Database searching method and system using retrieval data set display screen

A database searching method for searching a database having records including information about a plurality of items, comprising the steps of:

• generating a retrieval data set by selecting a plurality of records from the database;
• designating a plurality of display items in the plurality of items;
• specifying item elements corresponding to each of the plurality of the display items in the plurality of records in the retrieval data set;
• numerically representing a difference between the item elements of two records in the plurality of records for each of the plurality of display items, as a dissimilarity;
• normalizing the dissimilarity for each of the plurality of display items;
• adding up the normalized dissimilarities for the two records;
• plotting and displaying the plurality of records in such a way that the added-up dissimilarity corresponds to the distance between the two records;
• and
• displaying a contradiction which is a value indicative of a degree of inconsistency between a positional arrangement of the plurality of plotted records and a numerical value of the dissimilarity.

A database searching system for searching a database having records including information about a plurality of items, comprising:

• database storage means for storing the database;
• processing means for numerically representing as a dissimilarity a difference between elements of two records in a plurality of records selected in the database, said elements corresponding to a display item designating from among the plurality of items;
• and
• display means for plotting and displaying the plurality of records in such a way that the dissimilarity corresponds to a distance between the two records;
• and for displaying a contradiction which is a value indicative of a degree of inconsistency between a positional arrangement of the plurality of plotted records and a numerical value of the dissimilarity.

A database searching system for searching a database using a computer, comprising:

• a database for storing a plurality of records including information about a plurality of items;
• a processor for numerically representing as a dissimilarity of difference between elements of two records in the plurality of records stored in the database, said elements corresponding to a display item designated from among the plurality of items;
• and
• a display device for plotting and displaying the plurality of records in such a way that the dissimilarity corresponds to a distance between the two records, and for displaying a contradiction which is a value indicative of a degree of inconsistency between a positional arrangement of the plurality of plotted records and a numerical value of the dissimilarity.

A database searching system for searching a database using a computer, comprising:

• a database for storing a plurality of records including information about a plurality of items;
• a processor for numerically representing as a dissimilarity a difference between elements of two records in the plurality of records stored in the database, said elements corresponding to a plurality of display items designated from among the plurality of items, for normalizing the dissimilarity for each of the plurality of display items, and for adding the normalized dissimilarity for the two records;
• and
• a display device for plotting and displaying the plurality of records in such a way that the added-up dissimilarity corresponds to a distance between the two records, and for displaying a contradiction which is a value indicative of a degree of inconsistency between a positional arrangement of the plurality of plotted records and a numerical value of the dissimilarity.

A computer-readable storage medium comprising computer programs used to direct a computer to perform the function of:

• generating a retrieval data set by selecting a plurality of records from a database having records including information about a plurality of items;
• specifying from item elements of the plurality of records in the retrieval data set an item element corresponding to a display item designated in the plurality of items;
• numerically representing a difference between item elements of two records in the plurality of records contained in the retrieval data set as a dissimilarity;
• plotting and displaying on a display device the plurality of records in such a way that the dissimilarity corresponds to a distance between the two records;
• and
• displaying a contradiction which is a value indicative of a degree of inconsistency between a positional arrangement of the plurality of plotted records and a numerical value of the dissimilarity.

A computer-readable storage medium comprising computer programs used to direct a computer to perform the functions of:

• generating a retrieval data set by selecting a plurality of records from a database having records including information about a plurality of items;
• specifying from item elements of the plurality of records in the retrieval data set a plurality of item elements corresponding to a plurality of display items designated in the plurality of items;
• numerically representing a difference between item elements of two records in the plurality of records contained in the retrieval data set as dissimilarities for each of the plurality of display items,
• normalizing the dissimilarities for each of the plurality of display items;
• adding up the normalized dissimilarities for the two records;
• plotting and displaying on a display device the plurality of records in such a way that the added-up dissimilarity corresponds to the distance between the two records;
• and
• displaying a contradiction which is a value indicative of a degree of inconsistency between a positional arrangement of the plurality of plotted records and a numerical value of the dissimilarity.