Data retrieving method and apparatus providing satisfaction or agreement degree

A data retrieving method of retrieving data using a computer for satisfying a user request from data stored in a computer file, comprising the steps of:

• providing a definition table, and quantitatively defining in said table fuzzy terms designated by a user to each item to be retrieved in a form of percentage rates, setting a retrieving condition range for each of said terms and a distribution curve having a function associated therewith and representing a satisfaction data distribution within said retrieving condition range for each of said terms in said definition table;
• in response to an entry of a fuzzy term by a user for an item to be retrieved, analyzing a retrieving condition equation including said fuzzy term entered by a user while referring to said definition table, and converting said retrieving condition equation into a value-based retrieving condition equation using said definition table;
• retrieving data from said computer file in accordance with said value-based retrieving condition equation;
• calculating a satisfaction degree for each retrieved data from said retrieving step using a corresponding said distribution curve, and outputting a calculated said satisfaction degree;
• and
• narrowing said retrieved data from said retrieving step to obtain narrowed data representing a sub-set of said retrieved data, said narrowing step performing said narrowing using a same said value-based retrieving condition equation upon said retrieved data.

An information retrieving computer apparatus for retrieving information satisfying a desired condition from a computer database file, comprising:

• a term defining means having quantitatively defined therein attribute terms representing fuzzy retrieving conditions designated by a user to each item to be retrieved in the form of rate ranges, a previously set retrieving condition range for each of said terms and a distribution waveform having a function associated therewith and representing a satisfaction degree distribution within said retrieving condition range for each of said terms, said term defining means including a term information table;
• a condition analyzing means responsive to entry of a fuzzy term representing an attribute in an item to be retrieved for converting a retrieving condition equation including said entered fuzzy term into a value-based retrieving condition equation using information from said term defining means;
• a retrieving means for retrieving data from said computer database file in accordance with said value-based retrieving condition equation supplied from said condition analyzing means;
• a satisfaction degree evaluating means for calculating a satisfaction degree for each said retrieved data supplied from said retrieving means using a corresponding said distribution waveform, and for outputting said calculated satisfaction degree;
• a means for displaying the outputs of said satisfaction degree evaluating means and said retrieving means and for allowing a user interactively to select said retrieved data;
• and
• a data narrowing means for narrowing said retrieved data from said retrieving means to obtain narrowed data representing a sub-set of said retrieved data, said data narrowing means performing said narrowing using a same said value-based retrieving condition equation upon said retrieved data.