JPH11102364A - Device and method for retrieval - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable retrieval except a text and to perform efficient retrieval by storing relational information on objects of subjects, selecting a subject group having specific relation with the object group, and retrieving an object having the common relation of the subject group. SOLUTION: A relational information data base 11 stores the relational information 11a between subjects S consisting of Mr.A to Mr.D and objects O consisting of P to S. A subject group selecting means 12 selects Mr.A, Mr.C, and Mr.D from a relational data base 11 as a subject group having specific relation R1 of, for example, 'likes P'. A retrieval means 13 retrieves Q, R, and S as an object O having the common relation R2 of 'likes' that the subject group has and generates and shows a list (Q:3, R:2, S:1) based upon the number of them as order to the user. Here, a person is regarded as the subject S and an author and information are regarded as the object O to enable use for retrieval of information, music, etc., over the internet.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a search apparatus and a search method, and more particularly to a search apparatus and a search method that improve search efficiency.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A full-fledged information society, such as the Internet and the realization of ultra-multi-channel televisions, is coming. However, while these media can access a large amount of information, it is difficult to obtain the information that you like. At present, considerable labor is required.

[0003] For example, classical media such as music and books are already close to excavation work. The reason for this is due to the large amount of information and the immaturity of the search system, and it is considered that such a situation will become a more serious problem as the information increases in the future.

The conventional search system is mainly a text search, and a keyword search is used in which a search term or a logical condition corresponding to the search term is input as a search condition, and a search result that matches the search condition is used. I have.

[0005]

However, in the conventional keyword search as described above, only text can be mainly searched, and when an attempt is made to search for other objects, text as a keyword must be newly added. There was such a problem.

In addition, there is a problem that if there are many search targets because there is no ranking in the search results, a desired search result cannot be obtained or setting of search conditions becomes very difficult.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a search device that enables a search other than text and that performs an efficient search. Also,
Another object of the present invention is to enable search other than text,
An object of the present invention is to provide a search method for performing an efficient search.

[0008]

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in a search device for improving search efficiency, a relation information database for storing relation information of a plurality of subjects for a plurality of objects is provided. A search device, comprising: a subject group selection unit that selects a subject group having a specific relationship with an object group from a relation information database; and a search unit that searches for an object having a common relationship with the subject group. Is provided.

Here, the relation information database stores relation information on a plurality of objects of a plurality of subjects. The subject group selecting means selects a subject group having a specific relationship with the object group from the relation information database. The search means searches for an object having a common relationship with the subject group.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of a search device according to the present invention. The relation information database 11 stores relation information 11a for a plurality of objects O of a plurality of subjects S. Here, the subject S is a search object and corresponds to a person. The object O is an object to be searched, and corresponds to a copyrighted work, information, or the like.

The relationship information 11a is generated when the subject S is input by a general input device as an evaluation of the object O when the subject S is related to the object O. Alternatively, the relation information 11a is determined from the relation time and the relation frequency in which the subject S relates to the object O.

The set of relation information 11a generated in this way constitutes a relation information database 11. The subject group selecting means 12 selects a subject group having a specific relationship R1 with respect to the object group from the relationship information database 11. The search unit 13 searches for an object O having a common relationship R2 between the subject groups. Further, an object having the common relationship R2 may be searched from the subgroup of the subject group.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure of the search device 10 of the present invention. [S1] The relational information database 11 indicates that Mr. A, Mr. B,
The relationship information 11a between a plurality of subjects S consisting of Mr. and Mr. D and a plurality of objects O consisting of P, Q, R, and S is stored. [S2] The subject group selecting means 12 selects Mr. A, Mr. C, and Mr. D from the relation information database 11 as the subject group having the specific relationship R1 of "I like P". [S3] The search means 13 searches for Q, R, and S as objects O having a common relationship R2 of the subject group of "like", and lists the numbers (Q: 3, R: 2, S : 1)
Is created and presented to the user.

As described above, the retrieval apparatus 1 of the present invention
0 can be widely used for searching for information, music, books, people, movies, television programs, etc. by using a person as a subject S, a work or information or a person as an object O, and the Internet or the like as a platform. it can.

Further, the push-type information service can be used for selecting information to be delivered, and further, by using search information, an accurate market research can be realized, and an efficient selective advertisement and highly accurate sales prediction can be made. And

Next, a case where the retrieval apparatus 10 of the present invention is used for WWW will be described. The subject S is a user, the object O is a page, and the related information 11a is evaluation of likes and dislikes. Here, the input method of the related information 11a is an input using an input interface such as likes and dislikes prepared as a function of a browser when the user is viewing a certain page, or a time during which the user is viewing the page or viewing the page. This is performed by a method of automatically judging likes and dislikes as a function of frequency.

