Information retrieval apparatus and method using regional information

An information retrieval apparatus comprising:

• an inputting unit which receives a search term inputted by a user for searching information;
• an extracting unit which extracts a place-name from the inputted search term;
• a selecting unit which selects a place-name of a region that is judged to be within a reachable area from a region indicated by the extracted place-name on the basis of a predefined judgment criterion;
• a setting unit which sets a query expression including a logical addition of the extracted place-name and the selected place-name;
• and
• a searching unit which searches the information by using the query expression.

An information retrieval method comprising:

• providing an interface for a user to input a search term for searching information;
• obtaining the search term inputted via the interface;
• extracting a place-name from the search term;
• selecting a place-name of a region that is judged to be within a reachable area from a region indicated by the place-name on the basis of a predefined judgment criterion;
• setting a query expression including a logical addition of the extracted place-name and the selected place-name;
• and
• searching the information by using the query expression.

An information retrieval method comprising:

• obtaining information related to a location of a user;
• extracting an item of life-related information with regionality at the location from information retrieved by the user;
• obtaining information related to a destination of the user;
• and
• searching life-related information with regionality at the destination by using the extracted item.

An information retrieval method comprising:

• storing an item of life-related information with regionality;
• obtaining information related to a destination of a user;
• and
• searching life-related information with regionality at the destination by using the stored item without receiving an input of the item from the user.

An information retrieval method comprising:

• storing a personal attribute of a user;
• obtaining information related to a destination of the user;
• and
• searching life-related information with regionality at the destination by using the personal attribute without receiving a search item from the user.

An information retrieval apparatus comprising:

• a life-related information storing unit which stores an item of life-related information with regionality for each user;
• a destination obtaining unit which obtains information related to a destination of a user;
• a searching unit which searches life-related information with regionality at the destination by using the stored item;
• and
• a transmitting unit which transmits the searched life-related information to a terminal of the user.

The information retrieval apparatus, further comprising:

• a search history storing unit which stores a history about information searched by the user;
• a location obtaining unit which obtains information related to a location of the user;
• and
• an extracting unit which extracts an item of life-related information with regionality at the location based on the history, and
• wherein said life-related information storing unit stores the extracted item of the life-related information.

A terminal comprising:

• a search history storing unit which stores a history about information searched by a user;
• a location obtaining unit which obtains information related to a location of the user;
• an extracting unit which extracts an item of life-related information with regionality at the location based on the history;
• and
• a communication unit which transmits information related to a destination of the user and the extracted item to a server, and receives life-related information with regionality at the destination that is searched by the server.