Data retrieval device with function for modifying retrieval condition classes

A data retrieval method, comprising:

• a retrieval item dividing step of dividing retrieval conditions related to a predetermined retrieval item into a plurality of retrieval condition classes;
• a first retrieval step of sorting data stored in a storage part into the plurality of retrieval condition classes formed in the retrieval item dividing step by searching for data that respectively satisfies the retrieval conditions corresponding to each retrieval condition class formed in the retrieval item dividing step;
• a first outputting step of outputting the plurality of retrieval condition classes formed in the retrieval item dividing step along with information related to the data sorted into the retrieval condition classes in the first retrieval step, the information being respectively associated with the plurality of retrieval condition classes formed in the retrieval item dividing step;
• a class unit modifying step of further dividing a selected retrieval condition class into a plurality of retrieval condition classes when a command is input into an input part, the command selecting one of the retrieval condition classes from among the plurality of retrieval condition classes output in the first outputting step;
• a second retrieval step of sorting the data that was sorted into the retrieval condition class selected via the input part into the plurality of retrieval condition classes formed in the class unit modifying step by searching for data that respectively satisfies the retrieval conditions corresponding to each retrieval condition class formed in the class unit modifying step;
• and
• a second outputting step of outputting the plurality of retrieval condition classes formed in the class unit modifying step along with information related to the data sorted into the retrieval condition classes in the second retrieval step, the information being respectively associated with the plurality of retrieval condition classes formed in the class unit modifying step;
• wherein the first and second outputting steps each include a display step of partitioning a retrieval screen into a matrix structure, respectively associating regions of matrix positions in the matrix structure with the plurality of retrieval condition classes, and displaying information related to the data sorted into each retrieval condition class in the corresponding region;
• wherein the retrieval conditions comprise combinations of a plurality of first retrieval conditions, which are formed by dividing a row retrieval item belonging to the predetermined retrieval item into predetermined class units which are set as rows of the matrix structure, and a plurality of second retrieval conditions, which are formed by dividing a column retrieval item belonging to the predetermined retrieval item into predetermined class units which are set as columns of the matrix structure;
• wherein the first and second retrieval steps each comprise respectively associating the retrieval condition classes with the matrix positions, and respectively sorting data that satisfies the retrieval conditions corresponding to a particular matrix position into that particular matrix position;
• wherein the display step comprises displaying retrieval results information, which indicates the retrieval results of the first and second retrieval steps, in the respective matrix positions, the retrieval results information respectively corresponding to the data sorted by the first and second retrieval steps into the respective matrix positions;
• wherein the class unit modifying step comprises modifying the class units dividing the row retrieval item and the class units dividing the column retrieval item for a selected matrix position when a command to modify the class units and a command selecting a single matrix position from among the matrix positions displayed in the display step is input into the input part;
• wherein the second retrieval step comprises respectively associating retrieval conditions with matrix positions and sorting data, the retrieval conditions being combinations of the plurality of first retrieval conditions and the plurality of second retrieval conditions divided by the class units that were modified in the class unit modifying step, and the data being the data that was sorted into the matrix position selected via the input part;
• wherein the method further comprises a second class unit modifying step of modifying the class units dividing the row retrieval item and the class units dividing the column retrieval item when a command to modify the class units is input a predetermined number of times into the input part, and additionally, enlarging the retrieval screen displayed by the display part every time the command to modify the class units is input until the command is input the predetermined number of times into the input part;
• and
• wherein when the command to modify the class units is input the predetermined number of times so as to perform class modification, the retrieval screen is modified in accordance with the class modification such that the rows and columns of the matrix structure are respectively set to correspond only to the modified class units, and not to the respective class units previously set as the rows and columns of the matrix structure before the class modification was performed.

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having a program stored thereon that is executable by a computer to perform processes comprising:

• a retrieval item dividing step of dividing retrieval conditions related to a predetermined retrieval item into a plurality of retrieval condition classes;
• a first retrieval step of sorting data stored in a storage part into the plurality of retrieval condition classes formed in the retrieval item dividing step by searching for data that respectively satisfies the retrieval conditions corresponding to each retrieval condition class formed in the retrieval item dividing step;
• a first outputting step of outputting the plurality of retrieval condition classes formed in the retrieval item dividing step along with information related to the data sorted into the retrieval condition classes in the first retrieval step, the information being respectively associated with the plurality of retrieval condition classes formed in the retrieval item dividing step;
• a class unit modifying step of further dividing a selected retrieval condition class into a plurality of retrieval condition classes when a command is input into an input part, the command selecting one of the retrieval condition classes from among the plurality of retrieval condition classes output in the first outputting step;
• a second retrieval step of sorting the data that was sorted into the retrieval condition class selected via the input part into the plurality of retrieval condition classes formed in the class unit modifying step by searching for data that respectively satisfies the retrieval conditions corresponding to each retrieval condition class formed in the class unit modifying step;
• and
• a second outputting step of outputting the plurality of retrieval condition classes formed in the class unit modifying step along with information related to the data sorted into the retrieval condition classes in the second retrieval step, the information being respectively associated with the plurality of retrieval condition classes formed in the class unit modifying step;
• wherein the first and second outputting steps each include a display step of partitioning a retrieval screen into a matrix structure, respectively associating regions of matrix positions in the matrix structure with the plurality of retrieval condition classes, and displaying information related to the data sorted into each retrieval condition class in the corresponding region;
• wherein the retrieval conditions comprise combinations of a plurality of first retrieval conditions, which are formed by dividing a row retrieval item belonging to the predetermined retrieval item into predetermined class units which are set as rows of the matrix structure, and a plurality of second retrieval conditions, which are formed by dividing a column retrieval item belonging to the predetermined retrieval item into predetermined class units which are set as columns of the matrix structure;
• wherein the first and second retrieval steps each comprise respectively associating the retrieval condition classes with the matrix positions, and respectively sorting data that satisfies the retrieval conditions corresponding to a particular matrix position into that particular matrix position;
• wherein the display step comprises displaying retrieval results information, which indicates the retrieval results of the first and second retrieval steps, in the respective matrix positions, the retrieval results information respectively corresponding to the data sorted by the first and second retrieval steps into the respective matrix positions;
• wherein the class unit modifying step comprises modifying the class units dividing the row retrieval item and the class units dividing the column retrieval item for a selected matrix position when a command to modify the class units and a command selecting a single matrix position from among the matrix positions displayed in the display step is input into the input part;
• wherein the second retrieval step comprises respectively associating retrieval conditions with matrix positions and sorting data, the retrieval conditions being combinations of the plurality of first retrieval conditions and the plurality of second retrieval conditions divided by the class units that were modified in the class unit modifying step, and the data being the data that was sorted into the matrix position selected via the input part;
• wherein the method further comprises a second class unit modifying step of modifying the class units dividing the row retrieval item and the class units dividing the column retrieval item when a command to modify the class units is input a predetermined number of times into the input part, and additionally, enlarging the retrieval screen displayed by the display part every time the command to modify the class units is input until the command is input the predetermined number of times into the input part;
• and
• wherein when the command to modify the class units is input the predetermined number of times so as to perform class modification, the retrieval screen is modified in accordance with the class modification such that the rows and columns of the matrix structure are respectively set to correspond only to the modified class units, and not to the respective class units previously set as the rows and columns of the matrix structure before the class modification was performed.