Search apparatus, search method, and computer readable recording medium

A search method, comprising:

• referencing a data set that includes search target information pieces in which an image and one or more attribute information pieces are associated with use of a search criterion that includes one or more attribute information pieces, and extracting search target information pieces that include the attribute information pieces that match the attribute information pieces of the search criterion;
• in a case where the number of the extracted search target information pieces is not within a preset search result range, referencing a knowledge base in which attribute information pieces are classified hierarchically, and calculating a score for each of the attribute information pieces included in the extracted search target information pieces with use of a score function that has been determined in advance;
• selecting an attribute information piece based on the calculated scores, and generating question information indicating a question to be presented to a user with use of the selected attribute information piece;
• and
• reflecting an attribute information piece indicated by a response of the user to the question information in the search criterion, thereby generating a new search criterion.

A non-transitory computer readable recording medium that includes a program recorded thereon, the program including instructions that cause a computer to carry out:

• referencing a data set that includes search target information pieces in which an image and one or more attribute information pieces are associated with use of a search criterion that includes one or more attribute information pieces, and extracting search target information pieces that include the attribute information pieces that match the attribute information pieces of the search criterion;
• in a case where the number of the extracted search target information pieces is not within a preset search result range, referencing a knowledge base in which attribute information pieces are classified hierarchically, and calculating a score for each of the attribute information pieces included in the extracted search target information pieces with use of a score function that has been determined in advance;
• selecting an attribute information piece based on the calculated scores, and generating question information indicating a question to be presented to a user with use of the selected attribute information piece;
• and
• reflecting an attribute information piece indicated by a response of the user to the question information in the search criterion, thereby generating a new search criterion.