JPH1145271A - Computer-readable recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a method for inputting search conditions and each step of the method - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To enable input of complex search conditions only by operating icons displayed on a screen. SOLUTION: A plurality of search condition icons 200 to 204, each of which is iconified from a plurality of search conditions, an AND icon 205 used for specifying an AND condition, an OR icon 206 used for specifying an OR condition, and a negative condition are used for specifying a negative condition. Icon 207 and a DB icon 208 required to specify a search target and to execute a search are displayed on a screen, and any of the search condition icons 200 to 204 is set to AN.
After a search formula is set by dragging and dropping to the D icon 205, the OR icon 206, and / or the NOT icon 207, the AND icon 205, the OR icon 206, or the NOT icon 207 in which the search formula is set is changed to the DB icon 208. Drag and drop to set search conditions for searching.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information retrieval apparatus for retrieving information, by a simple operation, an input method of a search condition capable of inputting a complex search condition and a computer to execute each step of the method. Computer-readable recording medium on which a program for recording is recorded.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the development of computers, documents recorded and stored on paper as a medium have been generally handled as digitized information, and a large number of digitized documents are stored in a database. It is to be done.

[0003] By the way, as a large number of digitized documents are accumulated, a search technology that can easily find a desired document from a large number of documents becomes important. In particular, in today's world where everyone works on a computer, it is possible to construct a search system that allows even a novice computer user to easily search for a desired document without using a special technique. This is an important point.

[0004] One technique for facilitating retrieval includes a technique that enables a human to input retrieval conditions using a natural language that is usually used. This technology has been adopted in many search systems with the development of natural language processing technology in recent years.

[0005]

However, in the conventional search system, the search condition can be input in a natural language to facilitate the work of inputting the search condition. When performing the search, there is a problem that the search condition must be input again.

Although a search condition that has been used once is stored, and the search condition is read out and can be input as a search condition to be used this time, it has been developed. If the user wants to use it, there is a problem that the input operation of the search condition is complicated and the usability is poor.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and enables a complex search condition to be input only by operating an icon displayed on a screen, and allows free use of a search condition visualized by an icon. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for inputting search conditions that allows for assembling a search intention.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, a method for inputting search conditions according to claim 1 is a method for inputting search conditions in an information search apparatus for searching for information based on input search conditions. , A plurality of search condition icons, each of which is iconified from a plurality of search conditions, an AND icon used to specify an AND condition, an OR icon used to specify an OR condition, and a negative icon used to specify a negative condition are displayed on the screen. A first step of
A second step of superimposing a desired search condition icon among the plurality of search condition icons displayed on the screen on the AND icon, the OR icon, or the negative icon;
Setting a search condition of the search condition icon superimposed in the second step as a search expression of an AND condition, an OR condition, or a negative condition of the superimposed AND icon, OR icon, or negative icon; And the AN in which the search formula is set in the third step
A fourth step of superimposing any of the D icon, the OR icon or the negation icon on the AND icon, the OR icon or the negation icon; and a fourth step of superimposing the AND icon, the OR icon or the negation icon on the fourth step. Adds the set AND condition search formula, OR condition search formula or negative condition search formula to the AND condition, OR condition or negative condition search formula of the superimposed AND icon, OR icon or negative icon. A fifth step to be set, a search condition icon displayed in the first step, an icon in which a search expression is set in the third step, or an icon in which a search expression is additionally set in the fifth step And a sixth step of designating the start of the information search, and when the start of the information search is designated in the sixth step, A seventh step of inputting a search condition or the search expression with the serial the selected icon as a search condition, is intended to include.

[0009] The method for inputting a search condition according to claim 2 is as follows.
2. The search condition input method according to claim 1, wherein
Is a process in which a search condition icon displayed in the first step, an icon in which a search formula is set in the third process, or a search formula in the fifth process is added to the DB icon representing the database. By superimposing a desired one of the icons, the selection of the icon and the start of the information search are designated.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer-readable recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to execute each step of the method for inputting search conditions according to the first or second aspect is recorded.

[0011]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a method for inputting search conditions according to the present invention and a computer-readable recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to execute each step of the method is described. This will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a computer for realizing the search condition input method according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes a CPU.
101, a ROM, 102, a RAM, 103, a hard disk drive having search software 104 for controlling execution of the search condition input method according to the present embodiment, 105, a mouse, 106, a keyboard, 107 Denotes a display such as a CRT, and 108 denotes a bus.