Users A, B, C, D, pages P, Q,
Assuming that F (X) represents a list of likes for X with respect to R and S, a relation information database 1 storing the following equations (1a) to (1d) as relation information 11a.
1 is built.

[0018]

F (A) = {P, Q} (1a) F (B) = {Q, S} (1b) F (C) = {P, Q, R} (1c) F ( D) = {P, Q, R, S} (1d) Here, the user selects a certain page by the function of a certain browser and sets “like” as a condition for the page.
(= Specific relation R1), the condition desired in the search result is also "like"
It is assumed that a search is performed by setting a search condition of (= common relationship R2).

Then, only the relationship information of the user who evaluates the selected page as favorite is made valid, and a page having a desired evaluation given in the search result is searched from the information. That is, in the case of searching for “pages that the user who likes page P (= specific relationship R1) likes (= common relationship R2)”, the relationship information of the user who likes P is F (A), F (A)
(C) and F (D) are valid. Then, the number of the pages in the order is set as the order (Q: 3, R: 2,
A search result as in S: 1) is provided to the user.

A further example of use on the WWW is automatic updating of blacklists of non-educational pages that are not desired to be shown to children. By searching for a non-educational page on the blacklist and making the list a new blacklist, the blacklist can be automatically updated.

On the other hand, when the present invention is applied to a super-multi-channel television, an evaluation database for programs is constructed from programs viewed by viewers. It is possible to search for the program Un frequently watched by those who watch the program A frequently watched by the user Un.

Then, a recommended program table for each person is transmitted from an interface such as a dedicated terminal or the Internet. In the VOD service, a person who likes a certain movie can search for a favorite movie and the like, and can follow links of favorite videos one after another.

Further, when the present invention is applied to a copyrighted work, services on the Internet are mainly assumed.
Many users input their likes and dislikes on pages introducing CDs, books, and the like, whereby an evaluation database is constructed.

When a certain CD or book is selected and searched, a person who likes the CD or book can search for a favorite CD or book. The more you register what you like, the more strict the search conditions will be, so the search results will be more and more attractive.

As described above, the retrieval device 1 of the present invention
By using 0, it is possible to find what you really like, and also to search for the sense of a person who can never be searched by the current mainstream keyword search.

Further, as marketing effects, it is possible to realize accurate market research, realize selective advertisement to persons who are highly likely to purchase, activate the market, realize a niche market, C
It is possible to enhance effects such as enhancement of S (Customer Satisfaction).

Next, the search method of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the search method of the present invention. [S10] The relation information of a plurality of subjects to a plurality of objects is stored. [S11] From the relationship information, a subject group having a specific relationship with the object group is selected. [S12] Objects having a common relationship with the subject group are searched.

As described above, the search method of the present invention selects a subject group having a specific relationship from relationship information and searches for an object having a common relationship with the subject group. As a result, a search other than text can be performed, and an efficient search can be performed.

[0029]

As described above, the retrieval apparatus of the present invention is configured to select a subject group having a specific relationship from the relationship information database and retrieve an object having a common relationship with the subject group. As a result, an efficient search can be performed.

Further, in the search method of the present invention, a subject group having a specific relationship is selected from the relationship information, and an object having a common relationship with the subject group is searched. As a result, an efficient search can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a principle diagram of a search device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the search device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a search method according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... search device, 11 ... related information database, 1
1a ... related information, 12 ... subject group selection means, 13 ...
Search means, S: subject, O: object, R1: specific relationship, R2: common relationship.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A search device for improving search efficiency, comprising: a relation information database storing relation information of a plurality of subjects with respect to a plurality of objects; and a subject having a specific relation to an object group from the relation information database. A search device, comprising: a subject group selection unit that selects a group; and a search unit that searches for an object having a common relationship with the subject group. 2. The search device according to claim 1, wherein the subject inputs the relation information and constructs the relation information database. 3. The search device according to claim 1, wherein the relation information is generated from a relation time or a relation frequency of the subject with respect to the object. 4. The retrieval apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the retrieval means retrieves an object having a common relationship between the subgroups of the subject group. 5. The search device according to claim 1, wherein the search unit generates the list of the objects. 6. The search device according to claim 5, wherein the search unit automatically updates the list of the objects. 7. A search method for improving search efficiency, comprising: storing relation information of a plurality of subjects with respect to a plurality of objects; selecting a group of subjects having a specific relationship with respect to the group of objects from the relation information; A search method, wherein an object having a common relationship with the subject group is searched.