifically, a specific character in the input address and the address stored in the postal code dictionary unit 26 is replaced with a predetermined variant character unidirectionally or bidirectionally. It is characterized by the following.

For example, FIG.
The official address data 93 of “Kashima City, Ibaraki Prefecture” and the official address data 95 of “Kashima City, Saga Prefecture” as shown in FIG. May be entered. In this embodiment, "island" is replaced by "shima" in the input address data 86 so that "Kashima-shi, Ibaraki" is used so that a desired postal code can be obtained even in such a case. .

In addition to the one-way replacement of "island" with "shima", the two-way replacement of "maki" and "maki", and the replacement of "firefly" and "firefly" Is performed in both directions. It should be noted that other specific characters may be replaced with a predetermined allograph.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the reverse conversion operation of the postal code / address conversion apparatus 21 of the fifth embodiment.
In step e1, the input character, that is, the address is captured. In step e2, the prefectural department is skipped as in the second embodiment. In step e3, the input character is compared with the character stored in the postal code dictionary unit 26 to search for a matching character in the postal code dictionary unit 26, and the process proceeds to step e4. In step e4, it is determined whether there is a matched character. If so, the obtained address is converted to a postal code, and the operation is terminated. If not, the process proceeds to step e5.

In step e5, it is determined whether the matched character is a kanji having a variant character. If it is a kanji with a variant character, the process proceeds to step e6 to determine whether the kanji is in a replaceable direction. If the direction is a replaceable direction, the process proceeds to step e7, and the process proceeds to step e8 after replacing with a variant character. In step e8, a dictionary search is performed in the same manner as in step e3. Thereafter, the obtained edited address is converted into a postal code, and the operation is terminated.

If it is not a kanji having a variant character in step e5, and if it is not a replaceable direction in step e6, the operation is terminated as it is.

As described above, according to the fifth embodiment, the input address and the stored address are replaced with, for example, the “island” of “island” in one direction, as described above. The conversion is performed by performing a bidirectional replacement process between "Maki" and "Maki" and a bidirectional replacement process between "Firefly" and "Firefly". Even if the stored address does not match,
By the replacement process, the postal code can be selected by matching the addresses. Therefore, the conversion efficiency is improved, and the convenience of the postal code address conversion device 21 is significantly improved.

FIG. 17A is a diagram showing an editing process list table 101 in which the conversion operations of the postal code / address conversion device 21 of the third to fifth embodiments are summarized, and FIG. 17B to FIG. E) is a diagram illustrating an example of a conversion operation between the input address data 105 and the stored address data 106.
According to the third to fifth embodiments, the postal code address conversion device 21
Can perform predetermined address term replacement processing, skipping processing (omission processing), and variant character replacement processing as shown in the processing column 102 of the editing processing list table 101. In each process, the above-described editing process specifically shown in the character column 103 and the remarks column 104 is performed.

As a result, for example, the input address data 107 “North 21 West Kita-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido” shown in FIG. Be changed. In addition, the stored address data 10 "Kita 21-Jo Nishi, Kita-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido"
9 is changed to the address data 110 of “Kita 21 West, Kita-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido”. Also, the input address data 111 of “Tsukushigaoka, Abashiri-shi, Hokkaido” shown in FIG. 17C is changed to address data 112 of “Tsushigaoka, Abashiri-shi, Hokkaido”. Also, the stored address data 113 of “Tsukushigaoka, Abashiri-shi, Hokkaido” is changed to address data 114 of “Tsushigaoka, Abashiri-shi, Hokkaido”. Also, the input address data 115 “Kashima City, Ibaraki Prefecture” shown in FIG. 17D is “Kashima City, Ibaraki Prefecture”.
Is changed to address data 116. Further, the stored address data 117 of “Kashima City, Ibaraki Prefecture” is not changed and is used as it is with the address data 118 of “Kashima City, Ibaraki Prefecture”. Also, the input address data 119 “Kashima-shi, Saga” shown in FIG. 17E is not changed,
The address data 120 "Kashima-shi, Saga" is used as it is. Further, the stored address data 121 of “Kashima City, Saga Prefecture” is not changed, and the address data 122 of “Kashima City, Saga Prefecture” is used as it is.

By such an address data editing process, the form of the address input by the operator can be given a certain allowable range, and a high conversion efficiency can be obtained and the postal code address conversion device 21 which is excellent in convenience can be obtained. Can be realized.

[0096]

As described above, according to the present invention, one-way address terms used only when converting postal codes to addresses are distinguished from other address terms used only when converting postal codes into addresses. Since the data is stored, it is possible to use a single storage means and convert to an address or postal code using a different address for each conversion. Therefore, an optimum address can be used at each conversion, a high conversion efficiency between the postal code and the address can be obtained, and the convenience is improved.

According to the present invention, at the time of postal code conversion, the address corresponding to the specified postal code is selected from the addresses using one-way address terms and converted. The postal code corresponding to the specified address is selected from the postal codes corresponding to the address using the other address term and converted. Therefore, the same effect as described above can be obtained.

Further, according to the present invention, since the storage means includes a plurality of levels of storage sections for storing postal codes and addresses in association with each other, a single storage means having the storage section is used.
Each conversion can be performed by a method using an optimal storage unit. Therefore, high conversion efficiency between the postal code and the address is obtained, and the convenience is improved.

According to the present invention, at the time of postal code address conversion and postal address postal code conversion, an address or postal code is selected and converted using the first hierarchical storage unit and the second and subsequent hierarchical storage units. . Therefore, the same effect as described above can be obtained.

According to the present invention, the specified address and the stored address are subjected to a predetermined editing process at the time of postal code conversion of the address. Even if not, the postal code can be selected by matching the addresses by the editing process. Therefore, conversion efficiency is improved, and convenience is significantly improved.

Further, according to the present invention, a process of skipping a specific address term in the designated address and the stored address can be performed as the editing process. Alternatively, a process of replacing a specific address term with a predetermined specific address term can be performed. Alternatively, a process of replacing a specific character in the designated address and the stored address with a predetermined variant character in one direction or two directions can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a postal code / address conversion apparatus 21 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of each of display screens 31a and 31b displayed on the display unit 29 for simply explaining a forward conversion process.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of each of display screens 35a and 35b displayed on the display unit 29 for simply explaining an inverse conversion process.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams respectively showing examples of display screens 38a to 38c displayed on the display unit 29 for simply explaining a batch conversion process of 3 and 5 digit postal codes to 7 digit postal codes. .

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a postal code address conversion operation of the postal code address conversion device 21 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a forward conversion processing operation of the postal code address conversion device 21 of the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the reverse conversion processing operation of the postal code address conversion device 21 of the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a postal code address conversion operation performed by the postal code conversion unit 25 of the postal code address conversion device 21 of the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a postal code address conversion operation of the postal code address conversion device 21 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a postal code address conversion operation performed by a postal code converter 25 of the postal code address conversion device 21 of the second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a conversion operation of a postal code / address conversion apparatus 21 according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the reverse conversion operation of the postal code / address conversion apparatus 21 of the third embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a conversion operation of a postal code / address conversion apparatus 21 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the reverse conversion operation of the postal code / address conversion apparatus 21 of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a conversion operation of a postal code / address conversion apparatus 21 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the reverse conversion operation of the postal code / address conversion apparatus 21 of the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 17A is a diagram showing an editing process list table 101 in which conversion operations of the postal code / address conversion device 21 of the third to fifth embodiments are summarized, and FIGS.
FIG. 7E is a diagram showing an example of a conversion operation between the input address data 105 and the stored address data 106.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a conventional postal code / address conversion apparatus 1.

FIG. 19 is a view showing a postal code dictionary section 6a of the postal code address conversion device 1.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a postal code dictionary section 6b used in place of the postal code dictionary section 6a.

FIG. 21 is a diagram for explaining an operation of converting an address of a postal code address conversion device having the postal code dictionary section 6b into a postal code.

[Explanation of symbols]

 21 Postal code / address conversion device 22 Control unit 23 Input unit 25 Postal code conversion unit 26 Postal code dictionary unit 28 Printing unit 29 Display unit 46 First identification information 47 Second identification information 61 Primary index 66 Secondary index 69 City / county data Table 71 Character Index 74 City / County Index

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A storage means for storing a zip code and an address in association with each other, a specifying means for specifying a zip code or an address, and a corresponding zip code specified by the specifying means stored in the storage means. A conversion unit that converts the address or the address specified by the specification unit into a corresponding zip code stored in the storage unit; and an output unit that outputs the address or the zip code converted by the conversion unit. Wherein the storage means stores one address term used only for postal code address conversion and the other address term used only for address postal code conversion separately. apparatus. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein when converting the postal code, the address corresponding to the designated postal code is selected from the addresses stored in the storage using the one-way address term. When converting a postal code of an address, a postal code corresponding to a designated address is selected and converted from postal codes corresponding to an address stored in the storage means using the other address term. The postal code address conversion device according to claim 1. 3. A storage means for storing a postal code and an address in association with each other, a specifying means for specifying a postal code or an address, and a corresponding postal code specified by the specifying means stored in the storage means. A conversion unit that converts the address or the address specified by the specification unit into a corresponding zip code stored in the storage unit; and an output unit that outputs the address or the zip code converted by the conversion unit. The postal code address conversion device, wherein the storage means has a multi-level storage unit for storing a postal code and an address in association with each other. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein, when converting the address of the postal code, the conversion means selects a prefecture using the storage unit of the first hierarchy that stores the prefecture and the postal code corresponding to the prefecture in association with each other. After the conversion, the address following the converted prefecture is selected and converted using the storage units of the second and subsequent hierarchies in which the address following the prefecture and the postal code corresponding to the address are stored in association with each other. When converting the postal code of the address, the postal code corresponding to the prefecture of the specified address is selected and converted using the storage unit of the first hierarchy, and the postal code corresponding to the prefectural state of the specified address is converted. 4. The postal code address conversion device according to claim 3, wherein the postal code to be converted is selected and converted by using the storage units in the second and subsequent hierarchies. 5. A storage means for storing a zip code and an address in association with each other, a specifying means for specifying a zip code or an address, and a corresponding zip code specified by the specifying means stored in the storage means. A conversion unit that converts the address or the address specified by the specification unit into a corresponding zip code stored in the storage unit; and an output unit that outputs the address or the zip code converted by the conversion unit. The conversion means, when converting the postal code of the address, the postal code address characterized by performing a predetermined editing process on the specified address and the address stored in the storage means, and converting Conversion device. 6. The postal code address conversion according to claim 5, wherein the editing process is a process of skipping a specified address term in a designated address and an address stored in the storage unit. apparatus. 7. The editing process according to claim 1, wherein a specified address term in a designated address and an address stored in said storage means is replaced with a predetermined specific address term. 5. A postal code address conversion device according to item 5. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the editing process is a process of replacing a specific character in the designated address and the address stored in the storage unit with a predetermined variant character in one or two directions. The postal code address conversion device according to claim 5, characterized in that: