Information Retrieval Device, Information Retrieval Method, and Program

Abstract

To obtain descriptive information about a desired headword by effectively utilizing dictionary contents stored in other devices existing in the surrounding area.SOLUTION: An information retrieval apparatus comprises: a communication unit 25 for transmitting tag information specifying a field of a dictionary and information of a headword to an external device and receiving dictionary name information and descriptive information corresponding to the information of the headword transmitted from the external device in response to the transmitted content; and a control unit 21 for causing a touch panel type display unit 17 to display the received dictionary name information and the descriptive information corresponding to the headword.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information retrieval device, an information retrieval method, and a program suitable for an electronic dictionary or the like.

Background Art

[0002] Methods and apparatuses for realizing content sharing between mobile terminals have been proposed. (For example, Patent Document 1)

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Generally, electronic dictionaries have different numbers and contents of dictionary contents stored for each individual depending on the model and the addition of optional dictionary contents. Therefore, even a headword that is not stored in any of the dictionary contents of the electronic dictionary one uses may exist in some dictionary contents of the electronic dictionary owned by others.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an information retrieval device, an information retrieval method, and a program capable of effectively utilizing dictionary contents stored in other devices existing in the surroundings to obtain explanatory information regarding a desired headword.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] One aspect of the present invention includes a transmission unit that transmits information on the field indicating the classification of a dictionary and information on a headword to an external device, a reception unit that receives, from the dictionary possessed by the external device among a plurality of dictionaries classified into the field indicated by the transmitted information on the field, information retrieved from the dictionary and being explanatory information corresponding to the transmitted information on the headword, and a control unit that causes the received explanatory information to be displayed on a display. The receiving unit receives the explanatory information corresponding to the transmitted heading word information and the information of the dictionary name of a dictionary including the explanatory information corresponding to the heading word information. The control unit causes the display to display the received dictionary name information and the explanatory information. The transmitting unit adds the information of the dictionary name stored in its own device and transmits it to an external device. The receiving unit receives the information of the dictionary name other than the dictionary name stored in its own device and the explanatory information corresponding to the heading word information transmitted from the external device. 。

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to effectively utilize dictionary contents stored in other devices existing in the surroundings and obtain explanatory information regarding a desired headword.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment in the case where the present invention is applied to an electronic dictionary will be described with reference to the drawings. [Configuration] FIG. 1 is a front view showing the external configuration of the electronic dictionary 10 according to the present embodiment. Note that the present embodiment is configured not only as the electronic dictionary 10 described below, but can also be configured as a tablet PC (Personal Computer) with a dictionary function, a smartphone, an e-book, a portable game machine, a server on a communication network, and the like.

[0010] The electronic dictionary 10 includes a foldable case in which the main body case 11 and the lid case 12 can be unfolded / closed via a hinge portion 13. On the surface of the main body case 11 with the foldable case unfolded, a key input unit 14 (hardware key) including a [Home] key 14a, a function designation key 14b, a character input key 14c, a [Decision] key 14d, a [Return] key 14e, a [BOX] key 14f, a cursor movement key 14g, a [Shift] key 14h, etc., an audio output unit (including a speaker) 15, and an audio input unit (including a microphone) 16 are provided.

[0011] In addition, a touch panel display unit 17 is provided on the surface of the lid case 12. The touch panel display unit 17 has a structure in which a touch position detection device that detects the position touched by the user of the electronic dictionary 10 with a pen or a finger and a display device are integrated, and is configured by laminating a transparent touch panel on a liquid crystal screen with a backlight.

[0012] The [Home] key 14a of the key input unit 14 is a key for displaying a home screen on the key input unit 14. Although not particularly shown, a plurality of icons registered according to the initial settings or user operations of the present electronic dictionary 10 are displayed. Each icon is a drawing or symbol for realizing a function corresponding to the notation of the icon. For example, it includes an application icon for directly starting a function (application) for using dictionary contents or learning contents, and a group icon for displaying a list screen of icons of a plurality of functions belonging to one category.

[0013] The function designating keys 14b of the key input unit 14 are keys for directly designating dictionary contents or the like indicated on each key. The function designating keys 14b include a [Multiple Dictionaries] key that does not specifically identify the category of dictionary contents, keys for designating the same category ([Japanese] key, [Archaic Language] key, [Japanese-Chinese] key, [English-English-Japanese] key, etc.), a [Contents List] key for displaying a list of dictionary contents, and a [Study Notebook] key that is one category of tools.

[0014] Also, when a key of the key input unit 14 is operated continuously after the [Shift] key 14h is operated, it functions as a key with a frame around it instead of a key with no frame around it indicated on the key top. For example, when the [Delete] key is operated after the [Shift] key 14h is operated, it functions as the [Settings] key instead of the [Delete] key.

[0015] In FIG. 1, [Multiple Dictionaries] is selected, and in the heading input unit 41 located at the upper part of the touch panel display unit 17, it is shown that the category indicating the field of the dictionary is not specified by the blank display in the category display unit 41A on the left side, and the character string [Einstein] is input as the heading in the heading display unit 41B on the right side.

[0016] Furthermore, at the uppermost end of the touch panel display unit 17, searching from among the multiple dictionaries stored in the electronic dictionary 10 and communication for sharing dictionary contents with peripheral terminals are not permitted, indicating that it is in a [Pending Permission] state.

[0017] If there is at least one of the multiple dictionary contents stored in the electronic dictionary 10 that has explanatory information corresponding to the input headword [Einstein], a display for selecting dictionary content from the search results is performed below the headword input section 41 based on a part on the leading side of the explanatory information. On the other hand, if there is no dictionary content having explanatory information corresponding to the input headword [Einstein], as shown in the touch panel display section 17 of FIG. 1, no display is performed below the headword input section 41, and it is displayed that no dictionary content corresponding to the headword is found.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the electronic circuit of the electronic dictionary 10. The electronic circuit of the electronic dictionary 10 includes a control unit (CPU: Central Processing Unit) 21 which is a computer. The control unit 21 controls the operations of each part of the circuit according to a control program stored in advance in a storage unit 22 such as a flash ROM. The number of processors such as the CPU may be one or two or more.

[0019] Note that at least one of the control program and the dictionary data described later may be read from an external recording medium 23 such as a memory card by a recording medium reading unit 24 and stored in the storage unit 22, or may be stored in the storage unit 22 as something downloaded from a web server or the like on an external network (not shown) via the communication unit 25.

[0020] The control unit 21 is connected to the storage unit 22, the recording medium reading unit 24, the communication unit 25 via a data bus and a control bus, and is also connected to the key input unit 14, the voice output unit 15, the voice input unit 16, and the touch panel display unit 17.

[0021] The storage unit 22 stores a system program that controls the overall operation of the electronic dictionary 10, a communication program for communicating and connecting with external devices via the communication unit 25, and a storage area such as a search processing program storage area 22a, a dictionary data storage area 22b, a search history storage area 22c, and a work data storage area 22d, which stores programs and data for executing various functions by the electronic dictionary 10.

[0022] The search processing program storage area 22a is an area that stores a control program for searching and displaying explanatory information such as a headword desired by the user and the translated words, semantic meanings, usage examples, and explanations corresponding to the headword based on various dictionary contents (English-English-Japanese dictionary / English-Japanese dictionary / Japanese-English dictionary / English-English dictionary / Japanese dictionary / encyclopedia / …) stored as dictionary data in the dictionary data storage area 22b, and an interlocking mode program 22a1 for obtaining explanatory information corresponding to the input headword using a device external to the electronic dictionary 10. Regarding the multiple dictionary contents stored in the dictionary data storage area 22b, assume that for each individual dictionary content, one of the categories indicating the field of the dictionary, such as [English-Japanese][Japanese-English][English-English][Other languages]…, is fixedly set in advance.

[0023] In the search history storage area 22c, according to the search in response to the user operation, when the headword and its explanatory information are displayed as search results, the headword targeted for search is stored as a search history together with the information on the number of searches.

[0024] In the work data storage area 22d, various data input in response to the user operation or acquired or generated by the control unit 21, etc., are temporarily stored (held) as needed in accordance with the control of the operations of each part of the circuit according to the control program by the control unit 21.

[0025] The communication unit 25 wirelessly connects to external devices such as similar electronic dictionaries present in the surroundings based on, for example, the BLE (Bluetooth (Registered Trademark) Low Energy) standard, which is one of the wireless PAN (Personal Area Network) technologies. In addition, it wirelessly connects to web servers and the like on an external network (not shown) via a wireless router or the like to download control programs and the like.

[0026] [Operation] Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. In this operation, it is assumed that in one classroom within a school, a user using the electronic dictionary 10 shares dictionary contents with classmates.

[0027] In this embodiment, when performing a dictionary search with the electronic dictionary 10, it is possible to select a mode of whether to share the dictionary contents stored in external devices held by other people in the surroundings. The touch panel display unit 17 in FIG. 1 shows the operation in a mode where dictionary contents are not shared with other people in the surroundings, as indicated by "Communication with Peripheral Devices / Pending Permission" on the upper right side of the screen.

[0028] When the user touches the string portion of "Pending Permission" on the touch panel display unit 17, the display of the string portion switches to "Permission in Progress", and the mode shifts to a mode of sharing dictionary contents with external devices in the surroundings.

[0029] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing, as the processing on the [Terminal A] side, the processing content in which the control unit 21 of the electronic dictionary 10 requests a dictionary search under the setting of a mode of sharing dictionary contents with external devices in the surroundings, and, as the processing on the [Terminal B] side, the processing content executed by external devices in the surroundings in response to the request from the electronic dictionary 10.

[0030] Incidentally, in a processing situation where an external device in the surroundings requests a dictionary search and the electronic dictionary 10 responds thereto, the external device in the surroundings will execute the respective processes described later as the [Terminal A] side, and the electronic dictionary 10 will execute the processes as the [Terminal B] side.

[0031] First, on the electronic dictionary 10 on the [Terminal A] side, enter the headword for which dictionary search is desired (step S101). At this time, the category of dictionary content to be searched may also be specified.

[0032] FIG. 4(A) shows a state in which the headword [Einstein] is entered in the headword display section 41B of the headword input section 41 of the touch panel type display section 17 using the key input section 14 on the electronic dictionary 10. FIG. 4(B) shows a state in which, from the state shown in FIG. 4(A), [Science] among various dictionary categories is selected and specified in the category display section 41A of the headword input section 41.

[0033] By operating the [Enter] key 14d of the key input section 14 in this state, a dictionary search request to the surrounding external devices is executed.

[0034] In the control unit 21 of the electronic dictionary 10, in response to the operation of the [Enter] key 14d, the communication unit 25 switches to the broadcaster operation as the data transmission side by BLE (registered trademark) broadcast communication (step S102).

[0035] Then, it is determined whether or not to additionally set tag information specifying the category for the headword (step S103).

[0036] If there is an operation to specify a category as shown in FIG. 4(B), the control unit 21 determines that tag information is to be additionally set (YES in step S103), and transmits a beacon signal requesting a search including the tag information and the headword to the outside (step S104).

[0037] On the other hand, if there is an operation of the [Determine] key 14d only from the input of the heading word shown in Fig. 4(A) without the category designation operation shown in Fig. 4(B), the control unit 21 determines in step S103 not to additionally set tag information (NO in step S103), and transmits a beacon signal for requesting a search including the heading word to the outside without tag information (step S105).

[0038] After the transmission process in step S104 or step S105, the control unit 21 switches to the observer operation which becomes the data reception side in the broadcast communication (step S106).

[0039] Thereafter, the control unit 21 repeatedly determines whether or not a beacon signal from surrounding external devices has been received (step S107), and waits for the reception of a beacon signal from surrounding external devices that responds to the dictionary search request.

[0040] Fig. 4(C) is a diagram illustrating a display screen on the touch panel display unit 17 of the electronic dictionary 10 that enters the standby state after designating the dictionary category in Fig. 4(B). By displaying a dashed circular symbol that includes the guide message "[Searching for surrounding dictionaries]" and blinks cyclically at the lower side of the heading word input unit 41, it expresses that it is in the standby state.

[0041] In the surrounding external devices that receive a request from the electronic dictionary 10, by repeatedly determining whether or not there has been a reception of a beacon signal for requesting a search including the heading word during the observer operation which is the standard in the broadcast communication (step S201), it waits for the reception of the beacon signal.

[0042] When it is determined that a beacon signal for requesting a search including the heading word from the electronic dictionary 10 has been received (YES in step S201), in that external device, a search based on the heading word is executed for all dictionary contents stored inside the device (step S202).

[0043] It is determined whether or not search results corresponding to the category of the dictionary specified by the tag information also included in the beacon signal are obtained as a result of the search (step S203).

[0044] When search results corresponding to the category of the dictionary specified by the tag information are obtained (YES in step S203), the external device temporarily switches to the broadcaster operation that becomes the data transmission side in broadcast communication (step S204).

[0045] Then, a beacon signal including the dictionary name of the dictionary content for which search results are obtained and the content of the search results is created and transmitted (step S205). After the transmission, the operation is switched back to the observer operation that becomes the data reception side (step S206). Then, the series of processes are once terminated, and preparations are made for the next reception.

[0046] Also, in step S203, when search results corresponding to the category of the dictionary specified by the tag information are not obtained (NO in step S203), the external device does not execute the processes of steps S204 to S206, assuming that there is no content of the search results in response to the request, and once terminates the series of processes as it is, and prepares for the next reception.

[0047] In the electronic dictionary 10 waiting for reception of search results in response to the request, when the control unit 21 determines that the beacon signal has been received (YES in step S107), based on the received beacon signal, search results including tag information and dictionary name information are displayed in a list on the touch panel display unit 17 (step S108), and at the same time, the process of FIG. 3 is terminated to once end the communication with surrounding external devices.

[0048] FIG. 5(A) is a diagram illustrating the screen of the touch panel display unit 17 that displays the received search results in a list. In addition to the display of the keyword input unit 41, a searchable dictionary display unit 42 is displayed together with a guide message "[Search results found below]" on the lower side thereof.

[0049] In the searchable dictionary display section 42, it is shown by the reversed differential display and the additional display of the cursor C with a leftward triangle symbol that the search results in three dictionary contents, namely, the [Physical and Chemical Dictionary], the [Physics Dictionary], and the [Chemistry Dictionary], corresponding to the [Science] category of the dictionary, have been obtained, and that the dictionary content of the [Physical and Chemical Dictionary] located at the top is in a temporarily selected state by default.

[0050] In this state, by operating the cursor movement key 14g of the key input section 14 to indicate either the upward or downward direction, the dictionary in the temporarily selected state is moved. Also, when the [Enter] key 14d is operated on the dictionary that is temporarily selected at that time, the search results in the corresponding content at that time can be displayed.

[0051] Figure 5(B) is a diagram illustrating the result displayed when the [Enter] key 14d is operated from the display state of Figure 5(A). Leaving the area where the dictionary names are listed on the left side of the searchable dictionary display section 42, the central and right areas are newly displayed as the search result display section 43.

[0052] In the search result display section 43, the search results corresponding to the entry word [Einstein] in the selected [Physical and Chemical Encyclopedia] are displayed. Note that in Figure 5(B), regarding the display within the search result display section 43, in order to avoid making the drawing complicated, instead of a detailed explanation based on the actual dictionary content, it is expressed in a content with a significantly abbreviated text (description about [※Einstein]).

[0053] From the display state shown in Figure 5(B), every time the dictionary name selected within the searchable dictionary display section 42 is moved and the [Enter] key 14d is operated, the search results in the selected dictionary content are displayed in the search result display section 43.

[0054] In this way, even for a headword that does not exist in the dictionary content stored in the electronic dictionary 10, it is possible to effectively utilize the dictionary content stored in other external devices existing in the vicinity, and to obtain the desired headword and explanatory information regarding the dictionary category without troubling other users who possess the external devices.

[0055] Regarding the data included in the beacon signal received by the electronic dictionary 10 from the surrounding external devices, by adopting a specification such that it is automatically deleted from the work data storage area 22d of the storage unit 22 when a certain preset time, for example, one hour, has elapsed since the reception timing, it is possible to avoid the storage capacity in the storage unit from increasing without reason.

[0056] Also, as described above, in a processing situation where the surrounding external device requests a dictionary search for a headword and the electronic dictionary 10 responds thereto, the surrounding external device is on the [Terminal A] side and the electronic dictionary 10 is on the [Terminal B] side, and the processing in FIG. 3 is executed respectively. Therefore, even for a headword that does not exist in the dictionary content stored in the surrounding external devices, it is possible to effectively utilize the dictionary content stored in the electronic dictionary 10 and provide appropriate explanatory information regarding the requested headword and the dictionary category without troubling the user of the electronic dictionary 10.

[0057] [Effects of the Embodiment] As described in detail above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to effectively utilize the dictionary content stored in other external devices existing in the vicinity and obtain explanatory information regarding the desired headword.

[0058] Also, in this embodiment, since the electronic dictionary 10 is connected to the surrounding external devices using the wireless PAN technology, it is possible to operate with low power consumption by omitting the connection settings between the devices used in a closed space such as a school classroom.

[0059] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, as a result of responding to a dictionary search request, a beacon signal including dictionary name information is returned. Therefore, the user on the request side can select more appropriate dictionary content by themselves and obtain the desired explanatory information.

[0060] In the present embodiment, the electronic dictionary 10 transmits a beacon signal that requests a dictionary search including category information and headword information. However, it is also assumed that all the dictionary content information stored in the electronic dictionary 10 is also included in the beacon signal. The surrounding external devices that receive the request execute processing such as performing a dictionary search for the requested content based on other dictionary content that does not correspond to the received content stored in the electronic dictionary 10 included in the received beacon signal. By doing so, the processing load on the surrounding external devices that receive the request can be further reduced.

[0061] Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist thereof at the implementation stage. Also, the respective embodiments may be combined as appropriately as possible and implemented, and in that case, the combined effects can be obtained. Furthermore, the above-described embodiment includes inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriate combinations of a plurality of disclosed constituent elements. For example, even if some constituent elements are deleted from all the constituent elements shown in the embodiment, if the problems described in the column of the problems to be solved by the invention can be solved and the effects described in the column of the effects of the invention can be obtained, the configuration from which these constituent elements are deleted can be extracted as an invention.

[0062] The invention described in the original claims of the present application is appended below. [Claim 1] A transmission unit that transmits tag information specifying a dictionary field and headword information to an external device, A reception unit that receives, in response to the content transmitted by the transmission unit, dictionary name information and explanatory information corresponding to the headword information transmitted from the external device A display control unit that causes a display to display the received dictionary name information and the explanation information corresponding to the search term; An information retrieval apparatus comprising the same. [Claim 2] The information retrieval apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit and the reception unit directly transmit and receive information to and from the external device by wireless PAN (Personal Area Network) technology. [Claim 3] The information retrieval apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a time-limited holding unit that holds the dictionary name information received by the reception unit and the explanation information corresponding to the search term for a certain period of time after reception. [Claim 4] The transmission unit adds the dictionary name information stored in the apparatus to the tag information and transmits it to an external device, The reception unit receives the dictionary name information other than the dictionary name stored in the apparatus and the explanation information corresponding to the search term information transmitted from the external device. The information retrieval apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3. [Claim 5] A transmission step of transmitting tag information specifying a dictionary field and search term information to an external device, A reception step of receiving, in response to the content transmitted in the transmission step, dictionary name information and explanation information corresponding to the search term information transmitted from the external device, A display control step of causing a display to display the received dictionary name information and the explanation information corresponding to the search term; An information retrieval method comprising the same. [Claim 6] A program executed by a computer built into the apparatus, the computer being caused to function as A transmission unit that transmits tag information specifying a dictionary field and search term information to an external device, A reception unit that receives dictionary name information and explanation information corresponding to the search term information transmitted from the external device in response to the content transmitted by the transmission unit, A display control unit that causes the information on the dictionary name received and the explanatory information corresponding to the keyword to be displayed on a display; A program that functions as such.

Explanation of Signs

[0063] 10…Electronic dictionary 11…Main body case 12…Cover case 13…Hinge part 14…Key input unit 14a…[Home] key 14b…Function designation key 14c…Character input key 14d…[Enter] key 14e…[Back] key 14f…[BOX] key 14g…Cursor movement key 14h…[Shift] key 15…Voice output unit 16…Voice input unit 17…Touch panel display unit 21…Control unit (CPU) 22…Storage unit 22a…Search processing program storage area 22a1…Interlock mode program 22b…Dictionary data storage area 22c…Search history storage area 22d…Work data storage area 23…External recording medium 24…Recording medium reading unit 25…Communication unit 41…Keyword input unit 41A…Category display unit 41B…Keyword display unit 42…Searchable dictionary display unit 43…Search result display unit C…Cursor

Claims

1. A transmission unit that transmits information on the field indicating the classification of the dictionary and information on the keyword to an external device; A receiving unit that receives, from a dictionary possessed by the external device among a plurality of dictionaries classified into the field indicated by the transmitted information on the field, explanatory information corresponding to the transmitted information on the keyword; A control unit that causes the received explanatory information to be displayed on a display; comprising: The receiving unit receives explanatory information corresponding to the transmitted information on the keyword and information on the dictionary name of a dictionary including the explanatory information corresponding to the information on the keyword; The control unit causes the received information on the dictionary name and the explanatory information to be displayed on the display; The transmission unit adds information on the dictionary name stored in its own device and transmits it to the external device; The receiving unit receives information on the dictionary name other than the dictionary name stored in its own device and explanatory information corresponding to the information on the keyword, which are transmitted from the external device; An information retrieval device.

2. When there are a plurality of candidate dictionaries that are dictionaries possessed by the external device among a plurality of dictionaries classified into the field indicated by the transmitted information on the field and that include explanatory information corresponding to the transmitted information on the keyword, the receiving unit receives the dictionary name of each of the plurality of candidate dictionaries from the external device; The control unit causes the dictionary name of each of the plurality of received candidate dictionaries to be displayed on the display, and causes the explanatory information corresponding to the dictionary corresponding to the dictionary name selected by the user from among the displayed plurality of dictionary names to be displayed on the display. The information retrieval device according to claim 1.

3. When the control unit receives the information of the field and the information of the keyword sent from the external device at the receiving unit, it performs control to transmit, from the transmitting unit to the external device, explanatory information corresponding to the received keyword information, which is information retrieved from the dictionary possessed by the own device among a plurality of dictionaries classified into the field indicated by the received field information. The information retrieval device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The transmitting unit and the receiving unit perform transmission and reception of the field information, the keyword information, and the explanatory information by directly communicating with the external device, which is another information retrieval device, without going through an intermediate device by using wireless PAN (Personal Area Network) technology. The information retrieval device according to claim 3.

5. The information retrieval device according to claim 1, further comprising a time-limited holding unit that holds the information of the dictionary name and the explanatory information corresponding to the keyword received by the receiving unit for a certain period of time after reception.

6. The device performs a transmission step of transmitting information of a field indicating classification of a dictionary and information of a keyword to an external device, a reception step of receiving, from the external device, explanatory information corresponding to the transmitted keyword information, which is information retrieved from the dictionary possessed by the external device among a plurality of dictionaries classified into the field indicated by the transmitted field information, and a control step of causing the received explanatory information to be displayed on a display, and in the reception step, receives explanatory information corresponding to the transmitted keyword information and information of the dictionary name of the dictionary including the explanatory information corresponding to the keyword information, in the control step, causes the received dictionary name information and the explanatory information to be displayed on the display, in the transmission step, adds information of the dictionary name stored in the device and transmits it to the external device, The receiving step is an information retrieval method for receiving information on a dictionary name other than the dictionary name stored in the apparatus and explanatory information corresponding to the information on the heading word, which are transmitted from the external device.

7. A program executed by a computer built into the apparatus, the computer being A transmission unit that transmits information on a field indicating the classification of a dictionary and information on a heading word to an external device, Information retrieved from a dictionary possessed by the external device among a plurality of dictionaries classified into the field indicated by the transmitted information on the field, and a receiving unit that receives explanatory information corresponding to the transmitted information on the heading word from the external device, Functioning as a control unit that causes the received explanatory information to be displayed on a display, The receiving unit receives explanatory information corresponding to the transmitted information on the heading word and information on the dictionary name of a dictionary including the explanatory information corresponding to the information on the heading word, The control unit causes the received information on the dictionary name and the explanatory information to be displayed on the display, The transmission unit adds information on the dictionary name stored in the apparatus and transmits it to the external device, The receiving unit is a program that receives information on a dictionary name other than the dictionary name stored in the apparatus and explanatory information corresponding to the information on the heading word, which are transmitted from the external device.

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