WO2007032483A1

WO2007032483A1 - Information search assisting apparatus, computer program, program storing medium, and information searching method

Info

Publication number: WO2007032483A1
Application number: PCT/JP2006/318387
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sumio Noguchi; Yoshiyuki Abe
Original assignee: Jam Corporation
Priority date: 2005-09-16
Filing date: 2006-09-15
Publication date: 2007-03-22
Also published as: JPWO2007032483A1; JP4084837B2

Abstract

[PROBLEMS] To provide users with information for complementing a deficient search result in an information search process. [MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] An information search assisting apparatus comprises a means for communicating with user terminals; a means for accessing a provided information database that stores and manages, as provided information, various kinds of information to be provided to users; a means for accessing a knowledge dictionary that stores and manages knowledge information including a plurality of words that complement the contents of the provided information; a knowledge information acquiring means for extracting a word B, which is included in provided information A and can be used as a search keyword, and checking the word B by consulting the knowledge dictionary to acquire the corresponding knowledge information C; an index creating means for acquiring a word D included in the knowledge information C to create an index database in which the words D and B are associated with each other as search keywords of the provided information A; and a provided information transmitting means for checking search keywords, which have been inputted at an accessing user terminal and received therefrom, by referring to the index database, and transmitting the corresponding provided information to the accessing user terminal in reply.

Description

Specification

Information search support device, computer program, program storage medium, information search method

Technical field

[0001] The present invention provides a data transmission / reception route between the information source and a user terminal when trying to acquire target information from a vast amount of information existing on an information communication network such as the Internet. The present invention relates to an information retrieval support device that allows a user to reliably and quickly access target information through intervention.

Background art

[0002] With the spread of information and communication networks, especially the Internet, users have gained an environment for accessing vast amounts of information. On the other hand, it has become difficult to obtain the target information directly from a huge amount of information. For this reason, for example, on the Internet, Web sites called search sites are widely used. In search sites, a computer system or program called a search engine cooperates with a WWW server to provide an information search service for accessing a large number of information power users. Yes.

[0003] A search engine is a database (provided information) that provides information (provided information) about the vast amount of information on the Internet, such as the contents and location of the information, which is a clue to the information that the user wants to finally obtain. Database). Then, the browser power of the client computer (user terminal) operated by the user, such as a personal computer, etc. The search query received is inquired into the provided information database, and the corresponding provided information list is searched on the web page. Return as a result. The information provided may be all information available from the location (URL) where the information source is located, or it may be a summary or excerpt of all information. Provided information listed as a search result The user finds the provided information that describes (and seems to be) the contents of the desired information, and specifies the URL attached to the provided information by the browser. Get the information you want. [0004] Currently, in addition to improving the performance of the hardware itself, search engines improve the search algorithm and devise the data storage structure in the database, so that ambiguous search keywords and synonyms (computer, computer, PC, personal computer) The same provided information can be searched by force. Of course, the context of the input natural sentence is interpreted to extract a search keyword in units of words, or multiple search keywords can be searched on the Web. It analyzes how close they are in the body of the page, and determines the order of presentation in the search result list according to the frequency of keywords.

[0005] Furthermore, even if the present inventors search information based on the same search keyword, the problem that the search purpose is different for each of various users, that is, the information to be searched by the search engine is The information on daily life varies from specialized information such as academic papers. Even if different users give the same search keywords to the search engine, each user wants the same information. In view of the problem that this is not the case, we invented an information search support device that can present the target information with high accuracy from among a wide variety of information searched using ordinary search keywords. Obtained (see Patent Document 1). According to this information search support device, for example, when a person who wants to purchase a specific TV and a person who wants to know the specifications of a specific TV search for information, the information can be started from the same search keyword “TV”. Even after the search is started, the user can reach the target information in the process of narrowing down the information.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 3501799

Disclosure of the invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

[0006] Conventional information retrieval is based on the premise that the search keyword and its synonyms are included in the provided information in which a clue to the target information is described. In other words, it is necessary to specify the search keyword that exists in the provided information. For example, suppose a user searches for information in order to purchase wine that suits his taste. In this case, unless you are a wine savvy person or a person with a clear request, you should not enter wine brands directly into the product search keywords. The information is gradually squeezed while specifying the red wine, France, Bordeaux, dry etc. In the end, some e-shops that deal with wine say “abc wine” that suits their tastes! Find a brand of wine and go to the web page to buy it . However, if any of the search keywords specified in the refinement process is missing in the provided information about “abc wine”, the provided information cannot be reached.

[0007] In addition, even if the information provided for "abc wine" is reached, "abc wine" is purchased if the information most important to the user, such as food that matches the wine, is not included in the provided information. May not be able to get strong motivation to do so and may hesitate to purchase. Even if “abc wine” is the wine that best suits the user's tastes, there are no search keywords specified by the user in the provided information, or the information that the user wants to know the most is insufficient. If there is, the user misses the opportunity to eat the best wine for himself. Also, if you browse the information provided about wines other than “abc wine” and do not like other wines, users will not buy wine, and the e-shop will miss the opportunity.

[0008] As described above, the information included in the provision information is limited, and if a large amount of information is included, it takes a lot of time, labor, and cost to create the provision information.

[0009] Further, the content of the provided information varies for each provided information and is not consistent. For example, even the information provided for the same wine may be the content that describes only the attributes of the wine itself, such as the place of production and brand, or the content about the dish that matches the wine. When a user searches for information about wine, the search is based on the attributes of the wine itself, and the search is based on the impression of the person who drank the wine or the wine. Only provided information including the contents of one of the provided information can be obtained as a search result.

[0010] The present invention has been made in view of such problems related to information retrieval. The purpose of the present invention is to obtain information when a user performs information retrieval based on a retrieval keyword on an information communication network. Even if there are no search keywords, the user can be guided so that the desired information can be reached, and the information that the user wants to know can be surely presented by complementing the deficiencies in the provided information. The object is to provide an information retrieval support apparatus that can do this. Means for solving the problem

[0011] A first invention for achieving the above object comprises means for communicating with a user terminal operated by a user via an information communication network;

A means of accessing a provided information database for storing and managing various types of information provided to users as provided information;

Means for accessing a knowledge dictionary that stores and manages knowledge information including a plurality of words that complement the content of the provided information;

A provision information acquisition means for extracting a word D that can be a search keyword contained in the knowledge information C, inquiring the word D into a provision information database, and acquiring the corresponding provision information A;

An index creation means for obtaining an index database that obtains the word B included in the provided information A and associates the word B and the word D as a search keyword of the provided information A;

As an information search support device equipped with a provision information return means that queries the index database for search keywords entered and sent from the accessing user terminal and returns the corresponding provision information! / Speak.

[0012] A second invention comprises means for communicating with a user terminal operated by a user via an information communication network;

A knowledge information acquisition means for extracting a word B that can be a search keyword included in the provided information A, inquiring the word B in the knowledge dictionary and acquiring the corresponding knowledge information C, and a word included in the knowledge information C Index creation means for obtaining D and creating an index database in which the word D and the word B are associated with each other as a search keyword of the provided information A; This is an information search support device comprising providing information returning means for querying an index database for search keywords inputted and sent from the accessing user terminal and returning the corresponding provided information.

[0013] An information search support device according to a third aspect of the invention includes means for communicating with a user terminal operated by a user via an information communication network;

An index creation means for creating an index database in which the word D is associated as a search keyword of provided information A;

Provided information return means for querying the index database for the search keyword input and sent from the accessing user terminal and returning the corresponding provided information.

[0014] In a fourth invention according to any one of the first to third inventions, the index creation means sets the provided information A as an index for acquiring knowledge information C as an index database gc fe,

The provided information return means refers to the index database for the search keyword input and returned by the accessing user terminal, and returns the corresponding provided information and knowledge information corresponding to the provided information. A search support device is provided.

[0015] A fifth invention is provided in the information search support device according to the fourth invention for providing provided information screen creating means for creating a provided information screen in which provided information is described, and browsing of a accessing user terminal. Knowledge information for presentation that creates knowledge information for presentation as knowledge information Forming means,

The provided information returning means makes a search keyword search index database and creates a list of provided information that allows the corresponding provided information to be selected and a knowledge information catalog corresponding to each provided information in the list. Provided information list creation means for creating a provided information list screen including a list of knowledge information for presentation, and the provided information list screen created by the provided information list creation means based on a search keyword from the user terminal In addition to returning to the user terminal, when the information indicating that specific provision information has been selected is sent from the user terminal that has returned the provision information list screen, the provision information screen describing the corresponding provision information is returned. And

The presenting knowledge information creating means causes the presenting knowledge information to send the word at the relevant location to the information search support device when the user terminal indicates the word location registered in the index database. Therefore, the function to recreate the provided information list screen is included.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect, provided information screen creating means for creating a provided information screen describing provided information, and knowledge for presentation as knowledge information provided for browsing the accessed user terminal. Providing knowledge information creating means for creating information,

The presentation knowledge information creating means is registered in the information database included in the designated presentation knowledge information when the presentation knowledge information is designated by the user terminal. An information search support device that includes a function for sending all the words that are sent to the information search support device and recreating the provided information list screen. ing.

[0017] In a fourth aspect, the seventh invention is the provision information screen creating means for creating the provision information screen describing the provision information, and the knowledge information used for browsing the accessing user terminal. Providing knowledge information creating means for creating knowledge information for presentation,

In the provided information list screen, the search keyword input field and the search keyword entered in the input field in response to a predetermined user input on the user terminal are sent to the information search support device to provide the provided information list. A function for causing the screen to be recreated is included, and the presenting knowledge information creating means each time the user terminal indicates the location of the word registered in the index database in the presenting knowledge information. The information search support apparatus includes a function of transcribing the word of the part to the search keyword input field included in the provided information list screen.

[0018] In the first or second invention, a provision information screen creating means for creating a provision information screen describing provision information is provided,

The provision information screen creation means creates a knowledge information presentation screen describing the knowledge information C when the user terminal indicates the location where the word B is described when creating the provision information screen describing the provision information A. The provided information screen does not include the function to request the user terminal.

The provided information return means refers to the index database for the search keyword input and sent by the accessing user terminal, and displays the provided information list screen on which the corresponding provided information can be selected. And provide the above User terminal that sent back the information list screen When information indicating that specific provision information has been selected is sent, the information search support device that returns the provision information screen describing the corresponding provision information is the 8th. It was set as the invention.

[0019] A ninth invention comprises a provision information screen creating means for creating a provision information screen in which provision information is described in the third invention,

The provision information screen creation means creates a knowledge information presentation screen in which the knowledge information C is described when the location of the word D is instructed by the user terminal when creating the provision information screen in which the provision information A is described. The provided information screen does not include the function to request the user terminal.

The provided information return means refers to the index database for the search keyword input and sent by the accessing user terminal, and displays the provided information list screen on which the corresponding provided information can be selected. When the information indicating that specific provision information has been selected is sent back, the provision information screen describing the corresponding provision information is returned. A search support device was used.

[0020] An information search support device according to a tenth aspect of the present invention includes a provision information screen creation means for creating a provision information screen in which provision information is described in the first or second aspect,

The index creation means stores provided information A as an index for acquiring knowledge information C in an index database,

The provision information screen creation means associates the word B with the knowledge information C when creating the provision information screen describing the provision information A, and when the location of the word B is instructed by the user terminal, A function for requesting the user terminal to obtain a knowledge information presentation screen in which knowledge information C is described is included in the provided information screen.

The provided information return means refers to a search keyword input and sent from the accessing user terminal to the index database, and provides a list of provided information that enables the corresponding provided information to be selected. The provided information list screen including a list of knowledge information corresponding to the provided information is returned to the user terminal, and the specific provided information is selected from the user terminal that returned the provided information list screen. Information to the effect When attached, it is characterized in that a provision information screen describing the corresponding provision information is returned.

[0021] In the third invention, provided is a provision information screen creating means for creating a provision information screen describing provision information,

The providing information screen creating means associates the word D with the knowledge information C when creating the providing information screen in which the providing information A is described, and if the location of the word D is instructed by the user terminal, A function for requesting the user terminal to obtain a knowledge information presentation screen in which knowledge information C is described is included in the provided information screen.

The provided information return means refers to a search keyword input and sent from the accessing user terminal to the index database, and provides a list of provided information that enables the corresponding provided information to be selected. The provided information list screen including a list of knowledge information corresponding to the provided information is returned to the user terminal, and the specific provided information is selected from the user terminal that returned the provided information list screen. An information search support device that returns a provision information screen describing the corresponding provision information when information to that effect is sent is defined as the eleventh invention.

[0022] A twelfth aspect of the invention is a means for communicating with a user terminal operated by a user via an information communication network;

Means for accessing a database for storing and managing knowledge providing information including the contents of appropriate knowledge information for each provided information;

The knowledge information G is extracted by querying the knowledge dictionary for the word F contained in the provided information E, and the knowledge providing information database is created by creating the knowledge providing information H based on the knowledge information G and the provided information E. Knowledge providing information creation means to be registered in A knowledge providing information returning means for searching the knowledge providing information database based on a search keyword input and sent by the accessing user terminal and returning the corresponding knowledge providing information;

As an information retrieval support device equipped with / Speak.

[0023] In the twelfth invention, for each knowledge providing information, a knowledge providing information presenting screen creating means for creating a knowledge providing information presenting screen describing the providing information and the knowledge information that has been generated is provided.

The knowledge providing information returning means returns a keyword input screen including a search keyword input field to the accessing user terminal, and provides knowledge based on the search keyword input and sent by the user terminal. Search the information database, return the knowledge provision information list screen listing the corresponding knowledge provision information to the user terminal, and also send specific knowledge provision information from the user terminal that returned the knowledge provision information list screen. The information search support apparatus according to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention returns a knowledge provision information presentation screen corresponding to the selected knowledge provision information when information indicating that the information has been selected is sent.

[0024] According to a fourteenth invention, in the twelfth or thirteenth invention, means for accessing an index database for storing and managing knowledge information in association with each of a number of words serving as search keywords, and knowledge providing information Index database creation means for registering the words contained in the index database in association with the knowledge providing information,

The knowledge providing information returning means obtains knowledge providing information identified by referring to the index database for the search keyword sent from the user terminal, and returns the knowledge providing information. An information retrieval support device was used.

[0025] In the twelfth or thirteenth invention, means I for accessing an index database in which knowledge information, provision information, and knowledge provision information are associated with each word, and the word I is extracted from the knowledge information G. And index information creating means for associating knowledge information G, provision information E, and knowledge provision information H with each other and registering them in the indentus database. The knowledge provision information creation means includes a word I included in the provision information. Knowledge information G specified by querying the index data base is acquired from the knowledge dictionary, and the knowledge information G Create knowledge provision information K based on the offerings,

The knowledge providing information returning means obtains the knowledge providing information specified by referring to the index database using the word sent from the user terminal card as a search keyword from the knowledge providing information database, and the knowledge providing information The information search support device that returns the message is the fifteenth invention.

[0026] The sixteenth invention comprises means for communicating with a user terminal operated by a user via an information communication network,

The knowledge dictionary is searched by referring to the knowledge dictionary for the word 抽出 contained in the provision information L, and the knowledge provision information database is created by creating the knowledge provision information て based on the knowledge information Ν and the provision information L. Knowledge providing information creation means to be registered in

Information retrieval support comprising a knowledge provision information return means for searching the knowledge provision information database based on a search keyword input and sent from the accessing user terminal and returning the corresponding knowledge provision information. Device.

[0027] In a seventeenth aspect based on the sixteenth aspect, the knowledge providing information returning means returns a keyword input screen including a search keyword input field to the user terminal that has accessed, and the user terminal is returned to the user terminal. The knowledge providing information database is searched based on the search keyword inputted and sent, the knowledge providing information list screen listing the corresponding knowledge providing information is returned to the user terminal, and the knowledge providing information is also returned. When information indicating that specific knowledge providing information has been selected is sent from the user terminal that returned the list screen, knowledge that includes the provided information that originated the creation of the knowledge providing information and the search keyword as a word. Based on the information, it is an information search support device that creates a knowledge provision information presentation screen and returns the knowledge provision information presentation screen. [0028] means for communicating with a user terminal operated by a user via an information communication network;

The keyword input screen including the search keyword input field is returned to the accessing user terminal, and the provided information database is searched based on the search keyword input and sent by the user terminal. The provided information list screen listing the provided information to be returned is returned to the user terminal, and information indicating that the specific provided information is selected at the user terminal that has returned the provided information list screen is sent. Then, a knowledge provision information presentation screen is created based on the provision information and the knowledge information specified by referring the search keyword to the knowledge dictionary, and the knowledge provision information display screen is returned. The provided information return means and the provided information search support device are the eighteenth invention.

[0029] The nineteenth invention comprises means for accessing a plurality of knowledge dictionaries, a dictionary selection screen sending means for sending a dictionary selection screen for allowing the user terminal that has made access to select a knowledge dictionary, and a dictionary When information indicating that a specific knowledge dictionary is to be selected is sent from the user terminal that has sent the selection screen, the first to eighteenth means are provided with dictionary adoption means that adopt the knowledge information of the selected knowledge dictionary. It is an information retrieval support device described in any of the inventions.

[0030] The present invention extends to a computer program and a program storage medium, and the twentieth invention is installed in a computer and executed, so that the computer is one of the first to nineteenth inventions. A computer program for functioning as the information search support apparatus described in 1), and a program storage medium storing the computer program is the twenty-first invention.

[0031] According to a twenty-second aspect of the present invention, there is provided means for communicating with a user terminal operated by a user via an information communication network, and a provision information database for storing and managing various kinds of information provided to the user as provision information. Includes access means and multiple words that complement the content of the information provided. An information retrieval method using a computer having means for accessing a knowledge dictionary for storing and managing knowledge information,

A provision information acquisition step of extracting a word D that can be a search keyword included in the knowledge information C, inquiring the word D into the provision information database, and acquiring the corresponding provision information A;

An index creation step of obtaining an index database that obtains the word B included in the provided information A and associates the word B and the word D as a search keyword of the provided information A;

This includes the provision information return step of querying the index database for the search keyword input and sent from the accessing user terminal and returning the corresponding provision information.

[0032] According to a twenty-third aspect, there is provided means for communicating with a user terminal operated by a user via an information communication network, and a provision information database for storing and managing various kinds of information provided to the user as provision information. An information retrieval method by a computer comprising means for accessing and means for accessing a knowledge dictionary for accumulating and managing knowledge information including a plurality of words supplementing the contents of provided information,

A knowledge information acquisition step of extracting a word B that can be a search keyword included in the provided information A, referring to the knowledge dictionary and acquiring the corresponding knowledge information C, and a word included in the knowledge information C An index creation step of acquiring D and creating an index database in which the word D and the word B are associated with each other as a search keyword of the provided information A;

The information retrieval method includes a provision information return step in which the index database is queried for the search keyword input and sent from the accessing user terminal and the corresponding provision information is returned.

[0033] According to a twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided means for communicating with a user terminal operated by a user via an information communication network, and a provision information database for storing and managing various kinds of information provided to the user as provision information. A computer having access means and means for accessing a knowledge dictionary that stores and manages knowledge information including a plurality of words that complement the contents of provided information. Information retrieval method according to

An index creation step for creating an index database in which the word D is associated as a search keyword of provided information A;

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a network configuration example including an information search support device in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a structural diagram of a knowledge dictionary attached to the information search support device, and is a diagram in the case where the knowledge dictionary is a dictionary document database.

FIG. 3 is a structural diagram of a knowledge dictionary attached to the information retrieval support device, and is a diagram in the case where the knowledge dictionary is a specification table format database.

FIG. 4 is a structural diagram of a knowledge dictionary attached to the information search support device, and is a diagram in the case where the knowledge dictionary is a database in a correspondence table format.

FIG. 5 is a structural diagram of another example of the knowledge dictionary that is the database capability of the above correspondence table format.

FIG. 6 is a structural diagram of a provided information database attached to the information search support apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of an information search support device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of index data base creation processing by the information search support device in the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a page diagram of the implementation of the knowledge information providing service by the support device in the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a Web page screen displayed on a user terminal in the process of providing the knowledge information providing service. [11] It is a schematic view of the Web page displayed on the user terminal in the process of providing the knowledge information providing service.

[12] It is a schematic diagram of the Web page displayed on the user terminal in the process of providing the knowledge information providing service.

[13] It is a schematic view of the Web page displayed on the user terminal in the process of providing the knowledge information providing service.

FIG. 14 is a management structure diagram of words serving as search keywords in the modification of the first embodiment.

[15] This is a screen schematic diagram of the Web page displayed on the user terminal during the process of providing the knowledge information provision service in the above modification, and the screen transition states are shown by the schematic diagrams in (A) and (B).

[16] It is a screen schematic diagram of the provided information list page for presenting and providing each of the provided information and knowledge information.

圆 17] Fig. 17 (A) and Fig. 17 (B) show a case where a link is set for each word included in each knowledge information and a link is set for all the places where knowledge information is written. It is a screen schematic diagram of the provided information list page in cases.

圆 18] It is a screen schematic diagram of the provided information list page including the keyword input field.

[19] FIG. 19 is a schematic structural diagram of a support device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[FIG. 20] An implementation procedure diagram of the knowledge information providing service by the support device in the second embodiment is shown.

FIG. 21 is a schematic screen view of a provided information list page sent to a user terminal in the process of executing the knowledge information providing service in the second embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a schematic screen view of a knowledge information presentation page sent to the user terminal in the process of implementing the knowledge information providing service in the second embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart of knowledge provision information creation processing by the information search support device in the second embodiment.

24] This is a flowchart of the index database creation processing by the information search support device in the second embodiment. FIG. 25 is a flowchart of other index database creation processing by the information search support apparatus in the second embodiment.

FIG. 26 is a creation procedure diagram of a knowledge information presentation page sent to the user terminal by the information search support device according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating another procedure for creating a knowledge information presentation page sent to the user terminal by the information search support device according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 28 is a schematic view of a Web page screen including a knowledge dictionary selection function sent to the user terminal by the information search support device of the present invention. Corresponding to two examples, (A) and (B) show the schematic screens of the Web page.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart in another example of index database creation processing by the information search support device.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart of a process for creating knowledge information for presentation in the information search support apparatus.

[0035] 1, la, lb support device

2 Information database

3 Knowledge dictionary

4 Index database

5 Knowledge provision information database

10 User terminal

11 Knowledge provider terminal

20 Internet

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0036] = = = Network configuration = = =

FIG. 1 shows a network configuration including an information search support apparatus in the embodiment of the present invention. An information search support device (hereinafter referred to as support device) 1 of the present embodiment, a user terminal 10 equipped with a browser such as a personal computer, and a knowledge provider terminal 11 are connected to the Internet 20. User terminal 10 is an unspecified number of users who want to search for target information. The knowledge provider terminal 11 is a computer operated by a knowledge information provider that provides knowledge information that complements the provided information.

In the present embodiment, the support device 1 is realized by executing a program installed on a computer having a WWW server function for publishing an electronic store or a computer linked to a WWW server. It also has a basic function for keyword search for products sold at electronic stores. When a user wants to shop online, his / her user terminal 10 is accessed to the electronic store, and the electronic store In the procedure to obtain information (provided information) describing the specifications and price of the desired product at the desired information, the information (knowledge information) to supplement the provided information is presented to the user. In addition, a knowledge information presentation service will be implemented in which users can use the knowledge information as reference materials when purchasing products. Note that the hardware of the support device 1 may be configured by a single computer, or may be configured by a plurality of computers operating in cooperation. In the case of a configuration with a plurality of computers, the communication path between these computers may be a configuration in which communication is performed via a private network such as a private line 'LAN' VPN, or a public network such as the Internet 11 or the like. It may be configured to communicate via an information communication network! /.

[0038] = = = Knowledge information and provided information = = =

The support device 1 constructs a knowledge dictionary and a provided information database as a database for storing and managing knowledge information and provided information in an accompanying external memory. In this embodiment, the knowledge information is detailed information about products sold at electronic stores, and a specific knowledge provider who owns knowledge can make comments on the products based on their own experience and knowledge. This information includes knowledge and information about products and specifications.

[0039] As a procedure for accumulating knowledge information in the support device 1, for example, a knowledge provider who has viewed a certain provided information page on his / her own knowledge provider terminal 11 confirms the contents of the provided information! If you have any supplementary information as knowledge or experience, register that information in support device 1. As a specific configuration, a Web page including a form for registering knowledge information should be prepared in the support device 1. Include the form on the information page. The knowledge provider turns his knowledge provider terminal 11 into the support device 1 At the same time, the knowledge information is registered in the external storage of the support device 1 based on communication with the support device 1 via the Web page. Of course, knowledge providers may be widely recruited for general users, and an unspecified number of users may be registered in the knowledge dictionary as knowledge providers.

[0040] The structure of the knowledge information may be an article in a natural sentence, or a table describing specifications. For example, knowledge information about a product called wine can be obtained by a knowledge provider such as a sommelier critic who has general knowledge about wine, reviews and explanations about wines of specific brands, various data, etc. The data may include a wide variety of content, or data that associates detailed specifications with each wine brand. The support device 1 stores and manages individual knowledge information in the knowledge dictionary.

[0041] FIGS. 2 to 5 show the schematic structure of the knowledge dictionary. A knowledge dictionary is a document database that aggregates records 20 in the form of articles that have no regularity in form and appearance (Fig. 2), or a specification table that describes specifications 21 for each wine brand by item. It may be a specification table database (Figure 3) that is gathered as knowledge information. The database is not limited to a structure that stores knowledge information for each brand, but a correspondence table format database that lists brands belonging to a specific wine type (Figure 4), and a correspondence table format that lists attributes related to a specific brand. It may be a database (Fig. 5). The database shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 can be integrated to create a correspondence table format database that correlates the types and attributes of each stock V. On the other hand, Fig. 6 illustrates the schematic structure of the provided information database. In this example, a user needs to purchase a product at an online store, such as offer information 30a in which the product specifications are described according to a predetermined format, or offer information 30b about a product that is sold for a limited time. Accumulate / manage provided information including contents!

[0042] = = = Knowledge Information Presentation Service = = =

The support device 1 of the present embodiment accepts a search keyword from the user terminal 10 via a Web page in the same manner as a general search engine, and presents supply information corresponding to the search keyword. However, the support device 1 also presents provided information that includes the contents reflecting the user's search purpose even if the search keyword is not included, and supplements the information with knowledge information. To provide detailed information related to the information provided. Can be presented to the user. The technical idea of the present invention includes various nominations in the user interface, data management structure, communication procedure, information processing, and the like. In the following, the present invention will be described in detail based on the premise of the support device attached to the wine electronic store shown in the above specific example, and based on this premise.

[0043] === First Embodiment ===

FIG. 7 shows a schematic structure of the support device la in the first embodiment. As the database, the provided information database 2, knowledge dictionary 3, and index database 4 are provided. Fig. 8 shows the flow of processing for the support device la to obtain provided information that does not include the search keyword based on the search keyword and to associate the provided information with knowledge information that complements the provided information. . First, each provided information is decomposed into words, and each decomposed word is inquired to the knowledge dictionary 3 (sl to s3).

[0044] Then, corresponding knowledge information is extracted. If the knowledge information is not a natural sentence, the words contained in the knowledge information are stored in the index database as an index of the previously provided information. Of course, the words contained in the provided information are also stored in the index database as an index of the provided information itself (s4, s5 → s7) _{0 If} the knowledge information is a natural sentence such as an article, its natural The sentence can be decomposed into words by well-known morphological analysis, etc., and each decomposed word can be associated with the provided information (s5 → s6, s7)

[0045] Furthermore, if these associations are stored in the index database, specific knowledge information can be acquired using the provided information including a certain word as an index. In this embodiment, the relationship between the provided information and the knowledge information is also stored in the index database (s8). ₀ This makes each word an index (index), and the provided information can be specified by each index. The index database 4 in the state is created, and a specific word is associated with specific provided information and specific knowledge information. In addition, specific knowledge information is directly associated with the provided information as an index.

Each provided information is prepared as a provided information page in association with a predetermined URL in the form of a Web page. For knowledge information, a web page (knowledge information presentation page) describing the contents is created, and a predetermined URL is assigned to the knowledge information presentation page. Attach it to an appropriate database such as Knowledge Dictionary 3 in advance. In the provided information page, a hyperlink (link) to the knowledge information presentation page in which the knowledge information corresponding to the word is described is set at the location where the word queried in the knowledge dictionary is described (s8 ).

[0047] According to the first embodiment, for example, when some knowledge information A includes the words a and b, and some provided information B includes the word a and does not include the word b. Provided information B is supplemented with knowledge information A, and is associated with word b as well as word a. When b is given to the support device la as a search keyword, the support device la extracts the provision information B that does not include the word b as well as the provision information that includes the word b as the corresponding provision information. As an example of the different provision information 30a and 30b shown in Fig. 6, the provision information is extracted by the search keyword "red wine" if the word "abc wine" is included in 30b but the word "red wine" is not included. It is done.

[0048] When the knowledge dictionary 3 is a correspondence table format database connected to a document database or a specification table database (see FIGS. 4 and 5), an index database is directly created based on the correspondence table. . In other words, if a word contained in a given piece of information falls under one of the words that are the basic word or the same attribute in the piece of knowledge information, the word that is included in the same piece of knowledge information Map as an index. These correspondences are reflected as links set in the word description places on the provision information page, and the support device 1 sends the provision information page corresponding to the provision information to the user terminal 10. In this case, when the user terminal 10 indicates the location of a specific word existing in the index database in this page, a knowledge information presentation page for knowledge information corresponding to the specified word is displayed on the user terminal 10. It is returned to

FIG. 9 shows an implementation procedure of the knowledge information providing service in the first embodiment. In addition, FIGS. 10 to 13 show an outline of the Web page screen displayed on the user terminal 10 in the process of providing the knowledge information providing service. Here, the procedure for purchasing wine with user power S at an electronic store specializing in wine is specifically listed. First, the user terminal 10 obtains the homepage of the electronic store (Fig. 10) (sl l, sl2). And its homepage 40 Enter a search keyword related to the product you want to purchase in the character entry field 41 located in a, specify the search button 42, and pass the entered search keyword as form data to the support device la (sl3, sl4 ). Here, “red wine” is sent as a search keyword. The support device la queries the index database 4 for the received search keyword, and obtains provision information corresponding to the search keyword (si 5, sl6). Taking the offer information shown in Figure 6 as an example, for the offer information (30a, 30b) for a specific brand of wine “abc wine”, one is a normal offer for selling “abc wine”. Information 30a contains the word “red wine”. However, on the other hand, it is stated that the “abc wine” will be sold at a special price for a limited time, and the provision information 30b does not include the word “red wine”. In this case, there is knowledge information (see Fig. 13) including the two words "red wine" and "abc wine", and the support device la gives "red wine" when "red wine" is given as a search keyword. The provided information that does not include the word "is also extracted.

[0050] Then, the support device la creates a Web page (provided information list page) that lists the extracted provided information (sl7), and returns the provided information list page (Fig. 11) to the user terminal 10 ( sl8). In the provided information list page 50a, each provided information is a digest 51 obtained by excerpting the first character string described therein. In each digest 51, a link to the information provided is set in the description part. Also, if there is no offer information that the user wants to browse in the provided offer list, a new search keyword can be entered to search again, or a new search keyword can be entered first. In addition to AND search, you can see the information you want, recreate the provided information list page as many times as you like, and send it back.

[0051] When the user views the provided information list page 50a and directs the digest 51 that is supposed to contain information about the target product, the provided information web page (provided) The information page: Fig. 12) is returned to the user terminal 10 (sl9 to s21). On this provided information page 60, provided information 30 specified by the user terminal 10 is described, and links for obtaining knowledge information as knowledge information presentation pages are set in various places in the provided information 30. , The link is underlined. When the user designates an appropriate link location on the user terminal 10, the instruction information is delivered to the support device la. The The support device la extracts the instructed knowledge information from the knowledge dictionary 3, creates a knowledge information presentation page including the knowledge information as content, and returns it to the user terminal 10 (FIG. 13). The user decided to purchase the product by viewing the knowledge information 71 on the returned knowledge information presentation page 70a, confirming the details of the product, and solving questions about the product. Then, it is only necessary to return to the provision information page 60 to which the knowledge information presentation page 70a is linked and proceed to the subsequent product purchase procedure.

[0052] When a link to a knowledge information presentation page is set at various locations on the provided information page, the support device 1 needs to acquire a correspondence relationship between each word included in the provided information and the knowledge information. For this purpose, for example, the knowledge information can be associated with each word by referring to the knowledge dictionary for the word in the provided information and acquiring the corresponding knowledge information. Alternatively, a knowledge dictionary index in which words and knowledge information are associated with each other may be prepared in advance, and the corresponding knowledge information may be acquired by referring to words in the knowledge dictionary index. In this way, the correspondence between words and knowledge information can be acquired by an appropriate method.

[0053] = = = About search methods = = =

In the first embodiment, the provided information is searched based on the search keyword input by the user terminal 10 as characters. The present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and a word can be selected and presented so that the user terminal 10 can select a prepared word instead of inputting a search keyword. Figure 14 shows the word management structure for presenting search keywords in a selectable manner. Words are classified by hierarchical structure, and provided information is associated with each word. In this example, words are managed by a hierarchical structure of category and item order. Categories include “products” related to product specifications and “services” related to the sales and provision methods of the products, and predetermined items are stipulated in a dendrite below each category. Each word is classified into one of the items, and provided information is associated with each word. Of course, here, the correspondence between the word and the provided information may be made via the knowledge information in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment, and the provided word corresponding to a certain word includes the word. It may not be included. In addition, in order to manage the provided information by such a database structure, a character string such as a large number of words and collocations is stored in which category. Prepare a dictionary (requirement dictionary) that describes the power of classification as an eye requirement! Then, the character string included in the provided information is decomposed into words, and each word is referred to the requirement dictionary and classified as a requirement of a predetermined item in a predetermined category.

FIGS. 15A and 15B show an example of a user interface environment when a search keyword is specified on the user terminal 10 when the provided information is managed by a database structure in which words are classified by item. It is. The support device la is described so that words can be selected for each category for each category instead of the Web page 40a including the search keyword input field in response to an HTTP request with the user terminal 10. Web page (search menu page) 4 Send Ob (A). Further, when a certain word 44a in a certain item 43a is selected, the support apparatus la returns a search menu page that enables selection of the word 44 belonging to the previous item 43 other than that item 43a to the user terminal 10. (B). By selecting the words included in the provided information for each item, the provided information is gradually narrowed down. Then, at a certain point, if the search button 45 in the search menu page 40b is instructed to request a list of provided information, the provided information including the words of each requirement selected so far, and the word via the knowledge information The associated provision information is returned to the user terminal 10 as the provision information list page 50a.

It should be noted that the provided information corresponding to the word selected from the search menu may be confirmed on the same screen as the search menu. That is, a page combining the search menu 40b and the provided information list page 50a is created and returned to the user terminal 10. Specifically, the support device 1 narrows the provided information when a word is selected from the search menu, and reconstructs the search menu based on the words associated with the narrowed provided information. To do. In this way, the user can search for information while viewing the relationship between the provided information and the search menu.

[0056] = = = Example of changing the provided information list page = = =

The format of the provided information list page is not limited to the first embodiment, and may include a list of knowledge information. That is, when a certain search keyword is given, the corresponding provided information may be listed and the knowledge information corresponding to each provided information in the list may be presented as a list. Figure 16 shows the list of provided information and knowledge information. The screen outline of the provided information list page is illustrated. In the provided information list page 50b in this example, an area 52 for displaying a list of provided information digests 51 and an area 54 for displaying a list of knowledge information 53 are provided separately.

[0057] The provision information digest 51 on the provision information list page 50b is similar to the first embodiment described above. When a word is given as a search keyword, the word and knowledge information including the word are provided. The provided information extracted via is shown. In the digest description part of each provided information, a link to the corresponding provided information page is set.

On the other hand, the knowledge information 53 indicates knowledge information corresponding to each provided information in the provided information list. Each knowledge information 53 may have a link for sending a word registered as an index to the support apparatus la as a search keyword. A link may be set for each word, or may be set for all the places where the knowledge information 53 is written.

[0059] In Fig. 17 (A) and Fig. 17 (B), a link is set for each word contained in each piece of knowledge information, and a link is set for all the places where knowledge information 53 is written. An outline of the screen on the provided information list page 50b is shown. The section where knowledge information 53 is written is underlined and the link setting section is underlined 55.

[0060] When a link is set for each word, when the user terminal 10 instructs a link to a word included in a certain piece of knowledge information 53, the support apparatus la displays the word. Queries the Ndettas database, and extracts the corresponding provision information. Then, it re-creates the provided information list page that lists the extracted provided information digest and the knowledge information 53 associated with the provided information, and returns them to the user terminal 10. When links are set for all the locations described in knowledge information 53, when the link is specified, an AND search is performed using all of the index registration words included in the locations described in knowledge information 53, and based on the search results! Recreate the provided information list page.

[0061] In this way, by making it possible to simultaneously browse provided information and knowledge information in a correspondence relationship, the user can view the provided information and knowledge information that complements it simultaneously, in real time. Information missing from the provided information can be acquired from the knowledge information. In addition, by setting a link for re-searching knowledge information, it is possible to discover unknown search keywords for users and increase the possibility of obtaining the desired information.

[0062] It should be noted that a page combining the search menu 40b and the provided information list page 50b may be created and returned to the user terminal. As a result, the user can search information while looking at the search keyword (word), provided information, and knowledge information. That is, by selecting a keyword (word) from the search menu, the user can narrow down the provided information, and can confirm the knowledge information and the search menu corresponding to the narrowed provided information. Furthermore, instead of the search menu, you can select keywords from knowledge information. As a result, the provided information can be narrowed down from words in the knowledge information.

[0063] Regarding the knowledge information in the provided information list page, when the location where a word is described or each knowledge information is indicated by the user terminal 10, the corresponding provided information corresponds to the provided information. In order to realize the function for returning the knowledge information to the user terminal 10, for example, a script interpreted and executed by the user terminal 10 can be used in addition to the method for setting a link at the corresponding location as described above. It may be described in the HT ML that describes the provided information list page. The user terminal 10 interpreting the script acquires the word at the position indicated on the provided information list page or all the words included in the knowledge information at the indicated position, and supports the word as a support device 1 Send to. As a result, the provided information list page is recreated and returned to the user terminal 10.

[0064] Also, in the HTML of the provided information list page, a keyword input field and a button for sending the keyword input in the input field to the support device 1 are defined and the user terminal 10 is instructed. Include a script for entering words in the input field. All words included in the knowledge information may be input in the input field. Then, the user confirms the keyword entered in the input field, and if necessary, designates another word and adds a keyword or deletes an unnecessary keyword to the support device 1. You may be able to flexibly specify the word to be sent. Fig. 18 shows an overview of the provided information list page 50c including the keyword input field. In this example, when the user terminal 10 designates a word in the knowledge information 53, the word is transferred to the keyword input field 56. The user When the user confirms the word in the input field 56 and instructs the send button 57, the input word is sent to the support apparatus 1.

[0065] = = = Second Embodiment = = =

FIG. 19 shows a schematic structure of the support device in the second embodiment, and FIG. 20 shows an implementation procedure of the knowledge information providing service in the second embodiment. The support device lb in the second embodiment has a knowledge provision information database 5 that stores and manages information (knowledge provision information) created based on the provision information and knowledge information corresponding to the provision information. In the first embodiment, instead of the procedure in which the user terminal 10 indicates the link set in the provided information page 60 and the corresponding knowledge information is presented to the user through the knowledge information presentation page 70a, a search is performed. Queries the index database for the relevant knowledge provision information, and creates a Web page (knowledge provision information list page) with a part of the knowledge information corresponding to the digest of each provision information. (S31-s37). FIG. 21 shows a screen outline of the knowledge provision information list page 50d in the second embodiment. Knowledge information 53 corresponding to the provided information digest 51 is appended.

It should be noted that the knowledge provision information list page may include an input field for the search keyword and a function for causing the keyword entered in the input field to be sent to the support apparatus again. Then, change the search keyword or add a search keyword to recreate the knowledge provision information list page that contains the desired provision information.

[0067] When specific provision information 51 in the knowledge provision information list page 50d is instructed by the user terminal 10, a Web page (knowledge provision information presentation page) describing the corresponding knowledge provision information is returned. (S39-s42). Therefore, provided information and knowledge information are presented to the user only in the form of knowledge provided information. FIG. 22 shows a screen outline of the knowledge provision information presentation page 70b in the second embodiment. Unlike the format of the knowledge information presentation page 70a in the first embodiment, provided information 30 and corresponding knowledge information 71 are described in the Web page 70b. In this example, the provided information 30 and the knowledge information 71 that are in a corresponding relationship are described in separate areas (72, 73).

By the way, in the second embodiment, it is necessary to create knowledge provision information obtained by integrating provision information and knowledge information in correspondence with each other in advance. Figure 23 shows the procedure for creating knowledge provision information. showed that. First, the provided information is read and words are extracted from the provided information (s51, s52). Then, the knowledge dictionary 3 is queried for the word to obtain corresponding knowledge information, and the knowledge information obtained is integrated with the provided information including the queried word to create knowledge providing information (s53 to s55).

[0069] In the second embodiment, an index database 4 for extracting knowledge providing information is created. In the second embodiment, the index database 4 can be created by two methods. Figures 24 and 25 show the procedure for creating the index database 4 for each of the two methods.

In one creation procedure shown in FIG. 24, first, knowledge providing information is created. The procedure for creating knowledge provision information follows the procedure shown in Figure 23. Here, a word is extracted for each of all provided information, and the corresponding knowledge information is obtained by referring the word to the knowledge dictionary. Then, knowledge providing information is created by integrating the provided information that is the origin of the word extraction and the knowledge information acquired based on the word (s61 to s65).

[0071] Next, a word is extracted for each piece of all knowledge providing information, and an index database is created by associating the knowledge providing information from which each word is extracted with each extracted word as an index. (S67-s69). Accordingly, when the search keyword is given, the support apparatus extracts knowledge providing information in which the keyword is associated as an index.

[0072] In the other procedure shown in FIG. 25, knowledge providing information is created by sequentially associating knowledge information with respect to one provided information (s81 to s85), and knowledge information corresponding to the knowledge providing information is collected. Extract words. If the knowledge information is a natural sentence, the knowledge information is decomposed into word units and the words are also extracted with power (s87 → s88). Then, the word is associated with knowledge information that is the origin of the word extraction (s89). Therefore, when knowledge provision information is created based on certain provision information, the knowledge information that is the origin of the knowledge provision information and the words included in this knowledge information are associated by the index database. For this reason, certain knowledge provision information is created from the provision information once (assumed as X1) and knowledge information (given as γ) including the extracted information ability (assuming | 8). If the same word j8 is included in another provided information (referred to as oc 2), the knowledge dictionary is queried for that word j8 Even if it is not, since it is associated with the knowledge information γ by the index database, the knowledge provision information by the provision information a 2 and the knowledge information γ is immediately created. When a search keyword is sent from the user terminal 10, the search keyword is queried in the index database 4, the corresponding knowledge provision information is identified, and the knowledge provision information is created on the knowledge provision information list page 50d. And return it to the user terminal 10.

[0073] === Third embodiment ===

In the third embodiment of the present invention, the knowledge providing information page 70 b is presented to the user as in the second embodiment. Therefore, the database provided in the support device in the third embodiment and the implementation procedure of the knowledge information presentation service conform to the second embodiment (see FIGS. 19 and 20). However, in the second embodiment, knowledge information is extracted based on words included in the provided information, and knowledge providing information obtained by integrating the provided information and knowledge information is presented. In the form, the knowledge information extracted based on the search keyword is reflected in the knowledge provision information presentation page 70b.

[0074] There are two procedures for creating the knowledge provision information presentation page 70b in the third embodiment. The two procedures are shown in Figure 26 and Figure 27, respectively. In the procedure shown in FIG. 26, knowledge information and provision information are associated with each other in the same manner as in the second embodiment, and knowledge information in correspondence relation is added to each provision information on the knowledge provision information list page. . Of the knowledge information in the correspondence relationship, knowledge information including the previous search keyword may be added to each provided information. Then, a knowledge provision information presentation page is created in which the provision information selected from the list at the user terminal 10 and the knowledge information including the previous search keyword among the knowledge information corresponding to the provision information is created, It is returned to the user terminal 10 (slOl to sl03).

In the procedure shown in FIG. 27, based on the search keyword sent from the user terminal 10, the provided information list page 5 Oa to which no knowledge information is added is created as in the first embodiment. And return it to the user terminal 10. That is, in step s38 shown in FIG. 20, the provided information list page is returned instead of the knowledge provided information list page. When the provided information is selected from the list, the extracted information is extracted based on the provided information and the search keyword previously sent as the origin of the provided information list page 50a from the user terminal 10. The Web page describing the knowledge information to be issued is returned to the user terminal 10 as the knowledge provision information presentation page 70b (sll-l4).

[0076] = = = Specification of knowledge dictionary = = =

In each of the above embodiments, if the knowledge information is limited to that provided by one knowledge provider, the content of the knowledge information is biased. Alternatively, if knowledge information provided by a plurality of knowledge providers is managed by a single knowledge dictionary, for example, various pieces of knowledge information for the same wine will be mixed, which will confuse users. In addition, users have a deeper understanding of the contents of the provided information because the knowledge providers provide different explanations, styles, and preferences for the description format of knowledge information (such as articles and specification tables). In order to do this, I would like to refer to knowledge information that matches my preference. Therefore, it is possible to prepare multiple knowledge dictionaries so that users can select them. An index database is also prepared for each knowledge dictionary.

In order to allow the user to select a knowledge dictionary, the support device may send a Web page for allowing the accessing user terminal 10 to select the knowledge dictionary. Figures 28 (A) and 28 (B) show the outline of the Web page. Prior to sending the search keyword input screen, a web page 80a including the knowledge dictionary selection function 81 may be sent to the user terminal 10 (A), or the search keyword input field 41 and the knowledge dictionary. A web page 80b including a selection function 81 may be sent (B). Then, when the knowledge dictionary selection information and the search keyword are sent from the user terminal 10, the support device queries the search keyword in the index database of the selected knowledge dictionary and returns the corresponding provided information. That's fine. In addition, when returning knowledge information together with provided information, the knowledge information corresponding to the search keyword may be extracted from the selected knowledge dictionary ability.

[0078] In addition, the user is likely to select the same knowledge dictionary for each search opportunity of the provided information! Therefore, the user terminal 10 accesses the knowledge dictionary in association with each user. Then, a knowledge dictionary corresponding to the terminal user may be automatically selected. Specifically, the support device may provide a knowledge information search service through a member-based website. In other words, for each member, the support device associates authentication information such as IDs and passwords with a knowledge dictionary, manages them in a database, and accesses users. Send authentication information to terminal 10 and use the authenticated user terminal 10 as a member user terminal 10 to allow access to the membership system website and identify the knowledge dictionary associated with that member! To do. The knowledge information presented to the member is extracted from the knowledge dictionary.

[0079] In this manner, by preparing a plurality of knowledge dictionaries in a selectable manner, for example, when searching for information provided by user S wine, knowledge covering wine catalog information is provided. Users can select a knowledge dictionary that fits their purpose of information retrieval, such as a dictionary or a knowledge dictionary with blog articles spelling out their impressions about the food they ate with wine they drank, The user can more easily obtain the target provided information.

[0080] = = = Creating an index database = = =

The index database creation procedure may be created based on the words included in the knowledge information, not based on the words included in the provided information, as shown in FIG. V ,. Figure 29 shows the flow of processing to create an index database based on knowledge information. In this example, first, each piece of knowledge information is read, and the provided information database is queried for words contained in the knowledge information. If the knowledge information is a natural sentence, it is broken down into words by morphological analysis, and the words are queried in the provided information database (sl21, sl22 → sl24, or sl21, sl22 → sl23, sl24).

[0081] Then, provision information corresponding to the inquired word is extracted, and the inquired word is registered in the index database as an index of the provision information extracted (sl25, sl26). In addition, the direct correspondence between the knowledge information including the queried word and the extracted provided information is registered in the index database (sl27), and the word is registered at the location of the word registered in the index database on the provided information page. A link to the knowledge information presentation page to be included is set (sl28). Then, the series of processing (sl 21~sl28) is executed for omniscience identification information ₍₅ 129 → end).

[0082] By creating an index database using knowledge information in this way, even if the provided information is inconsistent in content, the provided information with the same information target (such as a wine of a certain brand) is not leaked. Searched. For example, users who try to search for wine by taste (sweet, dry, etc.) also try to search for wine by cooking (meat, fish, etc.) For the user, the offer information that describes only the catalog information (flavor, brand, production area, etc.) of “abc wine” and the offer information that describes the dish that matches “abc wine” are presented equally. The

[0083] = = = Knowledge information viewed on user terminals = = =

In the above-described embodiment, for example, each piece of knowledge information included in the provided information list page shown in FIG. 17 re-supports the word at a description location of the knowledge information or a description location of each word included in the knowledge information. It included a function for sending to and re-creating the provided information list page. In the example shown in FIG. 18, the word specified by the user terminal 10 is transferred to the keyword input field. As described above, the knowledge information (presentation knowledge information) provided for browsing by the user at the user terminal 10 includes a search keyword input support function.

FIG. 30 shows a flow of processing for realizing the input support function. First, knowledge information is read, and the words registered in the knowledge information power index database are extracted (sl31, sl32). Then, in the read knowledge information, a search keyword input support function such as a link or script is added to the extracted word location (si 33). The above processing (sl31 to sl33) is executed for all knowledge information (sl34 → end) === Example of application of the present invention ===

The present invention is not limited to a product search service in an electronic store, but can be applied to various information search services. For example, the present invention can be applied not only to product searches in electronic shopping malls that open multiple electronic stores, but also to services that search various information on the Internet provided by general search engines. In other words, the provision information stored and managed by a general search engine is replaced with the information on the product shown in the above example, and is simply replaced with the content of the website or web page. Prepare it separately.

[0085] Further, the present invention can be applied to a form in which news articles are used as knowledge information, and related provision information is presented based on the words in the articles without including the words. For example, each of a large number of wine brands is used as information provided, and if a brand in the knowledge information (article) about wine is included, other words included in the article are associated with the brand. It Therefore, when a word (for example, “red wine”) in the knowledge information (article) listed on the provided information list page or knowledge information presentation page is instructed by the user terminal 10, the corresponding brand is displayed. It is retrieved as provided information and presented to the user.

[0086] = = = Accumulation of knowledge information = = =

Knowledge information is not only registered and stored in the support device 1 by the knowledge provider terminal 11, but also entered and registered in advance through the user interface of the support device 1 by the management operator of the support device 1. It may be a form. In addition, well-known blogs and electronic bulletin boards are places where a wide variety of information is exchanged between Internet users, and the information described in these places can be used as knowledge information. Then, the support device may periodically access a predetermined website that publishes a blog or an electronic bulletin board, and accumulate the information described therein as knowledge information in its own knowledge dictionary.

[0087] = = = Network configuration = = =

In the present invention, the information communication network to which the support device is connected, the user terminal and the knowledge provider terminal that are the communication partner of the support device are not limited to the above embodiments. For example, the communication partner may be a mobile phone or a dedicated terminal that can be connected to the Internet. The information communication network is not limited to the Internet, and may be a LAN.

[0088] An information communication network related to a well-known interactive TV system can also be targeted. In other words, the TV receiver is a user terminal or knowledge provider terminal, and the support device is installed in a broadcasting station or the like. Then, data is transmitted from the user terminal or knowledge provider terminal to the support device via the telephone line in the upward direction, and is multiplexed with the TV broadcast wave in the downstream direction. In this case, the information communication network is composed of the telephone line and the TV broadcasting network.

[0089] Cable TV also provides an Internet connection service via the cable TV network. If a support device is installed on the cable TV station side, a computer equipped with a TV or browser can be used as a user terminal or As a knowledge provider terminal, an information communication network is configured within the cable TV network. As described above, the support apparatus can target an appropriate information communication network as a communication target.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] A means for communicating with a user terminal operated by a user via an information communication network, a means for accessing a provided information database for storing and managing various kinds of information provided to a user as provided information,

An information search support device comprising: provided information return means for referring to an index database for a search keyword inputted and sent from a user terminal that has accessed and returning corresponding provided information .

[2] means for communicating with a user terminal operated by a user via an information communication network, means for accessing a provided information database for storing and managing various types of information provided to users as provided information;

A knowledge information acquisition means for extracting a word B that can be a search keyword included in the provided information A, inquiring the word B in the knowledge dictionary and acquiring the corresponding knowledge information C, and a word included in the knowledge information C Index creation means for obtaining D and creating an index database in which the word D and the word B are associated with each other as a search keyword of the provided information A;

Provided information return means for querying the index database for the search keyword input and sent from the accessing user terminal and returning the corresponding provided information An information search support apparatus comprising:

[3] A means for communicating with a user terminal operated by a user via an information communication network, a means for accessing a provided information database for storing and managing various kinds of information provided to the user as provided information,

[4] In any one of claims 1 to 3, the index creation means stores the provided information A as an index for acquiring knowledge information C in the index database, and the provided information return means includes: Search the index database for the search keyword that was input and returned from the accessing user terminal, and return the corresponding provided information and knowledge information corresponding to the provided information.

An information search support apparatus characterized by that.

[5] In claim 4,

A provision information screen creation means for creating a provision information screen describing the provision information, a knowledge information creation means for presentation for creating knowledge information for presentation as knowledge information used for browsing the accessed user terminal,

With

The provided information returning means inquires the index database for a search keyword, Provided information list screen that includes a list of provided information for which applicable provided information can be selected and a list of knowledge information for presentation created for each provided information in the list. The provided information list creation means includes the created offer information list creation means, and the provided information list screen created by the provided information list creation means based on the search keyword from the user terminal is returned to the user terminal and the provided information list screen is returned. When information indicating that specific provision information has been selected is sent from the user terminal, a provision information screen describing the corresponding provision information is returned,

The presenting knowledge information creating means causes the presenting knowledge information to send the word at the relevant location to the information search support device when the user terminal indicates the word location registered in the index database. Include the function to recreate the provided information list screen.

An information search support apparatus characterized by that.

In claim 4,

With

The presentation knowledge information creating means is registered in the information database included in the designated presentation knowledge information when the presentation knowledge information is designated by the user terminal. All the words that are being sent to the information retrieval support device Include a function to recreate the provided information list screen.

An information search support apparatus characterized by that.

[7] In claim 4,

With

In the provided information list screen, the search keyword input field and the search keyword entered in the input field in response to a predetermined user input on the user terminal are sent to the information search support device to provide the provided information list. A function for causing the screen to be recreated is included, and the presenting knowledge information creating means each time the user terminal indicates the location of the word registered in the index database in the presenting knowledge information. , Including a function of transcribing the word of the relevant part to the search keyword input field included in the provided information list screen,

An information search support apparatus characterized by that.

[8] Claim 1 or 2 further includes a provision information screen creating means for creating a provision information screen describing the provision information,

The provision information screen creation means creates a knowledge information presentation screen describing the knowledge information C when the user terminal indicates the location where the word B is described when creating the provision information screen describing the provision information A. The provided information screen includes a function to request the user terminal. Not

The provided information return means refers to the index database for the search keyword input and sent by the accessing user terminal, and displays the provided information list screen on which the corresponding provided information can be selected. When the information indicating that specific provision information has been selected is sent back, the provision information screen describing the corresponding provision information is returned. An information search support device characterized by the above.

[9] In Claim 3, provided with a provision information screen creation means for creating a provision information screen describing the provision information,

[10] In claim 1 or 2,

Provided information screen creating means for creating provided information screen describing provided information, the index creating means stores provided information A as an index for acquiring knowledge information C in an index database,

The providing information screen creating means creates a knowledge information presenting screen in which the knowledge information C is described when the location of the word B is instructed by the user terminal when creating the providing information screen in which the providing information A is described. The provided information screen does not include the function to request the user terminal.

The provided information return means is input and sent by the accessing user terminal. The provided information list screen that includes a list of provided information that allows the search keyword to be searched and the corresponding provided information to be selected, and a list of knowledge information corresponding to the provided information in the list. When information indicating that specific provision information has been selected is sent from the user terminal that has returned the provision information list screen to the user terminal, provision information describing the corresponding provision information is provided. Send back the screen,

An information search support apparatus characterized by that.

[11] In claim 3,

The providing information screen creating means creates a providing information screen in which the providing information A is described. The provided information screen does not include the function to request the user terminal.

The provided information return means refers to a search keyword input and sent from the accessing user terminal to the index database, and provides a list of provided information that enables the corresponding provided information to be selected. When the provided information list screen including a list of knowledge information corresponding to the provided information is sent from the user terminal that returned the provided information list screen to the effect that the specific provided information has been selected. Return the offer information screen with the relevant offer information,

An information search support apparatus characterized by that.

[12] A means for communicating with a user terminal operated by a user via an information communication network, a means for accessing a provided information database for storing and managing various kinds of information provided to the user as provided information,

Means for accessing a database for storing and managing knowledge providing information including the contents of appropriate knowledge information for each provided information; The knowledge information G is extracted by querying the knowledge dictionary for the word F contained in the provided information E, and the knowledge providing information database is created by creating the knowledge providing information H based on the knowledge information G and the provided information E. Knowledge providing information creation means to be registered in

A knowledge providing information returning means for searching the knowledge providing information database based on a search keyword input and sent by the accessing user terminal and returning the corresponding knowledge providing information;

An information search support apparatus comprising:

[13] In claim 12, for each knowledge providing information, the knowledge providing information presenting screen creating means for creating the knowledge providing information presenting screen describing the providing information and the knowledge information that has been created is provided.

The knowledge providing information returning means returns a keyword input screen including a search keyword input field to the accessing user terminal, and provides knowledge based on the search keyword input and sent by the user terminal. Search the information database, return the knowledge provision information list screen listing the corresponding knowledge provision information to the user terminal, and also send specific knowledge provision information from the user terminal that returned the knowledge provision information list screen. When the information indicating that the information has been selected is sent, a knowledge provision information presentation screen corresponding to the selected knowledge provision information is returned.

An information search support apparatus characterized by that.

[14] In claim 12 or 13, the means for accessing an index database for storing and managing knowledge information in association with each of a large number of words as search keywords, and the word included in the knowledge provision information Index database creating means for registering in the index database in association with

The knowledge providing information returning means obtains knowledge providing information identified by referring to the index database for the search keyword sent from the user terminal, and returns the knowledge providing information.

An information search support apparatus characterized by that.

[15] In claim 12 or 13, means for accessing an index database in which knowledge information, provision information, and knowledge provision information are associated for each word, And an index database creating means for registering the word I, knowledge information G, provided information E, and knowledge provided information H in association with each other in the index database. The knowledge information G specified by referring to the index data base for the word I contained in is acquired from the knowledge dictionary, and the knowledge providing information K is created based on the knowledge information G and the provided information.

The knowledge providing information returning means obtains the knowledge providing information specified by referring to the index database using the word sent from the user terminal card as a search keyword from the knowledge providing information database, and the knowledge providing information Return

An information search support apparatus characterized by that.

[16] A means for communicating with a user terminal operated by a user via an information communication network, a means for accessing a provided information database for storing and managing various kinds of information provided to the user as provided information,

The knowledge information N is extracted by referring to the knowledge dictionary for the word M contained in the provided information L, and the knowledge providing information database is created by creating the knowledge providing information O based on the knowledge information N and the provided information L. Knowledge providing information creation means to be registered in

An information search support apparatus comprising:

[17] In claim 16, the knowledge providing information returning means returns the keyword input screen including the search keyword input field to the accessing user terminal, and is input and sent by the user terminal. The user terminal that searched the knowledge providing information database based on the retrieved keyword, returned the knowledge providing information list screen listing the corresponding knowledge providing information to the user terminal, and returned the knowledge providing information list screen. Special When information indicating that certain knowledge provision information has been selected is sent, knowledge provision information is based on the provision information that originated the knowledge provision information and knowledge information that contains the search keyword as a word. An information search support device, characterized in that a presentation screen is created and the knowledge provision information presentation screen is returned.

[18] A means for communicating with a user terminal operated by a user via an information communication network, a means for accessing a provided information database for storing and managing various kinds of information provided to the user as provided information,

The keyword input screen including the search keyword input field is returned to the accessing user terminal, and the provided information database is searched based on the search keyword input and sent by the user terminal. The provided information list screen listing the provided information to be returned is returned to the user terminal, and information indicating that the specific provided information is selected at the user terminal that has returned the provided information list screen is sent. Then, a knowledge provision information presentation screen is created based on the provision information and the knowledge information specified by referring the search keyword to the knowledge dictionary, and the knowledge provision information display screen is returned. Provided information return means;

An information search support apparatus characterized by comprising the information search support apparatus.

[19] The dictionary selection screen sending means according to any one of claims 1 to 18, comprising means for accessing a plurality of knowledge dictionaries and sending a dictionary selection screen for causing the accessing user terminal to select a knowledge dictionary. And a dictionary adopting means that adopts knowledge information of the selected knowledge dictionary when information indicating that a specific knowledge dictionary is selected is sent from the user terminal that sent the dictionary selection screen. An information search support device characterized by the above.

[20] A computer program that, when installed in a computer and executed, causes the computer to function as the information search support device according to any one of claims 1 to 19.

21. A program storage medium storing the computer program according to claim 20.

[22] (Method invention of new claim 1) A means for communicating with a user terminal operated by a user via an information communication network, a means for accessing a provision information database for storing and managing various kinds of information provided to users as provision information, and a content of the provision information. A computer-based information retrieval method comprising means for accessing a knowledge dictionary for storing and managing knowledge information including a plurality of words to be complemented,

An offer information return step of querying the index database for the search keyword input and sent from the accessing user terminal and returning the corresponding offer information;

An information search method characterized by including:

(Method invention of new claim 2)

A means for communicating with a user terminal operated by a user via an information communication network, a means for accessing a provision information database for storing and managing various kinds of information provided to users as provision information, and a content of the provision information. A computer-based information retrieval method comprising means for accessing a knowledge dictionary for storing and managing knowledge information including a plurality of words to be complemented,

The provided information return state for querying the index database for the search keyword entered and sent from the accessing user terminal and returning the corresponding provided information. And

Information search method characterized by including! /.

(Method invention of new claim 3)

An information search method characterized by including: