Apparatus and method for a query express

A search apparatus for searching multimedia data based on a query inputted from a user, the search apparatus comprising:

• memory;
• and
• a processor coupled to the memory and capable of performing operations comprising:
• expressing the inputted query in a field type regardless of which one of a plurality of types of query for multimedia data the inputted query is;
• and
• searching multimedia data based on the inputted query expressed in the field type,
• wherein the field type includes at least one among identifier information indicating identification (ID) information of a field presenting a search condition included in the inputted query;
• type information indicating data type information of the field;
• and reference information indicating identifier information of another field for reference, and
• wherein the searching of the multimedia data is performed with a secondary search over a region designated through a primary search by the field for field re-use, the region being re-used in the multimedia data search.

A recording medium for recording a data structure where a query inputted from a user is expressed in a field type for searching multimedia data based on the query, the data structure comprising:

• identifier information indicating identification (ID) information of a field presenting a search condition included in the inputted query for search of multimedia data, the inputted query being of one of a plurality of types of query for search of multimedia data;
• type information indicating data type information of the field;
• and
• reference information indicating identifier information of another field for reference,
• wherein the search of multimedia data is performed with a secondary search over a region designated through a primary search by the field for field re-use, the region being re-used in the multimedia data search.