JP2007025756A - Search formula generation support device, program, and information retrieval system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to easily reuse the resources of a search formula. <P>SOLUTION: A search formula generation support device, which supports the generation of a search formula for searching information, stores, in a module memory, modules MD which correlate search formula resources SFS with first information IF1 from which the search formula resources SFS are extracted. The search formula generation support device generates a search formula SF by combining search formula resources SFS included in an extracted module group EMD based on the first information IF1 included in the extracted module group EMD which is extracted from among a plurality of stored modules MD. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a search formula creation support apparatus that supports creation of a search formula for searching for information.

  Conventionally, as a method for searching for information, a Boolean search for performing a search using a search expression in which keywords are combined with an operator is known.

  In order to obtain an appropriate search set in this Boolean search, it is necessary to create an appropriate search expression, but since a high level of skill is required to create an appropriate search expression, it is necessary to create an appropriate search expression. Technologies to assist are being considered.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for storing search-type assets reflecting past experiences and reusing them as necessary.

JP 2004-355546 A

  In the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1, a comment database is provided in a form that forms a pair with a patent database, and the comment database is used as past search information, search conditions used at the time of search, searcher name, search It stores comments entered by the user. In the invention described in Patent Document 1, a person who newly searches can refer to a search condition stored in a comment database or a comment input by a searcher and can reuse a search expression. become.

  However, the search formula used for performing the search is usually a huge search formula having a large number of search conditions in order to obtain a desired search result. Search conditions that make up a search expression, even if you try to reuse a stored search expression to search for technical content similar to past search results, the search expression cannot be reused as is However, it is difficult to change the search conditions due to the huge search expression, or the search results cannot be obtained optimally because some of the search conditions are changed. There were problems, and as a result, even if the search-type assets were stored, they were often stored without being reused.

  The present invention has been made to solve this problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a search formula creation support device, a search formula creation support program, and an information search system that facilitate the reuse of search formula assets. .

  The invention of claim 1 is a search formula creation support device that supports creation of a search formula for searching for information, and associates a search formula asset with first information that is a basis of a combination of the search formula assets. Storage means for storing a module that is a unit of management of search expression assets; extraction means for extracting a module that is a basis for generation of the search expression from a plurality of modules stored in the storage means; Generating means for generating the search expression by combining the search expression assets included in the extraction module group based on the first information included in the extraction module group that is a set of modules extracted by the extraction means; Is provided.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the retrieval formula creation support apparatus according to the first aspect, the first information includes module classification information based on a predetermined classification criterion, and the generation means includes the classification information. The searchable assets are combined based on the above.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the retrieval formula creation support device according to the first or second aspect, the first information includes relationship information that defines a relationship between modules, and the generation unit includes: The searchable assets are combined based on the relationship information.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the retrieval formula creation support apparatus according to the third aspect, the relationship between the modules reflects the inclusion relationship of the retrieval set obtained by retrieval using the retrieval formula asset. Information.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the retrieval formula creation support apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, in the module, the second information serving as a basis for extracting the retrieval formula asset and the retrieval formula asset. And the extraction means extracts a module having the second information corresponding to the input information given when a new search is performed.

  A sixth aspect of the present invention is the retrieval formula creation support device according to the fifth aspect, wherein the second information includes a comparison target keyword to be compared with the input information, and the extraction unit includes the extraction unit, A module is extracted based on a comparison result between the keyword included in the input information and the comparison target keyword.

  A seventh aspect of the present invention is the retrieval formula creation support apparatus according to the sixth aspect, further comprising a keyword extracting means for extracting the keyword from a sentence input as a natural sentence as the input information.

  The invention according to claim 8 is the search formula creation support device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the selection is performed by selecting a module from the extraction module group in response to an operation input by an operator. Means are further provided.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the retrieval formula creation support apparatus according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, the evaluation is performed by evaluating the appropriateness of the retrieval formula generated by the generating unit based on a predetermined evaluation criterion. Means are further provided.

  The invention of claim 10 is a program for supporting creation of a search expression for searching for information by being executed by a computer, wherein the program stores the search expression asset and the search expression asset in the computer. A storage procedure for storing a module, which is a unit of management of search expression assets, associated with the first information that is the basis of the combination, and a plurality of modules that are stored in the storage procedure are stored in the storage procedure. The search procedure asset included in the extraction module group is combined based on the extraction procedure extracted from the modules and the first information included in the extraction module group that is a set of modules extracted in the extraction procedure Thus, a generation procedure for generating the search expression is executed.

  The invention of claim 11 is an information search system, wherein the search formula creation support device according to any one of claims 1 to 9 and a search formula output by the search formula creation support device are used. An information search device for searching.

  According to the first to eleventh aspects of the present invention, the search formula assets are automatically generated by combining the search formula assets, so that the search formula assets can be easily reused.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the classification information is reflected in the search formula, so that an appropriate search formula can be obtained by appropriately setting the classification criteria.

  According to the invention of claim 3, since the relation information is reflected in the search formula, an appropriate search formula can be obtained if the relation information is appropriately set.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the module is automatically extracted when information is input, so that the module can be easily extracted.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the module can be extracted by comparing the keyword with the matching keyword, so that the module can be extracted more easily.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, when a natural sentence is input, a keyword is automatically extracted, and the labor for determining the keyword can be reduced.

  According to the invention of claim 8, an inappropriate module can be discarded from the extraction module group and a necessary module can be taken into the extraction module group, so that the extraction module group can be made appropriate.

  According to the invention of claim 9, it is possible to output only an appropriate search expression.

<1 Concept of search expression creation support function>
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the concept of the search expression creation support function of the search expression creation support apparatus 30 according to the embodiment of the present invention. This search formula creation support function uses a search formula asset (hereinafter also simply referred to as “search formula asset”) SFS accumulated prior to a search to create a search formula SF for information search. It is a function to support. It is desirable that the search-type asset SFS is actually used for past searches and has been examined for appropriateness by the searcher. This is because the past experience is also reflected in the search formula SF generated using the search formula asset SFS if the search formula asset SFS reflecting the past experience is used. However, this does not require that the searchable asset SFS is actually used for past searches.

  More specifically, with reference to FIG. 1, the search formula creation support device 30 includes a formula asset module (hereinafter, simply “module”) that associates the search formula asset SFS with the first information IF1 and the second information IF2. (Also referred to as MD) is stored in an available manner. The module MD is a unit for managing the search formula asset SFS in the search formula creation support apparatus 30, but it is not required that each module MD is composed of a single file. Therefore, the module MD may be a set of a plurality of files that can be managed as a single piece of data when the search expression creation support apparatus 30 performs arithmetic processing.

  The search formula creation support apparatus 30 extracts the module MD having the second information IF2 corresponding to the input information from the plurality of stored modules MD, and collects the extracted module MD (hereinafter, “ Based on the first information IF1 included in the EMD (also referred to as “extraction module group”), the search expression SF is generated by combining the search expression assets SFS included in the extraction module group EMD. That is, the first information IF1 is information that is the basis of the combination of the searchable asset SFS, and the second information IF2 is information that is the basis of the extraction of the searchable asset SFS. Specific examples of the first information IF1 and the second information IF2 will be described later.

  In the search formula creation support device 30, the first information IF1 that can be easily used to determine the combination of the search formula assets SFS, and the second information IF2 that can be easily used to determine the selection of the search formula assets SFS, Is associated with the searchable asset SFS to construct a module MD that can be easily reused, making it easy to reuse the searchable asset SFS that is difficult to reuse by itself.

  1 illustrates the case where the number of modules MD included in the extraction module group EMD is two, the number of modules MD included in the extraction module group EMD is one or three or more. May be.

<2 Configuration>
<2.1 Overall configuration of information retrieval system>
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the information retrieval system 1 including the retrieval formula creation support device 30 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the information search system 1 includes an information search device 10 that searches for information, a database 20 that stores information to be searched, and a search formula creation that supports creation of a search formula used for information search. And support device 30. The information search system 1 may be realized by a single computer, or may be realized by the cooperation of a plurality of computers that are communicably connected via a communication line such as a network.

  The information search apparatus 10 searches the database 20 using the search formula and outputs information that matches the search formula. The information retrieval apparatus 10 can use the retrieval formula output by the retrieval formula creation support apparatus 30.

  The search formula creation support device 30 generates a search formula based on the input information using the search formula creation support function described above, and evaluates the appropriateness of the generated search formula based on a predetermined evaluation criterion. The appropriateness of the search expression is evaluated based on a search set obtained by performing a search on the database 20 using a search expression that is an evaluation target of appropriateness. Then, the search formula creation support device 30 outputs only the search formula evaluated as appropriate among the generated search formulas.

  For example, the database 20 stores a set of information composed of character strings as data to be searched. In the following description, it is assumed that the database 20 stores a set of patent documents as information to be searched.

<2.2 Configuration of search formula creation support device>
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the search formula creation support device 30.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the retrieval formula creation support device 30 includes a main body unit 31, an input unit 32 used to input information to the main body unit 31, and an output unit 33 used to output information from the main body unit 31. And a display unit 34 used for displaying various types of information.

  The main body 31 includes a computer that includes at least a CPU 311 and a memory 312. A search formula creation support program 319 for causing the computer to function as a main part of the search formula creation support apparatus 30 is installed in the main body 31. The keyword extraction unit 315, module extraction unit 316, search expression generation unit 317, and appropriateness evaluation unit 318 illustrated in FIG. 3 have some of the functions realized by the computer executing the search expression creation support program 319. Show.

  The memory 312 is physically or logically divided into six storage areas: an input data memory 312a, a module memory 312b, an operation rule memory 312c, a confirmed data memory 312d, an output data memory 312e, and an automatic generation work memory 312f. The Of course, the data stored in the broken storage area may be stored in auxiliary storage means such as a hard disk drive.

  The input data memory 312a stores natural sentence data related to a sentence input as a natural sentence from the input unit 32.

  The module memory 312b stores a plurality of modules in which a searchable asset is associated with attribute information (corresponding to the above-mentioned “first information IF1”) and a matching keyword (corresponding to the above-mentioned “second information IF2”).

  The calculation rule memory 312 c stores calculation rules applied to the calculation processing of the search expression creation support device 30.

  The confirmed data memory 312d stores an extraction module group having a matching keyword corresponding to input information extracted by the module extraction unit 316. The extraction module group stored in the confirmed data memory 312d is after the deletion and addition by the operator.

  The output data memory 312e stores the generated search formula and information on the search set obtained by performing a search on the database 20 using the search formula.

  The extraction module group stored in the confirmed data memory 312d is transferred to the automatic generation work memory 312f. However, when posting, any module can be excluded from posting.

  The keyword extraction unit 315 extracts keywords from natural sentence data stored in the input data memory 312a. The keyword extraction in the keyword extraction unit 315 is performed, for example, by leaving content words obtained by removing unnecessary words after dividing a natural sentence into words by morphological analysis as keywords related to information input in the natural sentence. . For example, from a natural sentence, “It is a method for cleaning a shaped article formed by irradiating light to a photocurable resin having fluidity, and a) communicates from the inlet to the outlet.” Keywords such as “flow”, “light”, “photocuring”, “resin”, and “irradiation” are extracted. This keyword is information for extracting a module including a search formula asset, and is not generated as an element that directly constitutes the search formula, unlike the conventional technique.

  The module extraction unit 316 performs a comparison operation between the keyword extracted by the keyword extraction unit 315 and matching keywords of a plurality of modules stored in the module memory 312b, and the keyword extraction unit 315 extracts based on the comparison result. Extract modules that contain matching keywords that match any of the keywords. As described above, the search formula creation support device 30 makes it possible to easily extract modules including the search formula assets by a relatively easy process of comparing the keyword with the matching keyword, thereby enabling the reuse of the search formula assets. I have to.

  The retrieval formula creation support device 30 discards inappropriate modules from the extraction module group and incorporates the necessary modules into the extraction module group. Therefore, the selection of the module with respect to the extraction module group is performed as necessary. Only the appropriate module that is the basis for the expression generation is left.

  The search formula generation unit 317 generates a search formula for searching for information by combining search formula assets included in the extraction module group based on attribute information included in the extraction module group. The search formula automatic generation rule that is the basis for generating the search formula is stored in the calculation rule memory 312c.

  The appropriateness evaluation unit 318 evaluates the appropriateness of the search expression generated by the search expression generation unit 317 so that only an appropriate search expression can be output. The appropriateness evaluation unit 318 determines that the number of patent documents (hereinafter also referred to as “hit number”) included in the search set obtained by performing a search on the database 20 using a search formula is within a predetermined hit number range. If it is (for example, 50 or more and 200 or less), it is determined that the search formula is appropriate. Information on the hit count range that is the basis for the evaluation of appropriateness is stored in the calculation rule memory 312c.

  The input unit 32 includes input devices such as a pointing device and a keyboard. The search expression creation support device 30 can input information by an operation on the input device. Of course, the search formula creation support apparatus 30 may input information by another method, for example, input of information by communication via a network or input of information by reading a portable recording medium.

  The output unit 33 outputs search formula information. The search formula creation support apparatus 30 outputs search formula information to the information search apparatus 10 by outputting information through communication via a network or writing to a portable recording medium.

  The display unit 34 includes a liquid crystal monitor, a CRT monitor, and the like, and displays various types of information so as to be visible. Since the search expression creation support device 30 employs a GUI (Graphical User Interface) as a user interface, an operator can perform a predetermined operation using the input unit 32 while referring to the GUI screen displayed on the display unit 34. By performing the above, an instruction can be given to the retrieval formula creation support device 30.

<2.3 Module data format>
Next, the data format of the module including the searchable asset will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 shows a list of the contents of the data items of the nine modules MD1 to MD9. Each row corresponds to one module and each column corresponds to each data item of the module. .

  The search formula assets included in the modules MD1 to MD9 are formulas obtained by combining keywords with operators, and can be used for Boolean search.

  The operators that make up the search expression asset are typically "AND operator (*)" for obtaining a search set including both of the combined keywords, and a search set including at least one of the combined keywords. A well-known operator such as “OR operator (+)” for obtaining “NO”, and “NOT operator” for obtaining a search set that does not include the immediately following keyword can be used.

  The attribute information that is the basis of the combination of search formula assets in the search formula generation unit 317 includes a “type” that indicates module classification according to a predetermined classification criterion, “hierarchical data” that defines a hierarchical relationship between modules, and a hierarchy A “class” indicating the position on the hierarchical relationship in the set of modules in which the relationship is defined, and a “family management number” assigned to each set of modules in which the hierarchical relationship is defined are included. Of these pieces of attribute information, “type” is information (knowledge) given by the operator, and “hierarchical data”, “class”, and “family management number” are searched by the search formula creation support device 30. This is information (knowledge) based on the inclusion relationship of the search set specified by performing a search on the database 20 using assets. In addition, “hierarchical data” is information related to the relationship between two modules, whereas “class” and “family management number” are two or more modules specified based on “hierarchical relationship”. It is information about the set of.

  “Type” which is an example of information corresponding to the first information described above includes “field”, “product / equipment”, “operation / processing”, “shape / structure”, “part / material”, “unclassified”, “new”, and There is “non-display”, and in FIG. 4, each is represented by a natural type attribute value from “1” to “8”.

  Further, “hierarchical data”, which is an example of information corresponding to the first information described above, is given a management number of a module in a higher hierarchy. For example, in FIG. 4, the module MD2 is a module in a higher hierarchy than the module MD3, and the module MD6 is a module in a higher hierarchy than the module MD7. “Class” is determined based on “hierarchical data”, and is represented by a natural number of class attribute values such as “1”, “2”.

  Further, the search formula assets included in the modules MD1 to MD9 include a “management number” unique to each module and a “entry word” attached for convenience in order to facilitate recognition of the contents of each search formula asset. “Matching keyword”, which is the basis of extraction in the module extraction unit 316, that is, an example of information corresponding to the second information described above, is a target of comparison with the keyword extracted by the keyword extraction unit 315. And are associated. Among these, the “management number” is automatically assigned by the search formula creation support apparatus 30 and editing by the operator is not permitted, but “entry words” and “matching keywords” are also permitted to be edited by the operator. The

<2.4 Screen configuration and screen transition>
In the following, a text input screen 41, a module confirmation screen 42, a search result confirmation screen 43, a warning screen 44, a new module content writing screen 45, and a hierarchy relation automatic check screen 46, which are GUI screens displayed on the display unit 34, are displayed. The configuration (see FIGS. 5 to 10) and screen transition between these screens (see FIG. 11) will be described.

<2.4.1 Text entry screen>
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a screen configuration of a text input screen 41 used for inputting a natural text by an operator.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the text input screen 41 is a text box 411 that is a natural text text input field, and an operation member for instructing the search formula creation support device 30 to complete the input of the natural text text. And an input completion button 412.

  When the input completion button 412 is pressed on the sentence input screen 41, the sentence of the natural sentence input in the text box 411 is stored as natural sentence data in the input data memory 312a, and the display unit 34 displays the sentence input screen. Instead of 41, a module confirmation screen 42 is called (see FIG. 11).

  By adopting such natural sentence input, when a natural sentence is input, the keyword extraction unit 315 automatically extracts keywords from the natural sentence, and the module extraction unit 316 automatically extracts modules. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the time and effort for considering and determining the keyword, but this does not prevent the operator from determining the keyword and giving it directly to the search expression creation support device 30.

<2.4.2 Module confirmation screen>
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a screen configuration of the module confirmation screen 42 used for selecting modules by the operator.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the module confirmation screen 42 includes “field”, “product / equipment”, “operation / processing”, “shape / structure”, “parts / materials” excluding “hidden” among the eight types described above. The modules are arranged in columns SC1 to SC7 corresponding to the seven types “uncategorized” and “new”, and the module headwords are displayed in a list.

  Each of the columns SC1 to SC7 includes a module list MT on the left side that displays a list of entry words of modules included in the extraction module group, and a module candidate headline that is stored in the module memory 312b and can be added to the extraction module group. It is divided into the module addition help MAH on the right side for displaying a list of words. The module list MT and the module addition help MAH have a format in which cells CL, which are display areas for module headwords, are regularly arranged vertically and horizontally.

  On the module confirmation screen 42, the module can be added to the extracted module group by selecting the entry word of the module displayed in the module addition help MAH and pressing the button BTN1. On the contrary, on the module confirmation screen 42, the module can be deleted from the extraction module group by selecting the entry word of the module displayed in the module list MT and pressing the button BTN2.

  Further, on the module confirmation screen 42, the hierarchical relationship between the modules is organized, and the position of the module on the hierarchical relationship is expressed by a column displaying headwords. For example, in FIG. 6, “photocuring” is displayed in a column on the right side of “curing”. This is because the module including the heading “curing” is called “photocuring”. This indicates that the module is located at a higher level than the module including the headword.

  Further, on the module confirmation screen 42, a symbol for designating whether or not to exclude the module in which the entry word is displayed at the left end of the module list MT from the extraction module group that is the basis for generating the search expression. SY1 and SY2 are displayed. Here, the symbol SY1 means exclusion of the module from the extraction module group, and the symbol SY2 means cancellation of the exclusion of the module from the extraction module group. In the module list MT, the state in which the symbol SY2 is displayed for all the modules is the default state, but the symbol SY1 and the symbol SY2 are set for each module by a predetermined operation of the operator such as a mouse click operation. It can be switched.

  On the module confirmation screen 42, a button for returning to the text input screen (hereinafter also referred to as “return button”) 421, which is an operation member for calling the text input screen 41 to the display unit 34, and an instruction to proceed to the next process are provided. A button for proceeding to the next process (hereinafter also referred to as a “forward button”) 422 which is an operation member to be given to the retrieval formula creation support apparatus 30 is prepared.

  When the return button 421 is pressed on the module confirmation screen 42, the text input screen 41 is called again on the display unit 34 instead of the module confirmation screen 42 (see FIG. 11), and the natural sentence text is re-input. (Re-input) is possible.

  When the forward button 422 is pressed on the module confirmation screen 42, the module including the headword displayed in the module list MT is stored in the confirmed data memory 312d, and the display unit 34 displays the module confirmation screen 42. Instead, the search result confirmation screen 43 is called (see FIG. 11).

  The text input screen 41 may be provided with a display column for IPC (International Patent Classification) to display a list of IPCs generated from information input in natural text.

<2.4.3 Search result confirmation screen>
FIG. 7 shows a search result confirmation screen 43 used to confirm a search expression (hereinafter, also simply referred to as “appropriate search expression”) generated by the search expression generation unit 317 and evaluated as appropriate by the appropriateness evaluation unit 318. FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 7, when there is an appropriate search formula, that is, when there is a search formula whose hit count is within a predetermined hit count range, the search result confirmation screen 43 displays the search formula and its hit count. Is displayed.

  The notation of the search expression on the search result confirmation screen 43 is preferably performed by two types of methods, a simplified notation 431 and a full notation 432. Here, the simplified notation 431 is a notation of a search expression that is simplified by notifying a search expression asset that is the basis of the combination with a headword. The full description 432 is a description of a search expression actually used for the search without performing such simplification.

  Generally speaking, the simplified notation 431 is simpler than the entire notation 432 and is easy to recognize the outline of the search expression, but is not suitable for detailed examination of the search expression. On the other hand, the total notation 432 is more complicated than the simplified notation 431 and is difficult to recognize the outline of the search formula, but is suitable for detailed examination of the search formula. For this reason, in the search result confirmation screen 43, it is possible to view both the simplified notation 431 and the entire notation 432, thereby facilitating the recognition of the outline of the search expression and the detailed examination of the search expression. I have to. Further, in the search result confirmation screen 43 in FIG. 7, a mode in which the simplified notation 431 and all the notations 432 can be browsed at the same time has been illustrated, but it is possible to browse by switching by a predetermined switching operation, or an operator request Only necessary items may be displayed depending on the case.

  FIG. 7 shows a state where only one search expression and the number of hits are displayed on the search result confirmation screen 43, but when there are two or more appropriate search expressions, the search result confirmation screen It is possible that two or more search expressions and the number of hits are displayed in 43.

