Address determination device, address determination method, and program

Abstract

To perform coincidence confirmation between an address in which characters etc. are connected in series and a divided address.SOLUTION: An address determination device determines whether or not a first address in which elements such as characters are arranged without being sequentially divided from a large section constituting an address matches a second address in which the elements constituting the address are divided for each section and arranged in order from the large section. The address determination device comprises: an element determination unit which performs determination by forward match with respect to the first address, by using the elements corresponding to the largest section among the elements included in the second address; a processing unit which makes the element determination unit perform, in order, the determination by the forward match using the elements corresponding to a section next to the section to which the elements determined by the forward match belong from the second address, with respect to the address obtained by excluding the elements determined by the forward match from the first address, each time it is determined that the elements match by the forward match, in a determination result of the element determination unit; and an address determination unit which determines whether or not the first address and the second address match.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an address determination device, an address determination method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] When performing various procedures in response to an application or the like from a resident, the address of the resident is confirmed. For example, the address may be confirmed based on whether the address registered in the database of the local government matches the address entered by the resident when performing the procedure or the address obtained from a company based on a request from the resident. Here, there is a system for confirming whether the address input to a computer system matches the address registered in the computer system (for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Here, in the above-described system, for the address input to the computer system and the address registered in the computer system, after being decomposed into key strings respectively, a match check is performed. However, the address registered in the database of the local government is data in which characters and the like are connected continuously without being divided into sections such as prefectures, cities, towns, and villages, and the address input by the resident or obtained from a company may be data divided into sections. In such a case, when splitting the registered address, if it is not split according to the same rules as the address input by the resident or obtained from the company, the matching check cannot be performed. However, the rules according to which the address input by the resident or obtained from the company is split may vary depending on the resident or the company. Therefore, it is difficult to perform a matching check between an address in which characters etc. are connected in a continuous manner and a previously split address using the above-described system.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an address determination device, an address determination method, and a program capable of performing a matching check between an address in which characters etc. are connected in a continuous manner and a split address.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In order to solve the above-described problems, one aspect of the present invention is an address determination device that determines whether or not a first address in which elements including at least any one of characters or symbols are arranged without being split in order from the largest section constituting the address matches a second address in which the elements constituting the address are split for each section and arranged in order from the largest section, an element determination unit that performs a forward matching determination on the first address using an element corresponding to the largest section among the elements included in the second address, and every time it is determined that there is a forward match in the determination result of the element determination unit, the processing unit causes the element determination unit to sequentially perform a forward matching determination on the address obtained by excluding the element that is the forward match from the first address using an element corresponding to the next section of the section to which the element that is the forward match belongs from the second address, and an address determination unit that determines that the first address and the second address match when all the elements constituting the first address are excluded by the forward match using the elements corresponding to the sections of the second address in the processing unit.

[0007] Further, one aspect of the present invention is an address determination method executed in an address determination device that determines whether a first address in which elements including at least one of a character or a symbol are arranged without being sequentially divided from large divisions constituting the address matches a second address in which elements constituting the address are divided for each division and arranged in order from the large divisions. Using the element corresponding to the largest division among the elements included in the second address, a determination is made for the first address by forward matching. In the determined result, every time it is determined that there is a match by forward matching, for the address obtained by excluding the element that is the forward match from the first address, a forward matching determination is sequentially made using the element corresponding to the next division of the division to which the element that is the forward match belongs from the second address. When all the elements constituting the first address are excluded by the forward matching using the elements corresponding to the divisions of the second address, it is a address determination method for determining that the first address and the second address match.

[0008] Further, one aspect of the present invention is a program for causing a computer, which is an address determination device that determines whether a first address in which elements including at least one of a character or a symbol are arranged without being sequentially divided from large divisions constituting the address matches a second address in which elements constituting the address are divided for each division and arranged in order from the large divisions, to execute. Using the element corresponding to the largest division among the elements included in the second address, a determination is made for the first address by forward matching. In the determined result, every time it is determined that there is a match by forward matching, for the address obtained by excluding the element that is the forward match from the first address, a forward matching determination is sequentially made using the element corresponding to the next division of the division to which the element that is the forward match belongs from the second address. When all the elements constituting the first address are excluded by the forward matching using the elements corresponding to the divisions of the second address, it is a program for causing the computer to execute the determination that the first address and the second address match.

Advantages of the Invention

[0009] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to confirm the match between a continuous address with characters or the like connected together and a divided address.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, an address determination device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of an address management system S using an address determination device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The residence management system S includes a plurality of terminal devices (10, 11), a residence determination device 20, a corporate and group server 30, a residence cleansing server 40, and a network N. The plurality of terminal devices (10, 11), the residence determination device 20, the corporate and group server 30, and the residence cleansing server 40 are communicably connected via the network N.

[0012] The terminal devices (10, 11) are used, for example, by individual residents respectively. The terminal device (10) can use, for example, any one of a smartphone, a tablet, and a PC (Personal Computer). The terminal devices (10, 11) have a liquid crystal panel for displaying various data and an input device for receiving operation inputs from residents. The input device may be at least any one of a touch panel, a keyboard, a mouse, etc. The terminal device 10 and the terminal device 11 are used by different residents respectively. Here, the case where there are two terminal devices, i.e., the terminal device 10 and the terminal device 11, is described, but there may be three or more, or there may be one. In this embodiment, the case where the terminal device 10 is operated by the resident who possesses the terminal device 10 is described, but the terminal device 11 may be operated by the resident who possesses the terminal device 11.

[0013] The residence determination device 20 determines whether a pre-registered residence matches the residence transmitted from the corporate and group server 30 or the terminal devices (10, 11).

[0014] The corporate and group server 30 is used by a company or an organization. The company may be any organization that conducts the business of verifying the residences of residents, for example, any one of a bank, a credit card company, an insurance company, a transportation company, etc. The organization may be any organization that conducts the business of verifying the residences of residents, for example, any one of a local government, a school, etc.

[0015] The address cleansing server 40 has an address database regarding addresses, and converts the data of an address that is sent from an external device and described continuously without being separated by each section into data of an address separated by each section, and transmits it to the external device that is the request source. The section is determined according to the unit for separating an address such as "prefecture", "city, town, or village", "town name", "block number", "building name", "room number", etc. The section may use "sub-prefecture", "district", "large character", "character", "small character", "number of floors", etc. Here, depending on the company or organization that operates the corporate group server 30, when registering in the database that it manages by itself regarding the residents, it may store the address in a state separated by each section. In such a case, the corporate group server 30 or the terminal devices (10, 11) can easily obtain the address separated by each section from the address described continuously without being separated by each section by using the address cleansing server 40.

[0016] The network N includes at least any one of the Internet, a mobile phone network, a LAN (Local Area Network), etc. The network N may be at least either wired or wireless.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a schematic functional block diagram showing the functions of the address determination device 20. The address determination device 20 includes a storage unit 201, a communication unit 202, an address acquisition unit 203, an element determination unit 204, a processing unit 205, an address determination unit 206, a determination result output unit 207, and a control unit 208.

[0018] The address determination device 20 determines whether or not the first address and the second address match. The first address is an address in which elements including at least any one of characters or symbols are arranged in order without being split in order from the large sections that make up the address. The element is, for example, data in which characters, symbols, etc. representing the actual address are arranged. For the classification, for example, in order from the largest classification, there are "prefectures", "municipalities", "town names", "block numbers", "building names", "room numbers", etc. Regarding the classification "town name", it may be further divided into "characters", "large characters", "small characters", etc., or it may be included in the "town name". The first address is used as the correct address when verifying the identity of a resident. Such a first address may be data obtained by JPKI (public personal authentication service). In JPKI, the address of a resident is pre-stored in the IC chip (electronic certificate) of the My Number Card. For example, the address obtained by JPKI is data in which the characters are connected continuously without being divided by classification such as prefectures and municipalities.

[0019] The second address is an address in which the elements constituting the address are divided by classification and arranged in order from the largest classification. The second address may be an address input by a resident, company, organization, etc., or an address stored in a computer or the like managed by these. In a company, the address is often divided by classification for use. Also, in an organization, the address may be divided by classification for use. When a resident inputs an address, on the application site of the procedure provided by a company, organization, etc., on an input screen in which input fields are divided by classification, the resident may input the address by classification. In this way, the first address is different in that the address is not divided by classification and is stored as a continuous address, while the second address is divided by classification.

[0020] The storage unit 201 stores various data. The storage unit 201 is composed of a storage medium, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), a flash memory, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access read / write Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), or an arbitrary combination of these storage media. This storage unit 201 can use, for example, a non-volatile memory.

[0021] The communication unit 202 communicates with various devices (terminal device 10, terminal device 11, corporate group server 30, address cleansing server 40) via the network N respectively.

[0022] The address acquisition unit 203 acquires a first address and a second address.

[0023] The element determination unit 204 makes a determination of forward match for the first address using the element corresponding to the largest category among the elements included in the second address. In the first address, when there is a category representing a section in the building before the category representing the name of the building, the element determination unit 204 makes a determination of forward match using the element representing the section in the building among the second addresses. When they match by forward match, the element determination unit 204 makes a determination of forward match using the category representing the name of the building among the second addresses.

[0024] Every time it is determined that they match by forward match in the determination result of the element determination unit 204, the processing unit 205 causes the element determination unit 204 to sequentially make a determination of forward match for the address obtained by excluding the element that is the forward match from the first address, using the element corresponding to the next category after the category to which the element that is the forward match belongs from the second address. In addition, when the category determined not to match in the determination result of the element determination unit 204 is a category including numbers that divide a land section into a plurality of parts, the processing unit 205 performs a process of excluding the character representing the unit of the section and the symbol representing the omission of the unit from the element corresponding to the category for both the first address and the second address, and makes a forward match for the first address after exclusion using the characters included in the characters after exclusion in the second address.

[0025] When all the elements constituting the first address are excluded by forward match using the element corresponding to the category of the second address in the processing unit 205, the address determination unit 206 determines that the first address and the second address match.

[0026] The communication unit 202, the address acquisition unit 203, the element determination unit 204, the processing unit 205, the address determination unit 206, the determination result output unit 207, and the control unit 208 may be configured by a processing device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a dedicated electronic circuit.

[0027] Next, the operation of the above-described address determination device 20 will be described. FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 5, FIG. 6, FIG. 7, FIG. 8, FIG. 9, and FIG. 10 are flowcharts for explaining the operation of the address determination device 20.

[0028] The address acquisition unit 203 of the address determination device 20 acquires the first address and the second address from the outside (step S100). Here, for example, a living person uses the terminal device 10 to perform a registration procedure for subscribing to a service provided by a company of the corporate group server 30. In performing this registration procedure, for example, the following processes according to the procedures (1) to (6) are executed, so that the address determination device 20 can acquire the first address and the second address.

[0029] Here, the terminal device 10 transmits a request for performing a registration procedure to the corporate group server 30 based on an operation input from a living person, and performs an identity verification process based on a request from the corporate group server 30. The identity verification process may be a process such as a public personal authentication that is executed by causing the terminal device 10 to read a personal card issued individually to the living person. The personal card may be any card having an IC (Integrated Circuit) chip with a function capable of performing identity verification, such as a My Number card, a driver's license, or a residence card.

[0030] (1) Acquire the first address by performing public personal authentication When a My Number card is used as a personal card, the terminal device 10 can acquire basic four-information from the My Number card, and this basic four-information includes an address. The terminal device 10 acquires the address included in this basic four-information as the first address. For example, when using a My Number card to perform personal authentication by JPKI and it is confirmed that the person is the right one, the address can be acquired from the My Number card, and this address is a single character string such as "No. 501, Toyosumi Residence, 2-3, 1-chome, Koto-ku, Tokyo". Here, the addresses obtained by JPKI are registered in advance by each local government. Depending on the local government, there are cases where they are registered in an order such that the building name is described after the room number, like "Toyosumi Residence No. 501". In this embodiment, it is possible to determine whether the addresses match, whether the building name is described after the room number or the room number is described after the building name.

[0031] (2) Link the first address to the address cleansing server 40 The terminal device 10 transmits the first address to the address cleansing server 40. Thereby, it is linked to the address cleansing server 40 using the first address as a key. The address cleansing server 40 transmits to the terminal device 10 the addresses obtained by dividing the first address acquired from the terminal device 10 by category. Here, depending on the address database possessed by the address cleansing server 40, there may be cases where addresses that are the same as the first address but have different notations are obtained. For example, when the address obtained as the object to be linked is in the notation of "3-2-1, 1-chome", there may be cases where addresses with notations different from the address obtained as the object to be linked, such as "2-3, 1-chome" and "1-2-3", are obtained. Regarding which notations these will be in, it may vary depending on the address and the address database of the provider that provides the address cleansing service. The address thus assigned is the address divided by category and is returned to the requester (terminal device 10).

[0032] (3) Obtain the address divided by category from the address cleansing server The terminal device 10 obtains the address divided by category returned from the address cleansing server 40 by receiving it. The address obtained in this way is used as the second address.

[0033] (4) Display the second address on the address input screen for applying for procedures When the terminal device 10 obtains the second address, it displays the obtained second address on the address input screen for applying for procedures in a state separated by category. On the address input screen of the terminal device 10, an input field for inputting the address is displayed for each category of the address, and for the second address obtained from the address cleansing server 40, for each input field of the category, the elements of the address of the corresponding category are displayed in a state where they are each input. The user can check whether there is any mistake in the address displayed on the address input screen of the terminal device 10. For example, in the input field where the category is "Prefecture", the element (for example, "Tokyo") belonging to the category corresponding to "Prefecture" in the second address is displayed in an input state, and in the input field where the category is "City, Ward, or Town", the element (for example, "Koto Ward") belonging to the category corresponding to "City, Ward, or Town" in the second address is displayed in an input state. Hereinafter, the elements are displayed in an input state for each category.

[0034] (5) The user checks the address input screen and modifies the address if necessary The user checks the address displayed on the address input screen of the terminal device 10 and, if necessary, inputs the correction content via the input device of the terminal device 10. For example, the condominium name, the name of the city, ward, or town, etc. can be modified if necessary. When the user confirms that no correction is needed or when the necessary correction is completed, the user performs an operation input of pressing the "Address Confirmation Completed" button displayed on the display screen of the terminal device 10.

[0035] (6) Transmit the address to the address determination device 20 When the terminal device 10 receives an operation input for the "Address Confirmation Completed" button from the resident, it transmits the first address acquired in the above (1) and the second address for which the confirmation was completed in (5) to the address determination device 20. Here, the terminal device 10 may directly transmit the first address and the second address to the address determination device 20, but instead, it may transmit them to the corporate group server 30 of the enterprise or organization for which the application is made, and the corporate group server 30 may transmit the first address and the second address transmitted from the terminal device 10 to the address determination device 20. Thereby, the address determination device 20 can acquire the first address and the second address. Here, among the first address and the second address acquired by the address determination device 20, for the second address, there may be cases where the resident edits the second address such as making corrections and cases where no such editing is done. Therefore, the second address acquired by the address determination device 20 is either the second address returned from the address cleansing server 40 to the terminal device 10 or the second address for which corrections or the like have been made in the terminal device 10.

[0036] In this way, when the control unit 208 of the address determination device 20 acquires the first address and the second address, it stores them in the storage unit 201 and then executes a matching process. The matching process is a process for determining whether the first address and the second address match.

[0037] The element determination unit 204 performs a forward matching process on the first address using the element corresponding to the largest category among the elements included in the second address for the first address and the second address (step S101). Here, since the largest category is the "prefecture", the element determination unit 204 performs a forward matching process on the first address using the element "Tokyo Metropolis" corresponding to the largest category "prefecture" among the elements included in the second address. If it is determined that there is a mismatch in the result of the prefix matching process of the element determination unit 204 (step S102 - mismatch), the address determination unit 206 determines that the first address and the second address do not match (step S109). As an example of a case where the result of the prefix matching process for the category "prefecture" is determined to be a mismatch, for example, the first address is "1 - 3, 2 - chome, Higashi - ○○, Koto - ku, Tokyo, Residence Toyosu 501" and the second address is "「Kanagawa Prefecture」「Yokohama City」「Nishi - ○○」「2 - chome 1 - 3」「Mansion Minato Mirai」「302」".

[0038] If it is determined that there is a match in the result of the prefix matching process of the element determination unit 204 (step S102 - match), the processing unit 205 excludes the element that is determined to be a prefix match from the first address (step S103), and causes the element determination unit 204 to perform a prefix match determination on the excluded address using an element corresponding to the next category of the category to which the element determined to be a prefix match from the second address belongs. Here, the exclusion process does not involve deleting a part of the first address and the second address received from the terminal device 10 and stored in the storage unit 201 as described in (6) above. Instead, copies of the first address and the second address received from the terminal device 10 and stored in the storage unit 201 are generated, and the exclusion process is performed on the copied first address and the second address.

[0039] Based on the instruction from the processing unit 205, the element determination unit 204 performs a prefix matching process on the address "Higashi - ○○ 1 - 3, 2 - chome, Koto - ku, Residence Toyosu 501" from which the element "Tokyo" that is determined to be a prefix match has been excluded from the first address, using an element corresponding to the next category "city, town, or village" of the category "prefecture" to which the element "Tokyo" that is determined to be a prefix match from the second address belongs (step S104). For example, if the element of the category "city, town, or village" of the second address is "Koto - ku", the prefix matching process is performed on the first address using the character string "Koto - ku".

[0040] If there is a mismatch in the result of the forward matching process of the element determination unit 204 (step S105 - mismatch), the address determination unit 206 determines that the first address and the second address do not match (step S109). As an example of a case where the result of the forward matching process for the "municipality" category is a mismatch, for example, if the first address is "Toyosumi Residence No. 501, 2-3, 1-chome Higashi ○○, Koto-ku, Tokyo" and the second address is "「Tokyo」「Koto-ku」「South ○○」「1-chome 3-1」", there may be a case where an element corresponding to the "municipality" category (for example, "Koto-ku") is different from the first address.

[0041] If there is a match in the result of the forward matching process of the element determination unit 204 (step S105 - match), the processing unit 205 excludes the element that is the forward match from the first address (step S106), and for the excluded address, causes the element determination unit 204 to perform a forward match determination using an element corresponding to the next category "town name" of the "municipality" category to which the element that is the forward match from the second address belongs. Based on the instruction from the processing unit 205, the element determination unit 204 performs a forward matching process on the address "Toyosumi Residence No. 501, 2-3, 1-chome Higashi ○○" from which the element "Koto-ku" that is the forward match has been excluded from the first address, using an element corresponding to the next category "town name" of the "municipality" category to which the element "Koto-ku" that is the forward match from the second address belongs (step S107). For example, if the element in the "town name" category of the second address is "Higashi ○○", the forward matching process is performed on the first address using the character string "Higashi ○○".

[0042] If there is a mismatch in the result of the forward matching process of the element determination unit 204 (step S108 - mismatch), the address determination unit 206 determines that the first address and the second address do not match (step S109). As an example of a case where the result of the forward matching process for the "town name" category is a mismatch, for example, if the first address is "Toyosumi Residence No. 501, 2-3, 1-chome Higashi ○○, Koto-ku, Tokyo" and the second address is "「Tokyo」「Koto-ku」「North ○○」「2-chome 3-5」", there may be a case where an element corresponding to the "town name" category (for example, "North ○○") is different from the first address.

[0043] If there is a match in the result of the forward match process of the element determination unit 204 (step S108 - match), the processing unit 205 excludes the element that is the forward match from the first address (step S110), and for the excluded address, causes the element determination unit 204 to perform a forward match determination using an element corresponding to the next category "block number" of the category "town name" to which the element that is the forward match from the second address belongs. Based on the instruction from the processing unit 205, the element determination unit 204 performs a forward match process (step S111) using an element corresponding to the next category "block number" of the category "town name" to which the element "East ○○" that is the forward match from the second address belongs, for the address "No. 501, Residence Toyosumi, 2-3, 1-chome" from which the element "East ○○" that is the forward match has been excluded from the first address. For example, when the element of the category "town name" of the second address is "1-chome 2-3", a forward match process is performed on the first address using the character string "1-chome 2-3".

[0044] In step S112, if there is a match (step S112 - match), the processing unit 205 excludes the matching characters from the first address (step S113). When it is determined as "match" in this step S112, in the element of the category "block number", there is no variation in notation, and the elements belonging to the category "block number" match (for example, when the elements corresponding to the "block number" of the first address and the second address are "No. 2-3, 1-chome"). When characters are excluded by a forward match for the element of the category "block number", the remaining elements in the first address may be a character string including a building name and a room number, such as "No. 501, Residence Toyosumi", "Residence Toyosumi No. 501", "No. 302, Minato Mirai Mansion", "Minato Mirai Mansion No. 302", "Hotel Higashi Yodogawa", "Higashi Yodogawa Building", etc., or a character string including a building name. Also, when the first address does not include a building name or a room number, etc., there may be no remaining elements when the character string that is the forward match is excluded.

[0045] Next, the address determination unit 206 determines whether there are any remaining characters for the first address and the second address (step S114). The determination here is made as to whether there are any characters in the elements of the section "block number" of the second address that have not been subject to the matching determination. If there are characters that have not been subject to the matching determination, it means there are remaining characters. If there are no remaining characters (step S114 - no), the address determination unit 206 determines that the first address and the second address match (step S115). Here, examples of cases where it is determined to match because there are no remaining characters include, for example, when the first address is "1-1-1, Higashi Ooo 3-chome, Koto-ku, Tokyo" and the second address is "「Tokyo」「Koto-ku」「Higashi Ooo」「3-chome 1-1-1」". That is, it is an address where all elements from the section "prefecture" to the elements of the section "block number" match, and there are no elements corresponding to building names or room numbers, etc.

[0046] Next, in step S112 described above, when the result of the forward matching process by the element determination unit 204 for the section "block number" is a mismatch (step S112 - mismatch), the processing unit 205 excludes specific characters from the first address and the section "block number" of the second address (step S200). When it is determined as "mismatch" in this step S112, there is a possibility of notation variation in the elements of the section "block number". Notation variation means that although it is substantially the same address, for example, "1-chome 1-banchi 1-go" is input as "1-1-1", or characters with a similar appearance such as a hyphen being input as a minus sign or a long vowel mark, resulting in different address notations. In the case of so-called notation variation, although it represents substantially the same address, since the character codes are different in terms of data, there are cases where it is determined that the first address and the second address are different. Here, the specific characters to be excluded in the section "block number" are, for example, "chome, banchi, machi, cho, jwari, mune, chome, banchi, go, -, no", etc. When specific characters are removed, for example, for the first address, it is excluded from "1-chome 2-3 501 Residence Toyosumi" to "123501 Residence Toyosumi", and for the element "1-chome 2-3" of the second address category "block number", it is excluded to "123".

[0047] Next, when specific characters are removed, the processing unit 205 causes the element determination unit 204 to perform a forward match determination on the address from which the specific characters have been removed from the first address, using the element corresponding to the second address category "block number" after the specific characters have been removed. Based on the instruction from the processing unit 205, the element determination unit 204 performs a forward match process (step S201) on the address "123501 Residence Toyosumi" from which the specific characters have been removed from the first address, using the element "123" corresponding to the second address category "block number" after the specific characters have been removed from the second address.

[0048] If the result of the forward match process by the element determination unit 204 is a mismatch (step S202 - mismatch), the address determination unit 206 determines that the first address and the second address do not match (step S207). In this step S207, as an example where the result of the forward match process for the category "block number" is a mismatch, for example, the first address is "1-chome 2-3 501 Residence Toyosumi, Koto-ku, Tokyo", and the second address is "「Tokyo」「Koto-ku」「East ○○」「4-chome 3-8」「Hotel Higashi Azumabashi」". Even if the notation variations are removed in the category "block number", there may be cases where the numbers or alphabets representing the sections are different.

[0049] If the result of the forward match process by the element determination unit 204 is a match (step S202 - match), the processing unit 205 excludes the element that is the forward match from the first address (step S203). The address determination unit 206 determines whether there are any remaining characters for the first address and the second address (step S204). The determination here is made as to whether there are any characters for which the match determination has not been made in the element of the second address category "block number". If there are characters for which the match determination has not been made, there will be remaining characters. When there are no remaining characters (step S204 - no), the address determination unit 206 determines that the first address and the second address match (step S208). Here, as an example of being determined to match because there are no remaining characters, for example, when the first address is "1-1, 3-chome, Higashi ○○, Koto-ku, Tokyo" and the second address is "「Tokyo」「Koto-ku」「Higashi ○○」「3-chome 1-1」". That is, there is a notation variation in the "block number" section, but all elements from the "prefecture" section to the "block number" section match, and it is an address without elements corresponding to building names, room numbers, etc.

[0050] On the other hand, in step 124, when it is determined that there are remaining characters (step S204 - yes), the processing unit 205 causes the element determination unit 204 to perform a prefix match process on the "building name" section. Based on the instruction from the processing unit 205, the element determination unit 204 performs a prefix match process on the address obtained by excluding from the first address up to the "block number" section, using the element corresponding to the "building name" section of the second address (step S205). For example, the element determination unit 204 performs a prefix match process on the address "Residence Toyosumi 501" obtained by excluding "123" from the first address, using the element corresponding to the "building name" section of the second address. For example, when the element of the "building name" section of the second address is "Residence Toyosumi", a prefix match process is performed on the first address using the character string "Residence Toyosumi".

[0051] In step S206, when it is a match in the result of the prefix match process using the element corresponding to the "building name" section (step S206 - match), the processing unit 205 excludes the matching characters (here, the element corresponding to the building name) from the first address (step S250). As an example where it is determined that there is a match as a result of the forward match process for the "building name" classification, for example, when the first address is "Tower Mansion Shinagawa 601, 2-2, 2-chome, Higashi-○○, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo" and the second address is "「Tokyo」「Shinagawa-ku」「Higashi-○○」「2-chome 2-2」「Tower Mansion Shinagawa」「601」". That is, although there is a display deviation in the "block number" classification, it is a case where it matches up to the element corresponding to the next classification "building name" in the "block number" classification.

[0052] When the elements corresponding to the "building name" classification that are determined to be a forward match are excluded from the first address, the address determination unit 206 determines whether there are any remaining characters for the first address and the second address (step S251). The determination here is made as to whether there are any characters for which a match determination has not been made in the elements of the "building name" and "room number" classifications of the second address. If there are characters for which a match determination has not been made, there will be remaining characters. If there are no remaining characters (step S251 - no), the address determination unit 206 determines that the first address and the second address match (step S256). Here, as an example where it is determined to match because there are no remaining characters, for example, when the first address is "Hotel Toyocho, 3-8, 4-chome, Higashi-○○, Koto-ku, Tokyo" and the second address is "「Tokyo」「Koto-ku」「Higashi-○○」「4-chome 3-8」「Hotel Toyocho」". That is, although there is a notation deviation in the elements of the "block number" classification, it matches from the "prefecture" classification to the "building name", and in the first address and the second address, it is an address where there is no element corresponding to the "room number" classification.

[0053] On the other hand, if there are remaining characters in step S251 (step S251 - yes), the processing unit 205 causes the element determination unit 204 to perform a forward match determination using the elements corresponding to the next classification "room number" after the "building name" classification. Based on the instruction from the processing unit 205, the element determination unit 204 performs a forward match process using the elements corresponding to the "room number" classification of the second address on the address from which the "building name" classification that is determined to be a forward match has been excluded from the first address (step S252).

[0054] Regarding the "building number", if it matches in the result of the forward matching process of the element determination unit 204 (step S253 - match), the address determination unit 206 determines whether there are remaining characters for the first address and the second address (step S254). The determination here is made as to whether there are characters for which the match determination has not been made in the elements of "building name" and "building number" of the second address. If there are characters for which the match determination has not been made, there will be remaining characters. If there are no remaining characters (step S254 - none), the address determination unit 206 determines that the first address and the second address match (step S257). For example, the first address is "No. 601, Tower Mansion Shinagawa, 2 - 2, 2 - chome, Higashi ○○, Shinagawa - ku, Tokyo", and the second address is "「Tokyo」「Shinagawa - ku」「Higashi ○○」「2 - 2, 2 - chome」「Tower Mansion Shinagawa」「No. 601」". That is, although there are variations in the notation in the element of "block number", it is an address where it matches from "prefecture" to "building number".

[0055] On the other hand, if there are remaining characters (step S254 - yes), the address determination unit 206 determines that the first address and the second address do not match (step S255). For example, the first address is "No. 1013, Tower Mansion Shinagawa, 2 - 2, 2 - chome, Higashi ○○, Shinagawa - ku, Tokyo", and the second address is "「Tokyo」「Shinagawa - ku」「Higashi ○○」「2 - 2, 2 - chome」「Tower Mansion Shinagawa」「No. 101」". That is, although there are variations in the notation in the element of "block number", it matches from "prefecture" to "building number", but in the building number, there are remaining characters (here, for example, "3") like "Room 1013" and "Room 101" where the front matches but the match determination is not made.

[0056] On the other hand, in step S253, regarding the "building number", if it does not match in the result of the forward matching process of the element determination unit 204 (step S253 - no match), the address determination unit 206 determines that the first address and the second address do not match (step S258). When it is determined in step S253 that there is a mismatch, for example, when the first address is "Tower Mansion Shinagawa 601, 2-2-2, Higashi ○○ 2-chome, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo" and the second address is "「Tokyo」「Shinagawa-ku」「Higashi ○○」「2-chome 2-2」「Tower Mansion Shinagawa」「311」", etc., the elements from the "Prefecture" section to the "Building Name" section match in the first and second addresses, but they differ in the "Room Number" section.

[0057] On the other hand, in step S206, when the result of the forward match process of the element determination unit 204 for the "Building Name" section is a mismatch (step S206 - mismatch), the processing unit 205 excludes specific characters (here, for example, "No.·Room Number", etc.) from the first address, and also excludes specific characters (here, for example, "chome·banchi·bancho·banting·chwar·mune·chome·ban·no·-·no" and "No.·Room Number", etc.) from the element corresponding to the "Building Name" section of the second address (step S300). Here, in step S200, "chome·banchi·bancho·banting·chwar·mune·chome·ban·no·-·no" has been excluded from the first address, but the string "No.·Room Number" has not yet been excluded from the first address, and the exclusion process for this string has not yet been performed on the element corresponding to the "Building Name" section of the second address. Therefore, by excluding in this step, after making the excluded characters in the same state, the forward match process can be performed.

[0058] The processing unit 205 causes the element determination unit 204 to perform a forward match process using the elements of the "Building Name" section. Based on the instruction from the processing unit 205, the element determination unit 204 performs a forward match process on the first address using the element corresponding to the "Building Name" section of the second address (step S301).

[0059] In step S141, when the result of the forward match process using the element corresponding to the "Building Name" section is a match (step S302 - match), the processing unit 205 excludes the matching characters (here, the element corresponding to the building name) from the first address (step S303). As an example where it is determined that there is a match as a result of the forward match process for the "building name" in the classification, for example, when the first address is "Tower Mansion Shinagawa 601, 2-2, 2-chome, Higashi ○○, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo" and the second address is "Tokyo", "Shinagawa-ku", "Higashi ○○", "2-chome 2-2", "Tower Mansion Shinagawa", "601". That is, there is a display deviation in the "block number" classification, but it is a case where the elements corresponding to the "prefecture" classification to the "building name" classification match.

[0060] When the elements corresponding to the "building name" classification that are determined to be a forward match are excluded from the first address, the address determination unit 206 determines whether there are any remaining characters for the first address and the second address (step S304). The determination here is made as to whether there are any characters for which a match determination has not been made in the elements of the "building name" and "room number" classifications of the second address. If there are characters for which a match determination has not been made, there will be remaining characters. When there are no remaining characters (step S304 - no), the address determination unit 206 determines that the first address and the second address match (step S310). That is, there is a notation deviation in the elements of the "block number" classification, but the elements from the "prefecture" classification to the "block number" classification match, the building name includes the characters "number" or "room number", and there are no elements corresponding to the "room number" classification. Also, when specific characters are removed from the second address, and the specific characters "number · room number" are also removed from the first address, it is a case where the building names match.

[0061] On the other hand, in step S304, when there are remaining characters (step S304 - yes), the processing unit 205 causes the element determination unit 204 to perform a forward match determination using the elements corresponding to the next "room number" classification after the "building name" classification. Based on the instruction from the processing unit 205, the element determination unit 204 performs a forward match process using the elements corresponding to the "room number" classification of the second address on the address obtained by excluding the "building name" classification that is determined to be a forward match from the first address (step S305).

[0062] Regarding the "block number room" classification, when there is a match in the result of the forward matching process of the element determination unit 204 (step S306 - match), the processing unit 205 excludes the characters that match from the first address (here, the element corresponding to the block number room) (step S307).

[0063] When the element corresponding to the "block number room" classification, which is determined to be a forward match, is excluded from the first address, the address determination unit 206 determines whether there are any remaining characters in the first address and the second address (step S308). The determination here is made as to whether there are any characters in the "block number room" element of the second address that have not been subject to the match determination. If there are characters that have not been subject to the match determination, there will be remaining characters. If there are no remaining characters (step S308 - none), the address determination unit 206 determines that the first address and the second address match (step S311). The address determination unit 206 determines that the first address and the second address match (step S311). Here, examples of cases where it is determined that they match include cases where there are variations in the notation in the element of "block number and lot number", but from the "prefecture" classification to the "block number and lot number" classification and the "block number room" match, and the building name contains the characters "number" or "block number room", and when specific characters are removed from the second address, the specific characters "number · block number room" are also removed from the first address, and the building names match.

[0064] On the other hand, if there are remaining characters (step S308 - yes), the address determination unit 206 determines that the first address and the second address match (step S311).

[0065] Regarding the "room number" section, when it is determined that there is a mismatch in the result of the forward matching process by the element determination unit 204 (step S306 - mismatch), the address determination unit 206 determines that the first address and the second address do not match (step S309). Here, as an example of a case where it is determined that there is a mismatch, for example, there is a variation in the notation in the elements of the "block number" section, but from the "prefecture" section to the "block number" section, they match, the building name contains the characters "number" or "room number", and in the room number, for example, like "Room 1013" and "Room 101", the front parts match, but there are remaining characters (here, for example, "3") for which the match determination is not made, and when specific characters are removed from the second address, the specific characters "number·room number" are also removed from the first address, and the building names match. As a case where the building name contains the characters "number" or "room number", for example, the building name may be "Hotel Number Six Vehicle", etc.

[0066] On the other hand, in step S141 described above, when it is determined that there is a mismatch in the result of the forward matching process using the element corresponding to the "building name" section (step S142 - mismatch), the processing unit 205 excludes a specific character string (here, "number·room number") from the first address and excludes specific characters (here, for example, "block·lot number·block town·block·land division·building·block·lot number· - ·of" and "number·room number", etc.) from the elements corresponding to the "number·room number" section of the second address (step S350). When the specific characters are excluded, the element determination unit 204 performs a forward matching process using the element corresponding to the "room number" section of the second address (step S351). Here, instead of performing the forward matching process for the "building name" section, the forward matching for the "room number" section is performed (the process is switched).

[0067] Regarding the "room number" section, if it is determined to be inconsistent in the result of the forward matching process of the element determination unit 204 (step S352 - inconsistent), the address determination unit 206 determines that the first address and the second address are inconsistent (step S353). Examples of cases where it is determined to be inconsistent include, for example, there are variations in the notation in the elements of the "block number" section, but from the "prefecture" section to the "block number" section are the same, and in the first address, the order of description of the building name and the room number is reversed (when the building name is described after the room number), the building name contains the characters "number" or "room number", and there is an inconsistency in the room number.

[0068] On the other hand, regarding the "room number" section, if it is determined to be consistent in the result of the forward matching process of the element determination unit 204 (step S352 - consistent), the processing unit 205 excludes the matching characters from the first address (here, the elements corresponding to the "room number" section) (step S354). When characters such as "number / room number" are excluded from the elements corresponding to the "room number" section of the second address, the processing unit 205 causes the element determination unit 204 to perform a forward matching determination using the elements corresponding to the "building name" section. Based on the instruction from the processing unit 205, the element determination unit 204 performs a forward matching process on the address after excluding "number / room number" from the first address, using the elements corresponding to the "building name" section of the second address (step S355).

[0069] Regarding the "building name" section, if it is determined to be consistent in the result of the forward matching process of the element determination unit 204 (step S356 - consistent), the processing unit 205 excludes the matching characters from the first address (here, the elements corresponding to the building name) (step S357).

[0070] When the elements corresponding to the "building name" section determined to be forward-matched are excluded from the first address, the address determination unit 206 determines whether there are remaining characters for the first address and the second address (step S358). This determination is made regarding whether there are characters for which a matching determination has not been made in the elements of the "building name" and "room number" sections of the second address. If there are characters for which a matching determination has not been made, there will be remaining characters. When there are no remaining characters (step S358 - no), the address determination unit 206 determines that the first address and the second address match (step S359). Examples of cases where it is determined that they match include, for example, although there are variations in the notation in the elements of the "cho-me lot number", from the "prefecture" section to the "cho-me lot number" section they match, in the first address the order of description of the building name and the room number is reversed (when the building name is described after the room number), the building name includes the characters "no." or "room number", and they match in the room number, and when specific characters are removed from the second address, the specific characters "no.·room number" are also removed from the first address, and the building names match.

[0071] On the other hand, in step S358, when there are remaining characters (step S358 - yes), the address determination unit 206 determines that the first address and the second address do not match (step S360). Examples of cases where it is determined that they do not match include, for example, although there are variations in the notation in the elements of the "cho-me lot number", from the "prefecture" section to the "cho-me lot number" section they match, in the first address the order of description of the building name and the room number is reversed (when the building name is described after the room number), the "room number" sections match, but the building names do not match.

[0072] On the other hand, in step S356, when, regarding the "building name" section, the result of the forward match process by the element determination unit 204 is a mismatch (step S356 - mismatch), the address determination unit 206 determines that the first address and the second address do not match (step S361). Examples of cases where it is determined that they do not match include, for example, there are variations in the notation in the elements of the "cho-me lot number", from the "prefecture" section to the "cho-me lot number" section they match, in the first address the order of description of the building name and the room number is reversed (when the building name is described after the room number), and there is a mismatch in the "room number" section.

[0073] On the other hand, in step 114 described above, when it is determined that there are remaining characters (step S114 - yes), the processing unit 205 causes the element determination unit 204 to perform a forward match process on the "building name" section (step S116). Based on the instruction from the processing unit 205, the element determination unit 204 performs a forward matching process using the element corresponding to the "building name" in the second address for the address from which the section from the first address to "block number" is excluded (step S116).

[0074] Regarding the section "building name", if it is a match in the result of the forward matching process by the element determination unit 204 (step S117 - match), the processing unit 205 excludes the matching characters (here, the characters of the building name) from the first address (step S400). When the matching characters (the characters of the building name) are excluded from the first address, the address determination unit 206 determines whether there are any remaining characters for the first address and the second address (step S401). The determination here is made as to whether there are any characters for which the matching determination has not been made among the elements of the sections "building name" and "room number" in the second address. If there are characters for which the matching determination has not been made, there will be remaining characters. If there are no remaining characters (step S401 - none), the address determination unit 206 determines that the first address and the second address match (step S408). Examples of cases where it is determined to match here are addresses where all elements from the section "prefecture" to the section "building name" match and there is no element corresponding to the room number.

[0075] On the other hand, in step S401, if there are remaining characters (step S401 - yes), the element determination unit 204 performs a forward matching process using the element corresponding to the "room number" in the second address (step S402).

[0076] Regarding the section "room number", if it is a match in the result of the forward matching process by the element determination unit 204 (step S403 - match), the processing unit 205 excludes the matching characters (here, the element corresponding to the room number) from the first address (step S404).

[0077] When an element corresponding to the section "Room Number" that is considered to match exactly from the first address is excluded, the address determination unit 206 determines whether there are any remaining characters for the first address and the second address (step S405). The determination here is made as to whether there are any characters for which a match determination has not been made in the elements of the sections "Building Name" and "Room Number" of the second address. If there are characters for which a match determination has not been made, there will be remaining characters. When there are no remaining characters (step S405 - no), the address determination unit 206 determines that the first address and the second address match (step S406). Examples of cases where it is determined that they match here are, for example, when from the section "Prefecture" to the section "Block Number" and the section "Room Number" all match, and the building name contains the characters "Number" or "Room Number", but due to the removal of specific characters from the second address, the specific characters "Number·Room Number" are also removed from the first address, and the building names match. Here, when the first address and the second address match in the exact match process, even if the character string corresponding to the element "Room Number" of the second address is excluded from the first address and the characters "Number·Room Number" remain in the first address, it may be regarded as a match.

[0078] On the other hand, in step S405, when there are remaining characters (step S405 - yes), the address determination unit 206 determines that the first address and the second address do not match (step S407). Examples of cases where it is determined that they do not match here are, for example, when all elements from the section "Prefecture" to the section "Building Name" match, but in the room number, like "Room 1013" and "Room 101", etc., the fronts match, but there are remaining characters (here, for example, "3") for which a match determination has not been made.

[0079] On the other hand, when the result of the exact match process by the element determination unit 204 for the section "Room Number" is a mismatch (step S403 - mismatch), the processing unit 205 excludes specific characters (here, for example, "Block·Lot·Chome·Ban·Chome·Jiri·Building·Chome·Ban·Number·-·no" and "Number·Room Number", etc.) from the first address and the element corresponding to the section "Number·Room Number" of the second address (step S409). When specific characters are excluded, the element determination unit 204 performs a forward matching process using the elements corresponding to the "room number" category of the second address (step S410).

[0080] If, in the result of the forward matching process by the element determination unit 204 for the "room number" category, there is a mismatch (step S411 - mismatch), the address determination unit 206 determines that the first address and the second address do not match (step S407). Here, cases where it is determined that there is a mismatch include, for example, cases where all elements from the "prefecture" category to the "building name" category match, but there is a mismatch in the room number.

[0081] On the other hand, if, in the result of the forward matching process by the element determination unit 204 for the "room number" category, there is a match (step S411 - match), the processing unit 205 excludes the matching characters from the first address (here, the elements corresponding to the "room number" category) (step S412). When characters such as "number / room number" are excluded from the elements corresponding to the "room number" category of the second address, the address determination unit 206 determines whether there are any remaining characters for the first address and the second address (step S413). Here, the determination is made as to whether there are any characters for which a match determination has not been made in the elements of the "building name" and "room number" categories of the second address. If there are characters for which a match determination has not been made, there will be remaining characters. If there are no remaining characters (step S413 - none), the address determination unit 206 determines that the first address and the second address match (step S414). Here, cases where it is determined that they match include, for example, cases where all elements from the "prefecture" category to the "block number" category match, and there are variations in the presence or absence of notations such as "number" or "room number" in the room number, but they match, and the building name contains the characters "number" or "room number", and by removing the specific characters from the second address and also removing the specific characters "number / room number" from the first address, the building names match. This is the case.

[0082] On the other hand, in step S413, if there are remaining characters (step S413 - Yes), the address determination unit 206 determines that the first address and the second address do not match (step S415). Here, cases where it is determined that they match include, for example, cases where all elements from the section "Prefecture" to the element of the section "Building Name" match, but in the room number, like "Room 1013" and "Room 101", the front parts match, but there are remaining characters (here, for example, "3") for which the match determination is not made.

[0083] On the other hand, in step S117 described above, for the section "Building Name", if the result of the forward match process by the element determination unit 204 is a mismatch (step S117 - Mismatch), the processing unit 205 excludes specific characters from the elements of the section "Building Name" of the first address and the second address (step S118). Here, the specific characters to be excluded in the section "Building Name" are, for example, "cho-me, banchi, bancho, banchou, chiwari, mune, cho, ban, gou, -, no", and "gou, gou-shitsu", etc. That is, when describing an address for the section "Cho-me Banchi Gou", it is a character representing a suffix, etc., described before or after these numerical or alphabetical characters when representing the land division by numbers or alphabets. By removing such specific characters from the first address and the second address, it is possible to continue the match determination of the address after making the state where there are no characters causing notation variations. When the specific characters are removed, for example, for the first address, it is excluded from "Hotel Higashi-Yocho" to "Hotel Higashi", and for the element "Hotel Higashi-Yocho" of the section "Building Name" of the second address, it is excluded to "Hotel Higashi".

[0084] Next, when the specific characters are removed, the processing unit 205 causes the element determination unit 204 to perform a forward match determination on the address from which the specific characters have been removed from the first address, using the element corresponding to the section "Building Name" of the second address after the specific characters have been removed. Based on the instruction from the processing unit 205, the element determination unit 204 performs a forward matching process (step S119) on the address "Hotel Toyo" with specific characters removed from the first address, using the element "Hotel Toyo" that corresponds to the category "building name" of the second address after specific characters are excluded from the second address.

[0085] For the category "building name", if there is a match in the result of the forward matching process by the element determination unit 204 (step S117 - match), the processing unit 205 excludes the matching characters (here, the characters of the building name) from the first address (step S400). Then, the processing proceeds from step S402 described later. On the other hand, if there is no match in the result of the forward matching process by the element determination unit 204 (step S200 - no match), the element determination unit 204 performs a forward matching process using the element corresponding to the category "room number" of the second address (step S450). For the category "room number", if there is a match in the result of the forward matching process by the element determination unit 204 (step S451 - match), the processing unit 205 excludes the matching characters (here, the element corresponding to the room number) from the first address (step S452). As an example where it is determined that there is a match as a result of the forward matching process for the category "room number", for example, when the first address is "1 - chome 2 - ban 3 - go 501 - go Residence Toyo, Higashi - Oo, Koto - ku, Tokyo" and the second address is "「Tokyo」「Koto - ku」「Higashi - Oo」「1 - chome 2 - ban 3 - go」「Residence Toyo」「501 - go」".

[0086] When the element corresponding to the category "room number" is excluded, the processing unit 205 causes the element determination unit 204 to perform a forward matching determination using the element of the category "building name". Based on the instruction from the processing unit 205, the element determination unit 204 performs a forward matching process (step S453) on the address after the element corresponding to the category "room number" is excluded from the first address in step S452, using the element corresponding to the category "building name" of the second address.

[0087] In step S454, when, as a result of the prefix matching process for the section "Building Name", there is a match (step S454 - match), the processing unit 205 excludes the matching characters (here, the elements corresponding to the building name) from the first address (step S455).

[0088] When the elements corresponding to the section "Building Name" that are determined to have a prefix match are excluded from the first address, the address determination unit 206 determines whether there are any remaining characters in the first address and the second address (step S456). The determination here is made as to whether there are any characters in the sections "Building Name" and "Room Number" of the second address that have not been subject to the match determination. If there are characters that have not been subject to the match determination, then there are remaining characters. When there are no remaining characters (step S456 - none), the address determination unit 206 determines that the first address and the second address match (step S458). Here, when they are determined to match, for example, the first address is "501 Residence Toyosumi, 3 - 2, 1 - chome, Higashi ○○, Koto - ku, Tokyo", and the second address is "「Tokyo」「Koto - ku」「Higashi ○○」「1 - chome, 3 - 2」「Residence Toyosumi」「501」", etc. In such a case, there is no variation in the notation for the section "Block and Lot Number", and although the order of the elements of the building name and the room number is reversed, each element is the same.

[0089] On the other hand, in step S456, when there are remaining characters (step S456 - yes), the address determination unit 206 determines that the first address and the second address do not match (step S457). Examples of cases where it is determined that they do not match include, for example, when all of the elements from the section "Prefecture" to the section "Block and Lot Number", and the section "Room Number" match, and in the first address, the description order of the building name and the room number is reversed (when the building name is described after the room number), and although there is a prefix match in the building name, there are remaining characters. Examples of cases where there are remaining characters although there is a prefix match in the building name include "Hotel Higashi Azabu" and "Hotel Higashi Azabu Annex", etc.

[0090] On the other hand, in step S451, if as a result of the forward matching process for the section "room number" there is no match (step S451 - no match), the address determination unit 206 determines that the first address and the second address do not match (step S466). Here, when it is determined that there is no match, for example, if the first address is "501 Residence Toyosumi, 3-2, 1-chome, Higashi ○○, Koto-ku, Tokyo" and the second address is "「Tokyo」「Koto-ku」「Higashi ○○」「1-chome 2-3」「Garden Toyo」「412」", etc., there is no variation in the notation in the section "block number and lot number", and there may be a case where the room numbers are different. Here, when the room numbers are different, regardless of whether the building names match, it can be determined that they are different addresses.

[0091] On the other hand, in step S454 described above, if as a result of the forward matching process for the section "building name" there is no match (step S454 - no match), the address determination unit 206 determines that the first address and the second address do not match (step S466). For example, as a case where it is determined that there is no match here, from the section "prefecture" to the elements of the section "block number and lot number", and the section "room number" all match, and in the first address the description order of the building name and the room number is reversed (when the building name is described after the room number), and the building names do not match.

[0092] FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram showing a specific example of the flow of the process for determining whether the first address and the second address match by the address determination device 20. Here, as an example, a case will be described where the first address is "501 Residence Toyosumi, 3-2, 1-chome, Higashi ○○, Koto-ku, Tokyo" and the second address is "「Tokyo」「Koto-ku」「Higashi ○○」「1-chome 2-3」「Residence Toyosumi」「501」".

[0093] In process (1), the address determination device 20 performs a forward matching process on the first address using the element of the section "prefecture" of the second address. Since the character string "Tokyo" matches, "Tokyo" is excluded from the beginning of the first address. Next, in process (2), the address determination device 20 performs a forward matching process on the first address using the element of the second address's "city, ward, town, or village" classification. Since the character string "Koto-ku" matches, "Koto-ku" is excluded from the beginning of the first address. Next, in process (3), the address determination device 20 performs a forward matching process on the first address using the element of the second address's "East ○○" classification. Since the character string "East ○○" matches, "East ○○" is excluded from the beginning of the first address.

[0094] Next, in process (4), the address determination device 20 performs a forward matching process on the first address using the element "1-chome 2-3" of the second address's "block number and lot number" classification. Here, the character string from the beginning of the first address is "1-chome 2-ban 3-gou 501-gou ···", and the character string "1-chome 2-3" of the second address does not match. Therefore, the address determination device 20 excludes the specific characters "chome, lot number, cho-machi, cho-chou, land division, building, chome, lot number, gou, -, no" corresponding to the "block number and lot number" classification from the first address and the second character. Then, the address determination device 20 performs a forward matching process on the first address again using the element "123" corresponding to the "block number and lot number" classification of the second address. Here, since "123" of the first address matches the element "123" of the second address, "123" is excluded from the beginning of the first address.

[0095] Next, in process (5), the address determination device 20 performs a forward matching process on the first address using the element "Residence Toyosu" of the second address's "building name" classification. Here, the first address is the character string "501 Residence Toyosu", and the character string "Residence Toyosu" of the second address does not match. Here, the address determination device 20 excludes the character string "gou, gou-shitsu" from the first address and the second address and then performs a forward matching process on the "building name" classification again. Since they do not match even after the forward matching process, the process proceeds to (6).

[0096] Next, in process (6), the address determination device 20 performs a forward match process on the first address using the element "501" of the "room number" section of the second address. Since the leading characters of "502 Residence Toyosumi" match, "502" is excluded from the beginning of the first address. Then, the address determination device 20 proceeds to process (5). Next, in process (5), the address determination device 20 performs a forward match process on the first address using the element "Residence Toyosumi" of the "building name" section of the second address. Here, the first address is the character string "Residence Toyosumi", and the character string "Residence Toyosumi" of the second address matches. Accordingly, the address determination device 20 determines that the first address and the second address match.

[0097] According to the embodiment described above, among the sections constituting the address, by using the element corresponding to any section of the second address to perform a forward match process on the first address, even when the delimiters of the sections constituting the address are unknown for the first address, it is possible to sequentially determine whether the addresses match for each element corresponding to the section of the second address.

[0098] Also, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the second address acquired by the address determination device 20 is an address divided by section by the address cleansing server 40 based on the first address has been described. However, the second address may be an address directly input by the resident on the address input screen for making a procedure application. Further, when the address, name, etc. of the resident are already registered as a user with the corporate group server 30, the second address registered at the time of that user registration may be read from the corporate group server 30 and transmitted to the address determination device 20 so as to be used as the second address for which the match confirmation is to be made. Thereby, even an address directly input by the resident or an address already registered with the corporate group server 30 can be used as the second address to confirm whether it matches the first address.

[0099] The address determination device 20 in the above-described embodiment may be implemented by a computer. In that case, a program for realizing this function may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on this recording medium may be read into a computer system and executed to realize it. Here, the "computer system" shall include hardware such as an OS and peripheral devices. Further, the "computer-readable recording medium" refers to a portable medium such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, a CD-ROM, etc., and a storage device such as a hard disk incorporated in a computer system. Furthermore, the "computer-readable recording medium" also includes those that dynamically hold a program for a short period of time, such as a communication line when transmitting a program via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line, and those that hold a program for a certain period of time, such as a volatile memory inside a computer system that serves as a server or a client in that case. Also, the above program may be for realizing a part of the aforementioned functions, and may further be realizable in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system for realizing the aforementioned functions, or may be realized using a programmable logic device such as an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).

[0100] As described above, the embodiments of this invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and designs and the like within the scope not departing from the gist of this invention are also included.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0101] 10, 11 Terminal device 20 Address determination device 30 Corporate group server 40 Address cleansing server 201 Storage unit 202 Communication unit 203 Address acquisition unit 204 Element determination unit 205 Processing unit 206 Residence determination unit 207 Determination result output unit 208 Control unit N Network S Address management system

Claims

1. An address determination device that determines whether or not a first address in which elements including at least one of a character or a symbol are arranged without being sequentially divided from large divisions constituting the address matches a second address in which elements constituting the address are divided for each division and arranged in order from the large divisions. An element determination unit that performs a determination of forward match on the first address using an element corresponding to the largest division among the elements included in the second address. In the determination result of the element determination unit, every time it is determined that there is a forward match, for the address obtained by excluding the element that is the forward match from the first address, the element determination unit is caused to sequentially perform a determination of forward match using an element corresponding to the next division after the division to which the element that is the forward match belongs from the second address. An address determination unit that determines that the first address and the second address match when, in the process unit, all elements constituting the first address are excluded by the forward match using the elements corresponding to the divisions of the second address. An address determination device having the above.

2. The process unit When the division determined not to match in the determination result of the element determination unit is a division including a number that divides a land plot into a plurality of sections, performs a process of excluding a character representing a unit of the section and a symbol representing the omission of the unit from the elements corresponding to the division for both the first address and the second address, and performs a forward match on the first address after the exclusion using the characters included in the characters after the exclusion in the second address. The address determination device according to Claim 1.

3. The element determination unit In the first address, when there is a division representing a section in the building before the division representing the name of the building, performs a determination of forward match using an element representing the division in the building among the second addresses, and when there is a forward match, performs a determination of forward match using an element representing the division representing the name of the building among the second addresses. The address determination device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2.

4. An address determination method executed in an address determination device that determines whether or not a first address in which elements including at least one of a character or a symbol are arranged without being sequentially divided from large divisions constituting the address matches a second address in which elements constituting the address are divided for each division and arranged in order from the large divisions. Using the element corresponding to the largest category among the elements included in the second address, perform a determination of forward match for the first address. In the determined result, every time it is determined that there is a forward match, for the address obtained by excluding the element that is the forward match from the first address, perform a forward match determination in sequence using the element corresponding to the next category after the category to which the element that is the forward match belongs, from the second address. When all the elements constituting the first address are excluded by the forward match using the elements corresponding to the categories of the second address, determine that the first address and the second address match. Address determination method.

5. A program that causes a computer, which is an address determination device for determining whether or not a first address in which elements including at least one of a character or a symbol are arranged without being sequentially divided from a large category constituting the address, and a second address in which the elements constituting the address are divided for each category and arranged in order from the large category match, Using the element corresponding to the largest category among the elements included in the second address, perform a determination of forward match for the first address. In the determined result, every time it is determined that there is a forward match, for the address obtained by excluding the element that is the forward match from the first address, perform a forward match determination in sequence using the element corresponding to the next category after the category to which the element that is the forward match belongs, from the second address. When all the elements constituting the first address are excluded by the forward match using the elements corresponding to the categories of the second address, determine that the first address and the second address match. To cause this to be executed.

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