# US 2014/0156701 A1 · Search apparatus and method, and program > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0156701 A1 - Document ID: US20140156701A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/174,263 - Filed: 2014-02-06 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2006-02-14 - Assignees: Sony Corporation - Applicants: Sony Corporation - Inventors: Ichiro Ueno; Baiping Liao; Hiroyuki Tominaga - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140156701A1 ## CPC - G06F 16/587: using geographical or spatial information, e.g. location - G06F 16/50: of still image data - G06F 16/9537: Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries - G06F 3/048: Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] - G06F 16/29: Geographical information databases - H04W 4/025: {using location based information parameters} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A search apparatus includes the following elements. A provisional search condition inputting unit inputs character string information as a provisional search condition. A character string/position correspondence information holding unit holds character string/position correspondence information including a correspondence between character string information and position information. A position information obtaining unit obtains position information corresponding to the character string information input as the provisional search condition from the character string/position correspondence information. A search object information storage unit stores search object information with additional information including at least position information. A searching unit performs a search for the position information of the search object information stored in the search object information storage means using the position information obtained by the position information obtaining unit as an actual search condition, and outputs search object information having the found position information as a search result satisfying the provisional search condition. ## Claims ### Claim 1 (canceled) ### Claim 2 An apparatus comprising: a processor device to: determine a search area range to search image data based on character string information input at an external apparatus and provided over a communication network, wherein the search area range corresponds to position information determined based on position information corresponding to the character string information; and control transmission to the external apparatus, over the communication network, of search area range information representative of the search area range and the image data indicating at least one image file, for display by the external apparatus. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the search area range information indicates an area of a map for viewing on a display and the at least one image file is for display as a list view. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein, when the search area range is changed as indicated by search area range designation information provided from the external apparatus over the network, the processor device: searches second image data corresponding to position information determined from the search area change designation information to correspond to position information of the changed search area range; and controls transmission to the external apparatus, over the network, of changed search area range information representative of the changed search area range and the second image data indicating at least one second image file, for display by the external apparatus. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the search area range designation information indicates an operation on a display of the search area range information increasing or reducing the search area range. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the search area range information is determined based on a classification of the character string information. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the processor device is to control display of a reference position corresponding to the character string information on a map. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the search area range is changed by an operation on a map using a graphical user interface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the search area range is displayed on a display. ### Claim 10 A method comprising: determining a search area range to search image data based on character string information input at an external apparatus and provided over a communication network, wherein the search area range corresponds to position information determined based on position information corresponding to the character string information; and controlling transmission to the external apparatus, over the communication network, of search area range information representative of the search area and the image data indicating at least one image file, for display by the external apparatus, wherein the determining and the controlling transmission are by a processor device. ### Claim 11 A non-transitory recording medium on which is recorded a program executable by a computer, the program comprising: determining a search area range to search image data based on character string information input at an external apparatus and provided over a communication network, wherein the search area range corresponds to position information determined based on position information corresponding to the character string information; and controlling transmission to the external apparatus, over the communication network, of search area range information representative of the search area and the image data indicating at least one image file, for display by the external apparatus. ### Claim 12 An apparatus comprising: a processor device to: display, on a display, an input box in which to input character string information as a search condition; provide to an external search apparatus, over a communication network, a search request including the character string information; display, on the display, search area range information representative of a search area range and image data indicating at least one image file, wherein the search area range information and the image data are provided from the external search apparatus over the network, wherein the search area range is determined based on the character string information and corresponds to position information determined based on position information corresponding to the character string information, wherein the image data is searched based on the search area range. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the search area range information indicates an area of a map for viewing on a display and the at least one image file is for display as a list view. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processor device is to: provide search area range designation information to the external apparatus, over the network, when the search area range is changed to a changed search area range; and display changed search area range information representative of the changed search area range and second image data indicating at least one second image file, wherein the changed search area range information and the second the image data are provided over the network from the external apparatus, wherein the second image data is determined from searching position information determined from the search area change designation information to correspond to position information of the changed search area range. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the search area range designation information indicates an operation on a display of the search area range information increasing or reducing the search area range. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the search area range information is determined based on a classification of the character string information. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processor device is to display, on the display, a reference position corresponding to the character string information on a map. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the search area range is changed by an operation on a map using a graphical user interface. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the search area range is displayed on the display. ### Claim 20 A method comprising: displaying, on a display, an input box in which to input character string information as a search condition; providing, over a communication network, a search request including the character string information; displaying, on the display, search area range information representative of a search area range and image data indicating at least one image file, wherein the search area range information and the image data are provided over the network, wherein the search area range is determined based on the character string information and corresponds to position information determined based on position information corresponding to the character string information, wherein the image data is searched based on the search area range, wherein the displaying of the input box, the providing and the displaying of the search area range information and the image data are by a processor device. ### Claim 21 A non-transitory recording medium on which is recorded a program executable by a computer, the program comprising: displaying, on a display, an input box in which to input character string information as a search condition; providing, over a communication network, a search request including the character string information; and displaying, on the display, search area range information representative of a search area range and at least one image file indicated by image data, wherein the search area range information and the image data are provided over the network, wherein the search area range is determined based on the character string information and corresponds to position information determined based on position information corresponding to the character string information, wherein the image data is searched based on the search area range.