JPH01195578A - Electronic document retrieving device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (Industrial application field) The present invention relates to a search device for electronic documents.

(Prior Art) As an indexing method for searching electronic documents, there is a method in which an attribute having an interval scale property is regarded as a coordinate axis, and each document is indexed as a point in a multidimensional coordinate space. Indexes based on multidimensional coordinate spaces have high expressive power and are useful for organizing and searching based on attributes that cannot be clearly defined, such as the atmosphere of a document.

When looking at searched digitized documents, it is normal to specify search conditions, perform a search, and then actually check each document before viewing. The search conditions specified for the multidimensional space structure specify a subspace within the multidimensional space spanned by the attribute axes, and browsing (separately flipping) search result documents moves within this subspace. It corresponds to that.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, while classification based on interval scales is highly expressive, it has the problem that it is difficult to grasp the meaning and relationships between axes, making searching and browsing difficult. Furthermore, when expressing attributes that cannot be clearly defined, such as the atmosphere of a document, using an interval scale, there are problems such as large individual differences in the structure of the scale and changes over time even for the same person.

In a search using a multidimensional space, in order to quickly find a target document from a searched document set, it is necessary to determine an appropriate direction of movement by knowing the configuration of the subspace. However, with conventional methods, it is not possible to determine the direction of movement during browsing using information on the configuration of subspaces, which is a search condition. Additionally, since there is no function to compensate for individual variation and time variation in the structure of the scale, in order to understand the meaning of the axes and how to set the intervals on the axes,
I have no choice but to browse nearly exhaustively. Furthermore, since the browsing instruction method does not reflect the structure of multidimensional space, even if the direction of movement is determined, there is no way to move in that direction, making comprehensive browsing impossible. be.

In addition to the above, when searching using an indexing method based on a multidimensional spatial structure, all search conditions are not determined from the beginning, but the search results obtained under several conditions are analyzed and the target document is searched. In many cases, the search conditions are changed or added to obtain a document (or a set of documents). Therefore, it is necessary to be able to analyze the position of a retrieved document in a multidimensional space and use this to set new search conditions.

The first purpose of the present invention is to solve such problems and automatically organize and present searched electronic documents in a form that is easy to understand and understand, thereby allowing analysis of search results and desired documents. The purpose is to provide a browsing device that facilitates the discovery of information. More specifically, the present invention expresses the structure of a subspace, which is a search condition, using an example document, especially in a search using an index based on an interval scale. The aim is to improve information retrieval efficiency by closing the information.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a method for using configuration information of a subspace expressed using example documents to indicate a browsing direction in a search using an index based on an interval scale.

A third object of the present invention is to provide a method in which configuration information of a subspace expressed using example documents is used to determine and indicate new search conditions in a search using an index based on an interval scale. It is in.