Although not shown, the bus 108 shown in FIG. 1 is further connected to a floppy disk drive, a CR-ROM drive, a communication device for transmitting and receiving information via a network, and the like. can do.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a display screen of the search software 104. The search software 104 enables a complex search condition to be input only by operating the icon displayed on the screen, and allows a user to freely assemble a search intention using the search condition visualized by the icon. .

In FIG. 2, reference numerals 200 to 204 indicate search condition icons. Search condition icons 200-2
Reference numeral 04 denotes input of a search condition expressed in advance by a search formula, a search sentence, a search keyword group, and the like, the input search condition is stored in the hard disk device 103, and the stored search condition is expressed by an icon. . In FIG. 2, five search condition icons A to E are used, but the number of search condition icons can be increased or decreased as necessary.

Reference numeral 205 denotes an AND icon;
Indicates an OR icon, and 207 indicates a NOT icon. For example, mouse 1
When the search condition icon 200 and the search condition icon 201 are dragged and dropped in 05, the AND condition of “search condition A” and “search condition B” is specified. Similarly, the search condition icon 200 to the OR icon 206 or the NOT icon 207
By dragging and dropping 204,
The OR condition or the NOT condition is designated. Also, after specifying the AND condition and the OR condition with the AND icon 205 and the OR icon 206, respectively,
By dragging and dropping the icon 206 to the AND icon 205 with a mouse, a composite condition of an AND condition and an OR condition can be designated.

Reference numeral 208 denotes a DB icon indicating a database (not shown) in which information to be searched is stored. The DB icon 208 is used to specify a database to be searched and to execute a search. Therefore, when there are a plurality of databases to be searched, a plurality of DB icons 208 are displayed on the screen corresponding to the respective databases. By directly dragging and dropping any of the search condition icons 200 to 204 onto this DB icon 208,
Alternatively, an AND icon 205 in which an AND condition is set
By dragging and dropping, etc., it is possible to specify a search target and specify search execution.

Next, a method for inputting search conditions according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

When the computer shown in FIG. 1 is started, or when the start of the search software 104 itself is designated with a mouse or the like, the search software 104 shown in FIG.
, A plurality of search condition icons 200 to 204, AN
The D icon 205, OR icon 206, NOT icon 207, and DB icon 208 are displayed on the screen (S
301). Here, it is assumed that there is one database to be searched and one DB icon 208 to be displayed.

Subsequently, a desired one of the plurality of search conditions 200 to 204 displayed on the screen in step S301 is dragged and dropped onto the AND icon 205, the OR icon 206, the NOT icon 207, or the DB icon 208 ( S302).

Here, as shown in (1) of FIG. 4, for example, when the search condition icon 200 is dropped on the DB icon 208 (S303), the search software 104 uses the "search condition A" Is input as a search condition for executing a search, and a search process is performed (S312).

On the other hand, when any of the search condition icons 200 to 204 is dropped on the AND icon 205, the OR icon 206 or the NOT icon 207 instead of the DB icon 208 (S304), the dropped search condition icons 200 to 204 are displayed. The search condition of any one of the AND icons 205 and O
AND of R icon 206 or NOT icon 207
It is set as a search expression of a condition, an OR condition, or a negative condition (S305).

For example, as shown in (1) and (2) of FIG.
5 and the search condition icon 201 is dropped on the AND icon 205, the “search condition A” and the “search condition B” are changed to the “search condition A” as the AND condition.
and "search condition B".

In FIG. 6, "search condition A" and "search condition B" are set to "search condition A" and "search condition B" which are AND conditions as in FIG. As shown in 3) and (4), the search condition icon 2
When 02 is dropped on the OR icon 206 and the search condition icon 203 is dropped on the OR icon 206, the “search condition C” and the “search condition D” are ORed with “search condition C” or “search condition D”. Set to. Therefore, in FIG. 6, two conditions of the AND condition and the OR condition are set.
One search expression is set.

If any of the search condition icons 200 to 204 is the AND icon 205 or the DB icon 208
If the drag and drop operation is not correctly performed, the process returns to step S302 and waits for a correct operation.

Subsequently, any one of the AND icon 205, the OR icon 206, and the NOT icon 207 for which the search expression has been set in step S305 is dragged and dropped onto the AND icon 205, the OR icon 206, the NOT icon 207, or the DB icon 208. -Drop (S306).

Here, as shown in (3) of FIG.
When the AND icon 205 in which “Search condition A” and “Search condition B” which are the D conditions are set is dropped on the DB icon 208 (S307), the search software 104
Is “search condition A” an of the AND icon 205
d Enter "search condition B" as a search condition for executing a search, and perform a search process (S312).