  Further, the search result confirmation screen 43 includes a work completion button 433 that is an operation member for instructing the search expression creation support device 30 to complete the work, and an appropriate search expression, that is, the search displayed on the search result confirmation screen 43. An output button 434 that is an operation member for giving an expression output instruction to the search expression creation support device 30 and a button for returning to the module confirmation screen that is an operation member for calling the module confirmation screen 42 back to the display unit 34 (hereinafter, referred to as an operation member) 435, also referred to as “return button”).

  When the operation completion button 433 is pressed on the search result confirmation screen 43, a new module content writing screen 45 is called on the display unit 34 instead of the search result confirmation screen 43 (see FIG. 11).

  When the output button 434 is pressed on the search result confirmation screen 43, the search expression displayed on the search result confirmation screen 43 is output using the output unit 33.

  Further, when the return button 435 is pressed on the search result confirmation screen 43, the module confirmation screen 42 is called again on the display unit 34 in place of the search result confirmation screen 43, and the module selection is performed again. (See FIG. 11).

<2.4.4 Warning screen>
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a screen configuration of the warning screen 44 displayed when there is no appropriate search expression.

  As shown in FIG. 8, when there is no appropriate search expression, that is, when there is no search expression whose hit count is within a predetermined hit count range, for example, “Automatic search expression generation and automatic execution has been completed. A warning screen 44 including a message “There was no search expression satisfying the specified hit count range” is displayed on the display unit 34. Then, after the warning screen 44 is displayed, processing for returning to the text input screen 41 or the module confirmation screen 42 is performed.

<2.4.5 New module content writing screen>
FIG. 9 illustrates the writing of the contents of each data item of a module whose type is “new” (type attribute value is “7”) (hereinafter also referred to as “new module”) MDN. It is a figure which shows the screen structure of the new module content writing screen 45 used for FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the new module content writing screen 45 displays a list of data items of the new module MDN. Although FIG. 9 shows a state in which each data item is displayed as a list for one new module MDN, the data items may be displayed as a list for two or more new modules.

  In the new module content writing screen 45, the contents of “headword”, “matching keyword”, “type”, “hierarchical data”, and “searchable asset” excluding “management number” among the displayed data items are predetermined. It can be written and edited by operation.

  Further, the new module content writing screen 45 includes a check box 451 for designating a new module MDN for which an editing operation is to be reflected in the stored content of the module memory 312b.

  Further, the new module content writing screen 45 includes a work completion button 452 that is an operation member for instructing the retrieval formula creation support apparatus 30 to complete the writing work. When the work completion button 452 is pressed on the new module content writing screen 45, an editing operation performed on the data item of the new module MDN designated as a target by checking the check box 451 is stored in the module memory 312b. Reflected in the stored contents, a hierarchical relationship automatic check screen 46 is displayed on the display unit 34 instead of the new module content writing screen 45 (see FIG. 11).

<2.4.6 Hierarchy automatic check screen>
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a screen configuration of a hierarchical relationship automatic check screen 46 used for giving a hierarchical relationship automatic check instruction to the retrieval formula creation support apparatus 30.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the hierarchical relationship automatic check screen 46 is a search expression for an instruction to execute an automatic check of the hierarchical relationship between a new module and a module other than the new module (hereinafter also referred to as “existing module”). A hierarchy relation automatic check button 461 which is an operation member given to the creation support apparatus 30 is included.

<3 operation>
<3.1 Overall operation>
FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 are flowcharts showing the overall operation for search formula creation support of the search formula creation support apparatus 30 realized by the execution of the search formula creation support program 319.

  As shown in FIG. 12, in the search expression creation support, first, a text input screen 41 is displayed on the display unit 34, and a natural text input by the operator using the text input screen 41 is input as natural text data. The data is stored in the data memory 312a (step S101). Then, the keyword extraction unit 315 reads the natural sentence data stored in the input data memory 312a, and extracts keywords (step S102).

  After the keyword extraction, the module extraction unit 316 performs matching processing, that is, the keyword extracted in step S102 (hereinafter, also referred to as “extraction keyword”) and a plurality of module matching keywords stored in the module memory 312b. And a module including the extracted keyword in the matching keyword is specified (step S103).

  Further, the module extraction unit 316 generates a new module based on the extracted keyword that does not match any of the matching keywords of the plurality of modules stored in the module memory 312b (step S104). In the new module, a unique management number that does not overlap with other modules is assigned, a headword that matches the extracted keyword, a matching keyword, and a search expression are assigned, and the type attribute value is “7” corresponding to “new”. It becomes. Note that hierarchical data is undefined when a new module is generated.

  In subsequent steps S105 and S106, display preparation of the module confirmation screen 42 is performed.

  More specifically, the type and hierarchy data of the module identified in step S103 and the new module generated in step S104 are read out and identified in step S103 according to the module arrangement rules stored in the calculation rule memory 312c. A module list is prepared for display by organizing the modules and the new modules generated in step S104 based on the type and hierarchical data (step S105).

  Further, the module type and hierarchy data stored in the module memory 312b are read out, and the module stored in the module memory 312b is converted into the type and hierarchy data in accordance with the module rearrangement rules stored in the calculation rule memory 312c. Based on the arrangement, preparation for displaying the module addition help is performed (step S106). Here, due to circumstances such as restrictions on the display area of the module addition help, display preparation may be performed for a part of the modules stored in the module memory 312b instead of display preparation.

  After completing the preparation for displaying the module confirmation screen 42, the module confirmation screen 42 including the module list and the module addition help is displayed on the display unit 34 (step S107), and the operation of the operator on the module confirmation screen 42 is detected (step S107). S108).

  If it is detected in step S108 that a module has been added to the extraction module group, a module has been deleted from the extraction module group, a module has been excluded from the extraction module group, or a module has been excluded from the extraction module group, the process proceeds to step S107. Returning, these operations are reflected on the module confirmation screen 42.

  If it is detected in step S108 that the return button 421 is pressed, the process returns to step S101 and the text input screen 41 is displayed again on the display unit 34. In other words, in the search formula creation support device 30, if the operator who refers to the module confirmation screen 42 determines that it is necessary to return to the input of the natural sentence and start again, the return button 421 may be pressed. .

  In step S108, when the pressing of the forward button 422 is detected, the extraction module group that has been added and deleted by the operator and has been confirmed on the module confirmation screen 42, that is, immediately before the forward button 422 is pressed. The module including the headword displayed in the module list display MT is stored in the confirmed data memory 312d (step S109).

  Then, after initialization of the automatic generation work memory 312f, that is, deletion of the modules stored in the automatic generation work memory 312f, modules other than the modules excluded on the module confirmation screen 42 are automatically generated from the confirmed data memory 312d. The data is transferred to the memory 312f (step S110).

  When the extraction module group serving as the basis for generating the search expression is stored in the automatic generation work memory 312f, preparation for generating the search expression is performed prior to the generation of the search expression (step S111). That is, the hierarchical data of each module of the extraction module group stored in the automatically generating work memory 312f is referred to, and a class based on the hierarchical relationship is calculated for each type. More specifically, the hierarchical relationship of modules belonging to the same type is specified, and class attribute values “1”, “2”, “3”,... Furthermore, a set of modules in which a hierarchical relationship is defined is regarded as a family, and a unique family management number is assigned to each family. By this step S111, the module class and the family management number that were not assigned in the stage of step S104 are assigned.

  Here, when the module is stored in the automatic generation work memory 312f ("YES" in step S112), the search expression generation unit 317 follows the search expression automatic generation rule stored in the calculation rule memory 312c. Based on the extraction module group stored in the automatically generating work memory 312f, a search expression is generated (step S113), and the process proceeds to the appropriateness evaluation process. Details of the search expression generation in step S113 will be described later.

  On the other hand, if no module is stored in the automatic generation work memory 312f ("NO" in step S112), there is no extraction module as a basis for generating the search expression, and the search expression cannot be generated. The warning screen 44 is displayed on the display unit 34 (step S114), and the process returns to step S101 or S108.

  In the appropriateness evaluation process, first, the appropriateness evaluation unit 318 executes a search on the database 20 using the search expression generated in step S113, and information about the obtained search set is stored in the output data memory 312e. Store (step S115). Of course, if there are a plurality of search expressions generated in step S113, the appropriateness evaluation unit 318 executes a plurality of searches using each search expression.

  Further, the appropriateness evaluation unit 318 compares the number of hits for each search expression with the hit number range stored in the calculation rule memory 312c in order to determine whether or not an appropriate search expression is obtained, The process branches depending on whether an appropriate search expression exists (step S116).

  If an appropriate search expression does not exist, a module with the smallest family management number included in the type given the smallest type attribute value among the modules stored in the confirmed data memory 312d is displayed. After being deleted from the confirmed data memory 312d (step S117), the process proceeds to step S112. Thereby, in the search formula creation support device 30, when an appropriate search formula is not obtained, a part of the modules included in the extraction module group that is the basis of the generation of the search formula is deleted, and the search formula is generated again. It will be confirmed again whether an appropriate search expression is obtained. If the search formula creation support cannot obtain an appropriate search formula even after repeated deletion of modules until there is no module stored in the automatic generation work memory 312f, the warning screen 44 The operator is warned that the search formula could not be obtained.

  On the other hand, if there is a search expression that satisfies the predetermined condition for the number of hits, the search result confirmation screen 43 is displayed on the display unit 34 (step S118), and processing corresponding to the operation of the operator on the search result confirmation screen 43 is executed. (Step S119).

  That is, when pressing of the output button 434 is detected in step S119, the generated appropriate search expression is output (step S120). Specific examples of the output in step S120 include, for example, storing the generated appropriate search expression in a text file or the like, printing it out using a printer (not shown), and the information search apparatus 10. And so on.

  If it is detected in step S119 that the return button 435 is pressed, the process proceeds to step S107. That is, in the search formula creation support device 30, if the operator who refers to the search result confirmation screen 43 determines that it is necessary to return to the module selection and start over, the user can press the button to return to the module confirmation screen 42. Good.

  Further, when pressing of the work completion button 433 is detected in step S119, a new module content writing screen 45 is displayed on the display unit 34 (step S121), and the operator performed on the new module content writing screen 45 is displayed. In response to the editing operation, the contents stored in the module memory 312b are overwritten and updated (step S122). Thereafter, the hierarchical relationship automatic check screen 46 is displayed on the display unit 34 (step S123), and the hierarchical relationship automatic check is executed in response to pressing of the hierarchical relationship automatic check button 461 (step S124). Details of this hierarchical relationship automatic check will be described later.

<3.2 Search expression generation>
14-16 is a figure explaining the search formula production | generation of step S113.

  Search expression generation is performed by combining the search expression assets included in the modules to which the class attribute value “1”, “2”, or “3” of the extraction module group is assigned based on the type and class. Here, it is not hindered to expand or reduce the range of the class attribute values of the modules to be combined in the search expression generation.

  More specifically, the search expression generation unit 317 refers to a class among modules included in each type, lists one module for each family management number, and performs OR combination (connection by an OR operator). Then, the search expression obtained by the OR connection is further AND-connected (connection by the AND operator) to generate a search expression for information search.

  Hereinafter, search expression generation in the search expression generation unit 317 will be described in three stages.

  In the first stage of the search expression generation, as shown in FIG. 14, a search expression is generated based on the module MDC1 with the class attribute value “1”, and the module MDC2 with the class attribute value “2” and the class are generated. The module MDC3 having the attribute value “3” is not used for generating a search expression.

  That is, if the modules included in the extracted module group are classified into type attribute values M1, M2,..., Mp (M1 <M2 <... <Mp), modules assigned the same family management number The modules MDC1 having the class attribute value “1” are listed one by one from each of the sets (same family) G1 to G3, and the query expression asset included in the listed module MDC1 is ORed to obtain the query expression E (Mi ) (I = 1, 2,..., P) is generated for each type. Then, p search expressions E (Mi) (i = 1, 2,..., P) are AND-coupled in various ways to obtain n = 1, 2,. , P (up to 7) search expressions SF are generated.

  In the second stage of the subsequent search expression generation, as shown in FIG. 15, a search expression is generated based on the module MDC1 whose class attribute value is “1” and the module MDC2 whose class attribute value is “2”. The module MDC3 whose class attribute value is “3” is not used to generate a search expression.

  That is, for the type having the type attribute value “M1”, the module MDC2 having the class attribute value “2” from each of the set of modules G1 to G3 to which the same family management number is assigned (if there is no class M The module MDC1 having an attribute value “1”) is listed one by one, and the search formula assets included in the listed modules MDC1 and MDC2 are ORed to generate a search formula E (M1).

  For types other than the type attribute value “M1”, one module MDC1 having a class attribute value “1” is listed one by one from each of a set (family) G1 to G3 of modules having the same family management number. The search formula assets included in the listed module MDC1 are OR-linked to generate (p−1) search formulas E (Mi) (i = 2,..., P).

  Then, p search expressions E (Mi) (i = 1, 2,..., P) are AND-coupled in various ways to obtain n = 1, 2,. , P (up to 7) search expressions SF are generated.

  In the above description, the module listing method is changed only for the type having the type attribute value “M1”. However, in practice, the type attribute values are “M2”,..., “Mp”. Similarly, the module listing method is sequentially changed to generate the search formula SF.

  In the subsequent third stage of the search expression generation, as shown in FIG. 16, the module MDC1 whose class attribute value is “1”, the module MDC2 whose class attribute value is “2”, and the module MDC3 whose class attribute value is “3”. Generate a search expression based on.

  That is, for the type with the type attribute value “M1”, the module MDC3 with the class attribute value “3” from each of the set of modules G1 to G3 to which the same family management number is assigned (if there is no class M Module MDC2 with attribute value “2”, and if it does not exist, module MDC1 with class attribute value “1” of the family is listed one by one, and the modules MDC1 to MDC3 listed are listed. The search expression E (M1) is generated by OR-joining the included search expression assets.

  For types other than the type attribute value “M1”, one module MDC1 having a class attribute value “1” is listed one by one from each of a set (family) G1 to G3 of modules having the same family management number. The search formula assets included in the listed module MDC1 are OR-linked to generate (p−1) search formulas E (Mi) (i = 2,..., P).

  Then, p search expressions E (Mi) are AND-coupled in various ways, and p (up to 7) search expressions SF, where n = 1, 2,..., P in Expression (1), are obtained. Generate.

  In the above description, the module listing method is changed only for the type having the type attribute value “M1”. However, in practice, the type attribute values are “M2”,..., “Mp”. Similarly, the module listing method is sequentially changed in the same manner, and the search expression SF is sequentially generated.

<3.3 Hierarchical relationship automatic check>
Hereinafter, as an example of checking the hierarchical relationship between a new module A whose type attribute value is “1” and the existing modules I, II, and III, the hierarchical relationship automatic check in step S123 will be described. explain. Here, the search sets of module A, module I, module II, and module III are represented by search sets N (A), O (I), O (II), and O (III), respectively.

  The search formula creation support device 30 is configured to execute modules A and I based on the inclusion relationship between the search sets N (A) and O (I) obtained by the search using the search formula assets included in the modules A and I. Identify hierarchical relationships between. That is, the “hierarchical relationship” information in the present embodiment is information reflecting the inclusion relationship of the search set, and is not a conceptual hierarchical relationship. Therefore, in the search formula creation support device 30, changing the class of modules to be combined at the time of generating the search formula means changing the size of the search set in various ways. Has been done to get.

  When the search set N (A) is a larger set than the search set O (I) (N (A) ≧ O (I)), the search formula creation support device 30 is represented by the formula (2). The index value C expressing the inclusion relation is calculated, and when the index value C satisfies the determination criterion exemplified by the expression (3), it is determined that the module I is located in the lower hierarchy of the module A, and the module A The management number of module I is posted to the hierarchical data.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 17, the index value C indicates the ratio of the portion (hatched portion) P that is not included in the search set N (A) in the search set O (I). If the index value C is small to some extent (for example, 0 ≦ Cmin ≦ 0.1), the support device 30 determines that the search set O (I) is substantially included in the search set N (A).

  Conversely, when the search set O (I) is a larger set than the search set N (A) (O (I) ≧ N (A)), the information search apparatus 10 is expressed by the equation (4). If the index value C expressing the inclusion relation is calculated and the index value C satisfies the determination criterion exemplified by the expression (3), the module A is determined to be located in the lower hierarchy of the module I, and the module The management number of module A is transferred to the hierarchical data of I.

  Then, the retrieval formula creation support apparatus 30 completes the automatic hierarchical relationship check by performing the same examination between the module A, the module II, and the module III.

<4 Foreign language search support>
In the above description, the case where a Japanese search formula is generated by combining Japanese search formula assets has been exemplified. However, the search formula generation support device also supports generation of a foreign language search formula in a foreign language search. Applicable.

  This is because even when a search expression asset in a foreign language is combined, the call does not necessarily require knowledge about the foreign language search and can be performed in the same manner as a Japanese search.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 18, a module MDF including a complex English-language search expression asset KW ((CTP + platesetter + imagesetter + plateimager) * ((computer * to) + image + imaging)) is called “plate setter”. When the matching keyword is given, the searchable asset can be called and used simply by inputting a sentence including the keyword “plate setter”.

<5 Others>
If the above-described search formula creation support apparatus 30 is used, search formula assets are automatically generated by combining search formula assets, so that the search formula assets can be easily reused. Further, in the search formula creation support apparatus 30, the generated search formula reflects the “type” and “class” of the module, so that “type” and “class” are appropriately set. If so, it is possible to obtain an appropriate search expression.

It is a figure explaining the concept of the search formula preparation assistance function of the search formula creation assistance apparatus 30 which concerns on embodiment of this invention. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an information search system 1 including a search formula creation support device 30 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a search expression creation support device 30. FIG. It is the figure which displayed as a list the content of each data item of nine modules MD1-MD9. It is a figure which shows the screen structure of the text input screen 41 used for the input of the text of a natural sentence by an operator. It is a figure which shows the screen structure of the module confirmation screen 42 used for selection of the module by an operator. It is a figure which shows the screen structure of the search result confirmation screen 43 used for confirmation of the search formula which the search formula production | generation part 317 produced | generated and the appropriateness evaluation part 318 evaluated that it was appropriate. It is a figure which shows the screen structure of the warning screen 44 displayed when a suitable search formula does not exist. It is a figure which shows the screen structure of the new module content writing screen 45 used in order to write the content of each data item of a new module. It is a figure which shows the screen structure of the hierarchy relation automatic check screen 46 used in order to give the automatic search instruction | indication of a hierarchy relation to the search expression preparation assistance apparatus 30. FIG. It is a figure explaining the screen transition of the screen displayed on the display part. 10 is a flowchart showing an overall operation for search formula creation support of the search formula creation support apparatus 30 realized by execution of a search formula creation support program 319. 10 is a flowchart showing an overall operation for search formula creation support of the search formula creation support apparatus 30 realized by execution of a search formula creation support program 319. It is a figure explaining search expression generation. It is a figure explaining search expression generation. It is a figure explaining search expression generation. It is a figure which shows the relationship between search set N (A) and search set O (I). It is a figure explaining the support of a foreign language search.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Information retrieval apparatus 20 Database 30 Search expression creation assistance apparatus 31 Main-body part 32 Output part 33 Display part 41 Text input screen 42 Module confirmation screen 43 Search result confirmation screen 44 Warning screen 45 New module content writing screen 46 Hierarchical relationship automatic check screen 311 CPU
312 Memory 315 Keyword Extraction Unit 316 Module Extraction Unit 317 Search Formula Generation Unit 318 Appropriateness Evaluation Unit 319 Search Formula Creation Support Program SF Search Formula SFS Search Formula Asset IF1 First Information IF2 Second Information EMD Extraction Module Group

Claims (11)

A search formula creation support device that supports creation of a search formula for searching information,
Storage means for storing a module, which is a unit of management of a searchable asset, associated with the searchable asset and first information that is a basis of the combination of the searchable asset;
Extraction means for extracting a module serving as a basis for generating the search expression from a plurality of modules stored in the storage means;
Generation means for generating the search expression by combining the search expression assets included in the extraction module group based on the first information included in the extraction module group which is a set of modules extracted by the extraction means. When,
A search expression creation support apparatus comprising: The search expression creation support device according to claim 1,
The first information includes module classification information according to a predetermined classification criterion,
The search means creation support device, wherein the generation means combines the search expression assets based on the classification information. In the retrieval formula creation support device according to claim 1 or 2,
The first information includes relationship information that defines a relationship between modules,
The search means creation support device, wherein the generation means combines the search expression assets based on the relation information. In the retrieval formula creation support device according to claim 3,
A retrieval formula creation support apparatus, wherein the relationship information is information on a hierarchical relationship between modules reflecting an inclusion relationship of a retrieval set obtained by retrieval using the retrieval formula asset. The retrieval formula creation support device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
In the module, the searchable asset is associated with second information that is a basis for extracting the searchable asset,
The extraction formula creation support apparatus, wherein the extraction means extracts a module having the second information corresponding to input information given when a new search is performed. In the retrieval formula creation support device according to claim 5,
The second information includes a comparison target keyword to be compared with the input information,
The extraction formula creation support apparatus, wherein the extraction unit extracts a module based on a comparison result between a keyword included in the input information and the comparison target keyword. The retrieval formula creation support device according to claim 6,
Keyword extracting means for extracting the keyword from a sentence input in natural sentences as the input information;
A search expression creation support apparatus, further comprising: In the retrieval formula creation support device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
Sorting selection means for selecting a module from the extraction module group in response to an operation input by an operator,
A search expression creation support apparatus, further comprising: The retrieval formula creation support device according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
Evaluation means for evaluating the appropriateness of the search expression generated by the generation means based on a predetermined evaluation criterion;
A search expression creation support apparatus, further comprising: A program that, when executed on a computer, supports creation of a search expression for searching for information, the program being stored in the computer,
A storage procedure for storing a module, which is a unit of management of a searchable asset, associated with the searchable asset and first information that is a basis of a combination of the searchable asset;
An extraction procedure for extracting a module serving as a basis for generating the search expression from the plurality of modules stored in the storage procedure;
Generating procedure for generating the search formula by combining the search formula assets included in the extraction module group based on the first information included in the extraction module group that is a set of modules extracted in the extraction procedure When,
A program characterized by having executed. An information retrieval system,
The retrieval formula creation support device according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
An information search device that searches for information using the search formula output by the search formula creation support device;
An information retrieval system comprising:

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