US 2009/0157670 A1Published application

Contents-retrieving apparatus and method

OwnerKentaro MIYAMOTO, Yuko Matsuiinventors

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Abstract

An image database stores data of variable images as contents, and at least a keyword is attached to each image. A degree of relevancy between every pair of keywords of the images stored in the image database is calculated at constant time intervals, to produce time-sequential data on inter-keyword relevancy of each pair. When a search keyword entered, a basic relevancy is calculated by smoothing the time-sequential data on the inter-keyword relevancy between the search keyword and a keyword that is attached to an image extracted on the basis of the search keyword. If other keywords are attached to the extracted image, a total relevancy of the extracted image is calculated by averaging the basic relevancies of the respective keywords of the extracted image to the search keyword. Among many extracted images, those having higher relevancies to the search keyword are output as a search result.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A contents-retrieving apparatus for retrieving some contents from a database on the basis of an entered search keyword, wherein said database stores variable contents with their respective keywords attached thereto, said contents-retrieving apparatus comprising:

an inter-keyword relevancy calculator for calculating an inter-keyword relevancy between every pair of keywords attached to the contents as stored in said database, said inter-keyword relevancy calculator calculating the inter-keyword relevancy at constant time-intervals to produce time-sequential data on the inter-keyword relevancy of every pair of keywords;
a basic relevancy calculator for calculating a basic relevancy of a particular keyword to the search keyword by smoothing the time-sequential data on the inter-keyword relevancy between the search keyword and said particular keyword;
a contents-extracting device for extracting at least a content from said database on the basis of the search keyword;
a judging device for making a judgment as to whether the extracted content should be included in a search result, said judging device making the judgment on the basis of the basic relevancy between the search keyword and a keyword which is attached to the extracted content;
and
an outputting device for outputting the search result.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.