# US 7,610,274 B2 · Method, apparatus, and program for retrieving data > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,610,274 B2 - Document ID: US7610274B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/169,447 - Filed: 2005-06-29 - Published: 2006-01-05 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 2004-07-02 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Taeko Gotoh - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7610274B2 ## CPC - G06F 16/58: Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually - G06F 16/583: using metadata automatically derived from the content - Y10S 707/99933: Query processing, i.e. searching - Y10S 707/99934: Query formulation, input preparation, or translation - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract A method for retrieving data includes a displaying step of displaying data including a plurality of attributes, a first selecting step of selecting a data segment functioning as a search key from the displayed data, a determining step of determining an attribute of the search key, and a searching step of searching a database by a search method corresponding to the determined attribute of the search key. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for retrieving data from a database, comprising: displaying data including a plurality of attributes; selecting a plurality of segments from the displayed data; determining an attribute of each of the plurality of segments, wherein an attribute of a first one of the plurality of segments is a text attribute, and an attribute of a second one of the plurality of segments is a non-text attribute; setting a first search key and a second search key, wherein text data corresponding to the text attribute of the first one of the plurality of segments is set as the first search key, and non-text data corresponding to the non-text attribute of the second one of the plurality of segments is extracted and set as the second search key; setting a search expression using the plurality of segments, and a logic operator, wherein the logic operator corresponding to a predetermined path drawn by a pointing operation is set in the setting step; and searching the database, based on the first search key and the second search key, by using a search method corresponding to the first search key and the second search key, respectively, wherein the non-text attribute comprises at least one of an image, a photograph, a table, graphics, figures, a picture, a frame, or a line. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the selecting step further selects a search method from a plurality of search methods displayed, wherein the non-text attribute is the image, the table, or the graphics. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the searching step comprises performing a search in accordance with a search expression, the search expression being set using the plurality of segments and a logic operator. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, wherein the search expression is set using the first one of the plurality of segments and the second one of the plurality of segments. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, wherein the search comprises a single search based on both of the first search key and the second search key. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising an outputting step of outputting integrated search results from a plurality of search methods. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the search expression is displayed. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the pointing operation is any one of a drag-and-drop operation, a click operation, an operation of drawing a path, and a moving operation. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the pointing operation is a motion of a pointing device on one of a display screen and a touch panel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein one of a background color and a frame color of the selected segment is changed in the selecting step. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the non-text attribute comprises the image. ### Claim 12 An apparatus for retrieving data from a database, comprising: a displaying unit configured to display data including a plurality of attributes; a selecting unit configured to select a plurality of segments from the displayed data; a determining unit configured to determine an attribute of each of the plurality of segments, wherein an attribute of a first one of the plurality of segments is a text attribute, and an attribute of a second one of the plurality of segments is a non-text attribute; a first setting unit configured to set a first search key and a second search key, wherein text data corresponding to the text attribute of the first one of the plurality of segments is set as the first search key, and non-text data corresponding to the non-text attribute of the second one of the plurality of segments is extracted and set as the second search key; a second setting unit configured to set a search expression using the plurality of segments, and a logic operator, wherein the logic operator corresponding to a predetermined path drawn by a pointing operation is set by the second setting unit; and a searching unit configured to search the database, based on the first search key and the second search key, by using a search method corresponding to the first search key and the second search key, respectively, wherein the non-text attribute comprises at least one of an image, a photograph, a table, graphics, figures, a picture, a frame, or a line. ### Claim 13 A computer readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute steps of: displaying data including a plurality of attributes; selecting a plurality of segments from the displayed data; determining an attribute of each of the plurality of segments, wherein an attribute of a first one of the plurality of segments is a text attribute, and an attribute of a second one of the plurality of segments is a non-text attribute; setting a first search key and a second search key, wherein text data corresponding to the text attribute of the first one of the plurality of segments is set as the first search key, and non-text data corresponding to the non-text attribute of the second one of the plurality of segments is extracted and set as the second search key; setting a search expression using the plurality of segments, and a logic operator, wherein the logic operator corresponding to a predetermined path drawn by a pointing operation is set in the setting step; and searching the database, based on the first search key and the second search key, by using a search method corresponding to the first search key and the second search key, respectively, wherein the non-text attribute comprises at least one of an image, a photograph, a table, graphics, figures, a picture, a frame, or a line.