Information retrieval device and information retrieval method

Abstract

The information retrieval device of the present invention is an information retrieval device that searches for information matching search conditions from among multiple pieces of search target information registered in a database, and the multiple pieces of search target information registered in the database are associated with registrant attribute information representing the attributes of the registrant, evaluation information representing evaluation results from multiple evaluators for the search target information, and evaluator attribute information representing the attributes of the multiple evaluators.The information retrieval device is equipped with a search processing unit that searches for search target information as condition-matching information from among the multiple pieces of search target information, which is search target information registered by a registrant matching the designated registrant attribute information, and which is indicated by evaluation information to have been highly rated by an evaluator matching the designated evaluator attribute information, based on registrant attribute information specified by a searcher (information representing the attributes of the registrant in the database of the search target information) and evaluator attribute information specified by the searcher (information representing the attributes of the evaluator for the search target information).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information retrieval device and an information retrieval method, and more particularly to a technique for retrieving information that matches a search condition from among a plurality of pieces of search target information registered in a database. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, technologies that enable users to search and extract desired information from a large amount of information registered in a database have been widely used. For example, a function that sorts and presents images with a large number of high ratings from viewers in a database where a large number of posted images are registered is known.

[0003] There is also known a technique for classifying images that have been highly rated by people who match a profile specified by a user (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for classifying a plurality of images into images with highly rated comments and other images using image data stored in a database, and further for analyzing the profile of the comment poster from information about the comment poster, and classifying the images that have been highly rated by people who match a profile specified by the user.

[0004] However, these search functions or classification functions do not necessarily allow a search user to extract the image that he or she desires. In other words, the above-mentioned conventional technology can only extract images that have been highly rated by evaluators from a database, or classify images that have been highly rated by people who match a profile specified by a user, but cannot do more than that. Therefore, even if an image that has been highly rated by an evaluator can be extracted by a search, there is a problem that the content represented by the image is not necessarily useful to the search user. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-114243 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to make it possible to extract information that has been highly rated by evaluators and is useful to search users from multiple pieces of information registered in a database. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the present invention, based on registrant attribute information specified by the searcher (information representing the attributes of the registrant who registered the search target information in a database) and evaluator attribute information specified by the searcher (information representing the attributes of the evaluator who evaluated the search target information), search target information registered by a registrant who matches the specified registrant attribute information and whose evaluation information indicates that an evaluator who matches the specified evaluator attribute information has given a high rating is searched for as condition-matching information from among multiple pieces of search target information. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention configured as described above, search target information is searched for based on search criteria that include not only the viewpoint that an evaluator matching the evaluator attribute information specified by the searcher has given a high rating, but also the viewpoint that a registrant matching the registrant attribute information specified by the searcher has registered. Therefore, from among a plurality of pieces of search target information registered in a database, it is possible to extract by search information that has been registered by a registrant having the attributes specified by the searcher that the searcher is interested in, and that has been given a high rating by an evaluator having the attributes specified by the searcher that the searcher is interested in, thereby extracting information that is more useful to the searcher. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of an information retrieval system to which an information retrieval device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a hardware configuration of a server device. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of a server device. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of basic information of a user stored in a basic information storage unit. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of information stored in an image storage unit. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of information stored in an evaluation information storage unit. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of an image presentation screen. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a search screen. [Figure 9] 11 is an explanatory diagram of a search process by a search processing unit and a priority calculation process by a search result presentation unit. FIG. [Figure 10] 13 is an explanatory diagram of a search process by a search processing unit and a priority calculation process by a search result presentation unit according to Modification 1. FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a search screen used in Modifications 2 to 5. [Figure 12] 13 is an explanatory diagram of a search process by a search processing unit and a priority calculation process by a search result presentation unit according to Modification 2. FIG. [Figure 13] 13 is an explanatory diagram of a search process by a search processing unit and a priority calculation process by a search result presentation unit according to Modification 3. FIG. [Figure 14] 13 is an explanatory diagram of a search process by a search processing unit and a priority calculation process by a search result presentation unit according to Modification 4. FIG. [Figure 15] 13 is an explanatory diagram of a search process by a search processing unit and a priority calculation process by a search result presentation unit according to Modification 5. FIG. [Figure 16] FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing another example of the functional configuration of the server device. [Figure 17] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of another processing example corresponding to the embodiment. [Figure 18] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of another processing example corresponding to the first modified example. [Figure 19] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of another processing example corresponding to Modification 2. [Figure 20] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of another processing example corresponding to Modification 3. [Figure 21] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of another processing example corresponding to the fourth modified example. [Figure 22] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of another processing example corresponding to Modification 5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of an information retrieval system to which an information retrieval device of this embodiment is applied. As shown in FIG. 1, the information retrieval system of this embodiment is configured with a server device 1 and a plurality of user terminals 2. The server device 1 is communicably connected to the plurality of user terminals 2 via a communication network 3. The communication network 3 is, for example, the Internet, and is constructed to include a public communication line network, a mobile phone line network, etc. A wireless communication path, a LAN (Local Area Network), etc. may be included in part of the communication network 3.

[0011] The server device 1 is, for example, a general-purpose computer such as a workstation or a personal computer, or a device logically realized by cloud computing. The server device 1 may be configured as one device, or may be configured as a combination of multiple devices. The server device 1 includes an information retrieval device according to this embodiment. The information retrieval device of this embodiment searches for information matching a search condition from multiple pieces of search target information registered in a database.

[0012] The user terminal 2 is a computer used by a user, and may be, for example, a smartphone, a tablet, or a personal computer. The user terminal 2 can access the server device 1 via the communication network 3 by an application or a web browser executed on the user terminal 2. The user terminal 2 includes a processor including a CPU, a memory, a storage device, a communication interface, an input device, and an output device. The input device is a device for inputting data, and may include, for example, one or more of a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, a button, a microphone, a camera, etc. The output device is a device for outputting data, and may include, for example, one or more of a display, a speaker, etc.

[0013] In this embodiment, users are registrants who register search target information in the database of the server device 1, evaluators who evaluate the search target information registered in the database, and searchers who search for search target information registered in the database. There are three types of users: users who act only in the position of registrants, users who act only in the position of evaluators, and users who act in the positions of both registrants and evaluators. Any of the three types of users can act as a searcher. There is also a fourth type of user who is neither a registrant nor an evaluator and acts only in the position of a searcher.

[0014] The search target information is arbitrary, and may be any of text, images, videos, and audio, as long as it can be the subject of evaluation. In this embodiment, evaluation refers to a binary judgment regarding a person's emotions, feelings, sensitivity, sense, etc. An alternative evaluation is a selection between a positive evaluation and a negative evaluation, and examples include like / dislike, good / bad, interesting / boring, satisfying / dissatisfied, can sympathize / can't understand, exciting / boring, relaxing / stressful, etc.

[0015] For example, if the subject of evaluation is artistic sense, images of art works (photographs, paintings, statues, and other artworks) can be used as an example of search target information. If the subject of evaluation is fashion sense, a fashion posted image (which may be a video) of a person (e.g., a person who has registered the search target information) wearing a fashion item can be used as an example of search target information.

[0016] A posted fashion image may contain at least one or more parts or the whole of the elements that make up fashion (e.g., clothing, shoes, accessories, bags, etc.). A posted fashion image is an image showing a fashion coordinated by a registrant according to his / her age, sex, physique, local trends, preferences, etc., and is information that can be evaluated by an evaluator who sees it, using a binary option such as like / dislike or good / bad. The following describes the case where a posted fashion image is used as search target information.

[0017] 2 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the server device 1. Note that the illustrated configuration is an example, and other configurations may be used. The server device 1 includes a processor 101 including a CPU, a memory 102, a storage device 103, a communication interface 104, an input device 105, and an output device 106.

[0018] The storage device 103 is a device for storing various data and programs, such as a hard disk drive, a solid state drive, a flash memory, etc. The communication interface 104 is an interface for connecting to the communication network 3, and includes, for example, a modem for connecting to a public communication line network or a public telephone line network. In addition to this, an adapter for connecting to a LAN, a wireless communication device for wireless communication, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) connector or an RS232C connector for serial communication, etc. may be included.

[0019] The input device 105 is a device for inputting data, such as a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, a button, a microphone, etc. The output device 106 is a device for outputting data, such as a display, a printer, a speaker, etc. It is not essential that the server device 1 includes the input device 105 and the output device 106.

[0020] 3 is realized by the processor 101 reading a program stored in the storage device 103 into the memory 102 and executing the program. Moreover, each storage unit of the server device 1 is realized as a part of the storage area provided by the memory 102 and the storage device 103.

[0021] Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the server device 1. As shown in Fig. 3, the server device 1 of this embodiment includes, as functional configurations, a basic information acquisition unit 111, an image acquisition unit 112, an image presentation unit 113, an evaluation acquisition unit 114, a search processing unit 115, and a search result presentation unit 116. The search processing unit 115 includes, as specific functional configurations, a similarity calculation unit 51, an overall favorability calculation unit 52, and a condition matching unit 53. The search result presentation unit 116 includes, as specific functional configurations, an overall favorability calculation unit 61 and a priority calculation unit 62. In addition, the server device 1 of this embodiment includes, as a database using a storage medium, a basic information storage unit 131, an image storage unit 132, and an evaluation information storage unit 133.

[0022] The basic information acquisition unit 111 acquires basic information of the user from the user terminal 2 via the communication network 3, and stores it in the basic information storage unit 131. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the basic information of the user stored in the basic information storage unit 131. As shown in FIG. 4, the basic information stored in the basic information storage unit 131 includes, for example, a user ID, a user's name, a handle name, a date of birth, an age group (generation), a sex, an occupation, a residential area, a physical build (height, weight, three sizes (chest circumference, waist circumference, hip circumference), shoe size, etc.), a face photo, and other information, but is not limited thereto. The basic information includes demographic information of the user and physical build information representing the user's physical build. This basic information corresponds to registrant attribute information when the user is a registrant, and corresponds to evaluator attribute information when the user is an evaluator.

[0023] The image acquiring unit 112 acquires the fashion posted images of the registrant from the user terminal 2 via the communication network 3, and stores them in the image storage unit 132 in association with the user ID of the registrant. When storing the fashion posted images acquired from the user terminal 2 in the image storage unit 132, the image acquiring unit 112 assigns a unique image ID to each fashion posted image, and stores them in the image storage unit 132 in association with the fashion posted image.

[0024] Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in the image storage unit 132. As shown in Fig. 5, the image storage unit 132 stores, for each registered fashion posted image, the user ID of the registrant, the image ID of the fashion posted image, and the fashion posted image. Note that the information shown here is an example and is not limited to this. For example, other information such as the registration date, genre, size, etc. of the fashion posted image may also be included.

[0025] The image presenting unit 113 presents the fashion posted images stored in the image storage unit 132 to the user terminal 2 via the communication network 3. The image presenting unit 113 presents the fashion posted images to the user terminal 2 of a user acting as an evaluator or a searcher.

[0026] Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a screen on which the image presenting unit 113 presents the fashion posted images 1101 to the user terminal 2 of the evaluator. As shown in Fig. 7, the image presenting unit 113 presents the fashion posted images 1101 to be evaluated one by one to the evaluator. Note that the presenting method is not limited to this, and multiple fashion posted images may be presented simultaneously on one screen.

[0027] The fashion post image 1101 to be evaluated may be an image randomly selected by the image presenting unit 113 from the image storage unit 132, or may be an image searched for by an evaluator from the image storage unit 132. The search in this case may be a search described below as processing by the search processing unit 115, or may be a different search. For example, the image presenting unit 113 may simply present fashion post images searched for using any one piece of demographic information as a search key on the screen of FIG. 7 as images to be evaluated.

[0028] 7, the image presentation screen includes an option 1102 for evaluation in which the user selects between a positive evaluation and a negative evaluation. The evaluator selects an option for evaluating the fashion post image 1101 presented on the image presentation screen by operating the option 1102. When an option is selected, the image presentation unit 113 may present the fashion post image 1101 with the received evaluation 1103.

[0029] The image presenting unit 113 may not present other images unless the evaluation acquiring unit 114 described later acquires evaluation information of an evaluator for the presented fashion post image 1101. For example, the image presenting unit 113 may not present other images unless an operation of the option 1102 is performed.

[0030] Note that rating options 1102 may not be displayed on the image presentation screen, and rating may be performed by swiping the posted fashion image 1101. For example, swiping the posted fashion image 1101 to the right is considered to be a positive rating, and swiping to the left is considered to be a negative rating. In this way, the operation performed by the evaluator to have other posted fashion images 1101 presented also serves as rating the presented posted fashion image 1101.

[0031] The evaluation acquisition unit 114 acquires the evaluation information of the evaluator from the user terminal 2 via the communication network 3, and stores the information in the evaluation information storage unit 133 in association with the user ID of the evaluator and the image ID of the fashion posted image that was the subject of the evaluation. The evaluation information is information indicating whether the evaluation is a positive evaluation or a negative evaluation.

[0032] Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in the evaluation information storage unit 133. As shown in Fig. 6, the evaluation information storage unit 133 stores, for each piece of evaluation information acquired from the user terminal 2, information indicating the user ID of the evaluator, the image ID of the fashion posted image that was the subject of the evaluation, and the evaluation result indicating whether the evaluation was positive or negative.

[0033] As shown in Figures 4 to 6, the multiple fashion posted images registered in the image memory unit 132 are associated with registrant attribute information that represents the attributes of the registrant, evaluation information that represents the evaluation results from multiple evaluators for the fashion posted image, and evaluator attribute information that represents the attributes of the multiple evaluators.

[0034] That is, a plurality of fashion posted images registered in the image storage unit 132 as shown in Fig. 5 are associated with registrant attribute information stored in the basic information storage unit 131 as shown in Fig. 4 via the registrant's user ID. Also, each individual fashion posted image registered in the image storage unit 132 as shown in Fig. 5 is associated with evaluation information from a plurality of evaluators stored in the evaluation information storage unit 133 as shown in Fig. 6 via an image ID, and is further associated with evaluator attribute information of the evaluator stored in the basic information storage unit 131 as shown in Fig. 4 via the user ID of the evaluator.

[0035] The search processing unit 115 searches, for example, from among a plurality of pieces of search target information, for search target information registered by a registrant matching the designated registrant attribute information and for search target information for which evaluation information indicates that an evaluator matching the designated evaluator attribute information has given a high evaluation, based on registrant attribute information designated by the searcher (hereinafter referred to as designated registrant attribute information) and evaluator attribute information designated by the searcher (hereinafter referred to as designated evaluator attribute information). The registrant attribute information and evaluator attribute information are designated on a search screen exemplified in FIG.

[0036] 8 has a registrant attribute designation box 1201 that can designate two items, age and gender, as registrant attribute information, and an evaluator attribute designation box 1202 that can designate two items, age and gender, as evaluator attribute information. Note that designating these two attributes is just one example, and other demographic information may be designated in place of or in addition to at least one of age and gender.

[0037] Fig. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a search process (information search method) by the search processing unit 115 and a process by the search result presentation unit 116 described later. Fig. 9(a) shows a process example of the search processing unit 115, and Fig. 9(b) shows a process example of the search result presentation unit 116. In the example shown in Fig. 9(a), the search processing unit 115 executes the process of the condition matching unit 53, and does not execute the processes of the similarity calculation unit 51 and the overall popularity calculation unit 52. In the example shown in Fig. 9(b), the search result presentation unit 116 executes the processes of the overall popularity calculation unit 61 and the priority calculation unit 62.

[0038] In FIG. 9(a), the attribute of the searcher u0 is a man in his 30s. A plurality of fashion posted images have been registered by four registrants u1 to u4 who are different from the searcher u0. The attribute of three of the four registrants u1 to u3 is the same as the attribute of the searcher u0, that is, a man in his 30s. On the other hand, the attribute of the one registrant u4 is a man in his 40s, which is different from the attribute of the searcher u0. Fashion posted images p11 and p12 have been registered by the registrant u1, fashion posted images p21 and p22 have been registered by the registrant u2, fashion posted images p31 and p32 have been registered by the registrant u3, and fashion posted images p41 and p42 have been registered by the registrant u4.

[0039] Six evaluators u11 to u16 have evaluated the multiple fashion posted images p11 to p42 registered by the multiple registrants u1 to u4. Four of the six evaluators u11 to u14 are men in their 30s, the same as the searcher u0. On the other hand, the two evaluators u15 to u16 are women in their 20s, different from the searcher u0. With regard to the evaluation information, "〇" indicates a positive evaluation, "×" indicates a negative evaluation, and "-" indicates no evaluation.

[0040] For example, when a searcher u0, a man in his 30s, wants to know "what kind of fashion for men in their 30s is popular with women in their 20s," the searcher u0 specifies "male in his 30s" as the registrant attribute information and "female in his 20s" as the evaluator attribute information on the search screen shown in FIG. 8, and instructs the execution of a search.

[0041] In this case, the condition matching unit 53 of the search processing unit 115 extracts, based on the registrant attribute information and evaluator attribute information specified by the searcher u0, fashion posted images p11, p12, and p31 that are registered by male registrants u1 to u3 in their 30s and that are indicated by evaluation information (evaluation information of ``O'') to have been highly rated by female evaluators u15 to u16 in their 20s, as condition matching information.

[0042] Here, fashion posted images registered by male registrants u1 to u3 in their 30s are used as analysis target images, and fashion posted images p11, p12, and p31 that have been highly rated by at least one of the evaluators u15 to u16 matching the designated evaluator attribute information are extracted as condition-matching information. Here, the analysis target image (corresponding to the analysis target information in the claims) refers to a candidate image from which condition-matching information may be extracted. Note that fashion posted images that have been highly rated by a predetermined number or more of the evaluators u15 to u16 matching the designated evaluator attribute information may be extracted as condition-matching information. The fact that fashion posted images that have been highly rated by at least one person are extracted as condition-matching information, or that fashion posted images that have been highly rated by a predetermined number or more of evaluators may be extracted as condition-matching information, is the same in Figs. 10 to 15 described below.

[0043] The search result presentation unit 116 presents the condition matching information searched for by the search processing unit 115 to the searcher. That is, the search result presentation unit 116 displays the condition matching information as a search result on the user terminal 2 of the searcher. In the example shown in Fig. 9(a), the search result presentation unit 116 presents three fashion posted images p11, p12, and p31 to the searcher u0.

[0044] Here, the search result presentation unit 116 may determine the priority order when presenting the condition-matching information based on the priority calculated by a predetermined algorithm. In this case, the search result presentation unit 116 executes the processes of the overall favorability calculation unit 61 and the priority calculation unit 62 to calculate the priority order when presenting the condition-matching information to the searcher based on the evaluation information associated with the condition-matching information.

[0045] In the example shown in Figure 9(b), the overall likeability calculation unit 61 calculates, based on the evaluation information associated with the condition-matching information (three fashion posted images p11, p12, p31), the overall likeability calculation unit 61 calculates, for each of the three condition-matching information, the overall likeability of the condition-matching information by both of the two evaluators u15 to u16 who match the evaluator attribute information specified by the searcher u0.

[0046] For example, the overall favorability calculation unit 61 calculates the ratio of the number of evaluators who gave high ratings among the female evaluators u15 to u16 in their twenties who match the designated evaluator attribute information as the overall favorability for each of the three fashion posted images p11, p12, and p31 searched for by the search processing unit 115. In this example, the overall favorability is calculated by using the total number of evaluators who match the designated evaluator attribute information and who have rated the condition matching information as the denominator, and the number of evaluators who have given positive ratings among them as the numerator. Here, evaluators who have not rated the condition matching information are not included in the number count.

[0047] For example, in the case of fashion post image p11, one of two female evaluators u15-u16 in their 20s, u15, has given a positive rating, so the overall likeability rating is 1 / 2. In the case of fashion post image p12, both of two female evaluators u15-u16 in their 20s have given positive ratings, so the overall likeability rating is 2 / 2. In the case of fashion post image p31, one female evaluator u15 in her 20s has given a positive rating, so the overall likeability rating is 1 / 1.

[0048] 9(b), the priority calculation unit 62 uses the overall popularity calculated by the overall popularity calculation unit 61 as a priority for determining the order of priority when presenting condition-matching information to the searcher u0. That is, of the three fashion posted images p11, p12, and p31 extracted as condition-matching information by the search processing unit 115, the priorities of two fashion posted images p12 and p31 are 1.00, and the priority of one fashion posted image p11 is 0.50.

[0049] The search result presentation unit 116 determines the priority order of the three fashion posted images p11, p12, and p31 extracted as the condition matching information based on the priority calculated by the priority calculation unit 62, and presents the fashion posted images p11, p12, and p31 to the searcher u0 according to the priority order. For example, when one fashion posted image is displayed on one screen, the search result presentation unit 116 displays the fashion posted images one by one in order of priority. Also, when multiple fashion posted images are displayed on one screen, the search result presentation unit 116 displays the fashion posted images with higher priority at the top of the screen.

[0050] For fashion posted images with the same priority, the priority order may be determined randomly. Alternatively, the priority order may be set to the fashion posted image with the greater number of evaluators who gave it high ratings. In the example shown in FIG. 9(b), the priority order of the fashion posted image p12 that was highly rated by two evaluators u15 and u16 is set to be higher than that of the fashion posted image p31 that was highly rated by one evaluator u16.

[0051] Although the basic processing contents of the search processing unit 115 and the search result presentation unit 116 have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these. It is also possible to perform applied processing based on these basic processing.

[0052] For example, based on the registrant attribute information specified by the searcher and the evaluator attribute information specified by the searcher, the search processing unit 115 may search for search target information registered by a registrant who matches the specified registrant attribute information, which is identified by a predetermined analysis based on evaluation information associated with the search target information, and which is indicated by the evaluation information to have been highly rated by an evaluator who matches the specified evaluator attribute information, as condition-matching information from among multiple pieces of search target information.

[0053] In addition, based on the registrant attribute information specified by the searcher and the evaluator attribute information specified by the searcher, the search processing unit 115 may search for search target information registered by a registrant who matches the specified registrant attribute information, and for search target information whose evaluation information indicates that an evaluator who matches the specified evaluator attribute information has given a high rating, and who is identified by a specified analysis based on the evaluation information associated with the search target information, as condition-matching information.

[0054] In addition, when the search processing unit 115 searches for condition-matching information by performing a specified analysis as described above, the search result presentation unit 116 may calculate the priority of the condition-matching information by using the information obtained by the specified analysis.

[0055] Below, a modified example (application example) of the processing performed by the search processing unit 115 and the search result display unit 116 will be described.

[0056] <Variation 1> The search processing unit 115 searches among multiple pieces of search target information for fashion posted images that have been registered by registrants who match the registrant attribute information specified by the searcher in terms of demographic information and physical information, and that are indicated by rating information to have been highly rated by evaluators who match the evaluator attribute information specified by the searcher, as condition-matching information.

[0057] In this case, the registrant attribute information and the evaluator attribute information are specified on a search screen equipped with an interface that allows the user to further specify physical information of the registrant, instead of the search screen illustrated in Fig. 8. Physical information that can be specified includes, for example, height, weight, three sizes, shoe size, etc.

[0058] Fig. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a search process (information search method) by the search processing unit 115 and a process by the search result presentation unit 116 according to the first modified example. Fig. 10(a) shows an example of a process by the search processing unit 115, and Fig. 10(b) shows an example of a process by the search result presentation unit 116. In the example shown in Fig. 10(a), the search processing unit 115 executes the process of the condition matching unit 53, and does not execute the processes of the similarity calculation unit 51 and the overall popularity calculation unit 52. In the example shown in Fig. 10(b), the search result presentation unit 116 executes the processes of the overall popularity calculation unit 61 and the priority calculation unit 62.

[0059] In Fig. 10(a), the attributes of the searcher u0 are male in his 30s and weigh in the 60kg range. The registrants u1 to u4 and evaluators u11 to u16 of the fashion posted images p11 to p42 are the same as in the example of Fig. 9, and the evaluation contents of the fashion posted images p11 to p42 by the evaluators u11 to u16 are also the same as in Fig. 9. Of the registrants u1 to u3 who are male in their 30s, the weights of two registrants u2 to u3 are in the 60kg range, the same as the weight of the searcher u0. On the other hand, the weight of one registrant u1 is in the 80kg range, different from the weight of the searcher u0.

[0060] For example, when the searcher u0 thinks, "I want to know what kind of fashion for men in their 30s with my build is popular with women in their 20s," the searcher u0 specifies that he or she is male in his or her 30s and weighs in the 60 kg range as the registrant attribute information, and that he or she is female in his or her 20s as the evaluator attribute information, and instructs the execution of a search.

[0061] In this case, based on the registrant attribute information and evaluator attribute information specified by the searcher u0, the condition matching unit 53 of the search processing unit 115 extracts, as condition matching information, fashion posted image p31 which is registered by registrants u2 to u3 who are men in their 30s and weigh in the 60 kg range, and which is indicated by evaluation information (evaluation information of ``O'') to have been highly rated by female evaluators u15 to u16 in their 20s (see Figure 10 (a)).

[0062] The search result presentation unit 116 presents the fashion posted image p31 extracted by the search processing unit 115 to the searcher u0. At this time, the priority calculation algorithm executed by the overall popularity rating calculation unit 61 and the priority calculation unit 62 is as shown in Fig. 10(b) and is the same as Fig. 9(b). Note that when only one fashion posted image is extracted as in Fig. 10, the calculation of the priority may be omitted.

[0063] Although the example in which demographic information and physical information of the registrant are specified as the registrant attribute information has been described here, only the physical information of the registrant may be specified. Also, although the example in which physical information of only the registrant is specified has been described here, only the physical information of the evaluator may be specified, or both the physical information of the registrant and the physical information of the evaluator may be specified.

[0064] <Variation 2> Based on the registrant attribute information specified by the searcher and the evaluator attribute information specified by the searcher, the search processing unit 115 searches for search target information registered by a registrant matching the specified registrant attribute information that is similar to the search target information registered by the searcher as a registrant and that is indicated by evaluation information to have been highly rated by an evaluator matching the specified evaluator attribute information, as condition-matching information from among the search target information. Here, the search processing unit 115 performs analysis to identify search target information similar to the search target information registered by the searcher as a registrant, based on the evaluation information associated with the search target information.

[0065] In this case, instead of the search screen illustrated in Fig. 8, for example, a search screen illustrated in Fig. 11 is used. The search screen illustrated in Fig. 11 has a registrant attribute designation box 1201, an evaluator attribute designation box 1202, and a function selection box 1203 that allows a user to select a specific search function. In the initial state, nothing is selected in the function selection box 1203. A searcher can open the pull-down menu of the function selection box 1203 and select a desired search function.

[0066] The example in FIG. 11 shows a state where the function "Search for fashions I might wear" has been selected. When this function is selected, all of the fashion posted images previously registered by the searcher as a registrant are searched for by the search processing unit 115, and automatically designated as reference images (corresponding to reference information in the claims) for similarity determination. Of the fashion posted images previously registered by the searcher, some fashion posted images selected according to a predetermined rule may be automatically designated as the reference images. The predetermined rule may be set arbitrarily. For example, fashion posted images registered in a recent predetermined period, or a predetermined number of fashion posted images starting from the most recently registered date, may be designated as the reference images.

[0067] When the function "Find fashion I might wear" is selected, the registrant attribute information associated with the searcher's fashion posted image searched for by the search processing unit 115 may be automatically specified, and it may be omitted to specify the registrant attribute information in the registrant attribute specification box 1201. In this case, the selection of the function "Find fashion I might wear" also serves as the specification of the registrant attribute information.

[0068] The searcher may be allowed to specify one or more fashion posted images of the searcher to be used as a reference image. In this case, instead of the search screen illustrated in Fig. 11, for example, a search screen having an interface that allows the searcher to specify evaluator attribute information and any fashion posted image registered by the searcher is used. This search screen may be a search screen with a user interface in which a screen for specifying evaluator attribute information and a screen for specifying any fashion posted image are configured separately.

[0069] When using such a search screen, the searcher specifies the evaluator attribute information and one or more fashion posted images registered by the searcher as reference images, and then issues a command to execute a search. When a fashion posted image is specified, the registrant attribute information associated with the specified fashion posted image is specified. In other words, the searcher's specification of a fashion posted image also serves as the specification of the registrant attribute information.

[0070] FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of the search process (information search method) by the search processing unit 115 and the process by the search result presentation unit 116 according to the second modification. FIG. 12(a) shows an example of the process by the search processing unit 115, and FIG. 12(b) shows an example of the process by the search result presentation unit 116. In the example shown in FIG. 12(a), the search processing unit 115 executes the processes of the similarity calculation unit 51 and the condition matching unit 53, but does not execute the process of the overall popularity calculation unit 52. In the example shown in FIG. 12(b), the search result presentation unit 116 executes the processes of the overall popularity calculation unit 61 and the priority calculation unit 62. At this time, the search result presentation unit 116 calculates the priority of the condition-matching information using the information on the similarity calculated by the similarity calculation unit 51.

[0071] In FIG. 12(a), the searcher u0 has the attribute of a man in his 30s, and is also the registrant of fashion posted images p11 to p13. A plurality of fashion posted images p11 to p42 have been registered by four registrants u0, u2 to u4, including the searcher u0. Three of the four registrants, u0, u2 to u3, have the same attribute as the searcher u0, that is, a man in his 30s. On the other hand, the attribute of one registrant u4 is a man in his 40s, which is different from the attribute of the searcher u0.

[0072] Six evaluators u11 to u16 evaluate the multiple fashion posted images p11 to p42 registered by the multiple registrants u0 and u2 to u4. Four of the six evaluators u11 to u14 are men in their 30s, the same as the searcher u0. On the other hand, the two evaluators u15 to u16 are women in their 20s, different from the searcher u0.

[0073] For example, when the searcher u0 thinks, "I want to know fashions of men in their 30s that are popular with women in their 20s that I might wear," the searcher u0 operates the evaluator attribute designation box 1202 on the search screen illustrated in Fig. 11 to designate "women in their 20s" as the evaluator attribute information, and operates the function selection box 1203 to select the function "search for fashions I might wear," and instructs execution of a search. In this case, the fashion posted images p11 to p13 previously registered by the searcher u0 are searched for by the search processing unit 115 and designated as reference images for similarity determination, and the attribute of "men in their 30s" associated with the fashion posted images p11 to p13 is designated as registrant attribute information.

[0074] In this case, the search processing unit 115 first analyzes fashion posted images p21-p32 registered by other registrants u2-u3, all males in their thirties, to identify fashion posted images similar to the fashion posted images p11-p13 of the searcher u0 himself / herself, which have been designated as the reference image, as analysis target images. At this time, the search processing unit 115 identifies fashion posted images similar to the fashion posted images p11-p13 of the searcher u0, based on evaluation information associated with the fashion posted images p11-p32.

[0075] Here, the similarity calculation unit 51 uses the search target information registered by a registrant who matches the designated registrant attribute information (fashion posted images p11-p32 in the case of Figure 12), and calculates the similarity between the search target information registered by the searcher u0 himself (fashion posted images p11-p13 designated as reference images) and other search target information (fashion posted images p21-p32 identified as analysis target images) based on the evaluation information associated with the search target information.

[0076] 12(a), the similarity calculation unit 51 calculates the individual similarities between each of the fashion posted images p11 to p13 designated as the reference image and the fashion posted images p21 to p32 of the other registered users u2 to u3 identified as analysis target images matching the designated registered user attribute information, and then calculates an overall similarity by combining the individual similarities. This overall similarity corresponds to the "similarity" in the claims.

[0077] The individual similarity is defined as the degree of agreement of the evaluations by all the evaluators u11 to u16 (not limited to the evaluators u15 to u16 matching the designated evaluator attribute information) for the fashion posted image. For example, the individual similarity between the first fashion posted image p11 designated as the reference image and the first fashion posted image p21 of another registered user u2 specified as the analysis target image is the degree of agreement between the evaluations of all the evaluators u11 to u16 for the fashion posted image p11, "O, O, O, X, O, O," and the evaluations of all the evaluators u11 to u16 for the fashion posted image p21, "O, O, O, X, -, X," which is 4 / 5 (unrated evaluation information is excluded from the match determination).

[0078] In addition, the individual similarity between the second fashion posted image p12 designated as the reference image and the second fashion posted image p22 of another registered user u2 identified as the image to be analyzed is the degree of agreement between the ratings of all evaluators u11 to u16 for the fashion posted image p12 ("Good, Bad, Good, -, Bad, Good") and the ratings of all evaluators u11 to u16 for the fashion posted image p22 ("Good, Bad, -, Bad, Good, Bad"), which is 2 / 4.

[0079] In the same manner as above, the similarity calculation unit 51 calculates the individual similarities between the fashion posted image p11 of the searcher u0 and the fashion posted images p21 to p32 of the other registered users u2 to u3, the individual similarities between the fashion posted image p12 and the fashion posted images p21 to p32, and the individual similarities between the fashion posted image p13 and the fashion posted images p21 to p32.

[0080] The similarity calculation unit 51 then calculates an overall similarity between the fashion posted images p21-p32 of the other registrants u2-u3 and the entire fashion posted images p11-p13 of the searcher u0 by combining the individual similarities calculated for each of the searcher u0's fashion posted images p11-p13 as described above. The overall similarity is calculated, for example, by adding up the denominators and numerators of the individual similarities of the fashion posted images p21-p32. For example, the overall similarity of the fashion posted image p21 to the entire fashion posted images p11-p13 is (4+2+1) / (5+4+4)=7 / 13.

[0081] The condition matching unit 53 of the search processing unit 115 extracts, as condition matching information, fashion posted images of registrants u2 to u3 whose overall similarity calculated by the similarity calculation unit 51 as described above is greater than a threshold and whose evaluation information indicates that the evaluators u15 to u16, women in their twenties, have given them a high rating. For example, if the threshold for the overall similarity is 0.50, the condition matching unit 53 extracts, as condition matching information, fashion posted images p22 and p32 whose evaluation information indicates that the evaluators u15 to u16, women in their twenties, have given them a high rating (evaluation information of "o") from among the fashion posted images p21, p22, and p32 of registrants u2 to u3 whose overall similarity is greater than 0.50.

[0082] Note that the condition matching unit 53 may extract a predetermined number of fashion posted images in descending order of overall similarity, instead of extracting fashion posted images in which the overall similarity is greater than a threshold value.

[0083] The search result presentation unit 116 presents to the searcher the condition-matching information searched for by the search processing unit 115. In the example shown in Fig. 12, the search result presentation unit 116 presents two fashion posted images p22 and p32 to the searcher u0.

[0084] Here, the search result presentation unit 116 may determine the priority order when presenting the condition-matching information based on the priority calculated by a predetermined algorithm shown in Fig. 12(b). In this case, the search result presentation unit 116 executes the processes of the overall popularity calculation unit 61 and the priority calculation unit 62 to calculate the priority order when presenting the two fashion posted images p22 and p32 extracted as the condition-matching information to the searcher u0 based on the overall popularity calculated based on the evaluation information associated with the condition-matching information and the overall similarity calculated by the similarity calculation unit 51.

[0085] In the example shown in Figure 12 (b), the overall likeability calculation unit 61 calculates, using an algorithm similar to that described in Figure 9, based on the evaluation information associated with the condition-matching information (two fashion posted images p22, p32), the overall likeability calculation unit 61 calculates, for each of the two condition-matching information, the overall likeability of the condition-matching information by both of the two evaluators u15 to u16 who match the evaluator attribute information specified by the searcher u0.

[0086] 12(b), the priority calculation unit 62 calculates the priority when presenting the condition-matching information to the searcher u0 by multiplying the overall similarity calculated by the similarity calculation unit 51 and the overall popularity calculated by the overall popularity calculation unit 61. In the example of FIG. 12(b), the priorities calculated for the two fashion posted images p22 and p32 are both 8 / 13×1 / 2=4 / 13.

[0087] In the above, an example has been described in which the searcher u0 specifies his / her own search target information registered as a registrant as a reference image and executes a search, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the searcher u0 may specify search target information of other people that he / she likes or is interested in as a reference image and execute a search.

[0088] In this case, the search processing unit 115 searches for search target information registered by a registrant who matches the designated registrant attribute information (registrant attribute information associated with the search target information of another person designated by the searcher u0 as a reference image), which is similar to the search target information of another person designated as a reference image by the searcher, and which is indicated by evaluation information to have been highly rated by an evaluator who matches the designated evaluator attribute information, as condition-matching information from among multiple pieces of search target information.

[0089] Here, the similarity calculation unit 51 uses the search target information of another person specified by the searcher u0 among the search target information registered by registrants who match the designated registrant attribute information as reference information, and uses other search target information other than that as analysis target information, and calculates the similarity between the reference information and the analysis target information based on the evaluation information associated with the search target information.

[0090] <Variation 3> Based on the registrant attribute information specified by the searcher and the evaluator attribute information specified by the searcher, the search processing unit 115 searches from among multiple pieces of search target information as condition-matching information for search target information registered by a registrant matching the specified registrant attribute information, the search target information being indicated by evaluation information to have been highly rated by the searcher as an evaluator, and the evaluation information being indicated to have been highly rated by an evaluator matching the specified evaluator attribute information.

[0091] In this case, instead of the search screen illustrated in Fig. 8, for example, a search screen illustrated in Fig. 11 is used. Then, the function selection box 1203 is operated to select the function "Search from fashions that I have highly rated", and an instruction is given to execute a search. When this function is selected, all fashion posted images that the searcher has previously highly rated as an evaluator among the fashion posted images that match the searcher's attribute information are searched for by the search processing unit 115, and are automatically designated as images to be analyzed. Of the fashion posted images of other people that have been highly rated in the past, some fashion posted images selected according to a predetermined rule may be automatically designated as images to be analyzed.

[0092] The searcher may be allowed to specify one or more fashion images posted by others to be used as analysis target images. In this case, instead of the search screen illustrated in Fig. 11, for example, a search screen having an interface that allows the user to specify registrant attribute information and evaluator attribute information and to specify that the searcher is an evaluator is used. This search screen may be a search screen with a user interface in which a screen having a registrant attribute specification box 1201 and an evaluator attribute specification box 1202, as shown in Fig. 8, and a screen for specifying that the searcher is an evaluator are configured separately.

[0093] When using such a search screen, the searcher specifies the registrant attribute information and the evaluator attribute information, specifies that the searcher is an evaluator, and then instructs to execute a search. When the searcher specifies that he / she is an evaluator, all or some of the fashion posted images that the searcher has previously rated highly as an evaluator are searched for by the search processing unit 115 among the fashion posted images that match the attribute information of the searcher, and are specified as images to be analyzed. Note that instead of an interface for specifying that the searcher is an evaluator, a search screen may be provided with an interface that allows the searcher to specify one or more fashion posted images that have been highly rated by the searcher, and the fashion posted images to be the images to be analyzed may be directly specified.

[0094] Fig. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a search process (information search method) by the search processing unit 115 and a process by the search result presentation unit 116 according to the third modification. Fig. 13(a) shows an example of the process by the search processing unit 115, and Fig. 13(b) shows an example of the process by the search result presentation unit 116. In the example shown in Fig. 13(a), the search processing unit 115 executes the process of the condition matching unit 53, and does not execute the processes of the similarity calculation unit 51 and the overall popularity calculation unit 52. In the example shown in Fig. 13(b), the search result presentation unit 116 executes the processes of the overall popularity calculation unit 61 and the priority calculation unit 62.

[0095] In Fig. 13(a), the attribute of the searcher u0 is a man in his 30s, and he is also an evaluator of fashion posted images p11 to p22 registered by registrants u1 to u2. A plurality of fashion posted images p11 to p22 are registered by the two registrants u1 to u2. The attributes of the two registrants u1 to u2 are both men in their 30s, the same as the attribute of the searcher u0.

[0096] Six evaluators u0, u12 to u16, including the searcher u0, evaluate the multiple fashion posted images p11 to p22 registered by the multiple registrants u1 to u2. The attributes of four of the six evaluators, u0, u12 to u14, are men in their 30s, the same as the attributes of the searcher u0. On the other hand, the attributes of the two evaluators u15 to u16 are women in their 20s, which is different from the attributes of the searcher u0.

[0097] For example, when the searcher u0 thinks, "I want to know about fashions of men in their 30s that are popular with women in their 20s among the fashions of others that I have highly rated in the past," the searcher u0 operates the registrant attribute designation box 1201 on the search screen illustrated in FIG. 11 to designate his / her own attribute information, that is, "men in their 30s," as the registrant attribute information, and operates the evaluator attribute designation box 1202 to designate women in their 20s as the evaluator attribute information, and further operates the function selection box 1203 to select the function "search from fashions that I have highly rated," and then instructs execution of a search. In this case, the fashion posted images p11 to p21 of other men in their 30s that the searcher u0 highly rated are searched for by the search processing unit 115 and designated as images to be analyzed. As described above, the searcher u0 may directly designate the fashion posted images p11 to p21 of other men in their 30s that the searcher u0 highly rated, and instruct execution of a search.

[0098] In this case, the condition matching unit 53 of the search processing unit 115 extracts, as condition matching information, fashion posted images p11, p12 that are among the fashion posted images p11 to p22 registered by registrants u1 to u2 that match the attribute information of the searcher u0 and that are highly rated by the searcher u0, and whose evaluation information (evaluation information of ``O'') indicates that they have been highly rated by female evaluators u15 to u16 in their 20s (see Figure 13(a)).

[0099] The search result presentation unit 116 presents to the searcher u0 the fashion posted images p11, p12 extracted by the search processing unit 115. At this time, the search result presentation unit 116 executes the processes of the overall popularity calculation unit 61 and the priority calculation unit 62 to calculate the priority of the fashion posted images p11, p12 when presented to the searcher u0. In the example shown in Fig. 13(b), the calculation algorithm of the priority by the search result presentation unit 116 is the same as that in Fig. 9(b).

[0100] <Modification 4> Based on the registrant attribute information specified by the searcher and the rater attribute information specified by the searcher, the search processing unit 115 searches for search target information registered by a registrant matching the specified registrant attribute information, which is similar to search target information indicated by the evaluation information that the searcher has highly rated as an evaluator, has not been evaluated by the searcher, and has been highly rated by an evaluator matching the specified evaluator attribute information, as condition-matching information, from among the search target information. Here, the search processing unit 115 performs analysis to identify search target information similar to search target information indicated by the evaluation information that the searcher has highly rated, and has not been evaluated by the searcher, based on the evaluation information associated with the search target information.

[0101] In this case, instead of the search screen exemplified in Fig. 8, for example, a search screen exemplified in Fig. 11 is used. In the fourth modification, a function "Find fashion that I might like" is selected in the function selection box 1203, and then a search is instructed to be executed. When this function is selected, all or some of the fashion posted images that the searcher has previously rated highly as an evaluator are searched for by the search processing unit 115 among the fashion posted images that match the searcher's attribute information, and these are automatically designated as reference images for similarity judgment.

[0102] Note that the searcher may himself / herself specify one or more fashion posted images to be used as the reference image. In this case, instead of the search screen illustrated in Fig. 11, for example, a search screen having an interface that allows the user to specify the registrant attribute information and the evaluator attribute information and to specify that the searcher is an evaluator is used.

[0103] When using such a search screen, the searcher specifies the registrant attribute information and the evaluator attribute information, specifies that the searcher is an evaluator, and then instructs to execute a search. When the searcher specifies that he or she is an evaluator, the search processing unit 115 searches for fashion posted images that match the attribute information of the searcher and that the searcher has previously rated highly as an evaluator, and specifies these as reference images for similarity determination. Note that the searcher may directly specify one or more fashion posted images to be used as reference images.

[0104] Fig. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a search process (information search method) by the search processing unit 115 and a process by the search result presentation unit 116 according to the fourth modified example. Fig. 14(a) shows an example of a process by the search processing unit 115, and Fig. 14(b) shows an example of a process by the search result presentation unit 116. In the example shown in Fig. 14(a), the search processing unit 115 executes the processes of the similarity calculation unit 51 and the condition matching unit 53, but does not execute the process of the overall popularity calculation unit 52. In the example shown in Fig. 14(b), the search result presentation unit 116 executes the processes of the overall popularity calculation unit 61 and the priority calculation unit 62.

[0105] In FIG. 14(a), the attribute of the searcher u0 is a man in his 30s, and he is also an evaluator of fashion posted images p11 to p42 registered by registrants u1 to u4. A plurality of fashion posted images p11 to p42 have been registered by four registrants u1 to u4. The attribute of three of the four registrants u1 to u3 is the same as that of the searcher u0, that is, a man in his 30s. On the other hand, the attribute of one registrant u4 is a man in his 40s, which is different from the attribute of the searcher u0.

[0106] Seven evaluators u0, u11 to u16, including the searcher u0, evaluate the multiple fashion posted images p11 to p42 registered by the multiple registrants u1 to u4. Five of the seven evaluators, u0, u11 to u14, are men in their 30s, the same as the searcher u0. On the other hand, the two evaluators u15 to u16 are women in their 20s, different from the searcher u0.

[0107] For example, when the searcher u0 thinks, "I want to know what fashions are popular with women in their twenties that I would like from among the fashion posted images of men in their thirties that I have not yet rated, based on the fashion posted images of others that I have rated highly in the past," the searcher u0 operates the registrant attribute designation box 1201 on the search screen illustrated in FIG. 11, for example, to designate his / her own attribute information, "men in their thirties," as the registrant attribute information, and operates the evaluator attribute designation box 1202 to designate women in their twenties as the evaluator attribute information, and further operates the function selection box 1203 to select the function "find fashions that I would like," and then instructs execution of a search. In this case, the fashion posted images p11 and p12 of other men in their thirties that the searcher u0 has rated highly are searched for by the search processing unit 115, and are designated as reference images for similarity judgment. As described above, the searcher u0 may directly designate the fashion posted images p11 and p12 of other men in their thirties that the searcher u0 has rated highly to instruct execution of a search.

[0108] In this case, the search processing unit 115 analyzes the fashion posted images p22 to p32 not yet rated by the searcher u0 among the fashion posted images p11 to p32 registered by the registrants u1 to u3 who are men in their thirties, and extracts, as condition matching information, fashion posted images p22, p31, and p32 that are similar to the fashion posted images p11 and p12 (reference images) that the searcher u0 highly rated, and that are indicated by evaluation information to have been highly rated by the evaluators u15 to u16 who match the designated evaluator attribute information. The calculation algorithm of the overall similarity by the similarity calculation unit 51 of the search processing unit 115 and the calculation algorithm of the priority by the overall favorability calculation unit 61 and the priority calculation unit 62 of the search result presentation unit 116 are the same as those in FIG. 12.

[0109] Here, the similarity calculation unit 51 uses as reference information the search target information registered by a registrant who matches the designated registrant attribute information, which is indicated by evaluation information that the searcher u0 has given a high rating as an evaluator, and as analysis target information other search target information that has not been rated by the searcher u0, and calculates the similarity between the reference information and the analysis target information based on the evaluation information associated with the search target information.

[0110] That is, the similarity calculation unit 51 calculates individual similarities between the fashion posted images p11 to p12 designated as the reference image (search target information associated with the same attribute information as the searcher u0 and which evaluation information indicates that the searcher u0 has given a high rating as an evaluator) and the fashion posted images p22 to p32 that have not been rated by the searcher u0 and which have been identified as images to be analyzed from among the fashion posted images p13 to p32 that have the same attribute information as the reference image, and then calculates an overall similarity by combining these.

[0111] The condition matching unit 53 of the search processing unit 115 extracts, as condition matching information, fashion posted images having a total similarity calculated by the similarity calculation unit 51 greater than a threshold value and having evaluation information indicating that the evaluators u15 to u16, who are women in their twenties, have given high ratings. For example, if the threshold value for total similarity is 0.50, the condition matching unit 53 extracts, as condition matching information, fashion posted images p22 and p32 having a total similarity greater than 0.50 and having evaluation information indicating that the evaluators u15 to u16, who are women in their twenties, have given high ratings (evaluation information indicating "o"). Note that, instead of extracting fashion posted images having a total similarity greater than a threshold value, the condition matching unit 53 may extract a predetermined number of fashion posted images in the order of greater total similarity.

[0112] The search result presentation unit 116 presents to the searcher the condition-matching information searched for by the search processing unit 115. In the example shown in Fig. 14(a), the search result presentation unit 116 presents two fashion posted images p22 and p32 to the searcher u0.

[0113] Here, the search result presentation unit 116 executes the processing of the overall popularity calculation unit 61 and the priority calculation unit 62, and calculates the priority when presenting the condition-matching information to the searcher, based on the overall popularity calculated on the basis of the evaluation information associated with the fashion posted images p22, p32 extracted as the condition-matching information and the overall similarity calculated by the similarity calculation unit 51.

[0114] <Variation 5> Based on the registrant attribute information specified by the searcher and the evaluator attribute information specified by the searcher, the search processing unit 115 searches for search target information registered by registrants matching the specified registrant attribute information, which is search target information registered by registrants other than the searcher who registered the search target information as the registrant, and which is indicated by evaluation information that an evaluator matching the specified evaluator attribute information has highly rated the search target information registered by the searcher as a registrant, has highly rated the search target information registered by other registrants, as condition-matching information.

[0115] In this case, instead of the search screen shown in Fig. 8, for example, a search screen shown in Fig. 11 is used. In the fifth modification, a function "Search for fashions of others that have been highly rated by people who have highly rated me" is selected in the function selection box 1203, and then a search is instructed to be executed. When this function is selected, all or part of the fashion posted images previously registered by the searcher as a registrant are searched for by the search processing unit 115, and the images are automatically designated as reference images for determining the likeability rating.

[0116] When the function "Find other people's highly rated fashions in addition to mine" is selected, the registered user attribute information associated with the searcher's fashion posted image searched for by the search processing unit 115 may be automatically specified, and it may be possible to omit specifying the registered user attribute information in the registered user attribute specification box 1201. In this case, the selection of the function "Find other people's highly rated fashions in addition to mine" also serves as the specification of the registered user attribute information.

[0117] The searcher may be allowed to specify one or more fashion posted images of the searcher to be used as a reference image. In this case, instead of the search screen illustrated in Fig. 11, for example, a search screen having an interface that allows the searcher to specify evaluator attribute information and any fashion posted image registered by the searcher is used. This search screen may be a search screen with a user interface in which a screen for specifying evaluator attribute information and a screen for specifying any fashion posted image are configured separately.

[0118] When using such a search screen, the searcher specifies the evaluator attribute information and one or more fashion posted images registered by the searcher as reference images, and then issues a command to execute a search. When a fashion posted image is specified, the registrant attribute information associated with the specified fashion posted image is specified. In other words, the searcher's specification of a fashion posted image also serves as the specification of the registrant attribute information.

[0119] Fig. 15 is an explanatory diagram of a search process (information search method) by the search processing unit 115 and a process by the search result presentation unit 116 according to the fifth modified example. Fig. 15(a) shows an example of a process by the search processing unit 115, and Fig. 15(b) shows an example of a process by the search result presentation unit 116. In the example shown in Fig. 15(a), the search processing unit 115 executes the processes of the overall popularity rating calculation unit 52 and the condition matching unit 53, but does not execute the process of the similarity rating calculation unit 51. In the example shown in Fig. 15(b), the search result presentation unit 116 executes the processes of the overall popularity rating calculation unit 61 and the priority calculation unit 62.

[0120] In FIG. 15(a), the attribute of the searcher u0 is a man in his 30s, and he is also the registrant of fashion posted images p11 to p13. A plurality of fashion posted images p11 to p42 have been registered by four registrants u0, u2 to u4, including the searcher u0. The attribute of three of the four registrants, u0, u2 to u3, is the same as the attribute of the searcher u0, that is, a man in his 30s. On the other hand, the attribute of one registrant u4 is a man in his 40s, which is different from the attribute of the searcher u0.

[0121] Seven evaluators u11 to u17 evaluate the multiple fashion posted images p11 to p42 registered by the multiple registrants u0 and u2 to u4. Four of the seven evaluators u11 to u14 are men in their 30s, the same as the searcher u0. On the other hand, the three evaluators u15 to u17 are women in their 20s, different from the searcher u0.

[0122] For example, when the searcher u0 thinks, "I want to know what fashions of men in their 30s other than me are highly rated by women in their 20s who highly rated the fashion posted image I registered," the searcher u0 operates the evaluator attribute designation box 1202 on the search screen illustrated in FIG. 11 to designate "women in their 20s" as evaluator attribute information, and operates the function selection box 1203 to select the function "search for fashions of others who are highly rated other than me," and instructs execution of a search. In this case, the fashion posted images p11 to p13 previously registered by the searcher u0 are searched for by the search processing unit 115 and designated as reference images for determining the likeability level, and the attribute "men in their 30s" associated with the fashion posted images p11 to p13 is designated as registrant attribute information. As described above, the searcher u0 may directly designate his / her own fashion posted images p11 to p13 previously registered by the searcher u0 to instruct execution of a search.

[0123] In this case, the search processing unit 115 first calculates in the overall likeability calculation unit 52 the overall likeability of one or more evaluators u15 to u17 matching the designated evaluator attribute information for all of the one or more fashion posted images p11 to p13 (reference images) registered by the searcher u0 as a registrant, for each of the one or more evaluators u15 to u17 based on the evaluation information associated with the one or more fashion posted images p11 to p13.

[0124] That is, the overall likeability calculation unit 52 calculates the overall likeability of the fashion posted images p11 to p13 registered by the searcher u0 by the evaluators u15 to u17, who are women in their twenties. In the example shown in FIG. 15(a), the evaluator u15, who is a woman in her twenties, gives high ratings to all three fashion posted images p11 to p13 of the searcher u0. Therefore, the overall likeability of the fashion posted images p11 to p13 of the searcher u0 by the evaluator u15 is 3 / 3. Similarly, the overall likeability of the fashion posted images p11 to p13 by the evaluator u16, who is also a woman in her twenties, is calculated to be 1 / 2, and the overall likeability of the fashion posted images p11 to p13 by the evaluator u17, who is also a woman in her twenties, is calculated to be 1 / 3.

[0125] Next, the condition matching unit 53 of the search processing unit 115 treats fashion posted images registered by other registered users u2 to u3, who are men in their 30s other than the searcher u0, as analysis target images, and extracts from among them, as condition matching information, fashion posted images whose evaluation information indicates that evaluators u15 to u17, who are women in their 20s and have an overall likeability level calculated by the overall likeability level calculation unit 52 that is greater than a threshold, have given high ratings to the fashion posted images p21 to p32 of the other registered users u2 to u3.

[0126] For example, if the threshold value of the overall favorability rating is 0.40, the condition matching unit 53 extracts, as condition matching information, fashion posted images p22, p31, and p32 that are indicated by evaluation information (evaluation information of "o") that the evaluators u15 to u16, women in their twenties, have given high ratings, with an overall favorability rating greater than 0.40. Although the evaluator u17, a woman in her twenties, has given a high rating to the fashion posted image p21 of the registered user u2, the fashion posted image p21 is not extracted because the calculated overall favorability rating for the evaluator u17 is less than 0.40.

[0127] The condition comparison unit 53 may extract a predetermined number of evaluators in the order of increasing overall favorability, instead of extracting evaluators whose overall favorability is greater than a threshold value.

[0128] The search result presentation unit 116 presents to the searcher the condition-matching information searched for by the search processing unit 115. In the example shown in Fig. 15, the search result presentation unit 116 presents three fashion posted images p22, p31, and p32 to the searcher u0.

[0129] Here, the search result presentation unit 116 may determine the priority order when presenting the condition-matching information based on the priority calculated by a predetermined algorithm shown in Fig. 15(b). In this case, the search result presentation unit 116 executes the processes of the overall popularity calculation unit 61 and the priority calculation unit 62 to calculate the priority order when presenting the three fashion posted images p22, p31, and p32 to the searcher u0 based on the overall popularity calculated by weighting based on the evaluation information associated with the condition-matching information.

[0130] In variant example 5, the overall likeability calculation unit 61 weights the evaluation information associated with the fashion posted images p22, p31, and p32 extracted as condition-matching information based on the overall likeability, and calculates, based on the weighted evaluation information, the overall likeability for the condition-matching information by all of one or more evaluators (evaluators whose overall likeability is greater than a threshold value) who match the designated evaluator attribute information, for each of the one or more condition-matching information.

[0131] 15(b), the overall popularity rating calculation unit 61 weights the evaluation information attached to the fashion posted images p22, p31, and p32 extracted by the condition matching unit 53 based on the overall popularity rating calculated by the overall popularity rating calculation unit 52. Here, the reference value corresponding to the evaluation information is set to "1" for a positive evaluation and "0" for a negative evaluation, and the weight value is calculated by multiplying this reference value by the overall popularity rating.

[0132] For example, the evaluation information on the fashion posted image p22 by the female evaluators u15 to u16 in their 20s is all positive evaluations (reference value = 1), so the weighting values ​​for the evaluation information on the fashion posted image p22 by the evaluators u15 to u16 are 1 x 3 / 3 = 3 / 3 and 1 x 1 / 2 = 1 / 2, respectively. The evaluation information on the fashion posted image p31 by the female evaluators u15 to u16 in their 20s is all positive evaluations (reference value = 1) and negative evaluations (reference value = 0), so the weighting values ​​for the evaluation information on the fashion posted image p31 by the evaluators u15 to u16 are 1 x 3 / 3 = 3 / 3 and 0 x 1 / 2 = 0, respectively.

[0133] Next, the overall popularity rating calculation unit 61 uses the weight values ​​calculated for each of the evaluators u15 to u16 as described above to calculate an overall popularity rating indicating how highly the evaluators u15 to u16, who are women in their twenties, rated the fashion posted images p22, p31, and p32 extracted by the condition matching unit 53. The overall popularity rating is calculated by using the sum of all weight values ​​as the denominator and the sum of the weight values ​​assigned to the fashion posted images as the numerator. For example, the overall popularity rating of the fashion posted image p22 is calculated as (1+0.5) / (1+0.5)=1.5 / 1.5. The overall popularity rating of the fashion posted image p31 is calculated as (1+0) / (1+0.5)=1 / 1.5.

[0134] 15(b), the priority calculation unit 62 uses the overall popularity calculated by the overall popularity calculation unit 61 as a priority for determining the order of priority when presenting condition-matching information to the searcher u0. That is, the priorities of the three fashion posted images p22, p31, and p32 extracted as condition-matching information by the condition matching unit 53 are 1.00, 0.66, and 0.33, respectively.

[0135] In the above, an example has been described in which the searcher u0 specifies his / her own search target information registered as a registrant, and the fashion posted images p21 to p32 registered by other registrants u2 and u3 other than the searcher u0 are analyzed, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the searcher u0 may specify a fashion posted image of another person in which he / she likes or is interested, and the fashion posted images registered by other registrants other than the registrant of the specified fashion posted image of the other person may be analyzed.

[0136] In this case, the search processing unit 115 searches for search target information registered by registrants who match the designated registrant attribute information (registrant attribute information associated with the search target information of another person designated by the searcher u0 as the reference image) among multiple pieces of search target information, where the search target information is registered by a registrant other than the registrant of the search target information of another person designated by the searcher u0 as the reference image, and where the search target information is indicated by evaluators whose evaluation information indicates that they have given a high rating to the search target information of another person designated by the searcher u0, and where the evaluation information indicates that they have given a high rating to the search target information registered by other registrants, among the evaluators who match the designated evaluator attribute information.

[0137] Here, the overall likeability calculation unit 52 of the search processing unit 115 calculates the overall likeability of evaluators who match the specified evaluator attribute information for all of one or more search target information of others designated by the searcher u0 as a reference image, for each evaluator, based on the evaluation information associated with the one or more search target information.

[0138] <Other> In the above embodiment and modified examples 1 to 5, the evaluation is performed by selecting between two options. However, the evaluation may be performed by selecting one option from three or more options.

[0139] In addition, in the above-mentioned modified examples 1 to 5, the configuration examples in which the basic functions described in Fig. 9 are applied as a premise are shown, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the configuration may be such that the functions of modified examples 2 to 5 are applied as a premise to the function of modified example 1.

[0140] Furthermore, the search processing unit 115 and the search result presentation unit 116 may be configured to have any one of the functions described in Fig. 9 to Fig. 15, or may be configured to have a plurality of or all of the functions. In the case of a configuration having a plurality of or all of the functions, the user may be allowed to select any of the functions to perform a search. Furthermore, a function that combines any two or more of the functions described in Fig. 9 to Fig. 15 may be provided.

[0141] In addition, in the above embodiment and variants 1 to 5, an example has been described in which the search result presentation unit 116 is equipped with an overall favorability calculation unit 61 and a search result presentation unit 116, and calculates the priority when presenting condition-matching information, but the condition-matching information may be presented without calculating the priority.

[0142] In the above embodiment and modified examples 1 to 5, the search processing unit 115 extracts condition-matching information from the analysis target information, and then calculates the priority of the extracted condition-matching information when the search result presentation unit 116 presents it. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the search processing unit 115 may calculate the priority of all the analysis target information, and extract the condition-matching information using the priority as an extraction condition.

[0143] Fig. 16 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the server device 1A in this case. In Fig. 16, the same reference numerals as those in Fig. 3 have the same functions, so that the duplicated explanation will be omitted here. The server device 1A shown in Fig. 16 includes, as functional configurations, a search processing unit 115A and a search result presentation unit 116A instead of the search processing unit 115 and the search result presentation unit 116 shown in Fig. 3. The search processing unit 115A includes, as specific functional configurations, a similarity calculation unit 51, an overall favorability calculation unit 52, an overall favorability calculation unit 61A, a condition matching degree calculation unit 62A, and a condition matching unit 53A.

[0144] The overall popularity calculation unit 61A performs the same processing as the overall popularity calculation unit 61. However, the overall popularity calculation unit 61A differs from the overall popularity calculation unit 61, which calculates an overall popularity only for the condition matching information searched by the search processing unit 115, in that the overall popularity calculation unit 61A calculates an overall popularity for all of the candidate search target images that can be the condition matching information.

[0145] The condition matching degree calculation unit 62A performs the same process as the priority calculation unit 62. The condition matching degree calculated by the condition matching degree calculation unit 62A has the same value as the priority calculated by the priority calculation unit 62, but is different in that it is used as an extraction condition for extracting condition matching information. The condition matching degree calculation unit 62A also differs from the priority calculation unit 62, which calculates the priority only for the condition matching information searched by the search processing unit 115, in that it calculates the condition matching degree for all search target images that are candidates that can become condition matching information. Note that the condition matching degree may also be used as information for determining the priority order when presenting the extracted condition matching information.

[0146] The condition matching unit 53A extracts, as condition matching information, search target information whose degree of match is greater than a threshold value, from among the candidate search target images that satisfy the designated registrant attribute information and the designated evaluator attribute information, based on the degree of match calculated by the degree of match calculation unit 62A. Alternatively, a predetermined number of pieces of search target information may be extracted as condition matching information in descending order of the degree of match.

[0147] Search result presentation section 116A presents the condition-matching information searched for by search processing section 115A (condition matching section 53A) to the searcher.

[0148] The configuration of the server device 1A shown in Fig. 16 can be applied to all of the above-mentioned embodiment and modifications 1 to 5. Figs. 17 to 22 are explanatory diagrams showing an example of a search process (information search method) by the search processing unit 115A, and correspond to the embodiment and modifications 1 to 5 shown in Figs. 9 to 15 (excluding Fig. 11), respectively.

[0149] In the examples shown in Fig. 17, Fig. 18, Fig. 20, and Fig. 22, the overall popularity rating calculation unit 61A calculates the overall popularity rating of the analysis target information by all of one or more evaluators matching the designated evaluator attribute information for each of the search target information (fashion posted images p11 to p32 in Fig. 17, fashion posted images p21 to p32 in Fig. 18, fashion posted images p11 to p21 in Fig. 20, and fashion posted images p21 to p32 in Fig. 22) specified as analysis target information among the search target information registered by the registrant matching the designated registrant attribute information, based on the evaluation information associated with the analysis target information. The condition matching degree calculation unit 62A calculates the condition matching degree of the condition matching information of the search target information specified as analysis target information, using the overall popularity rating calculated by the overall popularity rating calculation unit 61A.

[0150] As a representative example, Fig. 17 will be briefly described. In the example of Fig. 17, the overall popularity rating calculation unit 61A specifies fashion posted images p11 to p32 registered by male registrants u1 to u3 in their 30s and rated by female evaluators u15 to u16 in their 20s as fashion posted images of analysis target information based on the registrant attribute information and evaluator attribute information designated by the searcher u0, and calculates an overall popularity rating for each of them. In this respect, it differs from the overall popularity rating calculation unit 61 which calculates an overall popularity rating only for the three fashion posted images p11, p12, and p31 extracted by the search processing unit 115 as condition matching information.

[0151] The condition conformance degree calculation unit 62A calculates a condition conformance degree indicating the degree to which the fashion posted images p11 to p32 identified as the analysis target information are extracted as condition conformance information. As described above, the calculation algorithm for this condition conformance degree is the same as the calculation algorithm for the priority by the priority calculation unit 62. In the example of Fig. 17, the condition conformance degree calculation unit 62A uses the overall popularity calculated by the overall popularity calculation unit 61A as the condition conformance degree.

[0152] Based on the degree of condition conformance calculated by the degree-of-condition conformance calculation unit 62A, the condition matching unit 53A extracts, as condition conformance information, for example, three fashion posted images p11, p12, and p31 whose degree of condition conformance is greater than a threshold value from among the fashion posted images p11 to p32 identified as the analysis target information. The extraction result is the same as the example shown in FIG.

[0153] In addition, in the examples shown in Figures 19 and 21, the similarity calculation unit 51 uses the search target information registered by a registrant who matches the designated registrant attribute information to calculate the similarity between the search target information designated as the reference information for similarity determination (fashion posted images p11-p13 in the case of Figure 19, and fashion posted images p11-p12 in the case of Figure 21) and other search target information identified as analysis target information (fashion posted images p21-p32 in the case of Figure 19, and fashion posted images p22-p32 in the case of Figure 21) based on the evaluation information associated with the search target information.

[0154] The overall favorability calculation unit 61A calculates the overall favorability of the analysis target information by all of the one or more evaluators who match the designated evaluator attribute information for each piece of search target information identified as analysis target information, based on the evaluation information associated with the analysis target information. The condition match calculation unit 62A uses the similarity calculated by the similarity calculation unit 51 and the overall favorability calculated by the overall favorability calculation unit 61A to calculate the condition match indicating the degree to which the search target information identified as analysis target information is extracted as condition-matching information.

[0155] As a representative example, Fig. 19 will be briefly described. In the example of Fig. 19, based on the registrant attribute information and evaluator attribute information specified by the searcher u0, the overall popularity rating calculation unit 61A identifies fashion posted images p21 to p32 registered by registrants u2 to u3, both men in their 30s, other than the searcher u0 (fashion posted images used for similarity determination with fashion posted images p11 to p13 registered by the searcher u0 himself) and rated by evaluators u15 to u16, both women in their 20s, as fashion posted images of the analysis target information, and calculates the overall popularity rating of each.

[0156] The condition conformance calculation unit 62A calculates a condition conformance indicating the degree to which the fashion posted images p11 to p32 identified as the analysis target information are extracted as condition conformance information. As described above, the calculation algorithm for this condition conformance is the same as the calculation algorithm for the priority by the priority calculation unit 62. In the example of Fig. 19, the condition conformance calculation unit 62A calculates the condition conformance by multiplying the overall similarity calculated by the similarity calculation unit 51 and the overall popularity calculated by the overall popularity calculation unit 61A.

[0157] Based on the degree of condition conformance calculated by the degree-of-condition conformance calculation unit 62A, the condition matching unit 53A extracts, as condition conformance information, for example, three fashion posted images p22, p32 whose degree of condition conformance is greater than a threshold value from among the fashion posted images p21 to p32 identified as the analysis target information. The extraction result is the same as the example shown in FIG.

[0158] In addition, the functions and algorithms shown in the above embodiment and modified examples are merely examples of the implementation of the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited by them. In other words, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the gist or main characteristics thereof. [Explanation of symbols]

[0159] 1,1A Server equipment 2. User terminal 51 Similarity calculation unit 52 Overall favorability calculation section 53,53A Condition matching section 61,61A Overall favorability calculation section 62 Priority calculation unit 62A Condition matching degree calculation unit 111 Basic information acquisition department 112 Image acquisition unit 113 Image presentation unit 114 Evaluation Department 115, 115A Search processing unit 116,116A Search result display section

Claims

1. An information retrieval device for retrieving information matching a search condition from among a plurality of pieces of search target information registered in a database, comprising: The plurality of pieces of search target information registered in the database are associated with registrant attribute information representing the attributes of the registrant, evaluation information representing evaluation results from a plurality of evaluators for the search target information, and evaluator attribute information representing the attributes of the plurality of evaluators; and a search processing unit that searches the plurality of pieces of search target information for search target information registered by a registrant matching the designated registrant attribute information, which is the registrant attribute information designated by a searcher, and search target information for which the evaluation information indicates that the evaluator matching the designated evaluator attribute information has given a high evaluation, as condition-matching information, based on designated registrant attribute information, which is the registrant attribute information designated by a searcher, and designated evaluator attribute information, which is the evaluator attribute information designated by the searcher.

1. An information retrieval device comprising:

2. 2. The information retrieval device according to claim 1, wherein the registrant attribute information includes demographic information of the registrant, and the evaluator attribute information includes demographic information of the evaluator.

3. the plurality of pieces of search target information registered in the database are fashion posted images of people wearing fashion items; At least one of the registrant attribute information and the evaluator attribute information includes demographic information and physical build information, At least one of the designated registrant attribute information and the designated evaluator attribute information includes information designated by the searcher regarding at least one of the demographic information and the physical build information.

2. The information retrieval device according to claim 1.

4. The information search device of claim 1, wherein the search processing unit searches for search target information registered by a registrant who matches the designated registrant attribute information, the search target information being identified by a predetermined analysis based on the evaluation information associated with the search target information, and the search target information being indicated by the evaluation information to have been highly rated by an evaluator who matches the designated evaluator attribute information, as condition-matching information from among the multiple search target information.

5. The information search device according to claim 1, characterized in that the search processing unit searches for search target information registered by a registrant who matches the designated registrant attribute information, and which is indicated by the evaluation information to be highly rated by an evaluator who matches the designated evaluator attribute information and is identified by a predetermined analysis based on the evaluation information associated with the search target information, as condition-matching information from among the multiple search target information.

6. The search processing unit searches for search target information registered by a registrant matching the specified registrant attribute information, which is similar to the search target information registered by the searcher as the registrant or the search target information of another person designated by the searcher, and which is indicated by the evaluation information to have been highly rated by an evaluator matching the specified evaluator attribute information, from among the plurality of search target information as condition-matching information; The search processing unit performs an analysis based on the evaluation information associated with the search target information to identify search target information similar to the search target information registered by the searcher or the search target information of another person designated by the searcher.

5. The information retrieval device according to claim 4.

7. The search processing unit is a similarity calculation unit which calculates a similarity between the reference information and the analysis target information based on the evaluation information associated with the search target information, the search target information registered by the searcher being the searcher's own search target information or the search target information of another person designated by the searcher being used as reference information, and other search target information being used as analysis target information; a condition matching unit that searches for search target information, among the analysis target information, in which the similarity calculated by the similarity calculation unit satisfies a predetermined condition, and in which the evaluation information indicates that an evaluator matching the designated evaluator attribute information has given a high evaluation, as the condition matching information.

7. The information retrieval device according to claim 6.

8. The information search device according to claim 4, characterized in that the search processing unit searches for search target information registered by a registrant matching the designated registrant attribute information, which is indicated by the evaluation information to have been highly rated by the searcher as the evaluator, and which is indicated by the evaluation information to have been highly rated by an evaluator matching the designated evaluator attribute information, as condition-matching information from among the multiple search target information.

9. The search processing unit searches the plurality of pieces of search target information for search target information registered by a registrant matching the designated registrant attribute information, the search target information being similar to search target information that is indicated by the evaluation information to have been highly rated by the searcher as the evaluator, the search target information being unrated by the searcher, and the search target information being indicated by the evaluation information to have been highly rated by an evaluator matching the designated evaluator attribute information, as condition-matching information; The search processing unit performs an analysis based on the evaluation information associated with the search target information to identify search target information similar to the search target information that is indicated by the evaluation information to be highly rated by the searcher and that is not rated by the searcher.

5. The information retrieval device according to claim 4.

10. The search processing unit is a similarity calculation unit which calculates a similarity between the reference information and the analysis target information based on the evaluation information associated with the search target information, the search target information being indicated as having been highly rated by the searcher as the evaluator by the evaluation information among the search target information registered by the registrant who matches the specified registrant attribute information, and which calculates a similarity between the reference information and the analysis target information based on the evaluation information associated with the search target information, the search target information being indicated as having been highly rated by the searcher as the evaluator by the evaluation information, and the other search target information not rated by the searcher as the analysis target information; a condition matching unit that searches for search target information, among the analysis target information, in which the similarity calculated by the similarity calculation unit satisfies a predetermined condition, and in which the evaluation information indicates that an evaluator matching the designated evaluator attribute information has given a high evaluation, as the condition matching information.

10. The information retrieval device according to claim 9.

11. The search processing unit searches for search target information registered by a registrant matching the specified registrant attribute information, the search target information being registered by a registrant other than the searcher who registered the search target information as the registrant or a registrant other than the registrant of the search target information of another person designated by the searcher, and the search target information being registered by an evaluator matching the specified evaluator attribute information, the search target information being indicated by the evaluation information to have been highly rated by an evaluator who is indicated by the evaluation information to have been highly rated by the search target information registered by the other registrant, as condition matching information.

6. The information retrieval device according to claim 5.

12. The search processing unit is an overall favorability calculation unit that calculates an overall favorability rating by an evaluator matching the designated evaluator attribute information for one or more pieces of search target information registered by the searcher as the registrant or one or more pieces of search target information of another person designated by the searcher, for each of the one or more evaluators based on the evaluation information associated with the one or more pieces of search target information; a condition matching unit that searches for search target information registered by the other registrants, the search target information being indicated by the evaluation information that an evaluator whose overall favorability rating calculated by the overall favorability rating calculation unit satisfies a predetermined condition has highly evaluated the search target information registered by the other registrants, as condition-matching information.

12. The information retrieval device according to claim 11.

13. a search result presentation unit that presents the condition-matching information searched for by the search processing unit to the searcher, The search result presentation unit calculates a priority level for presenting the condition-matching information to the searcher based on the evaluation information associated with the condition-matching information.

13. The information retrieval device according to claim 1, wherein the information retrieval device is a device for retrieving information from a plurality of information sources.

14. The above search result display section is a comprehensive favorability calculation unit that calculates, for each of the one or more pieces of condition matching information, a comprehensive favorability rating for the condition matching information by all of the one or more evaluators that match the designated evaluator attribute information, based on the evaluation information associated with the condition matching information; a priority calculation unit that calculates the priority by using the overall favorability calculated by the overall favorability calculation unit; 14. The information retrieval device according to claim 13.

15. a search result presentation unit that presents the condition-matching information searched for by the search processing unit to the searcher, The above search result display section is a comprehensive favorability calculation unit that calculates, for each of the one or more pieces of condition matching information, a comprehensive favorability rating for the condition matching information by all of the one or more evaluators that match the designated evaluator attribute information, based on the evaluation information associated with the condition matching information; and a priority calculation unit that calculates a priority when presenting the condition-matching information to the searcher, using the overall favorability calculated by the overall favorability calculation unit and the similarity calculated by the similarity calculation unit for the condition-matching information.

8. The information retrieval device according to claim 7.

16. a search result presentation unit that presents the condition-matching information searched for by the search processing unit to the searcher, The above search result display section is a comprehensive favorability calculation unit that calculates, for each of the one or more pieces of condition matching information, a comprehensive favorability rating for the condition matching information by all of the one or more evaluators that match the designated evaluator attribute information, based on the evaluation information associated with the condition matching information; and a priority calculation unit that calculates a priority when presenting the condition-matching information to the searcher, using the overall favorability calculated by the overall favorability calculation unit and the similarity calculated by the similarity calculation unit for the condition-matching information.

11. The information retrieval device according to claim 10.

17. a search result presentation unit that presents the condition-matching information searched for by the search processing unit to the searcher, The above search result display section is a comprehensive favorability calculation unit that weights the evaluation information associated with the condition-matching information based on the comprehensive favorability, and calculates, based on the weighted evaluation information, a comprehensive favorability of the condition-matching information by all of the evaluators whose comprehensive favorability satisfies a predetermined condition for each of one or more pieces of condition-matching information; a priority calculation unit that calculates a priority when presenting the condition-matching information to the searcher using the overall favorability calculated by the overall favorability calculation unit.

13. The information retrieval device according to claim 12.

18. The search processing unit is an overall favorability calculation unit that calculates an overall favorability rating for the analysis target information by all of one or more evaluators who match the designated evaluator attribute information, for each piece of search target information specified as analysis target information among pieces of search target information registered by registrants who match the designated registrant attribute information, based on the evaluation information associated with the analysis target information; a condition matching degree calculation unit that calculates a condition matching degree indicating a degree to which search target information specified as the analysis target information is extracted as the condition matching information, using the overall favorability calculated by the overall favorability calculation unit; a condition matching unit that extracts the condition match information based on the condition match degree calculated by the condition match degree calculation unit.

2. The information retrieval device according to claim 1.

19. The search processing unit is a similarity calculation unit that uses search target information registered by a registrant who matches the specified registrant attribute information, and calculates a similarity between the search target information designated as reference information for similarity determination and other search target information identified as analysis target information, based on the evaluation information associated with the search target information; a comprehensive favorability calculation unit that calculates a comprehensive favorability rating for the analysis target information by all of one or more evaluators who match the designated evaluator attribute information, for each piece of search target information identified as the analysis target information, based on the evaluation information associated with the analysis target information; a condition matching degree calculation unit that calculates a condition matching degree indicating a degree to which search target information specified as the analysis target information is extracted as the condition matching information, using the similarity calculated by the similarity calculation unit and the overall favorability calculated by the overall favorability calculation unit; a condition matching unit that extracts the condition match information based on the condition match degree calculated by the condition match degree calculation unit.

2. The information retrieval device according to claim 1.

20. An information retrieval method in which a computer of a retrieval processing device retrieves information matching a retrieval condition from among a plurality of pieces of retrieval target information registered in a database, comprising: The plurality of pieces of search target information registered in the database are associated with registrant attribute information representing the attributes of the registrant, evaluation information representing evaluation results from a plurality of evaluators for the search target information, and evaluator attribute information representing the attributes of the plurality of evaluators; The computer of the search processing device executes a search process to search the plurality of search target information in the database as condition-matching information, based on designated registrant attribute information, which is the registrant attribute information designated by a searcher, and designated evaluator attribute information, which is the evaluator attribute information designated by the searcher, for search target information registered by a registrant matching the designated registrant attribute information, and which is indicated by the evaluation information to have been highly rated by an evaluator matching the designated evaluator attribute information.

13. An information retrieval method comprising:

Images