On the other hand, an AND icon 205, an OR icon 206 or a NOT icon 20 in which a search formula is set
7 is not the DB icon 208 and AND
When the icon 205, the OR icon 206, or the NOT icon 207 is dropped (S308), the search formula of the dropped AND icon 205, the OR icon 206, or the NOT icon 207 is replaced with the AND icon 205, OR AND condition of OR icon 206 or NOT icon 207, OR
Additional setting is made to the search expression of the condition or the negative condition (S30)
9).

For example, as shown in FIG.
When the OR icon “search condition C” or “search condition D” is set on the AND icon 205 on which “search condition A” and “search condition B” as D conditions are set, is dropped. , O in search condition of AND condition
Add the search condition of R condition and set "Search condition A" and
A composite condition of “search condition B” and (“search condition C” or “search condition D”) is set.

Note that the AND icon 205 or the OR icon 206 in which the search formula is set is replaced with the AND icon 205.
If it is not dragged and dropped onto the DB icon 208 or the like, the flow returns to step S306 to wait for a correct operation. Here, the search formula can also be canceled.

Then, one of the AND icon 205, the OR icon 206, and the NOT icon 207 to which the search formula is additionally set is dragged and dropped onto the DB icon 208 (S310).

Here, as shown in (6) of FIG.
"Search condition A" which is a composite condition of D condition and OR condition
d When the AND icon 205 in which “search condition B” and (“search condition C” or “search condition D”) are set is dropped on the DB icon 208 (S311), the search software 104 has the AND icon 205. “Search condition A” and “Search condition B” and (“Search condition C” o
r “Search condition D”) is input as a search condition for executing a search, and a search process is performed (S312).

For example, in FIG. 6, the search condition icon 200 is an icon “car” and the set search condition is “car, passenger car, truck, body, tire,
Steering wheel, in the car ", and the search condition icon 201 is an icon" new model "
The set search condition is a keyword group of “new model, new type, new release, release, price”, the search condition icon 202 is an icon of “Ukigawa”, and the set search condition is “Ukigawa, UKIGAWA, Ukigawa”. It is further assumed that the search condition icon 203 is an icon “grouper” and the set search condition is a keyword group “grouper, HATA, field car, just”.

Here, when a search condition of "new model of car of Ukigawa or grouper" is input, "car" of search condition icon 200 and "new model" of search condition icon 201 are dropped on AND icon 205, “Ukigawa” of the search condition icon 202 and “grouper” of the search condition icon 203 are dropped on the OR icon 206. Then, by dropping the OR icon 206 on the AND icon 205, a search formula of (Ukigawa or hatha) and (new model) and (automobile) is set. By dropping the AND icon 205 in which the search formula is set on the DB icon 208, a search process can be performed under a search condition of "new model of car of Ukigawa or Hatha".

It should be noted that the AND icon 205, the OR icon 206, and the like to which the search formula is additionally set are the DB icons 20.
If the drag-and-drop operation has not been performed correctly, the process returns to step S310 to wait for a correct operation. Here, the search formula can also be canceled.

The above description is an example of a method for inputting search conditions according to the present embodiment, and it is possible to generate more complicated search conditions by changing the combination of icons. Clearly what you can do.

As described above, according to the search condition input method of the present embodiment, the search condition icons 200 to 204, A
Since the ND icon 205, the OR icon 206, the NOT icon 207, and the DB icon 208 are provided, it is possible to input a complex search condition only by operating the icon, and to freely search using the search condition visualized by the icon. You can assemble your intentions.

As described above, the method for inputting search conditions described in the present embodiment is implemented by executing a prepared program on a computer such as a personal computer or a workstation as shown in FIG. Is achieved. This program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a hard disk, a floppy disk, a CD-ROM, an MO, and a DVD, and is executed by being read from the recording medium by the computer. This program can be distributed via the recording medium or via a network.

[0039]

As described above, according to the search condition input method of the present invention (claim 1), the search condition input in the information search device for searching for information based on the input search condition is performed. In the method, at least a plurality of search condition icons obtained by iconifying a plurality of search conditions, an AND icon used to specify an AND condition, an OR icon used to specify an OR condition, and a negative icon used to specify a negative condition are displayed on the screen. The first step to be displayed, the second step in which a desired search condition icon among the plurality of search condition icons displayed on the screen is superimposed on the AND icon, the OR icon, or the negative icon are superimposed in the second step. An AND condition of an AND icon, an OR icon, or a negated icon superimposed on the search condition of the search condition icon , A third step of setting a search expression of an OR condition or a negative condition, and either an AND icon, an OR icon, or a negative icon for which the search expression has been set in the third step is changed to an AND icon, an OR icon, or a negative icon A fourth step of superimposing the AND condition, a search expression of the AND condition, a search expression of the OR condition, or a search expression of the negative condition set in the AND icon, the OR icon or the negative icon superimposed in the fourth step. A
AN of ND icon, OR icon or Negative icon
A fifth step for additionally setting a search condition of a D condition, an OR condition or a negative condition, a search condition icon displayed in the first process, an icon in which a search formula is set in the third process, or a fifth process A sixth step of selecting one of the icons for which the search formula is additionally set and designating the start of the information search;
When the start of information search is designated in the sixth step, a seventh step of inputting a search condition or a search expression of the selected icon as a search condition is included, so only the operation of the icon displayed on the screen is performed. It is possible to provide a method of inputting a search condition that allows a user to input a complex search condition and to freely assemble a search intention using a search condition visualized by an icon.

Further, the input method of the search condition of claim 2 is as follows:
7. The search condition input method according to claim 1, wherein the seventh step is a DB icon representing a database, a search condition icon displayed in the first step, and an icon in which a search formula is set in the third step. Alternatively, among the icons for which the search formula is additionally set in the fifth step, the selection of the icon and the start of the information search are performed by superimposing a desired icon. The start can be specified at the same time, the work can be visually understood easily, and workability and operability can be improved in inputting search conditions.

Furthermore, according to the computer-readable recording medium of the present invention (claim 3), claim 1 or 2
Recorded a program for causing a computer to execute each step of the search condition input method described in, so that a complex search condition can be input only by operating the icon displayed on the screen, and a search visualized by the icon It is possible to provide a method of inputting search conditions that allows a user to freely assemble a search intention using conditions.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a computer for realizing a search condition input method according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 shows a method for inputting search conditions according to the embodiment.
It is an explanatory view explaining a display screen of search software.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a search condition input method according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows a method for inputting search conditions according to the embodiment.
It is an explanatory view for explaining operation of an icon.

FIG. 5 shows a method for inputting search conditions according to the embodiment.
It is an explanatory view for explaining operation of an icon.

FIG. 6 shows a method for inputting search conditions according to the embodiment.
It is an explanatory view for explaining operation of an icon.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100 CPU 101 ROM 102 RAM 103 Hard Disk Device 104 Search Software 105 Mouse 106 Keyboard 107 Display 108 Bus 200-204 Search Condition Icon 205 AND Icon 206 OR Icon 207 NOT Icon 208 DB Icon

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An input method for a search condition in an information search device for searching for information based on an input search condition, wherein a plurality of search condition icons each of which is iconified, and an AND condition are designated. A first step of displaying on a screen at least an AND icon to be used, an OR icon used for specifying an OR condition, and a negative icon used for specifying a negative condition; and a desired one of the plurality of search condition icons displayed on the screen. A second step of superimposing a search condition icon on the AND icon, the OR icon, or the negation icon; and a search condition of the search condition icon superimposed in the second step, the superimposed AND icon, Set as AND condition of OR icon or negation icon, search condition of OR condition or negation condition And a fourth step of superimposing any of the AND icon, the OR icon, or the negation icon on which the search expression has been set in the third step on the AND icon, the OR icon, or the negation icon. The AND icon superimposed in the fourth step, O
The search condition of the AND condition, the search condition of the OR condition, or the search condition of the negative condition set to the R icon or the negative icon is compared with the AND condition, the OR condition, or the negative condition of the superimposed AND icon, the OR icon, or the negative icon. A fifth step of additionally setting a search expression of a condition; a search condition icon displayed in the first step, an icon in which a search expression is set in the third step, or an additional setting of a search expression in the fifth step Select one of the icons
A sixth step of designating the start of the information search, and, when the start of the information search is designated in the sixth step,
And a seventh step of inputting a search condition or a search expression of the selected icon as a search condition. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step (c) includes: a search condition icon displayed in the first step, an icon in which a search expression is set in the third step, and a fifth step. 2. The search condition input according to claim 1, wherein the selection of the icon and the start of the information search are performed by superimposing a desired icon among the icons for which the search formula is additionally set. Method. 3. A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for causing a computer to execute each step of the method for inputting search conditions according to claim 1 or 2.