(Means for Solving the Problems) According to the present invention, there is provided a search device for a device that stores and displays electronic documents, which includes an input means for inputting instruction information regarding the search for the electronic documents; a document storage means for storing documents; a multidimensional spatial structure storage means for storing a multidimensional spatial structure for organizing electronic documents according to a plurality of axes;
a search means for searching the document storage means for a corresponding document based on the search condition information input from the input means; an axis selection means for selecting an axis stored in the multidimensional spatial structure storage means; and the search means. example selection means for organizing the search result documents searched by and selecting example documents of the axes included in the output of the axis selection means; and an axis display for creating display information of the axes included in the output of the axis selection means. information creation means; display means for displaying the display output from the axis display information creation means and the corresponding electronic document; and data from the document storage means and data from the multidimensional spatial structure storage means to the input means. A computerized document retrieval device is obtained, comprising a control means for controlling according to the output and supplying it to the display means via the axis display information creation means.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a search device for a device that stores and displays digitized documents, including an input means for inputting instruction information regarding search and selection of the digitized documents; A document storage means, a multidimensional spatial structure storage means for storing a multidimensional spatial structure for organizing electronic documents according to a plurality of axes, and a search condition information input from the input means to retrieve a corresponding document from the document storage means. a search means for searching; a document selection means for selecting a corresponding document from the document storage means according to document selection instruction information input from the input means; and selection of an axis stored in the multidimensional spatial structure storage means. an axis selection means for organizing the search result documents searched by the search means and selecting example documents of the axes included in the output of the axis selection means; an axis display information creation means for creating axis display information; a display means for displaying the display output from the axis display information creation means and the corresponding electronic document; and data from the document storage means and the multidimensional spatial structure storage. There is obtained an electronic document retrieval device comprising control means for controlling data from the means according to the output of the input means and supplying the data on the display means via the axis display information creation means.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a search device for a device that stores and displays digitized documents, which includes an input means for inputting instruction information regarding search and selection of the digitized documents; a storage means, a multidimensional spatial structure storage means for storing a multidimensional spatial structure for organizing electronic documents according to a plurality of axes, a search condition holding means for holding search condition information, and setting the contents of the search condition holding means.・Search condition setting/changing means for changing, search means for searching the document storage means for a corresponding document according to the contents of the search condition holding means, and search means for searching the document according to the document selection instruction information input from the input means. document selection means for selecting a corresponding document from the storage means; axis selection means for selecting an axis stored in the multidimensional spatial structure storage means; organizing the search result documents searched by the search means; an example selection means for selecting an example document of an axis included in the output of the axis selection means; an axis display information creation means for creating display information of the axis included in the output of the axis selection means; a display means for displaying the display output and the corresponding electronic document, data from the document storage means and data from the multidimensional spatial structure storage means according to the output of the input means, and the axis display information creation means. An electronic document retrieval device is obtained, comprising a control means for supplying information on the display means through the display means.

(Operation) In the present invention, the configuration of a subspace given as a search condition is visually displayed using an axis extending the subspace, a range on the axis, and representative examples of documents included in the range. That is, for an axis specified as a search condition, the axis display information creation means displays a sorting heading displaying the corresponding axis on the display means together with the corresponding document. Furthermore, similar information is displayed for axes selected among axes that are not specified as search conditions. For example, 'responsiveness',
The ranges on the attribute axes such as "Familiarity" and "Familiarity" are given as search conditions, and "Newness" and "Activity" are given as search conditions.
An example of the display by the display means when the axis , , is selected is shown in FIG. 4(a). In this example, the search target range is represented by a rectangle on the axis. Furthermore, as a representative example of each axis,
Among the search result documents, a reduced version of the document closest to each of the maximum, median, and minimum values is presented. By referring to example documents, you can not only understand the nature of the search result documents, but also estimate the characteristics of documents obtained by moving the search range along each axis. It becomes possible. If abstract information such as words or numbers is used as a medium, there are problems with individual differences in interpretation and temporal fluctuations, and it is often not possible to retrieve the desired document. In the present invention, since specific information such as example documents can be used, it is easy to understand and it is possible to compensate for individual differences and temporal fluctuations.

Further, this display information can be used to input document selection instruction information. For example, in FIG. 4(a), when the position information of a star on the axis of "newness" is input from the input means, the position on the axis of "newness" is input in the search document set. The document closest to the location you clicked will be displayed.

Furthermore, this display information can be used to input search conditions. For example, in the information in FIG. 4(a), “
When the information in the rectangle indicated by the dotted line on the axis ``Activity'' is input, the range on the axis ``Activity'' is added to the search conditions, as shown in Figure 4 (b), and a new search condition is added. Similar information is displayed for search document sets based on conditions.

(Example) Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention. The input means 1 of this embodiment is, for example, a pointing device such as a mouse or a trackball. It is also possible to use an input means such as a keyboard, with a slight sacrifice in operability. This allows you to specify or change search conditions, and specify a desired position on the attribute axis in the currently displayed organized heading. The document storage means 2 is means for storing generally electronic documents such as code data, graphic data, or image data output by a word processor, and is constituted by, for example, an optical disk device or a magnetic disk device.

Further, the multidimensional spatial structure storage means 3 is means for storing axis numbers, axis centers, and document number information corresponding to each position on each axis for a plurality of axes.

The search means 4 is controlled by a control means 9 described later,
This is means for searching the document storage means 2 for documents that correspond to the search condition information input from the input means 1. The search result data created by the search means 4 is given to the item selection means 6, which organizes the data and selects exemplary documents.

On the other hand, the axis selection means 5 selects an axis to be displayed based on the search condition information input from the input means 1.

FIG. 5(a) is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the axis selection means 5. FIG. The selected axis number storage means 41 of this embodiment is as follows:
This is a means of registering the number of axes to select. Further, the selection order storage means 42 is a means for storing a predetermined priority order among the axes stored in the multidimensional spatial structure storage means 3. The selection means 43 selects the selection order storage means 4 based on the search condition information sent from the control means 44.
This means refers to the contents of 2 and selects the number of axes stored in the selected axis number storage means 41 in descending order of priority from among the axes for which no search conditions are specified.

FIG. 5(b) is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the axis selection means 5. FIG. The selected axis number storage means 45 of this embodiment is as follows:
This is a means of registering the number of axes to select. Further, the search result analysis means 46 is means for analyzing the characteristics of the retrieved documents. According to the output of the search result analysis means 46, the selection means 47 selects from among the axes for which no search conditions are specified.
This is means for selecting the number of axes stored in the selected axis number storage means 45. The control means 48 receives input information from the outside and
The output information of the search result analysis means 46 is controlled, and the selection means 4
7 is a means for externally outputting the output information. As a method for selecting an axis based on an analysis of search results, for example, there is a method of selecting an axis with a large degree of dispersion (dispersion, range, etc.) of search result documents. This takes advantage of the fact that generally adding a search condition related to an axis with a large degree of dispersion is an efficient narrowing down method.

Also, when analyzing search results, knowing which axis has a large degree of dispersion is useful information. When using this method, the search result analysis means 46 calculates the degree of dispersion of the values of the search result documents on an axis for which no search conditions are specified. The selection means 47 selects the number of axes stored in the selected axis number storage means 45 in descending order of dispersion based on the calculation result of the search result analysis means 46.

FIG. 5(C) is a block diagram showing a third embodiment of the axis selection means 5. The selected axis number storage means 49 of this embodiment is as follows:
This is a means of registering the number of axes to select. Selection means 5
0 is based on the axis selection information input from the input means 1,
This means selects the number of axes stored in the number of selected axes storage means 49 from among the axes for which no search conditions are specified. The control means 51 is a means for controlling input information from the outside and outputting the output information of the selection means 50 to the outside.

In the three embodiments of the axis selection means 5 described above, the number of axes to be selected is predetermined, but it is also possible to configure the number of axes to be determined at the time of execution.

A first embodiment of the axis selection means 5 in which the number of axes to be selected is made variable is shown in FIG. 6(a). In this embodiment, the selection order storage means 52 is means for storing predetermined priorities among the axes stored in the multidimensional spatial structure storage means 3. The number of selected axes determining means 53 is a means for determining the number of axes to be selected based on the search condition information input from the input means 1.

As a method for determining the number of axes, for example, there is a method in which the total number of axes including the axes for which search conditions are specified is the number of axes that can be displayed on the display means 8. The selection means 54 is means for selecting the number of axes determined by the selection axis number determination means 53 based on the contents of the selection order storage means 52.

A second embodiment of the axis selection means 5 in which the number of selected axes is made variable is shown in FIG. 6(b). In this embodiment, the search result analysis means 56 is means for analyzing the characteristics of search result documents. The number of selected axes determining means 57 is a means for determining the number of axes to be selected based on the output of the search result analyzing means 56. As a method for determining the number of axes, for example, there is a method of determining the number of axes having a scatter value greater than a predetermined value. Selection means 5
Reference numeral 8 denotes means for selecting the number of axes determined by the number of selected axes determining means 57 from among the axes for which no search conditions are specified, according to the output of the search result analyzing means 56. The control means 59 is a means for controlling input information from the outside and output information of the search result analysis means 56, and outputting the output information of the selection means 58 to the outside.

Further, FIG. 6(C) shows a third embodiment of the axis selection means 5 in which the number of selected axes is made variable.

The selection means 60 determines the number of axes and the type of axis based on the axis selection information input from the input means 1.

The item selection means 6 is a means for organizing the documents searched by the search means 4 and selecting exemplary documents for each axis based on the search condition information output from the input means 1 and the output from the axis selection means 5. Specific examples of how to select example documents include dividing each axis into several ranges, selecting the document closest to the center of each divided range, and selecting the maximum value, median value, and minimum value for each axis. There are methods such as selecting the closest document.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart representing an example of detailed processing of the individual selection means 6 when each axis is divided into several ranges and the document closest to the center of the divided range is selected. It is. First, let the first axis be the relevant axis. Next, in a range division step 72, the range is divided for the relevant axis. Next, in step 73, the set of retrieved documents is sorted in ascending or descending order on the relevant axis and set in the document number/value table. Using this sorting result, in step 74, the search result document set is divided according to which of the divided ranges it is included. Next, the center of each range is calculated in step 75. In selection step 76, the division information created in step 75 is used to select the document closest to the center of gravity for each range, and use this as an example document for the corresponding axis. Step 7
In step 7, the division information and document information of the corresponding axis are set in the example document table. In step 78, if there is a next axis, the process returns to step 72 using that axis as the relevant axis. If there is no next axis, a processing end signal is output.

The axis display information creation means 7 uses the output of the piece selection means 6 to
Based on the information stored in the multidimensional spatial structure storage means 3,
This is means for creating display information regarding the axes included in the output of the axis selection means 5.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart representing an example of detailed processing by the axis display information creation means 7. Step 81 is a process of setting the axis center and range information on the axis for displaying headings.

Step 82 is a process of setting display position information of the example document. Step 83 is a process of setting position information on the axis of the document to be currently displayed. It is the axis display information creation means 7 that creates such information, and the actual operation is controlled by the control means 9, which will be described later.

In the above example, all the axes for which the search target range has been specified are displayed, but it is also possible to display only the selected axes.

In this case, in the embodiment of the axis selection means 5 shown in FIG. 5(a), the selected axis number storage means 41 stores the total number of axes to be displayed. The selection means 43 refers to the contents of the selection order storage means 42, and selects the selected axes number storage means 4 in descending order of priority, regardless of whether or not a search target range is specified.
Select the number of axes stored in 2. The fifth axis selection means 5
Similarly, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6B, the total number of axes to be displayed is stored in the selected axes number storage means 45. The search result analysis means 46 analyzes the characteristics of the search result document for all axes, and the selection means 47 selects the axes of the number stored in the number of selected axes storage means 42, regardless of whether a search target range is specified or not. Select. The same applies to other embodiments of the axis selection means 5. Further, the item selection means 6 performs processing based on the output of the axis selection means 5, regardless of the search condition information input from the input means 1.

The method of displaying all the axes for which the search condition is specified is effective in achieving the purpose of grasping the configuration of the subspace specified as the search condition, but there is a restriction on the number of axes that can be displayed on the display means 8. In some cases, when the main purpose is to add or change search conditions, or when the nature of the search result documents is clear for some of the axes for which the search target range is specified, the search target range may be specified. It is also effective to display only the selected axes.

The means for actually displaying the axis, the search target range on the axis, and the example documents is the display means 8, and the display means 8 is constituted by an ordinary CRT display or the like.

Further, the control means 9 is a means for controlling a series of search processing, and controls data from the document storage means 2 and data from the multidimensional spatial structure storage means 3 according to the output of the input means 1, and creates axis display information. It is supplied to display means 8 via means 7.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of a detailed procedure of the control means 9. First, when a data input signal is given from the input means, an operation instruction is given to the search means 4 and the axis selection means 5.

When a processing end signal is given from both the search means 4 and the axis selection means 5, an operation instruction is given to the individual selection means 6. When the processing end signal is given from the piece selection means 6, the piece selection means 6
The first axis of the example document table set by is the corresponding axis. If the axis center, axis line, and search target range of the relevant axis have been set in the axis display step 96, they are displayed.

Next, in step 97, the first example document of the relevant axis is determined to be the relevant document. At step 98, information on the relevant document is read from the document storage means 2. If it is determined in step 99 that the size of the example document is too large for the displayable area, it is reduced to an appropriate size in step 100. The example document information or its reduced information is displayed at a predetermined position on the display means 8 in a display step 101. Proceeding to step 102, if there is a next example document of the relevant axis, step 103 sets it as the relevant document and returns to step 98.

If there is no next example document, the process advances to step 104 to check whether there is a next axis, and if so, it is set as the relevant axis and the process returns to step 96. If there is no next axis, the process proceeds to step 106, displays the current document on the display means 8, sets the position information of the document, and ends the process.

Next, FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. Here, the same numbers as the means in FIG. 1 indicate means having similar functions. The document selection means 10 is means for selecting a corresponding document from the document storage means 2 according to the document selection instruction information input from the input means 1. That is, the document selection means 10 uses the document number table set by the item selection means 6 to select the document having the closest value to the specified value of the axis specified by the document selection instruction information.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a detailed procedure of the control means 9 when the input means 1 is implemented by a mouse. Steps 91 to 107 are the same processes as in FIG. In mouse click detection step 108, it is detected whether or not the mouse has been clicked, and if the mouse has been clicked, the process proceeds to step 109. If the process is not deemed to be finished in step 109, the coordinates corresponding to the mouse cursor are detected in step 110. The position information of the currently displayed document set in step 107 is compared with the position information indicated by the detected coordinates, and if it is determined that the position where another document should be displayed is reached, the document selection means 10 Select the relevant document. Then, the process returns to the relevant document display step 106, and the relevant document is displayed and position information is set. At this time, it is also possible to display position information of the document on the displayed axis. Furthermore, if, for example, the end key is pressed or the end mouse button is clicked in step 1''09, and the process is deemed to have ended, the operation is completed.

