US 2004/0002964 A1 · Information search apparatus and method, and computer readable memory

Abstract

A search request input processing unit holds an input query word in a query word holding unit. An associative word unfolding processing unit acquires associative words in association with the query word held in the query word holding unit with reference to an associative word dictionary. An image content search processing unit using associative words makes a keyword search of image information on the basis of the obtained associative words and the query word. A sensory pattern unfolding processing unit obtains the query word and sensory patterns corresponding to associative words of the query word, and searches image information using feature amounts of the obtained sensory patterns. A search result integration processing unit integrates the search results obtained by the image content word search processing unit and sensory pattern search processing unit.

Claims41

Dependent claims

A information search apparatus for searching information based on an input query word, comprising:

first search means for determining a query keyword on the basis of the query word, and searching information on the basis of the query keyword;
second search means for determining a feature amount corresponding to the query word, and searching information on the basis of the feature amount;
and
integration means for integrating search results obtained by said first and second search means.

1 more element

An information search apparatus for managing a plurality of kinds of multimedia information, and searching the managed multimedia information for desired multimedia informatio, comprising:

a content word holding unit for storing the multimedia information, and content words which verbalize concepts expressed in the multimedia information in correspondence with each other;
an associative word dictionary for storing the content words and associative words which are associated with the content words in correspondence with each other;
input means for inputting a query word;
first search means for acquiring an associative word corresponding to the query word input by said input means from said associative word dictionary, and searching multimedia information on the basis of the acquired associative word;
extraction means for extracting a feature amount corresponding to the query word input by said input means;
second search means for searching multimedia information on the basis of the feature amount extracted by said extraction means;
and
intergration means for intergrating search results obtained by said first and second search means.

5 more elements

An information search method for managing a plurality of kinds of multimedia information, and searching the managed multimedia information for desired multimedia information, comprising:

the storage step of storing on a storage medium a content word holding unit for storing the multimedia information, and content words which verbalize concepts expressed in the multimedia information in correspondence with each other, and an associative word dictionary for storing the content words and associative words which are associated with the content words in correspondence with each other;
the input step of inputting a query word;
the first search step of acquiring an associative word corresponding to the query word input in the input step from said associative word dictionary, and searching multimedia information on the basis of the acquired associative word
the extracting step of extracting a feature amount corresponding to the query word input in the input step;
the second search step of searching multimedia information on the basis of the feature amount extracted in the extraction step;
and
the inergration step of intergrating search results obtained in the first and second search steps.

4 more elements

An information search apparatus for managing a plurality of kinds of multimedia information, and searching the managed multimedia information for desired multimedia information, comprising:

a content word holding unit for storing the multimedia information, and content words which verbalize concepts expressed in the multimedia information in correspondece with each other;
P1 an associative word dictionary for storing the content words and associative words which are associated with the content words in correspondence with each other;
input means for inputting a query word:
a concept discrimination dictionary for storing index words corresponding to the query word and search perspective pertaining to the index words in correspondence with each other.
display means for extracting search perspectives pertaining to an index word corresponding to the query word input by said input means from said concept discrimination dictionary and displaying the extracted search perspectives;
designation means for designating a desired one of the search perspective displayed by said display means;
first search means for acquiring an associative word corresponding to the query word input by said input means from said associative word dictionary, and searching multimedia information on the basis of the acquired associative word;
second search means for extracting a feature amount corresponding to the query word input by said input means, and searching multimedia information on the basis of the extracted feature amount;
and
intergration means for intergrating search results obtained by said first and second search means on the basis of the search perspective designated by said designation means.

7 more elements

An information search method for managing a plurality of kinds of multimedia information, and searching the managed multimedia information for desired multimedia information, comprising:

the input step of inputting a query word;
the storage step of storing on a storage medium a content word holding unit for storing the multimedia information, and content words which verbalize concepts expressed in the multimedia information in correspondence with each other, an associative word dictionary for storing the content words and associative words which are associated with the content words are correspondence with each other, and a concept discrimination dictionary for storing index words corresponding to the query word and search perspectives pertaining to the index words in correspondence with each other:
the display step of extracting search perspectives pertaining to an index word corresponding to the query word input in the input step from said concept discrimination dictionary, and displaying the extracted search perspectives;
the designation step of designating a desired one of the search perspectives displayed in the display step;
the first search of aquiring an associative word corresponding to the query word input in the input step from said associative word dictionary, and searching multimedia information on the basis of the acquired associative word;
the second search step of extracting a feature amount corresponding to the query word input in the input step and searching multimedia information on the basis of the extracted feature amount;
and
the intergration step of intergrating search results obtained in the first and second search steps or the basis of the search perspective designated in the designation step.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Information search apparatus and method, and computer readable memory

Life of this patent

Information search apparatus and method, and computer readable memory

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims41