METHOD, APPARATUS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR SEARCHING INFORMATION

Abstract

An acquiring unit acquires a first search criterion from outside. A first searching unit extracts a first search result that satisfies the first search criterion from a storing unit that stores information to be searched. A first output unit outputs the first search result to a first output device. A changing unit changes the first search criterion to a second search criterion based on a predetermined condition. A second searching unit extracts a second search result that satisfies the second search criterion from the storing unit. A second output unit outputs the second search result to a second output device that is different from the first output device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a functional configuration of an information searching apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an external appearance of the information searching apparatus according to the present embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a data structure of an extended-keyword table;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a data structure of an evaluation-element table;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a data structure of a genre table;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a data structure of a preference table;

FIG. 7A is a schematic diagram for explaining scores given to restaurants;

FIG. 7B is a schematic diagram for explaining an evaluation method for search results;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an information searching processing performed by the information searching apparatus 10;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a detailed procedure in a special search criteria processing;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of an example of the special search criteria processing;

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of search results obtained from the example shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of another example of the special search criteria processing. This example is obtained by deleting a different restrictive portion from the input search criteria that are the same as the input search criteria shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of search results obtained from the example shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a detailed procedure in the special search criteria processing during which special search criteria are generated by extending the meaning of a keyword;

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of an example of the special search criteria processing during which special search criteria are generated by extending the meaning of a keyword;

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram of search results obtained from the example shown in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a flowchart of a detailed procedure in the special search criteria processing during which special search criteria are generated by changing the meaning of a keyword;

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram of an example of the special search criteria processing during which special search criteria are generated by changing the meaning of a keyword;

FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram of search results obtained from the example shown in FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a flowchart of a detailed procedure in the special search criteria processing during which a special search is conducted using a search history as a search target range;

FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram of an example of the special search criteria processing (step S104) during which a special search is conducted using a search history as a search target range;

FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram of results of a search conducted by using a search history as a search target range, and also based on special search criteria obtained by extending input search criteria;

FIG. 23 is a flowchart of a detailed procedure in the special search criteria processing during which special search criteria are generated based on a user's preference;

FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram of an example of a processing for generating special search criteria based on a user's preference;

FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram of search results obtained from the example shown in FIG. 24;

FIG. 26 is a flowchart of a detailed procedure in the special search criteria processing during which special search criteria are generated by changing a keyword;

FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram of an example of a processing for generating special search criteria by changing a keyword;

FIG. 28 is a schematic diagram of search results obtained from the example shown in FIG. 27; and

FIG. 29 is a schematic diagram of a hardware configuration of the information searching apparatus according to the present embodiment.

Claims

1. An apparatus for searching information, the apparatus comprising: a first acquiring unit that acquires a first search criterion from outside;a first storing unit that stores information to be searched;a first searching unit that extracts a first search result that satisfies the first search criterion from the first storing unit;a first output unit that outputs the first search result to a first output device;a changing unit that changes the first search criterion to a second search criterion based on a predetermined condition;a second searching unit that extracts a second search result that satisfies the second search criterion from the first storing unit; anda second output unit that outputs the second search result to a second output device having an output style different from an output style of the first output device.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a specifying unit that specifies information to be output by the second output unit out of the second search result, based on the first search result and the second search result, whereinthe second output unit outputs the information specifies by the specifying unit to the second output device as the second search result.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a calculating unit that, when a plurality of pieces of information are obtained as the second search result, calculates a search score for each of the pieces of information; anda specifying unit that specifies information to be output by the second output unit out of the second search result, based on the search score, whereinthe second output unit outputs the information specifies by the specifying unit to the second output device as the second search result.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition is that the second search criterion has a broader search range than the first search criterion.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first search criterion is a compound word, andthe predetermined condition is to delete, from the compound word, a word that represents a limitation included in the compound word.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition that is that the second search criterion has a broader search range than the first search criterion, and that the second search criterion is a different type of search criterion from the first search criterion.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition that is that the second search criterion has a narrower search range than the first search criterion.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a second storing unit that stores the first search criterion and the second search criterion in a corresponding manner, whereinthe changing unit changes the first criterion to the second criterion corresponding to the first search criterion stored in the second storing unit.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first output unit outputs the first search result to a display device, andthe second output unit outputs the second search result to an audio output device.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second output unit outputs information indicating that the second search result is a result for the second search criterion, together with the second search result.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second output unit outputs the second search result at the same time as the first output unit outputs the first search result.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second output unit outputs the second search result in a predetermined time after the first output unit outputs the first search result.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a second acquiring unit that acquires an instruction for switching a display output by the first output unit from a user, whereinthe second output unit outputs the second search result when the instruction is acquired.

14. A method of searching information, the method comprising: acquiring a first search criterion from outside;extracting a first search result that satisfies the first search criterion from a storing unit that stores information to be searched;outputting the first search result to a first output device;changing the first search criterion to a second search criterion based on a predetermined condition;extracting a second search result that satisfies the second search criterion from the storing unit; andoutputting the second search result to a second output device having an output style different from an output style of the first output device.

15. A computer program product having a computer readable medium including programmed instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform: acquiring a first search criterion from outside;extracting a first search result that satisfies the first search criterion from a storing unit that stores information to be searched;outputting the first search result to a first output device;changing the first search criterion to a second search criterion based on a predetermined condition;extracting a second search result that satisfies the second search criterion from the storing unit; andoutputting the second search result to a second output device having an output style different from an output style of the first output device.