Next, FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. Here, the same numbers as the means in FIG. 2 indicate means having similar functions. The search condition holding means 11 is a means for holding search condition information input from an input means. Further, the search condition setting/changing means 12 is a means for setting/changing the contents of the search condition holding means 11 based on the search condition information inputted from the input means 1.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of a detailed procedure of the control means 9 when the input means 1 is realized by a mouse. Steps 91 to 112 are the same processes as in FIG. In mouse click detection step 108, it is detected whether or not the mouse has been clicked, and if the mouse has been clicked, the process proceeds to step 109. If the process is not deemed to have ended in step 109, it is checked in step 113 whether or not the search conditions have been changed. If the search conditions are not changed, the coordinates corresponding to the mouse cursor are detected in step 110. If the coordinates indicate that another document is to be displayed, the document selection means 8 selects the document. Then, the process returns to the relevant document display step 106, and the relevant document is displayed and position information is set. Step 11
If the search conditions are to be changed in step 3, the contents of the search condition holding means 11 are changed by the search condition setting/changing means 12 in step 114, and the process returns to step 92 to perform the same processing as described above. Furthermore, if, for example, the end key is pressed or the end mouse button is clicked in step 109, and the process is deemed to have ended, the operation is completed.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the present invention, when a search condition based on an attribute axis having an interval scale property is given, documents can be organized and reorganized in a multifaceted manner, and browsing can be performed using the search conditions. , filtering becomes possible. Whereas paper documents could only be organized one-dimensionally due to their physical limitations, electronic documents can be easily and directly organized in many ways using multidimensional indexes. In particular, indexing using a multidimensional space is highly expressive and allows for organization from perspectives that cannot be clearly defined. The present invention solves the problems that it is difficult to understand and analyze the overall structure and that the scale structure has large individual differences and temporal fluctuations, making it easier to find target documents and understand and analyze overall trends. I can do it. In addition, since the headings are visually displayed, the user can easily and directly specify and browse documents, improving the user interface.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a first embodiment of the electronic document retrieval device of the present invention. Further, FIGS. 2 and 3 are block diagrams showing second and third embodiments of the present invention, respectively. Furthermore, in order to facilitate understanding of the method of the present invention, FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) are diagrams showing specific examples of displaying the structure of a subspace and its use for document selection instructions and search condition input. , FIGS. 5 and 6 are block diagrams showing an example of the axis selection means 5 in the embodiment of FIG. 1, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of detailed processing of the example selection means 6 in the embodiment of FIG. , FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of detailed processing of the axis display information creation means 7 in the embodiment of FIG. 1, and FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of a detailed procedure of the control means 9 in the embodiment. FIG. 10 shows the control means 9 in the second embodiment.
2 is a flowchart showing an example of a detailed procedure. Figure 11 shows
7 is a flowchart showing an example of a detailed procedure of the control means 9 in the third embodiment.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A search device for a device that stores and displays digitized documents, which includes an input means for inputting instruction information regarding the search for the digitized documents, a document storage means for storing the digitized documents, and a plurality of a multidimensional spatial structure storage means for storing a multidimensional spatial structure for organizing electronic documents by axes; a search means for searching the document storage means for a corresponding document based on search condition information input from the input means; an axis selection means for selecting an axis stored in a multidimensional spatial structure storage means; and an axis selection means for organizing the search result documents searched by the search means and selecting exemplary documents of the axes included in the output of the axis selection means. an example selection means, an axis display information creation means for creating display information of the axes included in the output of the axis selection means, and a display means for displaying the display output from the axis display information creation means and the corresponding electronic document; control means for controlling data from the document storage means and data from the multidimensional spatial structure storage means according to the output of the input means, and supplying the data onto the display means via the axis display information creation means. An electronic document retrieval device characterized by: (2) A search device for a device that stores and displays digitized documents, comprising an input means for inputting instruction information regarding search and selection of the digitized documents, and a document storage means for storing the digitized documents; a multidimensional spatial structure storage means for storing a multidimensional spatial structure for organizing electronic documents according to a plurality of axes; and a search means for searching the document storage means for a corresponding document based on search condition information input from the input means. , document selection means for selecting a corresponding document from the document storage means according to document selection instruction information input from the input means;
an axis selection means for selecting an axis stored in the multidimensional spatial structure storage means, and organizing the search result documents searched by the search means and selecting exemplary documents of the axes included in the output of the axis selection means. an axis display information creation means for creating display information of the axes included in the output of the axis selection means; and a display means for displaying the display output from the axis display information creation means and the corresponding electronic document. , control means for controlling data from the document storage means and data from the multidimensional spatial structure storage means according to the output of the input means, and supplying the data onto the display means via the axis display information creation means. An electronic document retrieval device comprising: (3) A search device for a device that stores and displays digitized documents, comprising input means for inputting instruction information regarding search and selection of the digitized documents, and document storage means for storing the digitized documents; A multidimensional spatial structure storage means for storing a multidimensional spatial structure for organizing digitized documents according to a plurality of axes, a search condition holding means for holding search condition information, and setting and changing the contents of the search condition holding means. a search condition setting/changing means; a search means for searching the document storage means for a relevant document according to the contents of the search condition holding means; document selection means for selecting a document to be processed;
an axis selection means for selecting an axis stored in the multidimensional spatial structure storage means, and organizing the search result documents searched by the search means and selecting exemplary documents of the axes included in the output of the axis selection means. an axis display information creation means for creating display information of the axes included in the output of the axis selection means; and a display means for displaying the display output from the axis display information creation means and the corresponding electronic document. , control means for controlling data from the document storage means and data from the multidimensional spatial structure storage means according to the output of the input means, and supplying the data onto the display means via the axis display information creation means. An electronic document retrieval device comprising: