Information search device, information search method, and information search program

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide an information search device, an information search method, and an information search program that do not cause inconvenience to the user even when search conditions are modified. [Solution] The information search device includes a receiving unit that receives search conditions from a terminal device, an extraction unit that extracts search results that match the search conditions from a plurality of search targets, a generation unit that generates the extracted search results as a list display, and a transmission unit that transmits display information generated by the generation unit to the terminal device.When the receiving unit receives new search conditions that modify the search conditions, the generation unit generates new search results that match the new search conditions as a new list display from after the current display targets of the list display.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information search device, an information search method, and an information search program. [Background technology]

[0002] Searching for information on the Internet and the like is commonplace, and obtaining accurate search results is important to users who are searchers.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes how a user, who is a searcher, can narrow down search results and save the search results. In addition, by naming and saving the search results, the search results can be opened without having to re-enter the search conditions.

[0004] On the other hand, a user may obtain search results, but may modify the search conditions by narrowing down the search conditions if, during screening, it becomes clear that there is a lot of noise. When the user modifies the search conditions, a search is performed again using the modified search conditions, and a new list of search results is obtained. According to the configuration of Patent Document 1, the new search results can be saved with a name. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 08-095980 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The search results up to the point where the search conditions are modified have already been screened. However, with the technology of Patent Document 1, the user who has obtained the search results must screen the obtained new search results again from the beginning. Also, even if the user tries to skip through the list of search results to the point where screening has been completed, it is difficult to find out how far screening has been completed. In other words, with the technology of Patent Document 1, the user may feel inconvenienced when the search conditions are modified.

[0007] In consideration of the above problems, the present invention has an object to provide an information retrieval device, an information retrieval method, and an information retrieval program that prevent a user from feeling inconvenienced even when a search condition is modified. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] (1) An information search device including a receiving unit that receives search conditions from a terminal device, an extracting unit that extracts search results that match the search conditions from among a plurality of search targets, a generating unit that generates the extracted search results as a list display, and a transmitting unit that transmits display information generated by the generating unit to the terminal device. When the receiving unit receives new search conditions that modify the search conditions, the generating unit generates new search results that match the new search conditions as a new list display from after the current display target of the list display.

[0009] (2) In (1) above, when the list display is divided into a plurality of sections and the sections after the first section division are to be displayed, the generation unit may generate new search results that match the new search criteria as a new list display from after the current display target of the list display.

[0010] (3) In the above (1) or (2), the new search condition may be a condition for a refined search.

[0011] (4) In the above (1) or (2), the new search condition may be a search condition that replaces at least one of a plurality of search items included in the search condition.

[0012] (5) In any one of (1) to (4) above, the extraction unit may extract the new search results from the plurality of search targets using the new search criteria. The generation unit may generate, as the new list display, a section including search results subsequent to an arbitrary search result from the display targets.

[0013] (6) In any one of (1) to (4) above, the extraction unit may extract the new search results by using the new search criteria, with search results after the display target being treated as new search targets.

[0014] (7) In the above (5) or (6), the receiving unit may acquire a display position within the section of the display target. The generating unit may generate the new list display based on the display position.

[0015] (8) In (7) above, the receiving unit may receive a display request for any of the search results in the list display, and obtain the search result corresponding to the display request as the display position within the section.

[0016] (9) A second aspect of the present invention relates to an information search method including a receiving step of receiving search conditions from a terminal device, an extracting step of extracting search results that match the search conditions from among a plurality of search targets, a generating step of generating the extracted search results as a list display, and a transmitting step of transmitting the generated display information to the terminal device. When new search conditions that modify the search conditions are received in the receiving step, the generating step generates new search results that match the new search conditions as a new list display from after the current display target of the list display.

[0017] (10) A third aspect of the present invention relates to an information search program that causes a computer to execute a receiving function for receiving search conditions from a terminal device, an extracting function for extracting search results that match the search conditions from among a plurality of search targets, a generating function for generating the extracted search results as a list display, and a transmitting function for transmitting the generated display information to the terminal device. When the receiving function receives new search conditions that modify the search conditions, the generating function generates new search results that match the new search conditions as a new list display from after the current display target of the list display. Effect of the Invention

[0018] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an information retrieval device, an information retrieval method, and an information retrieval program that allow a user to avoid inconvenience even when a search condition is modified. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of processing by an information search device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of an information search device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of a terminal device of a user according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of a server according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of the user database. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the structure of the product database. [Figure 7]Figure 7 is a diagram showing an example of an operational sequence of a series of steps in which the server processing unit extracts search results that match the search conditions from among multiple search targets based on search conditions received by the server communication unit from a user's terminal device in an information search device according to an embodiment of the present invention, generates the extracted search results as a list display, transmits the display information generated by the server communication unit to the user's terminal device, and further receives new search conditions that modify the search conditions, and the list display is divided into multiple sections, and the sections after the first section division are the display targets, until the server processing unit generates new search results that match the new search conditions from after the current display targets of the list display as a new list display. [Figure 8] 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen configuration for displaying a list of search results generated by a generation unit on a user's terminal device. FIG. [Figure 9] 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen configuration for displaying a list of search results generated by a generation unit on a user's terminal device. FIG. [Figure 10] 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen configuration for displaying a list of search results generated by a generation unit on a user's terminal device. FIG. [Figure 11] Figure 11 is a diagram showing an example of an operational sequence of a series of flows in which the server processing unit extracts search results that match the search conditions from among multiple search targets based on search conditions received by the server communication unit from a user's terminal device in an information search device according to an embodiment of the present invention, generates the extracted search results as a list display, transmits the display information generated by the server communication unit to the user's terminal device, and further receives new search conditions that modify the search conditions, and the list display is divided into multiple sections, and the sections after the first section division are the display targets, until the server processing unit generates new search results that match the new search conditions from after the current display targets of the list display as a new list display. [Figure 12]Figure 12 is a diagram showing an example of an operational sequence of a series of flows in which, based on search conditions received by the server communication unit from a user's terminal device in an information search device according to an embodiment of the present invention, the server processing unit extracts search results that match the search conditions from among multiple search targets, generates the extracted search results as a list display, transmits the display information generated by the server communication unit to the user's terminal device, and, when the server communication unit receives new search conditions that modify the search conditions, generates new search results that match the new search conditions as a new list display from after the current display targets in the list display. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] Hereinafter, an information search device, an information search method, and an information search program according to one aspect of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. However, it should be noted that the technical scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments, but extends to the inventions described in the claims and their equivalents.

[0021] An information search device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0022] (Outline of processing by information search device 1) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of processing by an information search device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] The information retrieval device 1 has multiple users' terminal devices 2, 2, 2... and a server 3. A server communication unit 315 of the server 3 receives search conditions from the multiple users' terminal devices 2, 2, 2.... A server processing unit 312 of the server 3 extracts multiple search results that match the received search conditions from multiple search targets stored in a server storage unit 311 of the server 3, and the server communication unit 315 transmits the search results to the multiple users' terminal devices 2, 2, 2....

[0024] The server storage unit 311 of the server 3 stores information on a plurality of search targets. The plurality of search targets are tangible objects such as products and facilities, or intangible objects such as Internet sites and images. In this embodiment, products are search targets, but the present invention is not limited to this. The server storage unit 311 also has a role of temporarily or long-term storage of search conditions and search results by the server processing unit 312 for each of the terminal devices 2, 2, 2, . . . of a plurality of users. Note that, although the server storage unit of the server 3 stores the plurality of search targets in this embodiment, they may be stored outside the server 3. In other words, the present invention is also applicable to a search engine that searches for search targets on the Internet.

[0025] The server processing unit 312 of the server 3 extracts search results for each search result received from the terminal devices 2, 2, 2... of the multiple users, and generates the search results as display information that can be displayed by the terminal devices 2, 2, 2... of the multiple users. The server processing unit 312 also extracts new search results that match new search conditions received for each of the terminal devices 2, 2, 2... of the multiple users, and generates them as display information. When the list display is divided into multiple sections and the sections after the first section division are the display targets, if the server communication unit 315 receives new search conditions that modify the search conditions, the server processing unit 312 generates new search results that match the new search conditions as a new list display from the display targets onwards.

[0026] (Schematic configuration of information search device 1) FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of an information search device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] An information search device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention has a plurality of user terminal devices 2, 2, 2... and a server 3. Hereinafter, the plurality of user terminal devices may be simply referred to as user terminal devices 2. The user terminal devices 2, 2, 2... and the server 3 are connected to each other via a communication network such as the Internet 4. Herein, one Internet 4 is illustrated, but if the Internet 4 is made up of a plurality of networks, a gateway (not shown) may be appropriately provided between each network. A program executed on the user terminal device 2 (e.g., a browsing program) and a program executed on the server 3 (e.g., a management program) communicate with each other using a communication protocol such as the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP).

[0028] (Schematic configuration of user's terminal device 2) FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of a user terminal device 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] The user's terminal device 2 executes connection to a wireless communication network, web access, etc. To this end, the user's terminal device 2 includes a terminal communication unit 211, a terminal storage unit 212, a terminal operation unit 213, a terminal display unit 214, and a terminal processing unit 215.

[0030] The user's terminal device 2 is assumed to be a multi-function mobile phone (a so-called "smartphone"), a tablet PC, or a notebook PC, but the present invention is not limited to this. The user's terminal device 2 may be, for example, a mobile phone (a so-called "feature phone"), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable game machine, a portable music player, a tablet terminal, or the like, as long as the present invention is applicable to the device.

[0031] The terminal communication unit 211 includes a communication interface circuit and connects the user's terminal device 2 to the Internet 4. The terminal communication unit 211 transmits data provided from the device processing unit 215 via the network to the server 3, etc. The terminal communication unit 211 also provides the device processing unit 215 with data received from the server 3, etc. via the network.

[0032] The terminal storage unit 212 includes, for example, a semiconductor memory device. The terminal storage unit 212 stores an operating system program, a driver program, an application program, data, and the like used in processing by the terminal processing unit 215. For example, the terminal storage unit 212 stores, as driver programs, an input device driver program for controlling the terminal operation unit 213, an output device driver program for controlling the terminal display unit 214, and the like. Various programs may be installed in the terminal storage unit 212 from a computer-readable portable recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM using a known setup program, for example. The terminal storage unit 212 may also temporarily store temporary data related to a predetermined process.

[0033] The terminal operation unit 213 may be any device capable of operating the user's terminal device 2, such as a touch panel, a mouse, or key buttons. The user of the user's terminal device 2 can use the terminal operation unit 213 to select or cancel information, and input characters, numbers, and the like. When operated by the user of the user's terminal device 2, the terminal operation unit 213 generates a signal corresponding to the operation. The generated signal is then transmitted to the device processing unit 215.

[0034] The terminal display unit 214 may also be any device capable of displaying video, images, etc., such as a liquid crystal display, an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) display, etc. The terminal display unit 214 displays video corresponding to video data supplied from the device processing unit 215, images corresponding to image data, etc.

[0035] The device processing unit 215 includes one or more processors and their peripheral circuits. The device processing unit 215 centrally controls the overall operation of the user's terminal device 2, and is, for example, a CPU. The device processing unit 215 controls the operation of the terminal communication unit 211, the terminal display unit 214, and the like so that various processes of the user's terminal device 2 are executed in an appropriate order based on the programs stored in the terminal storage unit 212 and the operation of the terminal operation unit 213. The device processing unit 215 executes processes based on the programs (such as an operating system program, a driver program, and an application program) stored in the terminal storage unit 212. The device processing unit 215 can also execute multiple programs (such as application programs) in parallel.

[0036] The device processing unit 215 has a function of processing screen display information received from outside the user's terminal device 2 as a screen display viewable by the user of the user's terminal device 2, and a function of converting processing based on the operation content of the terminal operation unit 213 from the user of the user's terminal device 2 into a signal that can be transmitted outside the user's terminal device 2 and sending it to the terminal transmission unit 211. These functions are functional modules realized by a program executed by a processor included in the device processing unit 215. Alternatively, each of these units may be implemented in the user's terminal device 2 as an independent integrated circuit, microprocessor, or firmware.

[0037] (Processing of user's terminal device 2) A user searches for a product in any fictitious store using the user's terminal device 2. Here, the user may search for a product on a page that compiles multiple fictitious stores, or may use a search engine to search for a product from all Internet sites. The present invention is not limited to the Internet sites to be searched. Then, the user's terminal device 2 transmits the search conditions input by the user to the server 3 via the Internet 4. The search conditions include the product manufacturer, product genre, product model number, color, size, location (address), price, etc. The user inputs one or more of these search conditions into the user's terminal device 2.

[0038] The user's terminal device 2 displays the search results when it receives the search results from the server 3. The user can select a product from the displayed search results to check product details or purchase the product.

[0039] The user can input search conditions to further refine the received search results. The user's terminal device 2 transmits the refined search conditions received from the user to the server 3 via the Internet 4. The subsequent processing is the same as that of the previous search, so a description will be omitted. The refined search conditions may be when the user selects something that the user did not select in the previous search conditions, or may be to tighten search conditions that have already been selected. To tighten the search conditions is to set a more detailed classification in the case of genre, or to set a narrower range of prices in the case of price. In addition to narrowing the gap between the lower limit and the upper limit, it is also possible to simply raise the lower limit or lower the upper limit. In addition, this refined search may be performed any number of times after the second search. In other words, there is no particular limitation as long as it is a search method that refines search results that have already been searched.

[0040] (Schematic configuration of server 3 according to the embodiment) FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of the server 3 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] 4, the server 3 includes a server storage unit 311 which is a storage area of ​​the server 3. The server 3 further includes a server processing unit 312 which includes an extraction unit 313 and a generation unit 314. The server 3 further includes a server communication unit 315 for communicating with the terminal device 2 of the user.

[0042] The server storage unit 311 has at least one of a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk device, and an optical disk device, and is connected to the server 3 via a bus. The server storage unit 311 stores a driver program, an operating system program, an application program, data, and the like used in processing by the server processing unit 312. For example, the server storage unit 311 stores a communication device driver program for controlling the server communication unit 315 as a driver program. The computer program may be installed in the server storage unit 311 using a known setup program from a computer-readable portable recording medium such as a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM. The server storage unit 311 also stores a user database 51 and a product database 52, which will be described later. As described above, the server storage unit 311 may store search results temporarily or for a long period of time. The present invention is valid even if the temporary storage of the search results is performed by the terminal storage unit 212 of the user terminal 2.

[0043] The functions of the server processing unit 312 are functional modules realized by a program executed by a processor included in the server processing unit 312. Alternatively, each of these units may be implemented in the server 3 as an independent integrated circuit, microprocessor, or firmware. The processing contents of the server processing unit 312 will be described later. Also, the division of the components of the server processing unit 312 is one example, and which components perform which processing is not particularly limited to the description of this embodiment.

[0044] Based on the search conditions or the conditions of the refined search received from the user, the extraction unit 313 extracts products (search results) that match the search conditions or the refined search from among a plurality of products that are search targets stored in the server storage unit 311. The logic of extraction by the extraction unit 313 can use a general extraction method.

[0045] The generating unit 314 generates the search results extracted by the extracting unit 313 as a list display. The list display may be a list display or a lattice display, and the display format does not particularly limit the present invention. In addition, when the number of search results included in the list display exceeds a predetermined number, the generating unit 314 divides the list display into multiple sections. This predetermined number may be a number considering the communication speed between the server 3 and the user's terminal device 2, or may be set in consideration of the display mode on the user's terminal device 2. A space between multiple sections is called a section break. In order to display the next section beyond this section break, the user needs to press a button such as "Next" in the list display before the section break. Here, it is assumed that the page transitions to the next section, but a configuration in which an additional list display is displayed may also be used. Alternatively, the generating unit 314 may display the next section when the user reaches the bottom of the list display before the section break. Note that the section break is not limited to the first section and the second section, but also includes a space between the second and subsequent sections and the section after that.

[0046] When the list display is divided into a plurality of sections and the sections after the first section separator (second and subsequent sections) are the display targets, and the server communication unit 315 receives new search conditions (refined search conditions) that modify the search conditions, the generation unit 314 generates new search results that match the new search conditions as a new list display from the display target onwards. That is, when the number of search results extracted by the extraction unit 315 exceeds a predetermined number, the list display generated by the generation unit is divided into a plurality of sections, and the sections after the first section separator are the display targets, and the generation unit 314 receives refined search conditions, the generation unit 314 generates a new list display from the display target onwards as the search results of the refined search.

[0047] The server communication unit 315 has a communication interface circuit for connecting the server 3 to the Internet 4. The server communication unit 315 communicates with the user's terminal device 2 via the Internet 4. Here, communication includes reception and transmission, and reception and transmission may be performed simultaneously.

[0048] In this embodiment, the server communication unit 315 receives search conditions and conditions for a refined search from the user's terminal device 2. In addition, the server communication unit 315 transmits the list display generated by the generation unit 314 and a new list display after the refined search to the user's terminal device 2.

[0049] (Configuration of user database 51) FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of the user database 51. As shown in FIG.

[0050] The user database 51 stores a user ID, a user name, an email address, and a payment method, each of which corresponds to the identification information of each user. In addition, although not shown, search history and preference information are stored for each user. In addition, temporary storage of search results is performed for each user. In the present invention, user information is not essential, and use in a non-logged-in state is also possible. The server processing unit 312 temporarily manages each individual user by assigning a temporary ID to each non-logged-in user, and performs processing. Non-logged-in users may be managed by IP address, and different terminal identification information may be used for each user's terminal device 2.

[0051] (Product database 52 configuration) FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of the product database 52. As shown in FIG.

[0052] The product database 52 stores detailed product information, such as a product ID indicating identification information for each product, a product price, a product manufacturer, a product model number, a product color, a product genre, and a product size, in association with each other. The extraction unit 312 searches the detailed information in the product database 52. Although not shown, a URL of image data is stored in association with each product. In this embodiment, the product database 52 is included in the server storage unit 311, but the product database 52 may be configured to exist outside the server 3. Furthermore, these detailed information may not be organized in a database as described above, and may be only a description of each product. In this case, the search criteria entered by the user are keywords that are the basis of the text search. In addition, in the case of an image search, information indicating the feature amount of an image may be stored for each identification information of the image.

[0053] (Processing by information search device 1) 7 is a diagram showing an example of an operation sequence of a series of flows from when the server processing unit 312 extracts search results that match the search conditions from among multiple search targets based on search conditions received by the server communication unit 315 from the user's terminal device 2 by the information search device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, generates the extracted search results as a list display, transmits the display information generated by the server communication unit 315 to the user's terminal device 2, and further receives new search conditions that modify the search conditions, and the list display is divided into multiple sections, and the sections after the first section division are the display targets, the server processing unit 312 generates new search results that match the new search conditions from the current display target of the list display as a new list display. Also, the server processing unit 312 extracts new search results from multiple search targets using the new search conditions, and generates a section including the search results after any search result among the display targets as a new list display.

[0054] The operation sequence described below is executed mainly by the server processing unit 312 in cooperation with each element of the server 3, based on a program previously stored in the server storage unit 311. In the operation sequence described below, the server 3 transmits and receives various information to and from the user's terminal device 2 via the server communication unit 315. The order of the processes performed by the server processing unit 312 may be interchanged or may be performed simultaneously, as long as there is no contradiction in the processes.

[0055] First, the server processing unit 312 waits to receive search conditions from the user's terminal device 2 via the server communication unit 315 (step S101). This step S101 is continued until search conditions are received from the user's terminal device 2 (step S101: NO).

[0056] When the server communication unit 315 receives the search conditions (YES in step S101), the server processing unit 312 extracts search results that match the received search conditions from among the search targets (step S102). Note that the server processing unit 312 may execute the search process and the extraction process as separate processes.

[0057] The server processing unit 312 generates a list display of the extracted search results and transmits it to the user's terminal device 2 via the server communication unit 315 (step S103). Specifically, the server processing unit 312 generates a display screen in a form in which the list display of the search results can be displayed on the user's terminal device 2.

[0058] The server processing unit 312 waits to receive refinement search conditions for further refining the search results from the user's terminal device 2 via the server communication unit 315 (step S104). The server processing unit 312 may perform a process of determining whether the received search conditions are refinement search conditions or not. That is, the server processing unit 312 may determine whether all the search conditions received in step S102 are included and whether additional search conditions have been added. In this case, if the newly received search conditions are not refinement search conditions, the process may return to step S101.

[0059] When the server processing unit 312 receives the narrowed search conditions from the user's terminal device 2 (YES in step S104), it extracts search results from the search target based on the narrowed search conditions (step S105). Here, it is assumed that the server processing unit 312 executes a process to obtain new search results that match the narrowed search conditions from the population that is the search target, but the server processing unit 312 may execute a narrowed search using the search results already extracted in step S102 as a new population. In this case, the server storage unit 311 stores the search results executed in step S102 as the new population. Note that the server processing unit 312 may execute the search process and the extraction process as separate processes.

[0060] On the other hand, if no conditions for a refined search have been received from the user's terminal device 2 (NO in step S104), the server processing unit 312 ends this process.

[0061] The server processing unit 312 determines whether the list display of search results displayed by the user at the stage when the narrowed search conditions were received in step S105 is after the first section break (after the second section) (step S106).

[0062] When the stage where the refined search conditions are received from the user is after the first section break (YES in step S106), the server processing unit 312 displays the refined search results after the section to be displayed (step S107). Specifically, the server processing unit 312 generates a display screen in a form in which a list display can be displayed on the user's terminal device 2. The server storage unit 311 stores which of a plurality of sections the section to be displayed is. Alternatively, one or more search results included in the section to be displayed may be stored as a criterion. For example, the server storage unit 311 may store identification information of one of the search results, and the information after the identification information may be the new display target.

[0063] On the other hand, when the stage where the narrowed search conditions are received from the user is before the first section break (first section) (NO in step S106), the server processing unit 312 displays the search results as usual (step S108). Specifically, the server processing unit 312 generates a display screen in a form in which the list display of the search results can be displayed on the user's terminal device 2.

[0064] After displaying the search results in steps S107 and S108, the server processing unit 312 ends the process. Then, the server 3 waits to receive the next search condition.

[0065] That is, in this process, when the list display is divided into multiple sections and the sections after the first section division are the display targets, the server processing unit 312 generates new search results that match the new search criteria as a new list display from after the current display targets of the list display.

[0066] (Screen layout 200 of user's terminal device 2) 8, 9, and 10 are diagrams showing an example of a screen configuration 200 for displaying a list of search results generated by the generating unit 314 on the terminal device 2 of the user.

[0067] Fig. 8 is an example of a screen configuration 200 showing a list display of search results that match the search conditions received from the user's terminal device 2 from multiple search targets included in the product database 52 shown in Fig. 6. Note that a screen display at the stage of inputting the search conditions is displayed in advance, but is omitted here. The screen configuration 200 displays a condition list display 201 that displays a list of the search conditions input by the user, a display area 202 for each search result that constitutes the list display of the search results, and a switch button 203 for switching the section (page) to be displayed.

[0068] The example in FIG. 8 shows a case where the user inputs the product manufacturer "BBB", the product color "white", and the product genre "tops" as search conditions. Therefore, "BBB", "white", and "tops" are displayed in the condition list display 201. The user can also input additional search conditions in the condition list display 201. In other words, the user can execute a refined search by adding search conditions. Furthermore, one or more of the search conditions displayed in the condition list display 201 can be deleted.

[0069] 8, the display areas 202 for the first nine search results are displayed, and these nine display areas make up the first section. In each of the search result display areas 202, a product image, product ID, size, and price are displayed. Information that is not displayed includes the product manufacturer, product color, product genre, model number, and the like. In addition to the product information contained in the product database 52 shown in FIG. 6, product descriptions, information on products that are recommended for purchase together, and the like may be stored in association with the product ID.

[0070] When the user presses at least a part of the display area 202 of an individual search result, the user can transition to a details screen (not shown) of any search result. On the details screen, the user can confirm detailed information of any search result selected by the user. For example, in addition to the information contained in the list display of search results in FIG. 8, the user can transition to a details screen where the product manufacturer, product color, product genre, model number, product description, information on products that are recommended for purchase together, and the like can be confirmed. On this details screen, the product of the search result being displayed can be purchased.

[0071] As shown by the switching button 203 in FIG. 8, the search results that match the search criteria entered by the user are present up to the seventh page. In other words, there are seven sections. The breaks between each section are called section breaks. In other words, if there are seven sections, it can be seen that there are six section breaks. The user can transition to any page (section) of the search list by selecting the page number (section number) on the switching button 203 or by pressing "Previous" or "Next." In the example of FIG. 8, "1" is highlighted on the switching button 203, so it can be seen that this is the first section of the search results.

[0072] Fig. 9 is an example of a screen configuration 200 showing a list display of search results that match the search criteria received from the user's terminal device 2 from multiple search targets included in the product database 52 shown in Fig. 6. The difference from Fig. 8 is that Fig. 9 shows the fourth page (fourth section) of the search results, whereas Fig. 8 shows the first section of the search results. The user has either pressed the "Next" button in Fig. 8 multiple times, or directly pressed "4".

[0073] In Fig. 9, the search conditions of Fig. 8 are carried over, and "BBB", "white", and "tops" are displayed in the condition list display 201. The difference from Fig. 8 is the contents of the nine search results display area 202. In Fig. 8, the range of product IDs S0003 to S0070 was displayed, but on the fourth page of Fig. 9, the range of S0334 to S0392 is displayed. In other words, it can be seen that the search results in the range of S0071 to S0333 are displayed on the second and third pages.

[0074] FIG. 10 is an example of a screen configuration 200 showing a list display of search results that match the search conditions received from the user's terminal device 2 from a plurality of search targets included in the product database 52 shown in FIG. 6. The difference from FIG. 9 is that while the user has input "BBB", "white", and "tops" as search conditions in FIG. 9, size "M" is added as a search condition in FIG. 10. That is, the search results are displayed in which a refined search condition that is stricter than the search conditions in FIG. 8 or FIG. 9 has been input. More specifically, the user has added size "M" as a search condition to the condition list display 201 with the fourth page (fourth section) of FIG. 9 displayed on the user's terminal device 2. Therefore, in FIG. 10, "BBB", "white", "tops", and "M" are displayed as search conditions in the condition list display 201.

[0075] In the display area 202 of the nine search results, only those matching "BBB", "white", "tops", and "M" are displayed as search results. The server 3 stores S0334 in the fourth section as a reference, and in the list display of the search results in FIG. 10, the search results after S0334 are displayed. Therefore, S0340, which is the first search result in the list display of FIG. 9, is displayed in the first display area 202. Note that, as an arbitrary search result to be the reference, other than S0334, S0333, which is the last search result in the immediately preceding section (the third section), may be stored, or any of the search results included in the fourth section. Also, since the number of search results has decreased because the search target has been narrowed down, the list display displayed in FIG. 10 has been changed to the second section, and the results of the full narrowed search have also been reduced to the fifth page (five sections).

[0076] It is also possible to execute a more strict search by adding further search conditions to the condition list display 201 in Fig. 10. For example, it is possible to set a range of product prices or specify free words.

[0077] As described above, when a user of the user's terminal device 2 browses a list of search results searched based on search conditions inputted to the user's terminal device 2 and wants to further narrow down the search results, the information search device 1 according to the present embodiment can display a refined search from near the search results being browsed without re-browsing the search results already browsed. Conventionally, when a refined search was performed, it was necessary to browse the search results again from the beginning, which improves user convenience and shortens the time required for the entire search.

[0078] In addition, the present invention also provides an information retrieval method including a receiving step of receiving search conditions from a terminal device, an extraction step of extracting search results matching the search conditions from a plurality of search targets, a generating step of generating the extracted search results as a list display, and a transmitting step of transmitting the generated display information to the terminal device, in which, when new search conditions that modify the search conditions are received in the receiving step, the generating step generates new search results matching the new search conditions as a new list display from after the current display targets of the list display, and thus the information retrieval method can also be used.

[0079] In addition, the present invention can also be implemented as an information retrieval program that causes a computer to execute a receiving function for receiving search conditions from a terminal device, an extraction function for extracting search results that match the search conditions from a plurality of search targets, a generation function for generating the extracted search results as a list display, and a transmission function for transmitting the generated display information to the terminal device, in which when the receiving function receives new search conditions that modify the search conditions, the generation function generates new search results that match the new search conditions as a new list display from after the current display targets of the list display.

[0080] It should be understood that those skilled in the art can make various changes, substitutions and alterations thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0081] (Variation 1) In the process in FIG. 7, the server processing unit 312 executes the narrowed search in step S104, and then determines whether the section to be displayed is the second or subsequent section in step S106, and changes the display mode based on the determination result. However, the population to be narrowed down in the search may be changed depending on the determination result of whether the section to be displayed is the second or subsequent section.

[0082] 11 is a diagram showing an example of an operation sequence of a series of flows from when the server processing unit 312 extracts search results that match the search conditions from among multiple search targets based on search conditions received by the server communication unit 315 from the user's terminal device 2 by the information search device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, generates the extracted search results as a list display, transmits the display information generated by the server communication unit 315 to the user's terminal device 2, and further receives new search conditions that modify the search conditions, and the list display is divided into multiple sections, and the sections after the first section division are the display targets, the server processing unit 312 generates new search results that match the new search conditions from the current display target of the list display as a new list display. More specifically, the server processing unit 312 extracts new search results using the new search conditions, with the search results after the display target as new search targets.

[0083] The operation sequence described below is executed mainly by the server processing unit 312 in cooperation with each element of the server 3, based on a program previously stored in the server storage unit 311. In the operation sequence described below, the server 3 transmits and receives various information to and from the user's terminal device 2 via the server communication unit 315. The order of the processes performed by the server processing unit 312 may be interchanged or may be performed simultaneously, as long as there is no contradiction in the processes.

[0084] First, the server processing unit 312 waits to receive search conditions from the user's terminal device 2 via the server communication unit 315 (step S201). This step S201 is continued until search conditions are received from the user's terminal device 2 (step S201: NO).

[0085] When the server communication unit 315 receives the search conditions (YES in step S201), the server processing unit 312 extracts search results that match the received search conditions from among the search targets (step S202). Note that the server processing unit 312 may execute the search process and the extraction process as separate processes.

[0086] The server processing unit 312 generates a list display of the extracted search results and transmits it to the user's terminal device 2 via the server communication unit 315 (step S203). Specifically, the server processing unit 312 generates a display screen in a form in which the list display of the search results can be displayed on the user's terminal device 2.

[0087] The server processing unit 312 waits to receive refinement search conditions for further refining the search results from the user's terminal device 2 via the server communication unit 315 (step S204). The server processing unit 312 may perform a process of determining whether the received search conditions are refinement search conditions or not. That is, the server processing unit 312 may determine whether all the search conditions received in step S202 are included and whether additional search conditions have been added. In this case, if the newly received search conditions are not refinement search conditions, the process may return to step S201.

[0088] When the narrowed search conditions are received from the user's terminal device 2 (step S204 is YES), the server processing unit 312 judges whether the list display of the search results displayed by the user at the stage when the narrowed search conditions were received in step S204 is after the first section break (after the second section) (step S205). That is, in step S204, the server processing unit 312 performs a process of judging other situations without performing a narrowed search.

[0089] On the other hand, if no conditions for a refined search have been received from the user's terminal device 2 (NO in step S204), the server processing unit 312 ends this process.

[0090] When the list display of search results displayed by the user is after the first section break (YES in step S205), a refined search is performed on the search targets after the section to be displayed (step S206). That is, the server processing unit 312 performs a refined search on the search targets after the section to be displayed among the already obtained search results, with the section to be displayed and after as a new population. In this case, the server storage unit 311 stores the search results performed in step S202 as a new population. Alternatively, when the list display of search results displayed by the user is after the first section break (YES in step S205), the server storage unit 311 may store whether the section to be displayed is one of multiple sections, and the server processing unit 312 may newly perform a refined search from the entire multiple search targets. Alternatively, one or more search results included in the section to be displayed may be stored as a criterion. For example, the server storage unit 311 may store identification information of one of the search results, and the information after the identification information may be a new display target. The server processing unit 312 may perform the search process and the extraction process as separate processes.

[0091] On the other hand, if the stage at which the refined search conditions are received from the user is before the first section break (first section) (step S205 is NO), the server processing unit 312 performs a refined search using all of the search results already obtained as a population (step S207). In this case, the server storage unit 311 stores the search results performed in step S202 as a new population. Alternatively, if the stage at which the refined search conditions are received from the user is before the first section break (first section) (step S205 is NO), the server processing unit 312 may perform a new refined search using all of the multiple search targets.

[0092] Then, the server processing unit 312 displays the search results obtained in step S206 or step S207 (step S208). Specifically, the server processing unit 312 generates a display screen in a form in which a list of the search results can be displayed on the terminal device 2 of the user.

[0093] After displaying the search results in step S208, the server processing unit 312 ends the process. Then, the server 3 waits to receive the next search condition.

[0094] As described above, when a user of a user's terminal device 2 browses a list of search results searched based on search conditions inputted to the user's terminal device 2 and wants to further narrow down the search results, the information search device 1 according to the first modification can display a refined search from near the search results that were being browsed, without re-browsing the search results that have already been browsed. Conventionally, when a refined search was performed, it was necessary to re-browse the search results from the beginning, so that it is more convenient for the user and the time required for the entire search can be shortened.

[0095] (Variation 2) In the processing in FIG. 11, the server processing unit 312 determines in step S205 whether the section to be displayed is the second or later, and changes the population to be searched based on the determination result, but the configuration may be such that the determination as to whether the section to be displayed is the second or later is not performed.

[0096] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of an operational sequence of a series of flows in which, based on search conditions received by the server communication unit 315 from the user's terminal device 2 by the information search device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the server processing unit 312 extracts search results that match the search conditions from among multiple search targets, generates the extracted search results as a list display, transmits the display information generated by the server communication unit 315 to the user's terminal device 2, and when the server communication unit 315 receives new search conditions that modify the search conditions, the server processing unit 312 generates new search results that match the new search conditions as a new list display from after the current display targets of the list display.

[0097] The operation sequence described below is executed mainly by the server processing unit 312 in cooperation with each element of the server 3, based on a program previously stored in the server storage unit 311. In the operation sequence described below, the server 3 transmits and receives various information to and from the user's terminal device 2 via the server communication unit 315. The order of the processes performed by the server processing unit 312 may be interchanged or may be performed simultaneously, as long as there is no contradiction in the processes.

[0098] First, the server processing unit 312 waits to receive search conditions from the user's terminal device 2 via the server communication unit 315 (step S301). This step S301 is continued until search conditions are received from the user's terminal device 2 (step S301: NO).

[0099] When the server communication unit 315 receives the search conditions (YES in step S301), the server processing unit 312 extracts search results that match the received search conditions from among the search targets (step S302). Note that the server processing unit 312 may execute the search process and the extraction process as separate processes.

[0100] The server processing unit 312 generates a list display of the extracted search results and transmits it to the user's terminal device 2 via the server communication unit 315 (step S303). Specifically, the server processing unit 312 generates a display screen in a form in which the list display of the search results can be displayed on the user's terminal device 2.

[0101] The server processing unit 312 waits to receive refinement search conditions for further refining the search results from the user's terminal device 2 via the server communication unit 315 (step S304). The server processing unit 312 may perform a process of determining whether the received search conditions are refinement search conditions or not. That is, the server processing unit 312 may determine whether all the search conditions received in step S302 are included and whether additional search conditions have been added. In this case, if the newly received search conditions are not refinement search conditions, the process may return to step S301.

[0102] When the condition for the refined search is received from the user's terminal device 2 (step S304 is YES), the server processing unit 312 executes a refined search for search targets after the section to be displayed (step S305). That is, the server processing unit 312 executes a refined search for the section to be displayed and after the section to be displayed among the already obtained search results as a new population. In this case, the server storage unit 311 stores the search results executed in step S302 as a new population. Alternatively, when the condition for the refined search is received from the user's terminal device 2 (step S304 is YES), the server storage unit 311 may store whether the section to be displayed is one of multiple sections, and the server processing unit 312 may execute a new refined search from the entire multiple search targets. Alternatively, one or more search results included in the section to be displayed may be stored as a criterion. For example, the server storage unit 311 may store identification information of one of the search results, and information after the identification information may be a new display target. The server processing unit 312 may execute the search process and the extraction process as separate processes.

[0103] On the other hand, if no conditions for a refined search have been received from the user's terminal device 2 (NO in step S304), the server processing unit 312 ends this process.

[0104] Then, the server processing unit 312 displays the search results obtained in step S305 (step S306). Specifically, the server processing unit 312 generates a display screen in a form in which a list of the search results can be displayed on the terminal device 2 of the user.

[0105] After displaying the search results in step S306, the server processing unit 312 ends the process. Then, the server 3 waits to receive the next search condition.

[0106] As described above, the information retrieval device 1 according to the second modification browses a list of search results that have been searched based on search conditions inputted by the user of the user's terminal device 2 to the user's terminal device 2, and when a refined search to further refine the search results is received, the refined search is performed only on the display target being browsed and subsequent items, so that the refined search can be displayed from the vicinity of the search results that were being browsed. Conventionally, when a refined search was performed, it was necessary to browse the search results again from the beginning, so that it is more convenient for the user and the time required for the entire search can be shortened.

[0107] (Variation 3) In the present embodiment, modified example 1, and modified example 2, the processing of the server processing unit 312 when a refined search with stricter search conditions is received as new search conditions obtained by modifying the search conditions has been described, but the new search conditions obtained by modifying the search conditions may be search conditions in which at least one of the search items included in the search conditions is replaced. For example, when the search conditions are manufacturer, genre, color, size, and price, at least one of manufacturer, color, and size is replaced.

[0108] As described above, according to variant example 3, not only when a refined search is performed, but also when some of the search conditions are replaced, the search results can be viewed from near the search result being viewed, eliminating the need to view the search results from the beginning again, improving user convenience and reducing the overall search time.

[0109] (Variation 4) In the present embodiment, modified example 1, and modified example 2, the server communication unit 315 has the server processing unit 312 generate a new list display depending on which section is the section to be displayed, but the server communication unit 315 may further acquire a display position within the section to be displayed, and the server processing unit 312 may generate a new list display based on the display position. The server processing unit 312 can grasp the display position by acquiring the scroll position of the user's terminal device 2. The scroll position can be configured such that a web browser installed in the user's terminal device 2 transmits the scroll position to the server 3 periodically or when scrolling.

[0110] Also, the server communication unit 315 may receive a display request for any of the search results in the list display from the user's terminal device 2, and obtain the search result corresponding to the display request as the display position within the section. Specifically, the server processing unit 312 generates a web page that explains in detail the search results corresponding to the display content, and the server communication unit 315 transmits the generated web page to the user's terminal device 2. Also, when the user requests to display multiple search results, the search result displayed at the end of the list display may be obtained as the display position within the section, or the search result that was last displayed may be obtained as the display position within the section.

[0111] As described above, according to variant example 4, not only is a new list display targeted at the section to be displayed displayed, but it is also possible to display the results of a narrowed-down search starting from the search results that the user was pinpointing and thus eliminates the need to re-view the search results from the beginning, as well as the need to re-view search results that have already been viewed, thereby improving user convenience and reducing the overall time required for the search. [Explanation of symbols]

[0112] 1 Information retrieval device 2. User's terminal device 211 Terminal communication unit 212 Terminal memory unit 213 Terminal operation unit 214 Terminal display unit 215 Terminal Processing Section 3 Server 311 Server memory unit 312 Server Processing Unit 313 Extraction part 314 Generation part 315 Server Communication Department 4. Internet 51 User Database 52 Product Database

Claims

1. A receiving unit that receives search conditions from a terminal device; an extraction unit that extracts search results that match the search criteria from a plurality of search targets; a generating unit that generates the extracted search results as a list display; a transmission unit that transmits the display information generated by the generation unit to the terminal device; In an information retrieval device including: When the receiving unit receives new search conditions obtained by modifying the search conditions, the generating unit generates a new list display based on a scroll position of the search results from the search target included in the scroll position onward.

1. An information retrieval device comprising:

2. a receiving step of receiving search conditions from a terminal device; an extraction step of extracting search results that match the search criteria from among a plurality of search targets; a generating step of generating the extracted search results as a list display; a transmitting step of transmitting the generated display information to the terminal device; An information search method executed by an information processing device, comprising: When new search conditions obtained by modifying the search conditions are received in the receiving step, the generating step generates a new list display based on a scroll position of the search results from the search target included in the scroll position onward.

13. An information retrieval method comprising:

3. On the computer, A receiving function for receiving search conditions from a terminal device; an extraction function for extracting search results that match the search criteria from among a plurality of search targets; a generating function for generating the extracted search results as a list display; a transmission function for transmitting the generated display information to the terminal device; In an information retrieval program for executing When the receiving function receives new search conditions obtained by modifying the search conditions, the generating function generates a new list display based on a scroll position of the search results from the search target included in the scroll position onward.

2. An information retrieval program comprising:

Images