Information processing apparatus and method of searching for similar data

A method of searching for similar data using a computer including a memory and a processor, comprising:

• acquiring, by the processor, first registered feature datasets respectively expressing a first feature of registered datasets and second registered feature datasets respectively expressing a second feature of the registered datasets from the memory;
• receiving, by the processor, a subject dataset which is input to the computer;
• generating, by the processor, a first subject feature dataset expressing the first feature of the subject dataset and a second subject feature dataset expressing the second feature of the subject dataset;
• calculating, by the processor, a first degree of dissimilarity between each of the first registered feature datasets and the first subject feature dataset using a first computational process that calculates a degree of dissimilarity between two input values and exhibits symmetry so that a computational result does not change when the two input values are interchanged;
• calculating, by the processor, a second degree of dissimilarity between each of the second registered feature datasets and the second subject feature dataset using a second computational process that calculates a degree of dissimilarity between two input values and exhibits antisymmetry so that a computational result changes when the two input values are interchanged;
• and
• selecting, by the processor, a first registered dataset from the registered datasets based on the first degree of dissimilarity and the second degree of dissimilarity, the first registered dataset being similar to the subject dataset.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a similar data search program that causes a computer including a memory and a processor to perform a procedure comprising:

• acquiring, by the processor, first registered feature datasets respectively expressing a first feature of registered datasets and second registered feature datasets respectively expressing a second feature of the registered datasets from the memory;
• receiving, by the processor, a subject dataset which is input to the computer;
• generating, by the processor, a first subject feature dataset expressing the first feature of subject datasets and a second subject feature dataset expressing the second feature of the subject datasets;
• calculating, by the processor, a first degree of dissimilarity between each of the first registered feature datasets and the first subject feature dataset using a first computational process that calculates a degree of dissimilarity between two input values and exhibits symmetry so that a computational result does not change when the two input values are interchanged;
• calculating, by the processor, a second degree of dissimilarity between each of the second registered feature datasets and the second subject feature dataset using a second computational process that calculates a degree of dissimilarity between two input values and exhibits antisymmetry so that a computational result changes when the two input values are interchanged;
• and
• selecting, by the processor, a first registered dataset from the registered datasets based on the first degree of dissimilarity and the second degree of dissimilarity, the first registered dataset being similar to the subject dataset.